The Tide is welcoming 2025 in the Moriches with admirable New Year’s resolutions from many of our local faces. What is your New Year’s goal?
Daniel Panico, Brookhaven Town Supervisor
“In this coming year, I will continue the preservation of open space, and push the redevelopments in downtown North Bellport and downtown Mastic Beach toward fruition. Moreover, I will redouble our efforts to help the people and communities who are in need where town government can make a difference, while pushing other levels of government to do the same. I strongly believe that there should be no place in elected office for those who cannot rise to the challenges of our day, and those challenges are plenty. I will continue to meet those challenges head-on, whatever they be, while explaining facts to our residents, devoid of fanciful fiction and rhetoric that has too often become the discourse of our day. The people yearn for the truth, and that is what I will continue to give them.”
Karen Dunne Kesnig, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman
“As a member of the Brookhaven Town Board, my resolution is to encourage more direct open communication through meetings, telephone calls and emails, and less misinformation being spread on Facebook. We are concentrating on cracking down on illegal rentals and illegal dumping to help improve the quality of life here in Brookhaven.“On a personal note, I also hope to focus on the positive and not let the few very negative people cause me to lose sight of what’s important in life.”
Marcie Litjens, Center Moriches Free Public Library Director
“The library surpassed over 200,000 visitors in 2024 and in addition to checking out items, provided a variety of services including notary, passport acceptance, educational and entertaining programming, the seed library and partnered with Stony Brook Medicine to offer the Healthy Libraries Program and social work interns. In 2025, the library will be conducting a survey to see how we can continue to meet the needs of the community and what services and programs you’d like to see added. More information will follow in the upcoming year and will be announced in our newsletters and on our website.”
Jackie Osborne, Moriches Chamber of Commerce
“In 2024, we were able to host seven summer concerts in Center Moriches and East Moriches, thanks to the generous donation of Jim Mazzarella, Suffolk County legislator, and the Center Moriches Library, bringing our communities together through the power of music. We also organized two large fairs, each featuring live music, which attracted people from near and far. Additionally, we continued our cherished traditions with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Dinner, the Veterans Parade, and the Christmas tree and menorah lighting. These events have not only allowed us to come together in celebration, but have also served as a testament to the strength and unity of our chamber and our towns.
“This year, we also hosted two major fundraisers, and thanks to your incredible generosity, we were able to donate to 12 local charities. In addition, we provided six scholarships to our local schools, including a business student scholarship, to students from Center Moriches High School. These initiatives have had a tangible impact, and none of it would have been possible without your continued support and participation.
“We look forward to continuing this tradition of giving back and working together to make our community even stronger in the coming year. Thank you to everyone who has made this year a success!
“The chamber of commerce is excited for the upcoming year and all the wonderful events we have planned to bring our community together. One of our main goals for 2025 is to engage more volunteers from our community who would be willing to lend a helping hand at our various events. Your support is vital to making these events a success and ensuring they continue to bring joy and connection to our towns.”
James Mazzarella, Suffolk County Legislator
“My top priority as we head into 2025 is to continue improving public safety—because keeping our roads and communities safe is the most important responsibility of any elected official.
In the year ahead, I’m committed to:
And on a personal note (as cliché as it may sound)… I wouldn’t mind shedding a few pounds, too!
Here’s to a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2025 for all. Let’s get to work!”
Cassy and Keith Caputo, Helping Makes U Happy
“Keith’s resolution is to find new space for Helping Makes U Happy! Although we are extremely grateful to have been allowed to use some of East Moriches Hardware’s space for putting together all the Christmas helping we are doing this year, all the moving bags of gifts back and forth between home and there was really challenging for me and mom. And I resolve to keep asking people to keep an eye out for a place for us—we just missed out on a place today because we didn’t see it in time. But no matter what, I’m going to keep my ‘happy’ on!”
Matt Gartelman, Barn Again Farm
“2024 was amazing! I was blessed with so many amazing opportunities for the farm and even my personal life. I spoke at and promoted farming at two schools a pre-K and even a college. I also was awarded the first-ever Young Entrepreneur Farmer Award from the Long Island Farm Bureau! We started farming bees and started a wildflower pollinator garden. We also worked with the Ketcham Inn Foundation and they were nice enough to let us set up our Festive Farm Stand.”
“My personal New Year’s resolution is to keep learning! Learning about farming, marketing, managing, designing and so much more.”
“Our New Year’s resolution here at Barn Again Farm is to keep promoting the opportunities of farming on Long Island. Another goal is to try to start another community garden for the residents and (or) tourists in Center Moriches. We are really looking forward to harvesting our first batch of honey from our Center Moriches farm.”
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