Joseph Ostapiuk
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jostapiuk.bsky.social
Joseph Ostapiuk
@jostapiuk.bsky.social
950 followers 240 following 330 posts
Newsday reporter covering the Town of Oyster Bay and the City of Glen Cove | ex Staten Island Advance/SILive.com
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jostapiuk.bsky.social
I was in the crowd at last night's @newsday.bsky.social forum on the exclusive @sienaresearch.bsky.social poll analyzing perceptions of quality of life on Long Island.

Here's what readers are concerned about, from housing to school taxes ⤵️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
LI affordability, safety and traffic focus of Newsday forum on poll results
The forum discussed the results of an exclusive Newsday-Siena survey analyzing the region's quality of life.
www.newsday.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
How did things shake out for Long Island’s town supervisor races?

Here’s what we have after last night ⬇️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
John Ferretti defeats Joseph Scianablo in Hempstead supervisor race
Ten supervisor seats were up for grabs across LI, along with a slew of council positions and a mayoral post.
www.newsday.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
For a non-election read: I spent a morning at @ACLD1's Bethpage campus to learn more about their business initiatives -- RewearAble and Candleworks -- that employ individuals with disabilities.

My latest for @newsday.bsky.social ⤵️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Candleworks in Bethpage empowers workers with disabilities
The Bethpage nonprofit runs Candleworks and RewearAble, providing jobs for people with disabilities.
www.newsday.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:53 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
The second phase of thermal remediation at Bethpage Community Park extracted 460 pounds of contamination from the ground deep beneath the former Grumman Aerospace dumping ground, state officials announced today.

My latest for @newsday.bsky.social ⬇️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Park cleanup extracts 460 pounds of toxins in Bethpage
An earlier cleanup phase used the technology to remove 1,500 pounds of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
www.newsday.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Oyster Bay Town clears hurdle for demolition of Budget Inn Motel site, seeks to buy it.

Via @newsday.bsky.social ⬇️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Demolition of Budget Inn Motel site in Massapequa moves a step closer as Oyster Bay Town seeks to buy it
Last year, a judge ordered the site demolished after Oyster Bay sued the property owners over town code violations. More recently, the owners sought to delay that process.
www.newsday.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
NEW: The Oyster Bay town board authorized a settlement Tuesday night that allows for a lesser expansion of the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque in Bethpage, ending a monthslong legal battle as it neared the eve of a federal court trial.

Via @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Oyster Bay mosque expansion settlement reached after legal battle
Oyster Bay agrees to a reduced expansion of Masjid Al-Baqi mosque, ending a lengthy legal dispute before a federal court trial.
www.newsday.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
The Town of Oyster Bay has racked up $387,000 in outside legal fees defending a federal lawsuit over denying a mosque's expansion plan in Bethpage, records obtained by Newsday show.

That total is expected to rise.

My latest for @newsday.bsky.social.
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Law firm bills town $387G to defend mosque case, records show
The Town of Oyster Bay recently hired a second law firm to help with the case at a rate of $1,200 per hour.
www.newsday.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
We have @newsday.bsky.social reporters at “No Kings” protests across Long Island.

I’m on scene in Garden City.

Follow along here ⬇️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
'No Kings' rallies protesting Trump planned today across Long Island, U.S.
The events are part of a national protest day that organizers hope will bring out big crowds to voice opposition to the administration.
www.newsday.com
October 18, 2025 at 4:13 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Lawyers for a Bethpage mosque are opposing Oyster Bay's request to delay the start of a trial over the town's decision to deny the house of worship's expansion plans.

Here's the latest on the case, via @newsday.bsky.social ⤵️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Oyster Bay seeks to delay mosque trial
The trial is scheduled for Oct. 27 in federal court.
www.newsday.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
I spent some time with volunteers working to help restore Oyster populations on Long Island's North Shore.

My latest for @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
'Off to college': Oysters, grown slightly, head to harbors
Volunteers are working to place the mollusks in safe harbors as part of a plan to replenish their dwindling numbers.
www.newsday.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
A Queens-based church cited numerous times for illegally treating a 2-acre Brookville property as a garbage dump has entered into negotiations to sell the property.

My latest for @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Queens church to sell Brookville lot at issue in lawsuit
Brookville officials say they will drop their lawsuit against the church if the sale goes through.
www.newsday.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Oyster Bay has hired a surveyor to mark the boundaries at Stillwell Woods Park and Preserve in Syosset, a nearly 300-acre property the town is set to take control of following state approvals.

Via @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Town hires surveyor to mark boundary at Stillwell Woods Park
Without a formal boundary, environmentalists say a developer could encroach on nearly 300 acres of open space.
www.newsday.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:17 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Long Island town and city governments have seen the cost of covering health insurance skyrocket.

Here’s an analysis of the latest numbers, for @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Health insurance costs hit $341.3 million across LI towns, cities
State-set rate hikes have quadrupled, rising from 2.2% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2024.
www.newsday.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Elaine Thompson, a Bohemia-based painter, was selected as one of the artists to create commemorative posters for this year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park.

I spoke with her about her process and decades of experience painting Long Island's courses.
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Ryder Cup painter Elaine Thompson learned on crayons and TV
Thompson, 82 of Bohemia, has been commissioned to paint a commemorative piece for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
www.newsday.com
September 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
I met Jody and John Brower Sr. Yesterday. Their son, John Jr., died 11 years ago from a fatal overdose.

They made a foundation in his name, and hundreds walked — for the 10th year — to spread awareness and raise money in the battle against addiction.
www.newsday.com/news/health/...
Hundreds at Jones Beach honor those lost to overdoses at 10th John Brower Jr. walk against heroin
The annual 5K walk raises about $15,000 for Outreach, a Queens-based nonprofit that offers addiction treatment services in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
www.newsday.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Centre Island officials appointed Deputy Mayor Walter Roll Tuesday to fill the vacancy left by the death of longtime Mayor Lawrence Schmidlapp.

Roll held a moment of silence "for our departed friend, Larry, who we will miss very much."

For @newsday.bsky.social ⤵️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Centre Island appoints Walter Roll as new mayor
Lawrence Schmidlapp, who led the village since 2009, died in August at age 80.
www.newsday.com
September 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Today’s @newsday.bsky.social P1: The Town of Oyster Bay added concerns over the hexavalent chromium to its lawsuit against Northrop Grumman, alleging the company hid the extent of the toxic metal for years.

A deep dive into the court filings and the legal battle ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
September 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
I spent this morning with couples getting married for the first time or renewing their vows.

The ceremonies, held at Heckscher Museum, looked to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision recognizing the right of same-sex marriage.
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Couples marry, renew vows at Heckscher Museum amid LGBTQ+ exhibition
The ceremonies come amid the final days of an ongoing exhibition, "All of Me with All of You: LGBTQ+ Art Out of the Collection."
www.newsday.com
September 6, 2025 at 6:58 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Glen Cove's golf course to get $2.2M sprinkler system upgrade.

My latest for @newsday.bsky.social ⬇️
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Glen Cove golf course sprinkler system overhaul approved
Glen Cove City Council approves a $2.2 million overhaul of the golf course's sprinkler system, improving efficiency and reducing maintenance needs.
www.newsday.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
NEW: Less than two weeks after Oyster Bay agreed to settle a federal lawsuit with Muslims on Long Island, the town backed out of the pact at the 11th hour.

Via @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Town of Oyster Bay backs out of pact on planned mosque expansion in Bethpage
The town's decision fractures a deal to pay the mosque's legal fees, green light the new Masjid Al-Baqi mosque and amend town code, among other concessions.
www.newsday.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
The Glen Cove Police Department plans to ramp up its enforcement of illegal electric vehicles that officials say are dangerous to motorists and pedestrians.
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Glen Cove police crackdown on illegal electric vehicles
Glen Cove Police Department intensifies efforts to curb illegal electric vehicles, focusing on safety and enforcement with new training for officers.
www.newsday.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Hurricane Erin will continue to bring dangerous rip currents and some coastal flooding to Long Island Friday.

Here's the latest on the system and its impact, for @newsday.bsky.social
www.newsday.com/news/weather...
Hurricane Erin veers away, but rip currents remain off Long Island waters
While Erin was downgraded to Category 1, large waves and rip currents continue to batter Long Island beaches.
www.newsday.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
NEW: The Town of Oyster Bay has agreed to approve an expansion plan for the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque in Bethpage and pay $3.95 million in attorney's fees and costs to settle a federal lawsuit over the denial of the mosque's expansion plans.

www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Oyster Bay agrees to approve mosque expansion, pay $3.95M
The lawsuit stemmed from the town's denial of plans to expand the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque on Central Avenue in Bethpage.
www.newsday.com
August 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
NEW: The Town of Oyster Bay hired John Wighaus as its next inspector general, tapping a former president of the Nassau's police detectives union to fill a job that's been vacant for more than two years.
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Oyster Bay hires ex-union leader as new inspector general
There has been no full-time inspector general since 2023, when Brian Noone resigned amid an ethics scandal.
www.newsday.com
August 14, 2025 at 1:40 PM
jostapiuk.bsky.social
Oyster Bay had no obligation to renew its lease with the company that had exclusive rights to harvest shellfish in two harbors spanning 1,400 acres, a state judge has ruled.
www.newsday.com/long-island/...
Court sides with Oyster Bay in shellfish case
A judge said Oyster Bay had no obligation to renew its shellfish lease with Frank M. Flower & Sons.
www.newsday.com
August 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM