News Nearby: Local Principal Kisses Pig

Students at Landing Elementary School in Glen Cove struggled to keep their cries of excitement under control at a special assembly Monday morning. The children were instructed to keep their voices low so they wouldn't spook their guest, a one-and-a-half-year-old male pot-bellied pig named Junk. Junk was on-hand to help interim principal Martin Malone fulfill a promise: if the school's students completed a collective 38,000 minutes of at-home reading in a two-week period, Malone would kiss a pig. With a farmer's bandanna tied around his neck, Malone lowered himself to the pig's eye level. A delicate flirtation ensued. Malone tried to woo Junk with handfuls of grapes to students' eruptions of laughter. Several of Malone's advances were rejected by the agile young pig, who backed up and threw the principal a suspicious eye. Malone finally landed a kiss on top of Junk's head, fulfilling his promise.

Narcan Demonstration Shows How to Save Lives

One American dies every 19 minutes from prescription drug overdose, Thomas Jan, a doctor who works with Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, said during his Narcan presentation this week at Daytop in Huntington Station. Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a drug that immediately reverses the effects of opioid drugs, such as heroin and oxycodone. With about 370 deaths from prescription drug overdose on Long Island alone in the past year, LICADD hosted a training session to promote the training of Narcan.

Letter Carrier Featured in Super Bowl Commercial

Looking for a reason to tune in to the Super Bowl? Great Neck letter carrier Lorenzo Hudson might be your answer. The 19-year-old local mail carrier, who regularly walks the main section of town making 439 deliveries a day, will be featured Sunday during the pre-game commercials for the Super Bowl.

State Senate to Consider Stiffer Penalties for Drunken Boating

Legislation that would increase penalties for boating while intoxicated is set to go before the State Senate for a vote. State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., R, Merrick, announced on Wednesday that his boating safety bill has been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. The law, if passed, would list boating while under the influence with a child on board as a class E felony, similar to driving drunk in a car; create mandatory suspension of boating privileges for DUI offenders; and require a mandatory driver license suspension for BUI offenders.

Drumline Team Wants to Head to Disney

A drumline comprised of individuals with autism and other disabilities is raising funds to fulfill their dream to “march” all the way to Disney World. The Drumline is part of a musical arts program offered by (FREE), a not-for-profit agency based in Old Bethpage that supports more than 3,500 individuals with different abilities on Long Island.
 The Drumline is seeking donations for travel and other expenses required to fulfill its commitment to perform at Downtown Disney’s Waterside Stage, part of the Disney Performing Arts Program, on Saturday May 11.

Donahue and Dennehy in Port Washington

Pioneering talk show host Phil Donahue and veteran actor Brian Dennehy will be at the Club House at Harbor Links in Port Washington on Saturday evening, Feb. 16, for a program called “Dennehy by Donahue.” Presented by the Gold Coast International Film Festival, the event offers a retrospective on the life and career Dennehy, a Chaminade High School alum.

Resident Running Boston Marathon for Sandy Relief

It's been three months since Hurricane Sandy battered Long Island, and the Long Beach community is still feeling the lasting effects -- the main reason why resident Robin Lynch will be running in the 2013 Boston Marathon on April 15.
Lynch will be participating in the marathon for Dream Big!, a Massachusetts-based charity dedicated to providing underprivileged girls the opportunity to participate in sports. Part of the money raised will go to Long Beach.