Newsmakers of the year: Back to some sort of normal

More than any other year in the last decade, 2022 was a year of recovery and rebound, as Long Island businesses sought to finally put the COVID-19 pandemic in the rear-view mirror. But the road back to normalcy proved to have many bumps along the way, not the least being spiking inflation and continued hiring challenges.

Still, 2022 had plenty of highlights. On the legal front, some local law firms grew through acquisitions and mergers, expanding their practices. There was similar growth for accounting and advisory firms, as several expanded their staff and client rosters.

The transition to clean energy was boosted with advances in offshore wind projects and the establishment of a vocational training center to supply a workforce for the budding industry.

Commercial real estate experienced a continued boom in its industrial sector, with several new ground-up developments to keep pace with the demand from e-commerce. Big deals abounded on the retail side, showing confidence in the area’s economy.

For residential real estate, 2022 was a time of change, as rising mortgage rates and a dearth of inventory slowed sales that had boomed the previous year.

As always, the Long Island business community proved resilient in the face of adversity, coming through another year with grit, determination and hope for a brighter future. Here is how LIBN’s Adina Genn and David Winzelberg reported it:

Bruce Blakeman sworn in as Nassau County executive

Jan. 4

Republican Bruce Blakeman was sworn in Monday inside the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City as the new Nassau County executive.

Long Island office complex sells for $212M

Jan. 4

A New Jersey-based real estate investment firm has purchased the two-building Jericho Plaza office complex for $212 million.

Mark Lesko joins Greenberg Traurig as firm opens 2 LI offices

Jan. 19

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, which boasts $2 billion in revenue for 2021, is expanding onto Long Island. The firm is opening two offices, with Mark Lesko, the former acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, joining the firm.

LI firm sells four shopping centers for $130M

Jan. 11

Serota Properties has sold four of its Long Island shopping centers to a publicly traded real estate investment trust for $130 million.

NYS to give $70M to reverse ‘childcare deserts’

Jan. 28

New York State is providing $70 million to help reverse the what’s called “childcare deserts,” where there are few options for children under 5.

Supply slide

Jan. 21

As the overall economy grapples with pandemic-driven supply-chain shortages that have fueled inflation, the Long Island housing market is struggling with a very similar situation.

Sini joins Nixon Peabody

Feb. 1

Tim Sini, the former Suffolk County district attorney, has joined Nixon Peabody, a global law firm based in Jericho. Sini is a partner at the firm’s litigation department and its government investigations and white-collar defense practice.

Sahn Ward merges with Weinstein Kaplan & Cohen

Feb. 1

Sahn Ward – the law firm headquartered in Uniondale, with offices in Hauppauge and New York City – has merged with Weinstein Kaplan & Cohen, a law firm in Garden City.

Local officials oppose Hochul’s accessory apartments plan

Feb. 3

A proposal from Gov. Kathy Hochul that would require municipalities to allow more accessory apartments is being opposed by a group of several Long Island elected officials.

Catholic Health is now Tilles Center’s exclusive presenting sponsor

Feb. 3

Catholic Health is now the exclusive presenting sponsor of Tilles Center, the concert venue and theater at LIU Post in Brookville.

Estée Lauder, Farmingdale State partner

Feb. 10

The Estée Lauder Companies is becoming the anchor tenant at Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, located at Farmingdale State College campus.  The move is part of a strategic partnership between the global cosmetics firm and the college.

BNL embarks on first project in its planned Discovery Park

Feb. 9

Brookhaven National Laboratory has awarded a $61.8 million contract to Plainview-based E.W. Howell to build the first project of the lab’s planned Discovery Park complex.

Construction begins on South Fork Wind project

Feb. 11

Federal, state and local officials announced the start of construction of the South Fork Wind project at a press event in Wainscott Friday.d is expected to be operational in late 2023.

Touro College is now Touro University

Feb. 23

Touro College in New York is now Touro University.

The status was granted by the New York Board of Regents as Touro celebrates its 50th anniversary and marks the institution’s advanced academic standing.

New owners planning redevelopment of Sunrise Mall

Feb. 22

The leases of tenants at the Sunrise Mall in Massapequa will not be renewed, as the owners of the sprawling retail complex plan for its future redevelopment.

Solidarity with Ukraine

March 11

Just hours after Vladimir Putin’s Russia began shelling a nuclear power plant in Kyiv, Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, stood inside one of the health system’s distribution centers in Bethpage.

Long Island’s industrial revolution

March 4

The biggest construction boom in a generation aims to add millions of square feet of warehouse and distribution facilities on Long Island.

Ex-Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife sentenced

April 14

Former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, federal officials said Thursday. His wife Linda Mangano was sentenced to 15 months.

Northwell, Aegis Ventures forms first company

April 15

Aiming to solve healthcare’s biggest challenges, Northwell Health and its joint-venture partner Aegis Ventures have announced its first company, Ascertain.

Wegmans plans its first Long Island supermarket

April 25

Rochester-based Wegmans Food Markets has announced it plans to open its first Long Island supermarket.

LI law firm to join Bond, Schoeneck & King

May 3

A Long Island-based law firm is joining Bond, Schoeneck & King, a full-service law firm with offices in Garden City, and throughout New York State and elsewhere in the United States.

Denver firm buying Northrop Grumman site in Bethpage for $51.2M

April 27

Prologis, a Denver-based developer of logistics facilities, is in contract to buy property owned by Northrop Grumman for $51.2 million.

Kosher discounter Bingo Wholesale plans first Long Island store

May 10

Bingo Wholesale, a bulk supermarket concept that’s been called the Kosher Costco, is coming to Long Island.

Marcum, Friedman plan merger

June 23

Two accounting and advisory firms with a Long Island presence have announced plans to merge.

LIA launches Small Business Support Program

June 16

The Long Island Association, the region’s largest business group, has launched its Small Business Support Program.

Distressed Sun Vet Mall heads for redevelopment with new leaseholder

July 6

The mostly vacant Sun Vet Mall in Holbrook now has a new developer.

EisnerAmper to expand

June 20

EisnerAmper, an accounting and advisory firm with an office in Syosset, announced that partners and staff from Raich Ende Malter, with an office in Melville, will be joining the firm.

NYS, Northrop Grumman reach agreement on plume cleanup

July 14

New York State and Northrop Grumman have reached an agreement that requires the firm to contain and clean up contaminated property in Bethpage.

Vitamin maker sells sprawling Ronkonkoma complex

Aug. 18

The Bountiful Company, the Long Island-based vitamin and supplements firm formerly known as Nature’s Bounty, has sold its former Ronkonkoma headquarters.

JP Morgan Chase invests $850K in Ascend Long Island

Aug. 1

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon was in Huntington today.

Dimon joined Long Island leaders to announce JP Morgan Chase’s $850,000 investment in Ascend Long Island – which is administered through various entities at Hofstra University and BOC Capital – and supports the economic development of underserved communities in the region.

Long Island to get 20 of the first cannabis retail licenses

Aug. 24

The state’s Office of Cannabis Management will approve a maximum of 150 conditional licenses for adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries statewide, including as many as 20 for Long Island operators.

Law firm adds former NYS special assistant AG for Medicaid fraud

Sept. 30

A law firm with offices across the state has added a former New York State special assistant attorney general in Medicaid fraud.

Nassau comptroller to start audit of N. Hempstead building department

August 17

The Nassau County comptroller is set to begin an audit of the North Hempstead building department.

Wantagh Starbucks becomes chain’s fourth on LI to join union

Sept. 7

Employees at a Starbucks store in Wantagh have voted to join the growing Starbucks Workers United.

The 20 to 7 vote on Wednesday resulted in the Starbucks store in the Willow Woods Shoppes at 1143 Wantagh Ave. becoming the chain’s fourth unionized location on Long Island, joining stores in Massapequa, Westbury and Farmingville.

Hempstead pharmacy scores $35M NYS contract

September 9

A Hempstead-based pharmacy has scored a reported $35 million New York State contract to provide pharmacy services to government agencies across the state.

Last 30 days saw a spate of cyberattacks: Schumer

Oct. 3

September saw a spade of cyberattacks, including the one that hit Suffolk County, and federal officials must do more to protect consumers, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said Sunday.

Suffolk cyberattack wreaking havoc on real estate deals

Sept. 29

The recent cyberattack that crippled much of Suffolk County’s digital infrastructure is wreaking havoc throughout the Long Island real estate industry.

Rev. Calvin Butts, III, former SUNY Old Westbury president, dies at 73

Oct. 28

Calvin O. Butts, III, the president emeritus of the State University at Old Westbury and civil rights leader, died Friday.  He was 73.

NYCB completes acquisition of Flagstar Bancorp

Dec. 7

Hicksville-based New York Community Bancorp has completed its acquisition of Flagstar Bancorp.

The acquisition of Flagstar, headquartered in Troy, Mich., creates a regional banking company that ranks among the top 25 banks in the country in total assets, according to a company statement.

Law firm launches political law practice

Nov. 18

On Long Island, a law firm has launched a political law practice.

Partners at the Harris Beach Long Island office say the firm’s new practice has a focus on election law, campaign finance and lobbying compliance.

LI developer to buy sprawling Hicksville Sears site

Sept. 30

After walking away from a planned $200 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Sears property in Hicksville, Seritage Growth Properties is selling the site.

Certilman Balin names new managing partner

Dec. 7

Changes are afoot at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman.

After 34 years, Bernard Hyman will be stepping down from his role as managing partner, while continuing to serve on the firm’s executive committee and concentrate on his tax certiorari clients.

LI construction icon Jack Kulka dies at 79

Sept. 30

Jack Kulka, the outspoken Long Island construction industry leader and founding member of the Hauppauge Industrial Association, has died at the age of 79.

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek adds attorneys from Levy, Stopol & Camelo

Dec. 13

Uniondale-based Ruskin Moscou Faltischek is welcoming three attorneys from Levy, Stopol & Camelo, the law firm that is also based in Uniondale.

Kimco closes $375.8M acquisition of Long Island retail portfolio

Nov. 10

Kimco Realty has closed its $375.8 million purchase of a Long Island retail portfolio from Woodbury-based Kabro Associates.