Outside the IRS building off Waverly Avenue in Holtsville This story was reported by Laura Figueroa Hernandez Employees at the Holtsville branch of the Internal Revenue Service said staff reductions were ongoing Thursday as the Trump administration moves to downsize the federal government and terminate 6,000 IRS employees nationwide Department of Homeland Security officers were dispatched to the office and patrolled the hallways while IRS employees awaited their official termination via email at their desks according to an account from one employee to Newsday Another employee described a scene of chaos confusion and heartbreak Thursday as scores of employees were laid off and escorted out of the building a Centereach resident who worked in the collections department said she was let go from her collections department job on Thursday spent the day walking around and saying goodbye to each other as they absorbed the news retail and all things business across Long Island By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy IRS managers confiscated their government badges estimating about 160 employees in her section alone were laid off Martens said she received a phone call at 5 p.m Wednesday advising her she was going to be let go She reported to the office at about 11:30 a.m and was escorted out of the building around 3 p.m The loss of the job was devastating because she was planning on a career in the government in part to support her two children Martens had been working at the IRS for eight months and was close to the one-year cutoff where she may have avoided being laid off we brought home millions of dollars to the government "We collected the money that is missing." who has been working at the Holtsville office for about four months as a clerk said he was among those laid off and was taking the news in stride "I just accepted it," Garcia told Newsday as he took a break outside metal fences surrounding the office The layoffs come as the Department of Government Efficiency an office spearheaded by billionaire businessman and Trump aide Elon Musk The job cuts have mainly targeted probationary workers who have less than two years in their current roles The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment but The New York Times and Reuters reported late Wednesday that the 6,000 layoffs would commence on Thursday White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett when asked about the cuts at Thursday’s daily press briefing said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent "is studying the matter" and believes there are ways to "improve" tax collection using technology The head of the National Treasury Employees Union blasted the timing of the layoffs as tax season ramps up "In the middle of a tax filing season when taxpayers expect prompt customer service and smooth processing of their tax returns the administration has chosen to decimate the whole operation by sending dedicated civil servants to the unemployment lines," said Doreen Greenwald who led the agency during Trump’s first term "An underfunded IRS significantly benefits unidentified noncompliant taxpayers at the direct expense of compliant taxpayers," Rettig wrote Officials with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance the agency that handles tax revenue collection for the state said its operations were not impacted by the layoffs said the processing of state tax returns won't be affected by the federal job cuts The state Labor Department said it "is aware from news reports" of the IRS layoffs spokesperson for the agency said in an email statement He said the department's Rapid Response Team was "working to identify impacted employees to offer job search assistance." "Federal agencies are not required to file WARN notices with the NYSDOL," Fallon said referring to the state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act which requires employers with 50 full-time employees or more to file a notice 90 days in advance with the state in the event of a mass layoff or closing Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months General Services Administration announced yesterday an expansive list of federal properties the agency deemed “designated for disposal,” including a huge IRS building in Holtsville However, on Wednesday, the entire list was removed In its place the link now indicates a list is “coming soon.” “We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations for disposal,” the GSA site now reads “Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions.” When asked why the list was taken down, Stephanie Joseph of GSA said in a statement to USA Today and other outlets that “since publishing the initial list on March 4 we have received an overwhelming amount of interest.” “We anticipate the list will be republished in the near future after we evaluate this initial input and determine how we can make it easier for stakeholders to understand the nuances of the assets listed ‘GSA will continuously review and update the list of non-core assets,’” she said Related: Brookhaven Town supervisor weighs in on future of IRS property Two federal buildings on Long Island have just landed on what the U.S General Services Administration is calling a non-core property list That means the federal government is looking to unload them The first listed is a 7,810-square-foot childcare center at the Alfonse M Courthouse campus that’s reportedly been sitting empty in Central Islip the massive IRS service center in Holtsville The building is listed at 557,000 square feet in size or non-core properties for disposal,” reads a post published by the GSA that includes several properties in New York Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions “The list below includes properties designated for disposal We will update it as assessments progress.” Breaking: Man found murdered on Blue Point beach The IRS does not publicly disclose staffing levels at its offices so it’s unclear how many jobs are at stake in Holtsville But according to News 12 Long Island, IRS employees in Holtsville said more than 100 were laid off last month The building that’s included in the GSA list published today should not be confused with another IRS building, a smaller one that was already sold in 2022 for $28.5 million that’s the smaller building to the north The building on the GSA list is much larger Earlier today, The Hill and other outlets reported that nearly 450 properties were listed by the GSA as non-core “Even GSA’s own headquarters is on the list along with the building that houses the headquarters for the Office of Personnel Management and U.S Housing and Urban Development,” The Hill is reporting Politico added in a separate report that the move is part of a broader effort by GSA’s Public Buildings Service to offload properties and leases the Trump administration has deemed no longer essential to government operations Click here for the full list, nationwide. This is a developing story. Check back with Greater Long Island for updates Top: The sprawling IRS Service Center in Holtsville measures 557,000 square feet in size and its parking lots and grass buffers are built over 75 acres Tap here to see what’s happening 2024 at 9:49 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A man was injured in a shooting in Holtsville on Sunday afternoon NY — A man was injured in a shooting in Holtsville on Sunday afternoon alerting officers that the shooting took place on Long Island Avenue adding that the man was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries Detectives from the 6th Squad in Selden are investigating Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Long Island’s On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina restaurants in Holtsville and Hicksville shut their doors this week marking the end of the chain’s presence on the Island both locations had been removed from the company’s website and their individual pages listed them as permanently closed A sign posted at the Holtsville restaurant (located along the Long Island Expressway service road next door to Island 16 Cinema de Lux) confirmed the shutdown We apologize for any inconvenience and thank our customers.” It concluded with a suggestion: “Please find another location at www.ontheborder.com.” considering the nearest On The Border eateries are now hours away in New Jersey — in Paramus and New Brunswick The company has yet to issue a statement on the closures The Long Island shutdowns are part of a larger wave of On The Border closures across the country On the Border has suddenly shut down restaurants this month in Massachusetts The restaurant industry has faced significant challenges in recent years with many chain establishments struggling due to rising costs and shifting consumer habits Long Island’s two On the Border restaurants closed for good this week (Credit: Nicholas Esposito) After an American black bear named Honey was euthanized last month at the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve Brookhaven Town released a tribute to "our cherished bear who brought joy and inspiration to so many." But Sarah Winter an animal caretaker at the facility until just before the bear’s death told Newsday that Honey had suffered for years without pain medication from arthritis chronic urinary tract infections and cracked and rotten teeth By day she would often retreat to a corner of the pen where she was partially hidden from the crowds a neurotic behavior that experts say develops when captive animals are stressed At night she was ushered into a barren concrete stall Seven former assistant animal caretakers — five who spoke on the record and two who asked not to be identified because of concerns about future employment in wildlife management — said Honey’s predicament was typical at the Holtsville facility During several hours of interviews and in a 120-page document with photographs the employees described dozens of examples of what they called neglect toward wild animals such as a Eurasian lynx and arctic foxes medical problems were ignored for weeks or months and surgical procedures were performed without anesthetic by staff who lacked formal veterinary training or licenses "There are so many animals living in conditions that are just abysmal," Cayleigh Kunnmann who worked as a caretaker from June 2022 until August 2024 When she and other workers raised concerns with the senior staff about animals’ declining health or filthy enclosures "a lot of the time you really get brushed off." Several of the caretakers said they were disturbed by senior staff who are not licensed veterinarians or veterinary technicians cutting into animals' infected feet without providing pain medication The zoo is owned by the Town of Brookhaven and operated by the town's highway department Newsday sent Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro a list of the former caretakers’ allegations in requesting comment His response did not address most of their complaints but he provided the following statement to Newsday: "All care of the animals at the Ecology Site is performed by "Those who are opposed to the existence of zoos and are committed to their closure should be honest and make that philosophical argument instead of resorting to slander and defamation." Several former employees said they were not opposed to zoos in principle and that their criticisms were directed specifically at the ecology site Losquadro said the zoo is "really an incredible facility that thousands and thousands of people visit every year." The ecology site evolved from a leaf composting facility organized by the highway department according to the Brookhaven online archive The operation was moved in the 1980s to a former landfill in Holtsville and the department later added a collection of animals Today the facility "has over 100 injured or non-releasable wild animals and farm animals that are available for viewing," according to the town's website The zoo houses "exotics" such as a coatimundi a bison and a bobcat; birds of prey; and domesticated animals including cows and chickens The facility is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which requires members to adhere to certain standards of animal welfare and veterinary care and mandates the institution engage in field conservation efforts the Holtsville zoo has never applied for accreditation Losquadro said in an emailed statement: "It is not a required accreditation for any of the licenses that we hold." This year the Holtsville Ecology Site had operating expenses of $1.18 million and took in a little less than $219,000 in special event fees according to town records; the rest was paid from the Brookhaven Highway Department’s budget The former employees described pens they said were too small poorly maintained and infrequently cleaned The pens of the "exotics" were cleaned roughly once a week because there are too few staff to do the work The space where two barred owls most often sit had been cleaned only once in two years and the bobcat’s back enclosure "reeks of cat urine and feces." Rabbits and other small animals "would be living in piles of their own feces for days," said Kathleen Connolly which are bred as pets but are not suited to domesticated life or to life in the wild where they are subjected to loud music and shouting from large camp groups pacing their cages and sometimes retreating "in the back corner the bobcat and lynx also tried to retreat to the far corners of their cages away from the visitors; the bobcat preferred to stay in her back enclosure to the exposed front part of her pen but she was frequently shut out of that space during the day "Wild animals are not supposed to share space with humans," Liz Tyson the animal welfare and advocacy director of the wildlife charity Born Free USA "It’s natural for them to want to get away." Not providing hiding spaces "is really failing to provide a significant welfare need of all animals Few of the animals were given toys or other "enrichment" activities which are required of zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to allow for "species-appropriate behavioral opportunities," according to the AZA standards manual "The enrichment there is very minimal," Connolly said "so a lot of the animals display signs of zoochosis" — such as bobbing These repetitive behaviors are commonly seen in "animals kept in inappropriate environments" that do not allow them to exercise their natural instincts and are a kind of self-soothing — "a way of the animals coping with their situation."  When visitors asked why Honey bobbed and swayed from side to side "often you could hear staff explaining to the public that she’s dancing." "That’s really so disrespectful of the animals’ suffering to trivialize it like that," Tyson said "Because it’s a serious indicator of mental distress The former caretakers said many of the ducks chickens and roosters at the zoo suffered from pododermatitis or bumblefoot an infection of the feet; risk factors for the condition include "damp or unsanitary bedding litter," "excessive accumulation of feces," and hard floor surfaces according to a recent article in the journal Avian Health and Disease who like most of the ducks and chickens at the zoo lives in a concrete pen necrotic pressure sores," the workers’ document notes animal preserve caretakers Kayla Petrone and Kristin Layer have frequently cut out the infected tissue on Stefan’s and other birds’ feet with a scalpel that had not been sterilized and without anesthetic who worked at the zoo in the summer of 2023 and again from May until mid-November A photo in the caretakers' document shows a woman whom it identifies as Layer working on a duck's foot with a metal tool at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays birds with bumblefoot are treated with antibiotics Only veterinarians are permitted to perform any type of surgery according to the American Veterinary Medical Association a veterinarian who practices in Southold and worked at zoos before vet school said that to have unlicensed staff perform even minor surgical procedures Neither Petrone nor Layer is a veterinarian or a vet tech He said procedures at the zoo are conducted with the "understanding" and "approval" of John Corso a vet who practices at the Towne Line Veterinary Group in Hauppauge Corso sometimes examined and treated animals at the zoo and other times would give directions to staff over the phone without examining the animal Corso did not respond to several attempts to reach him for an interview Messages left at the zoo requesting interviews with Petrone Petrone and Layer cut four roosters’ spurs (bony growths similar to claws) according to the former employees' document Chiarello said spurs can be safely trimmed but will bleed if the vessel inside is cut and the birds given pain relief and kept indoors The document recounts that after the procedure the roosters were put outside during a snowstorm The next morning one of the birds was found dead Kunnmann said that Layer over-trimmed a goat’s hooves "to the point where blood [was] pouring down her arms." According to the document was seen by a vet who prescribed pain medication caretakers said Cleo’s hooves were not maintained; videos shared with Newsday show her walking awkwardly on overgrown hooves Kunnmann said she left the job in August after becoming increasingly "frustrated and depressed" about the conditions there The caretakers described more than three dozen cases of neglect and untreated medical conditions from the past two years rabbits with painful rashes called "wet tail," untreated lesions in an arctic fox’s lungs and a domestic cat with a persistent rasping cough who was kept tied up all day to the Evelyn Alexander hospital for evaluation after she’d been found lying on her back and was unable to stand Chiarello found the duck had infected feet a "mangled" wing from an old fracture She was treated for bumblefoot and started on chelation therapy to remove the lead from her system but the zoo insisted on taking her back before the treatment was complete She continued to have poor mobility after her return A pig called Wilbur was "extremely lame," Kunnmann said A vet — not Corso — examined him and advised euthanasia "as the sheer weight of his body was causing deep hoof cracks leading to abscesses," according to the caretakers’ document "and continuous sedation to treat these abscesses would eventually kill him." That suggestion was ignored for more than a year and eventually Wilbur began to walk on his knees The employees' document recounts the case of a goat called Snickers who in March 2023 developed a large abscess on his neck which appears in several photos as an enormous swollen lump Layer "tried popping it herself," without administering pain medicine Snickers was sedated by a vet and the abscess was drained Snickers died of an untreated respiratory illness in February Although the Holtsville facility is not accredited by the AZA like all animal "exhibitors," it is regulated under the 1966 Animal Welfare Act and must be licensed by the U.S Losquadro said in his statement to Newsday: "We are a fully licensed and regulated facility in compliance with all of our permits." World Animal Protection and other animal welfare organizations have argued that Animal Welfare Act standards are vague and do not meaningfully protect the well-being of animals in captivity A space large enough for a lynx to walk 10 feet could be considered "adequate" even if he might travel 10 miles in a day in the wild The law requires enrichment for primates only; a bobcat or a bear can be confined in a cage for decades with nothing to occupy them without triggering a violation A review of USDA inspection reports for the past 10 years found that the Holtsville zoo was cited six times for poorly maintained pens rotten floorboards and fencing on the bear enclosure that was too low That number is roughly in line with the average over the past 10 years for the 12 accredited zoos in New York The USDA conducts scheduled inspections during the licensing process for facilities the assistant director for public affairs at the agency's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Connolly said in the days before the most recent licensing inspection in June the staff kicked into high gear to prepare "I remember that whole week people were going crazy cleaning everything," she said "There were things that hadn’t been cleaned in over a month." Cole wrote in an email: "Animal Care inspectors evaluate the health and well-being of animals by direct observation of animals and facilities interviews with facility staff and veterinary personnel managing attorney at the Animal Legal Defense Fund said inspectors don’t have time to examine every animal so poor health or wounds could easily be missed "how do you assess inadequate veterinary care if one example of inadequate veterinary care is an animal gets sick and isn’t treated and dies?" The inspector is not likely to witness the death of a neglected animal The former caretakers said they would like the animals in Holtsville to have a different future the president of the animal welfare group Humane Long Island met between September and November with Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich Supervisor Dan Panico and Chief Deputy Highway Superintendent Steve Tricarico The former employees presented their 120-page document which they hoped would persuade the town and the highway department to transfer all the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they would have more space and more attentive veterinary care Di Leonardo wrote in an email: "The future of zoos is sanctuaries — facilities that emphasize individual welfare for animals rescued from dire situations." He said he has secured placements in accredited sanctuaries for all 110 animals housed at the site would live out his days at the Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota which is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries which Tyson said sets rigorous standards for animal welfare There he could have a 6,000-square-foot enclosure with natural plantings and an enrichment program The sanctuary has an on-site hospital and full-time vet who has rehabilitated and released "many hundreds" of wild animals over the past six years at Evelyn Alexander said that some of the animals at Holtsville could be candidates for release and several of the birds of prey that appear to fly well "It’s a big decision whether you’re going to keep these animals in a cage for the rest of their lives," she said Panico told Newsday: "If there is an opportunity to place animals in locations that would be better for the animal But Di Leonardo said the highway department representatives and that neither would look at the document the employees had prepared or the photos When Kornreich asked Perry and Tricarico if they would agree to send just the lynx to the Wildcat Sanctuary Kornreich told Newsday that while he understands many people have enjoyed visiting the zoo it "exists to serve the needs of animals and not just to put them on display." He said the town should consider "what’s best for each individual animal." Various animal enclosures at the Town of Brookhaven’s Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve are shown in this aerial photo on Wednesday The Eurasian lynx at the Holtsville Ecology Site in his back enclosure Former employees said the wild animals are rarely given enrichment activities to keep them occupied The entrance to the Town of Brookhaven’s facility on Wednesday suffered from a deep puncture wound from something within his enclosure Humane Long Island plans to protest the event to highlight what members say are questions surrounding the treatment of the animals there and a Bald eagle are some of those that reside there The protest comes following the death of "Honey," the black bear whom called the center home after some have raised questions over the circumstances She died last month at the age of 27 The group maintains that it has questions from eight former employees said that the protest will be attended by "whistleblowers" who worked at the center No charges have been filed and no official reports have indicated any mistreatment of the animal When asked if the United States Department of Agriculture was investigating or if a necropsy would be performed a USDA spokesman told Patch that officials are "aware of the situation and we’re currently looking into it." Di Leonardo on Friday said formal complaints have been filed with Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office the state Department of Environmental Conservation A spokeswoman for Tierney's office said the agency does not comment on the status of complaints Patch has reached out to the DEC and USDA for comment Brookhaven Town Highways Superintendent Dan Losquadro denied any wrongdoing at the shelter and called any suggestion of it "insulting." which prompted the center's veterinarian's decision to euthanize her "She was well past the life expectancy for a bear," he said adding that the species does not live long whether in the wild or in captivity — where he said they can live longer "She was well past the life expectancy for a bear in captivity developed some very severe health problems "There's really nothing more I can say about 'Honey,'" he said "We are certainly saddened that she's no longer with us in the facility and that people won't continue to get to see her and learn." Town officials did meet with Di Leonardo and his group to allay any fears as to the treatment of the bear and other animals and it was his suggestion that they be transferred to sanctuaries "everyone has a right to do what they want.""We will obviously just have to make sure people do not have the right to disrupt public assembly so obviously we'll just have to make sure that anything going on is not disrupting the tree lighting and people's right to come there and enjoy themselves But people are free to do whatever they want Di Leonardo said his group was in talks with the town up until mid-October to move the animals to a sanctuary He described the conditions at the preserver as "taxpayer-funded animal abuse." "The highway department has no place running a zoo," Di Leonardo said "These animals are taken from one bad situation to another I think many of these animals arguably were not rescued and those that may have been taken from another bad situation appear to have been taken to an even worse situation." Di Leonardo said it is "in the best interest of the animals to be sent to a correct animal sanctuary where they can live a more natural life." 2025 at 2:07 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Suffolk police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect they say left the scene of a motor vehicle crash in Holbrook on March 28 NY — Suffolk police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect they say left the scene of a motor vehicle crash that caused around $5,000 worth of damage in Holbrook on March 28 A man was driving a black Nissan Sentra when it struck a parked unoccupied Chevrolet Tahoe in the parking lot of Costco on Beacon Drive between noon and 1 p.m. The incident has been classified leaving the scene of an accident Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the case Anyone with information about these incidents can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips Editor's Note: The previous version of this story contained the wrong date due to a typo in a police news release Animal-welfare activists with PETA and a Long Island group are asking officials to halt their annual Groundhog Day events with Malverne Mel and Holtsville Hal or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals joined a letter written by Humane Long Island founder John Di Leonardo urging the Village of Malverne to retire the Feb is brought to the village for an annual prognostication of an early spring or six more weeks of winter Mel has been a tradition in the village for 29 years brought on to compete with the famous Punxsutawney Phil Holtsville Hal emerged three years later at the Brookhaven Wildlife and Ecology Center Malverne officials say there will be a live ceremony this year Hal's prediction will be posted online but there won't be a public gathering The activists said transporting the groundhogs and exposing them to crowds gathered for Groundhog Day causes stress to the animals outside their normal habitat are native to Long Island but are usually hibernating through February Di Leonardo also pointed to past groundhog mishaps such as Staten Island Chuck biting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2009 — and then five years later when Chuck's stand-in was fatally fumbled by Mayor Bill de Blasio Mel tried to escape his pen during the Malverne event but was scooped up by his handler "It’s time to chuck the tired tradition of using live animals as props at events that completely disregard the interests of wildlife and so thoroughly disrespect them," PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Di Leonardo wrote in a letter to Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan sensitive animals who actively avoid humans." They urged officials to switch to a live costumed performer which will return "Babylon Belle" to the village's event to avoid using live animals Sullivan replied to the letter and said he plans to meet with Di Leonardo this week to try to work out an amicable solution "Our intention is to still have a live groundhog," Sullivan said in an interview Friday Sullivan also plans to visit Mel in his habitat at the Save The Animals Rescue where Mel was first rescued from the wild as a parasite-infested pup with a possible head injury The village makes a $700 donation to the foundation to host the event "The STAR Foundation does everything right and the narrative being put together about the potential mistreatment of animals does not fit what we’re doing in the village," Sullivan said "We’re educating the community about nature and animals in general and doing it in a fun way." The STAR Foundation also hosts a library program in Quogue with the "groundhog Sam Champion," said Lori Ketcham She said the animals cannot be released to the wild and are only ever touched by their handler The foundation is licensed by New York State and the U.S Department of Agriculture to host educational animals The foundation is taking additional measures to protect Mel including bringing a plastic glass pen to the ceremony and would not allow dogs or a band playing nearby Ketcham said the foundation planned to honor the agreement with the village but would not participate if it became a spectacle "This is one event a year for education and we don’t let anyone handle him We work with animals so they feel comfortable," Ketcham said "I don’t know why they're making a big deal out of one day of the year Di Leonardo said there was no way to make the groundhogs comfortable He also asked the Town of Brookhaven to halt its program with Holtsville Hal But the groundhog is expected to make his forecast albeit without crowds because of "a number of factors staffing since the holiday falls on a weekend and adequate public safety during such a large scale event,” Kristen D’Andrea a spokeswoman for the Brookhaven Highway Department politics and crime stories in Nassau County Malverne Mel and Holtsville Hal have been fixtures at Long Island Groundhog Day ceremonies for more than two decades Animal-welfare activists are asking officials to halt the use of the animals at the ceremonies Officials indicate the ceremonies will go on with live groundhogs and defend the foundation that houses Mel Holtsville Hal is said to have seen his shadow this morning suggesting an extended winter for Long Island but the weather-predicting critter’s Groundhog Day prediction went off without it’s usual pomp and circumstances There was no noisy crowd at Brookhaven Town’s Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve there was a poem posted on Facebook and Instagram by Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro reporting that Hal did indeed see his shadow “Hovering over me was a shadow quite big I scurried back to my burrow and started to dig,” Losquadro narrated in social media posts from earlier today six more weeks of winter you can all look forward to!” We’ll need them for a little while longer Losquadro had alerted the public via social media that the town would not be hosting its annual Groundhog Day spectacle: “While we will not be holding a public ceremony this year to hear Holtsville Hal’s prognostication for 2025.” A half-dozen protesters of the annual event which is typically attended by dozens and dozens of residents showed up at the ecology site holding signs condemning the use of a live groundhog at the event Two of the protesters were former employees at the town facility said John DiLeonardo with Humane Long Island “Humane Long Island is thrilled with Brookhaven’s decision not to expose Holtsville Hal to flashing cameras following outcry from former employees and the public,” DiLeonardo told Greater Long Island “Groundhogs are shy animals who would never choose to be put on display especially in February when they should be hibernating.” DiLeonardo added that Humane Long Island is urging Malverne “to follow suit by letting Malverne Mel sleep through next year’s festivities.”“Our campaign to save the animals at Holtsville Ecology Site continues as we urge Brookhaven to take the next step by retiring Holtsville Hal and all of his friends to reputable sanctuaries where they can live more natural lives,” he said DiLeonardo said the town changed the Groundhog Day event in Holtsville to a virtual event after Humane Long Island urged Brookhaven not to participate at the last town board meeting Losquadro at the time of publication of this report It’s unclear if the decision to not hold the traditional live event was affected by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico’s request in December for the Suffolk District attorney to investigate allegations of animal neglect at the town’s Holtsville Ecology Site Panico asked for the probe came after the death of Honey a black bear that lived at the facility for 25 years The claims include reports of mistreatment and neglect raised by former employees of the center The Holtsville Ecology Site is operated by the Town of Brookhaven under its highway department making the town directly responsible for the facility and the animals housed there Panico said his request from an investigation is part of efforts to “protect animal welfare and ensure full transparency.” Top photos: Protesters showed up at the Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve on Sunday to condemn the use of a live groundhog at its Groundhog Day event (Facebook) Honey, a black bear who for a quarter-century was a cornerstone of the Holstville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve’s wildlife education efforts, has died, the ecology center announced. She was 27. Honey far exceeded the typical life expectancy of her species, which rarely surpasses 20 years. She had previously shared her habitat with her brother Pooh, another black bear who died five years in 2019. In a Facebook post announcing Honey’s passing, the ecology center noted that Honey “delighted and educated children about her species.” “Honey (and Pooh) were ambassadors for wildlife education to the countless thousands of residents who visit the Holtsville Ecology Center each year,” the ecology site said in its post. “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.” The ecology site attributed Honey’s longevity to the level of care she was provided there. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve (@holtsvilleecology) 2025 at 8:04 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A fire broke out in the garage of an attached two-story house in Holtsville NY — A fire broke out in the garage of an attached two-story house in Holtsville It broke out at the Long Island Avenue home just after midnight and all of the residents were able to get to safety outside 2025 at 10:22 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Anthony Cucuzzo was arrested in connection with possession of crack cocaine on Saturday morning in Holtsville NY — A man was arrested in connection with possession of crack cocaine on Saturday morning in Holtsville A member of the Suffolk County Police Street Takeover Task Force observed a 2010 Infiniti G37traveling westbound on the Long Island Expressway traveling at a high rate of speed and changing lanes without signaling The officer stopped the vehicle and during the traffic stop The driver also had a suspended driver’s license and registration Cucuzzo was arrested and transported to the Sixth Precinct He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was also issued multiple vehicle and traffic law citations He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Feb Goats at the Holtsville Ecology Center in December the same month that the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office opened an investigation of the facility A mountain lion housed at the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve drowned and an eagle went missing in separate incidents that occurred more than a dozen years ago a former zoo public safety employee said Wednesday — adding to concerns raised by critics who say the animal enclosure should be shuttered Meredith Tinsley said she was told by zoo officials at the time not to report the incidents which she also shared with Brookhaven Town officials last week at a town board meeting are the latest in a series of complaints by former zoo workers and outside critics of the town-run ecology center Town officials have denied the allegations and said a recent federal inspection found no violations In December, Newsday reported that former employees described animals being held in filthy enclosures medical problems being ignored for weeks or months and surgical procedures being performed without anesthetic by staff who lacked formal veterinary training or licenses The Suffolk County District Attorney's office in December opened an investigation of the zoo at the request of town Supervisor Dan Panico Tinsley told Newsday on Wednesday that she discovered a mountain lion that had drowned when ice broke in a wading pool in the animal's enclosure She said the zoo director at the time told her "don't say anything because you know it fell through the ice and it drowned." The director then said or you shouldn't say anything,” Tinsley said The enclosure was not cleaned before the new animal was moved there adding that the mountain lion “freaked out,” was anxious and was pacing She recalled the mountain lion being held down by several people so he could be given an injection of Valium The state Department of Environmental Conservation which licenses animal exhibitors such as zoos prohibits the “addition of new or replacement dangerous animals without license amendment.” the zoo never reported the death of the mountain lion to the DEC nor applied for a license amendment to acquire a new one The ecology center and zoo are operated by Brookhaven Town's highway department Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro said Wednesday he was not familiar with the incident involving the mountain lion “We haven’t even had a mountain lion in the 12 years I’ve been highway superintendent,” Losquadro said adding he had "no idea” if Tinsley's story was true Losquadro has repeatedly said that the zoo is in compliance with all its licensing requirements Failure to get permission for the new mountain lion would have been a violation of its state license Department of Agriculture inspection determined that allegations of mistreatment were "unfounded."  USDA records show the zoo was visited on Jan Among animals at the zoo under USDA's purview are goats "No noncompliant items [were] identified during this inspection." Suffolk district attorney spokesperson Tania Lopez declined to comment Wednesday The DA inspection was assigned to the agency's Biological Panico said Wednesday he and several town council members have spoken to ecology center staff in recent weeks “We asked them a lot of questions," Panico said dispute the allegations" raised by critics and former employees Panico said photographs purportedly showing evidence of mistreatment are "lacking context.” “The most critical issue for me that is of paramount importance is the care of the animals I know the town board is in agreement,” he said Dozens of town employees lined the back of a meeting room last Thursday in support of zoo workers who addressed the town board Those workers defended their work and said the animals are well cared for who also addressed the board during an open public comment period described another incident in which she said an eagle escaped the zoo She said she was ordered not to report the incident We can’t tell anybody we lost the eagle,'” Tinsley said “What I saw while I was there was uncalled for,” she told the town board Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday 2024 at 2:44 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Santa Claus' annual visit by helicopter to the Holtsville Ecology Center's annual tree lighting has been planned for Dec NY — Santa Claus' annual visit by helicopter to the Holtsville Ecology Center's annual tree lighting has been planned for Dec The event will feature musical entertainment The Holtsville Ecology Center is located at 249 Buckley Rd. For more information, contact: 631-451-9276 or www.brookhavenny.gov The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office will investigate allegations of animal neglect at Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve after a request Monday from Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico who indicated the town might look to relocate at least some of the animals or close the facility Panico asked Suffolk prosecutors for a probe Monday following Newsday's exclusive coverage of allegations from seven former assistant animal caretakers at the facility they described dozens of examples of what they labeled as neglect at the town-owned zoo Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney confirmed Monday night that his office would do a probe and that's what we'll do," he said The former workers alleged animals were housed in dirty enclosures medical problems were ignored for weeks and surgical procedures were performed without anesthetic by staff who lacked formal veterinary training or licenses They gave examples of alleged neglect that included ducks and roosters with chronic foot infections a goat whose hooves were so overgrown she couldn’t walk properly and a pig with abscesses on his feet so severe that he began to walk on his knees Panico referenced Newsday's story at a news conference Monday as he called for an independent probe of the facility He said his "staff reached out to the district attorney’s representatives and it’s my understanding that they will take up an investigation." When asked if he was considering changing the management of the zoo or closing it entirely the Brookhaven supervisor answered: "Both." Town officials previously told Newsday the facility houses more than 100 injured or non-releasable wild animals and farm animals Panico said he would consider shifting control of the zoo which is operated by the town’s highway department He also said he was open to the idea that the "exotic" animals could be transferred to "better habitats" so the zoo would house only "barnyard type animals." The supervisor next posed what he called "the central question," asking: "Have we evolved as a town and are there better locations for these animals?" Panico said Monday he had met with several former zoo employees and had visited the facility in the fall and while he hadn't seen any evidence of neglect he would await the findings of a district attorney's office investigation The supervisor also noted the facility costs the town money This year it had operating expenses of $1.18 million and took in a little less than $219,000 in special event fees The former employees who previously came forward to report their concerns have said they hope the animals can be relocated to accredited sanctuaries president of the animal welfare group Humane Long Island previously told Newsday he had contacted accredited sanctuaries and had been able to find spots for all the zoo animals to be relocated He has said the Holtsville zoo was based on an "antiquated" model of confining animals for entertainment rather than considering foremost their needs and welfare and that the town can place them "with reputable sanctuaries where they can live more natural lives." an American black bear who lived at Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve Di Leonardo arrived at the zoo after the news conference Monday at town hall and asked Daniel Losquadro for a meeting to discuss relocating animals But Losquadro refused to engage with Di Leonardo Losquadro said at the zoo Monday that he would welcome an investigation so he could "show the public just what a wonderful facility this is." He previously told Newsday all animal care "is performed by The highway supervisor also said Monday that those making neglect allegations "clearly have an agenda several of the former facility employees making the neglect allegations have said they aren't against spacious well-run zoos and their criticisms relate to what they witnessed on the grounds Losquadro also gave a tour of the zoo to media members Monday afternoon when several animals were visible in their enclosures with a note marking the recent death of its inhabitant Honey Former employees have alleged she suffered for years without pain medication from arthritis urinary tract infections and broken and rotten teeth hospital supervisor at Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center which previously treated one of the zoo's sick animals said her organization was hoping "with recent news coverage and community awareness" that the town would be interested in a discussion about moving the animals to accredited sanctuaries The Holtsville facility isn't accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which requires members to adhere to certain standards of animal welfare and veterinary care It is regulated under the 1966 Animal Welfare Act and must be licensed by the U.S A review of USDA inspection reports for the past decade found that the Holtsville facility was cited six times for poorly maintained pens walk-through holiday light show benefiting the Holtsville Ecology Site Thousands of families have walked through the winter wonderland of lighted before stopping to take their photos with "Santa Claus" in his workshop All proceeds benefit the Holtsville Ecology Site and go directly to the feed and care of the more than 100 animals residing there Admission to the show is $10 per adult and $8 for seniors veterans and children under 12; children 3 and under will be admitted free Photos available with Santa for an additional $30 fee; credit cards only The hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.BrookhavenNY.gov/Holiday The site is located at 249 Buckley Road in Holtsville Now that the federal government might be looking to unload its massive and sprawling IRS Service Center property in Holtsville Greater Long Island has reached out to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico to discuss the site’s potential future That is, should the IRS vacate it Panico said that while the town “has no role in the determinations of the federal government with respect to the possible surplus listing and sale of this property we do have the authority over local zoning.” which allows for one-family dwellings on one-acre lots The building itself is 557,000 square feet in size and its parking lots and grass buffers are built over 75 acres To put the sheer size of the property in perspective Panico said medical technologies “seem like a possible use” for the complex “Companies looking to invest in an AI data center and other uses that bring employment and high-paying jobs to the area would be of interest to the Town of Brookhaven,” he said I don’t believe the federal government sells property ‘subject to,’ so potential buyers are going to have to put together firm plans because the property would go on the tax rolls if it is a non-municipal owner.” One thing he wouldn’t want is for a group of investors to mothball the building and land-bank the property “The last thing I want to see is this property purchased by a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) or other similar entity that lets it sit and deteriorate,” Panico said Panico’s other thoughts and opinions for the property had to do with potential county services such an expansive building could be considered for use by Suffolk County as our county executive has highlighted plans to invest in a new medical examiner’s building as well as the possible replacement of other aged Suffolk County buildings,” he said those determinations are purely Suffolk County decisions.” [GLI has also reached out to County Executive Ed Romaine.] The building is located just south of Woodhaven Avenue Its parking lots stretch from Buckley Road to Waverly Avenue The GSA unveiled on Tuesday an expansive list of federal properties nearing 450 that the agency deemed non-core and “designated for disposal.” the site now reads “coming soon.” for disposal,” the GSA site now reads The building that was included in the GSA list published Tuesday should not be confused with another IRS building, a smaller one that was already sold in 2022 for $28.5 million Politico is reporting that listing federal buildings for possible sales comes as part of a broader effort by its Public Buildings Service to offload properties and leases the Trump administration has deemed no longer essential to government operations The IRS does not publicly disclose staffing levels at its offices, so it’s unclear how many jobs are at stake in Holtsville, should the federal government decide to sell. But according to News 12 Long Island, IRS employees in Holtsville said more than 100 were laid off last month announcing his prognostication on this year's winter weather on Sunday as part of Groundhog Day "Hal" is usually the center of attention every Feb 2 at the town's Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve but this year the live event was canceled days ahead with a note for Facebook followers to check back for his prognostication His prediction of six more weeks of winter was revealed by Highways Superintendent Daniel Losquadro in the form of a poem that was posted to the social media platform on Sunday morning Losquadro said "Long Island's most famous weatherman," enjoyed a long winter's nap and felt rested "The day has arrived; the pressure is on: Six more weeks of cold no one is more invested in this prognostication than me I will tell you what happened this morning at the zoo." "Hal" stepped out of his burrow just as the sun began to rise and got "a surprise" as "a shadow quite big" hovered over him and he then "scurried back" inside his burrow where he started to dig grab those winter coats and those hats — we'll need them for a little while longer," he said It was not immediately clear why the event was canceled News of the cancellation comes on the heels of criticism in recent months by animal rights advocates, as well as allegations that the site's animals, including "Honey" the Black Bear State Department of Environmental Conservation investigators are following up on the allegations Patch has reached out to the town for comment whose members protested outside the facility on Sunday applauded the town's decision in a post on Facebook The group said its members are thrilled Brookhaven decided not to "exploit a live groundhog for this year's festivities" after an "outcry from former employees and the public." "Our campaign to save the animals at Holtsville Ecology Site continues as we urge Brookhaven to take the next step by retiring 'Holtsville Hal' and all of his friends to reputable sanctuaries where they can live more natural lives," the group's post read is overcome with emotion as she gives her victims impact statement in court Thursday at the sentencing hearing for Steven Syrop A Long Island family expressed outrage in and outside a Riverhead courtroom Thursday over the 90-day jail sentence for a retired cop and firefighter who admitted leaving the scene of a 2023 Holtsville crash that killed a Bay Shore woman Suffolk Supreme Court Justice John Collins in handing down the sentence to Steven Syrop noted the plea agreement the district attorney’s office reached with his defense attorney took into consideration his prior service as a first responder "You should be grateful for that," the judge told Syrop a retired NYPD officer and FDNY firefighter addressed Syrop directly and told him how their lives have changed since he hit Bianco as she walked on a road shoulder before driving off "You broke our hearts the same way you broke every bone within my sister’s body," Joanna Alfo "You took two oaths to serve and protect and to save lives and .. you left my sister on the side of the road like an animal Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation having pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in July said he expects his client will be released in early October Prosecutors have said Bianco was walking in the southbound shoulder of North Ocean Avenue about midnight on May 21 Her body was not discovered until about 7:45 a.m after Syrop left the scene without stopping rendering aid or reporting the death to law enforcement Car parts found by law enforcement along the shoulder of the road where the collision occurred matched damage to Syrop's truck which was found parked at his home the day after the incident "I’m not exactly sure what happened that night Bianco was struck by your vehicle with such force that she was thrown to the side of the road and wasn’t discovered for approximately seven hours," Collins said at sentencing I don’t know if she was killed immediately or suffered during those seven hours off to the side of the roadway." Following Syrop’s indictment last November District Attorney Ray Tierney acknowledged the difficulties in prosecuting cases where someone leaves the scene of a crash saying state laws encourage drivers to flee rather than face consequences He said this enables the drivers to potentially destroy evidence and encouraged lawmakers to increase penalties for deadly hit-and-runs Assistant District Attorney Ray Varuolo said by offering the plea "I know the family was concerned because he was an ex-police officer and ex-firefighter if somebody Googles the name Steven Syrop they will not only see police officer or firemen The world will know who killed Jennifer." Syrop said leaving the scene was "the worst decision of my life." He told her family he still thinks about Bianco and expressed remorse for his actions "I hope one day you and your family can forgive me for the pain and suffering I have caused," Syrop said to those in attendance Syrop will perform 420 hours of community service pay the maximum $5,000 fine and be subject to 5 years’ post-release supervision The judge said he is recommending that probationary period include strict drug and alcohol conditions and periodic searches of his home Syrop will also lose his driving privileges for at least 1 year Alfo said the sentence was "nothing compared to what he should be doing." said she hopes Syrop suffers for the pain he caused her family "We tried to get justice for Jennifer we got no justice," the mom said "He got the justice It looks like winter is sticking around a little longer — at least if Long Island’s famous groundhogs are to be believed Holtsville Hal and Malverne Mel both saw their shadows this morning signaling six more weeks of winter for the region At the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve Brookhaven Town Highways Superintendent Daniel Losquadro announced that Hal had spotted his shadow traditionally meaning spring will arrive late in 2025 Malverne Mel delivered the same news from Crossroads Farm confirming that Long Islanders should brace for an extended winter season as an eyewitness to Malverne Mel — Long Island’s preeminent prognosticator of all prognosticators,” Malverne Mayor Tim Sullivan said I must announce that to skiers delight that there will be six more weeks of winter.” Hal and Mel aren’t alone in their prediction — Punxsutawney Phil also saw his shadow this morning in Pennsylvania However, Staten Island Chuck had a different take. The groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo did not see his shadow, forecasting an early spring for New York City. He might be the one to trust—according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Staten Island Chuck has an 85% accuracy rate According to NOAA’s historical accuracy tracking here’s how the region’s furry forecasters compare: Top: Screenshot of Malverne Mel’s prediction 2024 at 2:25 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Danielle Holmes of Holtsville has been nominated for Teacher Spotlight we're fortunate to have teachers like Danielle Holmes Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize teachers and show them how much they’re valued and appreciated This submission comes from Jessica Michaelos who nominated Danielle Holmes of Holtsville How do you know the teacher?My girls have had her Why do you think the teacher should be recognized or honored Holmes is a staple at Waverly Avenue Elementary School She has brought music to life for so many kids including my own When we thought we were losing her to budget cuts the community was in an uproar Holmes is a teacher who truly makes an impact on her students She runs clubs and inspires the kids every single day What's one thing you want everyone to know about the teacher?Ms Holmes puts her heart and soul into her students and it shows This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile Know an outstanding teacher who deserves a shout-out? Nominate them here. The Holtsville On The Border restaurant was one of two Long Island locations to close On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has closed its two Long Island restaurants The Hicksville and Holtsville locations were no longer listed on the restaurant’s website on Tuesday and its individual webpages said they were permanently closed On The Border has yet to release a statement about the closures and has not responded to a request for comment A decline in foot traffic combined with higher menu prices and increased overhead costs have made operating any full-service restaurant more challenging The pandemic exacerbated economic hardships for casual chains Sales among large national casual chains have been uneven and point to a general trend toward a slowdown Maureen Mullarkey is a breaking news reporter at Newsday She previously worked as a reporter for Patch where she covered a range of Long Island stories on topics such as the Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcy and the Babylon School District abuse scandals lived at the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve for more than 25 years helped teach generations of Long Islanders about conservation at the Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve the bear was brought from out of state to the ecology site when only months old "We’re very grateful that so many people got to see Pooh .. and Honey for as long as they did," said Daniel Losquadro the Brookhaven Town superintendent of highways whose department oversees the ecology center "Children have gotten the opportunity to feed those bears through the fence So many children have had so many wonderful memories even just seeing those animals up close like that." injured or illegally domesticated wild animals Workers and guests were hit hard by the news that Honey had died a caretaker at the ecology site who had worked directly with Honey for about seven years "We’re with these animals every single day Layer and Perry recalled how the bear enjoyed sweet scents and foods Staff would stuff logs with peanut butter or that sweet liquid for which she was named "She would get an exotic K-9 kibble as her base then she would be supplemented with other fruits a few vegetables," Layer recalled of Honey’s typical diet She added that the bear also enjoyed eating eggs chopped meat and pork — all raw — but her favorite food above all others were grapes "I’ve had people already come here tearing up grieving for her as well because they’ve been coming year after year after year to see these animals," Layer said "They form their own connections with them." politics and crime stories in Suffolk County 2024 at 12:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Two people have been arrested in connection with seven armed robberies and attempted robberies over nine-days across Suffolk County including two at the same gas station off of the Long Island Expressway in Holtsville NY — Two people have been arrested in connection with seven armed robberies and attempted robberies over nine-days across Suffolk County Investigators determined the subjects were responsible after they were nabbed following the second robbery at the gas station started at BP Gas on Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset then was followed by another one the next day at Bolla Market on Portion Road in Holtsville at around 12:34 a.m. The duo struck at Amoco on Express Drive South in Holtsville for the first time on Dec The incidents included an attempted robbery at 7-Eleven on Lakeland Avenue in Bohemia at around 2:24 a.m followed by a robbery around 10 minutes later at 2:35 a.m at 7-Eleven on Lowell Avenue in Islip Terrace they struck Bolla Market on Veterans Memorial Highway in Ronkonkoma on Wednesday just after 2 a.m. and they weren't caught until they hit Amoco in Holtsville for a second time Officers from the 6th Precinct in Selden responded to the gas station at around 2:27 a.m after a 911 caller reported an armed robbery adding that a description of the suspects’ vehicle was broadcast an officer pulled it over and the pair inside was arrested It was then determined that they had taken part in the other six robberies were charged with five counts of first-degree robbery Zaccaria was charged with an additional two counts of first-degree robbery The duo are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip It was not immediately clear if they have legal representation 2024 at 10:07 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Lisa Ranieri of Holtsville has been nominated for Teacher Spotlight we're fortunate to have teachers like Lisa Ranieri This submission comes from Amanda Tirelli who nominated Lisa Ranieri of Holtsville How do you know the teacher?She was my daughter's Kindergarten teacher and now my sons Why do you believe the teacher should be recognized or honored?Mrs It’s never easy for parents the first year a child goes to school Lisa has always made all parents know that their children will always be loved and well taken care of My daughter struggled with anxiety and had a hard time getting through schoolwork Lisa did not give up on my daughter and helped guide me when it came to homework What's one thing you want everyone to know about the teacher?Like she always says she runs a tight Work is underway on a battery storage facility at the rear of Brookhaven Town’s municipal garage on North Ocean Avenue in Patchogue Even as two battery-energy storage plants are under construction in Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said the town won’t approve any additional batteries until New York State releases and approves new fire safety code standards for the facilities He also raised new questions about whether up to six other plants proposed for the town could be completed given what he said were conflicting signals from Washington Albany and the Long Island Power Authority Developers have proposed at least eight battery storage plants in Brookhaven Town LIPA has proposed a separate facility for Shoreham said a range of factors is combining to raise uncertainties about all but the smaller Patchogue plant on North Ocean Avenue and a larger Holtsville site just south of the Long Island Expressway thatrecently began preconstruction work Residents across Brookhaven have coalesced in opposition to nearly all the sites "Given the uncertainty from the federal government and the chaos from our state government I would say the only certainties right now seem to be the Holtsville location and the small [plant] in Patchogue," Panico said From breaking news to special features and documentaries the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you He pointed to the need for new safety codes to be issued by the state as the primary reason the town won’t green light projects beyond those already moving forward "We’re not advancing any applications toward hearings because we’re still waiting for the latest iteration of the state building and fire prevention code guidance that’s supposed to be coming out early this summer," he said "That’s a point that we want to make explicit to everyone in the town of Brookhaven." Another project proposed in East Yaphank appears to have been withdrawn because of escalating costs tied to grid connections for the project referring to the site originally slated for William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway energy storage provider  Savion’s senior development manager Camille Kaynor said the Yaphank project which she noted is "developed and permitted on land that Savion owns," is "still actively in development."  Kaynor also said the Holtsville project was undergoing "limited pre-construction" work but said further construction activities "are not anticipated until later this year." The Holtsville plant is expected to be in operation by the end of 2026 and that facility is "designed to adhere" to the newly proposed state fire code recommendations Panico said the need for a zoning change for part of a 4.5-acre proposed battery plant on Old Town Road in Setauket could make approving that facility problematic for the town board A small portion of the site is zoned residential while the rest conforms to the light industrial zone "That’s an issue that may prove difficult for that application," Panico said "It’s prudent and best to seek to locate these plants where appropriate Work has been ongoing at the smaller Patchogue battery facility on town-owned land on North Ocean Avenue Panico said the 1.9-megawatt size is equivalent to about 13 Tesla Cyber Trucks Neighbors have been strongly opposed to the plant but work has continued since earlier this month Panico said he’s been disappointed that the state and LIPA have not done more to help educate citizens about battery energy storage He said he’s been disappointed by cost escalations that have led some developers to stall or withdraw projects One project was hit with $25 million in extra costs "When you look at the overall potential development picture only a company as large as Shell and Savion could absorb this chaotic type of pricing schedule," Panico said combined with delays in advancing new fire safety codes and failure to publicly support the need for the projects Brookhaven won’t approve any site plan using the existing state fire safety codes New codes were proposed in 2023 following fires at three battery plants across the state in that year "If New York State keeps this up they’ll never achieve that which they say we need," Panico said of the state’s plan for 6,000 megawatts of battery storage by 2035 "They’re not going to cast as wide a net as they potentially could in the development community because who in their right mind would want to do business in New York State" under those conditions Kathy Hochul didn’t respond to a request for comment LIPA in a statement noted that it’s "actively investing in battery energy storage," calling it a "critical component to pair with intermittent renewable energy resources like solar and wind as New York State transitions to an affordable LIPA said safety is a "top priority" as it expands storage capacity including a proposed 50-megawatt battery at the former Shoreham nuclear plant and another 79-megawatt battery plant in Hauppauge "LIPA expects its partners to follow rigorous industry best practices and state-of-the-art fire prevention and monitoring technologies to ensure that battery storage systems operate safely and reliably," the utility said and that its projects will "meet or exceed strict safety and environmental standards." Panico first expressed his frustration about lack of critical support for the battery facilities at an environmental roundtable hosted Friday by Republican State Sen Brookhaven has been supportive of green energy projects going back to former Supervisor Ed Romaine’s term and spoke of the difficulty Brookhaven faces going it alone on battery storage one of the few very Long Island towns without a moratorium on batteries Hempstead this week put a yearlong moratorium on battery storage but they don’t want the battery storage," Romaine said in an interview after a regional roundtable Thursday "The only town that’s shown the courage is Brookhaven because they’re trying to do something the other towns don’t even want to look at but you're asking us to do renewable energy and to do that you need battery storage." Panico confirmed the 110-megawatt Holtsville plant on the South Service Road of the Long Island Expressway near the Island 16 movie theater has begun preliminary construction work "There are dumpsters on site and they’re taking down trees," said Ben Caccavale who lives a few hundred feet from the facility and has protested against it Who’s going to buy my house?" he added "All I can hope for is that [President] Trump comes in and dismantles the whole system." Trump has already hit the brakes on wind-energy projects that would supply their excess power to the batteries Panico said the Holtsville site is "one where you can make the reasonable argument that it is a good site for battery energy storage," given nearby industries such as a natural gas plant He said the town would require that the Holtsville battery plant adhere to the new fire safety codes Executive Circle Awards Food distributor expanding with $9M Holtsville acquisition  Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Two children were pulled from a pond in cardiac arrest in Holtsville on Saturday Two children died in an apparent drowning Saturday after going into the pond at the Fairfield Townhouses at Holtsville development Officers responding to the scene joined good Samaritans who were searching for the children the girls were found in the pond and pulled out unresponsive said 911 dispatchers helped instruct callers how to perform CPR on the children The children were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital Suffolk homicide detectives are still investigating the deaths Neighbors in the usually quiet complex were reeling Saturday night some standing in hushed circles in shock as crime scene tape remained posted around the pond at around 8 p.m The residents didn’t want to be quoted by name but described a frantic mother searching for her children earlier Saturday afternoon and desperate efforts to find the children A call to Fairfield Properties' management office seeking information was not immediately returned