Nearby: Students Seek Role in Education Reform

Some of the news from around Long Island this week.

Two Syosset students have joined in the quest to bring student representation to New York State education reform. Syosset High School student Nikhil Goyal and SHS alumnus and Board of Education member Joshua Lafazan have joined six others in formally requesting positions for three students on the New York Education Reform Commission.

Firefighters responded to a Nesconset house and car fire Wednesday evening after lightning struck the home, sending power lines into the vehicles at the home of Olympian Maria Michta.

Nassau County will once again participate in Island Harvest’s 2nd Annual Make a Splash Food Drive Challenge. 

All proceeds from the Make a Splash Food Drive Challenge will assist in Island Harvest’s Food Rescue Operations and will provide critical food support to a network of 570 food pantries, soup kitchens and other local programs that offer food assistance to 283,700 Long Islanders – including 110,000 children – who face hunger every day.

There's no need to flee South; you can buy a home on Long Island.

That was the word from lawmakers and some first-time home buyers at a press conference in Huntington Station on Monday to spread the news about a pool of $500,000 in United States Department of Housing and Urban Development funds available through the Suffolk County HOME Consortium.

The program offers $10,000 to qualified applicants toward the down payment on a Suffolk County home, condominium or cooperative apartment not exceeding $322,790 in value.

The is closing its doors for good on Aug. 12.

The restaurant, on the grounds of Republic Airport in East Farmingdale, has operated for 28 years. A restaurant employee told Patch on Thursday that the restaurant hadn't been able to reach an agreement on renewing its lease.

The terminal of Long Island MacArthur Airport was packed with people on Tuesday night.

They weren't flying anywhere, but instead were on hand for a public workshop about the future of the Ronkonkoma airport.

In an unusual move Islip Town officials decided, with the blessing of the Federal Aviation Administration, to seek public input at the beginning stages of developing a long-term master plan.

Town Supervisor Tom Croci, in his first year in office, called the move a "proactive step" to allow residents as much say as possible in how the airport develops in the future.

Audience members are needed at the Paramount theater for a taping of reality TV show "The Next" featuring Gloria Estefan, John Rich, Nelly and Joe Jonas on July 25.

A seasonal peak evening train from Hunterspoint to Montauk is among a series of "service investments" announced by the Long Island Rail Road Thursday.

Beginning in May 2013, the LIRR plans to restore a 4:30 p.m. train due in Montauk at 7:35 p.m. five days a week, connecting Queens to the South Fork. The service was reduced to Fridays-only in September 2010, as part of a number of controversial cuts in East End service that came down the pike around the same time the was imposed.

Audience members will be by application and on first-come, first serve basis on the day of taping, according to Paramount officials. To apply, go online to Gotham Casting.