The Miller Place community twinkled brightly on Saturday, Dec. 10, during a tree lighting ceremony held at the Aliano Shopping Center on Route 25A.
The event was well attended by community members, public officials and even pets. Fun and joy went all around. A tall, multicolored tree served as the centerpiece for the evening.
At a recent general meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature, Legislator Sarah Anker and Legislator Kara Hahn presented proclamations to Day Haven Adult Day Services and their employees Liz Fiordalisi and Elizabeth LeDonne in recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
For over 35 years, Day Haven Adult Day Services has provided Suffolk County’s seniors with therapeutic and engaging programs, specialized services for individuals with Alzheimer’s, intergenerational programs, and emergency respite care and support services for caregivers. As Site Supervisors for the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Day Haven locations, Liz Fiordalisi and Elizabeth LeDonne have supervised, coordinated and facilitated various programs, which have assisted in preserving the physical and cognitive health of Day Haven’s program participants.
“It is my honor to recognize Day Haven Adult Day Services, Liz Fiordalisi and Elizabeth LeDonne,” said Legislator Anker. “Both of these women have had a positive impact on our senior communities and families that are affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementia. Thank you for everything that you do to support our community’s seniors, their families and their caregivers.”
“As someone whose family was directly impacted by both Alzheimer’s and Dementia, I am so grateful for individuals like Elizabeth and Liz,” said Legislator Hahn. “These caring women have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the lives of their participants. The work they do not only helps the individuals living with memory loss, it also helps the families by ensuring that their loved ones are in safe nurturing environment. For the families whose loved ones are in your program, the knowledge that we can count on you to provide the best care, is so comforting.”
Liz Fiordalisi has over 15 years of experience working in the field of senior care, including in assisted living, senior center and social adult day care settings.
In addition, Liz is an active community volunteer and currently holds the position of Corresponding Secretary for the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society. Elizabeth LeDonne, also has years of experience working in the field of senior care, including as a Care Coordinator for a home companion agency, and as a Recreation Director, and later Director of a Memory Care Unit for an assisted living facility.
While working at Day Haven Adult Day Services, Liz Fiordalisi and Elizabeth LeDonne have prioritized creating a nurturing environment to enrich the daily lives of Day Haven’s program participants.
To learn more about Day Haven Adult Day Services and their available programs for seniors, families and caregivers, visit www.dayhaven.org.
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker has self-published a children’s picture book on ocean pollution titled Below the Ocean: Keeping Our Sea Friends Safe. The book targets young children ages 2-10 years and provides an engaging story about a young seal and her encounters with ocean pollution.
“Having raised 3 children and knowing how important it is to teach our kids about respecting and maintaining our environment, I decided to take the plunge into writing this book, as well as additional children’s environmental books. Long before I ran for public office, I was involved in beach cleanups, advocating for clean water and air, recycling our garbage and preserving open space. We all need to do more, and I hope this book will inspire children and their parents to be environmental superheroes,” said Anker.
The illustrator, Lily Liu, is an award-winning artist who has provided illustrations for several top-selling children’s books. The vibrant colors and adorable characters capture your attention as the main character, Sophia the Seal, encounters ocean garbage and learns how it is affecting sea life and our ocean.
Plastics have been on Earth for close to 70 years and in that time, we have created over 9 billion tons of plastic waste. Most plastics are not recycled and end up as garbage in landfills and in our ocean. Below the Ocean not only informs young readers about ocean pollution, but it also provides insight on what they can do to keep our ocean clean and safe and encourages them to be a Sea Hero. The book is available online at www.amazon.com. For more information go to www.Ankerbooks.com.
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Families with young children are invited to join Leg. Anker for a book launch at Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station on Thursday, July 28 at 2:30 p.m. The educational presentation will feature a reading of the book, a Q&A, book signing and crafts. The first 25 books will be given out for free. To register for this event, call the library at 631-928-1212 or email [email protected]
On Friday, June 10, the Suffolk County Legislature hosted the 3rd annual Women Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony. During the ceremony, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker recognized Janet Santeramo as this year’s Suffolk County Women Veterans Appreciation Day 6th District Honoree.
Janet Santeramo is a local veteran who proudly served in the United States Maine Corps, where she participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Cease Fire. She has received many accolades throughout her time serving in the United States military, including the Navy Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, National Defense Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, and the Cold War Ribbon. By the end of her active service, Janet had attained the rank of Sergeant and her Military Occupational Specialty was Metal Worker/Welder.
“It gives me great pride and it is an honor to recognize Janet Santeramo for this year’s Women Veterans Appreciation Day,” said Legislator Anker. “In addition to her service to our country and her work as an attorney, Janet has also dedicated her time to serving veterans in her community, whether it was while sitting on our county’s Task Force to Assist Retired Veterans (TARV) or as a member of a local VFW post.”
Currently, Janet Santeramo works as an attorney and partner at Turley, Redmond and Rosasco, where she has been instrumental in assisting veterans and their families in obtaining available veterans’ and Social Security benefits. As an active member of Post 6249 for the last 20 years and current Post Service Officer, Janet has also participated in many community events and has acted as a liaison between other veterans and local agencies and services. Through her work, she has assisted veterans in securing housing, counseling and financial services. Additionally, she has prioritized raising awareness on the rates of suicide in veterans and prevention efforts.
In 2020, the Suffolk County Legislature designated June 12th as Women Veterans Appreciation Day through Resolution 94-2020 to recognize women who proudly serve in the United States Armed Forces. Each year, a woman veteran is honored in each legislative district. For more information, please call Legislator Anker’s office at 631-854-1600.
On June 15, Suffolk County Legislator Anker visited the Heritage Center at the North Shore Heritage Park in Mount Sinai to congratulate Matteo Gravinese for being the 2022 Legislative District 6 recipient of the Suffolk County Youth Week Award during the Suffolk County Legislature’s “Youth Week.” Each year, the Suffolk County Legislature coordinates “Youth Week” during the third week in May. As a part of this celebration, each Legislator selects a young resident who has gone above and beyond in helping their community with extraordinary acts of community service.
“It is my honor to recognize Matteo Gravinese as the recipient of this year’s Suffolk County Youth Week Award in District 6,” said Legislator Anker. “I would like to thank Matteo for the impact he has had on the children and teens in our community through his work volunteering with North Shore Youth Council. Continue to shine your light on others, Matteo.”
“North Shore Youth Council (NSYC) was happy to nominate Matteo Gravinese to receive the Suffolk County Youth Week Award,” said North Shore Youth Council Executive Director Robert Woods. “Matteo has been volunteering with NSYC for the last two years and currently serves as the Vice President of our Youth Advisory Committee. Matteo emanates charisma and demonstrates passion and enthusiasm in all the projects he’s involved in. We thank him for his dedication to NSYC, his community and to all those he loves.”
As an active community member and volunteer, Matteo currently serves at the Vice President of North Shore Youth Council’s Youth Advisory Committee. Through his role, he has been instrumental in planning and facilitating community events such as Safe Halloween, the Heritage Park Carnival, youth recreation nights, North Shore Youth Council’s garden restoration projects and Habitat for Humanity. Matteo is described as always willing to take on more responsibility at North Shore Youth Council and is well known as a positive role model for the youth that utilize the services at the organization. He has successfully managed school work, sports, extracurricular activities and his vast volunteer efforts within the community.
To learn more about North Shore Youth Council, visit https://www.nsyc.com. For more information, please contact Legislator Anker’s office at (631) 854-1600.
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker is pleased to announce the Suffolk County Summer Community Concert Series in collaboration with community organizations including North Shore Youth Council, the Longwood Alliance, the Middle Island Civic Association, the Middle Island Fire Department, the Coram Civic Association, the Coram Fire Department, and the Ridge Civic Association.
“The summer community concerts have been instrumental in providing local performances with free-admission concerts across the district,” said Legislator Sarah Anker. “I encourage our community residents to attend these concerts that provide a wonderful entertainment venue for all ages. I thank the community organizations for their partnerships with my office.”
Mount Sinai Community Concert with North Shore Youth Council
Featuring: BonJourney
Date: Sunday, July 10th
Time: 7:00PM
Location: North Shore Heritage Park 633 Mount Sinai Coram Rd, Mount Sinai
Coram Community Concert with the Coram Civic Association and the Coram Fire Department
Featuring: Southbound
Date: Saturday, July 16th (rain date July 17th)
Time: 7:00PM
Location: Coram Fire Department Substation #2 on Pine Road and Route 112 in Coram
Middle Island Community Concert with Longwood Alliance, Middle Island Civic Association and the
Middle Island Fire Department
Featuring: 70’s Rock Band Parade
Date: Saturday, July 23rd
Time: 6:00PM
Location: Middle Island Fire Department 31 Arnold Dr, Middle Island
Ridge Community Concert with the Ridge Civic Association
Featuring: Abby Normal
Date: Sunday, July 24th (rain date July 31st)
Time: 4:00PM
Location: The Historic Longwood Estate Smith Road, Ridge
*Donations of Mac and Cheese will be accepted and collected for Blessings in a Backpack*
Downtown Rocky Point Community Concert with North Shore Youth Council
Featuring: Swingtime
Date: Tuesday, August 2nd
Time: 7:00PM
Location: St Anthony of Padua Church 614 Route 25A, Rocky Point
Downtown Rocky Point Community Concert with North Shore Youth Council
Featuring: 45RPM
Date: Tuesday, August 23rd
Time: 7:00PM
Location: St Anthony of Padua Church 614 Route 25A, Rocky Point
Middle Island Community Concert with Longwood Alliance, Middle Island Civic Association and the
Middle Island Fire Department
Featuring: Battle of the Bands (9:00AM-4:00PM), and In The Groove (6:00PM-8:00PM)
Date: Saturday, August 27th (rain date August 28th)
Time: 9:00AM-9:00PM
Location: Middle Island Fire Department, 31 Arnold Dr, Middle Island
There is no charge for admission to the concerts. For more information about the concerts, please contact the office of Legislator Sarah Anker’s office at (631) 854-1600.
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced the launch of a new website, www.suffolkcountyny.gov/BusinessHub, dedicated to assisting local small businesses and startups. The website, which was developed after the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Legislator Anker, will serve as the county’s center for business development needs and services by providing important information regarding how to start a business, what county, state and federal assistance and pandemic relief programs are available for businesses owners, and resources to help established businesses innovate and grow.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible challenges for small business, and while large corporations have received substantial government support, our small businesses have not been given as many opportunities. This website hub will help to provide our local businesses with easy access to helpful resources including, grant and loan opportunities, potential funding sources, business administration information, small business related rules and regulations, relevant government department contacts, and COVID-19 related guidance information,” said Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker. “I would like to thank Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone for his support, and the Suffolk County Departments of Economic Development and Planning, and Information Technology for their work in developing and launching this much needed resource.”
“As we enter our new normal, we are working to build back stronger than ever and this website will allow us to provide the resources needed to ensure our local small businesses thrive,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “The hub will create a more collaborative effort with local small businesses and will help raise awareness of the many resources available to them.”
In addition to the website hub, the county is developing an Office of Business Development, which will serve to assist business owners with coordinating the various permitting processes required by the Suffolk County Departments of Health Services and Public Works, and if applicable, the New York State Department of Conservation and any other state, federal or local agencies.
“The Suffolk County Office of Business Development is truly a “one-stop website” that contains a wealth of information for individuals who are seeking to start or grow a business,” said Holly Bottiglieri, President of the Mt. Sinai-Miller Place Chamber of Commerce. “It provides valuable tools to aid in making educated decisions that include, choosing an industry to open a business, online workshops and all of the logistics to help new and seasoned businesses obtain accurate information to move forward in their business development process”.
The site will also offer an opportunity for local businesses to participate in Suffolk County’s procurement of services and goods. Local businesses will have the ability to more easily access and sign up for county bids and requests for proposals. This includes an emphasis on Minority- and Women- owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), as well as Veteran-owned businesses.
The website hub expands on the work of the county’s Business Recovery Unit (BRU), which County Executive Bellone launched in March of 2020 to serve as a one-stop-shop for businesses in Suffolk County that are looking for pandemic-related assistance. The unit consists of a comprehensive webpage, www.suffolkcountyny.gov/BRU, that continues to be updated with critical resources for businesses, and can be found under the “Pandemic Relief” tab on the new Business Hub website. In addition to the website, residents looking to be connected to the unit can call 311 or email [email protected].
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker, in conjunction with New York Sea Grant, will host a public presentation for homeowners on coastal erosion on June 9 at 7:30 p.m.. The informational session will discuss erosion, the recession of bluffs and shorelines, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disturbances caused by the changing climate.
“As erosion has impacted many residents in my district, it has become necessary to empower coastal homeowners with the knowledge to stay prepared for any disturbances and changes ahead,” said Legislator Anker. “I would like to thank New York Sea Grant for their partnership as well as their many contributions toward public safety and education throughout their many years of research and service.”
The event will feature speakers from New York Sea Grant, including Elizabeth Hornstein, who specializes in Sustainable and Resilient Communities. She will discuss her work with the Long Island Sound community to anticipate and address erosion caused by the changing climate. In addition, New York State Sea Grant’s Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist Kathleen Fallon will be presenting on erosion, recession of land, and options for mitigation.
This presentation will be held via Zoom at 7:30pm on Thursday, June 9th. Please use this link https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcu-qrTgoE9ZJRR7H7KVmGLwF6aTmMXDJ to register for the event. To receive additional information, please call Legislator Anker’s office at 631-854-1600.
In an effort to combat the impact plastic pollution has on the environment, Suffolk County has partnered with New York Sea Grant (NYSG) to publish a 15-lesson curriculum entitled, “Plastic Pollution and You.” The curriculum was developed after the passage of Suffolk County resolution 450-2018, sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker, which authorized the creation of a marine debris public awareness program. NYSG’s Kathleen Fallon, Ph.D., a Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist and Nate Drag, New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Literacy Specialist and Associate Director of the Great Lakes Program at the University at Buffalo, have co-authored the curriculum. Funding for the curriculum was administered by New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation through the New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund.
“In Suffolk County, we have prioritized environmental protection through actions such as banning single-use plastic bags, personal care products with microbeads, and the release of helium balloons,” said Legislator Anker. “While legislation is an important part of environmental protection, we must also focus on educating our future generations about what they can do to reduce the negative impacts plastics can have on our water and marine life. Having sponsored the Suffolk County resolution to create the marine debris curriculum, I would like to thank New York Sea Grant, Dr. Kathleen Fallon and Nate Drag, for their work in creating this important initiative.”
“We designed the ‘Plastic Pollution and You’ curriculum with input from educators and the environmental conservation sector to prompt students to think about what plastic is, how they use plastic, and about the consequences of plastic pollution in the environment and their local communities through activities that incorporate the social, economic, and public policy context of this critical environmental issue,” said curriculum project leader Kathleen Fallon, Ph.D., a Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist with New York Sea Grant, Stony Brook, New York.
“New York Sea Grant was pleased to provide its experience and expertise in this collaborative effort to develop a new and innovative curriculum to educate and prompt interest in reducing and preventing plastic pollution across New York State’s marine and freshwater environments — from our Atlantic Ocean shoreline and Long Island Sound to the Hudson River Estuary, St. Lawrence and Niagara Rivers, and the State’s two Great Lakes,” said New York Sea Grant Director Rebecca L. Shuford, Ph.D. “The curriculum will serve an important role to inspire the next generation of coastal stewards.”
Throughout the program, students will learn technical skills such as data collection, charting, and mapping. Additionally, students will also develop advocacy tools like position statement preparation, technical solution design, behavior change campaigns, public policy development, and community-level action strategy to address plastic pollution. On Wednesday, April 13, teachers had an opportunity to have an introduction to the curriculum via an online workshop with the authors as well as a Sherri A. Mason, a noted freshwater plastics pollution researcher. To view the “Plastic Pollution and You” webinar or to download the curriculum, please visit www.nyseagrant.org/articles/t/marine-debris-plastic-pollution-in-new-york-s-waters-marine-debris-news or call 631-632-8730.
New York Sea Grant is a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, and one of 34 university-based programs working with coastal communities through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Learn more at https://www.nyseagrant.org.
Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker visited three local supermarket stores in March to distribute COVID-19 at-home test kits to their employees. She met with managers and employees of the Stop and Shops in Rocky Point and Miller Place, as well as the King Kullen in Middle Island, where she distributed over 700 test kits between the three stores.
This effort follows Legislator Anker’s recent Drive-Thru Test Kit Distribution event which was open to all residents, as well as the dissemination of boxes of test kit to the various senior communities and day care centers in the area.
“I want to thank the essential workers of our local supermarkets, who worked tirelessly throughout the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is my hope that these COVID-19 test-kits will help to keep the stores’ workers and patrons safe and healthy as we start to work our way back to a sense of normalcy,” said Legislator Anker.
“I also want to express my appreciation for our Local Unions 338 and 1500, who represent the workers of Stop and Shop and King Kullen. Through these challenging times, our local unions have continued to dedicate themselves to ensuring workers and their families are protected and supported,” she said.
