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Tree Lighting Illuminates Mastic Beach for the Holidays
The sky was lit with the colors of the holidays, and Santa made an appearance Saturday at the Greater Mastic Beach Chamber of Commerce's annual tree lighting hosted by Ultimate Mower on Commack Road. There were giveaways for the kids, and cheery music rang through the community courtesy of Party 105.3 and Big Hits 98.1, which gave out prizes for holiday music trivia.
Who Was Walter T. Shirley?
While many are familiar with the South Shore community known as Shirley, not everyone knows it was named for the developer who put the area on the map–Walter T. Shirley.
911 Service Restored in Suffolk: A Close Call with Crisis Averted
It has been a week since Suffolk County grappled with a 911 emergency system outage, which lasted over twelve hours and highlighted the importance of reliable communication in emergencies. As the community reflects on this incident, the focus has shifted to learning from this experience and bolstering system reliability.
Local Food Pantries Illuminate Holiday Season with Acts of Kindness
As the holiday season blankets Long Island in a warm, festive glow, an underlying issue often escapes the spotlight. Behind the picturesque landscapes and cozy neighborhoods, more than 200,000 Long Islanders, including nearly 70,000 children, wrestle with food insecurity. The struggle to put food on the table is a stark reality for many, but during these challenging times, the unsung heroes of local food pantries step up.
Incoming County Legislator Arrested
Suffolk Legislator-Elect Catherine Stark was arrested over the weekend by Riverhead Town Police on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired. Set to take over the office held by Legislator Albert Krupski, where she served as chief of staff, Stark revealed she is battling cancer, and had taken prescribed medication in the hours preceding the arrest.
Lucky Spin at Jake's 58 Brings $2.3 Million Jackpot
A spin at the Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars game at Jake's 58 turned into a $2.3 million payoff for an East Northport resident last week, the biggest payout ever at the Islandia casino.
Christmas Parade Canceled Due to Weather, No Rain Date, Community Disappointed
Mother Nature did a Bah Humbug on the annual holiday parade sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics & Shirley for Sunday, leaving residents disappointed and flustered over the popular event having no rain date.
Brookhaven C.A.R.E.S. Forum Highlights Critical Housing Initiatives
Brookhaven Town Hall was the venue for Brookhaven C.A.R.E.S. Rental Housing Forum, an event highlighting its efforts to address the current affordable housing crisis. Deputy Commissioner of Housing and Community Development Marie M. Michel, alongside Diane Castro, Rental Subsidy Program Coordinator, spearheaded the forum to discuss key housing initiatives and programs. This gathering was particularly significant in highlighting the various housing assistance programs and their accessibility to residents of Brookhaven.
COVID Water Assistance Extended
Residents who have trouble paying their water bill can get help through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
Fire Ravages Tesla's Shoreham Lab
He was a renowned inventor responsible for many advancements of our electronic age, and his memory was being preserved through the creation of the Nikola Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the location of his Shoreham laboratory. The grand plan to open his 16-acre facility to the masses received a tragic setback last week from a fire that damaged what was to become a global innovation center, educational facility, and museum.
Santos Expulsion: NY Republicans Push Effort and Side with Democrats Again
On Friday, December 1, George Santos was voted out of the House of Representatives by a vote of 311-114 (2 present). An overwhelming majority of Democrats voted in favor, while a substantial percentage of Republicans voted against. The move to oust Santos has been pursued and led by local Congressman Nick LaLota for several months now, and the Democrats finally delivered the outcome he desired.
Romaine Brokers Historic Sewer Deal
Not wasting any time in tackling the most pressing environmental issue faced by Suffolk, County Executive-Elect Edward Romaine has brokered a consensus between stakeholders to support the expansion of sewers and help homeowners convert to clean water septic systems. The agreement, made between environmental groups, building trades, and government officials, will put the question of raising the county's sales tax an eighth of a cent before residents in a November referendum, a vote that was scuttled by the Suffolk Legislature this year due to objections over the funding formula.
$50,000 Grant for Bellport Public Safety Vehicle
A $50,000 state grant secured by Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano went a long way in funding a new public safety vehicle for the Village of Bellport. The Assemblyman, center, met with Don Mullins, Director of Code Enforcement for the village, and Mayor Maureen Veitch on Monday to check out the new ride. They also discussed issues and programs in the surrounding community and how they can become good partners in government to ensure that Bellport Village continues to prosper. "We both care about the constituents we represent," the Assemblyman said. "I believe we will be able to build a great working relationship."
Comfort and Care: Brookhaven's Annual Pajama Drive Targets New Heights in Giving
With the holiday season approaching, the Town of Brookhaven is preparing for its beloved annual pajama drive, which embodies the spirit of community and giving. Town Clerk Kevin LaValle and EJ's PJs founder Patricia Poggi are at the helm of this year's drive, which aims to deliver warmth and comfort to children facing hardship by providing new pajamas.
Icy Waters, Warm Hearts: Polar Plunge Raises Over $100K for Special Olympics
In a display of community spirit and charitable giving, the Town of Brookhaven's 14th annual "Polar Plunge: Freezin' for a Reason" event, held at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai on November 18, successfully raised $140,000 for Special Olympics New York. The event saw 650 participants, including residents and town employees, braving the icy waters of the Atlantic.
Legislature Puts Bellone Cybersecurity Plan on Hold
A plan advanced by outgoing county Executive Steve Bellone to address Suffolk's cybersecurity system has stalled in the legislature, with lawmakers preferring to wait until a report is released by the special committee looking into the ransomware attack that caused the shutdown of the county's computer network. The plan also raised the eyebrows of countywide elected officials not wanting to lose autonomy over the systems in their offices.
Events to Ignite the Spirit of the Season
The holidays bring all kinds of activities to our area. From tree and menorah illuminations and choral presentations to lighting spectaculars and visits from Santa–there's plenty to ignite the spirit of the season.
Wilderness Art Exhibit at National Seashore
A "Wilderness Art Exhibit" hosted by the Fire Island National Seashore is on display until December 3 at the tower overlooking the Atlantic at Smith Point Park in Shirley.
Turkey Giveaway at 7th Precinct
All the fixings, including dessert—750 meals in all—were given out Saturday at the Suffolk Police Department's 7th Precinct during an annual Thanksgiving event made possible by generous donations and dozens of volunteers chipping in.
Ronkonkoma Fire Department Puts Out Building Fire
On Tuesday November 14th, 2023 at approximately 17:14hrs the Ronkonkoma Fire Department was activated for a reported building fire in the vicinity of Hawkins Avenue and Portion Road, in Ronkonkoma. Units arrived and discovered an abandoned gas station with heavy fire on the 1/4 corner, a working fire was then activated.
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Mangano Makes More History
Shoreham-Wading River wrestler Gavin Mangano added another historic achievement to his résumé by capturing his fourth Eastern States Classic championship. Widely regarded as the toughest in-season wrestling tournament in the East, the Eastern States Classic once again showcased Mangano’s dominance on the mat.
Basketball Game Ends in Chaos and Arrests
Last week, a high school basketball game at Half Hollow Hills High School descended into chaos after a fight broke out between players from Half Hollow Hills and Comsewogue.