L to R: Jane Taylor, Three Village Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) Director; Nicole Sarno, TVCC Board Member; Carmine Inserra, TVCC Vice
President; Susie Kaiserman, TVCC Board Member; Charlie Lefkowitz, TVCC President; Dr. Richard Rugen, WMHO Chairman; Katie Hart,
Proprietor of Kate’s Vintage Rose; Mary Van Tuyl, WMHO Trustee; Gloria Rocchio, WMHO President; Honorable Steve Englebright, Suffolk
County Legislator; Honorable Jonathan Kornreich, Councilman, Town of Brookhaven; Charles Napoli, WMHO Trustee. Photo from WMHO
L to R: Mary Van Tuyl, WMHO Trustee; Carmine Inserra, TVCC Vice President; Rebecca Kassay; Honorable Steve Englebright, Suffolk County
Legislator; Honorable Jonathan Kornreich, Councilman, Town of Brookhaven; Dr. Richard Rugen, WMHO Chairman; Gloria Rocchio, WMHO
President; Dr. Shane Wend, Proprietor of Wend Wellness Chiropractic; Charlie Lefkowitz, TVCC President; Nicole Sarno, TVCC Board Member;
Susie Kaiserman, TVCC Board Member; Charles Napoli, WMHO Trustee; Jane Taylor, TVCC Director. Photo from WMHO
L to R: Mary Van Tuyl, WMHO Trustee; Carmine Inserra, TVCC Vice President; Susie Kaiserman, TVCC Board Member; Honorable Jonathan
Kornreich, Councilman, Town of Brookhaven; Charlie Lefkowitz, TVCC President; Rebecca Kassay; Dr. Richard Rugen, WMHO Chairman;
Jennifer Arthur, Manager of Chico’s Stony Brook Village; Honorable Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislator; Gloria Rocchio, WMHO
President; Ray Weber, Community Affairs Liaison for Senator Palumbo’s office; Nicole Sarno, TVCC Board Member;
Ginger Belesi, Legislative Aide for Assemblyman Ed Flood; Jane Taylor, TVCC Director; Charles Napoli, WMHO Trustee. Photo from WMHO
L to R: Mary Van Tuyl, WMHO Trustee; Susie Kaiserman, TVCC Board Member; Rebecca Kassay; Carmine Inserra, TVCC Vice President;
Charlie Lefkowitz, TVCC President; Honorable Jonathan Kornreich, Councilman, Town of Brookhaven; Dr. Richard Rugen, WMHO Chairman;
Honorable Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislator; Julie McGuire, Proprietor of Cottontails; Dana McGuire, Proprietor of Cottontails;
Gloria Rocchio, WMHO President; Charles Napoli, WMHO Trustee; Nicole Sarno, TVCC Board Member; Jane Taylor, TVCC Director. Photo from WMHO
Celebrating at the recently renovated Sweet Mama's Restaurant with Proprietor Marios Patatinas and his family. Photo from WMHO
On March 21, the Stony Brook Village Center was delighted to shine a spotlight on five establishments in the village. The festivities, which were attended by Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright, Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Village of Port Jefferson Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay, and Three Village Chamber of Commerce and Ward Melville Heritage Organization board members, included ceremonial ribbon cuttings to mark the grand openings of Kate’s Vintage Rose and Wend Wellness Chiropractic, alongside honoring the remarkable milestones of Chico’s 30th anniversary and Cottontails’ 10th anniversary in Stony Brook Village. Additionally, guests gathered to celebrate the unveiling of Sweet Mama’s Ice Cream Parlor, following its recent renovation.
Offering a carefully curated selection of new women’s clothing infused with vintage charm, Kate’s Vintage Rose invites patrons to explore an exquisite array of trendy apparel and accessories. Many of the whimsical items featured in the shop are handmade, from headbands to hand-embellished vegan suede hats. Amidst the joy and excitement of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Katie, the visionary behind Kate’s Vintage Rose, eagerly awaited the arrival of her baby boy. Just days after the celebratory event, she welcomed her son, Broden, into the world. During this time, the shop’s hours will temporarily vary. Kate’s Vintage Rose is located at 143 Main Street in Stony Brook Village. To learn more, you can call (631) 285-2339 or visit https://katesvintagerose.com/.
Wend Wellness Chiropractic opened its doors at 21 Main St., Stony Brook, NY, offering chiropractic services, wellness and fitness consultations and plans. Wend Wellness is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8:00am to 7:00 pm and on Tuesday, from 8:00am to 3:30 pm by appointment only. To make an appointment, call (631) 485-3643. You can also find more information by visiting online at https://wendwellness.com/.
Chico’s, nestled in the heart of Stony Brook Village, proudly holds the distinction of being the first Chico’s boutique in the state of New York. Since its opening in 1994, it has offered patrons a curated collection of chic, unique women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories. Chico’s proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary in Stony Brook Village this year. Chico’s is located at 139 Main Street and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. To learn more, call (631) 689-6426.
Cottontails is a cherished destination for baby and children’s essentials in Stony Brook Village. Proprietors Julie and Dana McGuire celebrate 10 years of serving the Stony Brook community. Cottontails is located at 113A Main Street. It is open from Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. To learn more about Cottontails, call (631)-689-9147.
Sweet Mama’s Restaurant a beloved eatery known for its delectable American classics and comforting cuisine, proudly announces the grand unveiling of its newly renovated ice cream parlor. The Ice Cream Parlor boasts an extensive selection of over 20 flavors of ice cream, alongside ice cream sodas and uniquely crafted milkshakes. They are open every day from 9am – 8pm. For more information about Sweet Mama’s Restaurant and the newly renovated ice cream parlor, please contact 631-675-9263 or visit https://www.sweetmamasli.com/
Pictured from left, Akiva Rudner, COO of CareRite Centers; Santa Espinal, RN, Director of Nursing Services; Stephanie Malone, Administrator; Leg. Leslie Kennedy; Comptroller John Kennedy; Neal Einhorn, Co-Founder and Principal of CareRite Centers; Valerie Pierre, Marketing and Community Liaison; Assemblyman Michael J. Fitzpatrick; and Mark Friedman, Co-Founder and Principal of CareRite Centers, Photo courtesy of The Hamlet
The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, 100 Southern Blvd., Nesconset recently unveiled their newly-renovated healing center to the community with a ribbon-cutting event that included a tour of the renovated lobby and dining areas.
The event was attended by Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy, Suffolk Comptroller John Kennedy and New York State Assemblyman Michael J. Fitzpatrick who presented proclamations.
“We are so excited to share these premier renovations with our Nesconset community,” shared Stephanie Malone, Administrator of The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at Nesconset. “We are so proud to showcase The Hamlet as an all-encompassing center to not only rejuvenate and recover, but to do so in a luxurious healing environment.”
Along with their reimagined dining space and lobby, as a member of the CareRite Centers network, the Hamlet has partnered with Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell, Food Network star and host of shows such as primetime franchise Worst Cooks in America, Chef Wanted, and Secrets of a Restaurant Chef.
“When you work at The Hamlet, you truly work as a family. We find ourselves fortunate to care for our residents in such a beautiful space, supported by a team who keeps our patients and team members’ interests top of mind at all times,” added Malone.
The Hamlet Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at Nesconset is a member of the CareRite Centers Network. CareRite Centers supports the subacute and long-term skilled nursing populations in New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Florida. For more information, call 631-361-8800 or visit www.hamletrehab.com.
Jefferson’s Ferry CEO Bob Caulfield and Jefferson’s Ferry board member and Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Valerie Cartright at the Dec. 10 groundbreaking. Photo from Jefferson's Ferry
South Setauket retirement community Jefferson’s Ferry broke ground Dec. 10 on a $89 million expansion and renovation project creating 60 new apartment-style homes and more amenities to its One Jefferson Ferry Drive facility.
Once completed, the 165,000 square foot project will add 60 new independent living one- and two-bedroom, plus den apartment homes with open floor plans to Jefferson’s Ferry’s existing 220 apartments and 28 cottages. Plans also call for a new marketplace café, bistro-bar, destination dining room with alternating types of cuisines. Part of the project includes renovations, additions and the construction of a new 28,520 square foot building.
In a release, Jefferson’s Ferry CEO Bob Caulfield said the new facility will “enhance the lifestyle and experience for current residents and appeal to the desires and needs of a whole new generation of Long Islanders planning for retirement.”
The new project is partially due to tax-exempt bonds secured from the Town of Brookhaven Local Development Corporation. At its Oct. 20 public hearing for the proposed bonds, the LDC said the bonds were expected to be $100,000,000 and up to and not to exceed $125,000,000. The bond issuer is also expected to provide additional financial assistance with mortgage recording taxes exemptions for financing or refinancing of the project, according to the hearing minutes.
“The Brookhaven Local Development Corporation is pleased to play a small part in the expansion of this outstanding residence and health care facility,” Frederick C. Braun III, chairman of the Brookhaven LDC, said in a release.
Last August, the retirement community was awarded low-cost energy by the ReCharge NY energy program to support the multi-million dollar expansion and renovation project.
Jefferson’s Ferry currently employs 350 people and is expected to add 41 jobs in exchange for 435 kilowatts of power for a 7-year period.
“The cost savings are significant to Jefferson’s Ferry, and, in turn, to residents living on fixed incomes,” Caulfield said. “Reducing our energy costs through this program goes a long way in helping us control the amount of fees we charge our members, giving them peace of mind about their future.”
The new Healthy Living Center will incorporate a modern and fully equipped gym and fitness room with access to professional trainers, plus a state of the art wellness and rehabilitation center. Residents can continue to access preventive care from a team of wellness experts in audiology, internal medicine, cardiology, dentistry, podiatry, psychiatry and ear, nose and throat specialists. Lab services and assistance with making medical appointments and filling prescriptions are also available.
“Our community is designed for aging better for longer, whether you live in independent living, assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing,” Caulfield said.
The construction project includes an addition to the existing Vincent Bove Health Center, including a new assisted living building designed for residents living with Alzheimer’s dementia and other memory impairing diseases. Existing dining, activities and community spaces in the assisted living and the skilled nursing center will be renovated to allow more space in a kind of open air environment, according to Jefferson’s Ferry.
Port Jefferson restaurants Ruvo and Old Fields are back open after sustaining serious damage during a Sept. 25 flood. Photos from Facebook
The skies opened and dumped buckets of water on Port Jefferson Village Sept. 25.
The area was hit with more than 4 inches of rain during the evening into the night, according to the National Weather Service, leading to severe flooding and leaving behind devastating damage. Two Main Street restaurants — Ruvo East and Old Fields of Port Jefferson — sustained significant damage that night, causing emergency evacuations and significant periods with their doors closed while feverish-paced repairs took place.
“I definitely have the best staff in all my restaurants,” said Joe DiNicola, owner of Ruvo. The restauranteur said the possibility of closing the doors to the establishment for good was a distinct possibility, but after weeks of hard work around the clock that possibility went away Oct. 11. “We bonded together and decided we were going to reopen it. Since then that’s been our common goal.”
The restaurant reopened Thursday afternoon. DiNicola said the building was inundated with about three feet of water as the rain poured down Sept. 25. The repair job required the reupholstering of most if not all of the restaurant’s furniture, “gutting” and redoing four bathrooms, a new roof, plumbing and electrical work, and more. He said his staff was all retained through the reconstruction process and nobody missed a paycheck. He said he encouraged his staff to take time off, making sure no one was putting in full seven-day work weeks, though many were there up to six days per week, and DiNicola said he was logging 15-hour days and beyond during the cleanup effort.
“We’ve had water in the past — a little bit,” he said. “This was an event that it was an anomaly. I just don’t understand. It was just rain.”
DiNicola said water poured into Ruvo from the roof, through drains and eventually in the front door. About 20 cars were totaled in the parking lot, he said. The Port Jefferson Fire Department — which sustained substantial damage itself at the Maple Place firehouse — had to assist people in exiting both Ruvo and Old Fields that night, in addition to helping stranded residents out of about a dozen cars. DiNicola and Old Fields owner David Tunney both heaped praise on the fire department for the work they did that night.
“Thank you to all first responders, village workers, volunteers, our staff, and to you, our loyal customers, thank you for all of your support,” Ruvo posted on its Facebook page Oct. 12.
Old Fields, which is just on the other side of Wynn Lane on Main Street north of Ruvo, was able to reopen Sept. 28, according to Tunney, who said he was thankful the situation here was not worse, sending his condolences to those experiencing recent storms in Florida and the Carolinas.
“It has been frantic,” he said. “We worked really hard and diligent to get back open. The water came in quick.”
Tunney’s restaurant was closed for two days, compared to nearly two weeks for Ruvo, though he said the job required a team of about 30 people working to clean and sanitize the soggy eatery. He said even in the moment on the night of the flood, he was able to keep things in perspective, joking that he told a member of his staff who asked if they needed some more rags, “no, get some tequila.”
This post was updated Oct. 16 to correct the date Old Fields reopened.
Shoreham-Wading River school district is considering converting the closed fitness center into a wrestling center. Photo by Kyle Barr
Photo by Kyle Barr
Shoreham-Wading River High School students looking to make gains have been impeded with the loss of the school’s fitness center, and now the district is looking at its options for a new one.
The high school’s fitness center, which has been around since the late 1980s and is detached from the main building, was closed down in July this year because an assessment of the building by the school district’s internal engineer showed the flooring was not up to code for constant physical activity.
“The flooring in the fitness area needed structural support in order to meet that code requirements, and the amount came back for that being $200,000 to conduct those repairs,” Superintendent Gerard Poole said. “Over the summer the board asked that we look with our architect to take a look at decision making process alternatives within the school district to make a fitness center or a fitness room.”
With the loss of the old fitness room, the district has moved exercise equipment to room 102, located in close proximity to the high school’s lower floor cafeteria, on the other side of the school from the locker rooms and gymnasium. Current amenities for the temporary facility include a TRX cable-based exercise machine, medicine balls, dumbbells, bench presses and some cardio equipment, according to Poole.
At the SWR Sept. 25 school board meeting members said the district was considering three options. One is to fix the flooring in the old fitness center, which might be the most expensive. Another is to combine rooms 102 and 101 next to the high school cafeteria to create a new 1,400 square foot fitness space. Lastly the district could section off a portion of the auxiliary gym and combine it with an existing storage space to create another 1,400 square foot fitness center.
Shoreham-Wading River’s fitness center is closed while the board of education decides what to do next. Photo by Kyle Barr
Poole said the district did not have an exact date when they will come to a decision.
“I do not have a deadline, but as always we want to come to a decision as soon as we can,” Poole said. “It’s good to take out time for a decision as long as we’re spending money.”
While replacing the floor would cost $200,000, other options currently seem to cost much less.
Ken Schupner, an architect for Patchogue-based Burton Behrendt Smith Architects, whose services are retained by the school, said it would cost approximately $75,000 to $100,000 to break through the high school’s auxiliary gym to make room for a 14,000 square foot fitness center. Because of the work already done to room 102, extending that space into room 101 should also cost less than patching the old facility’s floor, the architect said.
Board President Michael Lewis questioned whether students will be able to utilize the space if the fitness center is located on the other side of the building from the locker rooms.
“Getting it close to physical education [facilities] is maximizing utilization for the sports teams, and with having it on the lower floor next to the cafeteria are the students really going to travel all the way there to work out?” Lewis said.
Schupner said while the room is located far from the gym, it also has an exit to the outside of the building, making it easier for students to access after practice on the sports fields.
If the school were to opt to use the auxiliary gym, it could disrupt current physical education classes. Poole said five classes are currently scheduled in that room, which is also used extensively by the wrestling and cheerleading teams.
Schupner said renovations to the detached current fitness center are less applicable for state aid compared to facilities located inside the building.
Shoreham resident Robert Badalian regularly used the old fitness center in the hours when it was open to the public, and he and others didn’t want to be left out of the conversation.
“We don’t want to be excluded,” Badalian said. “It was a place for people to exercise and feel comfortable — not be intimidated like you could if you go to another gym.”
Badalian also said he hoped the district would focus more on modernizing the fitness center, saying that compared to high schools like Ward Melville, which have a more modern fitness center, SWR is lagging behind.
Carolyn Baier, another Shoreham resident who was a regular at the fitness center, said having it open to the rest of the community helped get people more involved and in tune with their local school. Baier was on the SWR school board in the 1980s, back when the decision came down to create the fitness center.
“The young people who used it were so nice, they would pick up my weights for me when I hurt my hand,” Baier said. “This was a community thing.”
The newly renovated Commack Public Library's children area is brightly lit with LED lighting. Photo by Ola Wilk/Wilk Marketing Communications
Commack residents may have to look twice to find the sleek and modern entrance of the newly renovated Commack Public Library. Hint, there’s a brand new entrance.
The Commack Public Library celebrated its grand reopening Dec. 6 after completing a $8.5 million renovation and expansion. The Hauppauge Road building was aged and out-of-date with state safety codes, according to its Director Laurie Rosenthal, as it had not undergone any significant upgrades since its construction in 1976.
Rosenthal, the library’s director for more than 15 years, said “I’m really excited to be home … this library is like a second home to me and many of our patrons.”
The Commack Public LIbrary celebrated its grand reopening Dec. 2. Photo fromWilk Marketing Communications.
The newly renovated building was designed by Beatty Harvey Coco (BHC) Architects of Hauppauge to be more consistent with the modern technological era and more community friendly by providing more space for programs.
“In the beginning of the design phase, the library’s leadership defined the functional requirements for the renovation, which included expanding the dedicated spaces for children and young adults, enlarging event and community facilities, specifying more comfortable furniture, improving telecommunications and audiovisual technology, and increasing the visibility of the building’s main entrance,” said Christopher Sepp, a senior associate for BHC. “These requirements reflected the new role of the library as a community and social center for residents.”
The main entrance of the library was moved from the intersection of Commack Road and Hauppauge Road to the side of the building facing the parking lot to make the building more accessible and safer for visitors.
The former community room was expanded from 1,203 to 1,735 square feet in order to accommodate more patrons into its programs, the library director said. In addition, a new audiovisual system and movable curtain wall partition was installed to allow more than one program to be held at a time.
What Rosenthal likes to call the “coffee cup,” a brightly LED-lit entrance to the new children’s section, features soft furniture with lounge seating, train and brick play stations and colored LED lighting strips radiating out from the central ceiling that change colors based on themes and events. The library director said new iPads in protective cases will be available to allow
children to interact with technology as well as a sensory area, or quiet low-lighting room specifically designed for children with sensory and auditory needs.
The entrance to the Commack Public LIbrary was relocated and given a facelift during the $8.5 million building renovation. Photo from Wilk Marketing Communications
Young adults have been given a 620-square-foot space off the main floor of the library which features age-appropriate reading, its own computer terminals and a booth like seating area with television and comfortable chairs where teens are invited to do homework or relax.
Throughout the library, there are varied tables, and study areas have their own built-in electrical units with Wi-Fi connections possible to allow residents to come in, sit down and connect anywhere, Rosenthal said.
In addition to the extensive redesign of the building, Islandia-based general contractor Stalco Construction made sure it was more energy efficient.
“All of the work was done with the use of sustainable and energy-efficient systems and materials to significantly improve the building’s operational efficiency, save money for years to come, and prevent the release of volatile organic compounds that could impact indoor air quality,” said Jason Vasquez, Stalco’s project manager.
The rebuild included installation of a new high-efficiency heating ventilation and air conditioning system and LED lighting fixtures throughout the library to reduce energy for lighting to one-third its prior rate. Other features include a new elevator for handicapped accessibility and fire sprinklers to bring it into compliance with state fire codes.
All Commack residents, regardless of township, are invited to come in to see or tour the library, Rosenthal said. Any Suffolk County resident with a library card can check out materials, she said, with some exceptions, as high-demand items are only for library district taxpayers.
A plan for what the new concession stand at Kings Park High School would look like. Image from Kings Park school district
By Jenna Lennon
Although Kings Park school district is ready to get to work, summer improvements have not yet begun due to delays from the state.
Phase two of the proposed five-year renovation plan for Kings Park is still waiting for approval from the State Education Department. The construction originally scheduled to begin in the summer months will now have to be extended into the fall and spring semesters even though plans were originally submitted back in October, 2016.
Tim Eagen, superintendent of the Kings Park Central School District, said the school will try to minimize possible inconveniences due to the construction as best as it can.
The proposed new first level of the Kings Park High School Library. Image from Kings Park school district
“We anticipate getting all the work done; probably not all of it done during the summer,” he said in an interview. “Some of it is going to extend out into the fall. Some of it we’ll do during shut downs during the course of the school year.”
Eagen said some projects will not be too difficult to complete during the year, but that’s not true for all.
“One of the pieces, for example, is a door replacement project that can just happen nights and evenings and weekends during the school,” he said. “Probably the biggest visual piece that’s going to be delayed is for the track and the field. We have a concession stand with bathrooms that’s planned. It’s looking like that’s going to flip to the spring.”
Like last summer, improvements have been planned for every school in the district. Here is a breakdown of the specific projects happening at every school.
Kings Park High School:
Track/field lighting; concession stand with bathroom; library media center renovations; auditorium seating/flooring upgrades; electrical distribution and switchgear; emergency power supply; parking lot pavement upgrades; and air conditioning for auditorium and main gymnasium.
William T. Rogers Middle School:
Field irrigation; locker room renovations: new lockers; and gymnasium renovations: bleachers and electric for blackboards.
R.J.O. Intermediate School:
Asphalt and pavement upgrades; interior renovations: flooring (including asbestos removal); auditorium upgrades: seating and flooring; interior renovations: ceilings; and electrical distribution and switchgear.
Park View Elementary School:
Asphalt and pavement upgrades; masonry restoration; interior renovations: flooring (including asbestos removal); door and hardware replacement; electrical distribution and switchgear; plumbing upgrades; toilet renovations; boiler upgrades; and HVAC and controls.
