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MARCH 2026 NEWSLETTER
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| Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy |
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Table of Contents
-- Message From Our Leadership Team
-- 400 Students Register to Vote at Brentwood High
-- League Members Travel to Albany & Meet LaLota
-- Deb Cosher & Our League Honored at Farmingdale College
-- Out with ICE Demonstration
-- Food Drives Support Needy in Huntington, Babylon
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Message From Our Leadership Team
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By Nella Yelenovic
We are at the epitome of Winter in the Northeast, and everyone from towns and cities
to businesses, families and individuals are weary of it all but are still responding,
taking care of ourselves while continuing to meet our community responsibilities.
Similarly, we are all responding to the ongoing offensive upon our rights, the Constitution,
and our democracy. Political slants, beliefs and commitments aside, democracy in the United
States of America is non-negotiable.
The incessant instances of unbecoming conduct and outright crimes we have experienced
over the past 13 months are exhausting, unnerving, and appalling. We are not only apprehensive
about the challenge; we are often paralyzed with disbelief and fear but not for long. Our anger
boils us out of our numbness. Our love of one another, our country, and our democracy transports
us from inaction to decisive and brave action. We have witnessed examples of valor by people
unaware that they were even in a battle, but which resulted in their ultimate sacrifice.
Click here to read more > >
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400 Students Register to Vote at Brentwood High
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by Frances Whittelsey
After training members of Brentwood High's Government Club on how to conduct a non-partisan voter registration
effort, the club members-with League help-registered and pre-registered 413 students over a two-day period in
early February. The success, according to youth committee co-chairs Deb Cosher and Loretta Chillemi, was based
on "Youth Engaging Youth."
Eight League members supported the effort each day. "Youth Engaging Youth" is
what our committee has found is the most successful way to engage students, "said Loretta.
"We were set up in two locations on both days and several social studies teachers brought
down their senior classes. We always supply candy and snacks for the students. This year
with the table near the cafeteria we were able to treat the kids to fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!"
The League has made a powerful connection with two Brentwood social studies
teachers, the social studies chair, Paula Santorelli, and government club faculty member,
Jessica Johnson, working with them over the years to send students to Student Day at the
Suffolk County Legislature. This year, one of their students will attend a four day all
expenses paid trip to Albany. The program, LWVNY, Students Inside Albany, introduces
60 students from around the state to meet their legislators and learn about our state government.
Click here to read more > >
Members of the Brentwood Government Club who helped register more than 400 of their fellow students with Deb Cosher (standing, left)
and Loretta Chillemi (standing, right).
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League Members Travel to Albany & Meet LaLota
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He has avoided town halls, but U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota met with members of the Huntington League in February and took
questions about a full range of members' concerns. These included the SAVE Act, the lack of Congressional oversight,
the Constitutional Crisis, the immigrant crisis, affordable housing health care, and more. The visit, according to
Isabelle Pullis, was confrontational but ended cordially.
Meanwhile, Barbara Kurek and Jayette Lansbury traveled to Albany for face-to-face lobbying. Barbara worked with members
of Beyond Plastics to push for the Plastics Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA). Assembly member Rebecca
Kassay, a cosponsor, agreed to ask Speaker Heastie to bring the bill to the floor for a vote this session. Barbara also
met with a staffer of Senator Martinez who has introduced an opposing, weaker bill favored by the plastic and chemical
industries. The PRRIA is a better bill to limit plastic production and eliminates 17 toxic chemicals currently used
in plastic production. She also lobbied Senator Anthony Palumbo, who originally supported the bill, but had removed
his support.
Click here to read more > >
U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota with his visitors from the Huntington League of Women Voters: (L-R) Stephanie Quarles, Dorothy Callahan-Harris,
Arlene Hinkemeyer, Carol Huston, Isabelle Pullis, Janet Allen, and Terry Wildrick.
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Deb Cosher & Our League Honored
at Farmingdale College
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Deb Cosher represented the Huntington League at Farmingdale State College's Annual
Legislative Breakfast, where she and our Youth Committee were honored for their
long-standing and continuing work to register students to vote. The League has
been on campus several times during the Fall for years doing this work. Dr.
Yetunde Omede, acting director, Office of Community and Civic Engagement and
faculty member of History and Politics, extended the invitation.
"It was nice for our league to be acknowledged in this way for what we do as
volunteers," said Deb. "We can only participate when we have active members
who enjoy getting involved. Two faculty members approached me and thanked us
for coming to Farmingdale so often."
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Out with ICE Demonstration
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Demonstrators outside the Federal Courthouse in Islip turned out in bad weather to protest the ICE raids
against immigrants. Sharing an umbrella were (l-r) Barbara Kurek and Deb Kosher.
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Food Drives Support Needy in
Huntington, Babylon
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(l-r) Elise Antonelli, Unkown.
The Huntington LWV set up food drives in Northport and Babylon to assistneighbors in need. Shoppers were generous with
their donations and just couldn’t resist our members asking for their help. Donations, including about $200 in cash,
went to Long Island Cares Food Pantry and the Little Shelter for pet supplies.
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