{"id":32051,"date":"2025-10-30T11:37:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=32051"},"modified":"2025-10-31T11:45:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T15:45:07","slug":"outabout-334","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=32051","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Amanda Moran, bartender at McCarthy\u2019s Pub<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am beginning my Out&About with some good news about what is happening in Long Island. The reason I am doing that is that I got a lot of mail to tell me I don\u2019t do enough for Long Island, so here we go with this great announcement that New York State announced more than $4 million in support of Long Island\u2019s aquaculture industry. The\u00a0New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball<\/strong> joined the Farm and Food Growth Fund<\/strong>, aquaculture and seafood industry representatives, and other partners to announce $4.2 million in support of Long Island\u2019s aquaculture industry. This includes the award of $1.2 million through the Long Island Aquaculture Infrastructure Grant program<\/strong> for the purchase of equipment for 17 small businesses. The Commissioner also highlighted the upcoming Round 2 of the program, which will make $3 million available for infrastructure upgrades, including construction, renovation, and installed fixtures. Funding for this program comes as part of the State\u2019s Blue<\/strong> Food Transformation initiative, first announced in Governor Hochul\u2019s<\/strong> 2024 State of the State proposal, which was created to reinvigorate New York\u2019s aquaculture and wild-caught seafood industries and strengthen local food systems.
The Long Island Aquaculture Infrastructure Grant Program will fund up to $4.2 million through two grant opportunities \u2013 Equipment-Only Grants and Infrastructure Grants \u2013 to bolster marine agriculture, promote a healthy natural environment, and provide New Yorkers with a nutritious source of locally grown seafood industry.\u00a0The North Shore Trail<\/strong>, which will run from Oyster Bay to Greenport, is under development and slated to launch in the coming months. The Seafood Processing Feasibility Study and a New York State Seafood Interagency Workgroup are also a part of the Blue Food Transformation initiative. My job is done now for Long Island, as also that is where I live. I wonder will I get an award for this, just kidding as it\u2019s all part of being Out&About with a bit of gossip as well for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just to tell you that there are a lot of farms and wineries out in Long Island as they have the best of everything that you might eat and drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in Manhattan on Wednesday and Thursday and I called into McCarthy\u2019s Pub<\/strong> just off Times Square on West 46th Street, to say hello to Amanda Moran<\/strong>, the bartender at McCarthy\u2019s who is very friendly and great at her job. Maybe pop in, have a pint and very good food plus a bit of gossip. Highly recommended!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Francis Beirne Division 9 AOH, NY County<\/strong> had a cocktail reception last Thursday evening at The Playwright Restaurant<\/strong> (202 West 49th Street, between 7th Avenue and Broadway) and yes, I was there also, ahh I love it when I\u2019m Out&About as I get to meet a lot of people that I don\u2019t get a chance to meet very often. What a great turn out there was for the 2025 honorees with John Samuelsen<\/strong> \u2013 International President Transport Workers Union, Past President of Local 100 TWU, Aide to GM 2025 NYC Saint Patrick\u2019s Day Parade, GM of 2022 Queens County Saint Patrick\u2019s Day Parade; Elizabeth Stack, PhD<\/strong> \u2013 Education Director at Celtic Junction, Previous Executive Director of American Irish Historical Society, & Irish American Heritage Museum, Albany; and Members of The Fort Worth Five<\/strong> (Matthias \u2018Matt\u2019 Reilly, Paschal Morahan, Ken Tierney (RIP), Thomas Laffey (RIP) and Daniel Crawford (RIP)). I would like to thank Thomas Beirne and Brian Stack for the invite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope to see you again next week when I am Out&About about again. <\/p>\n

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