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Children had fun during the 2nd annual David Wolmetz Family Fun fundraiser at Urban Air Lake Grove on June 8. Photo from Urban Air Lake Grove

Day of high flying fun for kids supports blood cancer research at Stony Brook Cancer Center

Long Island kids and their parents turned out for the second annual David Wolmetz Family Fun Day Fundraiser at Urban Air Lake Grove on June 8, honoring the late co-founder of Long Island’s tallest indoor adventure park and raising more than $10,000 to support research and treatment at Stony Brook Cancer Center.

Admission to the park for kids of all ages included access to the most popular attractions including the 30-foot-tall Sky Rider zipline, Mini Go-Karts, Climbing Walls, Bumper Cars, and more. Local vendors were also on hand for face painting, balloon animals, temporary tattoos and hourly raffles of everything from TVs to luxury vacations.

Proceeds from the event will go to support blood cancer research at the Stony Brook Cancer Center, where Wolmetz received treatment from 2019 to 2023.

“We grew up together, we went into this business together,” said Keith Handler, Co-Founder of Urban Air Lake Grove. “Dave loved to see kids happy and off their screens. This fundraiser is in honor of him to support the people who took care of him when he was sick.”

In October of 2018, Wolmetz was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was admitted to Stony Brook Hospital’s 19th floor, where his treatment started immediately. The staff at the Cancer Center and hospital treated him throughout his cancer journey, which spanned the COVID pandemic, and subsequently several hospitalizations over the years due to his compromised immune system. Dave lost his battle with cancer on June 9, 2023.

“Stony Brook Cancer Center was a very special place for him, and he loved the medical professionals who took such good care of him,” said Carrie Wolmetz, wife of Dave Wolmetz. “He always had hope; he always stayed positive. And he was always ready to try whatever new treatments were available, for himself and for other people.”

Donations to Stony Brook Cancer Center can be made here.

About Urban Air Lake Grove

With 50,000 sq. ft. of active play space, Urban Air Lake Grove is home to a variety of indoor activities, including the Sky Rider, a zip-line style attraction with a winding track that carries young thrill-seekers flying along 30 feet in the air, the tallest on Long Island. Urban Air Lake Grove also offers a High Ropes obstacle course, Spin Zone bumper cars, and a full set of rock-climbing walls, wall-to-wall trampoline adventures, and Urban Air’s exclusive Urban Warrior Course™ and Battle Beam, mini Go Karts and Flash Pads, an interactive dance floor attraction.  Urban Air Lake Grove is located at 3147 Middle Country Road, Lake Grove, NY 11755. Phone: (631) 861-4125.

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Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Setauket Harbor Task Force. Photo courtesy George Hoffman
Eight years of water testing

By George Hoffman

Almost a decade ago, Laurie Vetere and George Hoffman had a conversation about water quality concerns in Setauket Harbor and decided to form a group of like minded residents to work on improving water quality and the marine environment in the harbor. Out of that decision the Setauket Harbor Task Force was formed.

Since then a hardy group of local residents wake up twice a month at sunrise, from May through October and head out into the harbor with sophisticated equipment funded by the US EPA and take water quality readings in a dozen locations in Port Jefferson and Setauket harbors.

Setauket Harbor Task Force is part of a 50 harbor water quality monitoring program on both sides of the LI Sound in partnership with Save the Sound.  The water quality data collected under the Unified Water Study, is compiled and categorized in an biannual water quality report card for the Long Island Sound.  This data is used by municipalities, marine scientists and others to monitor the water quality health of Long Island Sound harbors.

Port Jefferson and Setauket Harbors continually rank in the top five harbors for water quality in the Long Island Sound.

This year marks the eighth year that Setauket Harbor Task Force has participated in the water quality monitoring program and is always looking for volunteers that like to get up early and be on a boat as the sun comes up.  If interested contact www.savesetauketharbor.org.

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Heather Banoub and Carl Mills. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

Carl Mills, Stony Brook University associate vice president of government relations, and Heather Banoub, assistant vice president of community relations at the university, were joined by Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D, Port Jefferson) to speak on budget priorities, which include adding housing options to the campus. 

Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

Besides pushing legislation to grow their advanced specialty care facilities throughout the county, Mills said Kassay is helping the university with legislation to allow the university to contract nearby fire districts for access to equipment. Currently, the university has its own fire services but still works closely with surrounding departments. 

“It will be a cross benefit not only for the university but the taxpayer if we can contract for surplus equipment that fire districts have,” said Mills.

The university is also planning a housing project that can provide up to 1,900 beds so Simon Scholars, medical residents and junior faculty can have on-campus housing options. The project is not meant to allow the university to admit more incoming students, but to “allow young professionals” a space on campus. 

Some residents were concerned that traffic will not be able to sustain growth and neighboring communities will suffer. “I know you guys want to grow, that is your job, but I live there and traffic still sits in front of my house,” one resident said. Mills said a traffic study is being conducted. 

Legislation is needed to execute this project, which Mills said is not unusual for this “long-term project.” The university will form a housing and development corporation, which would lease the property, submit a request for proposal and solicit bids. 

“We don’t have the funding as it stands to do this on our own,” Mills said. “We have financial challenges in that we don’t know what is happening on the federal level.” 

The project would require the relocation of the track behind LaValle Stadium and off Route 25A. 

In August 2024, many students were pushed off campus or into cramped accommodations after two dormitories were flooded. “As the flagship university, we just can’t be in that position,” Mills said.

Funding projects

In her first budget cycle as a state assemblymember, Kassay reported on several budgetary items, such as securing $1 million for SBU’s cancer research center, $1 million for clean water research and $330,000 for a nursing training program at the Long Island State Veterans Home.

She also helped eliminate the Metropolitan Transportation Authority payroll mobility tax from municipalities. The tax impacts employers, so the elimination offers relief to the Town of Brookhaven and other suburban municipalities. Small businesses are still affected by the tax, but to a diminished degree. 

Kassay said she is excited to support a bigger, better bottle bill, which will extend the array of items that can get recycled and increase the deposit return to 10 cents. 

She also said she is working to diminish needless plastic waste by requiring restaurants to give the option of plastic utensils for a takeout order rather than instantly including them. 

The legislation would mean that “restaurants, when doing a takeout order cannot give you those items unless you consent to taking those items. So they can ask you, and you can say yes, or you can ask them… and that is absolutely legal,” Kassay said. “They just can’t force them.” 

“For us facing enormous waste problems here, this isn’t going to solve it entirely but it is sure going to help in as far as reducing waste.” The legislation has failed in Suffolk in the past, but Kassay is optimistic that the move would be a win-win for businesses and consumers alike. 

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Aldi in Medford will hold a ribbon cutting on June 12 at 9 a.m. Stock photo

By Heidi Sutton

It’s official! The new Aldi supermarket coming to Medford has set an opening date. The store will open its doors on Wednesday, June 11 for a “sneak peak” and a grand opening will be held on Thursday, June 12 with a ribbon cutting scheduled at 9 a.m. The first 100 customers at the grand opening will receive a golden ticket that could be worth up to $100. In addition, free tote bags will be distributed while supplies last and shoppers can also enter a contest for a chance to win a $500 gift card from June 12 to 15. Residents in the area received a flyer in the mail this week with a $5 coupon off a minimum $30 purchase.

Located at 2799 Route 112 in the Medford Crossings shopping center, the German-owned discount supermarket will join TJ Maxx, and Motor Vehicles in a 22,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Michael’s Crafts, which relocated to another part of the shopping center. The store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Known for its budget-friendly prices,  Aldi offers weekly specials, fresh produce deliveries daily, online shopping, curbside pickup, home delivery and avoids “hidden costs” by selling 90% exclusive, private-label items instead of big brands. Customers are encouraged to bring their own tote bags, must bag their own groceries and pay a quarter to rent a shopping cart.

The Medford location is Aldi’s 13th store in Suffolk County. Other locations include Bohemia, Lake Grove, Selden, Lindenhurst, North Babylon, Patchogue, East Northport, Rocky Point, Central Islip, Bay Shore, Riverhead, and Shirley. An Aldi in the former King Kullen at 153 Ronkonkoma Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma will open in the near future.

“At our new Medford ALDI store, shoppers will find that every decision we make, from our product selection to store layout, is to provide our customers with the best products at the lowest possible prices of any national grocer,” said Chris Daniels, regional vice president for ALDI, in a statement. “Our customers can save up to 36 percent on an average household’s shopping list. As shoppers look for better ways to stretch their dollar, ALDI is providing Medford with easier access to quality groceries at affordable prices.”

The Medford location is part of Aldi’s goal to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of the next phase of its five-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores ALDI will open in one year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history as more shoppers than ever look to save up to 36% on an average shopping trip, according to a release.

“ALDI continues to see more shoppers come through our doors as they experience our quicker, easier and more affordable shopping experience firsthand,” said Hart. “With our expansion across the country, ALDI is earning the trust of more shoppers in more communities than ever before, bringing us closer to becoming America’s first stop for groceries,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI.

For more information, call 855-955-2534 or visit stores.aldi.us

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Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

By Emily Mandracchia

On May 27, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina (R) were joined by Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. (D) and other town supervisors and county officials to announce the results of a large-scale crackdown of illegal cannabis shops involving multiple jurisdictions throughout the region. 

With the goal of maintaining public safety and wellness, New York State law officially stipulates the prohibition of cannabis and other THC-related products at mobile retail or civic settings that may include vendors, such as farmer’s markets, street fairs, historical or religious societies among others. 

New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay

According to District 4 Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D, Port Jefferson), this crackdown also includes prerolled joints, THC vapes and edibles or tinctures containing THC. Regardless of whether the vendor possesses a license to operate a brick-and-mortar dispensary, the sale of such products is still considered illegal on the basis of the mobile venue sale. Violators are subject to what Kassay refers to as a “hefty” fine and any further disciplinary action deemed necessary.

Products that are listed to contain less than or equal to 0.3% THC are not restricted by NYS law insofar as they are properly labeled according to both federal and state cannabis and hemp product regulations. Kassay recalls that residents are often surprised when she informs them that, currently, there are “no licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Town of Brookhaven, and that any shop that has been selling intoxicating cannabis products has been doing so illegally.”

Accessibility to intoxicating products at pop-up venues enable their legality and accessible use to impart a more present danger onto the surrounding public. Kassay said herself that she had visited a street fair and witnessed a vendor unlawfully selling cannabis products firsthand. Kassay writes, “In speaking with the event’s coordinators, it came to light how many community members aren’t aware that it is currently unlawful for intoxicating cannabis products to be sold at pop-up markets in New York State.” 

Catalina stated similarly that there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence that suggests the cannabis sold to minors is often laced with unknown chemicals and additives; people have “no idea” what they are buying. Further, those who applied for licenses but have not been approved often still sell cannabis in the interim. Increase in road accidents, medical afflictions and the deterioration of the quality of business communities and public safety all served as catalysts for the agreement that the current NYS cannabis policy required further refinement.

New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management will be engaging the public with a proposal regarding future licenses for cannabis sales at pop-up events like street fairs and farmers markets, which would require both a licensed vendor and a licensed grower to be in attendance. 

For now, the crackdown offers a temporary solution to the problem — provided that the official proposal will most likely be introduced in June 2025 with a public comment period to follow.

In the meantime, it is recommended that any suspicions of illegal cannabis sale are reported to the NYS Office of Cannabis Management. Illegal sales encompass those that are without license, made to minors, illegally packaged products, incite adverse medical reactions, or otherwise spark enforcement concerns. For more information on these guidelines, visit cannabis.ny.gov/report-an-incident. 

To receive this NYS OCM proposal when it is released and to engage in the public comment opportunity or to share any other questions or concerns, please contact Kassay’s office by emailing [email protected] or calling 631-751-3094.

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From left, Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella, Marco Scarda of The Crest Group, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, and Daniel Scarda and Danny Scarda of The Crest Group at the Middle Island groundbreaking. Photo courtesy of TOB
Groundbreaking of The Villas at Oak Run in Middle Island. Photo from TOB
Groundbreaking of The Villas at Oak Run in Middle Island. Photo from TOB

On Friday, May 30, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico joined Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella, representatives from The Crest Group, the Middle Island Civic Association, and local residents for the groundbreaking of The Villas at Oak Run, a new $35.1 million 55-and-over rental community located at 599 Middle Country Road in Middle Island.

The project, developed by The Crest Group, will consist of 37 duplex buildings totaling 93,138 square feet on a 23.5 acre site. Each two-bedroom, two-bath unit will include a one-car garage. Planned amenities include an indoor fitness center, a half-mile walking path, and an outdoor recreation area featuring pickleball courts. 

Notably, twenty percent of the townhomes will be designated as affordable and workforce housing, providing reduced monthly rents to qualifying residents at $2,280 per month while the remaing 80 percent market-rate rent is $3,650 per month.

“This project reflects continued progress in the revitalization of Middle Island,” said Supervisor Panico. “It brings much-needed housing options for our senior population, while also ensuring affordability for a portion of our workforce. I thank The Crest Group for their investment in this community and their efforts to deliver a well-balanced development.”

The Middle Island development is expected to take from 18 to 22 months to complete, but its first phase is expected to be delivered in the spring of 2026.

“Welcome Villas at Oak Run to Middle Island, and congratulations on your groundbreaking today!” said Brookhaven Town Councilman Michael Loguercio, who represents the area. “This will be a beautiful addition to the community once completed, and I look forward to their ribbon cutting in the near future.”

For more information about development projects in the Town of Brookhaven, visit www.brookhavenny.gov.

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Mather Hospital
Harshini Devi Sobhan. Photo from Mather Hospital

Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson has expanded its Graduate Medical Education program with the addition of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program, starting on July 1, 2025. The Pharmacy Residency is a 12-month program that “aims to cultivate clinical, operational and leadership skills in pharmacists, all while delivering high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients,” according to a press release.

As licensed pharmacists the residents will participate in activities designed to deepen their knowledge of regulatory compliance, pharmacotherapy, medication safety, antibiotic stewardship, committee participation, and key pharmacy initiatives. The program provides residents with the opportunity to advance and strengthen their professional development, emerge as skilled practitioners, and prepare for PGY2 specialty training and board certification. 

“Our Pharmacy Department has long been dedicated to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care. Through the establishment of the pharmacy residency program, we reaffirm our commitment to preparing pharmacists to uphold elevated standards of practice,” read the release.

Allison Nicole Pollina. Photo from Mather Hospital

Program Director Maricelle Monteagudo-Chu, PharmD, said the pharmacy residents will be an invaluable addition to the team. “They will be entrusted with managing patients with complex disease states, a responsibility that requires a higher level of critical thinking and advanced clinical knowledge. They will also actively collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes, ensure the safe and effective use of medications, and advance excellence in pharmaceutical care,” she said.

To kick off the inaugural year, the first two residents will be Allison Nicole Pollina and Harshini Devi Sobhan, who both completed their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Touro College of Pharmacy, respectively. Sobhan also received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from City University of New York, York College and a Master of Science in Health Sciences and Public Health from Touro University Worldwide.

Mather Hospital’s Graduate Medical Residency Program was established in 2014 to address a growing shortage of physicians in our community and an increasing demand for primary care physicians. The program now includes more than 110 residents in Internal Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Integrated Interventional Radiology, Psychiatry, and Transitional Year as well as fellowships in Gastroenterology and Hematology Oncology. 

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A scene from the 'Empower Her!' festival o June 7. Photo from Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County kicked off their summer camp and outdoor activity season  with “EmpowerHER!,” a daylong festival of music, fun, and sisterhood at Camp Edey in Bayport on June 7.

Designed as a fun and empowering day celebrating the fact that girls can do anything, EmpowerHER! featured yoga, meditation and STEM crafts, plus traditional Girl Scout activities like face painting, crafts and games, plus archery and fishing. Exhibitors included career fields in journalism, green energy, finance and law enforcement.

“We have the girls here on 90-plus acres, learning about career opportunities, about giving back in the community, about ways to be healthy and have fun outdoors,” said Tammy Severino, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “Our girls are learning leadership and entrepreneurial skills as well as STEM and the arts. We’re proud to bring girls and their families together for a day of inspiration and summer fun.”

Girls ages 5 and up wore their Girl Scouts vests and sashes adorned with badges and patches they have earned for a variety of activities.

“When you’re outside you get to meet new people and we’re getting ready for our summer camp that is coming up in a month or two,” said Brinleigh Ingwerson, of Northport. “We get to have so much fun. We can expand our creativity and our talents and express our feelings.”

“My favorite thing is the new people you get to meet and learning how to work together to help your community,” said Melanie Shek, 10, of Huntington. She and her troop are currently designing and building a pollinator garden at their school that will go toward their Bronze Award next year.

 About 200 Girl Scouts and their parents attended this year’s event.

 About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us. Follow Girl Scouts of Suffolk County onFacebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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Children display their medals at the Out of this World's Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco
Children played lots of games at the Out of this World Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco
Children played lots of games at the Out of this World Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco
Cities of Peace Squares at the Out of this World Kids Day. Photo by Ernestine Franco

By Ernestine Franco

Sunday, June 1, New York Avenue in Sound Beach was alive with children laughing during the first Sound Beach Civic Out of This World Kids Day. Held in partnership with the North Shore Youth Council and the Sound Beach Fire Department, the space-themed event centered on the uniqueness of every child and teen in the community.

Over 40 vendors participated and each vendor was asked to provide an activity for children, and they did just that in spades. Have Some Fun of East Meadow had a ring toss game; at Legislator Chad Lennon’s (R, Mount Sinai) table kids could decorate paper circles to create planets; the designs children colored with Orangetheory Rocky Point will be displayed in their studio; and at the Handy Pantry Sound Beach spot children could mine for gems. Deirdre Morgan Dubato, co- secretary of the Rotary of Rocky Point said, “We handed out 94 coloring books and 71 boxes of crayons.”

Jackie Schoeneman of Wisdom Tree Preschool, said, “It was a great event” and hopes to be a part of it next year. A big hit was the mini-Olympics where civic members Amelia and Kevin Creedon ran the games with almost 35 kids “competing” and over 30 kids participated in a scavenger hunt. At the Children’s Park, parents could take a space-themed photo with their kids, and a robotics demonstration at the Veterans Park enthralled everyone. At a fire department truck kids could try to use a fire hose as well as tour the truck.  

A very special activity by the rotary was of the International Cities of Peace movement. Children painted cloth squares depicting what they thought peace is. Civic trustee Patrice Perreca will sew all of the pieces together into a quilt. The quilt and a video by civic member Leon Adler will then be sent to The World Cities Development Organization and all the painted pieces will be gathered to create a World Flag for Peace and Global Friendship to be presented to the United Nations in September 2025.

The day’s activities were crowned with the Best Costume Prize at the Vets Memorial Park awarded by Lennon, who thanked “everyone who helped make this event happen and to everyone who attended!”

 Sound Beach Civic president and the organizer of the event Bea Ruberto said the day was a huge success. “It was a team effort that involved an army of volunteers and the support of the community at large.” What made the day special for her was hearing a young boy shout out with glee, “I’m having so much fun.”

Bobby Woods, the director of the North Shore Youth Council said the day “was an incredible afternoon of community, local pride and connection in Sound Beach. Our team at North Shore Youth Council and I were honored to serve alongside the Sound Beach Civic Association. We’re especially grateful to Bea, whose leadership, dedication and heart made the day a true celebration of everything that makes this community special.”

 To follow other activities of the Sound Beach Civic Association check out its Facebook page.

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Legislator Sanin presenting a Proclamation to Dr. Nicosia. Photo courtesy Leg. Sanin's office

On Tuesday, June 3, Suffolk county Legislator Rebecca Sanin recognized Dr. Melissa Nicosia as a Healthcare Hero for her outstanding contributions to the field.

Dr. Nicosia of East Northport serves as Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mather Hospital and is a distinguished gynecologic surgeon with Northwell Health. She provides expert, compassionate care to patients in Port Jefferson, Deer Park, and Stony Brook.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Dr. Nicosia completed advanced fellowship training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. At NYU, she expanded surgical access in underserved communities and received the Excellence in Innovation Award for her efforts.

Since joining Northwell in 2020, she has led key initiatives at Mather Hospital enhancing women’s health services and contributing to the hospital’s milestone of 10,000 robotic surgeries. She is also a certified menopause practitioner, LGBTQ+ health advocate, global medical volunteer, and educator committed to shaping the future of women’s healthcare. Her leadership continues to elevate patient-centered care throughout the region.

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