Town of Brookhaven’s Division of Women’s Services will host its15th annual Conference, “Enough is Enough There’s no Excuse for Abuse,” at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hall, Farmingville on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with interactive workshops featuring expert speakers and self defense techniques to protect yourself in any situation. Keynote speaker will be Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. The event is free and open to all.
To register, visit https://www.brookhavenny.gov/753/Womens-Conference. or click here. For more information, call . 631-698-2074
Start the season of giving by giving the gift of life! Stop by Mather Hospital, 75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson for a Fall Blood Drive on Thursday, Oct. 10 in Conference Room A & B from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. To make an appointment, visit donate.nybc.org. For more information, call 631-473-1320.
FCA’s Ryan Kiser (holding scissors) is flanked by FCA President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds (left) and Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine (right) and enthusiastic FCA staff and supporters.
Free Recovery Center Serves Long Island’s North and South Forks
Family and Children’s Association (FCA), one of Long Island’s leading human services agencies, wrapped up National Recovery Month by cutting the ribbon today on its THRIVE East End Recovery Center in Riverhead. The event was attended by FCA management, THRIVE staff and volunteers, its not-for-profit partners in recovery services, THRIVE clients, families and friends, and state and local government officials.
As Long Island’s first recovery community and outreach center, THRIVE has been helping individuals and families find, maintain and strengthen their recovery since 2017. To date, thanks to continued funding from NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and donors, THRIVE centers in Hauppauge, Westbury and the East End have served more than 30,000 people.
THRIVE East End, the first drug and alcohol recovery center to open in Eastern Suffolk (Westhampton 2021), relocated to Riverhead to provide a more centralized and larger space to serve the recovery community of the North and South Forks.
Providing support at every stage of recovery, THRIVE offers a safe, welcoming haven for substance-free recreational and social activities that provide a meaningful alternative to social activities that involve substance use. All programs are free of charge.
“The success of the THRIVE community continues to grow through word of mouth and from the incredible support of our partners,” said Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer of FCA. “We know the need is real – and we’re excited to launch this new, centrally located facility to better support the East End of Long Island.”
Joining Dr. Reynolds at the ribbon cutting were:
Ryan Kiser, Director of Recovery Services, FCA;
Kym Laube, Executive Director of HUGS Inc. (Human Understanding & Growth Services);
Maureen Amy, THRIVE client speaker in recovery;
Thalia Olaya, Suffolk County Regional Representative for Governor Kathy Hochul;
John Bouvier, NYS Executive Chamber Regional Representative, Eastern Long Island, for Governor Kathy Hochul;
Angela M. Noncarrow, District Office Director for Senator Anthony H. Palumbo;
Edward P. Romaine, Suffolk County Executive;
Denise Merrifield, Riverhead Town Councilwoman;
Bob Kern, Riverhead Town Councilman;
James M. Wooten, Riverhead Town Clerk;
Jodi Giglio, New York State Assembly, 2nd District.
In conclusion, Dr. Reynolds added, We support individuals on their recovery journey by helping them sustain their progress and enhance their overall well-being. Together, we’re committed to ending epidemics.”
THRIVE East End is located at 680 Elton Street, Riverhead, NY. For more information visit www.fcali.org.
Jillian Scully on the track. Courtesy Scully family
By Daniel Dunaief
Sometimes, Jillian Scully isn’t sure whether she’s dreaming that she’s practicing or she’s awake and on the field.
That’s because the Miller Place High School senior spends so much time honing her technique and trying to increase the distance she can throw a shot put and discus.
Jillian Scully
“I’ll have dreams where I’m practicing and it’s so vivid, I think I’m there,” said Scully. “I can feel the mud on my hands and the cold ball on my neck.”
The work has paid off, as Scully, who won the New York State Outdoor State Championship in shot put by over five feet in June, and set the school record in the shot put by over 12 feet, has been recruited by Division I track and field teams around the country, from UCLA to Arizona State, Colorado State University, and the University of Michigan, to name a few.
Two weeks ago, Scully and her parents James and Despina, (who goes by “Debbie,”) got up at 3 a.m. for a flight to Colorado, where they toured Colorado State University, and just last week, they visited the University of Michigan. On her college visits, coaches have given her tours of the campus and have outfitted her in university attire. Until she chooses a school, she can’t bring any of that clothing home.
“I’m expecting when I go to these schools that I’m going to have a gut feeling,” said Scully. I have a sense that I’ll know the best fit for me as soon as I step on [the right] campus.”
Scully, who is 6 feet, 1 inch tall, has found it tough to watch others train without being able to participate.
“It’s a little difficult seeing all the throwers getting to lift and throw and me being forced to watch,” Scully explained.
Scully explained that her favorite moment in a meet is when she takes her first step into the circle, which gives her a surge of confidence.
Each time she prepares to launch the ball or discus, things go “silent in my brain, the sound stops and I just throw,” she said.
A highly valued recruit, Scully started throwing shot put and discus in middle school. Ian Dowd, who coached track and field in middle school at Miller Place, recalled how Scully could sprint the fastest, jump the furthest and, as it turns out, throw a shot put remarkably far, without any training.
“She threw [the shot put] something crazy, like 25 or 26 feet, the first time she did,” said Dowd, who now coaches basketball in the Southampton School District.
Scully’s father James, who owns and runs the construction company JFS Contracting, dabbled in track when he was in high school, including throwing shot put.
“I never thought she’d have been that good,” Scully said. “I did it because I was bored and I wanted to do something.”
The younger Scully, however, who plans to study engineering when she’s not practicing or competing in Division 1 track meets, is focused and passionate about throwing the 8.8 pound shot put as well as the 2.2 pound discus.
While shorter than her 6’3” father, Scully is taller than her 5’8” mother, Debbie, who considers herself the “small one” in the house. Debbie has never tried either sport, but has picked up her daughter’s bag to move it in the house.
“It’s no wonder you’re so strong,” Scully told her daughter. “She’s walking around with a weighted vest all day long.”
Change of life
Before she discovered track and field, where she also runs the 4×100 relay, Scully, 17, was struggling.
Scully suggested that her mother gave her the “nudge” to try track.
Jillian Scully
“I was introduced to track at a certain point in my life when I was secluded from everybody,” said Scully, who was unreceptive to people and spent her free time playing video games or being unproductive.
“The person I was for however many years is not me,” Scully recalled. “I didn’t enjoy being that person.”
When she started competing in track, she felt the experience, including the camaraderie with her teammates, “clicked” and became “a part of me.” Spinning around in a small circle and throwing objects through the air became a necessary part of her mental health, and is a large part of her personality.
Hannah Kuemmel, the Athletic Trainer at Miller Place High School, has noticed the change in Scully.
“She is a lot more confident in who she is as a person and an athlete,” said Kuemmel, who also teaches a sports medicine class in which Scully sits front and center.
When she started competing in shot put and discus, she found a way to excel. “If I’m good, I might as well keep doing it,” she said. “I love it so much.”
Good isn’t the word Bill Hiney, her personal coach who has been working with her for over two years, and who has been in the field for 36 years, would use to describe her.
“I’ve often said she’s on another planet,” said Hiney, who is the Assistant Track and Field Coach during the winter and spring seasons for Southold High School.
A good female shot put thrower can reach the mid 30 feet. At 46 feet, 11 inches, Scully is throwing 10 feet further than the best female athlete Hiney has ever worked with, which puts her “in another dimension.”
Hiney describes her athletic student as the “icing on the cake in my long career. Coaches are lucky to have someone with athleticism, size and all the elements necessary to be extraordinary.”
Five squares
And, speaking of icing, the combination of her athletic training and metabolism make Scully a voracious eater, as she consumes five square meals a day.
She typically tops it off with a pint of Haagen Dazs mint chocolate chip ice cream in the evenings.
“She eats everything under the sun,” said her father, who adds that when he brings her 20 buffalo wings, she asks for another 20 so she can have a snack later.
These days, Scully, who coaches describe as tall and lean, puts her height to use in another sport, as she is an outside hitter for the varsity volleyball team, as well.
Scully’s parents appreciate how sports has given her the self-confidence and readiness to contribute to her team.
Even during track and field competitions, when she’s preparing to do her own throwing, Scully will speak with other athletes about their technique. “When Jillian was throwing against other girls, they asked her, ‘What can I do to throw better? What am I doing wrong?’” Jim Scully said. “She takes it upon herself to help all the other throwers,” and encourages them to improve.
Athletic trajectory
As well as Scully has performed in the shot put and discus, Hiney and the head coaches from universities around the country see continued growth ahead. Scully just started weight lifting this summer. “If it was karate, she’d be a white belt,” Hiney said. Well-known coaches in the field have come to watch her throw and have been impressed. Dowd believes Scully could reach an elite level if she keeps pushing herself, even climbing as far as the Olympics.
“I would love to see her with a US banner,” Dowd said. “That would be surreal.”
As for Scully’s thoughts on the matter, she would embrace an opportunity to represent her country at the Olympic games. She recalls sitting in class, and looking up how far Olympians, who competed in this past Paris Games, threw when they were her age.
“I’m trying to compare myself and set my goals,” she said. “That would be a dream for me, going to the Olympics and competing in these events.”
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
Linda Panetta, of Smithtown, with glassblower Gregory Tomb. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
An array of Tomb’s glass pumpkins. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
By Toni-Elena Gallo
Setauket Presbyterian Church proudly displayed over 1,000 colorful, glass pumpkins, blown by artist Gregory Tomb during a fall fundraiser from September 27 to 29.
Tomb, who operates a glassblowing studio in Upstate New York, as well as Phoenix, AZ., has worked with a variety of charities, for many years, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Open Door Exchange, Long Island’s first and only furniture bank based in Port Jefferson Station, which provides anyone in need, crisis or life transition, with the furniture they need to begin their new lives.
Tomb says that when he is not teaching classes, or working private events, he derives great pleasure “from days like these,” which are about more than simply making money.
Ryan Haugstatter, the Director of Development at Open Door Exchange, was overjoyed to welcome Tomb through Setauket Presbyterian’s doors, and shared that “20% of the proceeds,” will directly support ODE’s mission of providing locals with the services they deserve.
For more information on Tomb, and his work, please visit glasspumpkinpatchfundraiser.com, and for more information on ODE, visit opendoorexchange.com.
Heather Lynch with Emperor penguins. Photo by Evan Grant
Stony Brook University Professor Heather J. Lynch, PhD, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the first Endowed Chair for Ecology and Evolution at the university’s Institute for Advanced Computation Science (IACS) has been awarded the 2024 Golden Goose Award for Unconventional Research that Yielded Unexpected and Impactful Discovery.
Caption: Heather Lynch with an Adélie penguin. Photo by Ron Naveen
Professor Lynch’s project, “From Poop to Protection: Satellite Discoveries Help Save Antarctic Penguins and Advance Wildlife Monitoring” which was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA, looks at a way “to track penguin populations via satellite imagery, leading to the discovery of 1.5 million previously undocumented Adélie penguins and a whole new way to track wildlife.“ Professor Lynch shares this award with former IACS postdoctoral fellow Christian Che-Castaldo, PhD and Mathew Schwaller, PhD. Lynch also serves as the inaugural director of Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth.
The Golden Goose Award celebrates federally funded research that may at first seem obscure or unconventional but has led to major breakthroughs in science and honors the importance of basic research, which aims to investigate unknown phenomena and advance current knowledge. The awards are hosted annually by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
“This is a tremendous honor for Professor Lynch. The Golden Goose recognizes that scientific discovery may not always follow a conventional path. Innovation is a hallmark of Stony Brook research, and Professor Lynch’s extraordinary research and dedication to addressing climate change is a stellar example,” said Carl Lejuez, Provost and Executive Vice President
“I’m hugely honored to have our work recognized in this way, and I remain as excited about the potential of satellite imagery as I was when we started this more than a decade ago,” said Heather Lynch. “I think we’ve only just scratched the surface of its potential for research and conservation.”
Professor Lynch’s research focuses on distribution and abundance of Antarctic wildlife, particularly on the development of remote sensing approaches to monitoring Antarctica’s penguin populations. She works closely with Antarctic policymakers to make sure they have the best available science at hand when deliberating measures for the area’s protection, and her discovery (with co-awardee Mathew Schwaller) of a major population of penguins in the Danger Islands directly led to the creation of a new Antarctic Specially Protected Area. She holds a doctorate in organismic and evolutionary biology from Harvard University and earned a master’s degree in physics from Harvard University and a bachelor of arts degree in physics from Princeton University.
To see more about Professor Lynch and her collaborators’ Golden Goose award-winning research, go to YouTube.
Preservation Long Island invites the community to a Community Conversation on the historic murals at Kings Park Psychiatric Center at the Mills Pond Gallery, 176 Mills Pond Road, St. James on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 7 to 8 p.m.
This discussion will revolve around a mural from King’s Park Psychiatric Center (KPPC) Building 93, attributed to author and cartoonist Percy Lee Crosby, who lived at KPPC from 1949 until his death in 1964 and how the mural interprets the experience of being a resident at KPPC, art as a form of therapy, and the mural as a historic artifact.
The event will take place at the Mills Pond House which a Greek Revival home built for William Wickham Mills in 1838–40. It is a rare surviving example of the small agricultural communities that once thrived on Long Island. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house now serves as the Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Mills Pond Gallery, which offers a space for creative expression and the exploration of contemporary art. Be sure to visit the gallery’s current art exhibition Our Relationship with the Land open one hour before the Community Conversation.
This event isfree and open to all —community members, students, educators, activists, and anyone interested in how these artworks capture human experiences and reflect the community of KPPC.
To reserve your space, visit www.millspondgallery.org/events For more information, call 631-862-6575.
The exhibit's focal piece, a kraken/squid sculpture by multimedia artist Cindy Pease Roe, greets visitors as they enter the gallery. Photo from Whaling Museum
On view at the exhibit, Mami Wata (“Mother water”) is a water spirit of African origin. She is associated with the dangers and opportunities inherent in living near the water. You will typically see this deity depicted with snakes, a fish or mermaid tail, or both! This beautiful example from the Baoulé region of the Ivory Coast is unusually ornate with an intricate bodice and traditional scar details on the face.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
This image compiles the creatures included in the Carta Marina map from 1539 (one of the earliest detailed maps of the Scandinavian peninsula).
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
'Monsters and Mermaids' is currently on view at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor has announced the opening of a new special exhibition, Monsters and Mermaids: Legends of the Sea.
The two-year exhibit developed by museum staff will explore ocean-inspired myths, legends, and their contemporary connections. By exploring nautical mythologies, visitors will be prompted to think about the ocean’s influence on how cultures were shaped and continue to shape us, and our impacts on the ocean today. The project will be the first exhibition about folklore on Long Island in 13 years and will shed light on monstrous beings of the deep just in time for the Halloween season.
Nomi Dayan, Executive Director of The Whaling Museum & Education Center, shares, “I think a fascinating element of this project is considering how people have perceived whales through time. Today, people light up when they talk about whales. We view them as breathtaking and highly complex creatures, and whale sightings can bring strong emotions and joy. But for millennia, they were seen quite differently by diverse cultures — in fact, the scientific name for the order of whales, ‘cetacean,’ translates to ‘sea monster.’ As part of this exhibition, visitors will stop and reflect on what the word ‘monster’ means to them.”
A highlight of the exhibition is a commissioned full-size kraken/squid sculpture created out of marine debris by multimedia artist Cindy Pease Roe. Based in Greenport, Roe is the founder of UpSculpt, an organization which combines public arts, conservation, and education. The artist has been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide, and her work draws inspiration from her lifelong connection with the sea.
“The real sea monsters today are man-made, like marine plastics. By engaging the community to help collect materials for the Kraken, together, we’re reclaiming ownership and responsibility for our oceans, reshaping the narrative from fear to collective action and stewardship,” said Pease Roe.
Her new sculpture, created out of plastic marine debris collected on Long Island beaches, will bring attention to one of the largest sea monsters ever imagined — the legendary kraken, inspired by the Giant Squid.
The squid/kraken will be displayed in an original and imaginative context by being suspended above the museum’s historic whaleboat, thrusting contemporary plastic materials into a 19th century story. As the gallery’s defining focal point, Roe’s piece will be thematically central to Monsters & Mermaids, and flip the narrative by questioning who is really afraid of whom today? The sculpture will convey a powerful message about the fragility of legendary creatures and confront the massive human refuse which is changing the ocean’s stories today.
The community is encouraged to participate in this exhibit by donating red and orange plastics gathered from Long Island beaches. Donations can be made at the museum or by visiting UpSculpt.com for additional donation options.
In addition to the squid sculpture, visitors will see maps, prints, scrimshaw, ephemera, and specimens exploring the artistic and cultural folklore of sea serpents, whales, sirens, and other global legends. Artifacts will be sourced from the museum’s collection as well as loans from other institutions.
One of the items on display from the museum’s collection will be a 1986 diorama by artist Vincent P. Ciro titled “Ye Dam’n Whale.” It depicts a scene from Moby Dick by Herman Melville. “When we think about the Monster Whale, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is perhaps the most ubiquitous example in American literature.” said Baylee Browning, Collections and Exhibits Associate, The Whaling Museum & Education Center, “But who is the monster, really? Is it Moby Dick, the White Whale, or Captain Ahab, the relentless pursuer? Monsters and Mermaids, Legends of the Sea will explore these questions about monstrosity and wonder. What is a monster, and what does that say about our understanding of the natural world, and of ourselves? We can’t wait to explore these questions with you this October and “sea” if you can decide.”
In addition, visitors will reflect on the endurance of mermaid myths throughout history, from cave paintings to the 2023 mermaid-core fashion trend and ubiquitous Starbucks logo. A closer look into the history of mermaid portrayals will also offer insights into the history of racist perspectives.
Long Islanders can look forward to the museum’s upcoming series of workshops, events, talks, and programming for both adults and children exploring themes in the exhibition.
To celebrate, the museum will host two opening events: “Monsters & Mermaids: Family Bash” on Sunday, October 6th, and an exclusive evening event, “Monsters and Mermaids: After Dark,” on Thursday, October 10th.
The Family Bash, taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 6, will transform the museum’s galleries into magical underwater realms. Families can enjoy a day filled with meeting a mermaid in a fantastical setting, exploring “Davy Jones’ Locker” with a touch tank featuring live sea creatures, and face painting that brings the event’s enchantment to life.
Museum educators will offer interactive talks on the origins of the kraken and other deep-sea myths. Craft stations throughout the galleries will feature activities like making your own “monster slime” and other monster and mermaid-themed crafts. Guests are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to add to the festive atmosphere.
“We’re delighted to bring the magical world of oceanic legends to life,” said Brenna McCormick-Thompson, Curator of Education. “The Family Bash offers a wonderful opportunity for visitors to explore the new exhibit with special activities designed for kids and families.”
Admission to the “Monsters & Mermaids: Family Bash” includes all activities. Advance tickets are $20 for children and $8 for adults, with member rates of $15 for children and $5 for adults. Tickets at the door are $25 for children and $8 for adults, with member rates of $20 for children and $5 for adults. The museum extends its gratitude to Gellerman Orthodontics for sponsoring the Mermaid Performer.
“Monsters and Mermaids: After Dark,” set for October 10th from 7 to 9 p.m. is an exclusive adult-only event. This evening will feature activities tailored for a mature audience, alongside the same enchanting backdrop as the “Family Bash”. Attendees can savor sea-inspired cocktails or mocktails and participate in a craft workshop to create fancy creature specimen jars, perfect for Halloween décor.
For those seeking mystical insights, tarot card readings will be featured. A costume contest will add to the fun, with prizes for the most imaginative costumes.
“This special evening event provides a unique way to dive deeper into the exhibit,” added Thompson. “We look forward to creating a memorable and immersive experience where guests can fully explore the legendary history of ocean myths.”
Advance tickets for “Monsters and Mermaids: After Dark” are $40, with member tickets at $30. At the door, tickets are $45, with member tickets available for $35. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit cshwhalingmuseum.org/monsters.
The “Monsters & Mermaids: Legends of the Sea” exhibition and associated programs are supported in part with funds from the New York State National Maritime Heritage Education Subgrant Program. The exhibition is also supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and Humanities New York, and Public Funding Provided by Suffolk County.
For the next two years, viewing the special exhibit will be included with regular admission to the museum. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children aged 4-17, and free for children aged 0-3 as well as Active Duty with ID. Gallery hours at the start of the exhibit will reflect fall and winter hours of Thursdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.cshwhalingmuseum.org.
Three-dimensional rendering of the proposed redevelopment project at Jefferson Plaza. Graphic courtesy Valentin Staller
By Sabrina Artusa
Brookhaven Town Board approved the long-contested Staller Associates rezoning application for the Jefferson Plaza property in Port Jefferson Station Sept. 26. It was a crucial step signifying the progression of Staller’s plan to repurpose the plaza into a residential property along with commercial usage.
Staller Associates is an Islandia-based privately-held real estate company engaged in the development, ownership and management of commercial and residential real estate on Long Island.
Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) announced the approval of the zone change from J2 Business to Commercial Redevelopment District, thus allowing Staller to begin planning for the apartments building.
Jefferson Plaza in its current state. File photo
Brookhaven residents have been divided over the prospect of this project. Some are unhappy with certain details, such as design, and desire more deliberation before making what they view as a hasty decision to rezone.
“We are not saying this project won’t be good for the community … that’s a blighted shopping center,” said Lou Antoniello, treasurer of Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, during the public hearing. “This project is not ready to be approved tonight. I don’t understand the rush to push this thing through.”
Others stand wholly against developing more housing complexes and rezoning, while some are ardent proponents of revitalizing the largely unused plaza.
Joseph Stallone spoke on behalf of the Long Island Builders Institute. “We have some of the best schools in the country and we are sending our young minds to North Carolina and Florida and Virginia,” he said. “As someone who grew up here, I would like to stay here and I would love to stay at a development like the one Staller has proposed.”
Ira Costell, president of PJSTCA, had hoped that the developer would have involved the public more throughout the process, instead of just on a rudimentary level in the early phases of the process. He said that, in the beginning, he and his organization met with Staller, but then went almost two years without direct contact.
“We want to find a way to get behind this proposal, but we find that the process really failed us,” he said.
The CRD zoning code was amended in 2020, and this new version is at the root of resident apprehension. CRD zones are “designed to achieve economically beneficial and socially desirable redevelopment which is more creative and imaginative in its land use,” the Brookhaven Town Code reads.
The CRD label dictates that “civic space and recreational areas, including squares, private plaza, greens and public parks, shall be intermixed throughout the development for social activity, recreation and visual enjoyment.”
Indeed, Staller Associates intends to integrate a public plaza, a health club and a restaurant into the plaza in addition to the residential complex in this corridor off Route 112.
Staller has previously announced that 20% of the units will be used only for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Kornreich said that Staller will likely enter into a form of partnership with a special-needs housing advocacy group to do so. The realty business has a property in Farmingdale, where it administer the same policy.
Aesthetic cohesion is a major area of concern for Brookhaven residents who say that the influx of apartment buildings will make Port Jefferson Station lack a consistent architectural theme. To many, this rezoning increases the threat of overdevelopment.
Kornreich assured those present that the appearance of the buildings is not set in stone. “A lot of these issues that were brought up by people at the [PJS/T] civic association — things related to the density, things related to the site, layout things related to the architecture — all these things will be worked out later in planning,” he said.
“The site plan has not been drawn up yet in that level of detail” he said in regard to concerns over fire safety, which he said will be worked out later in the process.
In a significant step towards recovery from the record rainfall and flooding that devastated the region on August 18t and the 19, an intergovernmental partnership between the Village of Head of the Harbor and the Town of Smithtown has resulted in the successful construction of a temporary access road off Emmet Drive. The first major recovery project completed in the aftermath of the storm, will allow previously stranded residents to return to a semblance of normalcy at home.
“We are incredibly grateful to Town Supervisor Wehrheim and Highway Superintendent Murphy for their quick action, partnership and commitment to building the road in such a short time… Village Chief of Police Chuck Lohmann and Building Inspector Bob O’Shea, out of concern for the seven vulnerable families who had been served by Mill Creek Road, have been strong advocates throughout this process, ensuring the Village does everything possible to allow those families to remain in their homes. We are now thrilled to be able to rescind the emergency evacuation order that had been previously served,” said Village Mayor Michael Utevsky, Head of the Harbor
Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, together with Councilman Tom Lohmann, and Superintendent of Highways Robert Murphy worked in lockstep with Head of the Harbor Village Mayor, Michael Utevsky, Chief of Police Chuck Lohmann, Building Inspector Bob O’Shea, and Village Engineer Dan Falasco to construct a temporary road restoring access for seven homeowners along Mill Creek Road. The privately owned road suffered catastrophic damage in addition to a large chunk of Harbor Road which was also washed away by the storm.
“We come together in times of need and today is an illustration of our unflinching commitment to our neighbors, some of whom can now rest easy, safely in their homes tonight. The Town of Smithtown administration, together with our Highway Department led by Robert Murphy, immediately offered assistance to the Village in the aftermath of record rainfall. We committed our full support in doing everything possible in partnership with our neighboring Head of the Harbor Village. With the completion of this temporary access road, the Village is now able to rescind the emergency evacuation order, allowing residents to remain in their homes safely and as we approach colder weather. I’m deeply grateful to Mayor Utevsky, Chief of Police Lohmann, our Highway Department and most of all the Residents who all came together to help their neighbors through a time of crisis,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
The Smithtown Department of Highways began work last Wednesday, to build a 1,000-foot temporary access road from nearby Emmet Drive, crossing neighbors’ property to ensure the seven vulnerable families served by Mill Creek Road could access their homes. Village Engineer Dan Falasco assisted in the designing the road, ensuring it met emergency access requirements while respecting the wishes of the neighboring property owners who provided access. Construction was approved to move forward just one week after the decision was made, with work commencing on Wednesday, September 25.
“This is the job… and it’s why we all get up and go to work in the morning. This project is symbolic of our steadfast commitment to the community at large, that we will rebuild and emerge stronger and more resilient. We will complete each storm recovery and infrastructure initiative until the very last sump is clear, the last storm drain is inspected and our ecological restoration is sound,” added Robert Murphy, Town of Smithtown Superintendent of Highways.
The successful collaboration between Head of the Harbor and the Town of Smithtown demonstrates the strength of intergovernmental partnerships in times of crisis. The temporary road will allow the affected families to access their properties while a more permanent solution is planned, and serves as a testament to the resilience of the community.
The Family Bash, taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 6, will transform the museum’s galleries into magical underwater realms. Families can enjoy a day filled with meeting a mermaid in a fantastical setting, exploring “Davy Jones’ Locker” with a touch tank featuring live sea creatures, and face painting that brings the event’s enchantment to life.
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