Married, filing separately: You’ve done it again, intrepid innovator – another Friday arrives, another weekend ahead. Well done!
As a reward, we proudly file this innovation-rich week-in-review newsletter – with two more to come (on Monday and Wednesday) before Innovate Long Island takes a short break for the Memorial Day holiday (and a long-overdue wedding!). More reminders next week.
Pie chart: Run up the count on National Pizza Party Day.
Gender neutral: It’s May 17 out there, and before we get to your well-earned weekend, one more workday to go – starting with the United Nations Population Fund’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, urging bigots to stick their paranoia back in their pants and spread a little love.
Red, white and extra cheese: There’s plenty of good eats on today’s menu – consider National Pizza Party Day, a third-Friday-in-May excuse to order multiple pies, and National Pinot Grigio Day, which conflicts with your natural instinct to drink red wine with tomato sauce, but there it is.
For dessert, enjoy National Cherry Cobbler Day – and if you’re very creative, find a way to pair it with National Walnut Day, also coming out of its shell every May 17.
Saw it here first: This tartan ribbon was the subject of the world’s first color photograph.
Color us impressed: If you think white wine with pizza breaks color barriers, you’re going to love Scottish physicist Sir James Maxwell, who presented the very first color photograph to the Royal Institution on this date in 1861.
District manager: Also picturesque is Alaska, which was dubbed the Department of Alaska (a military designation) when it was acquired by the United States in 1867, didn’t become a U.S. state until 1959 and, in between, became the District of Alaska, as per a federal decree issued on May 17, 1884.
Jersey subs: Back on the U.S. mainland (or just off of it), naval engineer John Phillip Holland launched the Holland VI – the first submarine that could run submerged for a measurable distance – into New Jersey’s Passaic River 127 years ago today, marking the birth of the modern submarine.
Off to see the wizard: Speaking of births, in Tuesday’s newsletter, we celebrated the birthday of famed American author L. Frank Baum – today, we celebrate the publication of his most famous work, “The Wizard of Oz,” which first traversed the Yellow Brick Road on this date in 1900.
Game on: And televised baseball – heck, televised sports of any kind – became a thing on May 17, 1939, when the NBC Television Network broadcasted the second game of a doubleheader between Princeton and Columbia universities live from Columbia’s Baker Field.
Within a decade, real-time sporting events were the backbone of national television programming.
Natural causes: British astronomer Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) – who shined brightest on solar eclipses, discovered helium and founded the scientific journal Nature – would be 188 years old today.
Easy does it: Hopper, shown here in the counterculture classic “Easy Rider,” was the quintessential outsider.
Also born on May 17 were American automobile magnate Horace Dodge (1868-1920), who partnered with his brother, John Dodge, to mass-produce America’s first all-steel cars; Irish actress Maureen O’Sullivan (1911-1998), who tamed Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan as the opening act of a brilliant 50-year career; American actor and film director Dennis Hopper (1936-2010), who epitomized the rebellious outsider; American computer scientist Alan Kay (born 1940), the A.M. Turing Award-winner who pioneered “windows” user interfaces; and Irish singer, songwriter and composer Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (born 1961), known best as Enya, the best-selling Irish solo artist of all time (and second among all Irish musical acts only to U2).
Sweet scientist: And take a bow, “Sugar” Ray Charles Leonard! The retired professional boxer, motivational speaker, philanthropist and occasional actor – known best for his unrivaled “sweet science” finesse, which won him an Olympic gold medal, 36 of 40 pro matches and various world titles – turns 68 today.
Give the poised pugilist your best at editor@innovateli.com, where we punch up your news tips and your calendar events are always a unanimous decision.
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BUT FIRST, THIS
Teaching assistance: Adelphi University continues its efforts to bolster the regional teaching workforce.
On the heels of announcing a seven-figure state grant in support of its Alternative Teacher Certification Program, the Garden City-based university has landed four SUNY Teacher Workforce Investment Grants – totaling $1.24 million – earmarked for the training and retention of diverse teaching professionals. The grants were individually awarded to Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Emily Kang, Professor Tracy Hogan and Associate Professors Matt Curinga and Stephen Rubin, who will funnel the funds into Adelphi’s Recruiting and Retaining Educators for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion project.
The R2E2ADI effort, a collaboration with the New York City Public Schools system, is the only Long Island college program earning state Teacher Workforce Investment Grants this funding round. “We are proud to play a part in diversifying the teaching workforce and bringing talented teachers to the children who need them the most,” Kang said in a statement.
Eminence domain: Pope Francis welcomes Gov. Hochul to Vatican City.
Holy cause: From our Innovate Vatican Bureau comes Gov. Kathy Hochul, who announced a fresh $300 million New York State climate-resiliency investment during a three-day global climate summit hosted by Pope Francis.
Speaking to world leaders Thursday at the Pontifical Summit “From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience,” Hochul trumpeted Albany’s $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and announced an additional nine-digit investment supporting “communities that have been battered” by severe-weather events. The $300 million will fund grants supporting projects that protect statewide “underserved communities” most vulnerable to flooding, extreme heat and other deleterious effects of global warming.
Hochul also acknowledged the summit attendance of Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Maura Healey of Massachusetts, called their three states “magnets” for “migrants who are looking for a better life” and didn’t skimp on the religious significance of the climate-change fight. “We’re on a quest – a quest our Holy Father put us here to do this morning,” she said. “Read his words carefully – that is your guide to what we need to take back to our localities, our states [and] our countries, and to use our voices for the voiceless.”
TOP OF THE SITE
On-track betting: The Long Island Regional Planning Council has named the two-year, $455 million Belmont Park reconstruction effort a “Project of Regional Significance.”
It all adds up: The more subscribers we get, the more sponsors we get – and the easier it is to keep cranking out these engaging, innovation-packed, thrice-weekly newsletters. Tell your friends.
ICYMI
Bona fide rocket scientists from the Stony Brook School are blasting off to Virginia this weekend to splash down in the American Rocketry Challenge national finals.
BEST OF THE WEST (AND SOMETIMES NORTH/SOUTH)
Innovate LI’s inbox overrunneth with inspirational innovations from all North American corners. This week’s brightest out-of-towners:
From Pennsylvania: Philadelphia-based research-antibody startup Cell Surface Bio emerges from stealth with validated, cloned antibody reagents at the ready.
From Texas: Austin-based EdTech advancer LearnWith.Ai launches groundbreaking generative-AI mobile app that brings Einstein, Newton and other “teachers” to life.
From Canada, eh: Toronto-based real estate tech pioneer Keypr slashes realtor commissions and empowers homeowners with streamlined sales platform.
ON THE MOVE
Karissa O’Malley
+ Karissa O’Malley has been hired as a client relations manager at Full Spectrum Solutions in Jericho. She was a client services specialist at Ambassador Education Solutions in Melville.
+ Katie Stinson has been hired as director of strategy and insights at Hauppauge-based Austin Williams. She was director of marketing and brand strategy at Washington State-based Alaffia.
+ Terese Arenth has been appointed to the Fair Media Council Board of Directors. She is chairwoman of the Marketing, Advertising & Promotions Practice Group, co-chairwoman of the Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology Practice Group and a partner at Garden City-based Moritt Hock & Hamroff.
+ Emmanuel Malis has been hired as a project manager at Damianos Realty Group in Smithtown. He was a project manager at TF Cornerstone in Manhattan.
+ Shawn Mathew has been hired as director of information technology at Hauppauge-based Long Island Cares. He was development manager at Central Islip-based NAKA Technologies.
+ Thomas Lee has been named executive vice president of the Westbury-based Medical Society of the State of New York. He is a board-certified Northwell Health neurosurgeon practicing in Tarrytown.
+ Natalia Thomas has been hired as counsel at Garden City-based Moritt Hock & Hamroff. She was a partner at Syosset-based Vallely Law.
+ James Mooney has been hired as a geologist I at Woodbury-based D&B Engineers and Architects. He is a recent graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego.
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 SUNY Old Westbury). Marlene McDonnell can tell you more.
BELOW THE FOLD (High Anxiety Edition)
Doggy distress: Pets have mental-health issues, too.
Weather alert: Researchers say climate change is intensifying anxiety and depression.
Nervous in the service: Recognizing high-functioning anxiety in the workplace.
Support humans: The new movement to soothe anxiety-ridden pets.
Everybody relax: Please continue supporting the ingenious institutions that support Innovate Long Island, including SUNY Old Westbury, where they take a calm, cool and collected approach to higher education. Check them out.
