Long Island briefs

NASSAU COUNTYRunoff closes some

South Shore beaches

Three of Nassau County's South Shore beaches have been closed to swimming after heavy rainfall, county health officials said yesterday.

The move is a precautionary measure, officials said, because "storm water runoff can have a negative impact by elevating bacterial levels and affecting bathing water quality."

Beaches closed yesterday are Hewlett Point Beach, Island Park Beach and Merrick Estates Civic Association.

Additionally, Biltmore and Philip Healey beaches in Massapequa remain closed to swimming as a result of elevated bacteria levels.

For the latest on openings and closing, call the county's beach hotline at 516-227-9700.

BALDWINDisaster simulation

to aid in training

Emergency preparedness training will be held Saturday in Baldwin during a disaster simulation.

Nassau County Legis. Laura Curran (D-Baldwin) is hosting two training events led by the New York National Guard to prepare for natural and man-made disasters.

The first training is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Baldwin Public Library, 2385 Grand Ave.

The second training session is scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Oceanside Public Library, 30 Davison Ave.

All participants will receive a training certificate and a backpack filled with supplies.

For more information call 516-571-6205.

ISLIPBoat slips available

at town's marinas

The Town of Islip's Department of Parks and Recreation has a limited number of boat slips still available at town marinas, officials announced.

Spots are open for smaller watercraft that do not exceed 21 feet in length, Islip officials said in a news release, with the majority at East Islip, Bay Shore and Sayville's Port O'Call marinas. Scattered slips are also available at other town locations.

Prices for slips to accommodate vessels at that size run $59 per linear foot.

"Boat slips at Islip Town marinas provide access to some of the more historically beautiful waters in the northeast because of their access to the Great South Bay and Fire Island, and many residents assume that all of our slips are claimed," Supervisor Tom Croci said in the release. "There are a lot of ways to enjoy our waterways during the summer months, and using a boat slip at our marinas can lead to some unforgettable moments out on the water."

For more information, call 631-224-5648.

FIRE ISLANDGround spraying for

mosquitoes today

Suffolk County is planning ground spraying for adult mosquitoes today on Fire Island, weather permitting, health officials said.

Streets in the villages of Davis Park and Point O'Woods are to be sprayed from 6 to 10 p.m. with the pesticide Anvil, officials said.

Besides being annoying, some mosquitoes' bites can transmit West Nile virus to people.

The chances of experiencing health effects from the ground spraying are "quite low," the health department said, but children and pregnant women should avoid exposure if possible by staying clear of the area during spraying and at least 30 minutes after.

Among the "common-sense steps" the department suggests are closing doors, windows and air-conditioning vents during spraying and for 30 minutes after.

For details, call Suffolk's spraying information hotline at 631-852-4939 or visit nwsdy.li/spraying.

SUFFOLK COUNTYBus service exec

to be honored

John Corrado, president of Suffolk Transportation Service, is to be honored on Thursday for the Bay Shore-based company's service to Innersight, an Islip nonprofit advocacy organization for the disabled.

The ceremony will mark the 26th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, signed in 1988.

"This means a lot to me personally," Innersight executive director Frank Perino said in a news release. "The team at Suffolk Bus listen to the needs and concerns of our community and respond."

Perino is to present the award.

"If it weren't for John Corrado and Ray Grimaldi [executive editor of Suffolk Transportation Service, Transit Division] I would not have a guide dog," Perino said. "Through their efforts, I had a new dog one week after the passing of my last dog."

The celebration is scheduled for noon at Suffolk Bus, 1980 Pond Rd. in Ronkonkoma.

Advocacy community representatives, Suffolk Independent Living Organization Inc., the Bus Riders Union, Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the Long Island Federation of Labor are scheduled to attend.

HUNTINGTONDeal allows hospital to use town parking

The Huntington Town Board approved an agreement with North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Huntington Hospital to use a portion of the town's parking facility at Mill Dam Park.

"The resolution is primarily aimed at providing a place for construction workers, as well as construction vehicles, to park during the hospital emergency room expansion," A.J. Carter, town spokesman, said yesterday.

Huntington Hospital is preparing for a $50 million expansion to create a 23,997-square-foot addition to its emergency room.

The portion of the lot to be used is a former helipad and will also be used by hospital employees, volunteers and clinical students.

The agreement allows parking to start Friday and runs for three years. It calls for the town to be paid $75,000.

Mill Dam Park is at 1 Mill Dam Rd., about three-quarters of a mile from the hospital at 270 Park Ave. The hospital will provide shuttle service to and from the lot.

The resolution was approved 5-0 at the July 15 town board meeting.

ISLANDWIDEState: Detect beetles

by monitoring pools

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is inviting swimming pool owners to participate in the third annual Asian Long Horned Beetle Swimming Pool Survey through Aug. 29.

The beetles, originally from Asia, have caused the death of hundreds of thousands of trees across the country and are a continuing problem on Long Island. They emerge from infested trees in the summer and become active.

Pool monitoring is a simple way to survey the beetles and has the potential to become the most effective method for detecting the beetles, officials said in a news release.

Participants will need a digital camera, and the ability to upload photographs and send them to the state via email. Anyone, whether they own or pool or not, who spots an emerald ash borer or any other invasive pests who cause damage to native ash trees are encouraged to submit photos to jessica.

cancelliere@dec.ny.gov.

Directions for the survey can be found at http://www.

dec.ny.gov/animals/7255.html.

To sign up for the survey, contact Jessica Cancelliere at jessica.cancelliere@dec.ny.gov or (518) 478-7813.

BROOKHAVEN TOWNBlood donors sought for Farmingville drive

Brookhaven Town is sponsoring a blood drive on Aug. 26 at Town Hall auditorium in Farmingville.

Town officials say the drive, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., helps save lives.

Donors, preferably between the ages 16 and 75 and weighing at least 110 pounds, must bring identification with a signature or photo, town officials said. Anyone younger than 16 must have parental permission and those age 76 and older need permission from a doctor.

Anyone who has received a tattoo in the past 12 months will be disallowed from donating blood. Those planning to give blood should have a healthy diet, town officials said.

For questions about medical eligibility, call 1-800-688-0900.

ISLIPForum series focuses on storm safeguards

The Town of Islip will hold a series of forums in late August to inform residents on how to better prepare and safeguard homes and businesses against future hurricanes.

"No area of Islip Town was left untouched by Superstorm Sandy, the most unprecedented weather event of our lifetime," town officials said in a news release. "While we cannot control the weather, we can control our preparation and response to it."

All events will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The first session will be on Aug. 13 at the Holbrook Fire Department at 390 Terry Rd. in Holbrook. Subsequent sessions are: Aug. 14 at the Bay Shore/Brightwaters Public Library at 1 South County Rd., Brightwaters; Aug. 20 at the Brentwood Public Library at 34 2nd Ave. in Brentwood; Aug. 21 at the Sayville Public Library at 88 Greene Ave. in Sayville.

After two years of working with the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services to revise the town's original hazard mitigation plan, the Islip board adopted Suffolk County's Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan last month. The plan will help Islip's response to natural disasters and improve its ability to apply for outside funding, town officials said.

For more information, call 631-224-5485 or visit townofislip-ny.gov.

GREAT NECKRunner moves up

cover photo list

Alex Schneider, the Great Neck resident who is competing for the cover of Runner's World, has earned a spot on the leader board.

Schneider, 24, is one of about 1,700 runners vying to be on the cover of the national magazine's December 2014 issue, and as of Monday morning, online voters had put him in 15th place, with more than 1,800 votes.

"It's been crazy," said Schneider's mother, Robyn Schneider. "He keeps inching up and inching up."

She said many of the votes being cast for her son are coming from the autism community. Alex Schneider and his twin brother, Jamie, have autism and are nonverbal.

The twins discovered their talent for running in 2005 when their mother introduced them to coaches with the Rolling Thunder Special Needs Program. The nonprofit running team on Long Island integrates "special needs individuals with their typical peers," according to its website.

Alex ran the 2013 ING New York City Marathon in 3 hours, 14 minutes and 36 seconds and the 2013 Boston Marathon in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 22 seconds.

"Running is his passion," she said. "His behaviors and disabilities can be so crippling . . . but running brings him so much happiness, it's made his life."

One of Schneider's Rolling Thunder teammates, Mike Brannigan, 17, of East Northport, also has autism and is competing in the cover contest, as is ultramarathoner Eva Casale, 49, of Glen Cove, who recently ran seven marathons to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As of yesterday at noon, Brannigan had 202 votes and Casale had 1,061.

Votes only account for 10 percent of the judging process, according to Runner's World. A panel of the magazine's editors will ultimately decide the finalist and overall winners, one male and one female.

Each contestant had to answer three questions, including "Why is running important to you?"

Writing on behalf of her son, Robyn Schneider told the magazine, "Running is the sole place that Alex can go where his autism is not front and center . . . Running levels the playing field for him."

Robyn Schneider said messages have been pouring in through social media from other parents of autistic children. They tell her Alex gives them hope.

"I'd be proud to have Alex depict what those with autism are capable of," she said. "We would be celebrating for him, but we'd also be celebrating for all kids with autism."