Behind the Hedges

Christmas tree shoppers will see increased demand and supply shortages that will drive up prices this holiday season, but North Fork growers such as Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm in Cutchogue are prepared. Tree farms are bracing for up to 40% more people looking for live trees this season, according to Stacey Soloviev, co-owner of Santa’s…
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New Medicaid provisions enacted statewide in February could interrupt the care of many disabled residents who are currently allowed to choose their own caregivers this November.  New York State Senator Simcha Felder is trying to protect his legislation that allows Fiscal Intermediaries (FI) for patients who need personal assistance, such as the elderly and disabled,…
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New Medicaid provisions enacted statewide in February could interrupt the care of many disabled residents who are currently allowed to choose their own caregivers this November.  New York State Senator Simcha Felder is trying to protect his legislation that allows Fiscal Intermediaries (FI) for patients who need personal assistance, such as the elderly and disabled,…
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Historic Shelter Island hotel and restaurant The Chequit is hosting a holiday lighting ceremony on Black Friday in what will be its last public event before its much-anticipated grand reopening next year. The Chequit is scheduled to reopen May 1, 2022, following extensive renovations to the building, and its return coincides with the 150th anniversary…
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Premier fitness equipment sales and service company Gym Tech has been allowing fitness gurus and those just trying to stay fit to bring the workout to the comfort of their home for more than 22 years at showrooms across Long Island, including in Southampton. Randy King, who has been serving the Hamptons for 27 years…
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U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi is being considered for Deputy Mayor in an Eric Adams administration. The Congressman serving Long Island & parts of Queens previously served as mayor of Glen Cove, one of two cities on Long Island, as well as Nassau County Executive, before taking his seat in Congress in 2016. Suozzi faces re-election…
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U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) says that the passage of the $2 trillion Build Back Better (BBB) bill is a loss against “President Biden’s socialist agenda” in a statement to the press Friday. The initiative passed in the House of Representatives without the support of a single Republican.  Malliotakis was one of 13 Republicans…
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The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Build Back Better (BBB) plan, which spends $2 trillion on social services and an array of recovery facets. Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island/Queens) held a virtual press conference shortly after the vote to discuss the main points of the bill he wanted to celebrate—mainly the cap on…
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Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced that New York State will provide over a billion dollars in funding for organizations that assist people with developmental disabilities, in an effort to attract new recruits and fight staffing shortages at those organizations.  The governor will earmark $1.5 billion from the American Rescue Plan to fund recruitment, retention…
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New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams made it official Tuesday: He’s running for governor. The announcement came after a seven-week exploratory phase, during which Williams visited and spoke with areas throughout the Empire State to drum up support, including Long Island, the Mid-Hudson, Rochester, and Buffalo.  “In this moment, I believe we need…
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