Babylon Weekend Briefing: Raises Out of the Budget, a Pay Cut and a 5.8% Tax Hike — November 8–14, 2026

Your Money · Town of Babylon

The raises are out of the budget, the Supervisor is taking a pay cut, and the tax increase is now 5.8%

Two weeks ago this briefing reported that the Town of Babylon’s proposed 2027 budget set a possible salary of $160,000 for Supervisor Rich Schaffer, up from $123,680, and that residents objected at the November 5 public hearing. Since then the proposal has changed.

The planned salary increases for elected officials have been removed from the budget, and separately, Schaffer said he will take a $3,700 pay cut next year. Those are two distinct decisions, not one: the first drops the increases that were proposed for elected officials generally; the second reduces the Supervisor’s own pay below its current level.

The tax increase in the revised plan is 5.8%, which the Town puts at about $113 more a year on the average Town tax bill and about $74 for residents who live inside an incorporated village. Our November 1–7 issue reported the earlier figures of 5.9% and $114; these are the revised numbers. As before, this covers only the Town portion of a property tax bill — school, county and special-district charges are billed separately.

Schaffer attributed the increase to rising pension and employee healthcare costs. The plan again exceeds New York State’s property tax cap, which the Town also pierced in 2024 and in 2025, and that repetition is what several residents objected to. “You’re only supposed to pierce the cap occasionally,” Deer Park resident Kristin Schuster told News 12. “Not every two years.”

The Town Board is expected to vote on the budget Wednesday, November 18, at 3 p.m., at Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst — the meeting we pointed readers to two weeks ago. The Town’s Agenda Center posts the agenda for each meeting, and the vote is the item to look for.

Sources: Newsday · News 12 · Town of Babylon Agenda Center

A Life Remembered · Babylon Village

Herbert G. Hemendinger spent 33 years running Babylon’s parks, beaches and pools. He died at 93.

Herbert G. Hemendinger, a longtime Babylon Village resident, died November 5 at Kanas Hospice Center in Westhampton Beach. He was 93. The Long Island Herald reported his death on November 10.

If you grew up here, you spent time in places he was responsible for. Hemendinger served more than 33 years as director of the Town of Babylon’s Parks and Recreation Department, overseeing the parks, beaches and pools that became the Town’s summer gathering places for generations of families.

Before that he was athletic director and a physical education teacher at West Babylon High School, where he also coached basketball and football. He was raised in Lindenhurst, kept a lifelong connection to the community and was active in its Methodist church, served earlier in life as a military policeman, worked for Off-Track Betting for more than 19 years, and chaired the Town of Babylon Republican Committee.

“Herbie was a fixture in Babylon politics and a respected presence in the community,” Babylon Town Councilman Anthony Manetta told the Herald. “From the time I was just 19 years old, he consistently encouraged me to pursue public office.” What stood out most, Manetta said, “was his unwavering positivity and encouragement.”

His granddaughter Stevie Luongo told the paper he was there for every milestone, “whether it was something as simple as watching me compete in the Babylon village swimming races or something as dramatic as walking me down the aisle.” Another granddaughter, Stephanie Brennan, remembered summers at his Oak Beach home.

Hemendinger is survived by his daughter, Karen Allar of Mattituck, and by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, who died in 2001. Family and friends gathered November 11 at Mangano Family Funeral Home in Deer Park, followed by burial at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

Source: Long Island Herald

Neighbors · Babylon

For the 15th year, a Babylon teacher’s students will cook and serve Thanksgiving breakfast

Beth Marinelli teaches special education in the Babylon school district, and for 15 years her kindergarten-through-second-grade students have put on a Thanksgiving breakfast for invited adults — up to 50 of them.

The children do the work. They practice the menu out loud beforehand, each gets a clipboard with their own copy of it, and they dress as little chefs. Then they serve French toast, oatmeal, fresh fruit, muffins and bagels, with seconds, and go around the room with microphones asking guests what they are thankful for.

The point, Marinelli told Newsday, is “for these children to be confident in themselves and know that they can achieve anything they put their hearts and minds to.”

This year’s breakfast is Friday, November 20, at 9:30 a.m.

Source: Newsday

Public Safety · Deer Park

A Deer Park EMT stopped to help at a crash and was critically injured

Michael Merkle, 44, of Deer Park, a certified emergency medical technician, was critically injured Wednesday morning after he pulled over to help motorists involved in a crash.

According to Suffolk County police, a crash involving a 2010 Ford and a 2015 Chevrolet happened around 8 a.m. on the westbound Sunrise Highway service road east of Wilson Boulevard, in Islip Terrace. Merkle and another man, Brendan Lahti, stopped and got out to help. About five minutes later a 2019 Dodge Ram struck the rear of Lahti’s pickup, pushing it into Merkle’s, and both men — who were outside their vehicles — were struck.

Merkle was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition. Police said detectives are still working to determine which vehicle struck the two men.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553.

Sources: Greater Long Island · News 12

Courts · North Lindenhurst

A woman crossing Wellwood Avenue was seriously hurt in a hit-and-run; a driver has been charged

A pedestrian was seriously injured on Wellwood Avenue near 51st Street in North Lindenhurst on Monday around 7:50 p.m.

Suffolk County police said a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek driven north on Wellwood by Rachel Leya, 39, of Bethpage, struck a pedestrian crossing the avenue from west to east, and that Leya then left the scene. The pedestrian, Jeanna Serpa, 38, of North Lindenhurst, was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for treatment of serious injuries.

After an investigation, police arrested Leya and charged her with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving serious physical injury. She was issued a desk appearance ticket and is to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date. The Subaru was impounded for a safety check.

Detectives asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the First Squad at 631-854-8152.

Sources: Patch · Newsday

Cold Cases · Lindenhurst and Deer Park

A Lindenhurst woman and a man found in Deer Park have their names back after nearly 50 years

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced this week that two homicide victims who went unidentified for almost five decades have been identified. Both cases touch the Town of Babylon.

The woman known for 48 years only as “Heckscher Jane Doe” was Antoinette Rugg, 26, whose last known address was on South First Street in Lindenhurst. Her body was found buried in the sand at Heckscher State Park on April 2, 1978. She was identified through next-generation genetic sequencing and investigative genetic genealogy by the Suffolk County Cold Case Task Force.

The man known as “Raymond Doe” was Ramon Perez y Rivera, about 41, a native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. His body was found in Deer Park on November 27, 1976, north of Long Island Avenue and east of Commack Road. Investigators met with members of his family, who voluntarily provided DNA samples; kinship testing confirmed the identification.

“Every person deserves to be known by their name, and every victim deserves answers and justice,” District Attorney Ray Tierney said. “Five decades have passed since the first of these individuals was found deceased, but our commitment to identifying them and pursuing justice has never wavered.”

“For far too long, these victims remained unidentified, but they were never forgotten,” Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. “Our work is not done and we remain committed to uncovering the circumstances of their deaths.”

No criminal charges have been filed in either case. These are identifications, not arrests, and the investigations remain open.

Source: Patch

Schools and Sports · West Babylon

West Babylon’s Leah Kutchens won the Suffolk all-around and is Newsday’s Athlete of the Week

Leah Kutchens, a West Babylon senior who competes for the combined Lindenhurst/West Babylon gymnastics team, won the all-around at the Suffolk individual championships with a score of 36.225. She placed second on bars (8.95), third on floor (9.35), sixth on beam (8.975) and seventh on vault (8.95). Newsday named her Athlete of the Week.

“There were so many emotions,” she said. “I started crying. I was excited for my family to see me because my parents were watching me. I’m the last kid in my family to graduate and I just wanted to have a good meet for the last one.”

She is the third Kutchens sister to come through the program. “Since we restarted the program, they’ve been the staple of our team,” West Babylon athletic director Bob Panariello told Newsday. “Leah is the youngest of the three Kutchens that came through and there’s always an expectation to match or exceed what your older sisters did. As of now, she’s exceeded that. Our whole school district is extremely proud of her.”

She is heading back to the state championships. “I just want to do better than last year and try to win an event,” she said.

Source: Newsday

Veterans Day · West Babylon

Two West Babylon elementary schools spent Veterans Day thanking the people who served

Students at John F. Kennedy Elementary School and South Bay Elementary School in the West Babylon School District honored veterans on November 10 with assemblies, certificates and receptions.

At John F. Kennedy, veterans were treated to a breakfast before gathering in the gymnasium for a commemorative assembly. At South Bay, students learned about the service and sacrifices of veterans with connections to their own school community — which is the version of this lesson that tends to stick.

Source: Patch

Giving Back · Lindenhurst

The Lindenhurst Kiwanis Club, founded in 1950, has a full season of giving booked

The Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst — 75 years old this year — has laid out its holiday season, according to the club’s own announcement.

Through its Hometown Heroes Banner Program, the club presented a $3,000 donation to Operation Vest at the Village of Lindenhurst’s Veterans Day ceremony on November 11. Members are coordinating donations of holiday food and gift cards for families facing financial difficulty at Thanksgiving, with additional funding set aside for December. A trip to Stony Brook University Hospital is set for November 18, and the club is providing a holiday sheet cake for the Rainbow Senior Center’s celebration on December 7. It also runs the Key Club and Builders Club youth service programs.

If you want to meet them: the Emmy Lights the Way “Play It Forward” fundraiser is Saturday, November 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh. Families looking for help with adaptive equipment can find grant information at emmylightstheway.org. Club president Jo-Ann Boettcher welcomes community inquiries; the club is at lindenhurstkiwanis.org.

Source: Patch (community submission)

Things To Do · Deer Park

ChristmasLand opened at Tanger Outlets Deer Park — and it is open this weekend

ChristmasLand opened for the season on Friday, November 13, on the second floor of Tanger Outlets Deer Park. Organizers describe it as an indoor, heated Christmas walk-through: about 20,000 square feet of themed rooms and photo sets, from a Candy Cane Room to a Reindeer Stable with a talking Rudolph, with Santa in his workshop.

Hours after opening night are Fridays 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., adding Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. in December. The season runs through Sunday, December 27, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Every ticket includes all the themed rooms, a meet and greet with Santa, every digital photo from the photo stations sent by text and email, and as much time inside as you want. The venue is 152 The Arches Circle, Via La Scala Suite 900, Deer Park; tickets and current pricing are at christmaslandny.com.

Source: Patch calendar listing · ChristmasLand Experience

Good News · Deer Park

A kitten spent hours stuck in a Deer Park storm drain. She is being named Chicken Nugget.

Rescuers arrived at a Deer Park storm drain around 8:30 a.m. and worked for more than five hours to get a kitten out of it.

Suffolk police helped pull the drainage grating so the rescue group could set a kitten trap. In the end, Virginia Scudder, founder of North Fork Country Kids Animal Rescue, reached into the drain and lifted the kitten up into a carrier. What finally coaxed her close enough: chicken nuggets.

So that is her name. Chicken Nugget went on to a veterinarian for a full checkup before being made available for adoption.

Source: News 12

Quick Hits

Police released new photos in an August assault outside the Deer Park White Castle. Suffolk County police are asking for help identifying a man accused of assaulting a 76-year-old man in the parking lot at 1690 Deer Park Ave. on August 26 around 11:47 a.m. The victim was treated for minor injuries at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. The attack is not new; the appeal for help is. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. Patch

A Deer Park funeral home held a free paper-shredding event for residents — a small, practical piece of community service, and a reminder that identity theft starts in the recycling bin. Patch

Newsday reported on Rex Heuermann’s confinement at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, where it said he spends 23 hours a day in a cell. There is no new local development in the Gilgo Beach case this week. Newsday

Two local business announcements crossed the wire. Babylon Dental Care announced that Long Island native Dr. Robert Baldi has joined as an associate general dentist, and County Roofing marked nearly 40 years serving Deer Park. Both reached us as company press releases rather than independent reporting, and we are noting them as such. EIN Presswire · openPR

Small Business Season™ · Babylon Local

Meet Babylon’s businesses — and put yours on the map

Our Small Business Season magazine feature introduces the Town of Babylon’s Business Class of 2026, with profiles of local shops, restaurants and makers.

Do you serve the Town of Babylon area? Are you rated 4 stars or above on Google? Yes to both? You belong on Babylon Local. An ICON Listing adds an enhanced business profile with photos, business hours, Google reviews and map, events, and local visibility tools. No Google profile yet? Reach out anyway — we’re happy to help you get one set up.

Explore the Babylon Local ICON Offer →

Coming up around Babylon: make a plan for the weekend

ChristmasLand’s opening weekend at Tanger Outlets, the Kiwanis fundraiser next Saturday and the rest of the weekend’s picks are in our events guide.

See This Weekend’s Events →

Remembering our neighbors

Our condolences to the families and friends of neighbors we lost this week.

Regina C. Anderson, Babylon
Arthur Innes, Babylon
Anthony Vito Pace Sr., Babylon
Salvatore Vecchio, Babylon
Susan Anastassiadis, Deer Park
Barbara Lee Cividanes, Lindenhurst
Mary Finn, Lindenhurst
Frances M. Pepe (Guerrera), Lindenhurst
Marcelino Torres, Lindenhurst
Frances Vivona, Lindenhurst
Sybil I. Abelson, West Babylon
Vincent Fischetti, West Babylon
Peter J. Hetterich, West Babylon

What we are watching next

• Wednesday, November 18, 3 p.m.: the Town Board is expected to vote on the 2027 budget at Town Hall in Lindenhurst. Check the agenda for the budget resolution and any separate salary items.
• Michael Merkle’s condition, and which vehicle police determine struck him and Brendan Lahti.
• Whether charges follow in either of the two newly identified cold cases.
• Rachel Leya’s arraignment date at First District Court in Central Islip.
• Leah Kutchens at the state gymnastics championships.
• Friday, November 20, 9:30 a.m.: the 15th Thanksgiving breakfast at Babylon.
• Saturday, November 21, 1 to 5 p.m.: the Kiwanis “Play It Forward” fundraiser at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh.

ARE YOU A BABYLON LOCAL ICON?

Do you serve the Town of Babylon area? Are you rated 4 stars or above on Google? Yes to both and you belong on Babylon Local. No Google profile yet? Reach out anyway — happy to help you set one up.

An ICON Listing gives your business an enhanced profile with photos, Google reviews and map, hours, events and promotional tools. See the current ICON offer, included services and signup details.

See What Is Included →

Explore the Babylon Local network

• Events: Events Around the Town of Babylon This Weekend — local outings, live music and family plans.
• News: Babylon Local News — the Weekend Briefing — weekly reporting from across the Town of Babylon.
• Magazine: Small Business Season Is Here. Meet the Town of Babylon’s Business Class of 2026. — the latest feature on BabylonLocal.net, introducing local businesses in the Class of 2026.

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