August Message
from MAYOR MARGOT GARANT
I am so happy to report that our Village is vibrant and bustling here in the middle of summer with our residents having Hometown Hope Galas, traditional historical events, enjoying Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park, our restaurants and retail shops, our beautiful beaches, country club, and more! How lucky are we to live here?
Before the summer ends, we will enjoy the historic “Hill Climb, “ which is an event the Conservancy puts on every fifth year in memory and in honor of the Villages’ history and role in the automobile industry. In addition, be sure to stop down and visit Harborfront Park and partake in LISEC’s annual “Boat Build” competition, where teams gather to build a boat out of a “boat kit” that they must then float and race in the harbor. It’s so much fun to watch the teams compete!
We launched a successful “Port Palooza Concert Day” where we had local bands play who were all connected to our community in one way or the another with a special guest appearance and closing act of Frank Catalano flown in from Chicago to end the day with some beautiful jazz down at the new stage at harbor front park.
What a day!
On the Port Jeff Country Club links, our members are competing for the Mayor’s Cup and tournament championships. Sign up for our annual Village golf outing, where residents can join and play a fun-filled afternoon of golf and have access to the course without being a member! Our beach and recreation programs are ongoing, and the surf is definitely up as our beaches remain beautiful and bright!
Infrastructure projects are taking place all around us as we replace sidewalks while paving roadways, improving drainage, building our emergency command center onto the DPW facility, continuing our LED light fixture program, and working with DOT to complete the repair work and paving on West Broadway/ Route 25A.
Downtown two apartment complexes, the Overbay and the Brookport, have opened with rentals to capacity and new retail shops coming soon to Main Street. We welcome the new residents who will help support our business districts throughout the year in our beautiful, vibrant, walkable Village. Uptown CONIFER is pouring the foundation and making plans to submit a final application to New York State for a CONIFER II project!!
The eReport is wildly successful!! Residents are sending in compliments saying how much they love reading the Village progress month-to-month. Please remember you can, of course, always go up to our website, PortJeff.com, for detailed information on the events I’ve described and all the Village's programs and events year-round.
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CODE OFFICERS ARE SAVING LIVES
Priceless
At the August 2nd public meeting, Village Trustees presented five code officers with awards for their heroic actions in the line of duty. Deputy Chief Borrero was recognized for his heroic actions on March 24th. Investigators Murdocco and Broere were recognized for performing CPR and administering Narcan to save a young lady’s life. Sergeant Nick Desimone and Officer Tim Gross were recognized for saving the life of an unresponsive passenger on the ferry.
All of these officers respond to every scene without regard to their own safety, without hesitation, and courageously! Their response times are immediate and their actions save lives!
Watch the recognition ceremony on the Village's official youtube page
Thank you officers for your bravery!
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from Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden
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I've been focusing my attention on uptown. Walkthroughs with the head of our Parks Department, as well as our Village attorney have been extremely productive. I've been looking at ways to clean up and beautify the area. Be on the lookout for improvements to storefronts, beautification such as new flower boxes, and entrance enhancement.
Existing flower beds, parks, and gardens are also getting some attention and will be seeing a facelift in the coming months.
Crime rates once again are lower in the
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month of July 2021 than they were during the same time period last year. We are proud and grateful for the increased presence by Suffolk Police Department as well as the additional hours for Code Enforcement.
Additionally, speeding complaints in certain locations around theVillage have been swiftly addressed and the feedback has been very positive.
I am continuing with my resident meetings at Village Hall. It's always great to meet face-to-face and listen to your concerns.
As always, reach out to me at trustee-snaden@portjeff.com with any issues that you may have. I'm happy to help you in any way that I can.
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INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Lookin' Good!
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Pedestrian-friendly is at the heart of the Village of Port Jefferson’s recent infrastructure upgrades, making sidewalks a priority. The goal is to create safe and enjoyable public spaces that keep our residents active and engaged while providing a more comfortable and leisurely experience for everyone.
The Village has completed work to the sidewalks between Salsa Salsa and the Regency Condos, in front of the Ferry and on Barnum Ave. These upgrades not only improve how we use our public space but also make Port Jefferson even more compelling than it already is.
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CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY
Live, Love & Work in Port Jefferson...
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Port Jefferson Crossing Apartments is now in full construction! This transit-oriented development is part of the Village’s Uptown Revitalization Plan. Situated on Main Street, directly across from the Long Island Railroad Port Jefferson Station, the building will offer residents a stylish and modern energy-efficient place to call home, with commercial spaces on the ground floor.
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BUILDING PERMITS
Just the Facts...
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Building a deck? Finishing a basement? Hiring a contractor? Make sure you get a permit. When making any changes to your home or property, it is important to check with our Building and Planning Department to see if you need a permit. They are the best resource to ensure your alterations are done within all of the Town of Brookhaven and Port Jefferson Codes. |
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Here is the basic information about obtaining a building permit.
What changes to your property need a building permit?
A Building Permit is required for:
- New Homes
- Additions
- Alterations
- Most Renovations
- Most Electrical and Plumbing projects
- Structural Alterations
- Manufactured Homes
- and certain Accessory Structures
For an all-inclusive list, please contact the Building and Planning Department.
When do I start the application process?
Before beginning ANY work on your property, please contact the Building Department to determine whether your scope of work requires a permit.
Why do I need a building permit?
It’s the law! The Village of Port Jefferson Building Department is responsible for administering and enforcing the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and Village Code.
Our website has information right at your fingertips!
Find out:
What the most commonly required information is.
How long it usually takes.
How long the permit is valid.
When you will get your Certificate of Occupancy.
When you need a tree clearing or grading permit.
All of this information and so much more is on our website https://portjeff.com/building/. Check it out to see all of the details you will need to follow to make alterations to your property legally.
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SCAN TO PARK
The upgrades keep coming...
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Our Village is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, and we want to make it simple for our visitors. Our new SCAN TO PARK signs allows them to pay using their smartphone, saving time and making parking quicker. We have just installed 12 new signs in Trader's Cove, making a total of 60 signs throughout the Village.
Safety and convenience are the biggest checkmarks on the list when it comes to parking. Now a visitor is never more than 20 feet away from the convenience of parking by phone. Of course, the meters remain in place on Arden if one chooses to use them.
The benefits of parking by SCAN TO PARK
• Easier and faster
• Same cost as meter
• Receipt in phone
• Reminder when session is nearing the end.
• Avoid lines
• Avoid bad weather
• Only pay for enforced hours.
We know that Port Jefferson Village is an exciting destination for friends and family, and we’re committed to minimizing the stress of parking.
Please share this great news about the added convenience so they can come to enjoy all of the amazing amenities that our Village has to offer.
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FIRST ANNUAL PORT PALOOZA
Premiere Waterfront Music Event benefiting injured animals...
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The first Port Palooza music event was a magnet for hundreds of music fans from the community and beyond. The day was filled with 45-minute sets of live electric music, concluding with a rare appearance from Jazz great Frank Catalano from Chicago on the beautiful Port Jefferson harbor.
Port Palooza is a day of waterfront music and good times co-sponsored by the Village of Port Jefferson and produced by Kevin Wood. They collected over $1,500 in donations
for The Save the Animals Rescue and Recovery (STAR Foundation). Kevin Wood donated his personal guitar that was signed by all of the musicians from the event and Bob and Nancy Hendrick donated a Pet Portrait Session to achieve this major donation.
Performances included:
• Invocation by Jeffrey Sanzel
• Jonathan Fritz - Flamenco Guitarist
• Cole Fortier
• The Como Brothers
• School of Rock All-Stars - Port Jefferson
• Common Ground
•Grand Folk Railroad
• Frank Catalano Jazz Quartet, from Chicago
Port Palooza would like to thank Dave Koltai and Dom Famularo for their musician equipment support.
Propelled by positive energy, Port Palooza is a summer event the entire community enjoyed. Look out for the 2nd annual Port Palooza next summer!
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from Trustee Stan Loucks
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The country club continues its tournaments. We have 2 additional winners as we conclude the Presidents Cup Golf Tournament. Bob Conlin and Richie Kasten won a hard-fought battle for the title. The men’s Golf Club Championships have begun and will run for 3 weekends. The women’s Golf Club championships have also started and will conclude the same weekend as the men. All members are welcome to join either tournament by signing up in the Pro Shop.
The Tennis Club championships are already underway and will take 2-3 weeks to conclude. Congratulations go out to our Tennis Professional - ALEX DANK. Alex has been awarded “ THE JUNIOR TENNIS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR “ by the U.S.T.A. ( United States Tennis Association). We are very fortunate to have Alex working for the Village at the Club.
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We have plans to build screening around the entire driving range. The bids are out, and we hope to be getting results shortly. If we have success, the construction should take place this fall. We are also discussing the installation of a golf simulator downstairs in the main clubhouse. This could be used for lessons, member practice, or an actual game of golf at a course of your choice.
We are presently working on all of the Fall and Winter Recreational Activities. However, we are waiting for the school district to allow us to use the Spring Street School. Many of our activities would take place at the school.
The Beaches will have Lifeguard coverage thru and including Labor Day; however, since school will be in session for students on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 2 and 3, we may not have Lifeguards.
Lastly, we will shortly be building 16 additional kayak racks at East Beach. The goal is to meet the demand for spots.
Happy Summer, Everyone!
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LISEC "QUICK & DIRTY" BOAT BUILDING COMPETITION AND RACE
A chance to test your skills!
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WANTED!
Men and women teams for the 10th Annual Port Jefferson Boat Build Competition and Race.
When: August 21st 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
August 22nd 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: Harborfront Park
Building/Racing Teams are limited to 16 teams. It is suggested that teams get applications and fees in by August 17th to insure participation.
Go to LISEC’s webpage for more information.
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PORT JEFFERSON COUNTRY CLUB
EVENTS
Every Friday night there is Live Music from 5pm to 9pm at The Turn
• Sunday, August 15th - Feast on the Fairway
• Thursday, August 26th - Resident Golf Outing
• Monday, September 6th - Summer Lobster bake at The Waterview
•Sunday, October 10th - Goodbye Summer BBQ at The Turn
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NOW HIRING LIFEGUARDS
for East & West Beaches
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Start immediately until September 6, 2021.
If interested, please email RLemmerman@portjeff.com or call the Port Jefferson Recreation Department at 631.802.2160.
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from Trustee Bruce Miller
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Hello Port Jefferson Residents.
As earlier reported, I continue to work for a better ride and better schedule
for the Long Island Rail Road. The first step is to get a meeting or Zoom
with Phil Eng – LIRR President. I have enlisted the help of Ms. Rosemary
Mescali, Chairperson of the Us Green Builders Council (Long Island
Committee). I am a member and contributor to this organization and have
gotten the LIRR issue of Un-Green transportation and poor schedules on
their agenda as a priority. Estimates of 60 and above percent of commuting
Port Jefferson Residents take the train to New York from Ronkonkoma.
Ironically, Port Jefferson Village is being
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told that electrification is impractical because there is too little ridership.
What was the density of the population when the Ronkonkoma Line was
electrified?
The combination of changes at Huntington or Hicksville and many stops
that yield a long ride to New York could be resolved with the electrification of the line or possibly, battery-powered engines being experimented with on the Oyster Bay Line.
Buying replacement diesel engines for the Port Jefferson Line is not a
solution!
BTW. We pay taxes too!
Space is limited. I’ll report more in another edition of this newsletter.
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Code Department
Be Safe, cross at the crosswalks!!
Our tip of the month comes from our esteemed Code Chief Fred Leute.
He advises all people should utilize our marked crosswalks! We have several near misses daily, where people dart out from between cars to cross the street and are nearly struck by oncoming traffic.
Code Chief Fred Leute
Retired Police Officer, Volunteer Firefighter, and an Emergency Medical Technician, Certified instructor for CPR/AED, Bleeding Control Management, (B-CON), EPI Pen/Auto-Injector, and Narcan.
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Gardening
Let’s plant to not feed the deer
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As a naturalist, I love the deer. As a conservationist, I do not like the impact the deer have made. Most people only think of the effects deer have on their garden, yet the devastating effect the deer cause by devouring the understory of our forests is detrimental to our native plants and promotes the growth of invasive’s. This overgrazing also destroys shelter and food for birds that build lower nests.
My point in saying all this is everything we do in our landscape can either contribute to our ecosystem or deprive it.
Here is a list of some deer-resistant plants:
• Allium
• Chives, anything in the onion family
• Yarrow
• Hyssop
• Orange Butterfly Weed
• Bleeding Heart
• Hellebore
• Lambs Ear
• Lupine
• Cinnamon Fern
• Sage and Russian Sage
Remember the power is in the flower!
Caran Markson
Your Village Master Gardener, Certification through Cornell Cooperative Extension
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Baby birds are the topic of the summer. If a baby bird is thrown out of its nest due to one of our many storms, please pick him up and put him back in the nest. If the nest falls down and you can't get it back where it came from take a quart size Tupperware container, poke holes in the bottom of it and put the nest or dried grass in the bottom. Then either hang it or nail it to the tree so the mother can come down and tend to it. However, if you see a baby bird on your lawn hopping around and it has tail feathers, leave it where it is. This is called a fledgling and it's learning to fly. The mother will tend to it on the ground until it gets off the ground.
Lisa Jaeger
Founder of Jaegers Run Animal Rescue, NYS Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
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from Trustee Rebecca Kassay
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How is it August already? I hope that everyone is making the most of their summer, and if you aren't, you better start before it's too late! Between my own sailing in our harbor, swimming at our beaches, rocking out at harborfront concerts, and dining at our incredible local restaurants, I've been busy with a few projects for the Village.
The Beach Street Community Garden continues to grow in a glorious direction, each bed bursting with edible art. Thanks to sponsorship by the Port Jefferson Free Library, the Garden hosted its very first program- Tips for Organic Raised Bed Gardening, given by a representative from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County- which was attended by 28 gardening enthusiasts! I will continue to help guide our gardeners as the summer season wraps and autumn plantings begin, working with Garden Committee members to schedule further programming and social events. Don't miss our Seed Saving workshop on September 8th! To receive emails about happenings at the PJV Beach Street Community Garden, visit portjeff.com/communitygarden and sign up for the Garden email list.
The Village's treescape continues to be at the forefront of my mind. As the number of century-old oaks, pines, and tulip poplars continues to decline, I aspire to
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inspire and empower residents to plant the next generation of Port Jefferson's legacy trees. Though it is on the other side of this coming winter, I am already planning for a sapling giveaway for Arbor Day 2022.
Along with Village legal counsel, I am researching and preparing amendments to our rental law and will be presenting draft revisions to the board and public for comment and input over the next months. There will be public hearings for the changes where residents can voice their opinions or questions before the Board of Trustees, which will be considered for incorporation.
This past Monday, the Board of Trustees passed my resolution to add one more site for a total of four Relic Sustainability beach cleanup stations planned for Village shorelines. Many beach-frequenting residents requested that a station be planned for the cul-du-sac at the end of Crystal Brook Hollow Rd, in addition to those at Centennial Park, East Beach, and West Beach. The station at Centennial Park has been receiving positive attention and feedback. Once sponsors are secured for the other three locations, these stations will be installed. I am working with Relic to aim for the installation of the other three stations in early September.
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Meet our team. Their stories are inspiring, and they provide excellent service to all who live here and visit. We will highlight a new professional every month and introduce you to the most amazing and talented individuals that make Port Jefferson Village so special. These are people who bring their experience and dedication every single day. When they say it takes a Village, they’re talking about the people of Port Jefferson Village! |
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MEET DENISE MORDENTE - When we think about superpowers, we usually think about x-ray vision or the ability to fly. But we would like to take the traditional definition and give it a twist. This twist is Denise Mordente, our Village Treasurer. She is the Chief Fiscal Officer of the Village, and that is a profound responsibility! She maintains all Village funds and keeps account of all Village receipts, expenditures, budgets, financial statements, investments, and debt management. This responsibility is not for those with a weak constitution which is why we say SUPERPOWERS!
In her 5 years with us, she has garnered the reputation of being extremely intelligent and effective. Denise has the respect and admiration of her co-workers. They praise her ability to get the job done with precision. She has been in public finance for 26 years, and in that time, it has been important to her to continue her education. Denise has a Certification from NYS as a Credentialed Municipal Finance Officer and has been appointed Treasurer for the Long Island Village Clerks and Treasurers Association. We are grateful to receive the benefit of all of her talents!
Denise is a strong woman with a vibrant spirit, an incredible work ethic, and a passion for life. She is a dedicated mother of two beautiful daughters, one that is off to college in the fall and the other a sophomore in high school who competes nationally for Allstar Cheerleading. She has conquered breast cancer in the boldest and most impressive way… 6 years and counting! We just keep adding to the list of her superpowers!
Her knowledge of public finance provides a crucial organizational link between our residents and their government. "I will always have the Village's best interest at heart. I will always go above and beyond to get the job done and done accurately. I will continue my education to make sure the Village is always in accordance with all principals and mandates of the NYS Comptroller's Office." These superpowers help us all sleep better at night, knowing our tax dollars are well attended to!
When asked what advice she has for all of us her response is "Don't take life so serious just enjoy every day and laugh often because you don't know what life will throw at you." How lucky are we that we get to have such great advice from a Super Hero!
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• The two newest apartment buildings constructed in Port Jefferson are almost SOLD OUT.
Brookport Luxury Apartments has one rental available and
Overbay Boutique Luxury Apartment Community has two units available.
• 16 new Kayak racks are to be built at East Beach.
The goal is to have enough racks that every resident that wants a space can rent it!
• Alex Dank our Country Club’s Assistant Director of Tennis has been awarded the Junior Tennis Professional of the Year by the United States Tennis Association (USTA ) That’s quite an honor.
We're very fortunate to have Alex working with us at the Country Club.
• The Sport Court at the Village center will be coming down August 19th.
Some repairs will be made before the Ice Skating Rink gets put up in time for Thanksgiving Ice Skating.
• There will be lifeguard coverage through Labor Day.
But take notice that September 2nd & 3rd might not have lifeguards because school will be in session.
SCPD 6th Precinct meetings:
• August 10th @ 10:00 am
• September 14th @ 7:00 pm
• October 12th @ 10:00 am
• November 9th @ 7:00 pm
• December 14th @ 10:00 am
Location: 6th Precinct - 400 Middle Country Road, Selden, NY
Questions? Call (631) 854-8600
• Our Code Officers have trained annually in CPR, AED, Bleeding Control, Active Shooter, Narcan, EPI pen/auto-injector, first aid, scene safety, radio communications, firearm safety, driver safety, and all are versed in Village code and local law.
• You can watch the official Port Jefferson Public Meetings on YouTube.
While you are there, make sure that you subscribe to the page!
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Port Jefferson Village is full of unsung heroes: these neighbors don't wear capes, but their volunteer efforts make this Village the place that we all love to call home. Every month, we'll sing some praises, highlighting a Village resident who has made the extraordinary choice to donate their time, talent, and passion to our community.
The Village of Port Jefferson is grateful for each and every one of our local volunteers, each and every day. Want to nominate someone? Email trustee-kassay@portjeff.com to tell us about your nominee.
Coming soon: a 'Get Involved' tab at portjeff.com where you can explore local volunteer opportunities to suit your passions, curiosities, schedule, and abilities.
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SAY "HI" TO BOB LARAVIE
Volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and interests bless this Village, and this month we are highlighting a volunteer who is humble, selfless, and dedicated. He is a 'get the job done' kind of guy! We are proud to introduce you to Bob Laravie, and we are sure that you will be as inspired by him as we are!
He has a great sense of humor, is unassuming, and doesn’t hesitate when it comes to rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty. For one of his efforts, he volunteers two to four hours a week as the Mill Creek Steward. He asked to take on the task of cleaning up the creek because he enjoys seeing long-term change as a result of his work. And, WE HAVE SEEN THE CHANGE! The creek is looking better than ever! Bob has removed some very intriguing items like part of a speargun, a cell phone, a piece of roofing, an odd mushroom-shaped blob of roofing tar, a large steel beam, a few bicentennial bricks, and near the ball field - a lot of softballs! When we say - large steel beam - we really mean LARGE steel beam. It’s a 40 foot beam estimated to weigh 2,720 pounds. Bob is working with the Village to get the permits from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers to remove this large obstruction. When asked why he wanted to be the Mill Creek Steward, he said, "Walking by and seeing the traffic cones, bricks, concrete, bollard and electrical cables in the creek, I wanted to do something about it. In the past, I had worked on a few wetland restoration projects on the design/management side of things. So Mill Creek was an easy way to get back into it on a more direct level and a return to my youth, I suppose."
Bob is also a valuable board member for the Port Jefferson Harbor Education & Arts Conservancy. For this group, he is running two upcoming events. One that preserves the traditions of our Village - The Automobile Hill Climb, which will be held on Saturday, August 14th this year. Antique cars race up the hill, starting at the Village Center all the way to the top of the hill by the Belle Terre gates. The event started in 1910, and it takes a lot of time and attention to organize. Bob has a team that works with him to ensure that all participants have a flawless experience during their special day. The next event is a new one brought to the Village by Bob - The Bicycle Hill Climb on Sunday, August 29th. Contestants will also race up the hill by the Village center. But this event brings a modern twist. You can see live event results and photos on social media. Both events will be a great time! You can learn more about these events below.
Whether it is the long-term change he affects in nature, the enjoyment of the people participating in the events he runs, or the friendships he has made along the way, Bob expresses the benefits that he gets from his volunteerism. Some of his favorite interactions are with the children that walk by when he is in Mill Creek. "The kids are the best. They ask, 'What are you doing?' 'How did you get down there?' 'Did you find any treasure?’ " And to the last question, the answer is always YES. Even in the simplest ways, Bob finds a treasure. He recalls a time when watching a duck family in Mill Creek near Slurp, "It was like a Disney animation, one duckling got way behind and had to catch up with the others as they went into the culvert. It was good to see that they had a cleaner creek to be in."
Bob offers great advice to anyone interested in volunteering. "You have to find something you are interested in or think you could be. Then, as you progress, make sure you are keeping the challenging and interesting things ahead of you."
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SHORTCUTS FOR EASY REFERENCE
Whew! That makes it easier!
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On Apple Computers:
- Open up the eReport (or any document that you want to search)
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Hold down the COMMAND button along with the F key.
- It will open up a small box at the top center of your screen.
- Type in the term or word that you are searching for.
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Push RETURN
- It will give you the results right in the little box on your screen
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On Windows Computers
- Open up the eReport (or any document that you want to search)
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Hold down the CTRL button along with the F key.
- It will open up a small box at the top right of your screen.
- Type in the term or word that you are searching for.
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Push ENTER
- It will give you the results right in the little box on your screen
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SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING |
Protecting our streets and parks is a top priority. Our 'See Something - Say Something' campaign is designed to make you a part of the solution. Signs are being posted throughout Main Street, in both uptown and downtown areas. The phone number of the supervising Code Officer is prominently displayed on each sign. We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity or other hazards. If you see something unusual or witness any concerning behavior, call (631) 774-0066. The Code Enforcement Bureau will secure the scene immediately, investigate the situation and work with SCPD. Our Code officers have a well-established relationship with SCPD. Many of them are retired, active or auxiliary officers. We also have security cameras on our streets. SCPD’s real-time crime center is tied into our camera system and can monitor them when necessary. All crimes are reported to Suffolk County Police. It will take all of us to be proactive and diligent to continue with the good work that has already been established. |
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Submit your photo for the newsletter
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