Beaches reopened to swimmers

BY DAVID J. LOPEZ | lidesk@newsday.com Back in the water! Nassau County reopened 21 beaches to bathers Friday after closing them following heavy rains on Thursday, and Suffolk County lifted its advisory against bathing at more than 60 beaches as of 6 p.m. Health officials said they had taken the measures as a precaution because "storm water runoff can have a negative impact by elevating bacteria levels." Seventeen Nassau beaches on the North Shore and four South Shore beaches were reopened, the county announced. Hempstead Harbor Beach remains closed to swimmers. Nassau's reopened South Shore beaches are Biltmore Beach Club Beach; Hewlett Point Beach; Island Park Beach; and Phillip Healey Beach. The reopened North Shore beaches in Nassau are Bar Beach; Centre Island Bay; Centre Island Sound; Creek Club; Crescent Beach;... [read full story]