Good morning Commack! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Blessing Of The Animals and 10 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Starbucks closes 3 Long Island locations in Islip, Commack and Greenvale (greaterlongisland.com) — Commack residents who frequent Starbucks should know the store at 125 Crooked Hill Road has closed, along with locations in Greenvale and Islip, as part of a wider North American downsizing. The company says underperforming or ill‑suited stores are being shuttered, with affected employees offered transfers or severance where possible.
2. Boys Fall 2026 High School Rankings: 7 teams break into Top 25 in Week 5 (soccerwire.com) — Commack High School's boys soccer team is ranked No. 4 in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25, putting the Commack program in elite company this fall. Local fans can take pride as the team remains unbeaten and stands alongside powerhouse programs from New Jersey, Kentucky, and Illinois.
3. Campus News: College Honors; Entrepreneurship Grants (huntingtonnow.com) — Several Commack students are earning recognition this fall, from honors programs at the University at Buffalo and College of Charleston to joining a record-breaking freshman class at the University at Albany. Local residents may spot familiar Commack names among those excelling in competitive university honors and service programs across New York and beyond.
4. Island Empanada closes Rocky Point and Shirley stores as costs climb (greaterlongisland.com) — Island Empanada is still serving Commack diners even as the homegrown chain closes its Rocky Point and Shirley locations, citing rising costs and tighter customer budgets. Founder Roy Pelaez says competition and higher expenses forced the downsizing, but emphasizes the remaining stores in Commack, Merrick, Medford, and Ronkonkoma are performing well after selling more than six million empanadas overall.
5. Nor'easter floods coastal communities, leaves thousands without power (trihamletnews.com) — Commack saw some of the heaviest rain in Suffolk County during last weekend's nor'easter, with the National Weather Service reporting about 5.8 inches there. While coastal communities like Sayville, Bayport, and Fire Island faced flooding, erosion, and power outages, the storm's rainfall totals and wind gusts underscore the kind of severe weather Commack residents can expect in future coastal systems.
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Ok Commack! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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