Like most elected officials, my friend and colleague, Legis. Tom Muratore,had a few issues that were especially close to his heart. School bus safetywas one of them. He was responsible for having …
As young children, the headcount at school was always important. Whether it was on a field trip or taking attendance for the day, it was critical that teachers had an accurate headcount. It was …
The very first Labor Day parade in the United States was held on Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City. The participants brought picnic lunches, had a concert, and listened to many different speeches. …
When someone celebrates a milestone birthday, you will often see gifts and games centered around the theme of “the year you were born...” What usually follows is a series of facts and …
A new law that removes conviction history checkboxes from job applications takes effect in Suffolk County on Aug. 25. This type of legislation is referred to as a “Ban the Box” …
Tropical Storm Isaias just passing through Suffolk County it is likely we can see another major storm or even a hurricane this year, so it is a good time to review how prepared we are for the …
When summer officially kicked off last month, no one knew what kind of season would lie ahead of us as we continued our battle against COVID-19. The outdoors has since emerged as a kind of safe …
Suffolk County enters its second week of Phase 4 under the New York Forward reopening plan, life is starting to return to a version of normal for many of us. Yet for so many, life has been …
This past January marked the 50-year anniversary of the creation of the Suffolk County Legislature. Like others marking milestones this year, we had celebration plans that were diverted by the …
No one will forget 2020, and those graduating this year have the unique badge of having this year attached to their unofficial titles as members of the Class of 2020. In some ways, I share the …
The outrage and protests over the killing of George Floyd by police officers has moved into a new stage. While many are still taking to the streets to demand justice, groups and individuals have …
The worst part of the quarantine was not missing my beloved ballet series this spring, lamenting the canceled fall opera season, or having a whole summer devoid of festivals and concerts, but …
America is facing a difficult moment. For the past few months, we have been enduring a global pandemic that has claimed more than 110,000 lives. We are dealing with an economic catastrophe that …
After Memorial Day, the unofficial onset of the summer sea- son, the island seems to come to life. The air is filled with the sounds of ice cream trucks and bicycles hitting the pavement. We are …
Summer is upon us and this year promises to be a year like no other. New York State has begun the slow process of reopening our economy and our usual summer activities will not be anything like …
“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower uttered these …
Across the country, people from all walks of life are feeling the economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis. More than 33 million Americans have filed for unemployment and millions more will in the …
This weekend we will celebrate Mother’s Day, and it will surely look different than those of years past. There will still be flowers, but they will likely be received through contactless …
Over the past two months, I have attempted to highlight the many institutions and people who are providing essential services during the COVID-19 crisis. Nurses, grocery store clerks, teachers, …
As I write this, we are well into our fifth week of the coronavirus shutdown. New phrases have entered our lexicon, like “social distancing” and “flattening the curve.” …
