Hometown woman crafts bracelets for a struggling Stony Brook

Hometown woman crafts bracelets for a struggling Stony Brook

Olivia Ross’ bracelets, which read Stony Brook Strong or Save the Mill Pond. 100% of the proceeds are donated to reconstruction efforts. Photo courtesy Olivia Ross

By Toni-Elena Gallo

Olivia Ross may live in Port Jefferson now, but Stony Brook will always be where her heart is.

The devastating storm that hit Suffolk County on Aug. 18 and continued into the early morning hours of the next day, left Stony Brook in complete disarray, draining the Mill Pond and destroying businesses and homes. Ross, who grew up in the village, felt she needed to spring to action and help the community that has provided her with such happy memories.

“When I was little, all the way up to me taking my nieces and nephews there. So, when I saw that nothing was there, there was no life, it just broke my heart,” she said in an interview.

“Then I said, ‘Why not have this community come together and do something good? Something to unite all of us together?’ I knew I had to do something to help, because it’s so important to me — there will always be a piece of me [in Stony Brook].”

“I thought of this idea because when I was younger, and the BP oil spill happened, my aunt created these bracelets and sold them to give donations to a company that was helping clean up. So, I thought ‘What a great idea,’” Ross continued.

After meeting Ross down at Stony Brook Harbor Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals, Gloria Rocchio, president of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, said that what she’s doing is “wonderful.”

“The paddleboard business is helping her with sales, and [when we spoke] she expressed incredible affection for the Mill Pond,” Rocchio said. “If the general public desires, they can support the community in this very difficult time.”

Ross said that 100 percent of the proceeds will go to The Ward Melville Heritage Organization for repair and restoration efforts.

“We’re backing them up, and we want to help restore such important parts of the community,” Ross added.

Ross customizes the bracelets, which she buys in bulk, to say “Stony Brook Strong” on one side and “Save the Mill Pond”’ on the other. The bracelets sell for $2 each but donations are also accepted.

“I wear mine every day,” Rocchio said.

Ross explained that with all the “negativity that goes on in the world,” she was pleased to see the positive reactions she received on Facebook, where her bracelets are available on both her and WMHO’s pages, as well as through her email, [email protected].

“I’ve sold over a hundred, and I’m almost up to a thousand dollars in donations, so I am trying to spread the word more. I’ve had a couple of businesses reach out to me asking if they could buy some in bulk, and then sell them in their stores. I love that idea,” Ross said.

And, as far as the damage that remains in Stony Brook, Rocchio explained that the WMHO is working with all facets of government, including at the federal, state, county and in conjunction with the towns of Brookhaven and Smithtown, to get Harbor Road rebuilt, among a host of other issues.

The Stony Brook Grist Mill will be getting help as early as Friday, from an excavation crew, which will begin digging out the sand damage from under the mill’s wheel, by hand, to allow it to turn once again.

It takes a village.