New Suffolk News

Sun photo by Peter Blasl A bolt of lightning hits the water off the shore of Wading River Beach Monday afternoon.

Pupils in a classroom EDUCATION bosses have unveiled ambitious 140 million plans for a radical shake-up of secondary schools in east Suffolk.

Fireworks are seen at Jones Beach State Park on Friday, July 04, 2008. JONES BEACH: Fireworks dazzle 100,000 They ooh-ed and aah-ed -- watching shells burst in the air, happy to have escaped the thunderstorms.

From spending a day grilling in the park to watching a parade to enjoying a fireworks display on the beach, patriotic fervor spread across Long Island yesterday as residents celebrated the nation's 232nd birthday.

Declaring the Declaration in Merrick Before e-mails, telephones and instant messaging, the way to share important information was by holding a meeting in the town square.

The Historical Society of the Merricks gave its 30th annual reading of the Declaration of Independence Friday morning at a gazebo on Merrick Avenue north of the railroad tracks. Similar to when it was first proclaimed throughout small towns and larger cities in 1776, local citizens gathered together for the reading. But unlike 232 years ago, every participating person took turns reading one sentence each of the 1,375-word document.

The following Islanders placed in the top three in their age groups: Lauren Laviola , Linda McCarthy , Charles Stark , Tom Power , Maryellyn Duane and veteran 10K runner John Byington .

Julie Wesnofske and Michael, Tamara and Evan Tiska have announced the marriage of their mother, Gail Osborne Tiska of Southampton to Steve Charles Flurry of New Suffolk on May 2. The evening ceremony was held ...

VOTING 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the New Suffolk School. THE BUDGET School officials in the K-5 district are proposing a $635,432 budget for 2008-09 which is 1.97 percent lower than the current budget ... via Newsday.com

Compared to double-dipping school superintendents whose combined salaries and pensions exceed a quarter-million dollars, Bob Feger's compensation is modest. via AMNY

Andrea Hill launching charm offensive NEW Suffolk chief executive Andrea Hill was today launching a two-day charm offensive by speaking to the media from across the region. via Ipswich Evening Star

“There is really nothing like this anywhere else on Long Island, and I've been told that our version of these native trees - very sinewy due to the winds - is seen nowhere else but in coastal Oregon.”

Some gardeners look out over their creations and see not only trees, mountain laurel and azaleas but also the past and the future.

Roberta Lee of Cutchogue got an early start on gardening, helping her mother when she was just 4. 'And I wasn't playing,' she says. Now gardening discussions form a bond with her daughter, Jessica, who lives near Los Angeles.

Carol Large of Locust Valley also has memories of a childhood spent in gardens. She laughs when she recalls providing free 'labor for my parents when I was 2 years old. My parents and grandparents were gardeners. My grandfather propagated camellias, and my parents taught me to call plants by their botanical names.' Read more

“We've lived here summers for 52 years, and the last 14 years full-time”

Voters in two Long Island communities, one on the East End and the other near Nassau County 's border with Queens, reached different conclusions yesterday over the funding of fire district operations. via Newsday.com

“Right now, it seems everything people talk about is money. That's outrageous”

Arthur Brewer, chairman of the Cutchogue Board of Fire Commissioners, admitted that this might not be the best of times to ask voters in the fire district to approve a $7.28-million bond issue to build a new ... via Newsday.com

“There are questions being asked and I'm told there are people who are worried about it. "There are people other than me who won't be supporting it, I'm pretty certain of that.”

JUST a handful of elected Tories are now needed to vote against the whopping salary offered to Suffolk's new chief. via Ipswich Evening Star