TODAY'S PAPER
45° Good Morning
45° Good Morning

Faces of Westbury Village

Take a walk down Post Avenue in Westbury Village, and it’s easy to see why the area is known as a hotspot for millennials. In the past, Money Magazine named Westbury Village one of the best places for young singles to live, and The New York Times has listed the village among several areas on Long Island that are ideal for 20- and 30-somethings looking to strike out on their own. The downtown area is also in the midst of a $10 million development project, as town officials look to create a more commerce-friendly area for residents and visitors.

Westbury Village is a snapshot of what demographers say the United States will increasingly look like over the next several decades. Its 15,146 residents, according to the 2010 census, is 43.8 percent Caucasian (non-Hispanic) and 27.2 percent Hispanic or Latino, with Black or African-American residents totaling 20.6 percent of the population. Five percent of residents identify as Asian.

Westbury Village is also made up of roughly 28 percent millennials, according to the census. This denotes people born between 1982-2004.

Scroll down to hear from six Westbury millennials who think the area is unique on Long Island and believe in the importance of cultural diversity in their hometown.


Robert Miller, M.D., 30

Robert Miller is a lifelong Westbury resident and was recently hired as a doctor of internal medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital, his alma mater. He attended Westbury High School and currently lives near Park Avenue Elementary School.

How do you see Westbury Village changing in the next 10 years?

“I can see it changing in a few different ways, but probably the most important is you will start to see a lot more millennials with their new families. I think that initially Westbury Village was a place where you had a lot more immigrants… But you’ll start to see a switch in terms of their children starting to take up residence here.”

What does diversity in Westbury Village mean to you?

“Diversity for me is not just the people who live somewhere, but diversity of thought. If you live around people who all think the same like you, you’re not really diverse. You may have diversity in how you look, but you also need diversity in thinking and activities. That’s what makes a community unique.”


Azhar Bhatt, 32

Azhar Bhatt has lived in Westbury Village for six years. He was born in India and went to school in Saudi Arabia before coming to America 15 years ago. He currently manages IT development for Prepaid Ventures in New Hyde Park and received his master’s degree from NYIT. Bhatt lives near Brush Hollow Road with his wife and three daughters.

What don’t people know about Westbury Village?

“I was very skeptical [of the public schools] but I did go and meet the principal. She said to me, ‘How will schools get better if people don’t put their kids in and get involved and don’t check the system out?” My daughter is now going to Westbury public school and it’s been really great. The STEM program is amazing and their resources are much greater than the private school [where she was attending]. They respect diversity and there is good focus. She was an average student [in private school] and now she is one of the top students in the public school.”

Do you plan to stay in Westbury Village? Why or why not?

“What really made me realize that this is where I want to stay is the mosque. There was a letter that came about a hearing and it was about the mosque expansion… There was a lot of opposition to it because they were trying to take down two houses and build a parking lot. (The mosque expansion was later approved.) But in general … The Islamophobia and all that was missing and it was refreshing. It’s reflective of a good community.”


Gabrielle Rodrigo, 21

Gabrielle Rodrigo moved to Westbury from Brooklyn when she was in the second grade, and currently lives with her family near Post Avenue. She attended Westbury High School and is pursuing her graduate degree at NYU in industrial organizational psychology.

What don’t people know about Westbury Village?

“The schools have gotten such bad publicity for one reason or another and that’s a big misconception. I did really well there, and they offered me a lot of opportunities. It’s because of Westbury High School that I was able to graduate [from] Stony Brook University a year early. There is obviously a lot that does need to be fixed …but people don’t necessarily see all the good parts within the school.”

Do you plan to stay in Westbury Village? Why or why not?

“I would like to stay here. If I did have kids, I think this is a nice place to raise them. There’s been a lot of changes within the community and the people on the board of education… and I think it’s moving in a positive direction.”


Danielle McDougall, 20

Danielle McDougall, a Westbury High School graduate, has lived in Westbury Village her entire life and studies english literature at Adelphi University. McDougall lives in the Westbury Hills section of the village.

How do you see Westbury Village changing in the next 10 years?

“Westbury is becoming more of a stop for people who can’t afford to live in the city but don’t want to move out to the more rural parts of Long Island. It’s becoming more urban and it seems like more people want to move out here for that purpose.”

What does diversity mean to you?

“Diversity does not just evoke an image of a group of people whose identities differ by race, religion or sexual identity. Diversity becomes more powerful when it is linked with inclusivity, referring to efforts put in place to ensure that all the people within a community are on a level playing field.”


Liz Asta, 33

Liz Asta is a librarian at the Westbury Children’s Library, and moved to Westbury Village in 2013 from Forest Hills, Queens when she was hired. Asta, who is originally from Farmingdale, lives near Post Avenue.

What don’t people know about Westbury Village and the surrounding area?

“The history of the town is what I find really special. We employ an archivist [at the library] and going through the history of the library includes reports from the original librarian who worked here. She talked about the community at large, and it’s always been a diverse place.”

Do you notice a lot of diversity in Westbury?

“Yes, very much so. Especially with my job, the whole community comes here. I think it improves the town, to have people from so many different places.”


Gabriela Ventura, 19

Gabriela Ventura and her family moved to New Cassel, which borders Westbury Village, when she was a child, after her parents emigrated to the United States from El Salvador. She graduated from Westbury High School in 2015 and is studying law at American University in Washington, D.C.

What don’t people know about Westbury Village?

“We don’t necessarily [have] the most well-funded schools. People tend to think we are not either graduating at the same rate as other schools or achieving the same things as other schools. But a lot of times we are excelling. A lot of people don’t realize how much is happening in Westbury in terms of education.”

What makes Westbury Village unique?

“I think that there’s definitely a focus on education and a focus on each individual culture and trying to see what that can bring to the table. I think it truly values the idea that ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’”


The History of Westbury

The area now known as Westbury Village was purchased from the Algonquian tribe of the Massapequa Indians in 1657, and soon after several Quaker families settled there, according to the village’s website.

In 1776, the Quakers freed their slaves, who subsequently established homesteads of their own and called the farming community Grantsville, according to Newsday’s “Home Town Long Island.” Grantsville was also one of the first communities on Long Island and in New York State consisting of freed black slaves. Westbury further diversified after the Revolutionary War, when German mercenaries who had been stationed in Nassau settled in the area and established New Cassel.

In 1840, following the construction of an LIRR station, Irish, Italian, German and Polish immigrants came to Westbury for work in the farms and fields. African-American families began settling in Westbury after the area became a popular stop on the Underground Railroad, as northerners sought to bring freed slaves to Canada. The area has also played host to Long Island’s elite, beginning in the early 20th century with the building of Gold Coast mansions in Old Westbury and the construction of Roosevelt Raceway, a popular destination for harness racing. Westbury was incorporated as a village in 1932, and many Caribbean and Latin American families began moving to the area beginning in the 1960s.

Source: Westbury Village Government History page


Snapshot of Westbury Village

The average household income between 2012 and 2016 was $115,831, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Old Westbury, meanwhile, has an average household income of $333,302, with New Cassel’s average income at $93,708.

The Westbury Union Free School District had 1,349 students enrolled during the 2014-15 school year, with minority enrollment totaling 98 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Of those students, 83 percent were deemed to be economically disadvantaged. Westbury High School currently has an 81 percent graduation rate, which is slightly higher than the statewide average of 79.4 percent, according to the New York State Education Department. Schools with similar minority enrollment include Roosevelt High School and Wyandanch High School, which have graduation rates of 76 percent and 65 percent, respectively.


2017 in review

We started the year swearing in a new president and ended it with major shifts in both the U.S. tax system and local politics. Violence by members of the MS-13 gang left Long Island families brokenhearted while the nation suffered its deadliest mass shooting in modern history. Billy Joel welcomed concertgoers to the revamped Nassau Coliseum and we said goodbye to celebrities like Tom Petty. Explore the memorable moments of 2017 here.

Long Island's top 25 stories

Top news stories

Long Island's top 25 stories

Historic political elections and political corruption charges. The opening of a casino and the grand reopening of the Nassau Coliseum. Those were just some of the local stories that defined 2017.

Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Top LI pictures of 2017

Photos for posterity

Top LI pictures of 2017

Friends and family say goodbye to loved ones lost to violence. A set of triplets undergo a historic surgery to correct a rare skull condition. See the stunning and emotional images taken on LI this year.

Steve Pfost

Relive 2017 in under 7 minutes

Video Year in Review

Relive 2017 in under 7 minutes

Watch the memorable moments and stories Newsday captured on video this year.

Newsday's notable covers of 2017

Front and center

Newsday's notable covers of 2017

See a collection of the most notable Newsday covers of the year.

How Newsday covered 2017

Special edition

How Newsday covered 2017

See some of the biggest local, national and international stories of the year.

Newsday

Stories that were 'so Long Island'

Local flavor

Stories that were 'so Long Island'

From a fake road sign telling drivers to speed up to a traveler's viral response to an empty LIRR car, these stories will have you shaking your head and muttering, 'That's so Long Island.'

Facebook / Lenny Sinacore

LI kids who found fame in 2017

Local prodigies

LI kids who found fame in 2017

2017 was a good year to get 15 minutes of fame for these select local kids, including a young voice actor.

Nickelodeon

Women who left a mark

Making headlines

Women who left a mark

These Long Island women and girls made an impact in 2017, including a young author and a groundbreaking athlete.

Newsday / Kimberly Yuen

Everything the board wrote in 2017

Editorials

Everything the board wrote in 2017

This year, the editorial board wrote more than 400 editorials – taking positions on the news, politics and policies that impact Long Islanders.

AP

Top photos around the U.S. and globe

Home and abroad

Top photos around the U.S. and globe

Memorable images from President Trump's inauguration, the Manchester Arena attack, the #MeToo movement and more.

Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Trends, breakouts and more

Best and worst in entertainment

Trends, breakouts and more

See what our critics have to say about surprises and disappointments that made up the year in pop culture.

Invision / Scott Roth

Long Island

Long Islanders we lost in 2017

Notable deaths

Long Islanders we lost in 2017

The matriarch of a Long Island political family, a budding music star and a professor who battled brain cancer are among the Long Islanders we lost this year.

Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara

Long Islanders who made us proud

Making us proud

Long Islanders who made us proud

Read about the students who helped bring a boy to the United States to receive lifesaving heart surgery and more tales of acts of kindness and amazing feats Long Islanders performed.

Newsday / Alejandra Villa

Sports

2017 notable sports deaths

Passing on

2017 notable sports deaths

We said goodbye to athletes, coaches and personalities.

AP / Chris O'Meara

Top sports photos of 2017

Picks of pics

Top sports photos of 2017

There are plenty of good photos taken each year at sporting events. Here are 37 we found particularly memorable.

AP / Paul Chiasson

Food

Top 100 restaurants

Best places to eat

Top 100 restaurants

Newsday's fifth annual list of Long Island restaurants covers seafood, steakhouses and everything in between.

Daniel Brennan

Biggest Long Island restaurant closures

Most notable closings

Biggest Long Island restaurant closures

This year’s closings included a bar featuring live music and Beatles memorabilia and a landmark waterfront restaurant that went on the market for $975,000.

Newsday / Erica Marcus

Best restaurants for cheap eats

Bargain bites

Best restaurants for cheap eats

2017 proved another good year for diners looking for good food at decent prices.

Daniel Brennan

Best restaurants for fine dining on LI

Winning meals

Best restaurants for fine dining on LI

From the Five Towns out to the North Fork, fine dining proved exceptionally fine in 2017.

Yvonne Albinowski

The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive

Destination pies

The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive

This year, the list welcomes three new pizzerias, all of which make pies in the classic Neapolitan tradition.

Yvonne Albinowski

Entertainment

Top 30 albums of 2017, ranked

Best music

Top 30 albums of 2017, ranked

Tumultuous times yield great art. And 2017 proved the rule.

Lava / Republic Records

20 of the best TV shows this year

Best TV shows

20 of the best TV shows this year

Critic Verne Gay ranks television's offerings in 2017 from 20 to No. 1.

HBO

'Baby Driver' to 'Wonder Woman'

Best movies

'Baby Driver' to 'Wonder Woman'

The most memorable movies of 2017 were often the smallest and most personal.

TriStar Pictures / Wilson Webb

Stars who died in 2017

Celebrity deaths

Stars who died in 2017

Remembering the actors, leaders and icons we bid adieu, from Mary Tyler Moore to Chuck Berry.

Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla

They broke up in 2017

Celeb splits

They broke up in 2017

From Chris Pratt and Anna Faris' split, to Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill's breakup.

Getty Images for Maxim / Michael Buckner

Lifestyle

'Manhattan Beach,' 'Grant' and more

Best books

'Manhattan Beach,' 'Grant' and more

Five nonfiction and five fiction books that entertained, educated, surprised, moved or astonished us.

Scribner

Books that deserved more buzz

Overlooked gems

Books that deserved more buzz

Some books go viral, with good reviews, word of mouth and social media making them bestsellers. Other books — truly wonderful books — never get the buzz or the universal acclaim they deserve.

Little, Brown

The best cookbooks of 2017

Cookbooks galore

The best cookbooks of 2017

A great cookbook can keep you happily chained to your kitchen, or transport you to another place and time.

Laura Dart and A.J. Meeker

John Barres: Long Island’s new bishop

Pope Francis named Bishop John Barres to be the new leader of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, replacing Bishop William Murphy. Barres, who headed the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania since 2009, was installed on Jan. 31, 2017, as the fifth bishop of the diocese since it was created in 1957. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind experience for Barres, visiting parishes, schools and community groups, while also confronting issues facing the Catholic church and the larger community.

Hitting the ground running

100 days

Hitting the ground running

Barres said he is still getting to know the sprawling diocese but has established several priorities. He says he has made a quick transition to Rockville Centre from his previous post as bishop of Allentown, Pa.,
and already feels at home.

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

The road less traveled

Profile

The road less traveled

Barres took an unusual path to becoming one of the youngest bishops in the United States when he was appointed in 2009.

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

'New and creative approaches'

Beginning of an era

'New and creative approaches'

Hundreds witnessed Barres’ installation at St. Agnes Cathedral as the bishop called for fresh ideas about ministry and evangelization.

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

Barres through the years

Then and now

Barres through the years

A look at Barres from his childhood in Larchmont, New York, to his college days at Princeton (he's on the left) to his previous post as leader of the Diocese of Allentown.

courtesy of Bishop John Barres

An appeal to youth

First sermon

An appeal to youth

The night before becoming the diocese’s new bishop, Barres spoke at his first prayer service on Long Island, asking the youth in attendance to be 'on fire with the word of God.'

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

See readers' messages for the new bishop

Where he should focus

See readers' messages for the new bishop

What are your hopes for Barres and what he addresses in the diocese? Read others' notes and submit your own.

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

Barres' 5 goals as bishop

Here's the plan

Barres' 5 goals as bishop

Barres outlines what he hopes to achieve as the new bishop, including strengthening Catholic schools and preserving religious freedom.

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

Embarking on a new journey

Allentown to LI

Embarking on a new journey

See photos of Barres in his posts as bishop in Pennsylvania and on Long Island.

Newsday/Alejandra Villa

How it all began

Lighting the spark

How it all began

Barres recalls the moment he decided to become a priest, as well as what he's looking forward to as the new leader of the diocese.

Newsday/Alejandra Villa

Get to know the new bishop

Tell us about yourself

Get to know the new bishop

From basketball to the Catholic Church, Barres may become known as the 'point guard bishop.'

Newsday/John Paraskevas

Barres gets the good news

Receiving the call

Barres gets the good news

Barres recalls when he found out that he was chosen to lead the diocese, calling it 'a beautiful moment.'

Newsday/John Paraskevas

Pope Francis names new bishop to replace Murphy

Welcome to Long Island

Pope Francis names new bishop to replace Murphy

Barres was introduced as Murphy's replacement in a press conference on Dec. 9, 2016.

Newsday/John Paraskevas

Parishoners have high hopes

Eager to meet him

Parishoners have high hopes

Catholics in Rockville Centre expressed optimism as they prepare for Barres, believing he will energize the diocese.

Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

2016 in review

Donald Trump upset Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. Top politicians in Nassau were charged with political corruption, and key officials in Suffolk were convicted of other crimes. A local pizza delivery man shot to fame on “America’s Got Talent,” while we mourned the deaths of iconic entertainers including Carrie Fisher, David Bowie and Prince. 2016 has been a dramatic year. Here’s some of what we’ll remember.

Long Island's top 25 stories

Top news stories

Long Island's top 25 stories

Political corruption charges that shook a county and a political debate that drew the eyes of the nation. Those were just some of the local stories that defined 2016.

James Carbone

Disappointments, debuts, farewells

Best and worst in entertainment

Disappointments, debuts, farewells

See what our critics have to say about trends, surprises, breakouts and letdowns that made up the year in pop culture.

Netflix / Curtis Baker

Relive 2016 in under 6 minutes

Video Year in Review

Relive 2016 in under 6 minutes

See the memorable moments and stories Newsday captured on video this year.

Top LI pictures of 2016

Photos for posterity

Top LI pictures of 2016

A father and daughter embrace after surviving a plane crash. A whale becomes stranded in Moriches Bay. See the stunning and emotional images taken on LI this year.

Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Matt Davies' cartoons of the year

Memorable takes

Matt Davies' cartoons of the year

The cartoonist says choosing this collection is a challenge.

Matt Davies

Newsday's notable covers of 2016

Front and center

Newsday's notable covers of 2016

See a collection of the most notable Newsday covers of the year, chosen by the editors, from January through December.

Top photos around the U.S. and globe

Home and abroad

Top photos around the U.S. and globe

Memorable images from the Dallas police shootings, the conflict in Syria, the presidential election, the World Series and more.

AP / Carolyn Kaster

Stories that were 'so Long Island'

Local flavor

Stories that were 'so Long Island'

From a surprise Billy Joel performance to a Dunkin' Donuts wedding, these stories will have you shaking your head and muttering, 'That's so Long Island.'

Newsday / John Paraskevas

LI kids who found fame in 2016

Jeopardy! Teen Tournament

LI kids who found fame in 2016

2016 was a good year to get 15 minutes of fame for these select few local kids, including a young quiz show contestant.

Jeopardy Productions Inc.

Long Island

50 Long Islanders we lost in 2016

Notable deaths

50 Long Islanders we lost in 2016

A member of 'The God Squad,' a police sergeant killed in a shootout, and a school principal who battled cancer are among the Long Islanders we lost this year.

Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara

Long Islanders who made us proud

Making us proud

Long Islanders who made us proud

Read about a trio who rescued a father and his two children from their sinking boat and more tales of amazing feats and acts of kindness Long Islanders performed.

Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara

LI celebs who made news in 2016

Famous LIers

LI celebs who made news in 2016

This year has been momentous for everyone, including some of Long Island’s favorite sons and daughters.

Invision / Jordan Strauss

Sports

That’s so 2016, the sports edition

Bizarre, unique stories

That’s so 2016, the sports edition

The year 2016 has been unlike any other.

EPA / Patrick B. Kraemer

Top sports photos of 2016

Picks of pics

Top sports photos of 2016

There are plenty of good photos taken each year at sporting events. Here are 46 we found particularly enjoyable.

TNS / Brian Cassella

2016 notable sports deaths

Passing on

2016 notable sports deaths

We said goodbye to athletes, coaches and personalities.

Getty Images / Ronald Martinez

Food

Best restaurants for cheap eats

Bargain bites

Best restaurants for cheap eats

It's been a banner year for cheap eats restaurants, with openings from Long Beach to Montauk inspired by cuisine from around the globe.

Daniel Brennan

Best restaurants for fine dining on LI

Winning meals

Best restaurants for fine dining on LI

Bay Shore was the big winner in 2016’s fine-dining sweepstakes.

Daniel Brennan

Biggest Long Island restaurant closures

Most notable closings

Biggest Long Island restaurant closures

This year’s closings included a pizza joint that was home to a 34-inch pie and a P.J. Clarke's spin-off that lasted barely a year.

Aaron Zebrook

The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive

Destination pies

The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive

This year, the list welcomes three new pizzerias, all of which make pies in the classic Neapolitan tradition.

Ryan C. Jones

The best cookbooks of 2016

Cookbooks galore

The best cookbooks of 2016

A great cookbook can keep you happily chained to your kitchen, or transport you to another place and time.

Newsday / Rebecca Cooney

Entertainment

Top 50 albums of 2016, ranked

Best music

Top 50 albums of 2016, ranked

It was the Year of the Surprise as Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, Frank Ocean all rolled out new albums with little to no notice.

Sony

26 of the best TV shows this year

Best TV shows

26 of the best TV shows this year

Critic Verne Gay ranks television's offerings in 2016 from 26 to No. 1, including a tie.

NBC/Justin Lubin

'Manchester by the Sea,' 'Allied' and more

Best movies

'Manchester by the Sea,' 'Allied' and more

See the movies critic Rafer Guzman is dubbing the year's greatest.

Amazon Studios and Roadside Attr/Claire Folger

They broke up in 2016

Celeb splits

They broke up in 2016

From Brangelina's split after 12 years together, to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's breakup after a little more than a year of marriage.

AP

Stars who died in 2016

Celebrity deaths

Stars who died in 2016

Remembering the actors, leaders and icons we bid adieu, from Prince to Gene Wilder.

Getty Images / Vince Bucci

Newsday documentaries

The culture of speed on Long Island

Speed Racer

The culture of speed on Long Island

Some practice the sport of drag racing legally, but there exists a sub-culture of racers who do not. The consequences of those illegal street races have, at times, led to tragedy.

Fighter, activist, icon

Muhammad Ali

Fighter, activist, icon

From his outspoken demeanor around boxing to his political views, from his converting to Islam to his refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali is a transcendent cultural figure.

Business

Top companies to work for

Prized employers

Top companies to work for

The 25 best companies to work for are made up of a wide array of U.S. companies, including Airbnb, Facebook, Google and In-N-Out Burger.

Glassdoor

Worst jobs to have in 2016

The job market

Worst jobs to have in 2016

The list of the 10 worst jobs includes newspaper reporter, logger and taxi driver.

AP / Amy Sancetta

Mobile games you must play

It's a mobile world

Mobile games you must play

Our list of the best mobile games on the Google Play and Apple App Store right now.

Niantic

Lifestyle

'The Underground Railroad,' 'Swing Time' and more

Best books

'The Underground Railroad,' 'Swing Time' and more

2016 saw an embarrassment of riches on the literary front, in both fiction and nonfiction.

Doubleday

Best children's books

For the kids

Best children's books

The 10 best children's books of 2016 sure to engage any young reader.

Amazon

2015 in review

Billy Joel closed down the Nassau Coliseum, while a horse for the ages captured the first Triple Crown in decades at Belmont Park. Two of the state’s top political leaders, including Long Island’s Dean Skelos, were convicted and lost their seats. And a 91-year-old high school graduate made us proud. 2015 has been a nonstop year. Here’s what we’ll remember.

Long Island's top 10 stories

Top news stories

Long Island's top 10 stories

Former Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam were convicted of bribery, extortion and conspiracy in a decisive verdict. See that and nine more top LI stories of the year.

Anthony Lanzilote

Disappointments, debuts, farewells

Best and worst in entertainment

Disappointments, debuts, farewells

Our movie, TV, music, theater and book critics on the major moments, big debuts, worst flops and notable farewells of 2015.

AMC

See the year in just 4 minutes

Video Year in Review

See the year in just 4 minutes

From American Pharoah's Triple Crown win to the popemobile in NYC to the closing of the Nassau Coliseum, see the memorable moments and stories Newsday captured on video this year.

Top LI pictures of 2015

Photos for posterity

Top LI pictures of 2015

What's this acrobatic display? A Long Islander practicing his tricking and parkour skills in summer at Robert Moses State Park.

Newsday / Alejandra Villa

Matt Davies' cartoons of the year

Memorable takes

Matt Davies' cartoons of the year

The cartoonist says choosing this collection is a challenge.

Matt Davies

Newsday's notable covers of 2015

Front and center

Newsday's notable covers of 2015

See a collection of the most notable Newsday covers of the year, chosen by the editors, from January through December.

Top photos around the U.S. and globe

Home and abroad

Top photos around the U.S. and globe

From the Rocky Fire in California to a Chilean volcano's eruption to a New York fugitive's capture.

AP / Josh Edelson

New York City's 2015 highs, and lows

Top NYC photos

New York City's 2015 highs, and lows

One high: Pope Francis riding the popemobile through Central Park on Sept. 25, 2015.

Howard Schnapp

LI kids who found fame in 2015

'MasterChef Junior'

LI kids who found fame in 2015

2015 was a good year to get 15 minutes of fame for these select few local kids, including a young cook.

FOX / Greg Gayne

Long Island

50 Long Islanders we lost in 2015

Notable deaths

50 Long Islanders we lost in 2015

From a police officer, to a veteran actor, to a Hall of Fame hockey coach, Newsday remembers some of those whom we lost this year.

News 12; NYPD; Joseph D. Sullivan

Long Islanders who made us proud

Making us proud

Long Islanders who made us proud

From a World Series starter to a Medal of Valor recipient, there were plenty of Long Islanders who did amazing things in 2015.

Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara

LI murder and homicide victims

In memoriam

LI murder and homicide victims

These people were killed in Nassau and Suffolk counties this year, in chronological order from January through December.

Family; Facebook; Instagram

Sports

Sports firsts in 2015

New standards

Sports firsts in 2015

The defending champion Golden State Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, set the NBA record for most wins to start a season.

AP / Chris Young

Top 10 New York sports stories

The year in sports

Top 10 New York sports stories

Take a look back at the Big Apple's top sports stories of 2015, as selected by our sports editors and retold by columnist Neil Best.

Getty Images / Jonathan Daniel

Top sports photos of 2015

Picks of pics

Top sports photos of 2015

There are plenty of good photos taken each year at sporting events. Here are 46 we found particularly enjoyable.

Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.

2015 sports champions

No one better

2015 sports champions

See which teams won titles during the 2015 calendar year.

Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara

Women in sports in 2015

Firsts & phenoms

Women in sports in 2015

A huge year for female athletes, from USWNT to Serena Williams.

Getty Images / Franck Fife

2015 notable sports deaths

Passing on

2015 notable sports deaths

We said goodbye to athletes, coaches and personalities.

Getty Images / Mike Powell

Food

Best Long Island dishes and eats

Moments to savor

Best Long Island dishes and eats

Every so often, you take a bite that makes you want to stop time and savor the moment. Here are the 20 best things we ate on Long Island in 2015.

Newsday / Peter M. Gianotti

Best restaurants for fine dining on LI

Winning meals

Best restaurants for fine dining on LI

It was the year of the tapas bar and the gastropub, super sushi, chef's star turns and a lot of first-class food.

Gordon M. Grant

LI's 10 best burgers of 2015

A gustatory classic

LI's 10 best burgers of 2015

Whether tricked out or naked, the burger is an essential on the dining scene. While we’ve eaten thousands over the years, here are our 10 latest favorites, ranked.

Daniel Brennan

Biggest Long Island restaurant closures of 2015

Most notable closings

Biggest Long Island restaurant closures of 2015

This year’s closings run the gamut from Long Island’s oldest Italian restaurant, which called it quits at 96, to a promising Turkish spot that shut after only 6 months.

The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive

Destination pies

The Island's best pizza: 10 pies worth the drive

Most Long Islanders have a favorite local pizzeria whose honor they are prepared to defend to the death, Newsday's Erica Marcus has discovered.

The best cookbooks of 2015

Cookbooks galore

The best cookbooks of 2015

Sure, it's the digital age. But there's still nothing like a cookbook. Here are our Top 10 picks for 2015, from 'Scandinavian Baking' to Israeli cooking.

Newsday / Rebecca Cooney

Entertainment

The year's best albums

Music

The year's best albums

From Adele's much-hyped '25' to Disclosure's brilliant 'Caracal,' pop music critic Glenn Gamboa rounds up his favorite releases.

Republic Records

Critic's picks: Best TV shows of 2015

Television's top 10

Critic's picks: Best TV shows of 2015

TV critic Verne Gay says 2015 was a very good year indeed, with 'Game of Thrones,' 'Mad Men' and 'The Jinx' among the standouts.

Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara

'Inside Out,' 'Amy' and more

Best movies

'Inside Out,' 'Amy' and more

Film critic Rafer Guzmann says the awards-season race is wide open. Here's his top 10, with a few honorable mentions.

TNS

They broke up in 2015

Celeb splits

They broke up in 2015

Ben and Jen are done, among other notable couples -- including Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield.

AP / Invision / Evan Agostini

Coates, Ferrante, Larson and Marra

Best books

Coates, Ferrante, Larson and Marra

These are this year's books that really stayed with us -- five in nonfiction and five in fiction.

Hogarth

Stars who died in 2015

Celebrity deaths

Stars who died in 2015

Remembering the actors, leaders and icons we bid adieu, from Natalie Cole to Leonard Nimoy.

Photofest / NBC

Newsday documentaries

Islanders' last season at Nassau Coliseum

Leaving Long Island

Islanders' last season at Nassau Coliseum

'The old barn' rocked in its final season. Newsday followed Islanders employees, fans and players throughout the emotional ride.

Where Triple Crowns are made

Belmont's backstretch

Where Triple Crowns are made

The preparation to make him a Triple Crown winner begins on the backstretch and at Belmont Park, where the backstretch is a community unto itself.

Business

Worst jobs to have in 2015

The job market

Worst jobs to have in 2015

The worst jobs of 2015 included newspaper reporter, lumberjack and taxi driver, according to CareerCast.com.

AP

Biggest LI business expansions

Tax breaks

Biggest LI business expansions

LI industrial development agencies approved tax breaks for 17 projects valued at $4 million or more in 2015.

SHoP Architects

Apple's best apps of 2015

It's a mobile world

Apple's best apps of 2015

Periscope, Instagram and HBO NOW are some of the standouts in the top 25. Spark and Zova also made the cut.

Apple

Lifestyle

10 best children's books of 2015

For the kids

10 best children's books of 2015

Here are the top page-turners for kids of all ages, from 'Wolfie the Bunny' to 'Journey to the Moon,' as chosen by Parents Magazine.

Amazon.com

Top 10 moments in fashion

Measuring up

Top 10 moments in fashion

In 2015 one of the world’s most famous designers stepped down, and barely-there evening dresses ruled on red carpets.

Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Best places to work in the U.S.

Prized employers

Best places to work in the U.S.

Glassdoor's annual Employees' Choice Awards for the best companies to work for includes Facebook and In-N-Out Burger.

AP