Come one, come all: Welcome to Friday, friends, and not just any Friday but a huge one for Catholics and Jews alike – and of course socioeconomic innovators of all spiritual persuasions.
Hi, holy days: Not only are we wrapping up another Springtime workweek, but Sunday is Easter, making today Good Friday (or Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, take your pick), the solemn observance commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary.
For many others around the world, tonight is also the fifth night of Passover – or Pesach – which celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (stretching this year from the evening of April 12 to sundown on April 20). Chag Pesach sameach!
Know your crackers: An especially handy guide on National Animal Crackers Day.
Spectrum analysis: As it’s April 18, we’re also observing the less somber – but also important – Adult Autism Awareness Day, and not to put too fine a point on it, but galactically ignorant RFK Jr. can go suck an egg.
And just to lighten the load, we’ll also shout out National Animal Crackers Day (lions and tigers and bears … mmmmm), National Newspaper Columnists Day (thank you, thank you) and International Jugglers Day, all keeping their balls in the air on April 18.
Listen, my children, and you shall hear: Also up in the air was how, exactly, the Redcoats would advance out of Boston – by land, marching from Boston Neck, or by sea, rowing across the Charles River – leading to the famous ride of Paul Revere on this date in 1775.
Justice for all: For the record, Revere’s ride was somewhere between 10 and 11 p.m. (not at midnight) and he was ultimately captured by the British. They let him go, however, without bringing charges – unlike many defendants who find themselves in the Hague, the International Court of Justice, which officially opened on April 18, 1946.
Air mail: Speaking of up in the air, the Jet Age reached Canada 75 years ago today – or, more accurately, departed from it, when an Avro C-102 Jetliner (fresh off a Canadian assembly line) flew airmail from Toronto to New York City in a record 58 minutes.
Bridge work: Yes, that really is the former London Bridge in Arizona. (No, it’s not the ORIGINAL London Bridge.)
Actually, it was falling down: Also bridging nations was Missouri-born industrialist Robert McCulloch, who finalized a deal on this date in 1968 to purchase the 130-year-old London Bridge and move it – all 10,000 tons – from the River Thames to a corner of Lake Havasu in Arizona.
Playing the long game: And it was April 18, 1981, when the longest game in professional baseball history was played – at least, started.
The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings, rivals in the Triple-A International League, kicked off their record affair on this date and played until 4:07 a.m. April 19, when the 2-2 stalemate was suspended. They reconvened to finish the thing on June 23, with Pawtucket finally pushing across the winning run in the bottom of the 33rd inning. (From the box score: Wade Boggs played third for Pawtucket, Cal Ripken Jr. played third for Rochester, Dave Huppert caught 31 innings for the Red Wings and the teams combined for 213 at-bats, among other interesting anomalies.)
For the defense: American attorney Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) – a well-known public speaker, debater and writer whose tenacious work in several high-profile criminal cases earned him a permanent place in American jurisprudence history – would be 168 years old today.
Andrew Ng: Intelligence personified.
Also born on April 18 were British physicist H.L. Callendar (1863-1930), a thermodynamics specialist who was really steamed; American pharmacologist George Hitchings (1905-1998), who shared a 1988 Nobel Prize for significantly advancing drug treatments for numerous diseases; American comedian, writer, producer, actor and television host Conan O’Brien (born 1963), who famously told the children of the world they could do anything they want with their life, “unless Jay Leno wants to do it, too”; American director and actor Eli Roth (born 1972), a master of the horror genre; and American actress, producer, director, writer and entrepreneur Melissa Joan Hart (born 1976), who’s no longer a teenage witch.
Learn-Ng as he goes: And take a bow, Andrew Ng! The British American computer scientist and technology entrepreneur – the preeminent artificial intelligence expert who’s authored or co-authored hundreds of research papers on machine learning and robotics and founded DeepLearning.AI, among other cutting-edge companies – turns 49 today.
Send your best to the AI authority at editor@innovateli.com, where our intelligence is based largely on your news tips and calendar events (naturally).
About our sponsor: St. Joseph’s University, New York, has provided a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the university provides a strong academic and values-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual rigor, social responsibility, spiritual depth and service. Through its Long Island, Brooklyn and Online campuses, the university offers degrees in 100 majors, special course offerings and certificates and affiliated and pre-professional programs. Learn more here.
BUT FIRST, THIS
Coming soon: Digital rendering of Adelphi University’s new Big Apple facility, slated to open in 2026.
Go west, Adelphi: One of Long Island’s leading universities has broken ground on its latest New York City satellite location.
Garden City-based Adelphi University ceremoniously kicked off construction work Tuesday on its new Adelphi Manhattan Center, a custom-designed, three-floor, 51,000-square-foot facility filled with “smart” classrooms, simulation labs, a full library, a student lounge, a comprehensive Student Services Center and specialized learning spaces for education, nursing and other health-sciences programs. Located close to Bryant Park and Grand Central Station, the center will place students “at the doorstep of Fortune 500 companies, major healthcare institutions and world-class arts and civic organizations,” according to Adelphi.
The university has inked a 20-year lease on its 529 Fifth Ave property, which is slated to open in 2026, and will continue offering classes at St. Francis College in Brooklyn until the state-of-the-art facility is ready. “This new center is a critical component of our institutional priority to have a vibrant space in New York City,” noted Adelphi President Christine Riordan. “Guided by our Momentum 2 strategic plan, this project enables us to expand access to dynamic educational programs and strengthen our commitment to graduate, adult and professional learners.”
Earning their stripes: A major regional maker has struck a new deal with one of the technology industry’s biggest players, opening new doors to potential partnerships.
Hauppauge-based product-design ace Intelligent Product Solutions has hitched its wagon to Zebra Technologies’ award-winning PartnerConnect program, which is designed to leverage Zebra’s inclusive-channel ecosystem to address the needs of distributors, independent software vendors, technology alliance partners and others. Joining PartnerConnect as a Registered Alliance Partner, IPS gains access to an innovative portfolio brimming with comprehensive training, marketing, sales and technical benefits.
It’s not the first collaboration between the two: IPS has long shared its expertise in software solutions development, systems integration and end-to-end process design with Illinois-based Zebra (formerly Symbol Technologies), which maintains a large operations center at the old Symbol facility in Holtsville. “IPS now has access to industry-leading solutions, training and tools that will allow us to collaborate with Zebra’s global partner network and better meet the needs of our customers,” noted Intelligent Product Solutions CEO Bob Wild. “The PartnerConnect program makes it easier for us to differentiate ourselves while working together with Zebra to digitize and automate the front line of business.”
TOP OF THE SITE
Sea battle: Environmentalists are aghast, economists are enraged and Albany is gearing up for a fight as the Trump Administration orders construction of the Empire Wind 1 offshore-wind farm to stop immediately.
Onward! Thank you in advance for forwarding this fun and informative newsletter to your entire innovation team … now show some real forward vision by getting them their own individual subscriptions. Always easy, always free – and always thinking ahead!
ICYMI
Mentoring doesn’t just make you feel good or “give back” – it’s a vital key to ensuring success for your mentee, your company and your industry, according to Intelligent Product Solutions cofounder Mitch Maiman, not to mention the entire Long Island innovation economy.
Something to say? Welcome to The Entrepreneur’s Edge, Innovate Long Island’s new promoted-content news feature platform – a direct link from you to our innovation-focused audience. Progressive product to promote? Singular service to sell? Sociopolitical position to push? Shine a bright light on the big picture, the little details and everything in between with The Entrepreneur’s Edge. Living on the edge.
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 Florida: Naples-based smart-security solutions provider Night Owl keeps a close eye on homes and businesses with multifunctional solar-powered security camera.
From California: Los Angeles-based autonomous railroad Parallel Systems steers federal approvals toward its first short-haul freight commercial pilot program.
From Michigan: Detroit-based cybersecurity startup Netarx unleashes an artificial intelligence-powered deepfake detector to safeguard voice, video and email content.
ON THE MOVE
Mitch Pally
+ Mitch Pally has been named interim president and CEO of Hauppauge-based Discover Long Island. The former CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute currently chairs the Discover Long Island Board of Directors and the Long Island MacArthur Airport Advisory Board, and co-chairs the Long Island Business Development Council.
+ Ashley Valla has been promoted to partner at Islandia-based Haley Weinblatt & Calcagni. She was an associate.
+ Michael Antongiovanni has joined Rivkin Radler as a partner in the Commercial Litigation, Construction, Real Estate and Trusts & Estates practice groups in the firm’s Uniondale office. He was a partner at Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein.
+ Giselle Sellino has been hired as senior vice president/commercial banker at BankUnited in Melville. She was first vice president/commercial banking lender at Dime Community Bank in Melville.
+ Matthew Kuriloff has been promoted to associate executive director at East End Disability Associates in Riverhead. He was digital records project manager.
+ Ruth McLeod has been hired as an office manager at Sasserath & Co. in Ronkonkoma. She was an office manager at Allen C. Schneider & Co. in Manhattan.
+ Thomas Fabian has been appointed assistant superintendent for personnel and employee relations for the Eastport-South Manor Central School District. He was principal at Eastport Elementary School.
+ Gregory Munch has been hired as an IT technician at the Suffolk County Water Authority in Oakdale. He held the same position at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson.
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 St. Joe’s). Gregory Zeller can tell you more.
BELOW THE FOLD (Easter 2025 Edition)
Customizable custom: How to give Easter baskets that personal touch.
Martial plan? This could be an Easter to remember – for all the wrong reasons.
Dyeing slowly: High egg prices are scrambling a classic Easter tradition.
Basket case: How to curate the perfect individualized Easter Basket.
Rising above: Please continue supporting the innovative institutions that support Innovate Long Island, including St. Joseph’s University, where intellect and spirituality combine to resurrect once-treasured moral values. Check them out.
