Sunny with a chance of awesome: Welcome to Wednesday, dear readers, and the midpoint of a seasonably mild, typically wild week of socioeconomic progress.
We’re warming up to a bright long-term forecast – and offer this innovation review to help you weather your challenges with a sunnier disposition.
That’s a wrap: Old Glory is furled during a March 29, 1973, ceremony in Saigon marking the official deactivation of Military Assistance Command-Vietnam.
The day we (kinda) left Vietnam: It’s March 29 out there and we begin with National Vietnam War Veterans Day, set aside in 2017 by Your Favorite President to mark this date in 1973 – the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam (though military advisors, thousands of U.S. Defense Department civilians and entire Marine battalions remained).
Assuming they are moms and pops: Today is also National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, one of our favorite made-up holidays, this cheering for the small, family-run business and its all-in owners (at least, the honest ones).
And let’s hear it for everyone’s favorite sea cow, the endangered, utterly harmless bean bags at the center of Manatee Appreciation Day, also surfacing every March 29.
Brothers in arms: Speaking of new appreciations, the fraternal mutual-benefit society Knights of Columbus – aiming to give Catholicism a little more cred among doubtful U.S. immigrants – became a thing on this date in 1882.
Pop hit: Generations of soda lovers might show a little appreciation for Georgia-based pharmacist John Stith Pemberton, who (according to legend) brewed up the first batch of Coca-Cola (cocaine and all) 137 years ago today.
No answers: Too bad Hoover couldn’t ring up some economic assistance.
Get me the president! More dialing it in was President Herbert Hoover, who had a telephone installed in the Oval Office for the first time on this date in 1929.
The little things: Other technological innovations associated with this date include the electron microscope, which allowed atoms to be seen and was announced by Soviet scientists on March 29, 1956.
Sharp turns in spaaaaace: And it was March 29, 1974, when NASA’s workhorse Mariner 10 probe took the first close-up photos of Mercury.
The last of the Mariner probes – which launched in November 1973 – arrived at Mercury via an orbital slingshot around Venus, where it made similar observations. (It also performed unprecedented experiments in the “interplanetary medium,” for those keeping score.)
Elle train: MacPherson always had “The Body,” and the brains.
Barr none: British novelist and teacher Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (1831-1919) – who led a perilous and full life adventuring across Europe and North America, and wrote all about it – would be 192 years old today.
Also born on March 29 were 10th U.S. President John Tyler (1790-1862), the first vice president promoted to president without an election; American businessman Edwin Drake (1819-1880), who sparked the American petroleum industry; American baseball pitcher Denton True “Cy” Young (1867-1955), statistically unparalleled, likely forever; American business magnate Samuel Walton (1918-1992), who did all right with Walmart and Sam’s Club; and American basketball great Walter “Clyde” Frazier Jr. (born 1945), still stylish as ever.
Cover story: And take a bow, Elle MacPherson! Born Eleanor Nancy Gow, the Australian supermodel, spokeswoman, entrepreneur and brand ambassador – who’s walked the ramps for the biggest designers, graced a record five Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers, launched a lingerie line and even produced television shows – turns 59 today.
Wish “The Body” well at editor@innovateli.com, where your news tips are the brains of the operation – and our body of work is never complete without your calendar events.
About our sponsor: Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC is one of the region’s most highly regarded and recognized law firms. Our attorneys are thought leaders, dedicated to achieving success through excellence. With our broad experience in land use, development, litigation, real estate, corporate and environmental law, we have the vision and knowledge to serve our clients and our communities. Please visit sahnward.com.
BUT FIRST, THIS
RE royalty: They don’t need no stinkin’ badges at the Commercial and Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island, where an exclusive designation will now distinguish the region’s top RE sheriffs.
The Melville-based society announced Monday the creation of CIBS Elite, a new hallmark of professional achievement for highly qualified real estate practitioners with the strongest curricula vitae – essentially, a badge of honor for Long Island’s most qualified and successful brokers. In addition to copious experience, the designation requires an active CIBS membership and the completion of four 3-hour continuing-education courses (over one year), updating participants on New York State brokerage laws, professional ethics and other key areas.
Classes are scheduled to begin this Spring at offices across Long Island, allowing CIBS to “better support those brokers who represent the best of our industry,” according to CIBS Co-president David Pennetta, executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield. “This designation will indicate to future clients that these brokers have a higher level of understanding,” added CIBS Co-President and Avison Young Managing Director/Principal Ted Stratigos.
Barrier breaker: Pettigrew, the first Black college president in the SUNY system, led SUNY Old Westbury for 12 years.
Research rewards: A new State University of New York research grant has been named in honor of former SUNY College at Old Westbury President L. Eudora Pettigrew, the first Black college president in the SUNY system.
The Dr. L. Eudora Pettigrew Women’s History Summer Research Excellence Grant is one of two summer-research grants announced this week by SUNY Chancellor John King Jr., both designed to promote research into the significant role women have played in the development of the state and region. Selected students will receive financial support to conduct original summertime research at statewide libraries, museums and historical sights, leading to on-campus and SUNY-wide social media presentations in the fall.
Both the Pettigrew grant and the Dr. Virginia Radley SUNY Fellowship Program – named for the former SUNY Oswego president, who was the SUNY system’s first woman campus president – are worthy Women’s History Month tributes, according to King. “SUNY’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion includes addressing current gender inequities, which requires an honest and complete accounting of history,” the chancellor added.
POD PEOPLE
Episode 8: Arthur Germain, top stories.
You want to know about bioelectronics? You talk to Kevin Tracey. Long Island downtowns? That would be Eric Alexander. Regional energy? That’s Bob Catell. How to run a leading university? Try Susan Poser or Timothy Sams or John Nader or Christine Riordan.
The list goes on – and that’s why Spark: The Innovate Long Island Podcast is a must-listen regional socioeconomic resource. Season 4 is coming soon, but why wait?
TOP OF THE SITE
That’s heavy: The latest Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth in Medicine Poll serves up a bellyful of disturbing truths about obesity, eating habits and weight-loss wonder pills.
And one for all: A serial entrepreneur from Long Island and a “Shark Tank” veteran have launched an all-purpose marketing startup that’s as easy as it sounds.
The best policy: We’ve never purchased an email list or registered a newsletter subscriber without his or her knowledge, and we never will – so how do we explain more than 5,000 newsletter subscribers from around the globe? Always easy, always free subscriptions, for one thing.
VOICES
Nonprofit staffers and volunteers stepped up during the pandemic, but they’re stepping out now, driven away by low wages, lousy benefits and increasing demand – and it’s time to do something about it, according to Family and Children’s Association President/CEO and Voices nonprofits anchor Jeffrey Reynolds.
STUFF WE’RE READING
Kernels of truth: Suddenly, popcorn – yes, popcorn – commands the food-innovation realm. Food Business News butters up.
Verbal assault: The gun-violence protestor who interrupted Fox News’ coverage of the Nashville school massacre hit her targets. The New Republic loads up.
False narratives: Lawmakers’ new confusion (intentional or otherwise) over bipartisan innovation legislation is putting the decades-old law at risk. The Hill clears things up.
RECENT FUNDINGS
+ Axios HQ, a Virginia-based communications company, raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Glade Brook Capital Partners and Greycroft Partners.
+ GT Medical Technologies, an Arizona-based medical-device manufacturer, raised $45 million in Series C funding led by Gilde Healthcare Partners, MVM Partners, MedTech Venture Partners and BlueStone Venture Partners.
+ Loupe, a Georgia-based art-streaming platform, raised $3 million in extended seed funding led by ALIAVIA Ventures, Sound Media Ventures, CityRock Venture Partners, Goal Ventures, Phoenix Capital Ventures, Yolo.io and Atlanta Technology Angels.
+ Mad Rabbit Tattoo, a California-based tattoo-skincare brand, raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Lucas Brand Equity with Mark Cuban, Acronym Venture Capital and H Venture Partners.
+ Amogy, a New York City-based energy innovator focused on ammonia-based power solutions, raised $139 million in Series B-1 funding led by SK Innovation, Temasek, Korea Zinc, Aramco Ventures, AP Ventures, MOL PLUS, Yanmar Ventures, Zeon Ventures and DCVC.
+ Frontier Aerospace Corp., a California-based aerospace innovator focused on space-based propulsion, raised $10 million in Series A funding led by AEI HorizonX.
Like this newsletter? Innovate Long Island newsletter, website and podcast sponsorships are a prime opportunity to reach the inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and executives you need to know (just ask Sahn Ward). Marlene McDonnell can tell you more.
In character: Among the intriguing Mets bobbleheads this season are Mr. Met as Indiana Jones, Starling Marte as Black Panther and a grass-growing Francisco Lindor thingy.
BELOW THE FOLD (Have A Ball Edition)
Battle of the bobbleheads: Baseball’s back, with a full season of promotional giveaways queued up.
Leaving it on the field: Why soccer might be the world’s best emotional therapy.
Full tilt: America once outlawed pinball, for iffy reasons.
The old ball game: Please continue supporting the amazing firms that support Innovate Long Island, including Sahn Ward, an all-star veteran who’s always adding new skills to its land-use game. Check them out.
