Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share An angel has found the Greenport Skate Park, after years of searching for funding to restore the village-owned park on Moore’s Lane.
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
An angel has found the Greenport Skate Park, after years of searching for funding to restore the village-owned park on Moore’s Lane.
Riverhead’s next superintendent of schools got a warm welcome from the Board of Education and Riverhead school district community Wednesday night when the board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Robert Hagan to the post, effective July 1. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Hagan, 51, of Rocky Point, is currently the assistant superintendent for human resources in the Longwood Central School District, a position he’s held since September 2020. He has 26 years experience as an educator, working as a middle school and high school social studies teacher, before becoming an administrator in 2007. Hagan said he realizes he’s coming into the district at a critical time, taking the reins from Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich, who came to Riverhead after it went through a period of turmoil.The district has its challenges, he acknowledged. “I think that’s exciting. Having challenges is certainly exciting, because now we’re working together.” Hagan said his goal is to “listen and learn and see where people are at and just build on a great foundation that has been put in place.” Hagan grew up in Sayville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Fordham University, Master of Science in secondary education at Dowling College and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration at Fordham University. He is married and the father of two daughters, ages 16 and 13. Hagan will be paid $260,000 annually, plus benefits. He has signed a three-year contract with the Riverhead Central School District, commencing July 1.
****
A plane carrying several members of the U.S. Congress, including 1st Congressional District Rep. Nick LaLota, was bumped by another plane’s wing on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport yesterday. LaLota (R-Amityville) posted on the social media website X that he was departing from the airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Thursday afternoon when the collision occurred. LaLota wrote, "Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences ... like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is O.K.!," John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the collision. No injuries were reported. FAA officials said, "The wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522” on a taxiway at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Officials said LaLota and other congressional representatives were traveling on an Embraer E175 heading to Kennedy Airport when it was clipped by a Bombardier CRJ 900 heading to Charleston. LaLota's office issued a statement that both planes returned to the terminal for safety inspections. "The Congressman is grateful for the swift and professional response by the flight crew, who prioritized the safety and well-being of everyone on board," his office said in a statement. "Congressman LaLota intends to bring this firsthand experience to his work in Congress, advocating for stronger aviation oversight and enhanced public safety to help prevent similar incidents in the future."
****
An angel has found the Greenport Skate Park, after years of searching for funding to restore the village-owned park on Moore’s Lane.
Rena Wilhelm, President of the non-profit Greenport Skate Park Inc., announced on the group’s Facebook page in early April that Dominick Marcoccia of Marco Masonry Corp. in Aquebogue, has agreed to rebuild the nearly three decades old park which has fallen into disrepair. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Marcoccia met earlier this year with board members, and said he could do the work for not too much more than the $100,000 the group had raised.
“He’s really doing this out of the goodness of his heart,” said Ms. Wilhelm. The next step will be to present their plans to the Greenport Village Board — Ms. Wilhelm said she’s put in a request for a discussion at the board’s April 17 work session. If the village approves, the work would likely begin in the fall and take around three months.
****
The State of New York’s massive pension funds serving nearly 1.7 million public workers and retirees are expected to weather the turmoil in the stock market and the prospect of additional drops despite their substantial investment in stocks, according to state and national authorities. But taxpayers could take a hit in 12 months, with how much depending on the scale of the losses. Taxpayers by law are on the hook to compensate for losses in stock investments to keep the public pension systems adequately funded to pay benefits.
The stock market this year has lost about 20% of value so far. The losses came after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs of up to 125% on foreign imports. Michael Gormley reports in NEWSDAY that public worker pension plans typically invest about 40% of their assets in stocks. The rest of their investments are in fixed assets, infrastructure, bonds, real estate, cash and other ventures.
"Obviously we’re down, everybody’s down," said NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who manages the $273.4 billion state pension funds for most state workers, retirees, police and professional firefighters. "But we’re going into this well-funded, so we have plenty of money to pay pension benefits ... they should not be worried."
He said, however, that newer workers with 25 years to work before retirement may well worry about the longer-term economic damage and how that will impact pensions benefits by the time they retire.
****
Sixteen attorneys general and a Democratic governor sued the Trump administration yesterday to restore access to over $1 billion in federal pandemic relief aid for schools that was recently halted, saying that the pullback could cause acute harm to students. Hurubie Meko and Troy Closson report in THE NY TIMES that the suit, led by New York State’s attorney general, Letitia James, and filed in Manhattan federal court, is one of the latest efforts by states to fight President Trump’s clawback of funding allocated to programs he does not want the government to support. The funding was part of a windfall of more than $190 billion that the U.S. Department of Education distributed to schools at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
The government’s reversal “triggered chaos,” the suit says. New York was one of the states with the most unspent money: over $130 million. California had more than $205 million in unspent money, and Maryland had $245 million, the most among the states that sued.
“Cutting school systems’ access to vital resources that our students and teachers rely on is outrageous and illegal,” Attorney General James said in a news release.
Thursday’s move was made in concert with the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and the District of Columbia. Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania also joined the suit; his state’s attorney general, is a Republican.
****
Riverhead Town Board members heard two pitches yesterday from groups interested in buying, renovating and operating the historic Vail Leavitt Music Hall in downtown Riverhead. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that The Jazz Loft, a nonprofit organization which restored a historic building in Stony Brook built in the 1770s into a performance venue and music museum, is one of the Town Board’s suitors. Its president and founder, Thomas Manuel, said the organization’s experience in the music industry and restoring a historic property can make the Vail-Leavitt the “crown jewel” of Riverhead’s Main Street. The other choice is The Zenith Group, a Riverhead-based development firm led by Ray Castronovo, a musician and member of Riverhead Town’s Business Advisory Committee. Castronovo said he has experience restoring old buildings and connections to the music industry that can make the theater successful. The Riverhead Town Board is considering whether each organization could effectively restore and manage the theater. The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall is within the East Main Street Urban Renewal Area, which allows the town to convey property it owns in the area to a developer for reuse without a competitive bidding process. The organization the Town Board chooses will need to go through the qualified and eligible sponsor hearing, where the firm will have to prove they have the experience and financial capability to restore and manage the theater.
****
Gov. Kathy Hochul defended blowing a state budget deadline yesterday, saying she’s not budging on her policy demands – as lawmakers hightailed it out of the capital for Passover break. Vaughn Golden reports in THE NY POST that the NYS Legislature passed another extension for current spending through Tuesday before skipping town nine days after the April 1 deadline that came and went with negotiations largely at a stalemate.
“I’m not going to compromise my principles over a date,” Hochul told reporters in her state Capitol office. She tried to illustrate her point by mentioning policy items that passed in her previous budgets – all of which also passed past the deadline. “I’m gonna bring more and more common sense to this place and that’s what you get when I do,” she added after pointing to a visual aid she had on standby emblazoned with the title “good things happen in April.” Hochul pitched a $252 billion budget proposal but she has been at odds with fellow Democrats in the legislature over her proposals to make changes to discovery laws, which set deadlines for evidence sharing in criminal cases. Critics have said current discovery laws mean cases get dismissed, setting criminals free on technicalities — and even liberal prosecutors have lined up behind changes.
Other sticking points in the budget negotiations include a bid to make it easier to force mentally ill people into psychiatric care. Despite the recent extender, Hochul is cutting short lawmakers’ originally-scheduled two-week vacation that was supposed to begin next week. The governor controls how long each extender lasts, giving her leverage to force lawmakers to return to Albany to extend funding beyond Tuesday.
Tensions have been growing with Hochul and legislative lawmakers starting to take shots at each other throughout the week. Since April 1 legislators pay has been suspended. The governor continues to be paid per normal.
View all episodes
By WLIW-FMRiverhead’s next superintendent of schools got a warm welcome from the Board of Education and Riverhead school district community Wednesday night when the board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Robert Hagan to the post, effective July 1. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Hagan, 51, of Rocky Point, is currently the assistant superintendent for human resources in the Longwood Central School District, a position he’s held since September 2020. He has 26 years experience as an educator, working as a middle school and high school social studies teacher, before becoming an administrator in 2007. Hagan said he realizes he’s coming into the district at a critical time, taking the reins from Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich, who came to Riverhead after it went through a period of turmoil.The district has its challenges, he acknowledged. “I think that’s exciting. Having challenges is certainly exciting, because now we’re working together.” Hagan said his goal is to “listen and learn and see where people are at and just build on a great foundation that has been put in place.” Hagan grew up in Sayville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Fordham University, Master of Science in secondary education at Dowling College and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration at Fordham University. He is married and the father of two daughters, ages 16 and 13. Hagan will be paid $260,000 annually, plus benefits. He has signed a three-year contract with the Riverhead Central School District, commencing July 1.
****
A plane carrying several members of the U.S. Congress, including 1st Congressional District Rep. Nick LaLota, was bumped by another plane’s wing on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport yesterday. LaLota (R-Amityville) posted on the social media website X that he was departing from the airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Thursday afternoon when the collision occurred. LaLota wrote, "Serving in Congress has come with some once in a lifetime experiences ... like just now while stationary on the runway at DCA, another plane just bumped into our wing. Heading back to the gate, but thankfully everyone is O.K.!," John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the collision. No injuries were reported. FAA officials said, "The wingtip of American Airlines Flight 5490 struck American Airlines Flight 4522” on a taxiway at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Officials said LaLota and other congressional representatives were traveling on an Embraer E175 heading to Kennedy Airport when it was clipped by a Bombardier CRJ 900 heading to Charleston. LaLota's office issued a statement that both planes returned to the terminal for safety inspections. "The Congressman is grateful for the swift and professional response by the flight crew, who prioritized the safety and well-being of everyone on board," his office said in a statement. "Congressman LaLota intends to bring this firsthand experience to his work in Congress, advocating for stronger aviation oversight and enhanced public safety to help prevent similar incidents in the future."
****
An angel has found the Greenport Skate Park, after years of searching for funding to restore the village-owned park on Moore’s Lane.
Rena Wilhelm, President of the non-profit Greenport Skate Park Inc., announced on the group’s Facebook page in early April that Dominick Marcoccia of Marco Masonry Corp. in Aquebogue, has agreed to rebuild the nearly three decades old park which has fallen into disrepair. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Marcoccia met earlier this year with board members, and said he could do the work for not too much more than the $100,000 the group had raised.
“He’s really doing this out of the goodness of his heart,” said Ms. Wilhelm. The next step will be to present their plans to the Greenport Village Board — Ms. Wilhelm said she’s put in a request for a discussion at the board’s April 17 work session. If the village approves, the work would likely begin in the fall and take around three months.
****
The State of New York’s massive pension funds serving nearly 1.7 million public workers and retirees are expected to weather the turmoil in the stock market and the prospect of additional drops despite their substantial investment in stocks, according to state and national authorities. But taxpayers could take a hit in 12 months, with how much depending on the scale of the losses. Taxpayers by law are on the hook to compensate for losses in stock investments to keep the public pension systems adequately funded to pay benefits.
The stock market this year has lost about 20% of value so far. The losses came after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs of up to 125% on foreign imports. Michael Gormley reports in NEWSDAY that public worker pension plans typically invest about 40% of their assets in stocks. The rest of their investments are in fixed assets, infrastructure, bonds, real estate, cash and other ventures.
"Obviously we’re down, everybody’s down," said NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who manages the $273.4 billion state pension funds for most state workers, retirees, police and professional firefighters. "But we’re going into this well-funded, so we have plenty of money to pay pension benefits ... they should not be worried."
He said, however, that newer workers with 25 years to work before retirement may well worry about the longer-term economic damage and how that will impact pensions benefits by the time they retire.
****
Sixteen attorneys general and a Democratic governor sued the Trump administration yesterday to restore access to over $1 billion in federal pandemic relief aid for schools that was recently halted, saying that the pullback could cause acute harm to students. Hurubie Meko and Troy Closson report in THE NY TIMES that the suit, led by New York State’s attorney general, Letitia James, and filed in Manhattan federal court, is one of the latest efforts by states to fight President Trump’s clawback of funding allocated to programs he does not want the government to support. The funding was part of a windfall of more than $190 billion that the U.S. Department of Education distributed to schools at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
The government’s reversal “triggered chaos,” the suit says. New York was one of the states with the most unspent money: over $130 million. California had more than $205 million in unspent money, and Maryland had $245 million, the most among the states that sued.
“Cutting school systems’ access to vital resources that our students and teachers rely on is outrageous and illegal,” Attorney General James said in a news release.
Thursday’s move was made in concert with the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and the District of Columbia. Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania also joined the suit; his state’s attorney general, is a Republican.
****
Riverhead Town Board members heard two pitches yesterday from groups interested in buying, renovating and operating the historic Vail Leavitt Music Hall in downtown Riverhead. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that The Jazz Loft, a nonprofit organization which restored a historic building in Stony Brook built in the 1770s into a performance venue and music museum, is one of the Town Board’s suitors. Its president and founder, Thomas Manuel, said the organization’s experience in the music industry and restoring a historic property can make the Vail-Leavitt the “crown jewel” of Riverhead’s Main Street. The other choice is The Zenith Group, a Riverhead-based development firm led by Ray Castronovo, a musician and member of Riverhead Town’s Business Advisory Committee. Castronovo said he has experience restoring old buildings and connections to the music industry that can make the theater successful. The Riverhead Town Board is considering whether each organization could effectively restore and manage the theater. The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall is within the East Main Street Urban Renewal Area, which allows the town to convey property it owns in the area to a developer for reuse without a competitive bidding process. The organization the Town Board chooses will need to go through the qualified and eligible sponsor hearing, where the firm will have to prove they have the experience and financial capability to restore and manage the theater.
****
Gov. Kathy Hochul defended blowing a state budget deadline yesterday, saying she’s not budging on her policy demands – as lawmakers hightailed it out of the capital for Passover break. Vaughn Golden reports in THE NY POST that the NYS Legislature passed another extension for current spending through Tuesday before skipping town nine days after the April 1 deadline that came and went with negotiations largely at a stalemate.
“I’m not going to compromise my principles over a date,” Hochul told reporters in her state Capitol office. She tried to illustrate her point by mentioning policy items that passed in her previous budgets – all of which also passed past the deadline. “I’m gonna bring more and more common sense to this place and that’s what you get when I do,” she added after pointing to a visual aid she had on standby emblazoned with the title “good things happen in April.” Hochul pitched a $252 billion budget proposal but she has been at odds with fellow Democrats in the legislature over her proposals to make changes to discovery laws, which set deadlines for evidence sharing in criminal cases. Critics have said current discovery laws mean cases get dismissed, setting criminals free on technicalities — and even liberal prosecutors have lined up behind changes.
Other sticking points in the budget negotiations include a bid to make it easier to force mentally ill people into psychiatric care. Despite the recent extender, Hochul is cutting short lawmakers’ originally-scheduled two-week vacation that was supposed to begin next week. The governor controls how long each extender lasts, giving her leverage to force lawmakers to return to Albany to extend funding beyond Tuesday.
Tensions have been growing with Hochul and legislative lawmakers starting to take shots at each other throughout the week. Since April 1 legislators pay has been suspended. The governor continues to be paid per normal.