During this year’s Miller Place-Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Stop and Shop in Rocky Point hosted a Parade Day Festival complete with vendors, giveaways, food, drink and raffles. The generous community of Brookhaven’s North Shore helped raise $7,000 for the Friends of St. Patrick’s to ensure the future of the MP-RP St. Patrick’s Day Parade will flourish for the years to come. Above, Stop & Shop store manager Bob Evans (center) presents a check to five members of the Friends of St. Patrick, from left, James McElhone, Vinny Worthington, Bob Evans, Neil Maguire, John O’Sullivan, and Raymond O’Sullivan.
Dr. Adam Bitterman. Photo from Huntington Hospital
Huntington Hospital has appointed Adam Bitterman, DO, chair of orthopedic surgery. Dr. Bitterman is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is a foot and ankle specialist and has a focus in treating conditions of the lower leg.
“Dr. Bitterman has the experience, demeanor and dedication needed to lead Huntington Hospital through its growth as a premier destination for orthopedics,” said Nick Fitterman, MD, executive director of Huntington Hospital. “I am confident he will set a vision and strategy well suited to support the orthopedic needs of residents in Huntington and Suffolk County.”
A native of Commack, Dr. Bitterman’s clinical interests include arthritis of the foot and ankle, deformity correction, Achilles’ tendon disorders, and sports-related injuries to the ankle and foot. He is highly skilled in arthroscopic, minimally invasive, and open approaches for various conditions surrounding the lower foot and ankle.
“The Department of Orthopedics at Huntington Hospital has enjoyed a rich history, and now with Dr. Bitterman as chair, we look forward to continuing to advance the highest quality patient-centric musculoskeletal care in our region,” said Nicholas Sgaglione, MD, senior vice president and executive director of Northwell Health Orthopedics. “I look forward to watching the department continue to grow under Dr. Bitterman’s leadership.”
“I am excited about continuing to raise the bar at Huntington Hospital, from clinical growth to the enhancement of efficiency and safety,” said Dr. Bitterman. “I’ve been fortunate to work at Huntington Hospital for six years and I look forward to continuing to build on the achievements we’ve made and I’m excited for what we will create in the future.”
Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn and members of the Three Village Chamber of Commerce attended the grand opening of “Mondays at Racine” at Gypsy Hair Lounge in the Three Village Shopping Center, 1389 Route 25A in Setauket on March 28.
“Mondays at Racine” is a not-for-profit organization that strives to increase a sense of control with wellness, beauty and therapeutic services for anyone experiencing the side effects of cancer. When patients go through chemotherapy treatment, they look in the mirror and are reminded every day of their medical condition. The physical effects, such as hair loss, nail discoloration and weight loss, take a toll both physically and internally. The program is open to anyone regardless of age or gender.
“Last week, I had the honor of attending the official opening of ‘Mondays at Racine’ at Gypsy Hair Lounge in Setauket. It was a beautiful event supported by many members of our community. Cancer has touched almost every family in our community in one way or another, and we know all too well the impact it can have on a patient’s physical appearance and emotional well-being. ‘Mondays at Racine’ partners with charter programs like Gypsy Hair Lounge all throughout Long Island to offer free services that help remind those with cancer of how beautiful they are,” said Councilmember Kornreich.
Amy Hirsch, founder and owner of Precision Pilates and Wellness, LLC, a boutique Pilates Studio, invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of their new location at 110 Lake Avenue South, Suite #45, Nesconset on April 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The newly renovated Precision Pilates and Wellness is located in the Lake Industrial Park at 110 Lake Ave South, Suite #45, Nesconset.
The studio will be offering tours, unveiling new equipment and fitness amenities. Attendees will enjoy refreshments and nibbles, along with raffles, giveaways, and sale of up to 20% off fitness wear and more. Special discounts on intro packages and individual Pilates sessions will also be offered at the event.
“We are thrilled to introduce and share our new state of the art Pilates Health and Wellness Facility,” said Hirsch.
“For the past 9 years, we have truly enjoyed helping our clients energize their lives and improve their overall health and wellness, strength, posture, and flexibility by offering affordable, personalized Classical Pilates instruction. Now with our expansion and the opening of Precision Pilates, we are excited to offer many mor class options, beyond Reformer Pilates, including Tower, Equipment, Mat and Privates based on the original work of Joseph Pilates.”
The event is FREE to the public and all ages and fitness levels are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to wear fitness attire and be ready to try out the new space. RSVP via email at [email protected] or visit https://smithtownpilates.com/open-house/ to schedule a tour. For more information, class schedules, or to reserve classes online visit www.SmithtownPilates.com.
Suffolk County Partners with Local Businesses and Organizations to Host Series of Career Exploration Events
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced that the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs will host a series of upcoming career exploration events. All job-seekers and residents looking for a change in career or new employment opportunities are encouraged to attend.
“As we continue to navigate our new normal, many of our residents here in Suffolk County are still dealing with financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “With a wide variety of companies scheduled to attend these hiring events, we want to ensure our residents that we are doing everything we can to help assist them with finding a steady paycheck.”
Rosalie Drago, SCDOLLCA Commissioner said: “There are 17,055 job openings in Suffolk County currently posted online. Employers regularly interview for these positions at Suffolk County job fairs and many hire on the spot. There are opportunities for people with high school diplomas, certificates, and degrees. Regardless of your experience or background there is a good paying job waiting for you in Suffolk County. To get started today call 3-1-1 where a Suffolk County Job Counselor is available to help you identify and explore these jobs, update your resume, or even do some interview prep.”
Through the SCDOL’s One-Stop Employment Center, which functions as a full-service human resources facility that brings together both employers and job seekers, residents are provided with a streamlined approach to job search. The center supplies job seekers with all the tools necessary for a self-directed or staff-assisted job search, and provides employers with facilities and workforce support.
Long Island Food, Beverage, and Hospitality Job Fair
Learn about the many job opportunities available within the Suffolk County Hospitality industry.
Meet with a recruiter from Mary Haven Center of Hope at Suffolk County Riverhead Center, 300 Center Drive, Riverhead and learn about their current job openings.
To learn more about free job and career events as well as how the One-Stop Employment Center can help you find your next career, please visit: www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Labor.
John Keating, manager of economic development for PSEGLI, announces initiative to invest in downtown areas during a press conference on Monday.
Photo from PSEGLI
On March 28, in honor of Tuesday’s National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, representatives of PSEG Long Island met with public officials and business leaders at PJ Lobster House to announce an initiative to revitalize Long Island’s downtown areas.
Representing PSEGLI was John Keating, manager of economic development, and Michael Voltz, director of energy efficiency and renewables. According to Keating, small business districts are the engine behind Long Island’s regional economy.
“We’re celebrating this National Mom and Pop Business Day by announcing that we are adding $500,000 to our programs for small businesses for 2022,” Keating said. “To bring more people into your downtown, we offer a main street revitalization program which offers $25,000 grants for anyone who wants to renovate that property and make it more appealing for people.”
In addition to these beautification investments, PSEGLI will also offer a vacant space program. According to Keating, investments in vacant spaces are a way to remove blemishes from local business districts.
“We’ve all been to downtowns and when you see a lot of vacant spaces it really doesn’t make you want to spend a lot of time in that downtown,” he said. “We created this vacant space revitalization program to occupy a space that was vacant for at least a year and we can give you a discount on your first year’s energy.”
Voltz discussed the various improvements made through these grants by James Luciano, owner of PJ Lobster House. According to Voltz, due to this investment the restaurant now operates with greater energy efficiency.
“You see the beautiful lamps and chandeliers — all LED lighting,” he said. “LED lighting is very efficient. We provided a rebate of about $1,200 for all of the various LED lamps in this building and that’s going to save James about $500 each and every year.” He added, “It’s good for small business, it’s good for his expenses and it helps PSEG Long Island by reducing the strain on our electric grid.”
Small businesses are what give a community a sense of place and a sense of identity.
— Jonathan Kornreich
Luciano, whose business relocated in June 2021, said PSEGLI had offered him the vacant space grant, enabling him to save money on energy. According to him, this had provided much-needed relief to his small business at a time when it was most needed.
“We had PSEG come down to our chamber [of commerce] and they introduced the programs they had and we were able to take advantage of the vacant space grant, which actually helped us out tremendously,” Luciano said. “We saved over $10,000 the first year on the energy that we used. We were also given during COVID the outdoor grants as well,” adding, “Starting out at a new location, that money definitely goes a long way, so PSEG is definitely a great partner to have in the community.”
Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D) thanked PSEGLI for supporting local businesses during their time of need. He welcomed the partnership between PSEGLI, local government and small businesses.
“Small businesses are what give a community a sense of place and a sense of identity for a lot of the families that live in those areas,” Kornreich said. “PSEG Long Island gets that and we appreciate you helping carry a lot of those businesses during the dark times of the pandemic.” He added, “Now that the pandemic is coming to an end, you’re helping to keep the lights on and we appreciate that.”
Mary Joy Pipe, owner of The East End Shirt Co. and president of Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, discussed the cooperation between the chamber and PSEGLI. She suggested that investments such as these require foresight and ingenuity to be successful.
“A lot of foresight was given to how this could be an advantage for the small businesses in our community,” she said. “Thank you to PSEG for that foresight.”
To learn more about the grant programs offered by PSEGLI, visit the website www.psegliny.com/inthecommunity/revitalization.
Stacy Davidson, right, is donating prom dresses this year.
Stacy Davidson of Pattern Finders/Stacy’s Finds in Port Jefferson knows how unexpected expenses can be difficult especially during these unpredictable times. To help local families, she wishes to donate gowns and tuxedos to enable a wonderful experience for local seniors who might have to skip the event due to monetary issues.
“My amazing customers always answer the call for a prom drive. Rather than limit the young ladies to the donated gowns, I will make my entire vast inventory of spectacular gowns and formal dressesavailable for the girls to come to the shop and choose from. Fedora Lounge Boutique Hair Salon in Port Jefferson is one of the local salons donating hair styling for some of the girls and Give Kids Hope in the village will also supply the students in need,” said Davidson.
Located at 128 East Main Street, Port Jefferson, Pattern Finders is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 631-928-5158.
Legislator Anker joins employees from the Miller Place Stop & Shop as she distributes COVID-19 at-home test kits.
Legislator Anker joins Legislator Bridget Fleming, employees from the Rocky Point Stop & Shop and Local 338 Union Representative Fred Wen as they distribute COVID-19 at-home test kits.
Legislator Anker joins employees form the Middle Island King Kullen as she distributes COVID-19 at-home test kits.
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker visited three local supermarket stores in March to distribute COVID-19 at-home test kits to their employees. She met with managers and employees of the Stop and Shops in Rocky Point and Miller Place, as well as the King Kullen in Middle Island, where she distributed over 700 test kits between the three stores.
This effort follows Legislator Anker’s recent Drive-Thru Test Kit Distribution event which was open to all residents, as well as the dissemination of boxes of test kit to the various senior communities and day care centers in the area.
“I want to thank the essential workers of our local supermarkets, who worked tirelessly throughout the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is my hope that these COVID-19 test-kits will help to keep the stores’ workers and patrons safe and healthy as we start to work our way back to a sense of normalcy,” said Legislator Anker.
“I also want to express my appreciation for our Local Unions 338 and 1500, who represent the workers of Stop and Shop and King Kullen. Through these challenging times, our local unions have continued to dedicate themselves to ensuring workers and their families are protected and supported,” she said.
Theresa Livingston outside of Harbor Square Mall, where her new Bar Method studio will soon open.
Photo by Julianne Mosher
By Julianne Mosher
Something new is heading into Port Jefferson village.
The Bar Method, a workout studio that was designed with high repetition and low impact resistance training, is officially set to open its third Long Island location right in Port Jefferson.
Theresa Livingston, the franchise owner, said she fell in love with barre almost a decade ago, but during the COVID-19 pandemic realized she wanted to bring this method close to home.
“As I got older, my joints really started to hurt and it just wasn’t maintainable anymore,” the Selden mom said. “I was looking for something that’s easy on the body and I found barre. It just works.”
Livingston said that in barre practice, one matches the working in the muscle to stretching where you lengthen and strengthen.“It’s just something you can do forever,” she said.
The Bar Method is all about educating our students, how they can be in tune with their body.
— Theresa Livingston
During the pandemic, Livingston said she started trying The Bar Method through their online classes and she knew it was the right fit.
Compared to other barre studios, instructors for The Bar Method have “hours and hours” of training, Livingston said.
“We work with personal trainers, we’re taught proper alignment and modifications, and then we work in the studio to train for months before becoming an instructor,” she added.
According to the company’s website, The Bar Method exercises also include elements of Pilates, yoga and other strength training workouts fused into a ballet-inspired barre workout.
But Livingston said one doesn’t necessarily have to have a dance background to succeed and see results.
“The choreography that we do is easy to follow,” she said, “We have so many different props and equipment that you can use to help and bars in the room or different heights. So, everything can be modified.”
While Livingston was practicing online, she also traveled to The Bar Method’s only two other locations on Long Island — Huntington and Roslyn.
The commutes were long, so she said, “Let’s get one closer to us.”
“I just thought I thought the village would be the perfect spot for this,” she said. “It’s such a community. People live here, they shop here and they want to stay here. So, I just felt like it would be great to have The Bar Method here.”
Livingston signed her franchise agreement in September and officially locked in the space inside Harbor Square Mall at the end of October.
Located right on Main Street, The Bar Method is planned to take over the back part of the mall with its own entrance right next to PJ Lobster House. Livingston said that when a student walks in, the plan includes a big, open lobby featuring different apparel and retail. Inside, the studio space will have roughly 30 bar spots along with a locker room, makeup area and showers.
Livingston is anticipating a summer opening and for now is looking to get the word out about the method and what it’s all about.
“The Bar Method is all about educating our students, how they can be in tune with their body and know what’s happening,” she said. “It’s a workout that just kind of fits whatever it is they need.”
In the interim, Livingston said that she and her instructors are planning free community lessons that will pop up around the village.
For more updates on Port Jeff’s new workout spot, interested students can follow on Instagram @barmethodportjeffvillage.
Sal Pitti (left) and Ed Garboski (right) stand outside of Jefferson Plaza in Port Jeff Station. Photo by Raymond Janis
Local leaders have weighed in on the proposed redevelopment project at Jefferson Plaza on Route 112, south of Hallock Avenue in Port Jeff Station.
Empty storefronts have been an ongoing issue for the PJ Station community. Photo by Raymond Janis
The plaza is owned by Staller Associates, a commercial real estate company based in Hauppauge. Staller intends to make a significant investment to redevelop this shopping center, according to leadership from the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association. Under the current plan, the plaza will be zoned commercial and residential. TBR News Media could not reach a representative of Staller Associates for this story.
Edward Garboski, incoming president of PJSTCA, said that a plan to revitalize the plaza has been in the works for nearly a decade. Since its approval, that plan has mostly been dormant until recently.
“Over eight years ago, we did a comprehensive study to create a transit-oriented district,” Garboski said. “We presented it to the Town [of Brookhaven]. They accepted it and it kind of got left on the shelf somewhere. We’ve been working on it behind the scenes, but until we got a new councilperson, now it’s really being pushed.”
Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D) is steering the initiative through town hall. According to Kornreich, redevelopment at Jefferson Plaza will help to revitalize the area.
“Redeveloping a site like that is going to really be vital to the rebirth of the Port Jefferson Station area,” he said. “As far as the town goes, in order to encourage redevelopment of sites like that, there was a new code created to encourage redevelopment to those types of properties.”
Kornreich said that the change of town code will allow for the construction of residential housing units at the plaza. He added that this change will also promote inclusion for people with disabilities.
“It’s going to create a greater diversity of housing options, which is something that’s very important for people as they get older and for younger people who are just starting out,” he said. “Also, there’s going to be a significant portion of the residential units there that are dedicated to people with disabilities.” He added, “Having a supportive environment for them that’s also walkable is going to be very valuable to the community as whole.”
Kornreich believes the Jefferson Plaza project will relieve traffic congestion, a problem for Port Jeff Station.
“Residential development generates less traffic than commercial development,” Kornreich said. “When you have a residential unit, people come and go once or twice a day. That same place, if it’s commercial development, is going to have 30, 40, 60 people an hour coming in and out.”
Local leaders expressed optimism that the Port Jeff Station community may soon link up to one of the neighboring sewer districts. The map above shows the geographic areas currently covered by sewers. The Suffolk County Department of Information Technology, GIS Division, granted permission to use data. Map generated by Raymond Janis
The additional step of adding a sewer extension is critical for the realization of this project. According to Salvatore Pitti, outgoing president and incoming vice president of PJSTCA, without a sewer line, redevelopment at the plaza will not be possible.
“One of our big problems here is also sewers,” Pitti said. “If we don’t get sewers, there is no way any of these restaurants or buildings are ever going to work. We’re currently in talks with Suffolk County to try to get sewers here.”
Pitti offered several possible sewer plant locations to which Jefferson Plaza could be attached in the future. He said the most ideal scenario would be to link the area to the Tallmadge Woods sewer district.
“What we’re pushing for is hopefully the Mount Sinai sewage plant, which is Tallmadge,” Pitti said. “Suffolk County is in talks with the town supposedly about trying to expand that sewer plant [to cover more area], but that’s another two-year project before we even hear if that’s going to work or not work.”
Another important question will be where to put the Port Jefferson Station Post Office, which is presently situated in the plaza. According to Garboski, the post office is under federal lease until 2024, at which point construction can begin. “They have a lease,” he said. “The lease still goes another few years and there are other options as to where they can put the post office.”
Pitti added, “That’s more of a federal thing that is way out of our hands.”
According to Pitti, the businesses that currently occupy the plaza are staples with longstanding ties to the Port Jefferson Station community. He said that it will be a challenge moving forward to accommodate both the aims of the developers and the interests of the business owners who fill those storefronts and who may wish to stay.
“I mean, it’s a business that [the developer] has to work out with the [current tenants] if they want to stay there or if they don’t want to stay,” Pitti said. “Honestly, I think they’re going to pretty much level the place and start construction because, fiscally, I don’t think it makes much sense to do half and half.” He added, “We asked the [developer] to do as best as he can to keep them in our community. Whether that happens or not is unfortunately between him and the [business] owners.”
According to Garboski, the developers are “looking to put in […] about $100 million into this project. That’s going to be a shot in the arm for the local economy. They’re serious, they’re putting serious money into it.”
He said that kind of private investment into the local economy is what the area needs to counteract its gradual decline and will encourage other real estate developers to join in.
“This is the first project that’s going to get revitalized and when it does, it’s going to set a precedent for the rest of the street and the rest of the developers,” Garboski said.
Although projects such as these seem to always receive some form of local opposition, Kornreich believes the community will soon notice the positive impact of redeveloping Port Jefferson Plaza.
“People get nervous sometimes when new projects are being proposed,” the councilmember said. “I’ve never seen a project that was universally loved from day one, but generally speaking once stuff gets built and people see it and they realize the positive change it has on the community, people tend to like it most of the time.”
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