Good News: Teen Accepted to 8 Ivies Picks; Chorus Sings

Long Island's star pupil, Kwasi Enin used a bit of fanfare when he selected his college of choice Wednesday, announcing his decision during a press conference held in the gymnasium at William Floyd High School.

That's what happens when you apply to and are accepted to all eight Ivy League colleges. You achieve academic rockstar status. But despite his immense talents, Enin cannot attend all eight schools at once, so he is headed to Yale University.

The Long Island Children’s Choir will recorded a song  live at Saturday's 1:05 p.m. Long Island Ducks vs. York Revolution game at Bethpage Ballpark. The song was composed specifically for 9-year-old Camryn Koke from Southold who suffers from cystic fibrosis.

“While brainstorming a meaningful way to commemorate our first anniversary, another board member mentioned the organization, Songs of Love,” said Dr. Jennifer Shaer, one of the founding members of the Long Island Children’s Choir, and a pediatrician with Allied Physicians Group, which has offices throughout Long Island.

Songs of Love works with dozens of songwriters across the country, customizing songs for children with major illnesses by weaving fun facts about the child into each song.

While so much of manufacturing is leaving Long Island, Farmingdale-based D’Addario & Company is reversing the tide.

The well-known manufacturer of musical instrument accessories, D’Addario recently relocated its carbon steel wire mill from Massachusetts to Farmingdale, thanks to assistance from New York State, Suffolk County and the Town of Babylon.

The move is expected to create an estimated 30 new jobs on Long Island by the end of 2014.

The company is also launching premium-priced guitar strings it's calling D’Addario NYXL, claiming it to be “the strongest and most stable music string on the market.” 

In honor of Arbor Day, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer joined with Councilwoman Jacqueline Gordon and Councilman Tom Donnelly for an honorary tree planting at the Wyandanch Family Life Center.

The tree that was planted was a White Pine and was donated by Lisa Termini, who had originally planted the tree three years ago at her grandmother’s house in memory of her daughter who had passed away.

Lisa, who was a founder of the children’s reading group “Zoe’s Circle,” eventually moved away from the Town but wanted the tree to remain in the area and around children. Town Horticulturalist Jennifer Ulsheimer adopted the tree and cared for it on behalf of Lisa for over a year until it was ready to be planted at the Wyandanch Family Life Center.

The New York City Brownfield Partnership recognized Melville-based H2M architects + engineers for its work on 2329 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at the 2014 Big Apple Brownfield Awards Ceremony on Monday.

Representing H2M were Paul Lageraaen of East Northport, Hardik Parekh of Dix Hills, and  Joseph Loesch of Sayville.

Awarded by the Economic Development Award, the project received the honor for its "successful New York City brownfield cleanup and redevelopment," according to a news release, and for having had positive effects on the community.