News From Around Long Island, April 7

Justice Scalia Silent on Healthcare at Breakfast Q&A

It isn’t often that a United States Supreme Court Justice visits Mineola much less when those not admitted to the bar and riding landmark cases get the opportunity to lob questions at them when they step out from under their black robes.

Justice Antonin Scalia was a guest of the Long Island Federalist Society at the Tuesday morning. His reply to if he thought the Supreme Court would – as President Barack Obama put it – be engaging in “judicial activism” if the affordable health care law was to be struck down?

A simple, curt ‘nope’ according to U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford.

Jesus trudged bloodied and bearing a cross through the streets of Long Beach on Good Friday. That means held their annual Stations of the Cross service.

The service commences at the church, with Jesus condemned to death representing the first of 15 stations. Congregant David Echeverria, 37, played Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a cross from the church onto East Park Avenue and Monroe Boulevard. The congregation followed Echeverria through East Olive Street, Riverside Boulevard and back to the church.

Reconstructionist Temple to Sell Hewlett Building

, the only reconstructionist temple on the south shore, will soon sell its building on Franklin Avenue in Hewlett and move to a new location, according to its rabbi.

With more and more Orthodox Jews moving to the Five Towns, other denominations in the area have suffered, and Rabbi Elliot Skiddell said the congregation at its current size could not support the current temple building.

Good Samaritan Hospital Expands Pediatric Services

Dilys Audrey Whyte, MD, has joined Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center’s new Division of Pediatric Nephrology.

Whyte will evaluate pediatric patients with renal disease and hypertensions at Good Samaritan's Center for Pediatrict Specialty Care in Babylon.

Huntington Shuts Down Wood Chipping Operation

A temporary restraining order enacted Tuesday by the Town of Huntington to shut down a mulching and wood chipping operation in West Huntington is unnecessary, according to a manager at the company.

The move by the town comes one day after a fire broke out in a 25-foot high mulch pile on the property, located at 1130 West Jericho Turnpike. 

The order, signed by a state Supreme Court judge, prevents Big Dougs Enterprises, Indian Head Ranch and Wayne and John Dougal from operating a wood chipping and mulching business at the location.

Huntington Fire Marshal Paul Latuso issued summonses alleging violation of the state fire code for storing and processing compost and for storage and processing without a required emergency plan, and a third summons for an open burning violation, according to a town press release.