Suozzi announced $300,000 will be used for shellfish seeding of Hempstead Harbor, Oyster Bay and Huntington Harbor. Photo from Suozzi's office
On April 21, representatives from local environmental groups joined U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) at Sea Cliff Municipal Beach for an announcement affecting the Long Island Sound.
Suozzi said he helped deliver more than $33 million of federal funds that will be allocated for the Sound and environmental cleanup projects across the Island and Northeast Queens.
Out of this allocation, $300,000 will be used for shellfish seeding of Hempstead Harbor, Oyster Bay and Huntington Harbor to purchase approximately 10 million seed clams to be placed in the three harbors. The clams will be strategically placed in areas where they will not only filter the water, but also produce sufficient larvae to greatly expand those populations well into the future.
“Community Project Funding allows members of Congress to request funding to support specific community projects that will have the most real-life impacts in their districts,” Suozzi said. “Of the eight projects that I secured in the federal budget, five of them are environmental cleanup and restoration projects. I have devoted a significant part of my past 25 years in public service to cleaning up the pollution, dramatically reducing nitrogen, modernizing sewage treatment plants, and restoring shellfishing in our local waters. Since coming to Congress in 2017, I have fought for and successfully helped increase federal funding by 900% to clean up and restore the Long Island Sound. This $33 million, one of the largest single federal investments in environmental cleanup and restoration across Long Island and Northeast Queens, will go a long way in restoring and improving the Long Island Sound for generations to come.”
The funding is part of the federal budget signed into law last month. It represents one of the largest single federal investments in environmental cleanup and restoration across Long Island and Northeast Queens.
Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, at the press conference, called the funding a reason to celebrate.
“Long Island Sound is a natural treasure that offers all segments of society the opportunity to enjoy fishing, swimming, beach-filled days, and water-based family activities,” she said. “Restoration efforts are working and the Sound is getting cleaner. Increased funding will help us continue progress on reducing nitrogen pollution, filtering stormwater runoff and restoring wetlands. It will also help us address new challenges to the Sound including impacts from climate change, invasive species and plastic pollution.”
Hundreds of cars were on display at the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds attended the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds attended the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds of cars were on display at the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds of cars were on display at the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds of cars were on display at the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds of cars were on display at the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds attended the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
Hundreds attended the Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack. Photo by Cowboy Joe
East to West Classic Cars hosted its sixth annual Cars and Guitars Classic Car Show and Fundraiser on April 24 at Miller’s Ale House in Commack.
The outdoor car show and concert featured hundreds of cars of all varieties, live music, raffle prizes and more.
The goal of the event is to raise awareness for PTSD and funds for Hope For The Warriors, a national nonprofit that provides comprehensive services that support the well-being of post- 9/11 veterans and active- duty, military families and caregivers and families of the fallen.
“Each year, we’re blown away with the support of the East to West Classic Cars volunteers and the entire Long Island community,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and president of the nonprofit organization in a statement.“Last year’s event was larger than ever coming off the heels of the pandemic, everyone was in great spirits.”
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
Huntington Councilmembers Sal Ferro and Joan Cergol and Supervisor Ed Smyth at the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
Huntington council members Dave Bernardo and Joan Cergol at the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park in 2022. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from last year's Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
A scene from the Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23. Photo by Media Origin
Huntington councilmembers Joan Cergol and Sal Ferro, shown above on the right, hosted free Earth Day festivities at Manor Farm Park April 23 along with co-sponsors the Town of Huntington, Covanta and not-for-profit Starflower Experiences.
It was the first time the event was held at the park and included hands-on activities, raffles and giveaways. Activities included a marine touch tank operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County; an exhibit of formerly wild animals hosted by Volunteers for Wildlife; water chemistry and conservation demonstrations by the Town of Huntington Maritime Department; garden planting, composting, and beekeeping demonstrations by Starflower Experiences, and face painting and arts and crafts booths
All participants received a raffle ticket with the chance to win electric-powered landscaping equipment courtesy of a $2,500 donation from Covanta, including a string trimmer/leaf blower combo kit, a compost tumbler with a cart, a lawn mower, and a pressure washer. Several event attendees also took home a birdhouse courtesy of Love of Learning Montessori School in Centerport.
The town’s Planning Department distributed bare root tree saplings, provided by the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, to everyone in attendance, and volunteers from the Robert M. Kubecka Memorial Town Garden gave away vegetable and flower seedlings.
The event also provided free paper shredding, e-waste and medical pill disposal services.
The Northport Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Hyman, has announced that it will resume its presentation of live concerts at Northport High School, 154 Laurel Hill Road, Northport on Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m. The announcement was made in a press release on April 11. The concert will feature guest artist Oda Voltersvik, who will perform the Piano Concerto in A Minor by Edvard Grieg.The program will also include Symphony No. 6 (the Pastoral), by Ludwig van Beethoven and Song of the Waters by James Cohn.
Oda Voltersvik
Oda Hjertine Voltersvik is a Norwegian concert pianist, regularly performing solo and chamber music recitals in Norway and abroad.She is a member of the Volt & Potenza duo and a member and project leader of the Volt Ensemble.Ms. Voltersvik is a first prize winner of the Buono & Bradshaw International Piano Competition in 2017, and has performed worldwide, including such venues as Wigmore Hall, St Martin in the Fields, Carnegie Hall, and the Palermo Classica International Festival.She holds a Master in Performance Degree from the Royal College of Music and an Artist Diploma from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (with distinction), London.For 2021 & 2022, she has received the Norwegian Arts Councils grant for younger newly established artists.
“We are eager to present the repertoire of wonderful classical music again and invite you to join us!These concerts are made possible by ticket sales and by donations from our generous advertisers, donors, and audience members,” read the press release.
Tickets are $10 per person at the door.
For more information, visit www.northportsymphony.org.
Founder of the Bald Eagles of Centerport Facebook group honored
At the April 12th general meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (Centerport) formally recognized Robert Schwartz, founder of the Bald Eagles of Centerport Facebook group. In addition to Bontempi sharing a little bit about Mr. Schwartz’s contributions to the community, he was presented with a proclamation to commemorate such.
Legislator Bontempi (center) with Robert Schwartz and his wife, Liz. Photo from Leg. Bontempi’s office
Schwartz’s group has an enormous following and has become an important advocacy platform for the protection of the local bald eagles and the environment in general. The group’s presence on social media also provides an opportunity for bald eagle admirers to share their photos and stories associated with their unique encounters with the national bird.
“In Huntington, when one thinks of its bald eagles, Mr. Schwartz’s group will likely come to mind. The ever-growing following of the Bald Eagles of Centerport is proof of its ability to communicate how special these birds are,” said Bontempi. On top of his interest and advocacy work associated with the bald eagles, Schwartz is also a thriving beekeeper. Whenever there is an opportunity to share his knowledge in these two arenas, he does so with great enthusiasm and has likely inspired many individuals of all ages.
“Whenever Mr. Schwartz talks about the bald eagles or his beekeeping activities, you cannot help but listen intently as his passion is contagious. As a former teacher, it is fantastic to see someone with such a thirst for knowledge and the ability to motivate others to broaden their horizons in constructive and unique ways,” added Bontempi.
Founder Daniel Gale, above, and his assistant Miss Jean Wallice — the future Mrs. Kent Gale — in front of the Daniel Gale Huntington office, circa 1940. Photo from Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty
Not many companies make it to 100 years in business, but Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty did just that this year.
Below, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s President and CEO Patricia Petersen poses in front of the Cold Spring office around 1990. Photo from Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Daniel Gale founded the company on Feb. 9, 1922, and chose Main Street in Huntington for his real estate and insurance agency. When he picked the spot, the founder was encouraged by the fact that the town was a stop on one of the Long Island Rail Road lines. A century later, the company remains family owned. Through the decades the founder’s son Kent, until his passing in 2014, grandson Stan, and Kent Gale’s protégé current chairperson and president Patricia Petersen have continued to head up the company along with CEO Deirdre O’Connell.
History
In a recent phone interview, Petersen and O’Connell discussed the company’s history. Over the hundred years, Daniel Gale has grown from a business with one office to 30 locations not only on Suffolk County’s North Shore but across the Island. In 2014, the brokerage company opened offices in Queens and this year Brooklyn.
Petersen said she believes one of the company’s assets is that it has been family owned. She learned the benefits of this early on when she started in real estate in 1975 in the Cold Spring Harbor location, which was the company’s second office. Petersen said as a mother, she was hoping to work part-time but quickly found out it was difficult to become a successful real estate agent with limited hours. She said Jean Gale, the wife of the founder’s son Kent, would help get her children off the nursery school bus, give them lunch and then get them to day care.
“Somehow we cobbled it together and made it work,” Petersen said. “It’s kind of how we run the company. Whatever the agents need, Deidre and I figure out a way to provide it.”
Petersen went from agent to office sales manager, company general manager and relocation director through the years. She credits Kent Gale with recognizing she had potential. In the early ’90s, she began buying the company with Kent’s son Stan Gale and became president and CEO.
Kent Gale, son of founder Daniel Gale. Photo from Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
In turn, one of the talents Petersen recognized was O’Connell. The latter said her career in real estate began with another company in 1991. She opened her own office in Manhasset and her second one in Cutchogue. Daniel Gale then bought her offices, and she became part of the company in 2007. O’Connell helped the brokerage expand to the North Fork. She went on to become a regional manager then general manager of the company, and became CEO four years ago.
Both said they appreciate the history of Daniel Gale. As the centennial celebrations began, Petersen said, it was a reminder of everything the company had been through since its founding. The ups and downs of the current pandemic, she added, can be likened to founder Daniel Gale’s early days.
“Daniel Gale went through the Depression and went through the [second] World War,” she said.“In fact, he started the company right after the first World War, and then he had to go through the second World War. We have had our own challenging times over the years, but certainly that’s not new to us. We’ve always been able to not just survive but thrive in really any kind of market.”
O’Connell said she believes the company thriving goes back to its foundation.
“Certainly, in times of crisis we use that as an opportunity to assess the crisis and to utilize that and to come out of it as a growth opportunity, because after every crisis comes opportunity,” she said. “We’ve always been able to seize those moments.”
As for the pandemic, O’Connell said the company realized the importance of pivoting early on during the shutdowns by going virtual. Within a month, she said, Daniel Gale had an open house with 150 homes virtually showcased.
“Yes, everyone could do it eventually, but we seized the moment to once again help our agents help their customers and clients in providing them the service and marketing of the moment,” O’Connell said.
Petersen and O’Connell also recognize the importance of marketing in the real estate field. An early marketing tactic of founder Daniel Gale in the 1920s, Petersen said, was buying a tract of land along with two investors. One lot had a miniature model house buried in the ground. Petersen said whoever bought the plot would win a house built for them. She added that the person turned out to be a builder, so he was given two more lots instead of having a house built for him and the win spearheaded his own business in the area.
Pat Petersen and Deirdre O’Connell. Photo from Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Sotheby’s International
Another milestone in Daniel Gale’s history was when the company became affiliated with Sotheby’s in the 1970s. The auction house needed an outlet for its clientele. After Sotheby’s International Realty was created, Daniel Gale became affiliated with it on Long Island and went on to become its No. 1 affiliate in the world.
O’Connell called the move a game-changer which allows Daniel Gale agents to bring their properties around the world but still have representation on Long Island.
“Larger firms that are represented, even here on Long Island, their decisions during hard times aren’t made here locally,” she said. “They’re made maybe in New York City or across the country somewhere. We live and we work, we do everything with our people first in mind.”
She gave the example that during the Great Recession of the 2000s, while big corporations laid off people, “Pat Petersen put personal money into the company to make sure that we didn’t have to cut our people.”
Keeping employees in place is something the company was able to do during the pandemic, too.
“We kept everyone on the payroll because we could make that decision,” O’Connell said.
The present and future
Later this year, Daniel Gale plans to open a new office in Huntington located cata-cornered where the original 1922 building was on Main Street. The company also recently launched the Daniel Gale Foundation to enable the company, which has donated tens of thousands in the past, to make a bigger impact.
O’Connell said Daniel Gale offices have always been involved with their communities “through a wide range of community service initiatives and donations.” With the new foundation, offices will choose a few events each year to work on with the whole company.
“The Daniel Gale Foundation will enable us to make an even greater impact with our giving by consolidating our giving efforts across the Island from Brooklyn to Shelter Island and make them even more impactful,” O’Connell said. “The foundation is about more than giving dollars, it is having the Daniel Gale family roll up their sleeves, put on their sneakers or pick up their shovels to work in our communities as a team.”
The two said it’s important to be proud of the past but it’s also essential to keep an eye on the future. Currently, like other realty companies, Daniel Gale is keeping up with the current seller’s market. O’Connell said while inventory is low, sales are high.
“We get 10 houses on the market, or an office has five houses on the market in a weekend, and they’re all gone by Monday,” O’Connell said, adding she believes the market will normalize in the near future.
Petersen added the importance of pricing correctly in any market.
“Part of our job is to be good counselors,” she said.
As they look toward the future, Petersen and O’Connell said the ways of communicating continue to change with social media platforms, but the key is to maintain high quality just like they do in ads and online.
“You have to be true to yourself, and I’m very proud of what we’ve done in the last 100 years,” Petersen said. “Not that I had much to do with the first 50, but I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished and what is still yet to accomplish.”
HELPSY and ACLD partner to place clothing collection bins throughout Long Island.
Just in time for Earth Day (April 22) Adults and Children with Learning & Developmental Disabilities, Inc., (ACLD) recently partnered with HELPSY, the largest clothing collection company on the east coast to place clothing collection bins throughout Long Island.
HELPSY and ACLD partner to place clothing collection bins throughout Long Island.
Collection bins offer an alternative disposal method for textiles to Long Island residents, addressing the abundance of unneeded and unwanted clothing ending up in landfills. This is the first non-profit collaboration on Long Island for HELPSY. With the goal to reuse, re-wear or recycle to extend the useful life of textiles, items will be sold into thrift or other secondhand markets and raise funds to support ACLD’s RewearAble Program which employs adults with developmental disabilities.
The first eight collection bins have been placed in five different locations including St. James Star Inc., 889 Middle Country Road, St. James; BP Gas Station, 6077 Jericho Turnpike, Commack; BP gas station, 566 Northern Blvd, North Hempstead; Citgo, 1560 Islip Road, Brentwood; and Cortorreal Auto Repair, 1714 New York Ave, Huntington Station.
“This is the first such partnership for HELPSY on Long Island,” said Dan Green, CEO and co-Founder of HELPSY. “We are thrilled that an organization that does such good work as ACLD should benefit from items that otherwise would be thrown away. Textile waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the United States and 95% of the textiles that fill landfills could have been reused or recycled. How wonderful that not only will the environment benefit, but also an organization that serves such an important and needed role in the lives of Long Island disabled children and adults.”
According to the EPA, since the beginning of the millennium, the amount of clothing manufactured has more than doubled (approximately 6 million tons in 2000 to 16 million tons in 2020). The business of creating trendy items at low cost, known as “fast fashion,” creates greater profits for the fashion industry and instant gratification to consumers. But unfortunately, this trend also leads to a shorter shelf life for clothing items and adds to a disposable mentality that creates a surplus of unwanted clothing.
The fashion industry is well documented as one of the most polluting in the world, responsible for 8-10% of total greenhouse gas emissions according to the UN and contributing to tons of microplastics found in the ocean- shredded from washed synthetic fibers used to make low-cost clothing.
Through a combination of clothing drives, home pick-ups and clothing collection bins in 10 states, HELPSY diverts nearly 30 million pounds of textiles from landfills every year. By partnering with organizations such as ACLD to collect these unwanted clothing and other textiles, HELPSY has helped to raise millions for non-profits and other organizations while helping to extend the life of clothing and reducing the impact on the environment from overproduction.
“HELPSY is dedicated to changing the way people think about clothing recycling while adhering to the highest level of social and environmental performance,” said Green.
The Company’s efforts have earned it a Certified B Corporation designation, using business as a force of good ™. HELPSY is the only textile collection company certified as a B-Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, demonstrating the value the company places on workers, partner organizations, the environment, and the community.
“We are excited about this collaboration with HELPSY,” said Robert Ciatto, Executive Director of ACLD. “We are pleased that HELPSY has selected ACLD to be the first non-profit partner on Long Island and we look forward to the support of ACLD’s RewearAble Program.”
For additional information about HELPSY or to join in the company’s environmental preservation efforts or to host an ACLD bin, contact [email protected].
Businesses across Suffolk County are donating proceeds from the sale of food items to raise money for Autism Awareness. Businesses include Bean Bagels in St. James with its rainbow bagels. Photo from Joe Conlon
By Chris Melllides
Spring is upon us and in times like these the importance of community is paramount. April is National Autism Awareness Month and with it Long Island’s small businesses are partnering to benefit Catholic Health and St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson in helping to brighten the lives of children and adults living with autism.
Spearheaded by Joe Conlon businesses across Suffolk County are donating proceeds from the sale of food items to raise money for Autism Awareness. Photo from Joe Conlon
An estimated 5,437,988 or 2.21% of adults and 1 in 44 children in the United States have autism and are somewhere on the spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The condition can be debilitating, though this is rare and otherwise manageable. Autism occurs in children when they are between 12-to-18 months of age and in adolescents. Despite its commonality, experts say that individuals with autism and their families can sometimes deal with stigma. It’s important to recognize this and move forward with a sense of solidarity within our local communities.
United under one cause, seven Long Island businesses are helping to combat the stigma associated with autism. The observance of Autism Awareness this month shows strength in community, with proceeds from the sale of food items going directly toward benefiting Catholic Health and St. Charles Hospital.
“The movement right now is shifting from autism awareness month to autism acceptance month,” Virtual Therapy for Kids founder Joe Conlon said. “I wanted to be part of that change, I wanted to help shift the movement to acceptance. So, I thought the best way to do it was to get the community involved — and people love these businesses.”
Conlon has been credited with spearheading the month-long fundraiser and those businesses involved are thrilled to help in making this money-raising and morale-boosting movement a reality.
Located in Northport, Robke’s Italian eatery is among the seven participating eateries.
Owner Louis Selvaggio Jr.’s sister, Mia, was approached by Conlon with the idea for the fundraising effort. She said that because she works with “a lot of local brands and businesses,” she was able to help Conlon realize his goal of spreading autism awareness and building a campaign to ultimately raise funds for the pediatric rehabilitation program at St. Charles Hospital.
“So basically, him and I had a couple of conversations, like how we can bring awareness and acceptance to this topic,” Selvaggio said. To do their part, Robke’s has created a unique rainbow mojito to sell to its patrons — 10% from each drink sold will be going toward benefiting the fundraiser.
“A lot of people think of it as autism awareness month but it’s actually autism awareness and acceptance,”she said. “Instead of the color just being blue, it’s blue and rainbow, which a lot of people aren’t aware of until Joe explained this to me.”
Selvaggio has a jewelry business that she said will also be helping the pediatric rehabilitation program.
Bean’s Bagels owner, Michael Budani, who started working in the bagel business since he was an enterprising 15-year-old shop employee, was glad to help Conlon in realizing the fundraising mission — and it all came to fruition with just one Instagram direct message.
“We’re very involved on social media with our crazy bagels and rainbow bagels,” Budani said. “I told [Conlon] I think it would be a great idea because what we’re all about is helping the kids.”
Businesses across Suffolk County are donating proceeds from the sale of food items to raise money for Autism Awareness. Businesses include Robkes in Northport with specially-made mojitos. Photo from Joe Conlon
Bean’s Bagels has only been in operation for four months in St. James, according to the owner, but has already made a significant impact in the community by supporting children’s baseball and softball games.
“When we caught wind of [the fundraiser] we thought it was awesome, it’s a great opportunity to get our name out there and, most importantly, do a good deed for people,” Budani said.
Dr. Ben Birney, a resident physician at St Charles Rehabilitation Center in Port Jefferson, said that he and Conlon were inseparable after becoming best friends in high school. Birney works in the rehabilitation unit doing clinical rotations with patients, among them children with neurological diseases.
Birney’s nephew has autism and so this fundraiser means a lot to him and his family. He acknowledges that there is indeed a stigma associated with autism and that Conlon’s idea to benefit the community and St. Charles Hospital was a good decision.
Speaking of the fundraiser, Birney said, “I think that is huge. It gives people even a couple of seconds out of their day to think about autism awareness.”
The local businesses involved in the community fundraiser, with Robke’s Northport and Bean’s Bagels, are My Olive Oil Cake, ExoticsnacksLI, ENP Nutrition, Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake Co. and Cosenza NYC.
Event to feature raffles, giveaways, plantings, disposal services, and more.
Councilmembers Joan Cergol and Salvatore Ferro, the Town of Huntington, Covanta, and Starflower Experiences are co-sponsoring Huntington’s Earth Day celebration for the first time at Manor Farm Park.
The free event will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 210 Manor Road, Huntington from 10 man, to 2 p.m. This year’s Earth Day will feature raffles, giveaways, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Free paper shredding, e-waste, and medical pill disposal services will be available to residents through Shreduction, the Town’s Environmental Waste Management Department, and the Suffolk County Police Department’s Operation Medicine Cabinet, respectively.
Other activities include a marine touch tank operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County; an exhibit of formerly wild animals hosted by Volunteers for Wildlife; water chemistry and conservation demonstrations by the Town of Huntington Maritime Department; garden planting, composting, and beekeeping demonstrations by Starflower Experiences; and face painting and arts and crafts booths for kids to enjoy.
All participants will receive a raffle ticket with the chance to win electric-powered landscaping equipment courtesy of a $2,500 donation from Covanta, including a string trimmer/leaf blower combo kit, a compost tumbler with a cart, a lawn mower, and a pressure washer. Also, several event attendees will take home a birdhouse courtesy of the Love of Learning Montessori School in Centerport.
The Town’s Planning Department will be distributing bare root tree saplings, provided by the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, to everyone in attendance, and volunteers from the Robert M. Kubecka Memorial Town Garden will be giving away vegetable and flower seedlings.
“We set the bar high for this year’s Earth Day celebration and I’m proud to say we delivered something really special,” said Councilwoman Joan Cergol. “I’m grateful to Covanta for their generous donation, plus Starflower Experiences and everyone involved that helped make this event so extraordinary.”
“Huntington’s Earth Day celebration proves that education and environmental responsibility can be fun,” said Councilman Salvatore Ferro. “We want everyone to have a great time at Manor Farm and to go home thinking about how we can protect and preserve Long Island’s incredible ecosystem.”
Work will begin once again on New York State Route 347, and North Shore residents couldn’t be happier.
Drivers navigating the roadway from Gibbs Pond Road in Nesconset to Hallock Road in Stony Brook have noticed construction cones beginning to appear. The upcoming work is part of a $71 million state Department of Transportation project, which continues the roadway improvements made to Route 347 years ago in the Smithtown area. Future plans include changes on the state road as far east as Port Jefferson Station.
Through the years, it has become more and more apparent that the road built decades ago is over capacity. Called the Smithtown Bypass in its western portion, the roadway initially served as a way to avoid the heavy traffic of downtown Smithtown. Today, drivers use side roads in the town to avoid Route 347.
Rerouting presents various problems. As drivers speed through residential neighborhoods, congestion appears in spots previously unanticipated. Residents who once lived on quiet streets now have trouble just backing out of their driveways or are hesitant to let their children play anywhere near the roadway.
Adding new travel lanes, traffic signals, raised planted medians and crosswalks to 347 will help ease congestion and keep cars on the main thoroughfare instead of traveling through residential areas.
According to NYSDOT, the road work between Gibbs Pond and Hallock roads will be completed by 2024. While that is a two-year span, the benefits will be well worth the wait.
Suffolk County residents are reminded regularly of the importance of building affordable housing and independent living units to keep our young people and retired residents here on the Island.
Accelerated by the pandemic, which prompted rapid urban flight from New York City, we are also facing an increase in population with more people attracted to the North Shore.
As our area experiences population growth, our infrastructure needs to be modernized and expanded. While there is some hesitancy to widen roads, add overpasses and traffic circles — since these changes might attract more development in the area — traffic is here now. With smart planning, our elected officials on town, county and state levels can work together to determine which roadways in our towns and villages could benefit from widening and other improvements. Continuing the roadwork on Route 347 is a step in the right direction. There is also the prospect of federal infrastructure bill monies.
While many don’t want Long Island to become life in the fast lane, it’s time to accept that it’s no longer country roads taking us home. A proper balance needs to be found to make life a little easier for those who live here as they navigate their day on North Shore roadways.
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