2+ week, 4+ day ago (434+ words) Heatherwood Communities LLC, a Commack-based developer, has sued the Town of Hempstead in federal court over its battle to build housing on a site in Inwood. Credit: Jeff Bachner In what could be a precedent-setting case with far-reaching implications for housing development and municipal zoning, Heatherwood Communities, a Commack-based developer, has sued the Town of Hempstead in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York over its battle to build housing in Inwood. But Heatherwood never came close to being able to break ground. Town officials first instituted a moratorium on the zoning in 2022, which they subsequently renewed. By 2024, the town board repealed it altogether. Originally, they were going to grandfather in existing proposals like Heatherwood's, but ultimately chose not to do that, either. Heatherwood, which has built thousands of units across Long Island and New York City, fought…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (600+ words) This furnished Centre Island home on the water is listed for $1.7 million. Credit: All Media NY/All Media NY Green carpeting, rose-covered wallpaper and thick curtains were unappealing to Christopher Galleta on his first visit to a Centre Island rental property in 2019. Galletta and his husband, Gregg'Rusczyk, rented the house, renovated and made the purchase. Now, the resulting three-bedroom, two-bathroom house on Centre Island Road is on the market for $1.699 million fully furnished. Taxes on the 0.23-acre property, which falls within the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District, total $14,519. ' "We designed it for us," Galletta said. "Obviously sometimes circumstances change, but what we did, we did with us in mind, not a resale in mind." The current owners renovated and redesigned the home, which originally had green carpeting, rose-covered wallpaper and thick curtains. Credit: All Media NY The pair modernized…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (528+ words) Twenty-six local educators were recently celebrated as "school heroes." The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying honored the group last month for going "above and beyond to support kindness, inclusion and safety," according to the organization. The recipients " nominated by peers, parents and students " were recognized during an Oct. 20 reception at the Stonebridge Golf & Country Club in Smithtown. "Our honorees remind us that real impact is not measured in statistics or applause, but in the single moment, single student and single act of kindness that can alter a child's path," said Joe Salamone, the coalition's founder and executive director. Davis, the coordinator of health, physical education and athletics for Brentwood, also received the inaugural Scott J. Beigel Enduring Impact Award for demonstrating "an unwavering commitment to creating safe, supportive and inclusive school environments," the coalition said. "It is truly an honor to…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (502+ words) Amityville Mayor Michael O'Neill talks with Diane Apgar at the branding event at Amityville Town Hall in Amityville on Saturday. Credit: Neil Miller Amityville is looking to get on brand " and it's asking for residents" help. Village officials on Saturday'unveiled four possible icons and lettering for Amityville"s new logo that will be placed on everything from roadway signs to online messaging to water bottles and T-shirts. Dozens of residents offered feedback at the unveiling at village hall'and Amityville'this week'is launching an online survey to gauge which option " or part'of each'design " is preferred The effort is part of the village"s ongoing work on its downtown, funded with $10 million from the state"s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, or DRI. Andrew Simons, an emphas!s partner, said right now the village has'"multigenerations of signs." Forming a strong brand first,'Simons said,…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (428+ words) Houlihan's, seen here on Tuesday, is going out of business. Raising Cane's has applied to Babylon Town to open up at the site in East Farmindale. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, the national'chain, is hoping to open one of its first restaurants in East Farmingdale, although Babylon Town officials and residents say they are concerned about the potential for traffic problems. Raising Cane's'is proposing to tear'down the Houlihan's restaurant at 923 Broadhollow Rd. and build'a 4,054-square-foot restaurant with 72 indoor and 15 outdoor seats, along with a drive-thru that can accommodate 21 vehicles. The location is in a shopping center that includes a Walmart, Bank of America and several other restaurants. At a Babylon Town planning board hearing Monday night, attorney Bram Weber of Melville, who is representing Raising Cane's, said Houlihan's is "ceasing operations" at the site. Houlihan's, which…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (430+ words) Houlihan's, seen here on Tuesday, is going out of business. Raising Cane's has applied to Babylon Town to open up at the site in East Farmindale. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, the national'chain, is hoping to open one of its first Long Island restaurants'in East Farmingdale, although Babylon Town officials and residents say they are concerned about the potential for traffic problems. Raising Cane's'is proposing to tear'down the Houlihan's restaurant at 923 Broadhollow Rd. and build'a 4,054-square-foot restaurant with 72 indoor and 15 outdoor seats, along with a drive-thru that can accommodate 21 vehicles. The location is in a shopping center that includes a Walmart, Bank of America and several other restaurants. At a Babylon Town planning board hearing Monday night, attorney Bram Weber, of Melville, who is representing Raising Cane's, said Houlihan's is "ceasing operations" at the site. Houlihan's,…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (396+ words) The new rules for a popular student loan forgiveness program go into effect in July. Credit: AP / Seth Wenig New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday joined the attorneys general of 20 other states and Washington, D.C., in a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of playing politics with a popular student loan forgiveness program. The lawsuit'against the federal Department of Education and its secretary, Linda McMahon, states that the agency's new restrictions on public service loan'forgiveness eligibility are illegal and "aimed only at chilling activities that are disfavored" by the Trump administration, including support for immigrants, gender-affirming care, diversity initiatives and political protest. The complaint filed in federal court in Massachusetts on Monday argues that the term "substantial illegal purpose" is a cover for the Department of Education to serve as a "roving enforcer" for the Trump administration, punishing activities it…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (464+ words) Southampton Town Hall, as seen here. The town is weighing a plan to exceed the tax cap as it looks to boost staffing levels and upgrade police equipment. Credit: Randee Daddona Southampton Town is proposing to exceed the state tax cap next year with a budget that increases'spending to hire more police officers, purchase'law enforcement equipment, and cover rising employee benefit costs. The $143.2 million proposal from Supervisor Maria Moore would raise spending by $9.2 million, or 6.9%, over the town's current plan. The proposal would raise the town portion of the average'property tax bill by about $118 for a home assessed at'$1 million. Under the proposal, the townwide tax levy would rise 9.7%, from $86.7 million to $95.1 million, requiring a town board supermajority to override the state'cap.' Staffing levels have been a long-running issue for the East End towns. The preliminary budget adds 12 new positions,…...

3+ week, 8+ hour ago (301+ words) If you missed out on the news this weekend, here's a summary of the top global headlines with links to some of our best journalism. As the Senate held a rare Sunday session, its Republican leader said a potential deal was "coming together" on the government shutdown but there was no guarantee it would end an impasse now stretching to 40 days. The shutdown has disrupted flights nationwide, threatened food assistance for millions of Americans and left federal workers without pay. Here are our stories about the shutdown and its impact: The system came ashore on Sunday with 115 mph winds in the northeastern coast of the Philippines, where the massive storm had already left at least two people dead and forced more than a million people to evacuate from flood- and landslide-prone areas. The head of the BBC and the British…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (59+ words) Complete coverage of Long Island High school bowling. Latest news, scores, schedule and analysis from the leading source of Long Island Sports, Newsday.com ... Complete coverage of Long Island High school bowling. Latest news, scores, schedule and analysis from the leading source of Long Island Sports, Newsday.com Junior rolled a 240 to win the CHSAA state championship....