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☁️ Tonight: Cloudy | Low 41°
Between the Saudis fighting our local distillery over three letters and the LIRR striking again, it's shaping up to be a very Long Island kind of Thursday.
Local Vodka Maker Takes on Saudi Golf Money in Federal Court
Long Island Spirits, the Baiting Hollow distillery behind LíV Vodka, just filed a federal lawsuit against LIV Golf — yes, that Saudi-backed golf league that's been making headlines for poaching PGA stars with massive paychecks. The issue? Both want to use "LIV" on alcohol and merchandise, according to Greater Long Island.
The local distillery has been making LíV Vodka since 2007, nearly 15 years before the golf league held its first tournament in June 2022. Now LIV Golf wants to trademark the same three letters for booze and branded gear — which would put them in direct conflict with the Long Island company's existing trademark.
It's David versus Goliath with a Long Island twist: a small family distillery that started in a potato field going head-to-head with a sports league backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, worth over $600 billion. The case will test whether being first to market with a trademark beats having deeper pockets in federal court.
Great Neck Plaza Fire Report
A fire occurred at an apartment building at 444 Middle Neck Road in Great Neck on March 19, 2026 at 3:28 PM according to Nassau County Police reports. However, no verified reports of a recent synagogue fire in Great Neck Plaza could be found.
Great Neck has one of Long Island's largest Jewish populations, with multiple synagogues serving the area's diverse congregations.
Without confirmation of a synagogue fire, claims about community impact, closures, or alternative service arrangements cannot be verified. When Hurricane Sandy flooded several Nassau houses of worship in 2012, other local congregations did step in to help affected communities.
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Someone's Finally Doing Something About That Pond
Nassau County Legislature Alternate Deputy Minority Leader Debra Mulé is organizing a community cleanup at Milburn Pond Park in Baldwin after a significant bird die-off there recently raised alarm bells among locals. The Freeport Democrat announced the event in response to what she called "community concerns" — which is political speak for "people are really upset about dead birds."
The timing makes sense. Spring cleanup season is here anyway, and nothing gets residents more fired up than environmental problems in their backyard parks. Milburn Pond sits right between Baldwin and Freeport, so it's not just one community's headache — it's a shared mess that's been needing attention.
No word yet on what exactly killed the birds or whether the cleanup will address the underlying issue, but at least someone's picking up a rake. Details on when and how to join the effort should be coming from Mulé's office soon.
That Westbury Incident Just Wrecked Your Morning Commute
An LIRR train struck a person near Westbury station Wednesday morning, March 25, shutting down service on both the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches and stranding thousands of commuters during morning rush hour. The MTA suspended service in both directions while emergency crews responded to the scene, according to Daily Voice.
The Ronkonkoma line carries about 48,000 riders daily — one of the LIRR's busiest branches — so when it goes down during rush hour, the ripple effects hit everyone from Hicksville to Farmingdale. Bus service and alternative routes were overwhelmed.
Service was restored by Wednesday afternoon, according to the MTA.
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Town Board Says Yes to 246 More Apartments (With Tax Breaks)
The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency approved incentives for a 246-unit apartment complex, though multiple similar-sized projects are in various stages of approval in the area. The project gets property tax abatements and other financial benefits in exchange for bringing more housing to the town — though Patch didn't specify exactly where or how much those tax breaks are worth.
Here's what's interesting: Hempstead has been pushing for more rental housing as home prices keep climbing, but every tax abatement means existing homeowners pick up more of the municipal budget. Property taxes in Hempstead vary widely by location, with the median annual tax bill around $6,830 according to recent data, though some areas like West Hempstead see bills over $11,000.
The IDA hasn't released timeline details yet, but these approval processes usually mean shovels in the ground within 18 months. Whether that helps with the housing crunch or just adds to rush-hour traffic on already-packed local roads — well, that's the trade-off every growing suburb faces.
⚡ Quick Hits
The Raymond Exhibit Is So Popular They Can't Get Rid of It
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is extending its "Everybody Loves Raymond" exhibit through Labor Day (September 6) because, well, everybody apparently still loves Raymond. According to Greater Long Island, visitor demand has been strong enough to keep the display running well past its original March 29, 2026 end date.
The show, which ran from 1996 to 2005, was famously set in Lynbrook — though filmed in California — and depicted the kind of Long Island family dynamics that hit a little too close to home for most of us. Ray Romano's fictional family dealt with overbearing parents, sibling rivalry, and the everyday chaos of suburban life that resonates with anyone who's ever lived within a 20-mile radius of the Nassau-Suffolk border.
If you haven't checked it out yet, the Hall of Fame is located at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook. Just don't blame us if you start hearing Marie Barone's voice in your head for the rest of the week.
⚡ Before You Go
🗣️ Rumor Mill
We cannot confirm any of this.
- sprouts farmers market. Reddit user asking about Sprouts Farmers Market in Centereach, wondering if it's worth the drive from Nassau. Could this be the Whole Foods killer Long Island's been waiting for?
- So, this is ridiculous. Someone posted what appears to be a massive PSEG rate hike notice, claiming it's "more than a $200 annual increase." Time to start budgeting for that electric bill shock.
- Heavy police presence in downtown Freeport. Heavy police presence and blocked roads reported in downtown Freeport near Burger King. Reddit's trying to piece together what went down on Merrick Road.
Reply to this email with anything — tips, typos, hot takes. We read them all.
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