Long Island Now
The latest community buzz and updates. | Sign up for community newsletters.
Plan would expand wine trail; no pet adoption fees at shelter
Photo credit: Randee Daddona
The North Fork Wine Trail could be getting a little longer — expanding eastward to Orient and stretching to the west to show several alternate ways of getting to the vineyards, tasting rooms and wineries that stretch from Calverton to the tip of the North Fork — if pending state legislation is approved.
“This is important. There’s no question about it,” said Steven Bate, executive director...
Read more »Belle Terre praised for its handling of finances
Belle Terre earned high marks from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office in an audit of the village’s finances.
The comptroller examined records from June 1, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2012, and found the village government carefully inspected claims for payment.
“Generally, the Board conducts a thorough and deliberate audit of claims before payments are authorized to ensure that Village...
Read more »Hempstead Village may change residency rules for employment
Photo credit: J.C. Cherubini, 2011
The Hempstead Village board of trustees will hold a hearing Tuesday to consider amending the village’s residency requirements for employees in order to comply with Nassau County Civil Service mandates.
The proposed amendment calls for the village to consider village residents first when hiring for competitive and noncompetitive classifications in accordance with Civil Service Law. But it removes...
Read more »Babylon Village pool opening delayed
Photo credit: Jessica Rotkiewicz
Opening day at the Babylon Village pool has been pushed back at least two weeks because of construction delays, village trustee Tony Davida said last week.
The opening was tentatively rescheduled for July 6, he said. The original June 22 opening was scrapped after contractors ran into trouble getting supplies for necessary repairs to the pool railing and the women’s bathroom.
The pool,...
Read more »Maritime Museum Pirate Festival, Make-A-Wish fulfill boy's dream
Photo credit: Kathleen Fordyce
After two years of battling cancer, 6-year-old Jessie Olmedo had dreams of taking on a new fight: Battling pirates in a quest for treasure.
His wish came true Saturday when Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County and the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville teamed up to make Jessie an honorary pirate for the day at the museum’s annual Pirate Festival.
Sporting a smile and fake...
Read more »Huntington board approves dog walking in more town parks
Photo credit: HealthDay
On-leash dog walking soon might be allowed in more Huntington Town parks, after the town board unanimously authorized a code change to allow it in approved locations.
Now the town’s Huntington Trails Committee and the Parks and Recreation Department will look at sites where on-leash dog walking might be permitted, town officials said.
About a half-dozen people spoke at a public hearing...
Read more »Veteran cop Sam Barreto eyes Suffolk County sheriff's post
Photo credit: Peter Walden Sr., 2012
Veteran police officer Sam Barreto is circulating Republican primary petitions to challenge Conservative Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, who has cross-endorsement support from major and minor parties.
Barreto, 47, of Bohemia, is a 26-year Suffolk County police veteran who works in the canine unit.
“I’m running to give Suffolk County voters a choice” and to increase the transparency of operations...
Read more »Early Father's Day gift from dad, a liver, gives infant hope
Photo credit: Tara Conry
Michael DeRise rolled around the living room floor of his family’s Bethpage home Thursday, playing with his toys and occasionally spouting “Dada.” Although too young to understand it now, Michael, who celebrated his first birthday on June 11, has a special piece of his dad inside of him.
One that very well may have saved his life.
Seeing their baby crawl, play and babble is a sight that...
Read more »Energy forum Monday in Middle Island
The Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization will host an energy forum Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Longwood Library in Middle Island.
Caithness Energy LLC will present information about its Yaphank power plant and other possible initiatives, said ABCO president Deborah Felber. A question-and-answer with attendees will follow.
This month, the Long Island Power Authority will choose between...
Read more »Honorees beat paralysis, cancer to continue as cops
Photo credit: Carl Corry, 2011
The Theodore Roosevelt Association honored two Long Island police officers yesterday with its annual Police Award, for overcoming physical challenges to continue their law enforcement careers.
Police Officer Peter Chuchul of the Nassau County Police Department and Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick of the Suffolk County Police Department received their awards in a ceremony at the Sagamore Hill...
Read more »
