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Ward Melville Heritage Organization

It is said that all good things come in threes and the The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO)’s  event on April 11 was no exception as it hosted ribbon cuttings for Stony Brook Village Center establishments Georgio’s Coffee Roasters; North Shore Injury Lawyer Mark Freeley, Esq.; and The Little Cheese Shop.

For over 20 years, Georgio’s Coffee Roasters has been perfecting the art of roasting coffee in Farmingdale. Now they are thrilled to expand their legacy with a new location at 131 Main Street in Stony Brook. Founded by Lydia and Georgio Testani, the coffee shop offers Georgio’s signature roasted coffee beans and freshly ground coffee, available in 21 varieties. Their extensive drink menu features specialty lattes, cappuccinos, and rich hot chocolate, featuring house-made syrups. For those on the go, Georgio’s also serves delicious to-go items, such as bacon, egg, and cheese tacos and challah peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They are open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 631-841-1700 or visit georgioscoffee.com.

North Shore Injury Lawyer, Mark Freeley, Esq., brings over 30 years of personal injury litigation experience to his new office at 111 Main Street in Stony Brook. A longtime local resident and Senior Partner at a respected law firm in Woodbury, Freeley offers clients in the Three Village area personalized legal services backed by the strength of a full legal team. He is available by appointment in Stony Brook with a flexible schedule. In addition to handling injury cases, Freeley provides free reviews of auto insurance policies to help ensure proper coverage. Known for his daily walks with his rescue dogs and his volunteer work with Last Chance Animal Rescue, he is a familiar face in the community he proudly serves. By appointment only, call 631-495-9435 or visit northshoreinjurylawyer.com.

Little Cheese Shop at 127 Main Street in Stony Brook is run by Chris and Krystal Abate—industry professionals with over 20 years of experience in the food world. The charming boutique cheese shop offers an impressive selection of over 30 international and artisanal cheeses, many of which are rare finds on Long Island. In addition to cheese, the shop is stocked with gourmet pantry staples including jams, spreads, crackers, and mustards, as well as a curated selection of charcuterie. Perfect for entertaining or gifting, they also offer custom cheese platters, grazing tables, and beautifully packaged gift baskets. Cheese lovers can enjoy their full sandwich and grilled cheese menu, featuring over 20 delicious options made fresh to order. To learn more or place an order, call 631-223-0245 or visit littlecheese.shop.

LookBook Luncheons. Image from WMHO

Stony Brook Village has announced the return of its popular luncheon fashion show series, “The Lookbook Luncheons,” set to take place this May. This three-part series will showcase the latest spring styles from renowned local boutiques, offering a delightful blend of fashion and local cuisine.

LookBook Luncheon. Photo from WMHO

Each event will run from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at a different local restaurant, including: Mirabelle Restaurant at the Three Village Inn (two-course meal for $30) on May 1; Country House Restaurant (three-course meal for $46) on May 8; and Luca Restaurant (two-course meal for $39) on May 14.

Guests can look forward to enjoying a curated dining experience featuring a variety of spring fashion and accessories from Mint, Ecolin Jewelers, Madison’s Niche, D.K. Brothers, Kate’s Vintage Rose, and Chico’s. Each luncheon will unveil new styles, making it possible to attend all three and discover the latest trends.

LookBook Luncheon. Photo from WMHO

As attendees enjoy their meals, models will grace the dining spaces, showcasing stunning spring fashions and sharing insights about the looks they are wearing and The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) will be present to share fascinating tidbits of local history. 

New this year, guests can savor an elevated culinary experience at the luncheon immersed in the rich and flavorful world of cheese, courtesy of Little Cheese. Returning by popular demand, The Crushed Olive will provide tastings of their olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

Reservations are required to ensure a spot at these events. Interested guests can make reservations by contacting the restaurants directly: Mirabelle Restaurant, 150 Main Street, Stony Brook Village, 631-751-0555; Country House Restaurant, 1175 North Country Road, Stony Brook, 631- 751-3332; and Luca Modern Italian Restaurant, 93 Main Street, Stony Brook Village, 631-675-0435. 

Gloria Rocchio standing in front of the Stony Brook Village post office. Photo courtesy of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization

By Rita J. Egan

Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 45th Annual Holiday Festival on Dec. 8 filled the Stony Brook Village Center with holiday spirit as entertainers played music, a short parade featuring large puppets weaved through the center and Santa visited with children.

It was hard to believe that diagonally across the street from the Village Center laid the remnants of a summer storm that brought down several inches of rain during a short time in the late evening hours and early morning hours of Aug. 18 and 19, altering a landmark in its wake. The deluge of rain left the historic Stony Brook Grist Mill’s dam breached and the Stony Brook Mill Pond drained. Harbor Road running along the pond and Mill Creek Road were destroyed, and part of a home and its backyard fell into the Mill Pond.

Heading up the charge to keep the Stony Brook Village Center, which WMHO owns, running smoothly despite the devastation and working to restore the Stony Brook Mill Pond to its former glory has been Gloria Rocchio, WMHO’s president.

Regarding the aftermath, Rocchio said it was the worst weather-related damage she knows of since she became WMHO president more than 40 years ago. Despite the tragedy, Stony Brook Village Center businesses remained open, and events such as the holiday and Halloween festivals have continued. For her leadership and stewardship skills in keeping continuity and order, TBR News Media has named Rocchio one of its People of the Year for 2024.

Rocchio said when the news of the dam breaching awakened her, she didn’t sleep for the rest of the day. The WMHO president has had to balance environmental, historical preservation, commerce and tourism concerns in the following months.

Regarding juggling all the responsibilities, she said, “I have a very good staff but inevitably I have to be involved.”

She also has been grateful for volunteers (see sidebar) who have offered assistance. Among them, joining WMHO employees, were more than 70 nearby residents who cleaned debris and dead fish in Stony Brook Mill Creek on Aug. 22. Some debris came from the home that partially fell into the pond. Among the items found were suitcases, furniture and apparel. Some larger items, such as a lawn mower, couldn’t be removed immediately.

Rocchio said WMHO was grateful for the help they have received. Reflecting on the last few months, she was reminded that Stony Brook’s hamlet gets its name from the stony mill creek. “This is the heart of Stony Brook.”

Richard Rugen, WMHO chairman, said Rocchio has been working 24/7.

“It is a job for three people, and the reason she’s able to handle it is that she not only has been doing it for a very long time, but she has worn so many hats on Long Island relative to civic things, that she’s got an inventory, a mental inventory, that is like none other.”

Rugen added that Rocchio began her journey with WMHO during a time when she was able to get to know philanthropist and developer of Stony Brook Village Center Ward Melville, as well as his wife, Dorothy, and other notable WMHO board members. To this day, Rugen said, Rocchio respects their vision of the Stony Brook Village Center and WMHO’s other properties.

“I don’t think a board meeting goes by — and if it does, it’s a short one — where the Melville mantra is not brought up: What would Dorothy and Ward think of this idea?” Rugen said. “So, they are still there in that respect.”

Since the storm, Rocchio has been in constant contact with elected officials, including Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket). The legislator has worked on various projects with WMHO and secured grants for the nonprofit during his former role as a New York State assemblyman.

Englebright said Rocchio tremendously respects the architectural and overall vision of Ward Melville and Richard Haviland Smythe, the Village Center’s architect. The legislator has seen Rocchio at work, most recently restoring the historic eagle on the center’s post office.

“It’s a fragile entity that needs constant attention and care, and in this case, repair, and she’s the right person,” Englebright said. “She’s doing almost curatorial-quality care for that architectural treasure that is the village, but it’s not a static exhibit. It’s a community. It’s where people live and shop.”

Englebright said that during the last few months after the storm, Rocchio has continued making the Village Center a welcoming place and kept it “vibrant and economically viable,” adding that such a task is important but not easy.

“She’s not just passively overseeing the Ward Melville Heritage Organization,” the legislator said. “She’s making sure that it remains a part of our living experience and our consciousness.”

WMHO board grateful for community’s help

Ward Melville Heritage Organization President Gloria Rocchio and Chairman Richard Rugen said they appreciated the assistance Long Island residents offered after the August storm that left Stony Brook Mill Pond drained.

Rae Marie Renna, general manager of the Three Village Inn, drove from the South Shore immediately after hearing about the dam breach and offered rooms to occupants of five homes that were evacuated near the dam.

Rocchio said Avalon Nature Preserve offered to patrol by the Stony Brook Grist Mill after people were walking into the drained pond, which is dangerous as the mud acts like quicksand. Residents have also called animal rescuers such as Sweetbriar Nature Center and Frankie Floridia, of Strong Island Animal Rescue League, when they have spotted fish and wildlife in distress. Both Rocchio and Rugen said the animal rescuers who have saved fish, turtles and more were risking their own safety when walking in the drained pond.

Rocchio added that some of the animals were confused after the storm. Canada Geese have been sitting on a sandbar when the tide goes up and then swim with whatever water is there. One goose adopted TEB North Country Car Care service station after the pond drained and was named Scooter. Owner Brian Barton and his staff gave the goose cracked corn and water. When it was too hot, they bought the goose a kiddie pool to swim in.

Olivia Ross, of Port Jefferson, has been selling bracelets inscribed with Stony Brook Strong and Save the Mill Pond for $2 each where all proceeds are going to WMHO. Rocchio said,  “She has worked tirelessly with us.”

The WMHO president and chairman said among the volunteers, especially during the Aug. 22 cleanup, were Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook), New York State Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) and Lois Reboli of the Reboli Center for Art and History. Local businesses such as Crazy Beans Restaurant, Sweet Mama’s Restaurant and Premiere Pastry Shop contributed food and beverages, while Stony Brook Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals, along with Lessing’s Hospitality Group and the Three Village Dads, also took part in the cleanup. Stony Brook Fire Department was on standby to assist in an emergency, and the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department delivered dumpsters.

Rugen said they were grateful for everyone who had volunteerism “in their hearts.”

 

Ernie Canadeo, Chairman, LIMEHOF. Photo by Barbara Anne Kirshner

By Steven Zaitz

If you have not been to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village, you might not know just how many musical giants are from around here. 

Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Eddie Money, Twisted Sister and the Stray Cats are just a few of the household names who grew up on Long Island, and made it big in the industry. They are now inductees in the hallowed halls of the LIMEHOF, which just this month celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Another musical giant, who is not on this list and will probably never sell out Madison Square Garden or make a platinum record, is Ernie Canadeo. Canadeo has been the Chairman of LIMEHOF for 10 years, and was the driving force behind transforming it from a rolling exhibit in a Winnebago, to the state-of-the-art 8,800-square-foot facility it is today.

Canadeo, who grew up in Westbury and now lives in Glen Cove, is the founder and Chairman of EGC Group, one of the largest advertising and digital marketing firms on Long Island. Last month, Canadeo was inducted into the Long Island Business Hall of Fame for not only his work at EGC, but also his membership on the board of directors for many Long Island non-profit organizations. Additionally, he is on the Executive Committee of the Long Island Association, which is the foremost business and commerce organization on the Island. 

Canadeo has also spearheaded and supported many philanthropic endeavors, such as TeachRock, which promotes music in the classroom, and the National Stuttering Association.

Despite these achievements in the hyper-competitive digital marketing industry, Ernie is renowned for maintaining a sweet touch and sense of family with everyone in his orbit — business associates and loved ones alike. 

“Ernie is huge on family,” said his wife Catherine Canadeo, who is the CEO of her own Corporate Wellness Advisory firm. “Everything he does focuses on that zest, that love of life, of food and friends and family, and of course, music.”

His experience in the music industry began in the 1970s when he worked as an advertising exec and promoter at RCA, A&M and Arista Records. Ernie promoted acts such as Hall & Oates, The Police, Diana Ross, The Kinks and R.E.M during the punk, glam and early disco eras of the ‘70s and ‘80s, until he founded the EGC Group in 1985. After landing some big accounts like Blockbuster Video and Häagen-Dazs ice cream, EGC established itself as a major national player in the advertising world, despite not having an office overlooking Madison Avenue.

“LIMEHOF was founded primarily by musicians and educators,” said Canadeo, who is a Stony Brook and Fordham University alum. “But in 2006, they asked me to be on the board because there wasn’t really a business person on it. I was happy to lend my expertise, and a few years later, I was named chairman.”

Fellow board member and LIMEHOF founding father Jim Faith recalled the early days of Ernie’s tenure. “Money was always a problem for us in the beginning, and with Ernie’s vision, we have been able to take a huge leap,” said Faith. “He’s a great businessman who also happens to be a great lover of music. Getting that deal for the Stony Brook building was so important to us and has enabled us to do so many other things.”

One of Canadeo’s first orders of business as chairman was to establish a permanent home for LIMEHOF. “We tried over the years to have a real hall of fame, and a great mobile museum, but what we really wanted was a home,” Canadeo said. “In 2022, I got a call from Gloria Rocchio, a real estate broker in Stony Brook, who asked me if we were still looking. So I went up there and fell in love with the place, but told her we could never afford this. She said, ‘Yes, you can,’” he continued.

For 85 years, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization has preserved historic properties donated by Ward Melville, to support non-profits that promote culture and education through history, art and music. And this just so happens to be LIMEHOF’s exact mission.

Canadeo ends the story with this wonderful fact: “We signed a 25-year lease for a grand total of one dollar a year and moved in a few months later.”

Since taking over the facility on the northeast corner of Stony Brook Village, LIMEHOF has showcased a fascinating collection of artifacts, from concert-used instruments and outfits to memorabilia spanning decades — from Broadway legend George M. Cohan to doo-wop icons like Little Anthony and the Imperials, and even rap megastars Run-D.M.C. The space was conceptualized by famed artist and designer Kevin O’Callaghan, and there is a steady stream of homegrown music emanating from the concert area every weekend of the year. This past Thanksgiving weekend, the organization celebrated its anniversary with two days filled with live performances from over a dozen bands — all with Long Island ties.

Across the hall, an entire wing of the museum houses the “Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey” exhibit, which is filled with over 50 years’ worth of memorabilia — much of which came from the Piano Man’s personal collection. The exhibit opened to the public in November of 2023 and has been seen by more than 10,000 people.

LIMEHOF founder and board member Norm Presslin, a Stony Brook University professor of media, who has also been in radio for close to half a century, first got to know Ernie decades ago when the ad man guest spoke in the professor’s classroom, discussing the topics of music marketing and business. Presslin was impressed with Ernie’s ability to communicate, with warmth, the vagaries of challenging industries. 

“I’ve observed many people in the advertising and marketing world, and many of them never adjusted to the rapid changes,” said Presslin. “Ernie’s ability to adapt has served him well and has served LIMEHOF well. Essentially, what he has done is create a home for Long Island musicians and people who love music that they never had before.”

While Ernie holds the title of chairman at his namesake EGC agency, his current CEO, Nicole Penn, handles much of the day-to-day operations. She has worked with Ernie for 20 years and has ridden shotgun with him as the industry transformed from traditional newspaper and television ad campaigns to the current digital-heavy, social media-driven model it is today. 

“In the 21st century, no other industry has changed as much as ours,” Penn said. “Ernie has always been a great sounding board and mentor. He’s caring, but also astute and has a great lens at looking at a problem from different angles. If it’s a client challenge we are trying to solve, he always seems to have relevant experience and the right instincts. What he has done at LIMEHOF  is a by-product of this and it is so great because music has always been his passion,” she added.

Music and passion. For someone who loves to cook Italian food as much as Ernie does, these two ingredients are like the white wine and garlic in his famous Chicken Scarpariello. So much so that when it came to professing his love for Catherine on their wedding day five years ago, Ernie sang an original composition called ‘10,000 Kisses,’ just for the occasion. He performed it in front of 100 guests at their home. On keyboards was pianist Christopher Clark of the band Brand X, and on sax was Lords of 52nd Street saxophonist Richie Cannata, who played with Billy Joel for decades.

“To see him with that microphone, I was completely blown away,” Catherine said. “We have parties here at our house, and sometimes we have musicians come over, but I had no idea that Ernie was actually going to sing. When he did that, my heart was so full, so overwhelmed with admiration and fondness for his sweetness.”

“To do that in front of all of our friends, singing just to me — he was singing to my heart, and that showed his love on so many different levels,” she continued.

Ernie and Richie have been friends for many years, and it was Cannata’s then-girlfriend who introduced them. “Ernie and Cathy are a match made in music heaven, and I couldn’t be happier for both of them,” said Cannata, who was inducted into the LIMEHOF in 2014. “I’ve known Cathy for a long time, and it’s a beautiful thing for all of us — way bigger than words.”

That night, as a party favor, Ernie handed out a CD OF ‘10,000 Kisses’ to all of his guests — a fitting metaphor for all Ernie has given to Long Island, the local music community and everyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him.

By Rita J. Egan

Thousands felt the holiday joy throughout Stony Brook Village Center on Dec. 8 as the Ward Melville Heritage Organization presented its 45th Annual Holiday Festival.

The free event featured a visit from Santa Claus, who arrived on an antique fire truck, followed by the jolly elf sitting for a few hours listening to children’s gift wishes and taking photos. The Legends & Spies Puppet Procession kicked off at 2:15 p.m., as handlers held puppets of local heroes, such as Culper Spy Ring members Major Benjamin Tallmadge and Caleb Brewster, prominent shipbuilder Jonas Smith and philanthropists Ward and Dorothy Melville. The Ward Melville High School Marching Band led the procession.

The day also included performances from The School of Rock ‘n Roll Choir, the St. James Junior Choir, Roseland Dance Studio and the Celestial Singers Holiday Carolers. WALK 97.5 FM provided music and Steppin’ Out Ponies hosted a petting zoo in the inner courtyard.

The festivities ended with a performance by the Bethel AME Choir and a tree-lighting ceremony on the Village Green.

Santa will arrive at the Stony Brook Post Office at 2 p.m. Photo couertesy of WMHO

Join the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) for a magical day as its 45th Annual Holiday Festival returns to the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook on Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. Free and open to all, this community celebration will bring music, performances, and heartwarming holiday cheer.

Festivalgoers can look forward to the WMHO Youth Corps’ Santa Fund Scavenger Hunt, where participants compete for Stony Brook Village Center gift certificates and other prizes, with all proceeds supporting local families in need through the Santa Fund.

The festivities will kick off with a performance by The School of Rock Rock n’ Roll Choir at 1 p.m. The St. James Junior Choir will perform at the Stony Brook Post Office at 1:30 p.m., setting a festive tone for Santa’s grand arrival. At 2 p.m., Santa will arrive on an antique firetruck to greet children and will be available for photos until 4:45 p.m. 

The festival’s signature Legends & Spies Puppet Procession will begin at 2:15 p.m., parading through Stony Brook Village and led by the Ward Melville High School Marching Band. The procession will be followed by a holiday performance from Roseland Dance Studio at 3pm. WALK 97.5 will be in Inner Court from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., where holiday music will play alongside the Steppin’ Out Ponies petting zoo, who will be in Inner Court from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Throughout the day, visitors can explore the Holiday Tree Festival, casting votes for their favorite decorated trees. Ballots are available in all village shops and establishments. Visitors can also enjoy the festive holiday train display in the window of Wiggs Opticians.

The Celestial Singers Holiday Carolers will perform throughout the village from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. After 4 p.m, they will perform at the Holiday tree until 5 p.m.

The festival will close with a performance by the Bethel AME Choir, leading into the grand tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Santa will return on a festive float, joined by local children, to light the holiday tree on the Village Green.

This year’s Holiday Festival is sponsored by ACM Wealth, Damianos Realty Group, GSE Dynamics, Renewal by Andersen, BUDCO Enterprises, Amazon Fresh, Optimum, Three Village Dads Foundation, Three Village Chamber of Commerce, PWR Financial Group, and TEB North Country Car Care.

For more information , call 631-751-2244

Cleanup efforts are underway at the Stony Brook Mill Pond. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

By Toni-Elena Gallo

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, construction began on Mill Creek Rd. in Stony Brook Village, following August’s catastrophic flooding. The storm not only collapsed the road, but emptied Stony Brook’s Mill Pond, caused destruction to surrounding homes and displaced the area’s wildlife.

According to Gloria Rocchio, president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, it is a bit of poetic justice that construction began on Wednesday, as it was “exactly 90 days” since the flood hit. However, the rebuilding of Stony Brook is far from complete.

“The Town of Brookhaven will be doing the road and they’re in the design stage at this point. As for tomorrow, they’ll probably start taking down trees,” said Rocchio. “They’re going to start clearing what’s in the creek, because right now, there’s pieces of cesspool down by the grist mill. There’s also a white film on some of the muck, which I heard is detergent, meaning every time the tide goes in and out, the water is taking it to different places,” she continued. The Grist Mill, a Stony Brook staple since 1751, may have up to eight feet of “sand and muck” impacting its turning capabilities, Rocchio said.

Rocchio described the aftermath of August’s storm as “all-consuming” but said she is focused on rectifying the situation and restoring the Stony Brook Mill Pond to its former state.

The WMHO president also stressed the importance of avoiding the collapsed area on Harbor and Main streets as well as the drained Mill Pond itself. She explained that curious passersby have been found standing in the creek, Mill Pond and mud near Harbor Rd. “When we did a cleanup with volunteers, someone got very badly stuck in there. It is like quicksand,” Rocchio said.

In light of the federal government’s response to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday that Suffolk County’s flood damage is “not of the severity and magnitude to warrant the designation of Individual Assistance,” Rocchio said many homeowners, including Ron Borgese—a man who lost a portion of his home on the corner of Main St. and Harbor Rd.—have been left reeling.

“Apparently, the area is not devastated enough, but I don’t know how much more devastated you need to be,” Borgese said in a phone interview.

“The house is condemned and the property is shot. So far, I got nothing from anybody.”

Borgese is currently staying with family while awaiting word on assistance. He does not have flood insurance.

Rocchio said the community’s support during this time has deeply touched her, noting that people have donated amounts ranging from $50 to “thousands.”

In the coming weeks, WMHO will host a Christmas auction to raise money for storm damage relief.

For more information on FEMA’s decision, visit www.tbrnewsmedia.com.

Photo courtesy of WMHO

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) has announced the return of its 45th Annual Holiday Tree Competition to Stony Brook Village. 

This festive event invites community members, organizations, and businesses to showcase their creativity by decorating one of 40 premium balsam trees, which will line the walkways of the open-air Stony Brook Village Center.

The decorated trees will be on display from December 4 through January 2, creating a holiday atmosphere for all to enjoy. The public is invited to view the trees and cast their votes for their favorite from Wednesday, December 4 to Friday, December 20. The tree with the most votes will win a $150 gift certificate to be redeemed at any of Stony Brook Village’s shops and restaurants.

Due to the limited number of trees, early registration is encouraged. Registration forms can be picked up at any of the shops in Stony Brook Village or downloaded from the Events section on the Stony Brook Village Center website. Completed forms, along with a $47 entry fee, should be returned by Wednesday, November 25 to Ward Melville Heritage Organization – P.O. Box 572, Stony Brook, NY 11790.

For more information about the Holiday Tree Competition, please contact the WMHO office at 631-751-2244 or visit stonybrookvillage.com or wmho.org.

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) celebrated Halloween with its 34th Annual Halloween Festival, held on October 31st from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Stony Brook Village Center. This year’s festival brought families and visitors together to experience Halloween festivities in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Guests of all ages enjoyed live music provided by WALK 97.5, trick-or-treating throughout the Village Center, and dancing with Monster Merlin.

This event was sponsored by Suffolk Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy, Optimum, News 12 Long Island, Green Towers Group, Amazon Fresh, Apple Bank, Goldfish Swim School, Dr. Rocco Morelli, and Dr. Robert Quilty.

During the event, WMHO announced the winners of their highly anticipated 34th Annual Scarecrow Competition, which showcased impressive scarecrow designs across three categories: Professional, Adult & Family, and Children. The winners are as follows:

  • Category A – Professional
    • 1st Place: #300 – The Headless Horseman
    • 2nd Place: #101 – The Village Medium
  • Category B – Adult & Family
    • 1st Place: #108 – Beetlejuice
    • 2nd Place: #304 – Sistaaahs!
    • 3rd Place: #112 – Believe in Magic
  • Category C – Children
    • 1st Place: #202 – Duck Pond Scarecrow
    • 2nd Place: #105 – Lego Master
    • 3rd Place: #207 – The Rainbow Fish
For more information about upcoming events and programs, visit WMHO’s website at www.wmho.org.

Time to vote! Above are just a few of the 43 unique and creative scarecrows of all shapes, sizes and characters that line the walkways througout the Stony Brook Village Center for the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 34th Annual Scarecrow Competition. 

You have until Friday, October 25 to vote for your favorite in three categories: Professional, Adults/Family, and Children. Winning scarecrows will win cash prizes based on the number of votes they receive from the public. Ballots can be found in all the shops and restaurants. Once completed, ballots can be returned to any shop to be counted in for voting. Winners will be announced at the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 34th Annual Halloween Festival on Oct. 31.

This year’s event is generously sponsored by Suffolk Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy, Green Towers Group, Apple Bank, Dr. Rocco Morelli, and Dr. Robert Quilty.

 For more information, call 631-751-2244.