Long Island

United States – October 19, 2026 -- The anonymous messaging app NGL has passed 15 million installs in recent weeks, and a child-safety advisory now urges parents to keep their kids away from such apps.

Anonymous messages have been linked to teen deaths

These apps let users message others without revealing who they are. The advisory says that ability is exploited by people who want to cyberbully, defraud, or molest.

Sixteen-year-old Carson Bride died by suicide on June 23, 2020. Between January 23 and June 22, 2020, he received 105 messages through YOLO, an app for sending anonymous messages on Snapchat. Most were severe harassment, often sexually explicit and threatening. Evidence indicates he tried several times to identify the senders, and his final phone search was for a way to reveal the YOLO username.

New York – October 14, 2026 -- A typical New York City household using 720 therms of natural gas this winter is forecast to pay about $1,765, or $87 more than last year, according to National Grid. On Long Island and in the Rockaways, the same usage is projected to cost about $1,461, just $5 more.

Cheaper gas supply, pricier delivery

The forecasts cover the November-to-March heating season and assume normal winter weather. In New York City, the period runs from Nov. 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.

On Long Island, supply costs are projected to fall by about $120 compared with last winter. Delivery charges rise by $125 under a rate proposal the Public Service Commission approved in 2024.

In New York City, supply is projected to drop by about $124, while delivery climbs by $211 under the same 2024 approval.

Lake Success – October 12, 2026 -- Long Island patients can now book eye appointments with ophthalmologist Conner Style, DO, who begins seeing patients on October 12, 2026, at OCLI Vision's Lake Success and Manhasset offices.

Style's practice covers comprehensive eye care, advanced surgical procedures, and the evaluation and management of ocular emergencies. He focuses on technology-driven tools that help patients understand and follow their recovery plans.

Style trained in New York and Colorado

He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in New York and the University of Colorado Anschutz. At Rutgers University–New Brunswick, he received the Dorothy and David Cooper Scholarship for his research.

Oceanside – October 06, 2026 -- All About Smiles Dentistry has relaunched its website and completed a full renovation of its office at 3471 Long Beach Road, marking three decades of serving families on Long Island.

The practice, founded in 1996 by Dr. Pamela L. Sands, DDS, now operates as a fully digital office. Its new site, allaboutsmilesoceanside.com, lets patients browse services, meet its three specialists, and access care resources online.

Dr. Sands built the practice around pediatric and special-needs dentistry

Dr. Sands earned her DDS at Stony Brook University and trained in pediatric dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief resident. She has specialized training in treating patients with developmental and physical disabilities.

New York – September 22, 2026 -- GOAT USA has launched a co-branded apparel collection with the New York Jets, pairing the Long Island streetwear label's tee and hoodie designs with Jets branding for fans heading to MetLife Stadium.

The collection debuted at the Jets' White Out game on September 20

The line is built to work from tailgate lots to stadium seats, according to the brand. It will become widely available in early October through Jetsshop.com, GOATUSA.com, GOAT USA's retail locations, and select retail partners.

GOAT USA started selling shirts out of a car trunk in 2016

Childhood friends Rich Alfaro, TJ Cristina, and Dylan McLaughlin founded the brand by selling T-shirts at youth sports tournaments across Long Island. A decade later, the company operates more than 1,000 wholesale accounts and nine company-owned stores nationwide.

New York – September 08, 2026 -- AARP New York has rolled out a Staycation and New York Experiences campaign offering free events, day trips, classes and downloadable postcards to help residents 50 and older stretch their budgets this fall.

Rising utility bills are driving the push for local, low-cost fun.

An AARP report released earlier this year found that 84% of surveyed New Yorkers saw their utility bills increase over the past year, and 88% expect costs to keep climbing. Family caregivers face added transportation, medical and household expenses on top of that, according to AARP New York.

A nationwide survey shows staying home has become the norm.

People Magazine labeled 2026 'Staycation Summer,' pointing to a Monster survey in which 52% of workers said rising living costs kept them home more this summer, 39% cut back on trips, and 37% sought cheaper leisure activities.

Plainview – September 08, 2026 -- Mid Island Y JCC will officially become Manes JCC after receiving a naming gift from longtime member Dr. Harvey Manes and the Manes Peace Prize Foundation.

The announcement came Wednesday evening at a community celebration at the agency's Plainview location, drawing members, neighbors and supporters from across Long Island. CEO Rick Lewis, board leadership and Dr. Manes spoke at the event, which included the unveiling of the new name.

Three renovation projects are already underway

The gift will fund immediate capital improvements alongside longer-term investments in facilities and programs. Crews are resealing and restriping the parking lot ahead of members' return in September, installing a new floor in the group fitness studio, and replacing fitness center equipment that has been in place since the facility's 2012 renovation.