Say it ain’t snow: Welcome to Wednesday, dear readers, as we hang tough through Winter 2026’s coldest stretch yet – and brace for a potential Long Island blizzard?
Headlock of love: Dogs might not always like hugs, but we don’t care on National Hug Your Puppy Day.
That’s the word, or one of them, with a major winter storm set to savage some part of the East Coast this weekend and different computational models arguing about its precise path (here? there? everywhere?). Stay tuned on that – for now, here’s a hump-day innovation newsletter to keep you warm and dry.
Warm fuzzies abound: Today is Jan. 21 and we’re spanning the globe in style (and comfort) as we slip into International Sweatpants Day, an annual salute to the world’s most comfortable trousers (a French invention, since you asked).
We’re also embracing the date of National Hugging Day, putting a tight squeeze on our loved ones (including our beloved furry companions, who get their own spinoff holiday today – National Hug Your Puppy Day!).
Go nuts: Also spreading affection through the Animal Kingdom is National Squirrel Appreciation Day, designed to … you know, appreciate squirrels.
While you’re hiking around looking for wild rodents to admire, bring a snack – we say National Granola Bar Day, the Jan. 21 salute to oats, nuts, dried fruits and seeds, is the perfect fit.
So dramatic: Fitting in some tawdry plot twists (including forbidden love, illegitimate children and all kinds of other family dramas), author William Hill Brown’s “The Power of Sympathy” (alternately titled “The Triumph of Nature”) was published in Boston on this date in 1789 – and whatever you call it, it was America’s first novel.
Agatha all along: Christie was just getting started with “The Mysterious Affair at Styles.”
So Agatha: Speaking of breakthrough books, British legend Agatha Christie published her first on Jan. 21, 1921 – “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” a prototype locked-room whodunnit with all the trappings (secluded estate, poisoned heiress and plenty of suspects, plus the literary debut of brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot).
So wild: Other introductions associated with this date include The Wilderness Society, which has evolved into America’s largest and busiest advocate for wilderness preservation since it was formally founded 91 years ago today.
So deep: Also making a splash was the USS Nautilus, which officially became the world’s first operational nuclear submarine when it was christened by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and put to sea (at least, Connecticut’s Thames River) on this date in 1954.
So fast: And it was Jan. 21, 1976, when the first two commercial Concorde flights took off simultaneously from London’s Heathrow Airport and Paris’ Orly Airport.
The sleek supersonic jets cut travel time by more than half on each flight, with the English flight speeding to Bahrain and the French flight roaring off to Rio de Janeiro, with a quick stop in Senegal.
Mixed bag: German chemist Felix Hoffmann (1868-1946) – a Bayer laboratory bench scientist who was the first to synthesize both aspirin and heroin, both in less than a month – would be 158 years old today.
Jacked up: The Golden Bear, in his prime.
Also born on Jan. 21 were British physician Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake (1840-1912), who fought for legislation allowing women to study and practice medicine; French fashion icon Christian Dior (1905-1957), a lifelong artist and military veteran-turned-iconic couturier; English comedian, actor and scriptwriter Alfred Hawthorne “Benny” Hill (1924-1992), the first British comedian to attain fame primarily through television; American retired professional golfer Jack Nicklaus (born 1940), the World Golf Hall of Famer who won everything there is to win (and then did this); and American computer programmer, business magnate and philanthropist Paul Allen (1953-2018), the legendary Microsoft Corp. co-founder.
Lend me a tenor: And take a bow, Plácido Domingo! The Spanish opera singer, conductor and arts administrator (born Embil José Plácido Domingo) – a versatile performer known for singing in Italian, French, German, Spanish, English and Russian, usually in the world’s most prestigious opera houses – turns 85 today.
Wish his era’s top tenor well at editor@innovateli.com, where we always hit the high notes when you share news tips and calendar events.
About our sponsor: FourLeaf Federal Credit Union (formerly Bethpage Federal Credit Union) has been serving its members and their communities for more than 80 years. Just like when it first opened its doors in 1941, the credit union is keeping its promise to continuously meet the changing needs of members, employees and the communities they serve by being a trusted financial partner dedicated to enriching lives. Let’s Money Together.
BUT FIRST, THIS
Long live the Empire: The underlying lawsuit challenging the Trump Administraton’s Dec. 22 suspension order continues, but work has resumed on the Empire Wind project.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has granted Norwegian energy company Equinor a preliminary injunction allowing construction activities to resume on Empire Wind 1, an 810-megawatt wind farm that’s been under construction since 2024 roughly 15 miles south of Long Island. The Jan. 15 injunction marked the latest court victory for clean-energy projects in various stages of development along the Eastern Seaboard, as federal courts – swollen with lawsuits brought by private companies and state attorneys general – swiftly overturn Trump shutdown orders delaying offshore-wind construction.
Like other offshore-wind farms targeted by the fossil fuel-focused administration, Empire Wind – which is projected to deliver electricity to 500,000 Brooklyn homes beginning next year through a development contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority – is fully licensed and has earned all requisite state and federal approvals. Next up: a ruling on a lawsuit brought by Danish energy giant Ørsted, which is fighting to restart its Sunrise Wind project 30 miles east of Montauk Point.
Sincerely CIBS: It’s been a heartfelt Winter for the brains behind Long Island’s commercial real estate brokerage
Coat of arms: (From left) CIBS President Ralph Benzakein, Charitable Initiatives Committee Co-Chairman Albero Fiorinin, CIBS W Committee member Marian Campi-Conde and CIBS W member Julia Lee celebrate the United Veterans Beacon House coat drive.
community.
The Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island’s successful December Coat Drive raised a virtual ton of outwear and other cold-weather essentials for United Veterans Beacon House, the Bay Shore-based nonprofit providing support services to homeless veterans. Cushman & Wakefield Director Stephen Cadorette, co-chairman of CIBS-LI’s Charitable Initiatives Committee, applauded the effort, noting “it was important for CIBS to help provide something as basic – and essential – as warmth, comfort and dignity.”
Meanwhile, CIBS W – the CIBS-LI women’s group – has announced a $2,300 donation to Ronkonkoma-based nonprofit Long Island Against Domestic Violence, forwarding funds raised at CIBS W’s recent Friendsgiving Happy Hour networking event. “CIBS W is proud to support Long Island Against Domestic Violence and the vital work they do every day,” Forchelli Deegan Terrana tax attorney Julia Lee, a member of the CIBS W Committee, said in a statement. “This contribution is a direct result of our members coming together to give back during the holiday season, and we’re grateful to be able to support an organization making such a meaningful impact in our community.”
TOP OF THE SITE
Trust issues: Fair Media Council CEO/Executive Director Jaci Clement shares her thoughts on the crisis of faith in national news coverage – and America’s even bigger doubts about the Internet.
Catch-up learning: All-new podcast episodes – featuring new guests and new sponsors, too! – are in the works. While you’re waiting, catch up on all the entertaining and educational conversations you might have missed on “Spark: The Innovate Long Island Podcast.” Lots to learn.
VOICES
Sustainable ecological restoration is about more than native plants, notes Long Island Conservancy Vice President, Spadefoot Design & Construction President/CEO and Voices Environmental Anchor Frank Piccininni, who implores regional landscapers and planners to dig deeper.
STUFF WE’RE READING
Money talks: Helping finance leaders find their voice at the innovation table. Forbes speaks up.
Are space lasers far behind? Israel launches its first AI supercomputer to strengthen national tech innovation. The Jerusalem Post logs on.
But, not too woke, you know? With new tech-innovation push, “Secretary of War” Hegseth goes full “Star Trek.” The New York Post boldly goes.
RECENTS FUNDINGS
+ Noveon Magnetics, a Texas-based rare earth magnets manufacturer, raised $215 million in Series C funding led by One Investment Management.
+ Cytotheryx, a Minnesota-based preclinical cell-therapy pioneer focused on liver disease, raised $60 million in Series A funding led by Ouroboros Family Founders Fund I.
+ ClickHouse, a California-based analytics, data warehousing and AI infrastructure platform, raised $400 million in Series D funding led by Dragoneer Investment Group, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, GIC, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, WCM Investment Management and accounts managed by T. Rowe Price Associates.
+ Fleetzero, a Texas-based marine-tech manufacturer developing hybrid and electric marine propulsion systems, raised $43 million in Series A funding led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from Maersk Growth, 8090 Industries, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Y Combinator, Benson Capital and Shorewind.
+ Unifyr, a North Carolina-based, artificial intelligence-driven platform that manages and scales complex marketing, sales and operational ecosystems, raised $20 million. Investcorp Technology Partners Fund V made the investment.
+ Renewa, a Texas-based land-financing company focused on renewable-energy projects, raised $502 million in funding from undisclosed backers. The raise brought the company’s total capital to more than $1.25 billion.
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 – on Long Island, and soon, across New York State (just ask FourLeaf FCU). Gregory Zeller can tell you more.
BELOW THE FOLD (The Great Healthcare Plan Edition)
Well, that’s just great: Trump introduced The Great Healthcare Plan Jan. 15, but didn’t really flesh it out.
In case you missed it: Cash payouts, few details, no fanfare, released online.
Concepts of a plan: Why the nonspecific “strategy” is a tough sell for Republican legislators.
Under the bus: After intentionally spiking Obamacare premiums, Trump blames insurance and Big Pharma.
Let’s follow the money (together): Please continue supporting the innovative institutions that support Innovate Long Island, including FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, where personal details – and an actual plan – always create healthier personal finances. Check them out.
