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You know what's funny about April on Long Island—we're breaking ground on splash pads while busting enough fentanyl to kill millions, and somehow Home Depot still thinks a distribution hub is the real story.

Levittown Finally Gets Its Splash Pad

Hempstead Town officially broke ground on a new splash pad near the Bluegrass Lane Pool in Levittown, with Supervisor John Ferretti, Councilman Dennis Dunne, and Town Clerk Kate Murray doing the ceremonial honors with shovels.

The splash pad joins a growing trend across Nassau County — Oyster Bay added three in the past two years, and East Meadow's has been packed every summer since it opened. For Levittown families, it means no more driving to Eisenhower Park when the kids want to cool off but aren't quite ready for pool depth.

The town hasn't released construction timelines or cost details yet, but similar splash pads typically run $200,000-$400,000 and take 4-6 months to build. If they stick to that schedule, Levittown kids might be splashing around by late summer — just in time for the August heat that makes every parent desperately search for outdoor water activities.

Selden House Had Enough Fentanyl to Wipe Out Nassau County

Police seized enough fentanyl from a Selden rental home to kill 2.2 million people — enough to kill every person in Nassau County. The bust landed a local man facing 15 years to life, according to Greater Long Island.

To put that scale in perspective: the DEA says just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. This seizure represents a staggering amount of poison that was sitting in a residential neighborhood, potentially destined for street corners across Long Island and beyond.

The case highlights how the opioid crisis has turned suburban rental properties into drug distribution hubs. Suffolk County has been hit particularly hard by fentanyl deaths — overdose fatalities jumped 85% countywide between 2019 and 2021. When law enforcement pulls this much deadly material out of circulation, it likely disrupts supply chains that stretch from local dealers to users struggling with addiction in communities across the Island.

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⚡ Before You Go

• 1 Lane Closed On Wantagh State Parkway, Roadwork: 511NY - Patch. One lane closed on Wantagh State Parkway for roadwork, adding to your morning commute misery. Just what we needed — another reason to leave 20 minutes earlier for everything.
• NY weather: Coastal flood statement for Staten Island and Nassau County until Thursday night - SILive.com. Coastal flood statement issued for Nassau County through Thursday night due to high tides and weather conditions. Time to move your car from that street that floods every time someone waters their lawn.
• LIRR Offers $5 Discount for Mets Games - Moovit. LIRR offering $5 discount for Mets games this season to encourage transit ridership. Finally, a reason to take the train that doesn't involve avoiding LIE traffic.

Home Depot Wants Your Tax Break for Its New Yaphank Warehouse

Home Depot is asking Brookhaven's Industrial Development Agency for tax breaks to build a massive 414,000-square-foot distribution center on Sills Road in Yaphank — a $157 million project that would handle online orders and store deliveries across the region, according to Greater Long Island.

The facility would be roughly eight times the size of a typical Home Depot store, designed to speed up those "order online, pick up in two hours" promises that have become standard.

What is notable: Yaphank sits right at the intersection of the LIE and Sunrise Highway, making it prime real estate for moving stuff around Long Island quickly. The IDA hasn't announced when they'll vote on the tax incentives, but distribution centers typically promise hundreds of jobs — though most pay significantly less than the construction work required to build them.

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Bethpage Kid Makes It to the Academic Final Four

Bethpage High School senior Aaryan Rupesh just earned National Merit Finalist status — think of it as making the Final Four, but for test scores. He's one of only 15,000 students nationwide to advance from semifinalist to finalist, according to the Bethpage Newsgram.

For context: about 1.3 million juniors take the PSAT each year, and less than 1% become finalists. So yeah, this is a big deal. About half of finalists go on to win actual scholarship money, which ranges from $2,500 one-time awards to full rides at participating colleges.

Bethpage schools have been quietly building a reputation for academic achievement — their graduation rate sits at 97%, well above the state average of 84%. Stories like Aaryan's don't happen by accident; they're the result of a district that's figured out how to push high-achieving kids without burning them out. Now he waits to see if he converts this finalist status into actual scholarship dollars.

⚡ Quick Hits

• Legislator holds office hours at library. State Senator Steve Rhoads held mobile office hours at Hicksville Public Library as part of his district outreach efforts. Because apparently the only way to catch your elected officials is when they're borrowing books.
• Robbins Lane PTA hosts Multicultural Night. Robbins Lane Elementary in Syosset hosted Multicultural Night featuring 15 countries and diverse performances. Nothing says community like trying to explain your heritage through a potluck dish.
• LI’s Jesse Findling advances to American Idol Top 14 as momentum builds. Massapequa Park's Jesse Findling advances to American Idol's Top 14, beating out thousands of hopefuls. Long Island's secret weapon: everyone here thinks they can sing after karaoke night.
• Riverhead center brings lifesaving stroke treatment to the East End. Peconic Bay Medical Center is upgrading stroke treatment capabilities on the East End with new neurological services. Because when you're having a medical emergency, you shouldn't have to drive to Nassau County.

Hicksville Schools Give Props Where Props Are Due

At their March 18 meeting, the Hicksville Board of Education took time to celebrate two things that actually matter: their partnership with the local library and the high school dance team. Superintendent Dr. Ted Fulton highlighted how the Hicksville Public Library strengthens the community — a refreshing acknowledgment that education happens beyond school walls.

The board also recognized the Hicksville High School Starlets dance team, according to the Mid-Island Times. It's nice to see a school board meeting that isn't all budget drama and parking complaints for once.

Hicksville UFSD serves students across multiple schools in Nassau County. When a district takes time to recognize community partnerships and student achievements, it usually signals they're doing something right behind the scenes too.

The Ducks Just Got Their Biggest Name Ever

Trevor Bauer, the 2020 Cy Young Award winner, is now pitching for the Long Island Ducks as he attempts an MLB comeback. The 35-year-old right-hander joined the independent league team after being out of Major League Baseball since June 2021 following sexual assault allegations and a subsequent suspension.

This is easily the highest-profile player the Ducks have ever signed. For context, the team's previous biggest names were mostly former major leaguers looking to extend careers, not former Cy Young winners trying to rebuild them. Bauer's arrival will likely pack Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip — the Ducks averaged 4,717 fans per game last season.

Whether this translates to an actual MLB return remains to be seen. Independent league baseball has become a legitimate pathway back to the majors for players with talent but complicated histories. For Ducks fans, though, it means watching one of the most dominant pitchers of the 2010s throw 95-mph fastballs in their backyard.

This Guy's VHS Collection Would Make Your Basement Jealous

Jon Soda James gets so excited at flea markets that he has to pause and collect himself before diving into the hunt for vintage media. The North Babylon collector believes physical media — VHS tapes, vinyl records, old DVDs — creates a deeper connection to art than streaming ever could, according to LI Press.

While most of us scroll past Netflix recommendations without a second thought, James is out there getting endorphin rushes over "plastic treasures." There's something to be said for that — when you own a movie, you watch it differently than when it might disappear from your streaming service next month. Plus, try explaining the ritual of rewinding a VHS tape to someone who grew up with instant everything.

In an age where we own nothing and rent everything digitally, maybe the guy hoarding Blockbuster classics in his garage has the right idea after all.

🗣️ Rumor Mill

We cannot confirm any of this.

• Fastest growing town. Reddit user thinks Selden is Long Island's fastest-growing hamlet with new stores and updated parks. The debate in the comments is getting heated over which town really deserves the crown.
• Wendy's with greenhouse windows. Someone's hunting for the last Wendy's with old-school greenhouse windows on Long Island. Apparently nostalgia for 80s fast food architecture is a real thing now.

If you know something we don't (and you probably do), hit reply.