On July 13th, New York State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Lieutenant Unger and ECO Kochanowski responded to a Nassau County, Long Island residence after receiving a report that the homeowner wanted to turn in a 14-foot Burmese python. [Read more…] about New York Snake Stories: Burmese Python Seized; ‘Rattled’ Service Workers
Long Island
Labor History: Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct & the 1961 Track Workers Strike
There were only 14 horses at Saratoga Race Course in late July of 1961. By that time, it was expected that at least 200 would have arrived for the racing season. Strikes led by Jimmy Hoffa and a branch of the Teamsters Union, Local 917, halted the transportation of horses from New York City to Saratoga Springs. [Read more…] about Labor History: Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct & the 1961 Track Workers Strike
Long Island Revolutionary History: A Suffolk County Tour
As we celebrated another birthday for America this July 4th I was reminded of the rich history and vital role that New York played in the founding of this nation. This is no less true within the sandy shores and glacial uplands of Long Island.
Drive south on William Floyd Parkway today, through the Suffolk County communities of Yaphank, Mastic, Shirley, and Mastic Beach, and it might be hard to imagine that this area was once the site of a great struggle between a world power and the early American settlers who came to yearn for independence. [Read more…] about Long Island Revolutionary History: A Suffolk County Tour
Long Island 250 Commission Preparing for America’s 250th Anniversary
As the United States looks ahead to the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War in 2026, politicians and leaders of the history community on Long Island have announced plans for a commemoration of the region’s local ties to the American War for Independence. [Read more…] about Long Island 250 Commission Preparing for America’s 250th Anniversary
Nearly 100 Miles of New Greenway Trails in NYS Since Opened Since 2021
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) have announced the release of the New York State Greenway Trails Progress Report (August 2021-December 2022), which outlines the accomplishments made, the projects initiated, and the funding secured by state, local, and non-profit partners between August 2021 and December 2022. The report identifies 97.1 miles of new trails completed and 372.7 additional miles of trail in progress in that time frame. [Read more…] about Nearly 100 Miles of New Greenway Trails in NYS Since Opened Since 2021
Long Island’s Gold Coast Elite & World War I
The Gold Coast along Long Island’s North Shore is most often celebrated as a showcase for the rich and famous in the early 20th Century. A decidedly different aspect of that reputation comes into view when you consider the years leading up to America’s entry into the First World War. [Read more…] about Long Island’s Gold Coast Elite & World War I
Edwin Forbes: Civil War Artist & Starting Gate Inventor
American artists and illustrators have documented events through the nation’s history, producing a vital visual record of collective experiences. One illustrator, who can still be called upon to look back through time, is Edwin Forbes, who lived in the Long Island village of Flatbush, before it was annexed into Brooklyn, and eventually New York City. He was a noted illustrator of the Civil War and also an inventor of the horse racing starting gate. [Read more…] about Edwin Forbes: Civil War Artist & Starting Gate Inventor
The Wreck of the Circassian: A Graveyard of the Shinnecock Nation
In December 1876, the cargo ship Circassian was wrecked off the coast of Mecox Bay near Bridgehampton on the South Fork Long Island in Suffolk County, NY. Although she was initially stranded just off shore, a fierce winter storm finally destroyed her, killing ten members of the Shinnecock Nation who were working to salvage her cargo. [Read more…] about The Wreck of the Circassian: A Graveyard of the Shinnecock Nation
State of the Ocean 2023 Report Released
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the State of the Ocean 2023 that provides an overview of actions taken to advance the New York Ocean Action Plan (OAP). The report highlights partnerships and achievements from the first five years of the OAP, including enhancing ecological integrity, promoting sustainable growth, adapting to change, and empowering public stewardship. [Read more…] about State of the Ocean 2023 Report Released
Preservation Long Island Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary
Preservation Long Island, a regional not-for-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation on geographic Long Island, is celebrating its 75th year in operation. [Read more…] about Preservation Long Island Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary