Latest news with #Wantagh
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police under federal investigation for response to beach chaos
Federal officials are investigating the Nassau County Police Department after officers used a helicopter to try and disperse a group of around 500 teens who were on Jones Beach for "Senior Cut Day." Around 500 teens went to Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, on Thursday after a flyer was spread on social media promoting "Senior Cut Day," prompting the massive turnout. Witnesses told News 12 that the beach quickly spiraled out of control once the teenagers arrived. A Nassau County Police Department helicopter was seen hovering over the large group of teens, lifting sand into the air as a result. A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration told Fox News Digital that the agency is investigating the Nassau County Police Department's use of a helicopter in this situation. Hundreds Of Teenagers Transform Peaceful Beach Into Chaos As Police Forced To Break Up Fights "The FAA is investigating the incident," the spokesperson said. "Minimum altitudes for all aircraft (including helicopters) are listed in § 91.119. The rule requires that (except when necessary for takeoff or landing) no pilot may operate an aircraft below an altitude where, if the engine fails, an emergency landing cannot be made without creating an undue hazard to people or property on the surface. The rule applies whether the aircraft is operated as a civil aircraft or a public aircraft (i.e. military, law enforcement, etc.)." Read On The Fox News App The rule states that helicopters can't fly under 1,000 feet "above the highest obstacle." Dozens Arrested After Memorial Day Violence Rocks Jersey Shore Boardwalk Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told Fox News Digital that the police's actions saved others from getting hurt. "We are confident that the actions taken by the NCPD aviation helicopter were instrumental in dispersing a large crowd of individuals who were engaged in fighting and other disruptive behaviors, thereby saving our kids from getting hurt." Police and other officials restricted access to areas of the beach to stop any continued violence on Thursday. No injuries were reported. Officials allegedly saw multiple fights between the large group of teens. "The beach was never like this," said one person who saw the mass gathering of teenagers. "We came here as kids — it was so calm. But now it's just crazy."Original article source: Police under federal investigation for response to beach chaos
New York Post
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
LI school to dish out $23M to replace its ‘Thunderbirds' logo due to statewide ban — despite lawsuit to keep it
A school district on Long Island estimates it'll spend a ludicrous $23 million to erase its 'Thunderbirds' team name — as it's forced to comply with a state ban on Native American logos and imagery. Connetquot, whose baseball team recently won the Suffolk County championship, has been in quiet communication with the state of New York and expects to entirely phase out its longtime moniker by March of next year, according to documents obtained by The Post. 'The District has invested significant funds in larger-scale athletic costs at the high school and middle schools without the Thunderbirds name or imagery,' Superintendent Joseph Centamore wrote to Dave Frank, assistant commissioner of the state Department of Education. Advertisement 3 Connetquot High School is spending $23 million to phase out its Native American 'Thunderbirds' team name — despite suing for years to keep it. 'These costs included the replacement of turf fields, indoor gym floors and equipment, and other fixtures, as well as repainting projects throughout the schools totaling $23,620,000,' he said in the letter, dated May 6. Connetquot will also have to spend 'an additional $323,470.42' on 'scorers' tables, cheer equipment, wall pads, scoreboards, additional uniforms, and certain banners and signage.' Advertisement The district declined to comment. The Thunderbirds, which use no relevant imagery, shares its name with a Canadian Hockey League team based outside Seattle and an Air Force demonstration squadron that performs at Jones Beach. The district has been fighting in court since 2023 with fellow Native American-named districts on Long Island, including Massapequa, Wantagh and Wyandanch. Advertisement However, a chief justice dismissed the suit in March, but only Massapequa amended its complaint to keep the fight going. President Trump intervened in April, declaring 'LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!' and ordered Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to investigate the issue at a national level. Despite the presidential support, Centamore's recent letter requested an extension beyond the June 30 deadline set by the Board of Regents to comply with the state ban. He added that the school has been rebranding for the past five years and 'has completed at least 75% of the necessary work for compliance.' Advertisement The district was granted a year's extension last week. On paper, Wantagh is also backing off and allocated a staggering $418,000 'for the purpose of working on mascot-related projects,' according to a deadline extension request Superintendent John C. McNamara sent to Frank on April 24. 3 Wantagh High School is also rebranding as they have allocated $418,000 'for the purpose of working on mascot-related projects,' according to a deadline extension request from Superintendent John C. McNamara. Dennis A. Clark The true cost will be closer to $700,000 for Wantagh, which has 2,850 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, according to a representative. 'Simultaneously, the district remains committed to preserving our 'Warrior' name,' McNamara and his board wrote in a recent community letter after their 2026 extension was recently approved. 'The extension granted to our district is significant as it allows us more time not only for thoughtful implementation if needed, but also for the legal proceedings concerning our appeal to reach a resolution.' Chief concern The fight continues for Massapequa and its Chiefs team, with McMahon recently pledging federal intervention and calling the ban a civil rights issue because it singles out Native American culture. Advertisement Massapequa is expecting to have to pay roughly $1 million if it's forced to rebrand as part of the ban, which threatened schools by saying those who don't comply would face loss of state funding and other sanctions. The district's homegrown Harvard lawyer, one-time Chief Oliver Roberts, is now sending a letter to New York's Indigenous Mascot Advisory Group, demanding an extension for Massapequa. Roberts wrote that the state is 'compelled to extend its enforcement deadlines' on behalf of McMahon's federal findings that fall under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. 3 Massapequa High School continues to fight to keep their name as they would have to pay roughly $1 million if it were forced to rebrand as part of the ban. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post Advertisement 'The District cannot, under any circumstances, lawfully engage in discriminatory conduct against Indigenous individuals, groups, students, employees, or residents, 'he wrote. 'Nor can it erase or suppress Indigenous cultural identity at the direction of the Regents,' Roberts added, signing the letter, 'Once a Chief, always a Chief.' Frank responded last week to the federal government's discriminatory findings — and threat to involve the Justice Department — in a letter that suggests expanding the ban to all ethnic team names the state deems offensive. Advertisement 'That's their workaround … we've demonstrated that this regulation was not a good idea,' Massapequa School Board President Kerry Wachter told The Post at a 'Save The Chiefs' rally Saturday. 'Now you're wanting to put another unfunded mandate on top of all these districts who are just barely making it, just to not give Massapequa the win?'
Fox News
10-06-2025
- Fox News
Police under federal investigation for response to beach chaos
Federal officials are investigating the Nassau County Police Department after officers used a helicopter to try and disperse a group of around 500 teens who were on Jones Beach for "Senior Cut Day." Around 500 teens went to Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, on Thursday after a flyer was spread on social media promoting "Senior Cut Day," prompting the massive turnout. Witnesses told News 12 that the beach quickly spiraled out of control once the teenagers arrived. A Nassau County Police Department helicopter was seen hovering over the large group of teens, lifting sand into the air as a result. A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration told Fox News Digital that the agency is investigating the Nassau County Police Department's use of a helicopter in this situation. "The FAA is investigating the incident," the spokesperson said. "Minimum altitudes for all aircraft (including helicopters) are listed in § 91.119. The rule requires that (except when necessary for takeoff or landing) no pilot may operate an aircraft below an altitude where, if the engine fails, an emergency landing cannot be made without creating an undue hazard to people or property on the surface. The rule applies whether the aircraft is operated as a civil aircraft or a public aircraft (i.e. military, law enforcement, etc.)." The rule states that helicopters can't fly under 1,000 feet "above the highest obstacle." Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told Fox News Digital that the police's actions saved others from getting hurt. "We are confident that the actions taken by the NCPD aviation helicopter were instrumental in dispersing a large crowd of individuals who were engaged in fighting and other disruptive behaviors, thereby saving our kids from getting hurt." Police and other officials restricted access to areas of the beach to stop any continued violence on Thursday. No injuries were reported. Officials allegedly saw multiple fights between the large group of teens. "The beach was never like this," said one person who saw the mass gathering of teenagers. "We came here as kids — it was so calm. But now it's just crazy."
New York Post
09-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
You're saying these Long Island towns wrong — even the ones you think you know: ‘Butchered'
This will have you spit out your 'cawffee.' It's a dead giveaway that someone isn't from Long Island if they bungle how to pronounce local communities – but it turns out even 516 and 631 lifers are doing it wrong. Teams like the New York Islanders and Long Island Ducks even post videos of out-of-town players brutally mincing Wantagh, Patchogue and other Native-American names. Advertisement 6 The New York Islanders and Long Island Ducks post videos of out-of-town players brutally mincing Wantagh, Patchogue and other Native-American names. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post But you may not have to venture far to find folks messing up Massapequa and Ronkonkoma, which have been anglicized over the past few centuries. Their real pronunciations sound unrecognizable to the modern ear, according to former longtime Unkechaug Nation Chief Harry Wallace, an expert in Algonquian. 'Our language wasn't written in the sense of being translated into English or French — the sound is what they're trying to copy,' Wallace, based on on the island, told The Post. Advertisement He compared how Algonquian is the root base of many different Native American languages, some of which were spoken on Long Island, much like the Romance languages, such as French, Spanish, and Italian, all of which stem from Latin. However, during colonial times, much was lost in translation because the European settlers 'didn't know how to spell,' especially with hard consonants like the letter 'H,' which are vital to the Algonquian language, he added. From there, readers would only see, but not hear, the real pronunciation. Ultimately, it turned into a telephone game that has been ongoing for a few hundred years. Advertisement Wallace recognizes that there's no one official way to sound out some towns, such as Wantagh, which islanders say as 'wan-tah.' And the local way of saying Patchogue as 'patch-hog' is pretty close to its origin, he said. These, however, are some Native American-named local towns that even the most bona fide residents are getting wrong, according to Wallace. Copiague 6 Algonquian is the root base of many different Native American languages, some of which were spoken on Long Island. Copiague Chamber of Commerce / Facebook Advertisement Townsfolk and the recorded voice on the Long Island Railroad alike sound out this Suffolk community as 'co-peg,' but really it should be pronounced closer to 'co-pi-ah-e' with a short 'I' and long 'E,' he explained. '[Europeans] would elongate the A when they read it…and that's all they would hear after,' Wallace added of what translates loosely to grove or forest. Massapequa 6 As with other Algonquin hard consonants, the real sound is 'Mass-a-peek' without the open vowels at the end. Massapequa Park / Facebook The town that has caught the eye of President Trump over as it fights to keep its Chiefs team logo in the face of a state ban on Native American mascots isn't straightforwardly pronounced 'Mass-a-pequa,' said Wallace, who opposes the school using the name. As with other Algonquin hard consonants, the real sound is 'Mass-a-peek' without the open vowels at the end, he added, explaining that it means place of great water. Cutchogue 6 While it's spoken today as 'cutch-hog,' Wallace said the real way is 'cutch-e-hoki,' spelled as 'kecheahki.' Alamy Stock Photo Unlike Patchogue, residents aren't remotely close to getting the pronunciation of the quiet North Fork escape spot on. While it's spoken today as 'cutch-hog,' Wallace said the real way is 'cutch-e-hoki,' spelled as 'kecheahki.' Advertisement In the same vein as Massapequa, it translates to mean great place. Setauket 6 Wallace says it as 'Se-tau-ah-ki' and added its definition is place of streams, something the north shore enclave by the Long Island Sound is known for. Alamy Stock Photo Similar to Cutchogue, Setauket, spoken like Secaucus in New Jersey, is a world apart from its perceived pronunciation. Wallace says it as 'Se-tau-ah-ki' and added its definition is place of streams, something the north shore enclave by the Long Island Sound is known for. Ronkonkoma Advertisement 6 Its prototypical 'Ron-cahnk-ama' pronunciation — which Neil Patrick Harris projected on the LIRR 2 a.m. drunk train in a sitcom — should be 'Ronkon-koman.' James Messerschmidt That's right, Long Island's showstopper that's been a punchline on 'How I Met Your Mother' and an Artie Lange monologue on an insufferable Yankees fan 'has been butchered,' Wallace said. Its prototypical 'Ron-cahnk-ama' pronunciation — which Neil Patrick Harris projected on the LIRR 2 a.m. drunk train in the sitcom — should be 'Ronkon-koman,' he explained. Advertisement The town name derives from its kettle lake, formed by the glacier that carved North America, which was sacred to its native population. One translation for Ronkonkoma is 'deep cavern place' in reference to the lake, which is tied to urban legends of hauntings and drownings attributed to a Native American-related curse — a story Wallace has explicitly called bunk on.
