By Leader Staff Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has been officially nominated as the Republican Party and Conservative Party candidate for Governor of the State of New York. Blakeman will face the beleaguered incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, who is seeking the Democratic Party and socialist Working Families Party nominations, but faces a Democratic primary election being waged against her by her own Lt. Governor, Antonio Delgado. Hochul got a "boost" recently, as

By Rupert Deedes The history of Plum Island is rich and varied, with changing times, historical context, and national challenges changing the use of the island and its purpose. Here are highlights of the Island’s history: Colonial Background, 1640s–1700s : Plum Island is incorporated into English colonial land grants on Long Island’s North Shore. The island is Used mainly for grazing livestock, fishing access, and maritime navigation reference American Revolution, 1775–17

By Rupert Deedes About 20 years ago, The Leader ran a front-page picture of a mangled body of a strange dead animal swept ashore near Oyster Bay. The story accompanying the picture suggested that more than a few residents believed the dead animal was the subject of experiments at Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). In all likelihood it was not, but rumors surrounding the high-security facility on the island have accompanied it since it was built more than seven

By Steve Levy Late-night host Stephen Colbert lied to the public when he said that the CBS Network prevented him from airing an interview with a Democratic Senate candidate from Texas. The reality is that the lawyers for CBS clearly advised Colbert that, if he was going to air an interview of one Democratic candidate for Senate, it might trigger the FCC’s equal time doctrine, which would require the network to allow other candidates in the Democratic primary, as well as Rep

By Thomas Nothel The Planting Fields Foundation has announced a $100,000 grant from Bank of America in support of the highly anticipated “Oudolf Garden” opening this fall. The grant advances the Foundation’s vision to create a world-class four-season garden that “inspires visitors, strengthens community connections, and enriches Long Island’s cultural and environmental life.” The Oudolf Garden will be a dynamic one-acre landscape adjacent to the historic Rose Arbor, off

By Thomas Nothel Students at both North Shore High School in Glen Head, and Northport High School staged recent student walk-outs to protest the controversial actions of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE has received criticism over their killing of two US citizen protestors in Minnesota, and attracted protests nationally over their efforts to apprehend some of the 13 million criminal and other illegal aliens inside the US. On Friday February 6th Nort

By Sophia Ancona Love was certainly in the air this past Friday, February 13th, as Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino played Cupid to several dozen couples who came to renew their marriage vows. The event at Oyster Bay Town Hall has become a wonderful tradition, where many couples gather for the Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal Ceremony hosted by town supervisor Joseph Saladino and Town Clerk Rich LaMarca. This heartwarming event welcomed couples ranging from newlyweds to t

By Rupert Deedes Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act - to improve integrity and reduce the risk of fraud in elections - by a narrow vote of 218–213. The two members from Long Island's north shore - Nick LaLota (R-NY1 Huntington, East End) and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY3 Oyster Bay, N Hempstead) came out on opposite sides. The bill would imposing stricter documentation requirements for voter registration and b

By Mark Demetropoulos A huge fire broke out last week at a home in Manorhaven in Port Washington, destroying a residential home, and displacing five local residents. Over 50 volunteer fire fighters from various areas of the county worked together magnificently to prevent the fire from spreading to other homes, according to the Nassau County Fire Marshal. According to the Fire Marshal, fire trucks were first dispatched from the Port Washington Fire Department at approximatel

By Ishan Shah Multiple rounds of gunfire erupted last week outside the Starbucks coffee shop in downtown Huntington, sending a local resident to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Arrested is Huntington resident John Rech, age 71, of Huntington. Rech claimed that the younger man assaulted and chased him, which forced him to draw his gun and open fire outside the Starbucks. Police say the incident occurred after a dispute led to the older man being threatened and chase