The college rankings shake-up
Molloy University in Rockville Centre was named among the top 40 regional universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Adelphi (my husband's alma mater) climbed seven spots, so it's now tied with Hofstra (my college), which fell eight. And Molloy (where my mother got her nursing degree) leaped 27 places to be named among the top 40 regional universities in the North.
U.S. News & World Report released its revamped Best College lists this week, and there were several shake-ups in the rankings, including a new "earnings by major" metric that lets you compare how much each school's graduates are making across different majors, like nursing, education and business.
As a parent of a middle schooler, I still have a few years before we have to start our college search. My son claims he doesn't want to go away — at least not too far — but that could change.
My kids got an unofficial tour of my alma mater, Hofstra University, last spring after my son's band performed there. Credit: Newsday/Tara Conry
In our extended family, we have alumni from Hofstra, Adelphi, St. John's and Molloy, but more recently, our cousins have ventured off to Penn State and Delaware.
I like to keep tabs on our local options. Who doesn't want to save money on room and board? Plus, being close to home and the city present great opportunities for internships and networking, especially if our kids want to eventually put down their own roots here. I know I'm getting ahead of myself ... but check out the rankings.
Gotta catch 'em all
I needed some magnifying glasses to help my son organize his Pokémon collection now that he's discovered a renewed interest in the hobby. Credit: Newsday/Tara Conry
"What are you doing?" my husband asked as he walked into our son's room last week to find me sitting on the floor with piles of Pokémon cards around me. On my head, I wore hands-free magnifying glasses, the ones equipped with a little light that make you look like you're about to perform dental work.
I had purchased them years ago when I needed to turn my son's palate expander, but now they were coming in handy at trying to read the tiny numbers printed on each Pokémon card, so he could place each one in the correct order in his giant binder.
I thought collecting Pokémon cards was a phase, one that we moved out of years ago, but with the 30th anniversary this year, they are more popular than ever, and suddenly my 10-year-old is back in business.
Some fans are even camping out outside Target and other stores overnight and waiting on lines for hours to get their hands on the new 30th Celebration box set.
I don't know if I have that in me, although the cards have become a wise investment.
"The current state of the Pokémon market is at an all-time high," said Jessica Sholl, owner of Shollpoke, a trading card vendor, from Lindenhurst. "Cards from two years ago that sold for $35,000 [on Dec. 7, 2024] are now worth $2.7 million."
This is just the beginning of Pokémon's 30th birthday party. A second wave of products will be released Oct. 2.
Your guide to fall fun
There will be plenty of rides at the annual Town of Islip Apple Festival this October. Credit: Dan Goodrich
And just like that it's fall.
Whether you're looking for hayrides, candy apples and pumpkin patches or haunted houses, hard cider and pumpkin ale, there's something for everyone in our guide to festivals and others events on Long Island.
What else we're talking about
Connect with Long Island Moms on Instagram. Credit: Instagram
Follow our Long Island Moms Instagram and Facebook accounts for more content you care about, including our MomTawk podcast. And you can reach me at workingmoms@newsday.com.
