Executive Circle Awards The model townhouse at the Preserve at Indian Hills is expected to open next month Construction begins on full Fort Salonga townhouse development  Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Washington's Fort Salonga summer home is covered in white shingles speckled with gray patches Silvering wood boards with a wavy grain conceal the windows Standing on an eroding bluff overlooking Long Island Sound the house was designated a Town of Huntington landmark in 2005 While some neighborhood homes have physical protections against further erosion Washington's former summer house does not a new set of private owners purchased the unoccupied house in hopes of doing what others could not: navigate the red tape attached to a landmarked structure to restore the house and mitigate the risks of erosion As its current owners do the research required to make plans "It's sitting on a precipice," said Thelma Abidally a former East Northport resident whose early-2000s efforts led to the historic landmark designation "It's getting ready to fall into the Long Island Sound The house sits isolated on a bend on Cousins Street in Fort Salonga Washington was a prominent African American educator He was the founding principal and first president of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama — known now as Tuskegee University Washington bought the house in 1911 and sold it in 1914 Town of Huntington Historian Robert Hughes said Ownership of the home has changed multiple times since it was granted landmark status Washington was a noted orator and educator who established the Tuskeegee Institute in Alabama Credit: Corbis via Getty Images; Oscar White When current owners Frank and Margalit Zinghini closed on the historic house in 2022 Property records confirm they paid $1.45 million and I literally cried," said Margalit to buy a property that belonged to such an important person in our history But I hoped to find things that were here when he lived here with his family Pointy edges of broken bricks protruded from one wall there was a pile of neatly stacked bricks and a community of crickets Previous owners' plans to move the home did not sit well with the Zinghinis who said a move would be too risky and further compromise the already vulnerable house "We're studying everything — we've had the foundation inspected "We're making sure it's safe As he and his wife formulate plans to present to the town Frank said he is hoping to get the approval to keep the house in its current spot "Everything's intention and desire right now; nothing's a plan," he said A sign denotes the house as a historic landmark Because the house is a designated landmark the Zinghinis need approval from the Historic Preservation Commission or the Huntington Town Board In response to repeated requests for information about the state of the house and plans for the property Town of Huntington spokesperson Christine Geed said in an email that there was little information available Geed confirmed the property is in a Coastal Erosion Hazard Area the director of the Department of Planning and Environment said a prior town administration had worked to approve plans for a resident to move the house to a different spot on the same property there was no public funding for the project The Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance that would allow the relocation the state Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed it did receive an application for a bluff stabilization project from a homeowner in 2009 two Notices of Incomplete Application were sent to the applicant in August and December of that year The applicant had not submitted additional information and the agency closed the application in 2014 which are required for certain projects in erosion-prone areas the Town of Huntington has delegated authority The DEC confirmed it does not have any record of the town applying for a project at the address the house has been gutted and gotten a new roof He stops by the property every now and then and said he has not noticed visible signs of further erosion but maybe we're one big storm away from that changing," Hughes said Diane Gleason read his writings and purposely chose this house Property records show Gleason co-owned the property from 2007 The Town of Huntington confirmed Gleason was an owner when officials issued approval to reposition the house that in her efforts she found there was a "profound lack of care" for the preservation of the property "We followed every single bloody rule "It didn't matter what we wanted to do it didn't matter how far we were willing to go." it was "a wreck" that had already been empty for years "He's somebody who's really important to me." In the current political and cultural climate which she described as rife with prejudice and persistent racism she wondered whether a landmark linked to a white historical figure would be receiving more attention Geed said the current Town of Huntington administration could not speak to the actions of past administrations This administration has not interacted with past or current owners of Washington's home "Any association with race pertaining to Booker T Washington and preserving historical markers has nothing to do with this administration," Geed said "We continue to work with every community — Black all diverse communities — to ensure that their legacy and their cultural history within this town is maintained." The town's approach to preserving Black history includes the African American Advisory Board's ongoing effort to create an African American history museum in the area "We can't intercede on state issues we can't provide public funds for a private property initiative but anything that the town could do — even in past administrations — anything that they could do Gleason described her own drawn-out effort to preserve the property "We weren't looking to destroy the look of the house I wasn't looking to make some stupid modern mansion out of it," she said "I wanted to keep it in the natural setting One priority was to build a retaining wall to protect the site from further erosion The nearby golf course had a retaining wall but she could not get permission to build one to protect her own land With the goal of ensuring the historic home could be used as an educational tool — and a reminder of a prominent figure in Black history — Gleason said she was willing to take an even greater monetary loss We offered to give the town the entire house," she said "All they had to do was take it and put it some place where people could go through it There's no way people are going to go through it where it is." Geed said the town has "has no record of an offer to give the property to the town." Thelma Abidally stands in front of the site in 2005 Her early-2000s efforts led to the designation of the home as a landmark blue historical marker with letters in yellow type is planted at the edge of the property The town reimbursed her after officials saw there was public interest in the home The marker predates the historic landmark designation which Abidally fought for as she researched Black history in the community Abidally's starting point was an article in The New York Times she said; she set out to confirm this independently I was lucky enough to speak to them before they passed and speak to a lot of the African Americans who lived in Northport in the early 1900s Abidally's own interest in saving the house came of a childhood memory Abidally would take school trips to Tuskegee University the university served a hot lunch she remembers decades later: cornbread muffins was her way of thanking the university for the hot lunches Margalit and Frank Zinghini purchased the property in 2022 Margalit Zinghini approached one of the few artifacts left — a white bathtub with a cracked and peeling exterior The Zinghinis are familiar with historic houses having taken on other restoration projects on Long Island To find this one in this condition was disappointing "Even just to get a sense of the history Sometimes you scrape some paint off and you see some wallpaper and you peel the wallpaper back and you see something else you get the story; and we missed out on all that," Frank Zinghini said In searching for photographs of the home before it was gutted they plan to base the restoration on the few details and images available "My intention is to try and bring all of that back," Margalit said noting that one photograph showed a small bench in an area now barren The Zinghinis' vision involves landscaping the hilltop with native plants to drive out invasive species "Our heart is in bringing this back to life not tearing it down or anything like that," Frank said The Zinghinis are researching in order to formulate a plan for restoration Situated on a bend on Cousins Street in Fort Salonga the house is visible from the street through the skinny barren branches of trees; but the neighborhood has grown around it The area is a close-knit beach community where homeowners collect sea glass and observe wildlife traveling by air and water a Northport-based agent with Howard Hanna Coach Realtors "You're constantly seeing people outside and enjoying nature," Pizzo said Pizzo said it was hard to find comparable sales "There really are not a lot of sales in that particular neighborhood," she said "It's just a testament to how much they love being there .. have seen the same storyline play out more than once over the past two decades optimistic buyer arrives with the intention of restoring the house; the homeowner hits roadblocks trying to get town approval to take action Because that house is unprotected from erosion it's cost me hundreds and hundreds of thousands to protect my house," said Treacher who came to the United States from Wales 48 years ago also draws uninvited loiterers to the property "they were prepared to do anything and everything." the Zinghinis did not know much about previous attempts to restore the house They remain optimistic about the house's future the project driven largely by Margalit's passion for it "We're persistent," Frank said The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months 2025 at 2:15 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Jorge Villella (Shutterstock)Update 2:10 a.m.: Jorge Villella who had been reported missing on Friday afternoon NY — A silver alert was issued for a missing Fort Salonga man who suffers from dementia Villella and his German Shepherd left in a black Acura RDX with New York State license plate BEX 7354 Detectives are asking anyone with information on Villella’s location to call 911 or Fourth Squad detectives at 631-854-8452 Silver Alert is a program implemented in Suffolk County that allows local law enforcement to share information with media outlets about individuals with special needs who have been reported missing Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Charlie’s Bakery owner Casey Sandler (right) with barista Sam Hughes (left) and pastry and cake maker Erica Varley We rely on your support to share good news! Become a supporting member today. the kind that might make you want to slow down and stay awhile located in the Country Village Shopping Center on Fort Salonga Road in Northport welcomed a steady stream of first timers and soon-to-be regulars last week her child asleep in the stroller next to her ordered a cinnamon bun and coffee before commenting on the familiar fabric in the bakery’s banquette seating It was William Morris’ “Strawberry Thief,” one of the UK textile designer’s most popular patterns a Manhattan native who moved to Northport about three years ago which led right into President’s Day and winter break for the local school districts Foot traffic was light at first but Sandler didn’t mind; the off-season opening gave him time to get to know his customers what they like and what they would love to see more often Charlie’s staff continues to welcome suggestions as the bakery prepares to quadruple its output for the spring season based on customer feedback and seasonal ingredients European cafés and bakeries inspired the interior design and development of the space said Elizabeth Mink Gaudreau of Mink Hospitality in Northport By using techniques like “color washing” and incorporating bright tones of brass and a soft shade of green that complements the fabric of the banquette Gaudreau was able to transform the 15x100-foot space into “a charming bakery seemingly far away from its location,” she said Cinnamon buns and a flower cupcake are also gaining momentum An unexpected find in the bakery is the Pavlova a meringue-based dessert named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova Staff is currently entertaining the idea of adding a lunch menu as well The right decision“I had always dreamed of opening up a French bistro,” Sandler told the Journal during an impromptu interview last week A one-time saucier at “fancy French restaurants” in the city Sandler left his passion for cuisine for something more lucrative working as a real estate agent from when he was about 26 to 35 years old But then Covid left him mostly unemployed for two years – down time he used to reignite his passion for cooking He got some “big equipment” for his little kitchen and began building recipes many of which are used at the bakery today Some recipes are based on ones he has had over the years while others are inspired by his mom Muriel who moved from Belgium to New York when she was 19 years old to study art Her family was in the restaurant business back in Belgium where Sandler visited as a child; he’s recreated recipes from those memories as well Muriel is one of the reasons Sandler found himself on Long Island where the family would spend time when not in Manhattan Muriel sold her Fire Island home but found herself back by the water She began staying there full time after Covid Sandler bought a home off 25A in Northport “I didn’t think I would like not living in the city,” he said “But now I know it was definitely the right decision.” Sandler enjoys walking with his sister and their dogs at Hobart Beach in Eaton’s Neck during the warmer months and on the trails of the Ingraham Preserve in Crab Meadow when it’s cold He likes eating out at Maroni Cuisine and Bistro 44 in Northport Village and speaks very highly of the coffee at – you guessed it – Charlie’s a local Long Island micro-roaster of fresh coffees thanks to front-of-the-house manager and “coffee guru,” Jill Sog The team will soon be designing and developing a special “Charlie’s” roast just for the bakery very prettySandler describes the offerings at Charlie’s as “not-so-typical” (you won’t find countless pounds of rainbow cookies there Most everything in the case is made fresh every day pastries and cakes; gluten-free and vegan options are also in the mix Smaller and even bite-sized goodies are available While Sandler said he couldn’t make them himself he knew Charlie’s cake and pastry specialist Erica Varley would love taking them on – and she did though Sandler admits she didn’t know what Pavlovas were when he first requested them who is responsible for “anything pretty” in the bakery’s case which can be painlessly ordered on the bakery’s website Her heart cakes are currently very popular and can be ordered in different sizes as well notorious in almost all bakeries for being oversized Sandler said they’re still experimenting with the bun’s height and diameter the ratio of the exterior crispy part to the interior soft part gets thrown off the ratio is better where in each bite you get some of the crispy outside,” he explained “There’s no rule that you can’t have two or three,” Sandler said A small top-display freezer holds homemade ice cream and the kitchen is working on unique toppings Oat-based vegan options will be available soon Not a pug Charlie’s Bakery is named after Sandler’s 18-month-old Brussels Griffon a dog breed described by the American Kennel Club as having a “big personality in a 5- to 15-pound package.” Charlie is unique in that he’s shorthaired with a smooth black coat causing him to often be mistaken for a pug Fun factAll of the artwork in Charlie’s Bakery was painted by Sandler’s mother who attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City She had a little studio in the West Village and was a professional painter for decades; she still paints today for the love of it Walk around the bakery and you’ll see her work on a timeline of sorts: the big oil painting is from when she was in school; by the 1970s a type of Japanese ink painting; in the late 80s and 90s Sandler calls his mom a full-time suburbanite now – Asharoken has become home Charlie’s Bakery is located at 10 Fort Salonga Road, in the IGA shopping center. It is open every day except Monday. Check www.charliethebaker.com for the latest hours, and keep up with what’s new at the bakery on Instagram *This article was updated on March 19 to include mentions of new offerings at the bakery with a shout out to Mink Hospitality for helping to design the space The interior of Charlie’s Bakery in Northport features banquette and bar seating tables for two and artwork by owner Casey Sandler’s mom Get the latest news delivered to your inbox New York Almanack December 18, 2024 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment Preservation Long Island, a regional nonprofit that works with communities throughout Long Island to protect and celebrate historic places is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 Awards for Preservation Excellence The awardees will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception on January 25, 2025 in Cold Spring Harbor The Preservation Awards are presented in alternating years to recognize individuals, organizations, and projects that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in fields related to historic preservation on Long Island Sherwood Award will be presented this year Established in 1974 in honor of Preservation Long Island’s founder the award is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional life-time achievement in historic preservation Preservation Awards for Project Excellence: Safina Center, a nonprofit nature conservation and environmental advocacy organization, is being recognized for its restoration of the Hawkins-Elzon House located within the Old Setauket Historic District the Hawkins-Elzon House was meticulously restored to serve as the organization’s headquarters Anthony Martignetti, a restauranteur, author, and designer, is being recognized for the restoration of the Mattituck Creek Tide Mill. The mill constructed around 1822 by Richard Cox, exemplifies the ingenuity of tide-powered milling. Under the new ownership of Anthony Martignetti, the Old Mill has been carefully restored and will open as a restaurant in Spring 2025 The Church, a public arts space in Sag Harbor is being recognized as a remarkable example of adaptive reuse transforming a 19th-century Methodist church into a dynamic arts and cultural hub Renovated under the leadership of artists April Gornik and Eric Fischl the project preserved the building’s historical essence while introducing modern features like a glass elevator to suit contemporary needs Preservation Award for Organizational Excellence: Preservation Long Island recognizes Suffolk County for the preservation of Owl Hill, located in Fort Salonga This effort has protected the 1907 Owl Hill mansion and 27 acres of open space from redevelopment into a residential subdivision The preservation of Owl Hill was accomplished through the collaborative efforts of Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta Preservation Long Island and community advocates This year, Preservation Long Island gives the Howard C. Sherwood Award posthumously to Brian Pinnola to recognize his lifetime achievements in historic preservation. Pinnola sadly passed away in January of 2024 He was a passionate advocate for historic preservation serving as an active and deeply involved member of Preservation Long Island’s board His work extended across multiple projects, showcasing his commitment to preserving Long Island’s historic and cultural treasures. As a longstanding board member and past president of The Garden City Historical Society, he spearheaded the transformation of the 1872 Apostle House into The Garden City Historical Society Museum His vision and tireless work left an indelible mark on the community Preservation Long Island is the not-for-profit regional advocate for historic preservation on Long Island. Our mission is to celebrate and preserve Long Island’s diverse cultural and architectural heritage through advocacy, education, and stewardship of historic sites and collections. Visit their website for more Stories written under the Editorial Staff byline are drawn from press releases and other notices. Submit your news to New York Almanack here New York Almanack receives no public funds Please give today (a monthly recurring gift is best) PayPal Venmo Rally.org Patreon Buy Me A Cup of Coffee CashApp Use your bank’s “bill pay” option (or just send a check) Without your support we cannot publish the Almanack (Click the link below to not see this message again) Don't Show Me This Message Again. 2024 at 3:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Left to right: Ricky Ricky and Julia raised more than $9,200 for Angela's House in memory of Jake NY — Two Fort Salonga siblings are raising money for Angela's House in memory of their brother this holiday season Julia and Ricky Spadalik have raised more than $9,200 as of Tuesday in honor of their big brother Angela’s House is a nonprofit organization that provides care and support to medically fragile children and their families "Our family has been hands-on with this unbelievable organization for as long as we can remember to help keep their selfless efforts going strong," Julia and Ricky wrote on their fundraising link "It it such a privilege to help in any way we can and is the least we can do in return for the amazing care they provided to our older brother People may support the Spadalik family's fundraiser for Angela's House here if they would wish to do so 20 marks 10 years since the family lost Jake "He was able to outlive his life expectancy by years which we like to credit to the unwavering love and support from his family and over the top care that Angela’s House provided," his siblings wrote Jake was diagnosed at a young age with a very rare genetic disease called infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy he was able to walk and talk and was "very strong and funny," Julia told Patch always with a smile on his face," she said "As he got older his disability caused him to regress from this state where he was no longer able to walk or talk When I would walk in his room and say something crazy he would roll his eyes — he kept me in check — or when I would go in and read him a story he would act very relaxed He had these big green eyes and through them you could tell exactly what he was thinking Jake was "such a special part" of his family's lives he was just like any other toddler — crawling "His favorite show was 'Clifford the Big Red Dog,' and he’d burst into laughter the second we turned it on." he lost his abilities to walk and balance and became completely confined to a wheelchair Jake’s personality never changed," Ricky said "He had a way of letting you know he was aware of your presence the moment you walked into a room He expressed happiness with sounds resembling laughter and at other times you could see a tear come down his face we always knew Jake felt our presence and that we were right there beside him and he left a mark on everyone lucky enough to know him." Angela's House helped the Spadalik family by providing the equipment and care needed in their home to support him Jake was given the opportunity to move into one of the homes that Angela's House built where they provided around-the-clock care to him knowing that he was constantly getting the best care he could," Julia and Ricky said "We were able to throw family parties and participate in the fun events they would have for the children and their families at the home We could not thank them enough for how welcoming and caring they were towards our family And we also thank Jake for introducing us to some of the most amazing people Julia and Ricky said they would like to give back to Angela's House with a "generous holiday gift." All money raised will go towards Angela's House to help other children and their families with the care and support they need "Any amount donated is greatly appreciated by our family and the Angela's House community!" the Spadaliks wrote Julia said giving back to Angela's House is "so rewarding." "I have never seen an organization do everything it is that they do," she said Julia was only 11 when Jake left home to live in an Angela's House location "It wasn't until he moved in that I realized this was the best decision my parents could have made for him," she said "My mom would pick Ricky and I up from school all the time and we would go over to Angela’s House which inevitably became our second home he had a nurse named Michelle — who also became family — who cared for him every day Angela’s House even hired her to work in the home when Jake moved in because they knew how much he needed her Simply explaining what Angela’s House does as an organization doesn't give it justice to how extraordinarily they treat the children and their families They let these families feel seen and heard when sometimes they feel they aren't being understood giving back to an organization that does all of that on top of medical care for the children is amazing and doing anything I can to spread the word and raise awareness for them is the greatest feeling." Julia said she is in disbelief that there is an organization like Angela's House that does so much for medically fragile children She said it deserves "all the praise in the world." "I am so grateful to have had an amazing brother like Jake who taught me some of my most valuable life lessons .. seriously never judge a book by its cover," she said "Jake introduced us to some incredible people and Angela’s House and I would never trade any of it for another experience." Ricky said talking about Jake was a difficult topic for many years "Losing him at such a young age was an experience few people around me could relate to which made it hard to open up," Ricky said I’ve started to open up about my brother more and I’m proud to raise money for Angela’s House while sharing the meaningful experiences he had there My brother taught me an important lesson that every life my brother likely wouldn’t have lived as long as he did I am deeply grateful for the extra time they gave us together and I am honored to give back to this incredible organization in any way I can." Angela's House has three homes across Long Island where children needing extensive care can live their life comfortably They also help families by providing them medical supplies and other resources for their medically fragile children People can learn more on the Angela's House website Sunny Island Foot Spa on Fort Salonga Road in Northport Village “appears to be vacant” since two arrests were made at the location earlier this month Northport Village police arrested two women from Queens last week citing “unauthorized practice of a profession” at the recently opened Sunny Island Foot Spa on Fort Salonga Road The foot spa has been advertising its services for months though it has not yet received official approval from the zoning board to convert the space into a massage parlor According to Northport Village Chief of Police Christopher Hughes who reported on the investigation at tonight’s Village board of trustees meeting he and other law enforcement officials first became aware of an “alarming ad” on Craigslist around the beginning of June advertised the location’s grand opening at 377 Fort Salonga Road as a foot spa offering Swedish referencing “sweet and discreet pretty girls,” and the “best service” by “young and beautiful girls from Asia.” That ad has since been removed Another ad posted in July does not mention the spa’s employees “Our investigation began immediately and included surveillance of the location,” Hughes said applicant Kimberly Greer appeared before the Northport Village Board of Zoning Appeals and requested an adjournment until the September meeting so she could have additional time to gather evidence to support her application be converted from a first-floor merchandise space to a massage parlor Zoning board officials agreed to adjourn the application and gave a temporary allowance for the business to operate until then in part to not compromise the ongoing police investigation said Deputy Mayor Meghan Dolan at tonight’s board meeting investigators entered the foot spa on two occasions; “each time the investigators were offered massage services which were clearly advertised inside the location,” Hughes said 50-year-old Jing Fang Zhou of Flushing was arrested for unauthorized practice of a profession According to the New York State Education Department unauthorized practice of a profession involves any person or entity who practices one of the licensed professions without a license authorizing him/her to practice and/or who falsely represents him/herself as authorized to practice such a profession It is a class E felony punishable by prison time fines and other conditions imposed by the court Similar arrests have taken place at foot spas and massage parlors in the area including in March 2024 at Cleopatra Foot Spa and Ruyi Healing Inc. Charges there included unauthorized practice of a profession and prostitution arrests for the same charges were made at Time Foot Spa and Happy Foot Spa on Larkfield Road in East Northport While no evidence of prostitution was found during the investigation at Sunny Island Foot Spa their ads “were found on several websites known to advertise adult services.” The mere messaging in the ads can easily attract individuals looking for those types of services only male clients were seen entering the location as well as the Suffolk County district attorney’s office for their assistance in the investigation we were able to work together to identify an illegitimate business and to effectively end their illicit operation,” Hughes said “the location appears to be vacant and no further traffic has been observed entering the establishment,” he reported The mansion on the Owl Hill Estate property in Fort Salonga is shown in this aerial photograph from Feb The company that owns the property and Suffolk officials said a deal is being finalized for county to buy the land That would eliminate plans to build 18 houses on the land The owners of a historic Owl Hill property in Fort Salonga and Suffolk officials said they're finalizing a deal for the county to buy the land which would eliminate plans for what would have been one of the largest residential subdivisions to be built in the Town of Smithtown in recent years Romaine said in a statement Monday his administration “is committed to preserving open space across the entire county and this purchase represents an important acquisition for the west end of Suffolk.”  Property owner Owl Hill Estates and Preserve LLC has agreed to a $8.2 million purchase price according to the company and Suffolk officials Some nearby residents had opposed construction at Owl Hill near the intersection of Fort Salonga and Sunken Meadow roads citing objections to the previous plan to build 18 homes and to the size of the subdivision's lots In February, the Smithtown Planning Board voted 4-0 to grant the developer approval for the final site plan to subdivide the 27.6-acre property into 18 lots — the last major approval needed before construction could have started The deal with the county will include all the land and the mansion on the property a principal of Owl Hill Estates and Preserve LLC The company bought the site in 2020 for $6.2 million The mansion on the property was built in 1903 as a home for New York City attorney Edmund Wetmore The home later was owned by the family of Michael Yardney who invented a catapult device for planes during World War II Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) said in an interview that preserving the Owl Hill property for its open space and history would be “good for the entire Smithtown community.”  Trotta sponsored a bill to order an appraisal of the site so the county potentially could buy and preserve it but the developer didn't find any offers made for the property acceptable Trotta said in a February interview the county previously offered the developer $6 million for the property Rauff said the company wanted to sell the property for a price that reflected its value we were leaving a lot of money on the table but we were willing to do it as long as we thought we were getting fair value Both Trotta and Rauff expressed confidence the sale would be finalized with Trotta saying such transactions usually take six months to a year could be used by a nonprofit entity that would help maintain the home Fort Salonga Association president Keith Macartney applauded the deal in the works for the property after the civic group advocated for years for its preservation as open space “Most definitely,” he said of whether those efforts paid off Jean-Paul Salamanca covers the Town of Smithtown for Newsday Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories Rendering of the townhouses at the Preserve at Indian Hills Developer breaks ground on Fort Salonga townhouse project  Rite Aid did not pay its April rents for several Long Island [...] Members of the Kings Park Fire Department extinguish a car fire on Bread and Cheese Hollow Road in Fort Salonga yesterday evening was rescued from her car by three good Samaritans seconds before the car became engulfed in flames Northport resident Tempestt Harris-Buckner was rescued from a burning vehicle yesterday evening after striking a utility pole on Bread and Cheese Hollow Road Harris-Buckner was pulled from the car by Northport High School Orchestra Director Michael Susinno and John McPartland joined the men in their efforts to help Harris-Buckner using a belt to create a tourniquet on the woman’s leg Harris-Buckner was driving a 2021 Hyundai Elantra north on Bread and Cheese Hollow Road in Fort Salonga when she swerved to avoid a squirrel in the road shortly before 6pm yesterday trapping Harris-Buckner in the driver’s seat moments before the pole and vehicle caught fire A former teacher at Wee Luv‘em Child Care at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Northport Sussino recognized their connection while holding Harris-Buckner’s hands in the aftermath of the accident Harris-Buckner’s right leg was visibly broken The seatbelt and airbag had done additional damage to her upper body you played the cello,” Susinno said to Harris-Buckner after he asked her name “because she was so distraught,” and things were still chaotic this can’t be.’ You don’t forget twins named Tempestt and Storm who both play the cello.”  but I know you and your brother Storm and your whole family.” He first met Tempestt some 20 years ago he stayed by her side until first responders arrived on the scene The moments before…Just before the accident was driving home from playing violin in the Gilbert and Sullivan production of “Iolanthe” at the Star Playhouse in Commack “I would never have been on that road at that time,” Susinno said While stopped at the red light just south of Pulaski he could see that a small black car had struck a utility pole across the road Susinno drove across Pulaski and could see a woman the driver of the car behind Harris-Buckner and the only person to witness the accident frantically calling for help from the side of the road He could tell someone was still in the car Sussino saw the hood of the Hyundai catch fire I noticed there was a man who appeared seemingly out of nowhere standing next to me and I looked at him and said ‘We have to get her out John McPartland had run down a driveway after hearing the crash and seeing the smoke from the Bread and Cheese Hollow residence he fell on his way to the street “but he kept going anyway,” Susinno said because I couldn’t have pulled her out myself.” The steering column had pinned Harris-Buckner down She told the men she was in pain and was having trouble breathing maneuvered Harris-Buckner out of the car and began to move her away from the accident site when Pitre driving south on Bread and Cheese Hollow Road the three men dragged Harris-Buckner to the west side of the road We couldn't leave her in the car,” Susinno said “The hood was on fire when we pulled her out the whole car was on fire when we got her across the street.”  describing flames that reached halfway up the utility pole the car doors popping off and some of its tires exploding even further away from the heat and flames When the sirens from the responding police officers and paramedics neared the women covered Harris-Buckner’s ears “because it was deafening and the heat of the flames was so intense,” Susinno said a medical malpractice defense litigator on his way home from a round of nine with his dad at the Northport VA golf course applied a tourniquet – a gray canvas belt – to the top of Harris-Buckner’s leg “She had a very severe laceration just below the knee extending almost down to the ankle,” Pitre said Harris-Buckner was transported via ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries “You only have seconds”Pitre made an important observation at the scene which he shared with the Journal in a conversation earlier today “Noone pulled their phone out to video or take pictures He attributed Susinno and McPartland’s actions and quick thinking to saving Tempestt’s life in that moment – “without a doubt,” he said “I think we were just the people that were there and we made the decision not to stand by and do nothing,” Susinno said he hopes everyone would do what he and the other men did in similar circumstances “I would encourage anyone if they find themself in that situation you see someone who is clearly trapped and the vehicle is on fire just move in as quickly as you can because you only have seconds,” he said “This was not a situation where you could wait.” there’s a lot of bad you hear about in the news but there’s also a lot of good out there,” Pitre continued speak volumes to the community we live in and the people around us When you’re faced with a situation like that Just respond and do what you would want to have done for you in that situation.” “I’m just so grateful that she is still with us,” Susinno said of Tempestt I’m hoping that people will take comfort in a story like this because there still are so many people who run and help when others are in need.” helped rescue Northport resident Tempestt Harris-Buckner from a burning vehicle yesterday evening 2024 at 3:34 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Sophia of Fort Salonga is a Kings Park High School class of 2024 graduate NY — Graduation is a major milestone and deserves to be celebrated That's why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to recognize our community's outstanding 2024 graduates This submission comes from Amaris DeRossett What school is your graduating student graduating from How do you know your graduating student nominee She set her mind to the goals she wanted to achieve and exceeded them While working the weekends and volunteering her time at church to help the next generation of students She is going on to continue to shape young minds as future educator What's one thing you want everyone to know about your graduating student nominee She brings sunshine to everyone she meets and she has a strength far beyond her years What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student and all of our best wishes to you in the future This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile Know an outstanding student who deserves a shout-out Nominate them here. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Fort Salonga townhouse project finally approved Work on a Bolla Market and filling station (formerly Mobil) on Fort Salonga Road in Northport Village is expected to be complete in a few months Work at the former Mobil gas station at the corner of Laurel Avenue and Fort Salonga Road in Northport Village is underway a project that should be complete in the next 90 days Moving onto the site will be a Bolla Market convenience store with a filling station consisting of six fueling pumps Northport Village Administrator Roland Buzard told the Journal The existing building will be renovated to accommodate the convenience store; for this location Bolla Market has teamed up with Tim Hortons The site will be landscaped and evergreens planted as part of the project the company runs more than 200 convenience stores in New York and New Jersey A slice of pizza al metro at Dough & Co After two years in Huntington, one of Long Island’s most lauded pizzerias has launched a second location in Northport When Danny Rocca and Teddy Fortunato opened the original Dough & Co. Pizza in 2022 the focus was on the pies: Could these two young entrepreneurs (22 and 23 respectively) distinguish themselves in that village’s crowded field The shop was across the street from Rosa’s and less than two blocks away from 1653 Pizza Co Dough & Co. carved out a narrow niche: more artisanal than Rosa’s and Little Vincent’s yet still a slice shop — unlike the chic trattoria 1653 (where Rocca worked for a year) Within a year it had landed on Newsday’s list of Top Pizzas and Rocca and Fortunato started looking for a second spot They found it on Fort Salonga Road in Northport they’ve got some direct competition: Fattusco’s is right across the street.) taking care of the staff so we keep the staff Not that he’s taking his foot off the pizza-making gas Rocca said that he’s gone through 15 dough recipes in the last two years “And I thought each one was great — until I made the next one.” He constantly fiddles with hydration (water-to-flour ratio) proofing time and temperature with the goal of achieving a crust with the right structure and texture “And I’m always tinkering with the sauce-cheese ratio — I think a little more sauce makes a crisper pie.” By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy makes pies in a few styles: There are classic Long Island Neapolitans topped with everything from tomatoes and oregano (the marinara) to Buffalo chicken and spinach-artichoke Artisanal meter-long “metro” pies are baked directly on the floor of the oven and include the metro Margherita (fresh mozzarella freshly grated Parmesan and extra-virgin olive oil) and the metro West (mushrooms There are also personal pies (available with cauliflower crusts) heros ($14.50 to $16) and mains alla Parmesan is to be “a real family place.” Huntington is full of people coming to the Paramount or to see the tree at Christmas or to shop or to have a night out we don’t expect to be a destination — we want to be part of the community.” Dough & Co.,1014 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport, 631-651-5803, thedoughandco.com The new Starbucks at 687 Fort Salonga Road in Northport 1015-1019 Fort Salonga Road Northport / Courtesy of Silber Investment Properties Northport commercial center trades for $10.2M  240 Fort Salonga Road Northport / Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield New tenants for long-vacant Northport retail property  high school sports and more Suffolk County news Learn information about New York State boating laws practical knowledge of navigation and rules of the road how to handle medical emergencies onboard and mechanical problems on the water the basics of towing and trailering and special important information for hunters The county budget for 2024 allocated more than $48 million for police overtime but the department racked up another $31 million in overtime last year 2023 at 2:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Callahan's Beach is reopen to Town of Smithtown residents following the collapse of a seawall because of storm damage NY — Callahan’s Beach has reopened to Smithtown residents The seawall collapsed because of damage from Tropical Depression Ida and a second storm prompting a need for major infrastructure repairs All new drainage infrastructure was installed The bluff had to be completely rehabilitated and features rows of plantings "Callahan's is absolutely stunning," Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said in a news release "People have been walking the beach and commenting all day about how gorgeous of a job the town did." Wehrheim thanked the Smithtown Parks Department; Jim Longworth; Pioneer Asphalt; Hayduk Engineering; and the Smithtown Department of Environment and Waterways All worked with the Department of Environmental Conservation to get the permit process moving "This was a massive undertaking," Wehrheim said "One that was met with obstacles like supply chain issues the incredible amount of teamwork involved solidified a beautiful end result .. one that Smithtown residents will enjoy for years to come." The facility will remain open to the public while the Smithtown Parks Department will begin constructing a new playground and pickle ball courts at Callahan's Beach Construction work on the playground and pickle ball areas will be contained so that public access will not be interrupted 2020 at 1:20 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A fire destroyed a Fort Salonga home Tuesday night and two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze NY — A fire gutted a Fort Salonga home Tuesday night and destroyed a car in the driveway took on the Woodfield Avenue blaze starting 8:55 p.m Two firefighters were injured ABC 7 reported; one suffered a broken leg and another was treated for burns The Suffolk County Arson Squad said the cause of the fire is non-criminal The front of architect Charles D'Alessio's home Describing Charles D'Alessio's beach home in Fort Salonga is challenging who built the structure with a nautical theme along with a wall of glass facing the Long Island Sound says he likes to think of it as a giant suspended wave Local kids simply refer to it "The Star Wars House." Passersby knock on his door to ask about it A swimmer walked out of the water once to ask for a tour One day the operator of a powered parachute hovered just above the home for a closer look "I didn't build this expecting anonymity," D'Alessio says It all started back in 1999 when he bought and demolished a waterfront bungalow that had been damaged in an electrical fire During the 4 1/2-year process to get building permits D'Alessio sketched out plans for a structure that would fit onto the 40-foot-wide lot in the small Makamah Beach community A friend saw his plans and came up with the name D'Alessio eventually adopted: "Wavehaus." "You know how wet sand ebbs and flows and makes those curvy erosion-like patterns?" D'Alessio asks it won an Archi award from the American Institute of Architects Long Island Chapter in both the Residential and Sustainability categories "It defies definition in terms of style," says Ralph Ottaiano an architect with a Manhattan project management firm who also teaches sustainable design at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan "But I think it's truly what a beach house ought to look like -- almost as if it came right out of the sea." who has his own architecture firm in Huntington either supervised or did most of the work himself All three of the home's decks offer views that stretch to Connecticut which has a fireplace and an outdoor shower the architect starts his morning sipping tea on the top deck he can look through an oval opening in the west wall that frames an osprey nest a series of treads that curve skyward to the third-floor mezzanine making it look like the interior of a giant nautilus The design was calculated to capture prevailing winds with the stair treads distributing air like the blades of a fan The home's seashell-like strength was demonstrated during superstorm Sandy three years ago Four residences along the beach community were severely damaged by the tidal surge Figuring out how to survive weather like this was one of the 50-year-old architect's primary concerns One thing he says he noticed looking at photos of storm-ravaged homes was that often the only item left standing is the chimney he created a reinforced chimney 12 feet long and 6 feet wide that towers 60 feet high This he capped with steel girders and a wagon-wheel array of massive wooden beams that fan out to tie the house together "He took his dream and ran with it," says Edward Paul Butt a New Hyde Park architect who worked with D'Alessio early in his career and visited the home during the decade and a half the owner took to build it "It's not arbitrary," Butt adds Sometimes architects design things just because they look nice but this is a well-functioning home." Its green features include a slanted roof that shades the decks during the hot part of the day while providing maximum sun exposure for the solar panels along with skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows A geothermal heat pump provides cooling in summer and warming in winter The home stays comfortable on its own in the summer D'Alessio adds heat with an electric boiler powered by the solar panels Practical and whimsical touches can be found throughout -- everything from silverware made out of automotive salvage from Thailand to a mailbox the owner welded together out of metal from washer and dryer drums Sea glass has been fused into some of the windows to create colorful patterns as well as privacy The showers are circles formed from laminated glass Patterns on the stucco walls glimmer with flakes of mica Triangles made of pale onyx cover a kitchen wall and a portion of the master bedroom a home like this isn't welcomed by everyone "I love it," says Karen Gilligan "But you're not going to get that opinion from everyone here D'Alessio says he has no idea how much his creation would bring on the real estate market what he says excites him is the impending arrival of a 22-foot-long serpentine-shaped sofa he designed to serve as the centerpiece of the living room "How many opportunities in life do you get to do something truly original?" he says New restaurant coming to long-vacant Northport property  2020 at 2:12 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bryan Johnson and his family lost their Fort Salonga home in a massive fire Tuesday night NY — A Fort Salonga family lost their home in a massive fire last week A GoFundMe was set up to help the Johnson family who lost all of their belongings and pets in the blaze on Woodfield Avenue Tuesday In less than a week, $21,120 has been raised for the family. Click here to donate to the GoFundMe on behalf of the Johnson family "We are overwhelmed by the level of support that our friends and community have given to us," Bryan Johnson "Despite the horrific circumstances of the days since the fire the generous support from so many has been so very helpful practically and emotionally for us." and their 7-year-old daughter escaped the home minutes before the entire house became engulfed in flames "If it was not for an unknown good Samaritan they would not have had the chance to escape," Bryan said Ala heard repeated loud knocking on the door she saw the flames and a man screaming "Fire fire!" She grabbed the couple's daughter and escaped through the side garage The fire then explosively spread and engulfed the entire home before firefighters arrived The fire started somewhere outside in the front and there was no indication of fire inside the home — no smoke detectors went off The Kings Park Fire Department, along with help from other departments, took on the fire starting 8:55 p.m The Suffolk County Arson Squad said the cause of the fire is not criminal a new “multi-level dining experience” at 1036 Fort Salonga Road in Northport The restaurant Arlo is exactly how you might want your neighborhood’s new fine dining establishment to be: strikingly impressive yet warm and welcoming; the space is grand the only indicator of Arlo’s presence is a large sign on the side of the well-trafficked road had fallen into disrepair and transforms it into a opportunity for us locals to have – within the shortest of drives – not just an evening out Arlo – the Latin word for “fortified hill” – is in the space once occupied by the Crestwood Manor banquet hall Gone are the former facility’s wide-tiled floors felt wallpaper and burgundy carpet leading up the center staircase The only remaining nods to the Crestwood are a grandfather clock in the restaurant’s entrance and a grand piano just outside the upstairs bar; both have been updated to match the restaurant’s sleek interior The two-acre property Arlo sits on was acquired in 2018 by Steve Squitiro and Andrew Affa founders of The Standard Hospitality Group the partners own several catering venues and restaurants on Long Island The restaurant served about 600 people on opening weekend everybody knew each other and was so happy to be here They all just kept saying they’ve been waiting for a restaurant like this.” the partners had to close down their reservation books within the first six hours of announcing availability; the excitement serves as a testament to the vision Squitiro and Affa have worked to create for the last 18 months Andrew Affa of The Standard Hospitality Group walks the dining room right before opening hours at Arlo last week A shared passionAffa and Squitiro met in 2011 while working at Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage “We each bring something different to the table but we have the same passion,” Squitiro explained Both partners have an extensive background in the restaurant industry starting at local establishments on Long Island Squitiro began working at John Anthony’s (now the Piermont in Babylon) as a busboy He worked his way up to assistant general manager and then left to pursue opportunities in New York City where he opened restaurants for other owners Affa worked at several Nassau County restaurants before landing at Carlyle on the Green the pair would take over the Carlyle properties and in 2017 forming The Standard Hospitality Group and acquiring the Piermont a throwback to Squitiro’s roots in the business He’s a great partner and a great visionary He has a lot to do with the success of this company,” Squitiro said of Affa admitting that it gets him emotional to think about their history together and how far they’ve come as partners “We initially purchased the [Arlo] property without knowing what we were going to do with it Then the pandemic hit and put everything on hold; it was a scary moment,” Affa said The partners explored several ideas for the space before landing on what would eventually become Arlo They considered opening a boutique catering hall and even a beer garden to complement the nearby Del Vino winery Squitiro said he and Affa spent a lot of time walking the interior was to offer a level of hospitality that people have never experienced before – and with that in mind The vision and designThe vision behind Arlo was to embrace classic dining Pass the sleek wooden and earth-toned exterior and you’ll be greeted by blues and jazz music (think Nina Simone and Miles Davis) Inside there are black-and-white geometric tiles and leather booths in “British Racing Green,” a deep emerald color featured throughout the space to a time when people went out to eat and it was a big deal to do so but we really want to bring it back with classical dishes and a classic vibe,” Affa said There are over 200 seats inside the restaurant and an open kitchen that allows guests to see their meals prepared in plain sight an outdoor patio nestled among the property’s trees will add another 100 seats The interior is divided into small sections The intention was to keep each seat intimate regardless of where you are in the bustling restaurant Arlo’s design process was extensive with all hands on deck during the construction period Squitiro and Affa worked with interior designer Beth Donner to capture that Roaring ’20s style “We gave her inspiration on the direction we wanted to take it,” Squitiro said We created a Pinterest board of different elements and environments that we wanted and then we gave it to Beth and she made it cohesive for us.” The partners said they had their fingers on every little corner of the property serving as both designers and general contractors during the 18-month process who are part of the team at The Standard Hospitality Group also played an integral part of the build-out process They know every detail of the space and were there the whole way through; then they got into suits at opening to provide a fine dining experience the menu offerings at Arlo focus on classic dishes including fresh seafood entrees and prime meat and a crab cake that’s “out of this world,” said Squitiro “Land” dishes include a beef bourguignon pot pie and tableside chicken parmesan; “sea” dishes include prawns over goat cheese polenta with garbanzo chorizo hash and olive relish The menu also features a butcher board from purveyors throughout the midwest There’s a roasted eggplant dish in a spicy carrot purèe for vegetable lovers and a selection of sides including a kitchen sink baked potato (talk about old-school) Everything is sourced from the highest quality ingredients The kitchen uses local ingredients when it can “We like to put a little twist on regular fare,” Squitiro explained which was mentioned – and recommended – several times by the partners is prepared by the pastry chef with a hint of rosemary Your table is ready...Arlo is open six days a week (closed Tuesday) The kitchen/bar will continue going through a soft opening period for the next few weeks to ensure that service is “on point,” Affa said but expect to be fully operational by New Year's day Arlo’s hospitality night will begin on Mondays with jazz on the grand piano on Mondays and Thursdays To make a reservation, including for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve seatings, call 631-491-2756 or visit the Arlo website Arlo offers a classic fine dining experience The bar on Arlo's first floor opens up to the main dining room A wall lined with intimate seating for two on Arlo's first floor 2022 at 2:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}John Burke was killed in a crash in Fort Salonga on Monday morning NY — A man was killed in a one-car crash in Fort Salonga early Monday was driving a 2019 Nissan Rogue westbound on Route 25A when he lost control of the SUV at 2:22 a.m Burke's Nissan struck a pole at Sunken Meadow Road and came to a rest on its side Burke was thrown from the SUV and into a nearby creek Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452 2019 at 5:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum Planetarium was renamed to honor longtime philanthropists Charles and Helen Reichert (Courtesy: Suffolk County Legislature)CENTERPORT NY — The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum Planetarium was permanently renamed in honor of philanthropists Charles and Helen Reichert Suffolk County legislators decided in a vote at the Dec a Fort Salonga couple whose longstanding contributions have led to meaningful impacts across the county entered into an agreement with the Vanderbilt in 2013 where they pledged to support the mission and programs at the site through a 20-year donation worth around $1.7 million Their gift marks the largest contribution in the history of the museum by someone who is not a member of the Vanderbilt family The planetarium's sign now reads "Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium." One of the "yes" votes was from Legislator William R "I’ve had the privilege of knowing the Reicherts for a number of years and have seen firsthand how their giving has made a difference in Huntington," he said via press release "Their continued generosity and willingness to provide resources to the community and important causes never ceases to amaze me the Museum and Planetarium will continue to thrive and provide thousands of students and visitors with access to the historical and astronomical wonders found right here in Centerport This is a fitting tribute to a generous and humble family the IGA grocery store owner and his wife have donated over $4 million to non-profit public institutions and health facilities spanning from Huntington to Southold including about $1.2 million to Huntington Hospital and $1 million to New York State for the betterment of Nissequogue State Park they have donated funds to upgrade the Southold Police communications dispatch center purchased new uniforms for local public-school sports teams established a $6,000 annual scholarship for high school students restored the Old Burying Ground in Southold and funded the reconstruction of the church steeple at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Northport "The Reicherts are deeply committed to preserving and improving the quality of life for all Long Islanders," stated Lance Reinheimer executive director of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum."They are shining lights in the community deserving of this distinction for their widespread support of organizations throughout Suffolk County." 2012 at 7:09 pm ETA historic Fort Salonga estate once owned by Consuelo Vanderbilt and the Duchess of Marlborough has gone on the market for $1.15 million dollars Duchess of Marlborough who later gifted the home to Consuelo Vanderbilt Lily gave the home to them as a wedding gift there was an important reason for Lily to come back to America "She had to come back to America for a required number of weeks to get her inheritance and that is what she was doing in Fort Salonga," said Harris The 1.73 acre lot includes an in-ground pool gunite pool with a dive rock In the early 1900's the home became the Beresford Lodge The home is currently owned by Bill and Cindy Chase and serves as a home for their two daughters "I guess it is rare that one with so much history makes it to the open market," said Harris pine wood floors throughout along with five fireplaces and nanny quarters Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday, sign up for our free newsletter. If you would like more information or a private showing of this home or any home currently on the market Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Realty Connect USA 2022 at 10:54 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Kenneth Gallagher was critically injured in a crash in Fort Salonga on Thursday afternoon NY — A Northport man was critically injured in a collision in Fort Salonga on Thursday afternoon was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck westbound on Fort Salonga Road when he collided head-on with a box truck traveling eastbound on Fort Salonga Road Gallagher was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries The box truck was processed at the scene by the Suffolk County Police Motor Carrier Safety Unit and the Dodge was impounded for a safety check Anyone with information on the crash was asked to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452 2023 at 9:02 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Vespa of Northport has closed NY — Vespa Italian Chophouse of Northport has closed "Thank you everyone for all your support," the restaurant wrote on its website The ownership group urged people to check out its Farmingdale restaurant The Vespa in Farmingdale is owned by a different group Muller gardens and donates food to Long Island Cares NY — A Fort Salonga woman is using her gardening prowess to take her volunteering at Long Island Cares to the next level transitioned from a career at AMC Networks in New York City to a non-commercial life of homesteading during the coronavirus pandemic helping the Harry Chapin Food Bank in the process Muller donates homegrown fruits and vegetables to those battling food insecurity while spending additional time and money at Long Island Cares Muller and her husband stayed home in Manhattan like many others in 2020 Her husband owned a piece of property in Fort Salonga so the two decided to move and live on the farmland full-time “I was not going to do a commute again,” Muller told Patch “I put in my many years of working in corporate America We’re going to live here on Long Island.' I have a beautiful vegetable garden that takes up a lot of time.” Muller raises chickens for an egg supply while she grows other fruits and vegetables She strives to add something new each year Muller is currently taking beekeeping courses she hopes to have her own honey-producing hives “I just like being self-sufficient,” she said and that’s why it’s such a great fit for me to work at the food pantry I think it’s more than just giving food out It really is like being a resource for people Whether someone has a question about nutrition we can be that friend to someone when they’re going through a rough patch and really listen to what the client’s needs are and point them in the right direction Muller originally volunteered at the Hauppauge warehouse before someone told her she should work at the more convenient Huntington Station satellite “I really enjoy the people who I work with It’s such a diverse group of people of all ages I’ll be working with a 25-year-old and the next day Muller feeds her family with the food she grows and donates much of the rest to the food pantry She encouraged others to volunteer at Long Island Cares Muller called giving back “infectious,” as her fellow volunteers have “such a passion for life.” I’d like to see all my friends and family do that kind of work Muller wants people to have access to the most nutritious foods and some soups have high sodium,'” she said “I think it’s such a better experience all around when you’re able to hand someone a bag of apples or zucchini Working alongside people to spread the word that we do need more fresh fruits and vegetables Muller feels like a personal shopper when she takes food bank clients through a pantry Muller goes to the Huntington Station satellite food pantry every Friday afternoon And she always shows up with a compassionate attitude and intent to help the community Tia has developed meaningful relationships with clients and is on a first name basis with some clients,” Smith said and it brightens the client’s day and makes their pantry visit special she goes above and beyond by donating fresh produce from her garden and distributes that food to our clientele Most of the clients using the pantry always prefer fresh produce over the non-perishable canned products so many people are happy to have the produce to choose from Tia is an amazing volunteer that is passionate about helping others it is great to have her volunteering for this organization.” “I feel like I’m too young to use that word,” she said but I made some smart real-estate decisions in my life when I was much younger .. I’ll probably look for another full-time job in the future but when you’re living the way I am right now People can donate to Long Island Cares or seek information on help from its food banks through its website 2016 at 6:36 pm ETThe New York State Department of Transportation says they are planning on increasing the safety measures at a notorious turn on Fort Salonga Road that has been the spot for multiple serious crashes this year A man is in critical condition after his vehicle crashed into a tree near Makamah Road Thursday morning, the same tree another vehicle struck in February If motorists don’t follow the curve while traveling westbound on Fort Salonga Road they will find themselves in the direct path of this particular tree A representative from NYSDOT said they conducted a study in April analyzing this turn The State provided Patch a letter sent to Frank Konop of the Fort Salonga Association The analysis reviewed the most recent three years of data available by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the police report from the fatal accident in February The study showed that all existent signs and movement marking were installed properly but NYSDOT still plans on making some changes NYSDOT says they will also review the police report and the circumstances of Thursday’s crash to see if additional measures need to be taken NYSDOT says crews are going Friday afternoon to install larger Chevron signs The other signs are scheduled to be installed early next week A work order has been issued to remove the tree by the end of August Sevearl trees along Fort Salonga Road in this area are also scheduled to be removed before Labor Day “Safety is NYSDOT’s top priority and we continuously strive to provide protections for motorists on Long Island’s state roadways with the hope that drivers will help protect themselves by driving cautiously and heeding the speed limit and other ‘rules of the road,’” the NYSDOT representative said Several residents weighed-in on how they think the turn could be improved a close friend of the victims in the February crash "I believe there should be more guardrails lighting and possible warning signs for the speed in which people are driving on this turn.” Another resident told Patch he believes it is time to remove the tree While the State is implementing the safety measures following the rules of the road is the responsibility of the drivers