Newsday is doing Q&As with interesting LIers doing interesting things. If you have a suggestion for someone we should interview, email <a href="mailto:li@newsday.com?subject=Q%20&%20As">li@newsday.com</a>.

News

Q&As with LIers

Levittown's Patti Brownstone, 51, is a real estate agent who has been selling Hicksville properties for eight years. She was having lunch Wednesday at Broadway Mall with her mother-in-law, Marsha Greene, 77, of <a href="/topics/Farmingdale%2C_NY">Farmingdale</a>, when she answered questions about her experience in Hicksville. 
 Q: What are some observations you've made about the Hicksville community? 
 Brownstone: It's a very mixed community. It’s a very nice place to live and has good shopping. 
 Q: Why are people buying in Hicksville? 
 Brownstone: A lot of the attraction is the commuting into the city. I think the younger couples out here buy their first home so I think they're thinking about the easy commute. And the taxes here are lower than the surrounding area, so people looking to downsize are drawn here. 
 This week, for the second installment of our “Town Focus” series, community journalist T.C. McCarthy is reporting from the hamlet of Hicksville. Have a suggestion about someone he should meet or a place he should visit? We want to hear from you about how to get the full Hicksville experience. Reach out through <a href="http://twitter.com/tc_mccarthy">Twitter</a>, <a href="mailto:tc.mccarthy@newsday.com?subject=Hicksville%20Town%20Focus">email</a> or in the comments below.

hlHICKS10

People of Hicksville: Patti Brownstone

Hicksville resident Joseph Bargiuk, 71, has lived in the hamlet since 1950. A lot has changed for him in the last 61 years, including his political views. Newsday caught up with him Tuesday while he voted at Old Country Road Middle School. 
 How has Hicksville changed in your time here? Bargiuk: It changed a lot. There used to only be two schools. Now there's more and a lot more crime. I saw the roads change too. 
 Are there any changes about Hicksville you like? Bargiuk: I used to work with my father in construction where I was a cement mason. I did [worked on widening] Newbridge Road back in 1980. I like that that they made the roads wider but, of course, now there's more traffic. 
 Why have you stayed in Hicksville so long? Bargiuk: I have no idea. My family and friends were here . . . they’re gone now. 
 What are you thinking about when you go to the polls? Bargiuk: Well, basically they [pundits] talk about Obamacare and property taxes. I voted all Republican. I used to be a Democrat, I’ll never vote Democrat again. 
 This week, for the second installment of our “Town Focus” series, community journalist T.C. McCarthy is visiting the hamlet of Hicksville. Have a suggestion about someone he should meet or a place he should visit? We want to hear from you about how to get the full Hicksville experience. Reach out through <a href="http://twitter.com/tc_mccarthy">Twitter</a>, <a href="mailto:tc.mccarthy@newsday.com?subject=Hicksville%20Town%20Focus">email</a> or in the comments below.

hlHICKSBargiuk

People of Hicksville: Joseph Bargiuk

HicksvilleBargiuk

Pat Dammes, 60, is a maintenance worker at the Hicksville Public Library and a volunteer with the Hicksville Fire Department. Three generations of her family live in the hamlet. 
 Q: What was it like growing up in Hicksville? 
 Dammes: I liked growing up in Hicksville. But it was very different. A lot of open land. 
 Q: What was school like back then? 
 Dammes: There were so many kids that they didn’t have enough room. 
 Q: How has Hicksville changed in your time here? 
 Dammes: There’s a lot more traffic, and culturally there have been big changes. The other day [while working with the fire department], the dispatcher said, “There’s a language barrier.” One of the firefighters said, “I have an interpreter here,” and the dispatcher said, “It’s not Spanish.” 
 Q: Is there anything you’d like to see restored that has changed? 
 Dammes: Oh, it would be the malt shop [that closed]. 
 Q: Are there any changes that you have really enjoyed here in Hicksville? 
 Dammes: The parks, I really like the parks we have. There were some parks before, but they aren’t what they are now. It’s nice to have for the kids. When the kids are playing, they’re full. And it’s not just the kids; it’s the families. It’s very family-oriented, as far as, everyone comes out to watch. It’s very sporty. It’s always been that way and I hope it always stays that way. 
 This week, for the second installment of our “Town Focus” series, community journalist T.C. McCarthy will be embedded in the hamlet of Hicksville. Have a suggestion about someone he should meet or a place he should visit? We want to hear from you about how to get the full Hicksville experience. Reach out through <a href="http://twitter.com/tc_mccarthy">Twitter</a>, <a href="mailto:tc.mccarthy@newsday.com?subject=Hicksville%20Town%20Focus">email</a> or in the comments below.

hlHICKSDammes

People of Hicksville: Pat Dammes 

Hicksville Dammes 

Sharon Holzapple, who is responsible for accounts payable at the Hicksville Public Library's business office, has lived in the hamlet for 51 years. She took a few minutes to talk about life in Hicksville then and now: 
 Q: What was it like growing up in Hicksville? 
 Holzapple: Not as busy. It was like small-town living. I remember Broadway before they widened it and Newbridge Road before they widened it. 
 Q: What was school like back then? 
 Holzapple: There were all the little different grade schools. Junior high was grades 7, 8 and 9 and then high school was 10, 11, and 12. My graduating class was 1,200 kids. Now it’s around 300 and they say they’re overcrowded. 
 Q: How has Hicksville changed in your time here? 
 Holzapple: Culturally it’s changed. It went from the mom-and-pop stores to now it’s all over the world. We had the original movie theater, it was a single-screen movie theater that we all went to. Then it was an Indian movie theater, and now it’s a school and a church. 
 Q: Is there anything you’d like to see restored that has changed? 
 Holzapple: I would like the mom-and-pop stores back. You just got personalized service and they knew you and you knew them. Like the 5 and 10, there’s no 5 and 10s anymore. Hicksville is really a commuter town now. I really miss that hometown feeling. 
 This week, for the second installment of our “Town Focus” series, community journalist T.C. McCarthy will be embedded in the hamlet of Hicksville. Have a suggestion about someone he should meet or a place he should visit? We want to hear from you about how to get the full Hicksville experience. Reach out through <a href="http://twitter.com/tc_mccarthy">Twitter</a>, <a href="mailto:tc.mccarthy@newsday.com?subject=Hicksville%20Town%20Focus">email</a> or in the comments below.

hlHICKSHolzapple

People of Hicksville: Sharon Holzapple

hlHICKS08

It's the people that make a community come to life. As part of the Town Focus series, Erin Geismar is reporting life in Sayville with quick interviews of everyone from community leaders to everyday people on the street. 
Barney Loughlin Owner of Loughlin Vineyards 
How long have you lived in Sayville? I was born on the estate. So, 86 years. 
How long have you run the vineyard? Twenty eight years. There’s 61 vineyards out east and we were No. 10 on <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>, I think. We would sell our grapes in the beginning and then we decided to start to bottle about 20 years ago. 
Are people surprised to find you here, away from wine country? Yeah, people mostly come from <a href="/topics/Nassau_County%2C_NY">Nassau</a>, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn. We are the closest to the city. But it’s the same here as anywhere else. No difference between us and the ones out east. 
What made you want to make wine? I just did. It was an interest. I bought the property in ’46 when I came out of the service. I just started doing it. 
How did you learn the process? How did you learn to write? You just did it. Now, we make the wine here too. We do everything here -- grow the grapes, make the wine, bottle the wine. On rainy days we sit here and put labels on the bottles. My daughters all work here too, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth and Patricia. 
Tell me how you ended up growing up here on the Meadow Croft Estate. My mother came over here from <a href="/topics/Ireland">Ireland</a> when she was 17 and she hooked up with the first cousin of Teddy <a href="/topics/Roosevelt%2C_NY">Roosevelt</a>. Then she met my father and went back to <a href="/topics/Ireland">Ireland</a>. They had two children in <a href="/topics/Ireland">Ireland</a> and then came back here, and my mother took care of Mrs. <a href="/topics/Roosevelt%2C_NY">Roosevelt</a>’s two sisters that lived here. They were caretakers for the estate. 
Why did you decide to stay in Sayville all this time? I like it. It’s a nice place to live. You have the ocean and the bay.

Barney Loughlin

People of Sayville: Barney Loughlin, vineyard owner

Barney

It's the people that make a community come to life. As part of our TOWN FOCUS series this week, Erin Geismar will give you a glimpse of life in Sayville with quick interviews of everyone from community leaders to everyday people on the street. 
John Wells 
Age: 81 
Years living in Sayville: 81 
Community associations: Sayville Cabinet for the Sick; Sayville Historical Society; St. Ann’s <a href="/topics/Episcopal_Church">Episcopal Church</a> Historical Society 
Tell me about one of these groups you’re involved with, the Sayville Cabinet; what is it? This is a town-owned building that we use to store medical equipment that we loan to people who need it. We take donations, and we store and repair the equipment here. It’s been around for over 50 years. When we first started getting equipment, we stored them in the two jail cells in the courthouse building. Someone who is sick can come here and borrow what they need. We have enough crutches for probably 100 people right now, more than 50 wheelchairs. All sorts of things for different needs. 
You have lived in Sayville for your entire life. What has been one of the biggest changes to the community over the years? There are so many more people here than in the '30s and '40s. Then, a lot of people only lived here in the summer. Even in the summer, the women and the children would stay, and the husbands would take the train into the city for work and come back on the weekends. My father ran a livery service, so he liked the summers because there were so many people to pick up from the train station. He was also in real estate, he helped people find summer cottages. Back then, even if you lived in town, you would go stay with family members for the summer so you could rent out your house and make a little extra money. 
How would you describe Sayville? Well, Sayville has a motto, you know -- “The Friendly Town." That’s how I would describe it.

Wells

People of Sayville: John Wells, lifelong resident

John Wells, Sayville-CROPPED

It's the people that make a community come to life. And part of our TOWN FOCUS series this week, Erin Geismar will give you a glimpse of life in Sayville with quick interviews of everyone from community leaders to everyday people on the street. 
Ronald Hoffer 
Occupation: <a href="http://www.sayville.k12.ny.us/highschool.cfm">Sayville High School</a> Principal 
How long have you been principal here? 
This is my third year. I’ve been with the district 11 years. 
Were you in other districts before that? 
I spent time in <a href="/topics/Deer_Park%2C_NY">Deer Park</a> and Sachem. 
How would you define Sayville? 
I think there’s no better defining testament to this community than the large number of educators who received an education here, still reside in this community and choose to send their children to Sayville Public Schools. That says something about this place. 
Did anything surprise you about the community when you first came here? 
I can vividly recall walking out onto an athletic field for one sporting event or another and feeling as if I had gone back in time to the 1950s. There was a strong sense of community, there were residents there ranging in age from probably 1 to 100. It was a very, very pleasant feeling that is validated time and time again every time we have an event. It really shows that the hub of the community are the Sayville Public Schools, and I’ll be biased here, the Sayville High School. 
What’s special about this high school? 
Well, I’ll plug something for the entire district. Something that has formed independent of the Sayville Public Schools is the recently formed education foundation called The Friends of Sayville. Currently, there are over 90 district employees who have volunteered to participate in a payroll cut, which will result in revenue of more than $15,000 a year. That money will all go back into the schools to enhance the opportunities for students K - 12. That’s something very, very exciting and we’re very proud of it. It’s a not-for-profit organization that will hopefully be around for many years to come and <a href="/topics/Benefit_%28designer%29">benefit</a> generations of students.

SAYpeople

People of Sayville: Ronald Hoffer, high school principal

Hoffer

It's the people that make a community come to life. And part of our TOWN FOCUS series this week, Erin Geismar will give you a glimpse of life in Sayville with quick interviews of everyone from community leaders to everyday people on the street. 
Kathleen Prokesch 
Marketing and special events director, <a href="/topics/Long_Island_Maritime_Museum">Long Island Maritime Museum</a> 
The museum is pretty well-known for its special events, but tell me what else goes on here. 
Well, the county decided to turn this into a museum in 1966. This was a garage of a former estate, the Meadows Edge golf course building was the main house. What we really offer is sort of a look into how life was on <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> when shellfishing, oysters, clamming were the main business here. We have our permanent exhibition on U.S. Lifesaving, which predates the Coast Guard; we have a library and trophy room that features nautical-themed books and trophies won from races on the <a href="/topics/Great_South_Bay%2C_NY">Great South Bay</a>. And what a lot of people who come to our events don’t know is that we have nine historic buildings on this property. 
Who do you see at the museum - local people or others from the island or elsewhere? 
They come from all over. A lot of people come from out <a href="/topics/East_%28designer%29">east</a>, or from Huntington and <a href="/topics/Cold_Spring_Harbor%2C_NY">Cold Spring Harbor</a>, where they have a rich heritage for this kind of thing. People come from <a href="/topics/Connecticut">Connecticut</a> if they’ve been to Mystic and they say, ‘Now I want to see the <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> heritage.’ Kids and families tend to be local. 
Why do you think this is an important part of the community? 
We celebrate a lost art here. It’s important to learn what it was like to earn your keep from the bay or what it’s like to be on a wooden vessel that’s been handcrafted. For kids, everyone wants to hop on a ferry and go over to <a href="/topics/Fire_Island%2C_NY">Fire Island</a> but it’s important to know about the history of the community and its reliance on the bay. But, you know, I’m a sucker for that kind of thing. 
How long have you worked for the museum? 
I’ve only been here since January, when they decided they needed someone to do special events. But I live in Sayville, so I was always here with my kids. 
What brought you to Sayville originally? 
My husband and I grew up in <a href="/topics/St._James%2C_NY">St. James</a>, but for a while we were both living and working in the city. When I had my daughter we started looking to move back to <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>. We knew we wanted to look on the South Shore - my husband is a surfer so he had to be near the beach - and we fell in love with Sayville. It’s a little gem. 
What was it that made you fall in love? 
After living in the city, I was really adamant about finding a place on <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> where I wouldn’t have to get in my car to do stuff. And here you don’t. It’s really nice to live in a town that has a Main Street. It makes it community-focused. And it’s the kind of place that when your kids are old enough, you can let them get on their bikes and take off. You don’t have to worry about if they are doing something wrong, because if you don’t see it, someone else will. 
&nbsp; 
<iframe src="http://www.twitvid.com/embed.php?guid=5E9WG&amp;autoplay=0" title="Twitvid video player" height="360" width="480" type="text/html" class="twitvid-player" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Prokesch

People of Sayville: Kathleen Prokesch, museum employee

Maritime

It's the people that make a community come to life. Here is a quick interview with Alice Lepore, Sayville Public Library director. 
Alice Lepore 
Sayville Public Library director for the past eight years 
Tell me how this community uses the library. 
We saw tremendous growth when we moved here in the summer of 2009. Before that we were about a half mile away in a much smaller building. In our first year, we issued 2,000 library cards, which is double what we had normally done. Now we issue about 100 a month. 
So the community has really embraced the new building? 
I feel they have. It is appreciated that they have this facility -- this is new to them. In the old building, we had one meeting room and it was usually used by the library. Here, we have six meeting rooms and one can be split. So we can have up to seven groups meeting here at one time. It can be a really busy building. 
Other than being a meeting place, how has the library been a part of the community? 
Since we moved here, we've been able to partner with the schools. So March is student art month, April is poetry month, we had a poetry open mic night. We also participated in "Sayville Reads: One book, One town," with the chairman of the [public school] English Department. We picked a theme -- last year it was dogs -- and there were four books for each of our age groups from young children up to adults. We held programs like an author talk for the adults, and they really encouraged it in the schools. That was something really different for us. 
Were you at other libraries before Sayville? 
Yes, a few. I moved up in different positions at each. 
How are Sayville residents different from others you've worked with? 
It has very much of an identity. Sayville is their town and they are proud of it and supportive of it. They do support the retail shops to keep an active and vibrant Main Street.

HLHLIBR12

People of Sayville: Alice Lepore, library director

Alice Lepore  10.12.11

Q&amp;A: MATTHEW BOYCE 
Job: Owns building design company, Green Innovative Design 
Age: 40 
Community: Stony Brook 
Claim to Fame: One of 20 contestants chosen for new season of "All American Handyman," an <a href="/topics/HGTV">HGTV</a> series in which contestants compete to be named America's best handyman. One winner will receive $10,000 and their own show on the network. The new season begins Sept. 4. 
How did you get into this field? 
Ever since I was a kid, I was always tinkering with stuff. I had to know how things work. I took that into a profession, architecture, which is not just designing a house -- it's putting it together, how it's built. That's always intrigued me and still does to this day. 
What do you enjoy about doing this kind of work? 
To do something right and the way it's supposed to be done -- I can walk away from a job and never think about it again because I know I've done my best. 
What was it like to audition for the show? 
In November I got into a car accident . . . it was horrendous, I had a dislocated hip, a fractured pelvis, a fractured femur. By January, I hobbled into the audition -- it was for 'Design Star' [<a href="/topics/HGTV">HGTV</a> reality series] -- on crutches and there were 500 people there. I had to wait on line for two, three hours . . . then in April I get a call [for 'All American Handyman.']It's amazing I even got to where I did. It's so surreal." 
How did it feel competing against other contestants? 
I went in feeling, I'm handy, I'm beyond handy . . . -- I've made stuff, I've built houses, I've put in doors and windows and hardwood floors. I'm more than just fix the toilet, put a door on its hinges. So I go into this competition and I think I can swim pretty good here. Then I walked into the first challenge and I go 'Whoa! There's a whole bunch of me's here!' They're all really good. 
Can you say how you did on the show? 
All I can say is my whole thing was that I didn't want to be the first to go, which came true. 
"All American Handyman" debuts on Sept. 4 at 9 p.m. Viewers can vote for fan favorite at hgtv.com. Boyce said that should he win, he will donate the $1,500 prize to <a href="/topics/Habitat_for_Humanity">.</a><a href="/topics/Habitat_for_Humanity">Habitat for Humanity</a>

TOQA29.WEB

Stony Brook handyman competes on HGTV show

toQA29

LAURENCE LAPOINTE 
LaPointe, a <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> trustee, is the newest member of the Board of Trustees. The board -- four trustees and the mayor -- meets every other Monday. 
Have you held elected office before? 
"I served 10 years as elected trustee of the <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> Free Library, in the 1990s, and six years on the <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a> school board from 1998 to about 2004. I grew up in <a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a>, went to <a href="/topics/Dowling_College">Dowling College</a>, went to SUNY-<a href="/topics/Buffalo%2C_NY">Buffalo</a> and got my law degree there, and moved back and settled in <a href="/topics/Medford%2C_NY">Medford</a>, where we raised a family. We finished raising our family in <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson%2C_NY">Port Jefferson</a>." 
You're a retired lawyer. What kind of law did you practice? 
"Most of my career was spent in the public sector. I was an assistant district attorney in <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> County, the deputy chief in the rackets bureau. Then I went to work for the state of <a href="/topics/New_York%2C_NY">New York</a> as the director of the tax department's revenue crimes bureau. We investigated income tax, sales tax, corporate tax fraud. After five years at the tax department, I spent time at the [state] insurance department as director of the insurance fraud bureau. My career's been mostly in white-collar investigations and prosecutions." 
What drew you into running for village trustee? 
"I consider it a public service. If you want your community to thrive, you need to contribute to it. This is my opportunity to help make my community better." 
On weekends, where might someone find you in Port Jefferson? 
"You'll find me early in the morning on Saturday going downtown to get my coffee and newspaper. I usually take a good long Saturday walk. Almost all my family still lives here. My hobbies are mostly things like carpentry: Most of what I do is renovations. I live in a Victorian fixer-upper that I've been fixing for 25 years and will probably continue fixing up for the rest of my life. It keeps getting better and better.

TOLAPO.WEB

New Port Jeff trustee has history of elected service

LaPointe18

KELLY CUMMINGS 
Job: Port Washington Police District traffic control agent (crossing guard) at Port Washington Boulevard and Campus Drive 
Community: Port Washington 
What she’s up to: Recently praised at a public meeting by the police district for a tip that led to an arrest. 
What did you see recently on duty that was suspicious? 
Saw a car with a girl inside and a young man walking around it, and thought, "‘These guys have been here for more than an hour.’ Something just didn’t look right. I radioed it in.” Police said the man was helping the girl, a victim of sexual abuse, and her alleged attacker was later arrested. 
What kind of community response do you get? 
“I can’t go anywhere in town without being recognized. Christmas presents come around, thank-yous for taking care of the kids.” After getting hit by a car while on duty and injuring her hand in December, a group of middle school teachers gave her a gift card “as a thank-you for coming back.” 
What changes do you see in students who walk? 
“When I’m yelling at them to try to get their attention, there’s cars flying — they’re zoned out on their cellphones. As they get a little bit older, they become a little bit more mature and listen to you better.” 
Has traffic gotten worse in the past several years? 
“It’s about the same. Between the two schools [Schreiber High School and Weber Middle School] it’s about 3,000 kids. It’s total madness from 7:15 to 8 a.m. I am literally doing a dance out there.”

Q&amp;A29

Port Washington woman keeps more than traffic under control

toQA28hs

ROBERT FORMAN 
Position: Owner of Hinckley 42-foot sailboat Jacqueline IV 
Community: Bay Shore 
What he’s up to: Competing in Transatlantic Race 2011 from Newport, R.I., to England, starting June 26 with a crew of seven. The retired computer company executive, 71, is one of five Long Islanders competing on the 26 boats. 
How did you get into sailing? 
“I started sailing about 54 years ago when I was in the Navy in Panama City, Fla. The officers’ club had a sailboat and I basically taught myself how to sail.” 
When did you begin racing? 
“I started racing on the Great South Bay with the South Bay Cruising Club in 1969. Then I started doing the Around Long Island races. We won our class eight times and won the whole thing — the Newsday Cup — in 1984. We decided we should do something else and started doing the [Newport-]<a href="/topics/Bermuda">Bermuda</a> races. I’ve done those 11 times.” 
What prompted the step-up to crossing the Atlantic? 
“I’ve done over 50,000 miles of bluewater [ocean] sail racing but I’ve never done a Transatlantic race so I thought this would be a nice thing to do.” 
What challenges will you face that you haven’t before? 
“The logistics are a big part of it. The <a href="/topics/Bermuda">Bermuda</a> races are four or five days; here we have to provision the boat for 20 days. The routing is another challenge — to get favorable wind angles. The weather shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve hit pretty big storms going to <a href="/topics/Bermuda">Bermuda</a> with winds sustained at 60 knots. I’d be pretty surprised if we get that on this trip.”

Q&amp;A24

Bay Shore man sets sail from Rhode Island to England

toQA24 

PORFIRIO LOPEZ 
Job: Social studies teacher, Hampton Bays High 
Community: <a href="/topics/Mattituck%2C_NY">Mattituck</a> 
What he's up to: One of 16 educators selected from 1,000 applicants nationwide as <a href="/topics/United_States_Department_of_Education">U.S. Department of Education</a> Fulbright Scholars who will tour China for four weeks, starting June 29. 
Why: To incorporate lessons he expects to learn from Chinese educators into his teaching. 
Why did you apply for the Fulbright program? 
Even as a boy, it has always been my dream to go to China. One day, I was searching on the site. Then I found out about this program. 
What do you expect to learn during the tour? 
I will learn a lot about Chinese history and how they structure their educational programs. There was a report that said China ranked No. 2 in science and math. I'm curious and want to learn about their education methodology and philosophy. 
How will you incorporate what you learn into your teaching at Hampton Bays? 
I'm going to take a lot of pictures and videotape anything that I feel is important. These will later help me create a lesson plan as part of my global curriculum. 
Are there any things in particular that you're looking forward to seeing? 
I have always wanted to see the Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City. I'm particularly interested in the Chinese Muslim mosque in Xian. 
Anything you'd like to add? 
I hope this will be one of the greatest things that has happened to me besides my children and my wife.

Q&amp;A

Hampton Bays teacher heads to China for 4 weeks

toLOPE

BARBARA WILLIAMS 
Job: Ice hockey skating coach 
Community: Kings Park 
What she's up to: 
Recently inducted into the <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> County Hall of Fame as the <a href="/topics/National_Hockey_League">National Hockey League</a>'s first female skating coach. Pushing to build a skateboard park in Kings Park. 
Why? 
To give youth someplace to go and stay out of trouble 
Where do skaters ride now? 
All the kids that I see, they're at the [Department of] Motor Vehicles in the parking lot, they're at every bank when it closes. One man told me they're jumping over the railroad tracks. They do not go down to Sunken Meadow [State Park] because it's too far away. Kids can't walk to it. 
How does a skateboard park relate to drug prevention? 
A skateboard park would keep every kid busy that isn't in organized sports. These kids that hang out and get involved with drugs, they're not in organized sports in school. Eight out of 10 of them have no place to go. ... We've got to give them a place to go. 
Where would you like to see a park built? 
The [former] Kings Park Psychiatric Center - all we need is three acres. That would be a perfect place. 
How would you raise the money? 
I would go to private corporations and companies. I would get everybody that I know to give me $1,000 to $2,000. 
How has the community responded to the idea? 
When I was inducted into the <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> County Hall of Fame on Feb. 11 ... everyone there was extremely receptive.

Q&amp;A30

Kings Park hockey coach pushing to build skate park

0LNM1L0C.JPG

ASHLEY HUNT-MARTORANO 
Job: Renewable Energy Long Island Program Director 
Community: Medford 
What she's up to: 
Bicycling in the Brita Climate Ride May 13-17, 300 miles from NYC to D.C. 
Why? 
To raise awareness of <a href="/topics/Global_Warming">climate change</a> 
How did you become involved in environmental activism? 
I grew up in <a href="/topics/West_Virginia">West Virginia</a> and I witnessed firsthand the effects of mountaintop coal mining. I witnessed firsthand our beautiful state being devastated by digging for fossil fuels. Instead of talking about the stuff I do at my job, I figured I would do something and take action. 
What are the logistics of the ride? 
I'm doing the whole distance, an average of 60 miles a day ... The ride is 125 people ... all environmentalists. 
Have you taken part in a long-distance bike ride before? 
This is the first time ... In <a href="/topics/West_Virginia">West Virginia</a>, I did mountain biking with my family, but it's been about 10 years since I was on a bike in any meaningful way. It's going to be a challenge, but I think the bigger challenge is to solve our climate crisis, and battle the coal and fossil fuel lobbies. 
How are you training? 
I've been biking twice a week. I've been riding alongside the road where I live to get used to being on the roads with cars. 
Are you nervous about the terrain, the hills? 
I am worried about the hills but knowing that I have the support of all the people who have made donations to me ... I have to raise $2,400. 
Where can people donate? 
They can donate at <a href="http://climateride.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&amp;eventID=501&amp;participantID=1250">www.tiny.cc/ashleycares</a>.

Medford woman rides 300 miles from NYC to D.C.

0LNM29TC.JPG

Q&As with Long Islanders

Newsday

Q&As with interesting Long Islanders

Homepage Trending

Halloween events on LI

2026 LI Voters Guide

Wallet Watch

Working Moms

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

Nassau and Suffolk counties have implemented a combined $57 million in technology upgrades to streamline the voting process.

New voting machines at Long Island polling places

Liberty Water has applied to raise rates in three of the areas it serves on Long Island. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Liberty seeks water rate hikes of $21-$28 a month for some Nassau customers

Make the jump to light speed on this week's LI Works. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa meets with a member of The 501st Legion, Empire City Garrison.

LI Works: Explore the dark side of the Force with Ken

The report identified over half a million hateful posts on X between January 2025 and June 2026, with monthly growth of 75%. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Anti-South Asian rhetoric surging on some social media platforms, report says

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed goes inside Critterville Farm Sanctuary to meet the rescued animals finding a second chance and the local passion that keeps it all going.

Out East: Critterville in Riverhead

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland talks to Andrea McCade, founder of The Social Mom Club LI, about how new moms can connect with others.

Working Moms: Making mom friends

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Co-Owner, Dough & Co. Pizza to try the Apple Bay Pizza, which is exclusive to their Oyster Bay location.

Trendy Bites: An apple pie ... pizza?

Video of two Suffolk police officers joining a group of teens playing soccer goes viral. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn has more.

Chance encounter turns into viral video

High school athletes striving to play sports in college might want to look at niche sports that give them a better chance. NewsdayTV's Jared Valluzzi reports.

Niche sports might get you a leg up to play at college level

NewsdayTV's Carissa Kellman explores the historic and festive charm of Sleepy Hollow during a fall day trip.

A hauntingly good time in Sleepy Hollow

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

428 luxury apartments. Over $7M in tax breaks. 0 affordable units ... Take a tour of Long Island transportation ... Working Moms: Making mom friends ... Here's a look at some of the exclusive stories you may have missed this week on NewsdayTV.

428 luxury apartments. Over $7M in tax breaks. 0 affordable units ... and more stories you may have missed on NewsdayTV this week

News - megaslot

Newsday has the most up-to-date stories on Long Island & NTC. Join us & stay current with news articles on sports, business, health, technology & more.

Stay logged in.