Does the Massapequa School District have a bullying problem? On this episode of **The Tom Kelly Show**, Tom talks honestly — and still somehow comedically — about bullying in Massapequa, his own experience being bullied, and why communities need to do better. Then Tom pivots into the life lessons he learned on his very recent "40th" birthday. Don't argue with the number. From friendship and gratitude to getting older in entertainment, health, relationships, faith, money, and the fear of not being enough, this episode goes from local Long Island frustration to personal reflection… with sponsors, jokes, and belly slaps along the way. **Content note:** This episode includes discussion of bullying and suicide. Like, comment, subscribe, and share if you're part of the little Tom Kelly Show community. And please comment: Happy 40th Birthday, Tom Kelly.

00:45 — Massapequa bullying and why Tom wanted to talk about it
03:06 — Tom's own experience being bullied
09:39 — Why communities need to stand up to bullying
10:31 — Lessons from Tom's "40th" birthday
13:53 — Friends for a reason, season, or life
19:06 — The fear of not being enough
20:36 — Sponsor mentions

The Tom Kelly Show goes on location to Auto Spa of Williston Park on Willis Avenue for a sponsored podcast with Tom Kelly, Steve Burger behind the camera, and special guest Fat Jay. While Tom's "Massapequa Mobile" gets an oil change, Tom and Fat Jay riff about Auto Spa, Christmas in July, Long Island car maintenance, and why this shop doesn't hit you with the old-school mechanic upsell. Then the conversation turns into a full Long Island pizza debate: viral pizza feuds, influencer drama, underrated slices, old-school Italian spots, dangerous parking lots, and the pizza places that deserve more attention. Fat Jay gives his takes on the Long Island pizza wars, bromate drama, Three Brothers of Rockville Centre, Dario's, Phil's, Lombardo's of Seaford, Anona of Valley Stream, Little Vincent's, Mama's, Umberto's, Carmela's, Galleria of Merrick, and more. Auto Spa employees even jump in with their own underrated pizza picks, including Enzo's of Williston Park, Mama Theresa's, and Frantony's. It's part podcast, part local business shout-out, part Long Island food fight — all from inside Auto Spa while the oil change is actually happening. Watch The Tom Kelly Show on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps. Follow Auto Spa of Williston Park on Instagram and tell them Tom Kelly sent you.

What are the unwritten rules of Long Island? Tom Kelly and video producer Steve Burger take over Lucharitos on Walt Whitman Road in Melville to debate the rules every real Long Islander seems to know—even though nobody ever wrote them down. After asking Facebook for answers and getting more than 1,000 responses, Tom breaks down the biggest Long Island rules: never park in front of someone else's house, always say you live on Long Island, order your bacon, egg and cheese correctly, move out of the left lane, know your deli order before reaching the counter, and never question Long Island pizza, bagels, or Billy Joel. The conversation also covers Long Island accents, Jamaica Station anxiety, pizza-folding etiquette, buttered rolls, the Southern State, "going out east," and why Queens and Brooklyn may be geographically on the same island—but are not considered Long Island. This is Part 1 of the Long Island Unwritten Rules series, recorded live at Lucharitos in Melville. Follow: Lucharitos on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/lucharitos/?hl=en Timestamps 00:00 Podcasting from Lucharitos in Melville 00:59 Welcome to The Tom Kelly Show 01:22 Help Lucharitos reach 30,000 followers 01:45 Introducing Long Island's unwritten rules 02:17 More than 1,000 Facebook responses 02:58 Bacon, egg and cheese: salt, pepper, ketchup 03:48 Don't park in front of someone else's house 05:00 Lucharitos food arrives 05:19 You live on Long Island—not in Long Island 05:53 Bacon, egg and cheese belongs on a Kaiser roll 06:54 The left lane is for faster traffic 07:29 The Long Island accent 08:01 It's a hero—not a sub, hoagie, or grinder 08:27 Pizza is a pie and a plain slice is a regular slice 08:45 Should you fold your pizza? 09:15 Never change trains at Jamaica 10:06 Are Queens and Brooklyn part of Long Island? 11:00 Stop signs and turn signals are apparently optional 11:17 Manhattan is simply "the city" 11:51 Every Long Islander must respect Billy Joel 12:13 Billy Joel drove into a house—and people blamed the house 12:42 Why this topic needs a Part 2 13:20 Southern State—not Southern State Parkway 13:46 Parkways versus expressways 14:17 What does "regular coffee" mean? 14:52 The Hamptons versus "out east" 15:24 Know your deli or bagel order before reaching the counter 16:37 Long Island has the best pizza and bagels 17:43 Stay off other people's lawns 18:00 Massapequa neighborhood drama 19:24 A buttered roll counts as breakfast 20:07 Long Island merging etiquette 20:20 Pineapple—and other fruit—on pizza 21:06 Place your deli order and step aside 21:15 A yellow light means speed up 21:54 Part 1 wraps up 22:26 Subscribe and good night from Walt Whitman Road

The final of four interviews with Massapequa's candidates running in Massapequa's school board election on Tuesday May 19th. Dr. Lynn Russo, PhD ESQ is a practicing lawyer with a PHD in Molecular Biology. Russo may be the most educated candidate and discusses her campaign. - Russo addresses a rather offensive campaign flyer that has been distributed featuring disturbing images and accusations about her and fellow candidate Bobby Bonett. - She discusses why she believes "Save The Chief" lawsuits to save Massapequa's Chief mascot will not work. - Why she believes Massapequa should have Universal Pre K. - Massapequa's Transgender bathroom and locker room policy.

Comedian and podcast host Tom Kelly continues his Massapequa School Board interview series with current board member and candidate Cheryl Lepre. - Recorded at Paradise Studios in Massapequa, Long Island, this long-form conversation covers: - The "Save the Chief" lawsuit Taxpayer money and school budgets COVID and mask policy fallout Anonymous Facebook politics Transgender locker room controversy Universal Pre-K Education, AI & vocational training Why Massapequa has become a national political flashpoint And whether local politics has become too mean This episode focuses heavily on tone, community identity, and what Cheryl Lepre believes keeps Massapequa schools successful. - ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 1:19 – "Anyone who runs for school board is either crazy or a career politician" 1:41 – Cheryl explains her 7 years on the school board 1:58 – Why she continues to run for reelection 2:15 – PTA volunteer work & helping Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts 2:43 – Tom asks if national politics have taken over local school boards 🪶 SAVE THE CHIEF & THE LAWSUIT 3:18 – Tom introduces the "Save the Chief" issue 3:39 – Why the school board is fighting to keep the Massapequa Chiefs mascot 3:48 – Cheryl discusses taxpayer money and fiscal responsibility 4:37 – Why she believes the lawsuit is financially worth pursuing 6:14 – Cheryl discusses conversations with the Shinnecock Nation 6:46 – NAGA (Native American Guardians Association) visits Massapequa 7:07 – "They prefer to be called American Indians" 7:54 – "Educate, not eradicate" 9:45 – Comparisons to Vikings, Crusaders & Spartans 10:17 – Lawsuit costs discussed: "0.08% of the budget" 😷 COVID, MASKS & POLITICAL DIVISION 12:11 – Tom compliments Cheryl's tone and communication style 13:01 – Cheryl compares this election cycle to previous campaigns 13:27 – Massive voter turnout during COVID-era elections 14:16 – Anonymous Facebook groups & online negativity 15:10 – Cheryl discusses avoiding toxic online comments for mental health 15:29 – Tom brings up Bobby Bonett's leaked COVID email controversy 16:19 – Cheryl clarifies the school board did not leak the email 16:55 – Cheryl explains FOIL requests and redactions 🚻 TRANS POLICIES & LOCKER ROOM LAWSUIT 19:32 – Massapequa lawsuits involving masks, mascots & bathrooms 20:01 – Cheryl says the district did NOT initiate the transgender lawsuit 20:23 – Tom summarizes the locker room controversy 20:32 – Cheryl explains the district policy 20:51 – Tom asks about rescinding the policy 21:03 – Cheryl says lawyers advised caution discussing the active lawsuit 21:18 – "We've made every accommodation for all students" 21:34 – Gender-neutral locker rooms and bathrooms explained 21:49 – Tom argues lawsuits distract from educational issues 22:01 – Cheryl describes school board presentations being overshadowed by controversy 22:29 – Career fairs, arts, athletics & student accomplishments discussed 22:43 – Why Cheryl believes opponents focus on lawsuits 🗳️ THE ELECTION & LOCAL POLITICS 22:57 – Tom asks about Bobby Bonett personally 23:12 – Cheryl calls Bobby "well spoken" 23:17 – Tom jokingly asks if Bobby is funded by George Soros 23:43 – Discussion of political ambitions in local elections 23:51 – Would Cheryl ever run for higher office? 🏫 EDUCATION, PRE-K & THE FUTURE 24:14 – Tom pivots the conversation toward education 24:19 – Cheryl reveals she now works in education administration 24:52 – Cheryl explains her work with special education placements 25:10 – Universal Pre-K debate begins 25:32 – "We're not against UPK — the question is sustainability" 27:01 – How the state funds UPK students 27:27 – State funding increases may change future plans 27:47 – Faith-based preschool concerns discussed 28:17 – Cheryl says the district is open to revisiting UPK 🎓 EDUCATION, AI & CAREERS 33:06 – Cheryl describes long board meetings and behind-the-scenes work ⚽ SPORTS, COMMON CORE & TESTING 33:36 – Questions from the "Massapequa Matters" Facebook groups 33:41 – Sports participation policy discussion 34:00 – Common Core and state testing debate begins 34:35 – Teacher evaluations and testing pressure discussed 35:01 – Why Cheryl believes some form of testing is necessary 35:21 – New York's changing Regents requirements 🏡 MASSAPEQUA IDENTITY & REAL ESTATE 35:35 – "People move here because they love Massapequa" 35:55 – Tom asks if the town is changing culturally 36:16 – Real estate prices exploding across Long Island 36:40 – Houses selling for tens of thousands over asking price 37:06 – Cheryl argues people move to Massapequa because of its traditions and schools 37:27 – "There's a reason people chose to move here"