Memorial Day Parades & Bayport Wins

In This Issue of Patchogue Live Local

🗽Memorial Day Parades Today

📷School Bus Camera Law

 🎤Supporting Youth & Young Adults

 🎾Bayport-Blue Falls in Tennis County Championship

🥍Bayport-Blue Point Wins County in Lacrosse


 📆 New Calendar of Events in the Greater Patchogue Area!

Memorial Day

Join the Bellport Memorial Day Parade

The parade will commence at 11:00 a.m. at the Village Green, located at the corner of Bellport Lane and Bell Street. Participants will march north along Station Road, concluding the procession at Woodland Cemetery. Scheduled to end at 1:00pm.

Patchogue's Memorial Day Parade

The Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 27, starting at 11:00 AM. The parade starts off at Main Street, beginning at the intersection of Rt 112, and will continue to the Four Corners. From there, it will head south on South Ocean Avenue, culminating at the American Legion Post.

Medford’s Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. ET
Location:** Medford Fire Department, 171 Oregon Ave, Medford, NY 11763

Celebrate Memorial Day in Medford with a parade starting from the Medford Fire Department. Join the community in honoring our nation's heroes.

Government

School Bus Camera Law Extension Sparks Controversy

The recent extension and amendment of New York's school bus camera law, signed into the state budget by Governor Kathy Hochul, marks a significant win for the tech firm BusPatrol America. This move, reported by Newsday's Mark Harrington, Sandra Peddie, and Michael Gormley, has reignited debates about the effectiveness and fairness of the program.

BusPatrol, a Virginia-based company, began its operations in New York following the initial passage of the bus camera law in 2019. Suffolk County, the state's largest customer of BusPatrol, now has cameras installed in all 71 school districts, generating significant revenue. In 2023 alone, the program brought in over $21 million, with 55% allocated to the county and 45% to BusPatrol.

Supporters argue that the cameras are essential for protecting children on dangerous roadways. However, critics question the program's true impact on safety and its financial burden on drivers. The starting fine for passing a stopped school bus is $250, a figure deemed too steep by some, particularly as those same people claim it disproportionately affects those less able to pay.

Newsday's investigation uncovered that BusPatrol's lobbying efforts have been extensive and well-connected, involving several former top Suffolk County officials. These connections, coupled with substantial lobbying expenditures, have fueled concerns about the motives behind the legislation and its implementation.

Despite these controversies, the core question remains: Has the bus camera program genuinely improved safety for schoolchildren? While fines and revenue have surged, concrete evidence demonstrating a corresponding increase in student safety is still debated. As the county moves forward with this program, it remains to be seen whether the financial and political costs will translate into the intended protective benefits for students.

For further details, read the full report by Harrington, Peddie, and Gormley on (https://www.newsday.com).

Community

Join the Discussion: Supporting Youth & Young Adults

The Boys & Girls Club of Bellport, in partnership with the Multicultural Advisory Committee, is hosting an important community discussion focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of our youth and young adults. The event will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the Boys & Girls Club, located at 471 Atlantic Ave, Bellport, NY 11713.

This gathering aims to address critical issues such as mental health and substance use, exploring ways to strengthen community support systems. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts, share experiences, and collaborate on strategies to better support young people in our community.

Your participation is crucial in creating a supportive environment where young people can thrive. Join for this vital conversation and contribute to building a stronger, healthier community.

To register, call or email Office of Minority Health 631-854-0378 [email protected]

Local Sports

Bayport-Blue Point Narrowly Defeated by Ross in Boys Tennis County Championship

Ross, a private school, triumphed over Bayport-Blue Point, 4-3 winning the Small Schools Boys Tennis County Championship at Smithtown East. This victory marks the second consecutive county championship for Ross, which will now seek its first Long Island crown on Tuesday against Nassau champion Friends Academy at Smithtown East.

Bayport-Blue Point Set to Face Wantagh in Long Island Class C Finals

Bayport-Bluepoint(17-1) won the Class C Suffolk title by defeating Shoreham-Wading River 9-8. Wantagh (16-3) captured the program’s first county title since 2001 with a convincing 13-4 win against Island Trees. Their next challenge will feature Bayport-Blue Point, which handed Wantagh one of its three losses by an 8-7 score on March 22.

The Long Island Class C finals, set for Wednesday evening Wantagh vs Bayport-Blue Point at Longwood High School. This highly anticipated matchup promises to be a thrilling contest as Bayport-Blue Point aims to replicate their earlier victory and clinch the title.

Crime

Memorial Day Weekend Sobriety Checkpoint: 12 Charged in Patchogue

A dozen people were charged during an overnight sobriety checkpoint in Patchogue at the outset of the Memorial Day weekend. The detail was held from around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 24, until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 25.

Officers from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Highway Patrol Bureau SAFE-T Team conducted the joint operation with Suffolk County deputy sheriffs at Waverly Plaza. A total of 569 vehicles went through the checkpoint.

Upcoming Local Events

See our New Event Calendar.

Soon you will be able to get notifications for events going on the area. Check out the events at https://patchoguelocal.live/

We Need Your Input

 Your thoughts are the heartbeat of this newsletter. As we wrap up this edition, we extend an invitation to you, our valued readers, to share your insights, stories, or suggestions. Whether it's a topic you're itching to read about, an experience you're eager to share, or just a bit of feedback on how we're doing, we're all ears.