LONG ISLAND U.F.O. UPDATE

Magazine Overview

Title: LONG ISLAND U.F.O. UPDATE
Issue: XII
Volume: I
Date: December 1990
Publisher: THE LONG ISLAND U.F.O. NETWORK INC.
Price: $2.00

This issue of the Long Island U.F.O. Update focuses on a variety of UFO-related topics, with a prominent feature story detailing an incident on Route 111 in February 1990. The magazine also includes news from the Long Island UFO Network (LIUFON), discussions on contactees versus abductees, reports on crop circles, and updates on UFO research organizations.

Feature Story: Incident on Route 111, February 1990

The cover story details an encounter by Maria M., a 26-year-old Brazilian woman living in the U.S., on the night of February 4th, 1990. While driving on Route 111 in Manorville, L.I., she encountered a large, luminous oval object that appeared at treetop level and paced her car. The object was described as being as wide as the four-lane highway, very bright, and emitting intense heat. It was silent, with a smooth surface and no visible appendages. Maria admitted she had to squint to see the road due to the object's intense light. The situation continued until the object rose and headed southeast. She stopped at a Seven/Eleven, but no one else had seen the object. Her story was later recorded by LIUFON and interviewed by Martha and Bruce Richardson. A friend of Maria's also reported seeing a similar large luminous object on Montauk Highway. Bud Hopkins was consulted, noting that the absence of traffic on the highway is typical of many abduction cases, suggesting a possible separation into another time segment. Maria's case was given a high degree of probability, though the possibility of an abduction was not ruled out.

L.I.U.F.O.N. News

The December 1990 report from LIUFON indicates a relatively quiet month but highlights recent activities. Barry and Debbie Gellis aired a one-hour special on the Moriches Bay Case on Brooklyn-Queens Public Access TV, which generated calls from Queens and Brooklyn, and even Manhattan. The reaction was one of shock that such an incident occurred locally, with questions about why the national media hadn't covered it. LIUFON attributes this to government secrecy. The organization is scheduled to speak at the Nesconset Public Library on March 9th, 1991. Since November, LIUFON has gained fourteen new members from various parts of the U.S., responding to publicity from planetarium talks and TV interviews. The Vanderbilt Planetarium Show, which LIUFON helped develop, continues to be successful in attracting members. The Joel Martin Show plans to feature LIUFON again, possibly with a special report on the Moriches Bay Case for Suffolk County audiences. Membership meeting schedules for 1991 will be announced in the January newsletter. LIUFON is also planning another presentation at the Riverhead Library on February 24th, 1991. Members are encouraged to send in letters, articles, and clippings.

Membership Meetings and Activities

The next LIUFON membership meeting was scheduled for December 21st, 1990, at the South Country Library in Bellport Village, featuring a video documentary on the Tungusta, Siberia Explosion of 1908. Members, guests, and the public were invited. A dues increase to $25.00 per year will take effect on January 1st, 1991, with a renewal offer at $20.00 available until December 31st, 1990. The schedule for 1991 membership meetings will be in the January newsletter. LIUFON is seeking more investigators for UFO sightings and is planning a trip to Pine Bush in February.

Special Announcement

LIUFON warns members that December and January are peak periods for UFO activity. They advise against calling the Suffolk County Police for UFO sightings, citing a secret operations manual that instructs police to contact Federal Intelligence Agencies in such events. They claim three instances in Suffolk County where UFO sightings were covered up and witnesses were intimidated by the Federal Government. LIUFON urges witnesses to contact them instead and to request a LIUFON investigator or attorney if contacted by federal agencies. They are also planning future membership meetings with guest speakers and slide presentations, including the Billy Meir Tapes.

The Chairman's Corner: The U.F.O. Contactee vs. The Abductee

By John Ford, this article differentiates between UFO contactees and abductees. Contactees, like George Adamsky and Billy Meier, claim communication with alien beings, often involving messages or programs. While many contactee cases are considered hoaxes, some remain unexplained. Abductees, on the other hand, are forcibly taken for medical or biological examinations, often experiencing missing time. The Betty and Barney Hill case is cited as a famous example. The article suggests that while contactee claims may be weak, abductee cases often have supporting physical evidence and consistent descriptions of beings. It outlines common traits of abductees, including early childhood contact, visitations, missing time episodes with physical marks, later abductions, involvement of family members, similar medical procedures, descriptions of beings, and an apparent interest in human reproduction. The article also categorizes abductees based on their purpose, such as biological monitoring, genetic material sourcing, or implantation of monitoring devices. Bud Hopkins' book "Missing Time" and Whitley Strieber's "Communion" are credited with elevating the abductee phenomenon. The author concludes that the evidence for abductees may be strong and could represent a turning point in UFOlogy.

Special Report Number 1: Case 0133-90

This report details an observation by Mark Landers, Kings County Chairman for LIUFON, on December 10th, 1990, in Brooklyn, NY. While on the "Q" subway train, Landers observed a black, boomerang-type object with twinkling red and green lights, described as similar to a "Stealth" aircraft. The object was visible for about five seconds. Shortly after, an olive drab helicopter with no markings appeared and headed in the direction of the object. The weather was clear, and the object was not a reflection or a bird.

Special Report Number 2: Case 0007-90

This report, dated February 4th, 1990, details the encounter of Maria M. (identity withheld) on Route 111 in Manorville, L.I. The object was described as a luminous oval, estimated at 160 feet, and appeared to pace her car. The report reiterates details from the cover story, emphasizing Maria's background and the circumstances of the sighting. It notes the absence of traffic and the intense light and heat from the object. The case was investigated by LIUFON, and Bud Hopkins was consulted. The possibility of an abduction scenario was not ruled out.

The Fund for U.F.O. Research, Maryland

This organization, headed by Dr. Bruce Maccabee, announced the location of eighteen additional witnesses to the 1947 Roswell U.F.O. Crash. These witnesses claim to have seen alien bodies, transported wreckage, and know of the disposition of the recovered craft. The Fund is collecting video affidavits to present to a special Congressional Committee, aiming to uncover evidence of extraterrestrial visitations. They are seeking private donations for this program.

Ozark, U.F.O. Conference, Arkansas

Preparations are underway for the Third Annual Ozark U.F.O. Conference to be held at the Inn of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, from April 5th-7th, 1991. Advance registration is available at $35.00, with admission at the door being $40.00. The conference will feature various speakers, including George Wingfield and Antonio Huneeus.

Crop Circles Reported in the Midwest

Reports of crop circles in Missouri and Kansas are detailed, stemming from an incident on the farm of Roger and Lynn Love. While the Loves believe wind is the cause, meteorologists suggest wind vortexes. Similar circles have been reported in Canada and Japan, and researchers note their resemblance to those reported in England, where UFO sightings were also reported in conjunction with crop circle appearances. The Midwest reports did not involve sightings of strange objects or lights.

U.F.O. in the Media

This section discusses the increasing public interest in UFO phenomena, driven by popular TV shows like "Current Affair" and "Hard Copy." It mentions a story from British Columbia about a UFO contactee who took pictures of visiting UFOs, with a camera crew witnessing the event. The intense public interest in the crop circle mystery is also highlighted. A new video documentary, "U.F.O.'s, It Has Begun," produced in the seventies with Rod Serling narrating, is available. The article also touches upon "Aviation Weekly" featuring an article on secret new jets being tested at Edwards and Nellis Air Force Bases, with reports of triangular, quiet aircraft. It notes that even Phil Klass' former publishers are giving credence to reports of strange aircraft. Billy Goodman, a radio talk show host, has found a new platform on the Infotainment Radio Network after his show was deemed too controversial.

Notable Books

Several books are recommended: "Report On Communion" by Ed Conroy, which critically examines Whitley Strieber's "Communion"; and "The Watchers" by Ray Fowler, which speculates on the Abduction Phenomenon by revisiting Betty Andreasson's abduction history.

U.F.O. Potpourri

This section recommends several newsletters for serious researchers: "International U.F.O. News Bulletin" by Diane Montrose ($20.00/year), "Gas Swamp Journal" by Chris Rutkovski and Myra Rutkovski (official newsletter of Ufology Research of Manitoba), and "Contactee" by Ellen Crystal ($20.00/year), focusing on events in Pine Bush, New York. It also mentions Diane Montrose's efforts in exposing Bill Knell as a fraud.

The Long Island Scene

This section reports on ongoing UFO activity on Long Island. It details a second witness sighting of a luminous oval UFO in Manhattan on the same night as a previous report. Mark Landers observed a boomerang-type object over the East River. An anonymous caller reported a close encounter with a grey-skinned being and a small disc-shaped craft in West Babylon, experiencing missing time. The report suggests the caller may be a lifelong abductee. A nocturnal light incident in Great Neck involved a housewife observing intense red lights, with police explanations later contradicted by FAA information. A report from North Medford describes an encounter with a landed object, a white beam of light, and missing time. The West Islip case involving a mother and daughter is described as intense, with the daughter reporting immobilization by a lizard-type being. The family is referred to Bud Hopkins for hypnotic regression. The issue concludes by stating that LIUFON's case load for 1990 exceeded 140 cases.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the Long Island UFO Network (LIUFON) as a primary resource for UFO information and assistance on Long Island. There is a strong emphasis on government secrecy and cover-ups regarding UFO phenomena. The publication distinguishes between 'contactees' and 'abductees,' leaning towards the credibility of abduction cases supported by physical evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of active investigation and advocacy for witnesses, encouraging them to report sightings to LIUFON rather than official channels like the police, whom they suspect of being complicit in cover-ups. The magazine also highlights the growing public and media interest in UFOs, while suggesting that this interest has been historically ignored by mainstream news outlets. The overall tone is one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, with a particular focus on local Long Island events and cases.