Huntington Local

Lauren Mazur and her students. To enlarge, click here

By Brenda Lentsch

Deep in the heart of South Dakota wild horses run free on the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. Some very special people work really hard to provide these wild beauties with a natural lifestyle. The students in Lauren Mazur’s fourth grade class at Mandracchia Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack read about this special place and felt compelled to help.

They spent hours upon hours making bracelets that they sold, during their own free time, and raised over $300. The money was donated to the sanctuary and will help to purchase food and medicine for horses. For more info: www.gwtc.net/~iram/

Brenda Lentsch handles public relations for the Commack public schools.

The Arena Players Shakespeare Festival runs through the end of August at The Vanderbilt Mansion, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport.

WHAT’S PLAYING: Love is a battlefield, as Petruccio shows the iron-willed Kate who’s the boss in “The Taming of the Shrew,” which runs through most of July. On tap for August is “The Complete Works of Wilm Shakspr Abridged,” in which three actors play every Shakespeare character — male and female — over the course of two hours.

WHEN: “Shrew” runs weekends through July 26, “Complete Works” runs from July 31 to Aug. 30; performances for each are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays.

INFO: 516-293-0674 or visit arenaplayers.org

COST: $15; all performances are outdoors.

By A.J. Carter

The Huntington Town Board Tuesday took major steps toward implementing two affordable housing programs, adopting the eligibility criteria and processes for granting home buyers assistance in making down payments and homeowners low-interest loans to make repairs needed to legalize accessory apartments.

The programs will be funded with monies in the Town’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which receives contributions from developers in return for obtaining increase density for their projects.

Continue reading "Town board advances two affordable housing programs" »

The chorus in action. To enlarge, click here.

The Huntington Summer Arts Festival continues Thursday night with a performance by the Huntington Men’s Chorus, presenting a wide variety of music.

Performances are free and open to the public at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington’s Heckscher Park, beginning at 8:30 p.m.

For daily updates on the festival, visit www.huntingtonarts.org or call 631-271-8423 x 5.

There will be a free wine tasting featuring live jazz with the Danny Wolf Quartet this Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, July 18 and July 25 at Jazz ‘n’ Grapes, 294 Main St., Huntington.

Jazz ‘n’ Grapes is a family owned wine and spirits store that explains the ‘Jazz’ angle this way: “We just happen to love jazz and wine. They do make the perfect match, which you will find out when you visit our shop - often described as an "art gallery" by many visitors. Incredible photographs of some of the greatest jazz musicians and vocalists grace our walls, while jazz music continually plays over our speakers.”

Call 631-271-9463 for more information or visit jazzngrapes.com.

By Michelle LaPorte

As part of its Midday Music program, the Heckscher Museum of Art presents Student Sounds of Summer on Monday, July 20, from noon to 1 p.m.

Take a noontime break with music and art! Enjoy the museum’s current exhibitions and a free lunchtime concert. Light refreshments will be served.

Enjoy the talents of local area musicians as their music fills the museum’s galleries.
Admission is free. For further information call 631-351-3250 or visit www.heckscher.org

Michelle LaPorte is coordinator of public programs at the museum.

ALLEN - Maurice, on July 8, 2009. Beloved husband of the late
Violette. Devoted father of Irene and Morris Kirsh, Eli and Lorraine,
Abe and Jill, and the late Sarah. Cherished grandfather of Edward,
Jennifer, Jessica, Josh, Richard and David. Loving great grandfather
of Julia and Zoe. Funeral service Friday 10am at I.J. Morris, Inc., 21
East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills, NY 11746.

GOLDBLATT - Stuart Samuel, born June 25, 1918, passed away July 7,
2009. Survived by his devoted wife, Jane; loving children, Donald,
Nick and Florence; son-in-law, Steven; daughter-in-law, Carol; five
beloved grandchildren, Elana, Diana, Rebecca, Daniel and Peri; nieces
and nephews. Stuart served in WWII from February 1942 - October 1945
with the 183rd signal repair company in Europe, Africa and the Middle
East. He was awarded a good conduct medal and granted an honorable
discharge. Upon returning from Italy he went to Columbia University on
the GI bill where he received his BA and MA. He graduated Phi Beta
Kappa and received the 1st scholar-athlete award from General Dwight
D. Eisenhower. He married Jane Sybil Ullmann in 1949. Since the 1960s
he was active with the Huntington Democrat Party. He served on the
library board for Northport-East Northport for more than twenty years
with a period as chairman. Stuart taught American history for more
than 35 years, first at Cranford High School in NJ then at Northport
High School where he also served as chairman of the Social Studies
Dept and was the school's first ombudsman. He worked as a tennis pro
for 14 summers in Norfolk, CT, was a tennis coach at Northport H.S.
and a long time member of the Northport Tennis Club. He was a
gentleman and a scholar who will be missed.

HIRSCH - Susan, of Huntington on July 7, 2009. Beloved wife of George
for over 28 years. Loving mother of Corin, Teddy and Alex. Dear sister
of Robert (Mary) Dalia and sister-in-law of Eileen (Raymond) Briscoe.
Visitation M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington
Station, Thursday 7-9pm and Friday 2-5 & 7-9pm. Mass St. Patrick's
Church, Huntington, Saturday 9:30am. Memorial donations to VNS Hospice
of Suffolk, 505 Main Street, Northport, 11768.

PALMIERI - Assunta E., age 88 of East Northport on July 8, 2009.
Pre-deceased by her beloved husband Joseph. Devoted mother of Joseph
and Frances Alaimo. Cherished grandmother of Jimmy, Nicholas,
Victoria, Tonya, and Joey. Also survived by her brother Vito and
sister Mary. Reposing at Marinello Funeral Home, Inc., 493 Middle
Country Road, Coram. Funeral Mass, Mon day 9:45am, St. Anthony of Pa
dua, East Northport. Interment Calverton National Cemetery. Visitation
Saturday and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9pm.

SAMMUT - Lawrence E., of Commack, NY on July 7, 2009 in his 87th
year. Beloved husband of the late Rose Sammut. Loving father of Chris
Sammut (Annette) and Antoinette Ferranti (Al). Cherished grandfather
of Collette, Anthony, Christina and Laura and great-grandfather of
four. Reposing Moloney's Hauppauge Funeral Home, 840 Wheeler Rd,
(Rte. 111) Hauppauge, NY where a Religious Service will be held Friday
afternoon. Funeral Mass Saturday 9:30am at Christ the King R.C.
Church, Commack. Committal Service following Mother Teresa Tribute
Center, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. Cremation Nassau-Suffolk Crematory.
Visiting Friday 2-4 & 7-9pm. www.moloneyfh.com.

By Susannah Mrazek

At the Tuesday Huntington Town Board meeting, Councilman Mark Cuthbertson presented a special proclamation to Michael Busby and Wendy Busby (at left with board), who after an unforeseen tragedy lost their home to an electric fire and subsequently made the decision to rebuild an entirely new LEED certified home in its place.

As a result, their home has been established as the first residential structure on Long Island to be certified through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Program.

The LEED program is a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions in residential, commercial and industrial new and existing construction. The Busby family worked with a local contractor to maintain a “green” focus, while still trying to preserve the traditional-style home that they have always loved. The result is a gorgeous home in Huntington Bay that is a beacon for green building design and smart planning.

The Busby Family is living proof that when life tosses you lemons, you can make lemonade. “We congratulate Michael and Wendy Busby for having the foresight and dedication to follow the LEED green building standard and hope that they will be a model for Long Island as we move toward a sustainable future,” Cuthbertson said. “I look forward to working with them as the Town establishes and expands programs to assist Huntington homeowners with sustainable building alternatives.”

Future projects will include, a revolving loan fund for home energy audits and a low-income weatherization program.

Susannah Mrazek is a legislative aide to the town board.

Josh Kovner of Huntington Station, who told us earlier this week about a lost dog, reports that the Shiba Inu has been reunited with its owner.

Kovner said he took the dog to the Huntington shelter, where they found it had an electronic collar that was used to track down the owner.

This dog came to Kovner’s deck through his back yard, scratching to get in during a gathering of friends on the night of July 3 between 9 and 10 p.m. Kovner lives on Cook Street near Cooper Avenue. The dog had no collar and was clearly afraid of the fireworks people were setting off, Kovner said, in addition to other loud noises.

The council with Donald Pius Jr., in background, and scholarship winners flanked by Huntington Station Enrichment Center director Dee Thompson and Donald Pius Sr.

By A.J. Carter

Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and the members of the Town Council congratulated five graduates from area high schools on Tuesday night as winners of this year’s Donald A. Pius Scholarships.

The scholarships, administered by the Huntington Youth Bureau Youth Development Research Institute, are awarded annually to five graduating seniors in the Town of Huntington who demonstrate academic excellence and good character through exemplary family and community service. The $2,000 scholarships are funded from apartment rental income at the Town’s 1264 New York Avenue mixed use building in Huntington Station, purchased from Pius several years ago to house the Huntington Station Enrichment Center and a business incubator.

The scholarship winners are:

Christine Agosto, a Walt Whitman High School graduate who will be attending Molloy College to study nursing.
John Buchanan, a Northport High School graduate who will be attending John Jay college of Criminal Justice to study forensic financial analysis.
Joshua Daves, a Huntington High School graduate who will be studying physical education at SUNY Cortland.
Jabari Lynch Maldon, a Harborfields high School graduate who will be studying physical education at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.
Tehreem Rehman, a Walt Whitman High School graduate who will be studying earth and environmental engineering at Columbia University.

The graduates and their families were honored at a reception before last night’s Town Board meeting, where they received pointers from the St. Anthony’s High School guidance counselors Carole Ginnetty and Rosemarie Walsh, authors of a new college preparatory book, and munched on sandwiches donated by Larkfield Manor.

A.J. Carter is the town's public information officer.

American Legion members and the town board.

By Megan Lavery

Councilwoman Susan A. Berland presented a proclamation to American Legion Post 1244 at Tuesday night’s Town Board meeting for winning the New York American Legion Press Association’s Best Paper Contest for their newsletter, The Greenlawn Bugle.

The Greenlawn Bugle was first published in 2007 as a way to keep members informed about post activities and newsworthy events. The newsletter is compiled entirely by members of the post and provides valuable and accessible information to veterans who cannot always attend events.

“It is a privilege for me to honor American Legion Post 1244 for winning this award two years in a row,” Berland said. “A lot of hard work and dedication goes into publishing this newsletter. I commend Commander Bill Ober, editor-in-chief of The Greenlawn Bugle and all of the Post members who put the time and effort into publishing this newsletter.”

Megan Lavery is a legislative aide to the Town Council.

The lock of a storage trailer at 5 Star Car Wash on Jericho Turnpike was pried open June 30 and a bicycle and tools were stolen. A 43-year-old man was arrested a short time later at another location on Jericho Turnpike in East Northport and charged with burglary, third degree.

Tires and rims were stolen from a 2008 Infiniti parked in the driveway of a residence on Caramel Road on July 1.

Elissa iannicello, at left, making her presentation in Northport. Newsday photo.

By Tim Healy
thealy@newsday.com

Elissa Iannicello, Northport's newly appointed treasurer, gave her first monthly report to the village board Tuesday night about the state of the municipal finances.

Iannicello told the board that the village's financial tracking system had been moved to a new computer server, She also updated them about the state of the village bank accounts and efforts to get all the municipality's financial records in order.

"Everything is pretty much in line as we would expect," she told the board.

Her appointment was unanimously approved at the board's June 16 meeting, and she started work the next day. Iannicello replaces Mary Claire Krumholtz, who was suspended without pay on March 5. A village representative at that time would not cite a reason for her suspension other than to say an investigation was under way. For that story, click here.

Iannicello, who makes $60,000 a year plus $4,500 in lieu of health benefits, is to serve until the village's annual organizational meeting in April 2010. Part of her job will be to report to the village board once a month. At Tuesday night's meeting she asked for comment from the trustees about how they would like to see future reports formatted.

Trustee Henry Tobin, who is the commissioner of finance, said the new treasurer would be "getting a handle on the rhythm of our expenditures."

The Huntington Militia was out in force Tuesday evening at Town Hall as Huntington Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia (right next to the flag at center) unveiled the latest exhibit from the town’s archives, “The Legacy of the Revolution in Huntington.”

Revolutionary War weapons and personal equipment, uniform clothing and regimental equipment will be on exhibit, as well as artifacts marking the 100th anniversary of the Sons of the American Revolution’s Huntington chapter. The exhibit runs until December.

Newsday photo

The Town Board with members of the Affordable Housing Trust Advisory Board and the Roadmap for Affordable Housing Committee.

By A.J. Carter

Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone and the Town Council on Tuesday unveiled details of three programs aimed at helping low- and moderate-income people find housing in the town as the town implements recommendations of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory board.

Taken together, the three programs will represent an almost $1.5 million investment by the town to create affordable housing, using money developers paid into the trust fund in return for obtaining increased density for their projects.

“Helping people, especially people just entering the workforce, find housing they can afford will help ensure the Town’s future by addressing one of the major factors cited as contributing to Long Island’s brain drain. I can think of no more important role government can play,” Petrone said.

The three programs to be implemented are:

The “American Dream” program, which will help first-time buyers realize the American dream of home ownership by providing 50 percent of their down payment, up to a maximum of $15,000. The town has earmarked $600,000 from the housing trust fund for this program, which is open to people making no more than 120 percent of the median income in the town. On a sliding scale, that works out to $85,600 for an individual or $122,200 for a family of four. The maximum purchase price of the house is $396,150.

The “Take Back the Blocks” program, which will make available to first-time buyers houses the town has purchased from absentee landlords and rehabilitated to include a primary residence and a legal accessory apartment. The projected income from the apartment will help buyers qualify for a mortgage and meet carrying costs. The Town has allocated $429,000 in housing trust fund money to help purchase properties on Columbia and Tower Streets, which will be converted to a total of 16 living units. Other funding for this program is coming from Suffolk County and from the State’s Restore NY Communities program. This program is open to people making 80 percent of the median income, or $57,000 for an individual and $81,450 for a family of four on the sliding scale.

A $400,000 revolving loan fund to help homeowners make the necessary improvements that will bring accessory apartments up to code and legalize them. The interest rate on the loans will be 3 percent. The eligibility income for homeowners will be no more than 120 percent of median income – the same as for the American Dream program – and the tenants can earn no more than 80 percent of median income – the same standard as for Take Back the Blocks.

Continue reading "Huntington unveils three housing programs" »

AGARDI - Gabriel Louis, 92, of Albany, NY, formerly of Huntington. WWII Veteran. Loving father of Gale (Don) Liss, Dean (Marilyn) Agardi, Ann (Brian) Nobis, Dulce (Michael) MacAndrew, Alan Agardi, and Kim Gismervik. Proud grandfather of Amanda, Scott, Brianne, Asa, Olivia, and Madison. Graveside Service 11:30 Thurs day at LI National Cemetery under the direction of A.L. Jacobsen Funeral Home, Inc., Huntington Station. jacobsenfuneral.com

LAVOIE - Edmund R., on July 6th, 2009 in his 78th year, formerly of Commack. Ret. Engineer with Grumman's and Sperry, U.S. Navy Veteran. Loving husband of Arlene L. (Hughes). Beloved father of Kenneth J. Lavoie and his wife Sharon and Raymond Lavoie. Devoted grandfather of Kenneth J. Jr. and Lauren. Reposing Nolan & Taylor-Howe funeral home, 5 Laurel Ave, Northport, Thursday 2-5 & 7-9pm. Funeral Service at Funeral Home Thursday 8:30pm with Military Honors to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the D.A.V. at the Northport V.A. Hospital in his memory appreciated. nthfh.com.

OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc., best known for its flagship anti-lung cancer drug Tarceva, is leaving Melville for Westchester, the company announced Tuesday. For the details, click here.

Newsday photo.

By Megan Lavery

Please join Huntington Councilwoman Susan Berland as she honors American Legion Post 1244 for winning first place in the New York American Legion Press Association’s Best Paper Contest for the second year in a row for their newsletter, The Greenlawn Bugle.

The Greenlawn Bugle was first issued in 2007 and is produced quarterly at the American Legion Post 1244 as a way to keep members informed about Post activities and newsworthy events. The newsletter is compiled entirely by members of the Post and provides valuable and accessible information to veterans who cannot always attend meetings. Berland will present an official proclamation from the Town of Huntington to editor-in-chief Commander Bill Ober and members of American Legion Post 1244 at tonight’s Town Board meeting on Tuesday, July 7.

Megan Lavery is a legislative aide to the town council.

Jillian K. Mooney and Keith P. McManus were married June 27 at Bellport Country Club with a reception following.

She is an attorney for Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland and Perretti Llp in Morristown, N.J., and is the daughter of John and Carol Mooney of Fort Salonga.

The bridegroom is an attorney for Farer Fersko in Westfield, N.J., and is the son of Gary and Mary McManus of Wayne, N.J.

The bride and groom each earned a juris doctorate from Boston College Law School. They live in Westfield.

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And here is a gallery of other recent weddings involving people from the Huntington area.

By Spike Babaian

Suffolk County legislators have proposed legislation to ban the use of personal vaporizers (PVs) in locations where smoking is not permitted. While the device is not a smoking cessation device, it has resulted in many individuals quitting smoking. Now, Suffolk County would like to require that users of the personal vaporizer limit use to areas where “smoking is permitted”. This would expose PV users to carcinogenic, second-hand smoke, which they have struggled to avoid by quitting smoking. Can our own government really ask non-smokers to risk their health by encouraging them to enter smoking areas?

A Personal Vaporizer, more commonly known as an electronic cigarette, is an electronic nicotine delivery system that delivers controlled levels of nicotine to the body without the dangers of tar and the many hazardous carcinogens found in cigarettes. It is considered by many to be an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and can be used with or without nicotine.

It is made up of three essential parts, a battery, an atomizer and a cartridge. A rechargeable battery is used to warm the heating element (atomizer), which heats up the liquid nicotine found inside the cartridge and turns it into a steam/vapor similar to the one emitted by a theatrical fog machine. There is typically little to no odor from this vapor, with the occasional exception of a slight scent of the flavor of the liquid.

The liquid base, which creates the visual vapor, is called Propylene Glycol (PG) and often comprises more than 90 percent of the liquid being vaporized. The FDA approves the use of this liquid in asthma inhalers to deliver medication to the lungs of patients with compromised respiratory systems and it is also used as a hospital disinfectant due to statistically verified germ-killing ability. Inhalation of vaporized PG has been studied for more than 60 years. There has been no evidence of any harmful effect, due to the vapor inhalation, to animals or humans to date.

Many media stories in reference to this device aspire to instill fear in the public by insinuating that the supposedly “unknown” vapor may be dangerous and hazardous to the health of those around it, yet when asked to provide supporting evidence, reporters have no reply except to state that it has not been studied. While there have not been many studies of the actual liquid vaporized, there have been more than a dozen studies on PG dating back to 1942. There was also a study done in New Zealand (information on this study and others available at www.VapersClub.com/pg.html) by an independent firm, which analyzed second-hand vapor from a personal vaporizer and concluded that there was no evident danger to using the device or being around the exhaled vapor.

There are a number of reasons why the government may not want these devices to succeed. They are attempting to implant an invalid fear in the public to accomplish this goal. Fear is dissipated by education. More information on the personal vaporizer and an educational video can be found at www.VapersClub.com. Please educate yourself and those around you.

Spike Babaian is president of the Long Island Vapers Club.

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The last posting we had on this issue of electronic cigarettes drew 41 comments, which is a record for Huntington Local. To comment on this story, click here.

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