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Sabrina Artusa

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Erich Preis standing next the the centerpiece, “Salvation”. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

The work of Erich Preis, a Huntington native, decorates the walls of Trinity Community Art Center in Northport. Four-foot-tall paintings showcase apocalyptic scenes, foreboding and eerie. His work addresses both internal and external turmoil. Giant gears loom over desolate lands like storm clouds; the people in the paintings, vulnerable and unclothed, either cower or push onward.

Preis has been dedicated to art since he was 9 and studying at the Huntington Fine Arts school. Afterward, with the support of his high school art teacher he went to the Fashion Institute of Technology where he received his associate’s degree in art and design. Then he continued to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a partial scholarship. During his tenure at the academy, he was awarded the Charles Toppan Memorial Prize.

In his storm series, Preis explores vulnerability, discomfort and the threat of unbridled technological advancement. “They relate to 911, a lot of them,” he said. “And they also relate to man’s battle against the machine and my own struggle with autism, you know, the repetitive motion of my mind.”

There is a painting named “Catharsis.” It is smaller than the others and depicts a triple self-portrait, each face with a different expression. The center face is bisected by a gear and the opened mouth is detached from the face, set wide in a scream. This piece more directly addresses Preis’ relationship with his autism.

“It was very healing to do this piece,” he said. Preis also studied art therapy and received his bachelor’s degree in the subject from C.W. Post. He then founded the Spirit of Huntington Art Center, where he helps his students enjoy the calming artistic process that has helped provide him with a creative outlet to express himself and cope with his autism.

“Catharsis”, painted by Preis. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

The gear, a signature feature of his work, has manifested in his paintings over the course of his career.

“When I was 14 years old, a lawnmower fell apart and I was fascinated by this gear,” he said. “I always had this gear around and when I was in FIT I started to integrate the figure with gears.”

Preis lost his roommate Michael Noeth when a plane hit the Pentagon on 9/11. Since then, the gear has taken on a new meaning. In some pieces, it is like a plane — the storm reminiscent of a nuclear explosion.

The culmination of the series, “Salvation,” is in the middle of the room and is the largest. The painting was the most difficult of those depicted and took Preis two years to complete. Bob Hendrick, one of the founders of the center and an artist himself, commented on the technique and composition: “There is a certain symmetry to it. It is masterfully done.”

While the other paintings emit a sense of panic, fear and hopelessness, “Salvation” depicts the second coming of Christ. The death and resurrection of the people, the heroic angels diving past flames to bring the people back up to the light, provide a sense of solace, even as two gears grind among flames.

Priest of the neighboring Trinity Episcopal Church, Father Andrew Garnett admired what Preis was able to achieve. “Through art we have a deeper insight into what is going on,” he said. Garnett is holding a “sensory-friendly” service on April 27 at noon for all those who find the organ too loud or the typical sermon overwhelming. The service is inspired by autism awareness month.

“I think this is some of my best work because it deals with my emotions,” Preis said of the series. “I really hope that one day they end up in a museum.”

The exhibit will run through April 27. In September, Preis will have an exhibit at the Art League of Long Island in Dix Hills, where he will exhibit his sculptures as well.

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Jude Rosenveld at the April 8 public hearing.

By Sabrina Artusa

During an April 8 Huntington Town board meeting, Cold Spring Harbor residents spoke on the proposed rezoning of the 23.75-acre RozeWood Farm and Estate property at 473 Woodbury Road. The period for public comment remains open. 

Currently, the owners of the property, Jude and Jan Rosenveld, want to create a 23-room retreat and spa on the property. To do so, the property will have to be zoned as a historic overlap district from an R-80 residential district. 

The property consists of a farm, a manor house, a farm house, guest cottages and a carriage house. There is also a tennis court and inground pool on the property, which will be used for the spa. 

“There are very few improvements being made to the property,” said Chris Robinson of Robinson and Mullers, an engineer on the project. Improvements would include a parking area and a second tennis court. The State Environmental Quality Review Act determination was negative. 

An online petition against the rezoning on Change.org has garnered over 640 signatures. Chief among the concerns of opponents was additional traffic congestion as well as the risks rezoning would create should future property owners decide to make further changes. Further, the use of the service road was cause of criticism, especially for those residing on neighboring properties who predict increased use would affect the peace of their community. 

Wayne Muller of Robinson and Muller Engineering said that traffic would not exceed any other possible projects permissible in the current R-80 Residential zoning, such as mosques or a private elementary school.

“Neither me, myself or my neighbors or the town of Huntington should be put in the position where trust is part of the equation. My neighbors and I respectfully ask that restrictive covenants be put in place if you consider putting in place this zone change,” said one resident.

The mansion was built in the 1930s, while the farmhouse was used in 1830 and is on the National Historic registry.

As the Huntington Town Board considers denoting millions to the water and sewer districts in Greenlawn, Dix Hills and South Huntington, residents question if new facilities are imminently necessary. 

“If there is anything you can do to put this off until the economy straightens off, that would be greatly appreciated especially by those who really can’t afford it,” said one Greenlawn resident, where there is a $6 million proposed expenditure. Nathaniel Corwin of Meyer Suozzi law firm, who is representing the Greenlawn water district, said “the estimated cost for [an advanced oxidation process] system including necessary GAC [granular activated carbon] systems, building as well as a very expensive generator is $9,994,000.” Since $3 million will be provided through on-hand funds, a bond would be required for the remainder. 

For more information of RozeWood Farm and Estate go to www.rozewoodfarm.com.

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The historical structure at Tesla Science Center after the fire on Nov. 21, 2023. Photo courtesy Tesla Science Center

By Sabrina Artusa

After the 2023 fire, the Tesla Science Center in Shoreham is on its way to rebuilding. In November 2023, the center was in the process of a $20 million restoration: the culmination of fundraising and a grassroots effort to turn the historic and dilapidated property into something educational and productive. 

While the fire poses an unfortunate hurdle to the center’s reopening, the board of directors are continuing to move ahead to offer at least a part of the center to the public: the Visitors Center. 

Marc Alessi standing in front of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe in Shoreham before the 2023 fire. File photo

“It is the beginning of the whole property, but right now it is everything,” said Marc Alessi, executive director. “It is the advertiser of what this will be. There is going to be one exhibit and a classroom and they can hold events and field trips.”

He expects to get the Visitors Center to open in 2026, having already secured a contractor to work on the building at the end of April. 

The nonprofit has already raised $14 million from across the country, in addition to federal grants that they will receive once the work those grants are designated for is complete. The fire, however, added $3.5 million to their original estimate of $20 million, as well as another year, at least, to their timeline until reopening. 

The Tesla center’s history has been spotted with difficulty. It took over a decade for the property to be secured, and then several years before enough money was raised to hire engineers and apply for permits. 

The historic nature of the buildings as well as the fact that it is situated on a brownfield, a property that could be contaminated by past use, contributed to making the center “the most complicated museum project in the country right now.” 

The site is not ideal, but in order to honor the 120-year-old building and the significance of the location to Tesla’s legacy, the complicated construction is worth it to Alessi, the rest of the staff and the board of directors as well as over 30,000 people who donated to the cause. “If it wasn’t Tesla’s historic lab, it wouldn’t be happening on this site…This is hallowed ground and a historic site in the making,” Alessi said. 

To honor the historic nature of the buildings, Alessi said they had to find a contractor with expertise in historic renovations. Their last contractor fell through and denied the insurance claim after the fire, he said. 

Now, the center has recently appointed four new board members with diverse backgrounds in an effort to expand the center’s mission. Matt Inman, one of the initial advocates for the center, cartoonist and creator of the popular card game “Exploding Kittens” is bringing “a new way of thinking“ and “a network we wouldn’t have known of,” said Alessi.

Kara Cannon, CEO of Enzo Biochem; Matt Domo, an innovator with a background in technology; and Romain Murenzi, a professor of physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute with experience in science policy, joined the board of directors last month. 

“[Murenzi] has experience setting up science programs in nations across the world. If we want to be a global science center we have to get people like this involved who have that reach; and it will be an international board eventually,” Alessi said.

The center is expected to bring international visitors – perhaps tourists who are visiting New York City but make the trip to Long Island to visit the site of Tesla’s abandoned lab with all the exhibits and technologies it has to offer. Board members expect 180,000 visitors a year. 

Once the museum is established, they would like to employ traveling exhibits in the future, where other museums borrow from their niche collection. The museum will tell Tesla’s story but will be equally focused on new ideas and technologies. Alessi said, “[Tesla] was a ‘futurist. That is the kind of thinking we want to embrace and celebrate.”

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Eleven international students’ visas have been terminated since March 28,  Stony Brook University officials confirmed. The University’s Office of Global Affairs notified the students. 

“We want to assure you that our Global Affairs team is exceptionally knowledgeable in advising our international community and are working around the clock to provide individualized support to our international students, faculty, and scholars,” reads a letter written by Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl W Lejuez, Graduate School Dean Celia Marshik and Senior Associate Provost for Global Affairs Lindsi Walker. “They are leveraging their extensive network of partners, including SUNY, to gather up-to-date information on resources and guidance.”

University representatives did not disclose why the visas were revoked and referred questions to SUNY. On March 21, Interim President Richard McCormick released a letter addressing unrest among international students. The letter came amidst an increase in visa terminations across New York and the country.

In January, President Trump reversed a policy that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement from making arrests in schools and places of worship. 

According to Inside Higher Ed, more than 700 international students have had their visas revoked across the country as of April 11. In New York, at least 62 students across eight public and private universities have had their visas terminated. 

“As you know, this is a time of heightened uncertainty for international students on the nation’s college campuses. I am writing to emphasize that you are a valued member of our campus community,” McCormick wrote in the March letter. 

Students with questions regarding their visa status are directed to Stony Brook University’s Visa and Immigration Services, the office of International Student Success,Counseling and Psychological Services or the Student Support Team.

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From left, Anthony Anatol, Luke Jantzen, Jon Seyfert and Andrew Senf after running the relay. Photo courtesy of David Seyfert

By Sabrina Artusa

The Ward Melville High School boys track team have proven themselves as formidable competitors repeatedly this season — the Ward Melville name consistently high on the rankings. In this year’s winter season, the Ward Melville Patriots upheld their reputation.

On March 8 senior Jon Seyfert stepped up to the line for the 1600-meter race telling himself that winning was the only option. Seyfert, usually calm before racing, was nervous. 

Jon Seyfert running his leg of the 4 x mile relay at the New Balance Nationals. Photo courtesy of David Seyfert

He knew he wanted to give his coach and parents a state championship. His goal was to secure a position in front in the first 100 meters. Having done so, he held his position, waiting for the right moment to push ahead. In the seventh lap, he took the lead: a move that did not go unchallenged. 

“Another kid comes out from [lane] three or four trying to cut off,” Seyfert said. “[He] either had to go faster or go behind me and at that point I was like, ‘I got this.’” 

The other runners were unable to catch up and Seyfert, remembering his coach’s advice to run through the line, flew past it with 13 others chasing behind, making Seyfert the state champion in the mile.

He completed the mile in 4:15:68, utilizing months of hard summer and fall training to push him past the competition. 

“[There was] a lot riding on it,” he said. “You don’t know how many chances you are going to get for a state championship.”

“From the time the gun went off, I couldn’t be more excited as a coach,” Coach Ryan DeLuca said. “He took his experiences from his past races and experiences and did everything right.” 

From the initial positioning to mid-race strategy to patiently waiting to make the final move in the seventh lap, Deluca said the race was Seyfert’s “best executed race in four years.” 

Last year, Seyfert came in second in Suffolk County’s cross-country championships. Now, he is first in the state in the indoor 1600 meters. 

Having become a state champion, Seyfert said his primary goal in every race is to reach his potential. “I just want to say I couldn’t have gone any faster. I want to finish and say I gave it my all. I really did try.”

On March 8, running the 1600 meters, Seyfert tried and succeeded. 

New Balance Nationals

On March 14 and 15, the Patriots were back for the New Balance Nationals for the distance medley relay and the 4x mile relay. 

After not performing as well as they hoped in the distance medley relay, sophomore Andrew Senf, juniors Anthony Anatol and Luke Jantzen and Seyfert approached the 4x mile race hopeful and ready. They had trained for months, 

DeLuca told his team, ‘You guys can rebound from this in a big way. And the race that didn’t go well was a good chance to flush [your] legs.” 

“They came back with vengeance,” he said. 

Senf was the lead-off runner. As he prepared at the line holding the baton, he endeavored to set up his teammates for a good race by getting out in front and pushing the pace in the last 300 meters. With the disappointing distance medley relay behind him, he felt that there “was no pressure” and that being at nationals was itself an accomplishment.

Senf ran a personal best and “took charge” early on, according to Seyfert, who said “it was really cool to see.” He created such a large gap between himself and the next runner that, when he handed off the baton, completing his mile in 4:26, Jantzen was in “no man’s land,” as Seyfert put it. 

Jantzen, excited to race, knew that they were going to break the school’s record for this event. He visualized the race and tried to mentally prepare for the mile ahead of him. 

He handed off the baton to Anatol, who held the team’s position and, with the help of Senf and Jantzen, was able to lap some of the competition. Seyfert took the baton from Anatol and finished the last leg. The four finished with a time of 17:51:90, making them 12th fastest in the country. 

“After that night we came back the next day and we put it all together. We did what we were supposed to,” Jantzen said. 

“A lot of what helped get us to this point is that we all have such a good dynamic as a team and not just the four of us on the team but the guys that didn’t go as well,” Senf said. “Being with the coaches and the other kids is just such a pleasure. If I were on another team I don’t know if I would find the same enjoyment. The people just make it so fun.”

For more information visit the school website: www.threevillagecsd.org.

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A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
Some locals traveled to New York City to participate in a Hands Off! march. Photo by Michael Vincenti

By Sabrina Artusa

Port Jefferson Station was one of over a thousand across the country to participate in a “Hands Off!” demonstration on April 5. 

The protest was organized as an objection to the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s involvement in government affairs. Residents stood along the intersection of Route 347 and Route 112 voicing their opposition to the Department of Government Efficiency, the sidelining of climate issues, cuts to veteran affairs, deportations and the increased tariffs. 

The North Brookhaven Democratic Club was the main host of this arm of the “Hands Off!” movement. 

Dee Hensen, president of the club since its inception 6 years ago, said this protest was the largest one she has ever attended. 

“It was really energizing and it gives you a little bit of comfort knowing there are so many people out there with similar concerns,” Hensen said. “It is great to be a part of a big movement.”

The communal passion and dedication exhibited during the protest revitalized Hensen in her mission. “It gives you confidence that you can fight these things and make it better,” she said.

This protest comes after several protests across the Brookhaven, Smithtown and Huntington areas since President Donald Trump (R) took office. In March, there was a protest every weekend. Furthermore, residents have taken to demonstrating outside the offices of their elected officials. Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY1) has had two protests outside his Hauppauge office, with residents criticizing his lack of town halls and compliance with some federal initiatives. 

Michael Vincenti, a Stony Brook resident who attended a “Hands Off!” march in New York City, said, “It was great to be surrounded by like-minded people. I was astounded to see so many people show up in the rain and stop traffic for miles.”

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Left to right: Stephanie D’Auria, Susan Peretti, Myrna Gordon and Tom Lyon. Bill McNulty sits in front. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa 

At a bus station in Setauket along Route 25A, Bill McNulty, Susan Peretti and Myrna Gordon will often set up flags representing Ireland, Ukraine, Mexico and various other countries. Between the flags there is a sign that reads “HONK FOR PEACE.”

Myrna Gordon of the North Shore Peace Group. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

Among frequent honks and occasional shouts, both in derision and support, the three stand by their message and engage passersby in conversation. Other residents, inspired by their pacifist and “unpolitical” approach, will often join them.

In addition to the “HONK FOR PEACE” sign that McNulty has been using since the 1960s, the group set up a sign that reads “THE ‘TROUBLES’ THEN AND NOW.”  An Irishman, McNulty originally started sitting at the bench at the bus stop with only an Irish flag. The small act of solidarity was intended to acknowledge the “violent times” the Irish have had; however, the call for peace can now be applied to “any political movement.”

“We don’t subscribe to violence,” McNulty said. “We try to disarm the angry.”

Although the three have been involved in the North Shore Peace Group for years, it wasn’t until three years ago in the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day that McNulty and others decided to amplify their message to Setauket at the bus stop that has become their signature place to organize. 

McNulty has been an activist for decades, once having fasted for 10 days as a protest. He opposed British involvement in Ireland and various other political movements; but the congregation of flags and call for peace is unspecific in some ways. The flags signify inclusion, the call for peace a statement with which most can agree. 

He said his intention is “not to fight them [those who disagree with his views] but to appeal to the mind.” 

“I want them to weep when they see the children. I want them to weep when they see what is happening in Ukraine,” he said.

Stephanie D’Auria joined the group after seeing them at the bus station several weeks before. Another resident Tom Lyon  arrived with a sign featuring the flags of several African countries. McNulty and Peretti said they would like to add even more. 

Lyon, incensed by civilian deaths falling under the category of “collateral damage” in the context of war, said he has been involved with advocacy since 1968.

While standing together on the afternoon of Friday, March 28, a driver called out, “Where is the American flag?” Indeed, the American flag was absent from the collection. 

“We’ve always had the American flag in our hearts and minds,” Gordon said. 

Further, Peretti argued that their group “stand here for years not because we hate the country but because we want the country to be better.”

“There is nothing more patriotic than realizing that your country was founded on self-determination. Defending this is patriotic,” McNulty said. “Democracy is compromise.”

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Left to right: Rep. Nick Lalota (R-NY1), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) and Laura Gillen (D-NY4). Screenshot from a livestream of the meeting

By Sabrina Artusa

An hour-long conference was held in Woodbury on March 28 by the Long Island Association for their What’s New in Washington series. Congress members Nick LaLota (R-NY1), Tom Suozzi (D-NY3), Laura Gillen (D-NY4) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2) met to answer pressing questions regarding present federal policies. Moderator Matt Cohen led the discussion. 

SALT

The four congress members spoke of their bipartisanship and dedication to serving Long Island together. Suozzi commended LaLota and Garbarino on going against their party in opposing the SALT cap, which restricts tax deduction on income, sales or property taxes to $10,000. The cap expires this year

“The continuation of that cap will not pass because there are enough of us that will vote against any bill that tries that,” Garbarino said.

“Our leadership knows that we are absolutely strong and steadfast in our position here, to take us seriously. I am willing to vote ‘No’ if there isn’t enough SALT in that reconciliation package,” LaLota said. 

Gillen said that she is working in a “bipartisan fashion” to get rid of the cap. Garbarino said that President Donald Trump (R) has said he was on board with eliminating the cap. Indeed, Gillen said the president campaigned in her district on that claim.

Off-shore drilling

LaLota said he supports the safe extraction of natural resources through drilling, which would be “good for jobs, good for the environment [and] good for the economy.” 

Suozzi, a self-proclaimed “big environmentalist,” said that it takes “too long to get stuff done in America” due to partisanship and excess rules and regulations: a roadblock that he says diminishes the immediacy of environmental acts. 

Federal cuts

Suozzi and Gillen are firmly against the appropriateness and rationale of the cuts of the Department of Government Efficiency, with Suozzi calling the cuts “reckless” and strewn with hasty firings and “mistakes” leading to the removal of essential researchers. While Suozzi acknowledged the importance of efficiency, he argued that attrition and early retirement packages were suitable alternatives. 

“Laying off the lowest wage people is creating this fear and panic. I understand the need to disrupt things. I buy that need. I just think it has been too cavalier in how it is affecting people and how it is affecting services that have to be provided,” Suozzi said. 

LaLota said, “We need to put the country on a better track and this is the start.” He added that the government is in desperate need of budget changes and that the budget hasn’t been balanced “in 25 years.” 

The Long Island Association is the region’s leading nonprofit and nonpartisan business organization. We look forward to more such conferences. To check out other events go to: www.longislandassociation.org.

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Brian Crowe and Leilani Garcia on their trip. Photo courtesy Leilani Garcia

By Sabrina Artusa

Leilani Garcia and Brian Crowe learned a lot over their five-day, 80-mile hike from Robert Moses State Park in Babylon to the Montauk Lighthouse. They learned that short breaks every hour help them tackle their long 20-plus-mile days and how to adjust their 50-lb backpacks, crammed with food and fresh water, to better disperse the weight. They learned where the best beach camp spots are and how to follow the tides. Over the course of five days, they endured wind and rain, high tides and high mileage not just to reach their destination, Montauk, but to raise awareness for colon cancer. 

Crowe, a Huntington native, was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago in its late stages. Experiencing intense pain in his side, he went to see his gastroenterologist for the first time. A CAT scan revealed a tumor in his large intestine. The severity of the growth, which grew from seven centimeters to nine over the course of a week, was removed with the assistance of Crowe’s friend and surgeon Joesph Vazzana in in a 12-hour life-saving surgery. The 9-month recovery was “exasperating” for Crowe, who said he couldn’t walk or eat immediately after the operation.

“I was miserable,” Crowe said. “But he saved my life.” 

Throughout their hike, Crowe and Garcia spread their mission and succeeded in reminding people of the importance of getting a colonoscopy. 

Crowe said that cancer often goes untalked about. After getting it himself, he said he felt there was an “embarrassing” stigma surrounding the disease. “I didn’t want to talk about it and I didn’t want anyone else to talk about it,” he said. 

After finding out he had colon cancer, he discovered that several family members have also had cancer, including three of his aunts.  Now, he realizes that as a survivor, he has an “obligation” to talk about his experience and hopefully encourage others to routinely get a colonoscopy. 

“Reaching out to the community can save lives,” said Garcia, who has had family members affected by cancer.

Garcia and Crowe met at Decker’s Nursery and Florist, where Garcia, tired of her conventional Christmas tree, was perusing other indoor plants to decorate. There she met Crowe, who worked there and suggested the spiky Japanese orange bush Garcia ended up buying. 

When Crowe told Garcia about his longtime aspiration of traveling from Robert Moses to Montauk, Garcia took to the idea and helped bring it to fruition, creating a website to broadcast their mission. 

The trip

While the trip is dedicated toward raising awareness for colon cancer, Garcia and Crowe also went with the mission of reconnecting with nature and themselves.

The pair started their day at sunrise and usually walked until sundown, clocking as many miles as they could while also taking in “how unbelievable Long Island is.” Garcia and Crowe started their mornings by setting their intentions for the day. 

Fueled by Kind bars, dark chocolate and peanut butter, they traversed the coast, sometimes stopping to pick up interesting scallop shells, admire the view or talk to curious beachgoers. 

One man asked them what they were doing. When they told him about their “Mission to Montauk,” he immediately returned to his home, remembering to schedule his own colonoscopy. “It’s like holding the door for someone else,” Crowe said. 

When one of them got tired or discouraged, the other made sure to offer encouragement. Garcia mentioned how during a difficult portion of the hike, where she just wanted to stop and pitch the tent, Crowe encouraged her to sing, something he knows she loves to do. “We were kind of joyful in that chaos,” Garcia said, adding that both she and Crowe, who is also a music producer, have a deep appreciation for music. 

The wind was a challenge, and often required them to cover their faces. “We kind of opened up our minds a little bit going into the sand storm. Respect it, appreciate it, and see what goodness comes out of it.” 

Despite the challenges, Crowe and Garcia look at the experience with appreciation. “I felt so grounded and connected,” Garcia said.” It was meditative. . .it’s just like life. There are some challenges but with each challenge you become stronger [and] resilient.”

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Cary Staller talks to the group and addresses concerns. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
The plan designs. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
The plan designs. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Cary Staller talks to the group and addresses concerns. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted most popular, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted in the middle, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted least popular, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Community members at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association meeting on 3/25/25. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association met on March 25 with Staller Associates Realty and its architect to discuss possible architectural designs for the Staller’s 280-unit, three-story apartment complex, which would replace the abandoned shopping center on Route 112, between Cherub Lane and Terryville Road. 

John Lewis from NELSON Worldwide, described as a “masters of suburban mixed-used development master plans” by Staller Associates Vice President Valentin Staller, presented three possible designs for the civic’s consideration. The three buildings were all angular, with long wrap-around balconies, large windows, discrete first-floor parking garages and glass elements. 

The first design was mostly brick with a “warehouse or mercantile kind of feel,” said Lewis, who was inspired by feedback about the Staller’s property in Farmingdale, The Lofts on Main; the second integrates more color and other textures and materials with sleek white columns, while the third is more geometric, contemporary and mostly white. 

“A more residential tone is more of a tone of exclusivity than inclusivity. A commercial feel allows people to feel welcome and draws them in,” Lewis said, saying later that the property will be a community center as people walk from store to store. 

Some residents repeated the complaint that it is reminiscent of Brooklyn and Queens; others thought it was trendy and would be popular among the younger generation; many wanted a more subdued, classic New England feel — something that would mesh more with Port Jefferson. 

While aesthetic discussion revolved mostly around feel, but some residents wanted specific elements such as a unique trim, no shutters or more cast stone.

“They are a little sterile. I like the idea of making it more farmhouse or colonial,” said a Port Jefferson resident. 

“We are the gateway to Port Jefferson…is there a way to make this more to that kind of perception?” asked another. 

Staller had previously lowered the building height at the request of the civic. The property will have a 25-foot setback, be 35-45 feet tall and will not include balconies in the back where the building faces a residential area as well as a larger buffer. 

PJS/Terryville Civic President Ira Costell appreciated the effort to involve the community, but was dissapointed with the renderings. He said a computerized model that displayed the depth and other aspects of the project would have given a “real sense of the feel of the place” and allowed for more effective communication in the future. The meeting which was attended by around 70 people and lasted 2 hours.”It is a starting point rather than ending,” Costell said.

Staller Associates President Cary Staller said construction will start in two to three years. He still intends to devote 20% of the units to people with disabilities, although he doesn’t have a price point per unit approximation. Staller Associates is still looking for vendors, and the civic responded with many suggestions, ranging from a health food grocery store to a bakery, a suggestion that was enthusiastically received. 

Bike lanes and sidewalks are part of the plan, and Cary Staller said he is trying to connect the bike lane to the existing lane. “We are going to have bike lanes from Terryville throughout the site and then to [the Greenway] and we think that will make the Greenway a lot more desirable,” Cary Staller said. 

Lewis said there will be some construction traffic but roads will remain open. 

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