Latest news with #DennisA.Clark
New York Post
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Long Island boaters now use AI to catch fish, see through 'pea soup' fog
Capt. Eric Collins recently boated through '9/10 treacherous fog' off the inlet by Jones Beach to the point he couldn't lay eyes on half a dozen vessels coming toward his Southport 33FE. 'The weather was horrific as far as fog goes,' Collins, a marina owner and fisherman from Massapequa, told The Post. 'We refer to it in the marine world as pea-soup fog, where you could barely see, maybe 50 to 60 feet in front of your boat.' However, Collins has a difference on board that makes miserable pea-soup days much more manageable and safer — cutting-edge AI by New York City-based tech startup Viam, which enables his instruments to communicate with one another in a highly sophisticated way. 7 Eric Collins, a fisherman and marina owner in Massapequa, on his boat in Freeport on May 16, 2025. Dennis A. Clark 'At no point was today something that I would consider an easy, navigable day,' he said. 'This makes it a better experience for everybody on the water.' These advanced safety features, responsible for spotting where the six boats came from, are just one of Viam's new offshore advances. The AI firm is also utilizing machine learning to make it exponentially easier to spot and catch fish, serving as an industry game-changer. 'What's out there now on boats is just a picture with a bunch of green blobs on it,' Viam CEO Eliot Horowitz told The Post. 'Ours is, 'hey, there's a 75% chance it's a fish 300 feet to the right.' Horowitz, who grew up catching striped bass on the Long Island Sound, has seen firsthand that high-tech hardware, such as HD radar, sonar, and GPS, typically isn't worth its price tag. 7 Collins uses AI technology from New York City-based tech startup Viam to help his boat navigate through 'pea soup' fogs. Dennis A. Clark 7 Collins recently used the AI to sail through a fog off Jones Beach where he could hardly see any other vessels coming his way. Dennis A. Clark He said it's because their software interfaces are often anything but user-friendly, to the point that mariners want to smash their radios like Capt. Quint from 'Jaws.' 'If you ask most boaters, they don't really know how to use them very well. They're hard to manage,' Horowitz said. Now, the emerging AI from Viam creates easy-to-read data from instrumentation. 7 Collins' boat seen in Freeport with a 'Powered by Viam' sign on the side. Dennis A. Clark A quick glance at a boat's console shows the predicted location of fish with a clear readout, utilizing metrics such as changes in water temperature, sonar and other real-time probability statistics. 'There's no scientific GPS that's going to say 'go here and you're guaranteed to catch fish,' but it's definitely something that's taking a lot of the guessing out of it,' said Collins, who is hooked on the tech. 'I think that in the boating world, there's not anything touching near the significance of this,' Collins said. The system can even predict when boat parts may need repair or replacement, modifying things to 'a 20-minute fix instead of a two-week fix,' according to Horowitz. 7 The AI also helps Collins spot and catch fish. Dennis A. Clark 7 Collins said the AI helps take some of the guessing out of fishing. Dennis A. Clark 'A ChatGPT for boating' Viam's breakthroughs are still in shallow water as opposed to the potential they could bring in the coming years, according to Collins. 'I see this becoming a ChatGPT for boating that can start networking vessels together,' he said, adding that it will likely appeal to the Coast Guard and the operators of the Staten Island Ferry. The captain's prediction is close to what Horowitz has in the works — something he described as 'a Waze for boaters.' 7 Collins holding a 130 pound bigeye tuna he caught on his boat. Courtesy of Captain Eric Collins Viam is looking to link boats to the same system to provide real-time safety updates on the water in the same way Waze notes traffic and road hazards/ Horowitz said the Jones inlet, where Collins recently fought through the intense fog, is a perfect example. 'Like many inlets in Long Island, it can get dangerous at times because after every storm, the sand gets pushed around.' 'One of the things we're working on with a different customer is actually getting users real-time maps of the ocean floor,' he said, adding that sharper technology to fish in foggy conditions is in the works as well. The long-term goal for Viam, which also operates outside the aquatic space, is to be able to identify different marine life in the water, from sharks to fish and whales. 'We think we can get there, which would be cool,' said Horowitz. 'One of my huge things that I care about is getting more people to enjoy the water.'
New York Post
27-05-2025
- New York Post
Long Island cops raid 26 illegal weed stores in a week, seizing 15K products: officials
Suffolk County cops caught 26 unlicensed pot shops in the act during dozens of raids over just one week – seizing more than 15,000 illegal weed products, officials said Tuesday. The countywide crackdown just began May 20 but has already seen 44 smoke shops or convenience stores raided and resulted in seven arrests and five businesses getting shut down permanently, according to police. 'We are not going to allow the proliferation of illegal marijuana shops in this county,' Suffolk Executive Ed Romaine told reporters at a news conference at police headquarters in Yaphank. 3 A large-scale raid cracking down on illegal cannabis products across Suffolk County led to 26 unlicensed stores being caught with over 15,000 illegal weed products. Dennis A. Clark 'Under the law, we not only padlock their business, but we seize all of their products,' Romaine added, saying the county will likely incinerate the seized products. Police said the biggest busts so far came from raids on Cloud Nine V in Farmingville; Simply Green in Coram; Vape Guru in Bay Shore; and The Norm smoke shop in Patchogue. Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina also revealed the raids found some of these storefronts selling illegal fireworks, magic mushroom chocolate bars from Colorado — and flavored vape pods to minors. He told The Post that the police worked together with town officials from all over Suffolk County to identify locations that were possibly selling weed illegally. 3 Suffolk Executive Ed Romaine told reporters at a news conference, 'We are not going to allow the proliferation of illegal marijuana shops in this county.' Dennis A. Clark 3 The biggest busts came from Cloud Nine V in Farmingville; Simply Green in Coram; Vape Guru in Bay Shore; and The Norm smoke shop in Patchogue. Dennis A. Clark 'The places that we hit, we asked our precinct commanders and our elected townspeople to give us the spots that were the most problematic in our communities, and those are the spots that we targeted,' Catalina said of the raids. Officials promised more raids to come. 'This isn't just about legality, it's more about safety,' said Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr., whose department worked in collaboration with police to conduct the raids. 'Products sold outside of regulated channels can be dangerous and untested,' said Toulon Jr., referring to THC vape products. Officials said the operation will continue indefinitely — with dozens more shops already in their crosshairs.
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
A look inside Westhampton Beach — the ‘commuter Hamptons' that caters to ‘local' Long Islanders
The tide is turning in Westhampton Beach. Though the quiet eastern Long Island town has been perceived as poorer in relation to other, celeb-packed Hamptons hotspots — the popularity of the seaside playground has been steadily growing with locals who don't have helicopter-and-private-yacht-level money. 'Westhampton Beach is the Hamptons for the commuters, for the local Long Island people,' pizzaiolo Michael Brunetti, whose restaurant of his namesake is a hot spot on Main Street, told The Post. Advertisement 9 'Westhampton Beach is the Hamptons for the commuters, for the local Long Island people,' pizzaiolo Michael Brunetti said. Dennis A. Clark One advantage is that Westhampton Beach is about 20 to 30 miles closer to the heart of the Island than Southampton and East Hampton. As of Friday morning, a viral video captured what's bound to be months of bumper-to-bumper east end exodus from the Big Apple. Advertisement 9 Westhampton is expecting a big season this summer. Dennis A. Clark 'On a Friday afternoon or evening, to go from Westhampton to Southampton, it could take a few hours,' Brunetti, who boasts that Westhampton Beach's initials stand for 'where Hamptons begin,' added. 'Long Islanders love to come here because it's so close. In Huntington, you could be here in 45 minutes or half an hour sometimes.' Fear of missing what the other Hamptons offer is also minuscule, as Main Street underwent a complete cosmetic overhaul during Covid. Advertisement 9 Main Street in Westhampton has enjoyed a major makeover since the pandemic. Dennis A. Clark The town moved utility poles underground, phased out stinky septic tanks, and ripped up the entire roadway — and that's brought in tons of new restaurants, stores, a reopened theater, and local visitors on a prettier stretch of blocks. 'People coming from Long Island increased, I would say potentially, 45% in the past five years,' Carlos David Vega, the general manager of the posh Westhampton Bath and Tennis Club, said. 9 Long Islanders are carving a niche in Westhampton this summer. Dennis A. Clark Advertisement Folks from up island are using the club's tennis courts, beach access, and saltwater pool — all while returning home by 9 p.m., the 25-year-long employee of the resort and hotel added. 'They've gone from staycation and now make it a daycation.' The 'mom and pop' Hampton 9 The West Hamptons attitude is much more relaxed and low-key, said Shock Ice Cream owner Elyse Richman. Dennis A. Clark That's not to say A-listers don't swing by themselves — Tom Brady has been known to sign pizza boxes inside Brunetti's eatery — but the attitude is much more relaxed and low-key, said Shock Ice Cream owner Elyse Richman. 'We don't really have corporate restaurants here, we don't have stores like Cartier from the city,' she said, adding that people from the other status quo Hamptons and Sag Harbor are also starting to trickle into the charming town. 'Most of the stores on the street are mom and pop…everyone knows everyone, and it's much more personal. I think that's what they enjoy about it. It's very homey. It's just a nice place to be.' Brunetti added that Westhampton also picks up islander appeal as a place where keeping up with the Joneses is virtually non-existent as opposed to other destinations on the fork. Advertisement 'You just don't find it like that here — even though the affluence is here,' he said. 'It's not very flaunted. People here are much more laid-back.' 9 Westhampton caters to the community as much as it does to celebrities. Dennis A. Clark 9 Affluence is present yet relaxed in Westhampton Beach. Dennis A. Clark By land or by sea Another lure for Westhampton Beach is that it's only a quick trip on the boat, explained Peter Haskell of Haskell's Seafood. Advertisement 'That's another way to travel on Long Island,' he said. 'Many times, we're servicing people who would like to take a meal back to their boat to enjoy or fish to barbecue at their marinas. Even during 'shoulder seasons' outside of summer, Haskell hears customers say they're coming by from nearby, such as one couple from Port Jefferson on the North Shore. 'I think things are just getting better season by season now.' 9 Long Islanders are also boating to Westhampton to make the most of a soon-to-be summer day. Dennis A. Clark Advertisement 9 Agata Riccioli and her cousin Maria Burriesci are opening a jewelry business in town because of its new, excellent reputation. Dennis A. Clark The town's turn inspired Ronkonkoma native Agata Riccioli and her cousin Maria Burriesci to open Isola Bella Jewelers on Main Street in the coming days. 'We feel like this is going to be the new spot of the Hamptons, and we're really excited about what it's going to be in the next few years,' Riccioli said.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- New York Post
Suffolk County agrees to pay out $18 million in court settlement over ‘inhumane' conditions in county jails
New York's Suffolk County has agreed to end a 14-year court battle and shell out $18 million to former inmates who said they were forced to live in filthy jail cells alongside rats and roaches for over a decade. The class-action lawsuit accused officials of turning a blind eye to horrifying living conditions at the Riverhead and Yaphank lockups — and now taxpayers are footing the bill. The deal, quietly filed in court, grants payouts to anyone jailed in the county since 2009, with the 20 original plaintiffs pocketing $20,000 each. Inmates who were locked up in the newer Yaphank facility after 2013, however, were excluded. 4 Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, center, said that an $18 million settlement over conditions at the county jail actually saved taxpayers millions. Dennis A. Clark 'This settlement provides much-needed relief to the many incarcerated New Yorkers who have been subject to inhumane and unconstitutional conditions at the Suffolk County jails,' Gabriella Larios, staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. 'It also means that the county's long-standing indifference to this manufactured crisis will finally come to an end,' she added. The settlement also requires Suffolk County to implement a series of sweeping reforms aimed at cleaning up conditions inside its two jail complexes. As a part of the agreement, the county will be required to appoint an employee dedicated to addressing environmental health concerns at both facilities for at least the next three years, and must also provide cleaning and sanitation training to staff and inmates working in housing units and kitchen areas. 4 The settlement relates to living conditions at the Riverhead and Yaphank lockups. Doug Kuntz Inmates will also be guaranteed access to personal cleaning supplies and protective gear like masks and gloves, as well as clean mattresses and blankets. In addition, the jails must bring their outdated ventilation systems up to standard and address any plumbing, rust and mold problems. Suffolk County officials must also implement a full pest control program and pay for an independent expert, approved by both the county and the plaintiffs' attorneys, to conduct annual assessments of the jails for the next three years. 4 Inmates had said they were subjected to inhumane living conditions. New York Post The lawsuit was first filed back in May 2011 by former Suffolk inmate, Rickey Lynch and 19 others from the Riverhead jail, who claimed their constitutional rights were being violated by the inhumane and dangerous living conditions. According to the suit, those conditions included 'ongoing exposure to human waste, mold, rust, vermin, freezing temperatures, and inadequate access to clean drinking water.' Attorneys from the Manhattan-based firm Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, and the New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation later joined the case — which was eventually expanded into a class-action suit on behalf of 163 plaintiffs who had filed individual complaints about conditions inside the jails. Michael Martino, a spokesman for Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine, said in a statement that the lawsuit stemmed from the prior administration and had the potential to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. 4 Jail officials must address the pest problem, bring ventilation systems up to date and more. New York Post 'Through the excellent work of our county attorney's staff, we have drastically reduced the liability facing the county,' he said. Martino noted that Suffolk remains committed to improving its jail conditions and will pay roughly $5 million toward the settlement, with the remaining amount covered by various insurance policies.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- New York Post
Police chopper lands at Long Island high school as cops take over campus for career day
A Long Island high school was transformed into a scene straight out of a movie set Monday, complete with a makeshift police academy and dramatic chopper landing to mark First Responder Career Day. A Nassau County police helicopter theatrically touched down on Roosevelt High School's field as students crowded the landing zone — eagerly capturing the memorable moment on their phones. 'This has never happened before, we've never had a chopper land on our campus before,' said Dr. Shawn Wightman, the school district's superintendent. Advertisement 5 A Nassau County police helicopter theatrically lands on Roosevelt High School's field as students crowd the landing zone. Dennis A. Clark Cops quickly took over for the day. K-9 units joined the festivities, while mounted officers let kids pet their horses and answered questions about training and patrol work. 'It was a great opportunity for students to see what law enforcement and first responders do for a living and see … it as an option for a career,' Wightman said. Advertisement The event gave students a front-row seat to the criminal-justice field, with teens checking out everything from fingerprinting kits and emergency medical gear to forensic nursing tools. They were also introduced to the prospects of a career path beyond being a cop — including crime-scene analysts, probation officers, court officials and forensic nurses. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who stopped by the event, told The Post the goal was two-fold: To show kids there's a bright future in public safety, and to help bridge the gap between young people and law enforcement. 'They get to see the police in a different light,' Blakeman, a Republican, said. Advertisement 5 The event gave students a front-row seat to the criminal-justice field, with teens checking out everything from fingerprinting kits and emergency medical gear to forensic nursing tools. Dennis A. Clark 5 Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the goal was to show kids there's a bright future in public safety, and to help bridge the gap between young people and law enforcement. Dennis A. Clark The goal seemed to be reached — with many students admitting the experience opened their eyes to possible career paths and changed their perspective of police. 'It was really nice to get together as a community of students and see that there is safety in the community we live in,' student Gabriela Gamez said. Advertisement Another student, Takyia Wilder, said she was now intrigued to learn about the field of forensic nursing. 5 Many students admitted the experience opened their eyes to possible career paths and changed their perspective of police. Dennis A. Clark 5 Students were also introduced to careers beyond being a cop — including crime-scene analysts, probation officers, court officials and forensic nurses. Dennis A. Clark The event was part of a broader push to expose students in underserved communities to real-world careers and give them a chance to engage directly with professionals — walking away with a better sense of what's possible post-graduation. 'We questioned, 'Why don't we have more diverse law enforcement?' Blakeman said. 'It's probably because they don't know the opportunities that are available.'
