Long Island, NY

What is it with Long Island, NY and alligators? This isn't exactly the tropics, although it sometimes feels like it in the summer, but there have been more and more reports of the slithery creatures in LI waterways. Obviously, some "pet" owners regretted buying those "cute" critters and let them free... illegally, of course. And there's no "Alligator Buy-Back Program."

New York State DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) reported that a gator --three to four feet in length-- has been seen below the waters of the Peconic RIver. Attempts to catch it have so far not worked.

This is the 17th alligator in the past nine months that has been spotted in the wild on Long Island.

So for those who think that baby alligators make cute pets, keep in mind that it's a criminal offense to release one into the wild, and it could bring a prison sentence of up to a year or a $1000 fine. And there's a maximum fine of up to $250 for owning an alligator.

You might also be interested in reading:

• Alligator Removed From Liquor Store on Long Island
• Suffolk County's Animal Abuser Registry First In U.S.
• Exotic Pet Laws

Want to make sure that dad enjoys this Father's Day, but you're short on cash? If you take him to TCBY, they'll give him a free frozen yogurt (up to 6 ounces) on his special holiday this Sunday.

Below is a list of their locations on Long Island, NY. Always check with the store first to make sure that they're participating in this promotion.

630 Portion Road
Ronkonkoma, NY

Mt. Sinai Shopping Center
5507 Nesconsett Highway
Mount Sinai, NY

Bonwit Village
9 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
Commack, NY

158 7th Street
Garden City, NY

1955 Jericho Turnpike
East Northport, NY

Phillips Plaza
653 Sunrise Highway
Lynbrook, NY

Washington Avenue Plaza
10 Washington Avenue Plaza
Plainview, NY

Here's another way to save money on Father's Day. Dads eat for $4.99 at Ben's dining room if you purchase one sandwich or entree at the regular price. (Note: not available for takeout.)

On Long Island, the locations are at:
Ben's, Country Glen Shopping Center, 59 Old Country Road. (516) 742-3354
Ben's of Greenvale: 140 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale. (516) 621-3340
Ben's of Woodbury, 7971 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury. (516) 496-4354.

See also Father's Day on Long Island for more places to go and things to do with dad this year.

Nick is a 12-year-old boy from Syosset who is currently being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.) He is being treated in Manhattan at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This Saturday, June 15, 2013, his parents are holding a breakfast fundraiser, open to the public,  to help pay for his treatment. It will be held at Applebee's on Route 110, near the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington, NY.

There will be two sessions: one from 8 a.m. till 9 a.m., and one from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The charge is $10 per person for one session ($3 goes to Applebee's and $7 to help pay for Nick's treatment.) This includes a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes and a choice of beverage: coffee, tea, orange juice or milk. Applebee's is donating the food and chefs, and Nick's family and friends will be serving as waitstaff.

To purchase tickets, please email teamnickportugal@gmail.com to find out more.

Today, Saturday, June 8, 2013, the Belmont Stakes, the last leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, will take place at 6:36 p.m. at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

The 1 1/2-mile race carries a $1 million purse.

Among the favorites racing today are Orb, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Oxbow, who won the Preakness Stakes. If you can't make it to the racetrack, TV coverage will start at 3 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network, and at 5 p.m. this afternoon on NBC.

There are other races going on today, starting with one at 11:35 a.m. For information on getting to Belmont Park, visit their official website at www.belmontstakes.com.

A new reality show premiered on Sunday on Bravo: Princesses: Long Island. Following the lives of six young ladies from affluent areas of the island, the reality TV show apparently wants to pick up where the Kardashians left off. But this morning on Facebook, a number of my friends hotly debated the positives and negatives of the show. One friend said: "Welcome to my world," but another pointed out that all of the women on the show are Jewish and finds that it "borders on the anti-Semitic."

In addition, one of the women on the show, Ashlee White, made a disparaging remark about Freeport, and this led to a resident starting a new Facebook page, "Boycott Princesses of Long Island." As of 11:40 a.m. today, the FB page had over 2600 "likes," and prompted an apology from Ms. White on her blog.

What do you think of the show? Is it just a fun, exaggerated version of some Long Island residents, or does it go too far, making unfavorable stereotypes of the people who live here? Please leave a comment below.

In the beginning of June 2013., Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is sending representatives of the Department of FInancial Services (DFS) to a number of locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties to advise homeowners and business owners who were affected by Superstorm Sandy on how to apply for federal recovery aid. They will also be able to assist with insurance-related issues related to damages from Sandy. The DFS representatives will be available to meet with Long Islanders inside the agency's Mobile Command Center, which will be at the following locations on the dates listed:

Nassau County:

• Tuesday, June 4, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  500 Sunrise Highway, Valley Stream, NY
• Wednesday, June 5, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  492 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway, NY
• Thursday, June 6, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Freeport Memorial Library, 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport, NY

Suffolk County

• Friday, June 7, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Municipal Lot, Bennett Place and Montauk Highway, Amityville, NY
• Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  351 Merrick Road, Amityville, NY

Note: to apply for housing or business recovery assistance, please visit nysandyhelp.ny.gov

Merliance (formerly the Long Island Merlot Alliance) has announced that Merlot Confidential, the release party for their Merlot blend of the same name, will feature winemakers joined by Chef Karl Ljung of the Grand Escalier brasserie in Stockholm, Sweden. Ljung was the recipient of the Swedish Chef of the Year award in 1999.

His appearance on Long Island comes courtesy of the Swedish Culinary Summer, a tour of top Swedish chefs at over a dozen of the East End's premier culinary and charity events from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Merlot Confidential will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Raphael in Peconic, NY. All of the Merliance winemakers and others will be present to personally pour their own wines which will include 2010 (most of which have not yet been released) and 2012 (from barrel) Merlots and Merlot-based blends. A vertical of Merliance will also be featured, including the alliance's 2006 through 2010 vintages, and all will be available for purchase that evening. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided courtesy of Raphael. Tickets are $40 per person at www.longislandmerlot.com/topsecret and also at the door.

Merliance is a non-profit trade association whose members are Long Island producers of Merlot and Merlot-based blends, who believe that these are the signature wines of our region. Their website states ".. our members believe that this place (Long Island) is one of the few in the world that provides the best opportuity for growing and producing great wines substantially comprised of the merlot grape."

Suggested Reading:

• Long Island Wine Country
• Long Island Wine Country Weddings

_{Photo © Karl Ljung}

On Sunday, June 2, 2013, the whole family can enjoy HarborFest in
Port Washington's town dock. This is the 23rd year of the annual event, and there are often more than 12,000 people in attendance. There will be a handmade craft fair, Art in the Park, an extensive food court, live musical entertainment and more.

You can relax with a cruise on the bay on the Port Washington Water Taxi (for a fee), stroll through the environmental section, enjoy watching a model boat regatta and lots more.

If you're having a hard time parking, you can use the shuttle at the Port Washington train station to bring you to and from the festival.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, pllease go to www.pwcalendar.com/events.html or call (516) 883-6566.

Suggested Reading:

• June Calendar of Events on Long Island, NY
• Free Things To Do on Long Island
• Free Summer Concerts on Long Island

_{Photo © Linda Tagliaferro}

Is your child still deciding where he or she would like to go to camp this summer? Sands Point Preserve has some great options.

From July 29 through August 2, 2013, they'll offer Camp Invention, a summer day program for students entering grades one through six. This weeklong experience immerses kids in ways to discover creativity and inventiveness through hands-on, creative problem solving activities. You can register your child online at www.campinvention.org or call (800) 968-4332.

There's also Mad Science, five one-week camp programs. Sands Point Preserve will be the setting for hands-on science experiences for children. Each week focuses on a specific area of imaginative learning. Programs are offered with either half-day or full-day options for children entering grades K through 6. You can find out more details and register your child at www.MadScienceLi.org or call (516) 620-6768.

Suggested Reading:

• Long Island Summer Camps - Nassau County, NY
• Long Island Summer Camps in Suffolk County
• Specialty Camps in Nassau County, Long Island, New York
• Specialty Camps in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York

_{Photo © Friends of Sands Point Preserve}

Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach" has rated beaches and other coastal areas for more than 20 years. Every year, he chooses the top 10 Best Beaches in America, and Long Island, New York's shores have been on that list over and over again.

But this year, Long Island has won the "gold." Main Beach in East Hampton has been chosen as America's Best Beach for 2013. On his website, Dr. Beach states that even though the lovely beach was heavily eroded by the fury of Superstorm Sandy and other storms, that it has "largely recovered." And thankfully, the pavilion was virtually untouched because it is set back several hundred feet from the water. He adds that the beach has a team of lifeguards, so it's "a very safe beach for bathing and swimming."

See also Long Island Beaches - Where To Find Great Beaches on Long Island
_{Photo © Linda Tagliaferro}