Town of Smithtown

On Oct. 28, Commack community members and local businesses gathered together at Valmont Park for a special unveiling ceremony to kick off the upcoming construction of Survivors Park, a tribute and reflection space dedicated to breast cancer survivors and their loved ones. The Town of Smithtown hosted the event in partnership with St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, who donated $50,000 towards the project, and the Greater Commack Chamber of Commerce, to announce plans for Phase One, set to begin in Spring 2025.

“Survivors Park will be a reminder to every mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and niece that you will not fight alone. We are a special community. One that comes together in our darkest of hours, that celebrates together in our brightest and best days. The people you’ve heard from today are great stewards of this point. Together we can endure the unthinkable. Together we will celebrate the victories, big and small. Together we will build Survivors Park,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.

Community leaders such as NYS Senator Mario Mattera; Declan Doyle, President of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital; Dr. Jana Deitch, Breast Surgeon and Director of the Siena Breast Health Program at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital; Thomas Morrissey and Venise Mulé Smith from the Greater Commack Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Reiss of Morgan Stanley; and breast cancer survivor Leslie Drake, spoke at the event, expressing the park’s significance as a place of healing, reflection, and community strength.

The project’s initial phase was made possible courtesy of a $50,000 donation from St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, matched by the Town of Smithtown, and an additional $5,000 donation from Morgan Stanley. Over the course of the next few months, the Greater Commack Chamber of Commerce will facilitate additional donations from local businesses, and families who wish to support the vision behind the space. The support from these organizations underscores the community’s commitment to honoring survivors and supporting their families.

Survivors Park will serve as a permanent reminder of the strength and resilience of those impacted by breast cancer. Phase One of the park design includes a pathway shaped in the form of an Awareness Ribbon, creating a symbolic entrance near the playground. Future phases of the park will introduce benches, ornamental lighting, and a Reflection Pool to create a peaceful, reflective space for visitors. Lush landscaping with native flowers and cherry blossom trees will enhance the space, offering year-round beauty.

The sign unveiling drew a large crowd of Commack residents and local businesses, who gathered to celebrate this meaningful addition to Valmont Park. The ceremony, held during Breast Cancer Awareness month, was a touching reminder of the community’s dedication to its members, providing strength to those impacted by breast cancer.

 

Head of the Harbor village trustee and neighborhood preservation coalition spokesperson, Judy Ogden, speaks in favor of a lawsuit aimed at delaying the Gyrodyne subdivision approval on the Flowerfield site. Photo by Chris Mellides

A recent court decision found that the environmental review of the proposed Gyrodyne development plan met the minimum legal requirements, but the legal battle is far from over, according to members of the Saint James – Head of the Harbor Neighborhood Preservation Coalition. The coalition, along with the Village of Head of the Harbor and local property owners, filed a lawsuit challenging the review. Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is finalizing appraisals to acquire portions of the property for preservation as open space.

“The fight to preserve this important parcel as open space is not over,” said Judy Ogden, a Village of Head of the Harbor trustee and spokesperson for the coalition. “We plan to appeal the recent court decision. More importantly, the DEC is continuing efforts to acquire Flowerfield Fairgrounds for preservation.”

The Gyrodyne site is located near several farms and includes land in the Mills Pond National Historic District. The proposed development includes a 125-room hotel, 175,000 square feet of office space, 250 assisted living units, a sewage treatment plant and parking for over 2,500 vehicles. These elements require special approvals from the Smithtown Town Board, as they are not allowed under current zoning regulations.

Smithtown’s recently updated Comprehensive Plan recommends that assisted living facilities be located in designated areas, not near residential neighborhoods. It also states that mixed-use projects like the Gyrodyne plan should be developed in business districts, not along highways.

“Based on sound planning principles alone, the town has the authority to reject the Gyrodyne development,” Ogden said. “This project would overwhelm St. James and Head of the Harbor with traffic and damage water quality in Stony Brook Harbor.”

The coalition and local officials have long opposed the development. In 2021, the group expressed support for converting the entire site into a park. If that wasn’t possible, they supported a compromise to preserve the 48-acre Flowerfield Fairgrounds as open space while allowing limited development on land already occupied by buildings.

Severe flooding

After the Smithtown Planning Board approved the subdivision on March 30, 2022, the coalition and 23 local property owners filed a lawsuit, arguing the environmental review was inadequate.

“The review process was not thorough,” said Joseph Bollhofer, a member of the coalition. “It didn’t seriously consider public input and failed to account for severe weather events.”

On Aug. 19, a 10-inch rainfall caused severe flooding around the Gyrodyne site, forcing the closure of Route 25A for three days.

“Even with most of the property undeveloped, the flooding was enough to burst the dam at Stony Brook Mill Pond,” Bollhofer said. “If Gyrodyne’s development had been in place, experts say it could have destroyed the historic Stony Brook Grist Mill.”

Bollhofer added that the coalition plans to challenge the court decision, citing the review’s failure to account for the increasing frequency of severe storms.

“The community’s support for our legal efforts is a testament to the widespread opposition to this development,” Ogden said. “We will continue to work with the DEC and local officials to preserve Flowerfield Fairgrounds for future generations.”

Local elected officials, including Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) and county Legislators Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) and Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), have all opposed the Gyrodyne subdivision and expressed strong support for preserving the site.

Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve hosted its highly anticipated 19th Annual Halloweekend on Oct. 19 and 20. The beloved event, which has become a cornerstone of the Smithtown community, attracted approximately 2000 residents over the two-day celebration.

As one of the town’s most popular annual events, Halloweekend traditionally sells out without the need for advertising, and this year was no exception.

Families delighted in the array of seasonal activities that transformed the nature preserve into a spooktacular wonderland. From games and prizes to live entertainment, delicious fall fare, and an array of food options, there was no shortage of fun for attendees.

“My grandkids talk about this event all month long beforehand. They don’t want to leave the preserve at the end of the day and neither do I if I’m being completely honest. Jeff Gumin and his amazing team at Hoyt Farm devote months of planning, preparation, building and implementing Halloweekend each year. They put every ounce of heart and soul into treating everyone, like a member of their family. They truly manage to outdo the previous year every year… it’s a real testament to how much they adore caring for the preserve and the guests who visit,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.

Every year, the dedicated team at Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve creates a magical atmosphere filled with classic Halloween fun. From hayrides and pumpkin picking to spooky games, face painting, crafts, scavenger hunts, and an unforgettable haunted house, the event has something for everyone. Staff members join in the festivities, donning themed costumes to greet children and parents alike, many of whom arrive dressed in their own Halloween best.

The staff at Hoyt Farm prides themselves on making Halloweekend a memorable experience for all who attend. Their mission is simple: to create a festival where adults can feel like kids again, and children can transform into superheroes, mythical creatures, or whatever their imaginations dream up.

The Hoyt Farm Halloweekend is exclusive to Smithtown residents, offering a wide variety of games, crafts, and entertainment that bring the community together each fall.

For more information about Hoyt Farm, please visit them online or call 631-543-7804.

File photo by Raymond Janis

By Lauren Feldman

At its Oct. 17 meeting, the Smithtown Town Board announced the 2025 preliminary town budget.

“I am pleased to present the 2025 tentative budget, which is both balanced and under the tax cap, despite years of inflation, national economic climate and costly unfunded state mandates that are forced upon local municipalities to manage,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R).

The supervisor said over the last year, the town completed significant upgrades to popular facilities. 

“I am pleased to report that our path will continue forward to complete the total renovation of the Smithtown park system — expanding open-space preservation, tree planting and inventory efforts,” he said.

The town is also making efforts to increase cybersecurity and disability accessibility. 

“We have accomplished all of this despite a 16.6 percent increase to health care insurance, New York State retirement contributions, minimum wage and other state mandates with over $2 million added in operating costs solely for health care insurance for our union employees,” Wehrheim continued. 

“These vital investments have already proven to be a benefit for our community and will continue well into the future.” 

The supervisor thanked his fellow town officers for their tireless work on the budget proposal. 

The budget has been balanced with a focus on quality of life, which includes prioritizing essential services and local infrastructure. 

The budget will result in a $29.60 increase for the average household for the year, which is under the tax cap limit.

An additional $3 million will be bonded for highway repaving and drainage projects. 

Solid waste residential fees will increase by $4 from $540. The increase includes leaf and brush removal.

The supervisor also addressed the state’s minimum wage increase, set to take place in 2025, which will consequently increase the cost of services the town uses. 

Extremely difficult budget

However, no reserve funds were used to balance the budget. “I will add that this was an extremely difficult budget,” Wehrheim said. “It gets more and more difficult every year.”

He said that increases and pressures from the state have contributed to the stress of the budget. While he was proud of the team for coming in with an increase under the tax cap, this may be even more challenging next year.

“I think you will find that getting more difficult for next year, but we’ll see what happens,” the supervisor said. “Perhaps the economy improves. But we did our due diligence, and I think we produced a budget that’s very fair to the Smithtown taxpayer while continuing to provide all the services that we do.”

At the end of the budget presentation, John Savoretti, came forward to say, “As a resident and business owner in Smithtown, I felt it was important for me to come out and thank you for the hard work that you did keeping this [budget] under the cap.”

Wehrheim thanked Savoretti for his kind words. “This was a lot of hard work by our department heads, our Comptroller’s Office and this Town Board. It was not easy to achieve at all, but we strived to achieve it and we made it work.” 

The tentative 2025 budget is posted on the town’s website at www.smithtownny.gov. 

Joy and Envy

MEET JOY AND ENVY!

This week’s featured shelter pets are Joy and Envy, available for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. These charming, all-black, domestic short-haired, females are only nine months old. When these  sisters arrived at the shelter as teeny baby kittens, they were both incredibly timid and shy. After receiving lots of TLC from the team at the shelter, these two have blossomed into affectionate, lovable little ladies ready to find their forever family.

Joy and Envy’s warm and loving nature is evident to anyone fortunate enough to make their acquaintance. Aside from being absolutely gorgeous, these two are extremely sweet and playful. Expect a double dose of purring, lap naps and snuggles while in the company of these fabulous fur babies. These sisters will entertain themselves for hours with a supply of kitty toys, providing one lucky family with an unlimited amount of laughter and amusement. Joy and Envy would thrive in most homes, including a family with other cats, calm dogs, and older children. They are sisters who have never been separated and would do best if adopted together.

If you are interested in meeting Joy and Envy, please fill out an application to schedule time to properly interact with your prospective soul mate in a domestic setting

The Town of Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). For more information, call 631-360-7575.

For more information regarding rescue animals available for adoption visit:. TownofSmithtownAnimalShelter.com 

 

Get ready for a spook-tacular afternoon of Halloween fun at the Town of Smithtown’s FREE Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 20th, from noon to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at Town Hall.

The event is hosted by the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau and the Supervisor’s Office, in conjunction with various Town of Smithtown Departments, the Youth Advisory Board, Commack School District, Smithtown Central School District, Smithtown Fire Department, Smithtown Sunrise Rotary Club, Smithtown Performing Arts Center, Smithtown Chamber of Commerce and local businesses; Coldwell Banker American Homes, North Shore Psychological Services, Saladicious, Mathnasium of Smithtown and Children of America. Families are invited to enjoy a festive afternoon of trunk or treating, games, music, and plenty of Halloween fun.

“This type of community event is great fun for all family members.  It allows children to get use out of their costumes, while spending a little family time playing games and trick-or-treating in a safe location. We are so excited to bring this to the community this year and grateful to the local businesses, town departments, community members and HS students who have all volunteered to participate.”  – Janine Marc-Anthony, Youth Bureau Executive Director.

This festive event offers a fun, safe twist on traditional trick-or-treating, allowing families to celebrate in a community setting without the need to wander through neighborhoods at dusk or in the dark. Often humorously referred to as “Halloween Tailgating,” Trunk or Treat events have become a beloved annual tradition, especially for families with young children.

How It Works: Participating town department, community members and businesses gather in the Town Hall parking lot, decorating their open trunks with creative and spooky themes. Children in costumes can visit each decorated car for treats, play games, and enjoy other Halloween activities—all in one safe, supervised location.

“Trunk or Treat” events have gained popularity for their convenience, family-friendly atmosphere, and enhanced safety. Parents can enjoy spending quality time with their kids and keep a close eye on them as they move from car to car—an experience that is often more manageable than door-to-door trick-or-treating.

This is a new tradition from the Town of Smithtown, aimed at bringing the community together for an afternoon of fun and festivities that the whole family can enjoy. There will be a canned goods collection set up to help support the Smithtown Food Pantry for those who choose to participate. Every contribution makes a difference. Be sure to mark your calendar and don’t miss out on this exciting Halloween event!

For questions about this event, please contact the Youth Bureau at 631-360-7595.

Photo from Town of Smithtown

The Town of Smithtown Department of Environment and Waterways and Municipal Services Facility collected over 14.49 tons of hazardous household waste at the free disposal event this past weekend. On Saturday, October 5th, 520 households within the Township turned out to safely dispose of close to 29,000 (28,980) pounds of toxic items, which are prohibited in regular curbside waste pickups.

“Our residents take great pride in protecting our environment utilizing events like this to responsibly dispose of potentially hazardous chemicals and products from their homes. While our hope in the long term is that residents will use these events as inspiration to consider using safer and environmentally friendly alternatives around the home, the participation from the community speaks volumes about its popularity. I’d like to thank the team at MSF, Public Safety Fire Marshalls, DEW staff, Reworld (formerly Covanta) and the team at Radiac for another successful Hazardous Household Waste event to close out the year,” said Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim.

Reworld (formerly Covanta) distributed over 80 $5 Home Depot gift cards to residents for recycling potentially dangerous lithium-ion and other batteries, propane tanks and mercury containing devices thereby preventing these harmful items from curbside disposal. The town collected 67 propane tanks and over 350 batteries.Reusable bags from DEW were also provided to interested residents.

Smithtown Municipal Services Facility employees worked in conjunction with MSF staff, Public Safety Fire Marshalls, DEW staff and Reworld (formerly known as Covanta) staff supplementing the work by Radiac, the Hazardous Household Waste contractor. The event to provide a safe and efficient service to residents was spearheaded under the direction of Environmental Director Environmental Director David Barnes, DEW Sr Analyst Rich Kitt, and MSF Foreman Tommy Passariello.

A portion of the wastes collected for manifested disposal include: mercury, waste oil based paints/ flammable paints, gasoline, paint thinners, waste gases, petroleum distillates, flammable solids, oxidizers liquids and solids, sodium/potassium nitrates, acids, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, misc. toxic liquids (i.e. Chlordane, etc.) and solids, lacquers, lithium batteries, battery acids and various other toxic compounds.

The Household Hazardous Waste collection events for the 2025 calendar year will be announced in December. Hazardous Household Waste collection events are for Smithtown Township residents only. Proof of residency will be confirmed upon entry.

DID YOU KNOW?

●  Bicycle Upcycle: Residents can now upcycle bicycles at Municipal Services Facility (MSF) which are restored and distributed through Smithtown Bicycle Co-op, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located at FlowerField (Unit 18) in St James. The organization fixes up and provides free bikes, classes and access to repair tools, promoting health, safety, education & the concept of “paying it forward” through Recycling, Education and Community. Residents can drop off used bicycles free of charge at MSF during regular hours.

●  Electronic Waste: Residents can also dispose of electronic waste, free of charge, at the Town Recycling Center located at 85 Old Northport Road. Electronic waste, such as computers, printers, TV’s, monitors, automotive and household batteries, can be dropped off during regular hours for proper recycling.

●  Free Mulch: Mulch is also available free of charge to residents. Smithtown residents can line up for pre-packaged bags of mulch with a maximum of 10 bags per visit. We offer free loading of loose mulch into your pick-up or dump truck. A cover is required.

●  Clothing Bins: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island Clothing & Textile Bins are now located at MSF. Clothing and other textiles may be dropped off at these bins during regular business hours. There is no charge however, donation receipts are not provided.

The Smithtown Municipal Services Facility is located at 85 Old Northport Road in Kings Park. Regular operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. For more information, call 631-269-6600.

File photo by Raymond Janis

By Peter Sloniewsky

On Sept. 19, the Smithtown Town Board met to discuss a variety of matters.

Key highlights included the appointment of a new town historian, preparations for a November 5K charity event and a number of transfers and bids aimed at improving town services. 

The meeting opened with the appointment of Richard Smith as town historian, along with the establishment of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 5K. The event will take place on Nov. 9 with a rain date of Nov. 23.

The board also advertised a hearing to be held on Nov. 5 to discuss amendments to the zoning portion of the town code. 

The bulk of the meeting focused on several resolutions involving the town’s budget and financial management. The board approved a variety of transfers between accounts involving work in the Recreation, Highways, and Public Works departments. One notable resolution, RES-2024-887, involved the transfer of more than $20,000 stemming from several accounts, for recreational services, specifically, with regards to public pools. 

The board then moved to approve a number of bids. After announcing open bidding for urban-forestry services, bids for animal shelter supplies and screened sand for ice and snow control were awarded to local contractors. Additionally, the TOS accepted a bid of $42,800 for repairs to the Smithtown Boat Ramp, and a purchase order for $115,795, to repair the town hall elevator.

Moreover, the Highway Superintendent was authorized to work with National Grid regarding the Commack Gas Replacement Project, involving the replacement of gas pipelines. 

The meeting concluded with a number of appointments and reappointments.

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 Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center and Town of Smithtown Public Safety are recognizing Recovery Month with a free NARCAN training event and a Medication Take Back event for the community. Training and medication collection will take place on Friday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Horizons Counseling & Education Center, in the Community Room located at 161 East Main Street, Smithtown. NARCAN kits and resources will be provided. For Medication Take Back; kindly remove the prescription from the container and place in a Ziplock bag.
“Offering events such as NARCAN training and Medication Take Back to our residents is a proactive approach to assist in combating the nationwide opioid crisis. NARCAN training is an invaluable life-saving skill for everyone and anyone to learn. Don’t think to yourself, I’ll never need this skill… you simply just never know! Accidental overdoses on prescription drugs can easily happen to an elderly person living alone or to a family member suffering from dementia,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.
“Recovery is characterized by continual growth and improvement in one’s health and wellness and managing setbacks. Because setbacks are a natural part of life, resilience becomes a key component of recovery. At Horizons we believe treating the whole person is a key point in recovery. We try to empower our clients through education about their disease and help them to grow in their lives and recovery. Giving our clients the tools needed to recover offers them the freedom to make their own choices, we have the strength to break free from the chains of our past and pave our own path towards a better future,” said Madi Makboulian, Director of Town of Smithtown Drug and Alcohol Counseling Services.
Space is limited and on a first come first serve basis. Residents can reserve space by contacting Horizons Counseling & Education Center at (631) 360-7578, via email at [email protected]