Lightning Strike Ignited Camp FIre

Melville firefighters responded after lightning strikes caused a fire that damaged two buildings at Usdan summer camp in Wheatley Heights.  Photo by Steve Silverman

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Melville firefighters responded to a fire Tuesday night that damaged several buildings at a summer camp for the arts.

Following a vicious thunderstorm, the Melville Fire Department received reports of a lightning strike and smoke at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts at 185 Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights, just over the Babylon-Huntington border.

Firefighters arrived at approximately 7:19 p.m., Aug. 14 to find one building fully engulfed with fire and a second building heavily damaged, according to fire officials.

Fire officials said that around 75 first responders, under the command of Chief Chris Nolan and Assistant Chief Dave Kaplan, were able to bring the fire under control within 30 minutes.

The fire was under control within 30 minutes, ire officials said.  Photo by Steve SIlverman

Crews from Dix Hills, East Farmingdale, Huntington Manor and Plainview fire departments provided support at the scene, where firefighters remained for an additional two hours to ensure that extensive overhaul of the buildings did not reveal any additional fire, according to fire officials.

In a letter to the Usdan community on Facebook Tuesday night, the camp’s executive director Lauren Brandt Schloss thanked the first responders.

“Their quick and efficient work ensured minimal impact on our campus,” Schloss said.

She said the camp’s grounds will be closed to non-Usdan staff for the remainder of the week, and the office will re-open as usual on Sept. 4.

The camp completed its 50th summer offering musical and artistic instruction to students last week.

Schloss also thanked the members of the Usdan community for their support.

“This summer, nearly 2000 students and staff, along with their families, brought these grounds to life,” Schloss said. “Together, we can, and will, weather any storm.”

The Huntington Fire Marshall and Suffolk PD Arson Squad responded to the scene and are investigating the cause of the fire.

State Grant To Help Fund Drug Prevention

Members of the Huntington Youth Court program offered through the Huntington Youth Bureau.  Photo/Facebook/Huntington Youth Bureau

By Connor Beach

cbeach@longislandergroup.com

The Huntington Town Board accepted last week a state grant to help provide drug and alcohol prevention services to underserved communities.

The town was awarded the $84,958 grant from the New York State office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to help combat the ongoing opioid addiction crisis, according to Supervisor Chad Lupinacci.

The money will go towards the Huntington Youth Bureau drug and alcohol treatment and prevention program, according to town documents.

Lupinacci said that the Youth Bureau’s Drug and Alcohol Counseling and Education Center provides targeted programs that help “address the opioid crisis by delivering evidence-based prevention services to underserved, hard-to-reach youth and other at-risk populations through afterschool and weekend programs.”

Lupinacci added that risk factors including lack of parental supervision and involvement, academic failure, poor classroom behavior or social skills and poverty could increase the likelihood that a young person will abuse drugs.

The grant money will help fund after school prevention services through the implementation of Too Good for Drugs, SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness and Teen Intervene.

These programs are available at the Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center at 423 Park Avenue in Huntington.

“After school prevention services are provided to underserved youth and their families,” Lupinacci said. “The evidence-based prevention programs and strategies were selected based on needs of the community along with the proven outcomes.”

These programs are designed to provide alternatives to drug use for young people, and to provide education about the harmful effects of drug addiction.

The grant money will help fund drug treatment and prevention programs between now and April 30 of next year.

Street Renamed In Honor Of Hero Teacher

State and town officials joined friends and family of hero teacher Scott Beigel to rename the street he grew up on in his honor.  Photo/Town of Huntington

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

The unveiling of the street sign, “Scott J. Beigel Way” in Dix Hills, sent a wave of emotions through the crowd who gathered at the street dedication ceremony that took place in Beigel’s honor on August 11.

As a way to show remembrance to the beloved teacher who lost his life during a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School six months ago, the Huntington Town Board voted on a resolution to dedicate Hart Place in Dix Hills as “Scott J. Beigel Way”. This is a place that was held dear in Beigel’s heart, because it was where he and his sister, Melissa, grew up and where their parents live.

The Town of Huntington also recognized Beigel’s courage at a candlelight vigil for all the victims of the Parkland shooting on the one month anniversary of the tragic day, on March 14 at Town Hall.

“Scott Beigel was a teacher, a cross-country coach and a mentor to his students. Scott heroically lost his life helping those students escape the danger that sealed his fate,” said Town Supervisor, Chad A. Lupinacci. “We are standing here today on the street in Dix Hills where Scott and his sister Melissa were raised, where their parents, Linda Beigel-Schulman and Michael Schulman, still reside. Today the Town recognizes Scott Beigel’s heroic sacrifice with a permanent street dedication for all to see who pass Hart Place on Half Hollow Road in Dix Hills.”

Beigel’s parents were thankful to all who made the dedication possible and all who helped support and care for them during this difficult time. Linda Beigel Schulman, said that she was overcome with emotion during the installation of the sign, “knowing that I was the mother of the person they were installing the sign for”.

She was helped with the unveiling by granddaughter, Dylan Zech and Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul. They were supported by daughter, Melissa Zech, husband, Michael Schulman, and town and state officials.

“During one of the worst tragedies imaginable, Scott Beigel died defending the lives of his students,” said Hochul. “As a mother myself, I can only imagine the pain endured by mothers, fathers, and family members of those lost in Parkland. I have no words to console the families whose lives have been forever altered, but I am in awe of how they have harnessed this travesty into a force for change.”

Beigel Schulman called upon the State Senate to pass a “red flag” law, similar to one the State Assembly passed earlier this year, which she believes would have saved her son’s life if implemented in Florida prior to the shooting.

“We cannot ever forget Scott’s sacrifice and the loss of lives on that tragic day six months ago,” said Councilwoman, Joan Cergol. “And we cannot let up in our individual efforts to lobby for stricter gun control legislation that could put an end to the senseless loss of life, and the madness that has all too often played out in our schools, malls, theaters, streets and homes, forever changing our families and our lives.”

Beigel’s honorable actions to defend his students will never be forgotten and his legacy as a brave teacher who would do anything for his students will forever live on.