HUNTINGTON, NY – June 26, 2026
A local education issue quickly became part of a much larger statewide conversation after a Huntington Matters post went viral. This week’s episode also included an important Neighborhood Watch reminder about protecting yourself from check washing, updates on community events happening across Huntington, and practical emergency preparedness advice.
Huntington Matters continues its weekly YouTube Live podcast series to keep residents informed about what’s happening across the Town of Huntington, from public safety updates to conversations taking place in Huntington Matters Community Forum.
Hosted by June Margolin, Dana Richter, and Diane Schaber, the Weekly Update connects residents from Cold Spring Harbor to Commack, Asharoken to Melville, and everywhere in between.
This week’s episode also featured four Primary Election winners, a very special grand opening, an unforgettable lighthouse tour, some of Huntington’s favorite summer traditions, a unique cross-continent challenge where residents can try their hand at making radio contact with people across North America, and a “What Do You Think?” question that sparked plenty of laughs around the table.
👇 Watch the full episode below and please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
What’s Happening Around Huntington
We recapped the June 24 Primary Election, celebrated the grand opening of John’s Crazy Socks’ first retail store in Huntington, and shared highlights from the Town of Huntington’s Juneteenth celebration.
Looking ahead, we featured the Larkfield Amateur Radio Club’s annual Field Day, Huntington Lighthouse tours, Science & Symphony at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the kickoff of the Summer Arts Festival in Heckscher Park, and the Huntington Community Band’s annual Independence Day concert celebrating America’s 250th Birthday.
Residents can find details for these events and many more on the Huntington Matters Community Calendar at HuntingtonMatters.com.
Hot Topics from Huntington Matters Community Forum
One of the biggest conversations this week centered on New York State’s Earth and Space Sciences and Life Sciences: Biology Regents exams after students across the state reported unusually difficult exams, including questions with errors that were deemed impossible to answer.
After South Huntington School District announced it would implement a hold harmless grading policy for the affected exam, we shared the district’s letter with the community. The post quickly gained traction, reaching far beyond Huntington as parents, students, teachers, and school officials across New York joined the conversation. By the time we went live, the post had been viewed more than 94,000 times.
The discussion expanded beyond the exam itself to include concerns about changes to the curriculum, the New York State Education Department’s response, and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) effort to gather information from educators as it compares what teachers were asked to teach with the material that appeared on the exam.
We also shared this week’s “What Do You Think?” discussion question:
Name something very popular that you feel is totally overrated.
Our answers sparked plenty of laughs, especially after Dana revealed a list that surprised both June and Diane. Sun-dried tomatoes, eyebrow threading, cruising, superhero movies, skinny jeans, Halloween, and even talking on the phone all made the list, leading to one of the funniest conversations we’ve had around the table.
How about you? Name something very popular that you think is totally overrated. Let us know in the comments.
Neighborhood Watch: Protect Yourself from Check Washing
This week’s Neighborhood Watch segment focused on check washing, a scam that continues to affect residents across Long Island.
We discussed how criminals steal checks from the mail, remove the original payee and dollar amount using chemicals, then rewrite the check before depositing or cashing it. Inspector Markus Rivera highlighted the scam during the June Suffolk County Police Department 2nd Precinct Community Meeting and shared several ways residents can reduce their risk.
June also shared several local examples, including Huntington residents and a family member who fell victim to the scam. In one case, a mortgage payment was stolen, altered, and deposited before the victim realized anything was wrong.
According to a U.S. Postal Inspector, one method used by criminals involves obtaining debit cards and account information from individuals who sell them. The altered checks are then deposited through ATM machines or banking apps, and the money is withdrawn as soon as the checks clear, making it much more difficult for investigators to identify those responsible.
Whenever possible, consider paying electronically. If you must mail a check, bring it inside the post office rather than leaving it in your home mailbox or an outdoor collection box. We also recommended using permanent fraud-resistant gel pens designed to help prevent check washing.
If you discover a check has been altered or stolen, contact your bank immediately, file a police report, and report the incident to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service using this form. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of recovering your money and preventing additional fraud.
Emergency Preparedness
This week’s emergency preparedness tip focused on creating a hospital “go bag” before you ever need one.
Diane Schaber recommended keeping a small bag packed with essentials such as copies of insurance cards, a current medication list, phone chargers, comfortable clothing, toiletries, and other personal items that can make an unexpected hospital stay a little easier. Dana also reminded caregivers to prepare a bag for themselves, since they often spend long hours at the hospital supporting a loved one.
Taking a little time to prepare now can eliminate unnecessary stress during an emergency, allowing you to focus on what matters most.
Connect with and Support Huntington Matters
For more than 11 years, Huntington Matters has grown from what the hosts jokingly described during the livestream as an “ambitious volunteer project” into a full-time community resource hub serving residents across the Town of Huntington.
What began as volunteer work for 8 years has grown into a full-time hyperlocal media platform serving Huntington through HuntingtonMatters.com‘s Community Calendar, Business Directory, The Common Thread magazine, Huntington Matters Community Forum, Instagram, TikTok, and regular YouTube Live updates. Despite that growth, the mission has remained the same for more than 11 years – connecting neighbors, supporting local businesses, sharing information, advocating for the community, and strengthening Huntington through engagement and communication.
If what Huntington Matters does resonates with you, please support Huntington Matters by purchasing official “Best. Neighbors. Ever.” merchandise, making a donation, subscribing to the YouTube channel, or sharing our content with friends and neighbors.
Local businesses looking to reach Huntington residents can partner with Huntington Matters through advertising opportunities designed to help businesses get noticed, stay visible, and build trust with neighbors across the Town of Huntington.
To advertise, submit a tip, or suggest a topic, email info@huntingtonmatters.com.
If you live, work, or grew up in the Town of Huntington, join more than 56,300 of your neighbors in Huntington Matters Community Forum.
Please note: Events are removed from the Community Calendar approximately three months after the event date, so some older links may no longer be active.
