New York City | Kevin Wood
LocalNews.com covered the first ever NYC Drone Film Festival and spoke with founder, Randy Slavin, filmmakers, pilots and others centered around this burgeoning genre of drone cinematography. The winners of the festival were announced LIVE!

Check out Randy's Drone Film and more on Here and Now

Generations of Hair Design Expertise Create Beautiful Styles for Fashion Week Attendees
New York, NY  (February 18, 2014) - Dominic and Ida Commisso from Port Washington's Commisso and Company (Salon of the Year 2014 by Salon Today Magazine) were in NYC for Fashion Week at the world class Wella Studios located in Rockefeller Center creating the haircuts, color and style at Fashion Week for a former Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella and renowned entertainment writer Natalie Zfat. 
The dynamic mother and son Hair Designer duo are two fifths of this family of stylists, who recently used the latest styling techniques on how to use several tools in a similar shoot for Salon Tech products and who spent time performing as platform artists at the Premiere Orlando show and at IBS New York earlier this year.
But Commisso and Company Salon isnʼt your typical “mom and pop” operation. The grand 5,000 square foot salonʼs impressive features include state of the art beauty equipment, a modern spacious salon floor with lots of beautiful natural sunlight filling their color department and a welcoming ambiance that can sometimes get lost in larger salons. Beyond the impressive space of the salon are the people that make it all work: the Commisso family and their staff are focused on their art and on the latest beauty trends.
Parents Tony and Ida have developed a rapport with their long time clients the likes of which are unmatched in the salon industry today. Tony, who started training in Italy and has grown to become a very respected beauty industry leader and a brand name in Port Washington, on Long Island and in NYC, has passed the craftsmanship of Hair Design along with the entrepreneurial spirit to his three sons: Dominic, Carlo and Marco, also know in the industry as The Commisso Brothers.
For more information about Commisso and Company and The Commiso Brothers, please visit:
http://www.commissoandcompany.com 

LocalNews.com | Nassau County PBA and it's president Mr. James Carver announced up to a $5,000 donation to help with Vet expenses for abused pit bull puppy, "Harper". The playful pit bull has been treated at My Pet's Vet in Huntington since September 2013, where it was brought in with multiple injuries brought on by human abuse. The injuries included amputation of her rear leg and ear. Bob Sowers of Nassau County SPCA, reported that the pup was purposely kept out of the media so that authorities could build their case against "multiple players." Arrests are expected soon and prosecution will include multiple charges including practicing medical procedures without a license.

Great Neck NY | LocalNews.com, Today the Great Neck Arts Center was re-named and re-branded to the Gold Coast Arts Center to better represent the work, reach and influence of the organization. Joined by Executive Director, Regina Gil , Town of North Hempstead supervisor, Judi Bosworth, and Debra Markowitz of the Nassau County Film Office on behalf of County Executive, Ed Mangano

On Tuesday, January 7, Supervisor Edward P. Romaine was sworn in to begin his first full, two-year term in office after being re-elected in November 2013. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of people, including elected officials and dignitaries representing all levels of government, civic leaders, guests, friends, family and residents. Following the swearing in, the Supervisor presented his Inaugural Address in which he opened with a call to the Town Board to work cooperatively while facing “major challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that Brookhaven’s future is secure.” 

The Supervisor’s request for the new Board to work together produced immediate results. During the re-organizational meeting, which followed the swearing in ceremony, the new Board voted unanimously to approve all resolutions. “Although the Board is politically diverse, I am pleased to see that they are willing to put their differences aside and pull together to work in the best interest of the residents of Brookhaven Town,” said Supervisor Romaine. 

The Supervisor opened his inaugural speech by highlighting accomplishments during his first year in office. These included a plan to preserve the Carmans River Watershed, a unanimously approved budget without lay-offs, the elimination of nearly $15 million in pipeline debt, and successfully maintaining the Town’s AA+ bond rating. He also mentioned that the Town was able to start the work of rebuilding after Sandy, which continues to this day. 

In addition, he sited the following as examples of the Town Board working together during his first year in office: • To crack down on illegal rooming houses and amend town code to protect our neighborhoods from unscrupulous landlords. 

• To create a Green Buildings Committee to reduce energy costs at town facilities and save taxpayer dollars. 

• To implement a solar and wind energy program to reduce Brookhaven’s carbon footprint and generate revenue. 

• To adopt a first-on-Long Island green energy code to promote the use of solar, wind, and geothermal energy in new and existing construction projects. 

• And to establish a Vacant Building Registry to require owners (banks) of vacant buildings and homes to maintain them so they don’t become eyesores. 

Supervisor Romaine announced that his first priority in 2014 will be to reduce debt load as the Town slowly emerges from the recession. He specifically targeted pension debt, which rose from $8.1 in 2010 to $13 million in 2013 despite a declining staff. He explained that in 2010, New York State began to allow municipalities to borrow from the State to pay its pension contribution, at which time the Town borrowed the maximum allowed to pay its pension bill - $825,007 in 2010 at 5%, almost $2 million at 3.75% in 2011 and $4.1 million in 2012 at 3%. His solution is to create a Pension Contribution Reserve Fund. As the Town continues to sell and shed non-essential, non-performing assets that are extraneous to the mission of Town government, some of the proceeds from the sale of these assets will go into this Reserve Fund. He expects that by 2015, the Town will not have to borrow to pay its pension contribution and thereafter the entire pension debt would be retired. 

Next on the Supervisor’s list of priorities is Solid Waste Management and recycling. Since the landfill is scheduled to close in less than 14 years, the Town as a whole must implement a plan to reduce garbage. His multi-step program starts with reducing the garbage that we produce, recycling as much as possible and reusing what we recycle. His first step was instituting Single Stream Recycling, which started on January 4th of this year. It is estimated that as a result of this initiative, recycling will increase by 25% this year alone, reducing the ash intake at the landfill and generating significantly more revenue for the Town. This “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” initiative will be expanded to include school districts. In addition, the Town will be working hand-in-hand with other municipalities to explore other waste disposal technologies to address what the Supervisor called “this common challenge.” 

Supervisor Romaine’s long standing dedication to protect and preserve the environment continues to be a priority. He has vowed to work with all levels of government, including the Suffolk County Health Commissioner, to develop a sustainable water quality protection plan that will keep our surface and ground water clean by reducing contamination by pathogens and nitrogen from septic tanks and cesspools. The Supervisor will also work with the County to accelerate the land preservation programs that are already being implemented to protect our water supply. 

Energy conservation is also on the Supervisor’s agenda for 2014 with a goal to establish more non-polluting, alternative energy sources as part of Long Island’s energy portfolio.

LocalNews.com | Director Fred Carpenter used another Nassau County film friendly location to film his latest, "Charlie Mantle". 20 years on the job have finally caught up to Charlie Mantle. After 2 cops are beheaded, Charlie fights to take down those responsible. Fred explains how he was able to give a "gritty" Queens NYC look from the scouted location in film friendly Nassau County, where County Executive Ed Mangano has been instrumental and supportive in seeing film projects blossom.
Starring: Armand Assante, Sean Young, Robert Funaro, Mitch Walters, Robert Clohessy, Paul Vario
Filmed partially at 21 Edna Court in Baldwin

The LIE overpass on New Hyde Park Road in North Hills was renamed Sunday for a Nassau County police officer killed in the line of duty on the highway in 2012.
More than 120 officers, family members and friends attended the dedication ceremony, held at Nassau County Police Headquarters in Mineola, for what will now be called the Joseph P. Olivieri Jr. Memorial Bridge. Later on, the unveiling of the actual sign took place on the Long Island Expressway in North Hills.

Video: James Carver, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association

Entire Ceremony Video

10-30-13 VIDEO JOURNALIST: KEVIN WOOD
FREEPORT, NY - Freeport Village Mayor Robert Kennedy and Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg hosted a memorial luncheon and candlelight vigil with family,friends fans and local musicians in tribute to Long Island native rock legend Lou Reed.

Reed was raised in Freeport, Long Island and graduated Freeport High School in 1959. He is considered one of the most influential performers in the history of rock and roll. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He has sold millions of records and a was a music icon. He died in Southampton, Long Island a few days ago.

Also on location was Mark Mendoza, EPPY, Greg Hicks and a couple that drove more than 600 miles to pay tribute.

The tribute was held at:
Hudson's on the Mile
340 Woodcleft Ave.
Freeport, L.I., NY

LocalNews.com | Kevin Wood caught up with one of Long Island's finest beer brewers, Dan Burke of Long Ireland Beer Company at North Shore Beverage in Mount Sinai NY 

LocalNews.com-Video News|Kevin Wood
I caught up with Mike Delguidice in his hometown of Miller Place a few hours before he joins Billy Joel on tour in the UK and Ireland for 2.5 weeks. We wish Mike all the best and a safe return from living the dream.