Rain, rain go away: Welcome to Wednesday, dear readers, as we bundle up for a surprisingly raw late-Spring stretch here on Long Island – who ordered this cold and wet weather? – but proceed undaunted toward a well-earned three-day blow.
With that, one last reminder that your favorite innovation newsletter is taking a short breather to enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend, so no editions on Friday or Monday. Please enjoy this over-the-hump review, and we’ll be back at you next week – have a safe and happy holiday.
Fit to a tea: Steam yourself a cup today.
Apocalypse … now? Here on May 21, we begin at the end – End of the World Day, to be precise, which recalls the false apocalypse predicted for May 21, 2011, by scummy doomsday prophet Harold Camping and reminds us that end-times predictions often have dramatically deleterious effects on true believers (and the anxiety-ridden).
Brew ha-ha: More soothing nerves is International Tea Day, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s annual homage to the cultural heritage, health benefits and economic importance of the world’s second-most-consumed beverage (after water).
And since “no tax on tips” is much better as a campaign slogan than a practical reality (fine print abounds in the Big, Beautiful Bill), let’s have an especially warm round of applause for our servers on National Waitstaff Day, honoring waiters and waitresses and others who work hard to make dining out a pleasant experience.
Cross purposes: Also serving the greater good is the American Red Cross, founded on this date in 1881 by crusading nurse Clara Barton.
Sky king: Speaking of crossing things, about 33 hours after he took off from Long Island, daring aviator Charles Lindbergh completed history’s first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight on May 21, 1927, landing The Spirit of St. Louis at Le Bourget Field in Paris.
Sky queen: Exactly five years later to the day, on this date in 1932, daring aviator Amelia Earhart completed history’s second solo, nonstop transatlantic flight – the first by a woman – when she landed her Little Red Bus in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 15 hours after taking off from Newfoundland, Canada.
Pogo-a-go-go: It’s come a long way since Hansburg’s 1957 patent.
Hop to it: Also taking flight – of a much shorter duration than Lindbergh or Earhart, but flight nonetheless – was New York-based inventor George Hansburg, who patented the pogo stick 68 years ago today.
Episode V: And it was May 21, 1980, when “The Empire Strikes Back” – widely considered the best of all “Star Wars” movies, for its thematic elements, galaxy-building, luscious John Williams score and one of cinema’s greatest all-time plot twists – made its theatrical debut.
Technically, “Empire” was the second installment from that galaxy far, far away … but only from a certain point of view.
Fats entertainment: American jazz pianist, organist, composer and singer Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller (1904-1943) – who defined modern jazz piano with his “Harlem stride” style and made them laugh with his exuberant comedy – would be 121 years old today.
Heart of gold: Legendary tough guy Mr. T had a well-known soft spot for kids.
Also born on May 21 were British Quaker Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845), the prison reformer, social activist and philanthropist remembered as the “Angel of Prisons”; English fossil hunter and geologist Mary Anning (1799-1847), credited with putting modern paleontology on the map; American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss (1878-1930), a biking enthusiast-turned-aircraft manufacturer hailed as the Father of Naval Aviation; American physician Robert Good (1922-2003), who performed the first successful bone marrow transplant; and American Army veteran, actor, bouncer, celebrity bodyguard, professional wrestler and TV pitchman Laurence Turead (born 1952), forever the mohawked fan-favorite Mr. T.
He’s got the touch(downs): And take a bow, Joshua Patrick Allen! The Buffalo Bills’ star quarterback – and the National Football League’s reigning most valuable player – turns 29 today.
Give the standout signal-caller your best at editor@innovateli.com, where you’re our MVP – especially when you call out news tips and calendar events.
About our sponsor: SUNY Old Westbury empowers students to own the future they want for themselves. In a small-college atmosphere and as part of the dynamic, diverse student body that today is 5,000 strong, students at Old Westbury get up close and personal with the life and career they want to pursue. Whether it’s a cutting-edge graduate program in data analytics, highly respected programs in accounting and computer-information sciences or any of the more than 70 degrees available, a SUNY Old Westbury education will set students on a course towards success. Own your future.
BUT FIRST, THIS
Ground net-zero: Governor Kathy Hochul (center) and friends break ground on Farmingdale State College’s energy-efficient Center for Computer Science and Information Technology Systems.
Better late than never: It’s taking longer than expected – funding was approved in 2022 and it was originally projected to open this year – but Farmingdale State College has finally broken ground on its state-of-the-art computer center.
Governor Kathy Hochul joined FSC President Robert Prezant and a host of school and government officials last week for the ceremonial start to the Center for Computer Science and Information Technology Systems, a $75 million centerpiece designed to increase enrollment and address growing digital-workforce needs. The project was green-stamped three years ago by the Empire State Development Corp.’s Long Island Investment Fund (which has committed $30 million in funding) and the State University Construction Fund (which has committed $45 million).
The cutting-edge, three-story tech center – slated to incorporate advanced building materials, a geothermal HVAC system and other efficiencies – is envisioned as the first net-zero carbon building in the entire SUNY system. “The bio-conscious construction exemplifies what is achievable while supporting New York State environmental goals,” Prezant noted at the May 15 groundbreaking. “So much more than a building, the center will provide a hub of advanced technology education and programming, enabling interdisciplinary and collaborative innovation, research and learning.”
Cut above: Kudos to our friends at Gershow Recycling, who recently donated 30 junker cars for use in a Long Island emergency-services rescue competition.
The cars were integral to the 18th Annual Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament, which gathered 25 teams from 17 Island-wide fire departments at the Northport Fire Department Training Grounds, known affectionately as Steers Pit. The May 10 contest involved teams of five firefighters working to extricate a “victim” from a “car crash” using emergency tools including the Jaws of Life, a hydraulic device powerful enough to split open metallic automobile frames.
Gershow Recycling, which also donated use of its Huntington facility to give teams an opportunity to practice their vehicle-splitting and extraction techniques, also gathered the chopped-up vehicles after the tournament and transported them to Gershow HQ, where they were shredded and recycled. “Gershow Recycling is proud to support our local firefighters by making end-of-life vehicle donations to support needed training exercises affording our heroic first responders to hone their lifesaving skills,” noted Gershow Recycling President Kevin Gershowitz. “By donating end-of-life vehicles, we are helping our first responders save lives.”
TOP OF THE SITE
Leverage 101: With his fossil-fuel friends sufficiently satiated, President Trump has lifted the stop-work order against the Empire Wind 1 offshore-wind farm rising south of Jones Beach.
Listening library: “Spark: The Innovate Long Island Podcast” will roll out all-new episodes in June, adding to the four-dozen stellar conversations already populating our informative, endlessly entertaining podcast library. Before the triumphant return, you’ve got some catch-up listening to do!
VOICES
The biggest brains in regional innovation sharing their front-row perspectives on the biggest socioeconomic challenges – and their best-practice advice on how to handle them. Welcome to the Innovate Long Island Voices Library, where you pick the touchstone topic and the topnotch teacher. Class is in session.
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.
STUFF WE’RE READING
Very happy: Behold, the world’s five most joyful cities. The BBC spreads good cheer.
Very sad: Why President Biden’s cancer diagnosis is generating both sympathy and suspicion. Axios spreads it around.
Levelheaded: The critical importance of keeping emotion out of your investment portfolio. Forbes spares spreadsheets.
RECENT FUNDINGS
+ Finwave Semiconductor, a Massachusetts-based semiconductor manufacturer, raised $8.2 million in funding led by Fine Structure Ventures, Engine Ventures and Safar Partners.
+ LIS Technologies, a Tennessee-based proprietary laser-tech innovator focused on selective isotope separation, raised $11.93 million in funding backed by Innovating Capital.
+ Prosperos, a California-based fintech startup for the Latino market, received a $250,000 investment from Mendoza Impact.
+ CarbonSix, a California-based robotics manufacturer focused on artificial intelligence-powered manufacturing robots, raised $4 million in Seed funding led by Foothill Ventures and Storm Ventures.
+ Zeno Power, a Washington State-based manufacturer of nuclear batteries for maritime and space applications, raised $50 million in Series B funding led by Hanaco Ventures.
+ Nortian, a Kansas-based biotech producing ultra-pure collagen, raised $41 million in funding led by AJ Hollander, Hubbard Ingredients and XPTO.
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). Gregory Zeller can tell you more.
BELOW THE FOLD (Law Abiding Edition)
Downplay: Critics fear the Take it Down Law could be weaponized into a censorship tool.
Strength in numbers: Lawyers unite to counter Presidential pressures.
Different take: How the controversial Take It Down law could supercharge censorship.
By any other name: Who was “Murphy,” anyway? Found out in the Grand Encyclopedia of Eponymous Laws.
Law of the land: Please continue supporting the innovative institutions that support Innovate Long Island, including SUNY Old Westbury, where the No. 1 rule is always student empowerment. Check them out.
