A 48-year-old man who skipped bail on Long Island charges got caught in the most ironic way possible: applying to become a corrections officer in Colorado. Nassau prosecutors say Osokam Ekufia was wanted for bail jumping when Colorado authorities ran a background check on his job application and discovered the outstanding warrant.
Ekufia had been charged with criminal contempt and bail jumping in Nassau County before heading west. The background check that tanked his corrections career also led to his arrest — he was extradited back to Long Island and arraigned on new charges.
This isn't exactly uncommon — people fleeing warrants often get caught when they try to get legitimate jobs that require background checks. But there's something particularly bold about a fugitive applying to work in law enforcement. Maybe he figured the best place to hide from the system was inside it.
Road resurfacing work kicked off yesterday on two major Port Washington roadways, according to Nassau County's Department of Public Works. The project was confirmed to Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, though the county's announcement doesn't specify which roads are getting the treatment or how long commuters should expect delays.
Classic Nassau County move — announce the work is happening without telling you which streets to avoid or when it'll be done. If you're driving through Port Washington this week, might want to add an extra 15 minutes to wherever you're going. The good news? At least they're fixing roads instead of just talking about it. Check the county's traffic alerts before you leave the house, or prepare to play "guess which route actually works today."
Nassau County Legislators Carrié Solages (D-Valley Stream) and Viviana Russell (D-Westbury) joined the Haitian American Family Association of Long Island at Mirelle's Restaurant in Westbury on Saturday to celebrate community honorees. The event recognized Haitian American leaders and their contributions to Long Island.
The celebration comes during a particularly meaningful time — April is Haitian Heritage Month, and this year marks the 220th anniversary of Haiti's independence. Nassau County's Haitian American population has grown significantly over the past two decades, with many families settling in communities like Westbury, Hempstead, and Uniondale.
Mirelle's Restaurant, a popular Haitian spot on Hempstead Turnpike, has become something of a community hub — hosting everything from political fundraisers to cultural celebrations. It's the kind of place where you're as likely to overhear school board strategy as you are to catch up on neighborhood gossip over some excellent griot.
The Port Washington Fire Department proved last week that their ladder trucks aren't just for house fires — they're also perfect for untangling ospreys from fishing wire. On April 9, Company 1 crews responded to Sands Point around 11:30 a.m. to rescue a bird stuck high up in a tree, according to LI Press.
The timing was almost too perfect: the firefighters were returning from a department funeral when the call came in. Instead of packing up and heading back to the firehouse, they pivoted to wildlife rescue mode.
This is peak Long Island spring — ospreys are returning to their nests along the coast, fishing season is ramping up, and somewhere in between, a bird got tangled in discarded line. It's the kind of call that reminds you why we pay those property taxes: sometimes you need a tower ladder truck and trained professionals to save a fish hawk having the worst day of its life.
Someone did the math and decided Montauk is the fourth-closest thing in America to Biarritz, France — you know, that ritzy surf town where rich Europeans go to catch waves and eat €30 fish. The ranking, reported by Greater Long Island, looked at climate, surf culture, and that general "I'm too cool to rush" vibe both places supposedly share.
Now, if you've been to Montauk in July when the parking lots are full and a lobster roll costs $38, the comparison might feel a little generous. But there's something to it — both places have that end-of-the-world geography, decent waves, and the kind of laid-back attitude that comes from being far enough from the city that people actually slow down. Whether that's worth European vacation prices is another question entirely.
Of course, Biarritz doesn't have to deal with the Long Island Expressway on a Friday afternoon, so maybe we're getting the better deal after all.
Several Nassau County natives are hoping to hear their names called when the NFL Draft kicks off next week in Pittsburgh, including Plainedge High School graduate Dan Villari. The three-day event will see 257 players selected, and Long Island has produced its share of NFL talent over the years — from Curtis Martin (Allentown) to Brandon Jacobs (Lackawanna, technically Erie County but close enough for bragging rights).
Villari and the other local prospects went through the NFL Scouting Combine in February, where 319 players were invited to show their skills to scouts and coaches. Not every draftable player gets a combine invite, but it's generally a good sign if you're trying to make it to the league. The draft represents the culmination of years of work that started on high school fields right here in Nassau County.
For context: Long Island produces about 2-3 NFL draft picks per year on average, though that number can swing wildly depending on the talent pool. This year's crop could help maintain that tradition.