This week in Huntington newsletter: A look back at the blizzard, with an eye on spring
Dick Kelley, of Huntington village, clears a path Monday. Credit: Kathy M Helgeson
Dick Kelley, of Huntington village, clears a path Monday. Credit: Kathy M Helgeson
What a week! Are we tired of this yet?
Check out the snow totals from around town for the historic Blizzard of 2026: They vary widely depending on where you were, according to the National Weather Service.
Fort Salonga had more than 27 inches, East Northport got 21. Centerport saw 16 inches, yet parts of Greenlawn had "only" 11.
I was born in the winter and love everything about it, including snow — but wherever you are, that's a lot of shoveling. And we might not be finished yet: As of this writing, there's a chance we could see more snowfall on Monday.
Many Island locations were already facing budgetary strain thanks to the harsh winter — and the financial cost of this storm won't be known for weeks.
Huntington had about 300 plows on the roads, Supervisor Ed Smyth said: 120 from the town itself and 180 from outside vendors. Priorities were the places you'd expect: fire and police departments, the community first aid squad and routes to Huntington Hospital, he said.
The numbered streets in Huntington Station and in Centerport are among the most challenging for plows to reach, he said, because they're narrow. Some narrow, hilly roads in Northport also are tough.
Smyth said residents were great about getting their cars off the road, which makes it easier for crews to plow. “We had quite a few people park their cars at the Huntington [LIRR] garage, which we encourage them to do,” he said Monday.
Town spokesperson Christine Geed said the town temporarily suspends parking restrictions at the garage and municipal lots to help keep parked vehicles off the streets as crews plow. To stay up-to-date on when those parking rules are suspended — and then reinstated — check the red banner on the homepage of the town’s website, she said.
How is the big dig-out going for you? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
Get in the game
Hydrant hero Jonathan Naborre. Credit: Wendy Naborre
Meanwhile, as we pass the time 'til spring, fire departments across the Island, including Huntington's, launched social media campaigns to help keep hydrants clear. Many departments are offering prizes, my colleague Tara Smith reports. Hydrant clearing is important because it can save responding firefighters precious time at the scene. Jonathan Naborre, 14, of Huntington, is among the Island's hydrant heroes who was recognized for his work.
And Newsday is holding a snowman selfie contest through March 5, also with a shot at prizes. Check out the details here.
Elsewhere in town
Bernadette Falco and her daughter, Quinn, were among those cheering on the U.S. women's hockey team at a watch party at the Clark Gillies Arena in Dix Hills. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
- Huntington hockey fans were able to see the U.S. women's Olympic team bring home the gold on a big screen in Dix Hills. My colleague Ben Dickson captured the excitement. Read the story here.
- The frigid winter has hit Long Island waterways hard, and Huntington's are no exception: Ice jacking, a phenomenon in which pilings are ripped out of sea beds by ice, is costing municipalities money. Read the story by Sam Kmack and Alek Lewis.
- High school students across Long Island, including in Northport, are calling for change as they stage walkouts to protest the tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Education reporter Lorena Mongelli takes a look at the issue.
- A cake-decorating event held in downtown Huntington was a sweet way to bond with friends and listen to music. It was part of a new series Ta-Tiana Smith-Furman cooked up surround her TikTok-popular confections. Smith-Furman owns microbakery company Broke Scholar Baker.
Things to do
The Walt Whitman Birthplace historical site in Huntington Station. Credit: Rick Kopstein
As we flip the calendar to March, check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week.
Black Experiences in the Revolutionary War
When: Sunday, March 1, 1:30-3 p.m.
What: Presented by Lavada Nahon, interpreter of African American history for NY State Parks, this program takes a look at Black people who participated in the war but who traditionally have been left out of the story.
Where: Walt Whitman Birthplace, 246 Old Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station.
Information and register: Registration is required. Visit eventbrite.com and search by program title or #NatureEdventure. For more, call 631-581-1072.
Free tax return help
When: Every Tuesday in March, and April 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
What: Volunteer tax preparers from AARP will be available to assist low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those 60 and older.
Where: South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pidgeon Hill Rd., Huntington Station.
Information and register: Registration required. Visit the South Huntington Public Library website.
Lecture and book signing celebrating Women's History Month
When: Saturday, March 7, 3-4:30 p.m.
What: Lecture by decorative arts expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown, author of the book "Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic."
Where: Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery, 161 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor.
Information and register: Cost $20. Registration required. Visit the Preservation Long Island website.
Find more things to do at newsday.com/lifestyle.
Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.
Warnings before COVID vaccine fraud Doctors accused an LI nurse of faking childhood vaccines yet she kept practicing for years. The DA never investigated. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday investigative reporters Jim Baumbach and David Olson have the story.
Warnings before COVID vaccine fraud Doctors accused an LI nurse of faking childhood vaccines yet she kept practicing for years. The DA never investigated. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday investigative reporters Jim Baumbach and David Olson have the story.
