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Candice Ruud
I cover the Town of Islip, its four villages and nearly two dozen hamlets. You can usually find me tweeting and furiously taking notes at town and village board meetings. I’ll focus part of my attention on local development projects, watching how taxpayer dollars are spent and staying in tune with resident concerns and interests. I also love a good, local human interest story. Got some news to share? I’d love to hear from you.
@candiceruud
Developer seeks Southampton Village expansion
Photo credit: Erin Geismar
A developer’s request to have Southampton Village’s boundary expanded to cover his entire development would cost the Town of Southampton about $28,000 a year in lost taxes, the developer’s attorney said during a joint hearing Thursday between the village and town boards.
It’s a dollar amount that David J. Gilmartin, attorney for the Bishops Pond condo development, called “infinitesimal” for...
Read more »Huntington councilman strikes out on 3 budget measures
Photo credit: NEWSDAY/Pablo Corradi
Three budget-related resolutions sponsored by Huntington Town Board member Mark Mayoka were defeated at this week’s meeting.
Mayoka tried unsuccessfully to get them on last month’s agenda; board members said they needed more time to review his proposals. On Tuesday, the board voted down all three measures.
The first resolution would have required that board members have seven days to...
Read more »Ex-Long Beach pol Michael Fagen hopes restitution earns leniency
Photo credit: Danielle Finkelstein
Former Long Beach Councilman Michael Fagen is working on a restitution agreement to pay back the state for money he was convicted of stealing.
Fagen was convicted in February of petty larceny and 18 counts of offering a false instrument for filing. The conviction stemmed from his collection of more than $15,000 in unemployment benefits in 2010, while he served on the city council.
Fagen...
Read more »Free dinner, gifts for single mothers at annual Hempstead event
Photo credit: iStock
The ABBA Leadership Center will hold its fifth annual pre-Mother’s Day celebration Saturday to honor single mothers in and around Hempstead Village.
The nonprofit, faith-based organization in Hempstead will host the event, in partnership with community and faith-based organizations and local businesses, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Judea United Baptist Church, located at 83 Greenwich St. in Hempstead....
Read more »Scientists to study tiger salamander breeding pools in Calverton
Photo credit: Ian J. Stark
Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, will do field and genetic studies of tiger salamander breeding pools and habitats at Riverhead’s Enterprise Park at Calverton, paid for by a $50,000 grant from metals trader and philanthropist Andrew E. Sabin.
The work will involve collecting tissue samples and about 30 larvae from breeding ponds during the late larval season this...
Read more »Russian diplomats will get free parking at Oyster Bay beaches
Photo credit: Nicole Bartoline
The Town of Oyster Bay this summer will again host Russian diplomats on its beaches free of charge.
Town officials this week approved an annual request from the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations for its diplomats to have parking and beach access fees waived for the summer season.
The diplomats — usually just one family associated with the permanent mission...
Read more »Long Beach sets beach schedule for summer
Photo credit: T.C. McCarthy
Long Beach has set its beach season schedule for this summer.
The city, which sets a schedule for its two miles of Atlantic Ocean beachfront every year, approved the 2013 schedule Tuesday night.
The beach will be open May 25-27, June 1-2, June 8-9, June 15-16, and June 22 to Sept. 2, the City Council decided.
The city is holding the line on beach pass prices this year, city officials...
Read more »Hempstead Village Board to vote May 21 on tax-break deal
Photo credit: J.C. Cherubini, 2011
The Hempstead Village Board on Tuesday night put off making a decision about revoking a tax-break deal with the owner of a 112-unit apartment building, after receiving several complaints from tenants about poor living conditions, lack of security and drug activity.
The board held a public hearing Tuesday on rescinding the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement made in 2003 with Garden City-based...
Read more »Brookhaven Town OKs $1.25M bond for streetlight upgrade
Photo credit: Newsday, 2008 / Bill Davis
The Brookhaven Town Board has adopted a $1.25 million street lighting bond resolution to upgrade streetlight fixtures, while saving about $300,000 annually in electricity costs.
Using energy-efficient Light Emitting Diodes, or LED lights, Brookhaven would replace 2,500 high-wattage lights. Town officials say the project will pay for itself over the course of the five-year bond.
Lights...
Read more »Nancy Pelosi to attend LIGALY gala Friday in Old Bethpage
Photo credit: AP
U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will be among several hundred people celebrating 20 years of advocacy of the nonprofit Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth at its annual gala on Friday.
The group, also known as LIGALY, has established community centers that serve as gathering places and resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth in Bay Shore and Garden City. It’s also...
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