Suffolk Country School Sports On Hold Due To Heat, and more

School sports in Suffolk County were on hold until at least 6 p.m. last night as the full heat alert remains in effect, according to Tom Combs, the executive director for Section XI, which governs Suffolk scholastic sports. Gregg Sarra reports on Newsday.com that Nassau schools were advised to follow the state's guidelines, which say that sports should be postponed if the heat index is 96 or higher. Suffolk's procedures require sports to be called off if the heat index is 95 or higher. Long Island’s Catholic League follows Suffolk's procedures. The heat index on Thursday was 96 at 10:53 a.m. at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, according to the National Weather Service. “We have excessive heat again, and we’re on a full heat alert until 6 p.m.,” Combs said yesterday. “We are allowing games and practices to be rescheduled to later in the evening. There is no physical activity in any sport permitted until after 6 p.m.” Combs said Suffolk postponed 117 contests on Wednesday. There were 198 total contests scheduled Thursday in soccer, field hockey, golf, swimming, tennis, volleyball, cross country, and football. “Our safety committee will continue to monitor the temperatures throughout the county,” Combs said. “We’re giving the athletic directors the go-ahead for tonight, but they can postpone.” That was Thursday. Both Nassau and Suffolk issued a full heat alert, postponing all indoor and outdoor activities on Wednesday, including games and practices for boys and girls athletics. Combs said that safety committee chairperson Tim Mullins, the director of athletics for Bayport-Blue Point Schools, monitors the temperature every two hours throughout the day starting at 6 a.m. “The heat index dictates the safety protocols,” Combs said. “The safety of the student-athletes, officials, coaches and our fans are the number one priority.”***If you noticed your premiums for auto and homeowner insurance jumped hundreds of dollars over the last couple years, you’re not alone. Michael Gormley reports on Newsday.com that in the last two years, auto insurance premiums increased in New York state at least 6% and homeowner insurance at least 10%, according to the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State. National surveys show annual rate increases are continuing this year compared with 2022, as auto insurance costs increased 18% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while homeowner insurance premiums rose 7.1%, according to S & P Global Market Intelligence business service. For both insurances, Long Islanders have long paid among the highest rates in the state because of high traffic volume as well as being vulnerable to coastal storms, analysts said. Consumer advocacy organization ValuePenguin, part of the LendingTree financial company, has some tips for consumers to deal with higher insurance rates: • Seek other companies to get better rates. ValuePenguin found 76% of Americans who shopped for better quotes saved money. • Seek discounts from companies by bundling auto, homeowner and life insurance coverage. • Keep a clean driving record to reduce auto insurance premiums. • Increase the deductible — the amount a policy holder would pay out of pocket for a claim — to reduce premiums, although that will mean paying more after a crash or home damage. A standard deductible for homeowner insurance in New York is $250. ***WLIW-FM and Southampton Arts Center present a night of original music on the lawn in the heart of Southampton village. Six songwriters will present short sets of their original repertoire at this free, outdoor, family-friendly event.