Executive Circle Awards Rendering of the townhomes at the Country Pointe Preserve in Yaphank Sales begin at new condo development in Yaphank  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 Firefighters extinguish a fire in a barn at Glover Farms in Yaphank A barn on a U-pick strawberry and pumpkin farm was engulfed in flames Friday afternoon in Yaphank Firefighters and Suffolk County arson detectives were called to the fire at Glover Farms The barn was not occupied and no people or animals were injured said she didn’t know how the fire in the front barn started She said the barn was used for storage and farm equipment "It’s pretty much totally destroyed," Glover said politics and crime stories in Suffolk County By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy She noted that the farm will still be open by June for strawberry picking season She said no other parts of the farm were affected Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Click here for Greater Long Island newsletters. Click here to download the iPhone app Long Island is getting a new train station members of the MTA and Brookhaven Town gathered Thursday to break ground on a new LIRR station in an industrial park near William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway This marks the realization of a long-term plan to move the little-used Yaphank train station to a more accessible location “We’re saying goodbye to the old Yaphank station… where trains have been running who noted that the station is one of the least used in the entire LIRR network currently located under an overpass on Yaphank Avenue “This relocation will not only unlock the potential of this bustling industrial park but coupled with … one of our nine national research laboratories will be so much better served by this relocation,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico The proposed site is about four miles south of Brookhaven National Laboratory which employs more than 2,500 people and hosts approximately 5,075 visiting facility users and guest researchers annually just a stone’s throw from the Shirley Amazon warehouse will be about a seven-minute shuttle ride from the lab — roughly half the time of the current trip from Yaphank It is also just a few miles from The Boulevard a massive new residential and mixed-use complex then-Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine and then-Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone made a joint push for the project sending a letter to LIRR President Philip Eng stating their preferred location for a new Yaphank station on the Ronkonkoma line The new commuter station will feature a modern design, with about 50 parking spaces, ADA accessibility and a two-car platform. The MTA recently completed renovations to modernize the Mastic-Shirley station “It’s going to be a great modern station for passengers,” said Jamie Torres-Springer President of MTA Construction & Development “All the modern features that we’re installing now in our stations.” While the new station will not be part of an electrified track MTA officials say it could be a step in the right direction “It’s part of a larger picture as we look down the road to expand and electrify a double track out here,” said Rob Free MTA officials expect the new station to open in mid-2026 no name has been chosen for the new station “The favorite seems to be Camp Upton/BNL which pays homage to the history of this area and recognizes Brookhaven National Laboratory for the powerhouse that they are,” he said Camp Upton was a military training camp established in 1917 to prepare New York-area soldiers for World War I later serving as a World War II rehabilitation center before being repurposed as Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1947 Until the new station is completed, the Yaphank station will continue operating on its usual schedule, Lieber told Greater Long Island Tap here to see what’s happening This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2025 at 7:48 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A fire broke out at a home in Yaphank early Wednesday morning NY — A fire broke out at a home in Yaphank early Wednesday morning It started at the German Boulevard home just after 1:20 a.m. and the Yaphank Fire Department responded to extinguish the flames Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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Years after calling on the MTA to move the little-used Yaphank train station “The Long Island Rail Road is moving forward on the long anticipated relocation of the very sparsely used Yaphank Train Station, from its current location under Country Road 21, to inside of the industrial park off of William Floyd Parkway,” Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico announced today on his Facebook page “The work is slated to begin in a couple of months and will give area residents an easier method of utilizing the Ronkonkoma line it is their hope that it will be someday.” The move was something former Supervisor Ed Romaine which Panico acknowledged in his announcement Romaine and then-Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone made a joint push on the project sending a letter to LIRR president Philip Eng to state their preferred site for a new Yaphank station This occurred after some disagreement between the two as to where was the best place for the move While Romaine had favored a site adjacent to the Suffolk County Police Department’s Seventh Precinct he said Bellone preferred the station relocate to within Brookhaven National Lab The industrial park spot came as a compromise “Ed liked the idea and championed it over the years which will augment our bustling industrial park,” Panico said Panico also released these renderings for the new station: Romaine had told Greater Long Island he was adamant the Yaphank Station be relocated closer to William Floyd Parkway a more convenient access point compared to Ronkonkoma especially for East End residents traveling west eastern county residents will drive to Ronkonkoma to cut out local The lab employs more than 2,500 people and sees approximately 5,075 visiting facility users and guest researchers annually according to a 2019 document from the laboratory It is also within a few miles of the new and massive residential and mixed-use complex The hope is for a huge increase in ridership from the current Yaphank station “The station (pictured below) gets two or three cars every day and I pass it every single day on Yaphank Avenue on my way to work,” Romaine had said “No one even knows how to get there.” According to Panico, the LIRR is seeking suggestions for the new station’s name. Officials are mulling East Yaphank, Upton, “and a couple more,” he said, adding “Please feel free to suggest a name that I may pass on which would be built on 5.36 acres at the southeast corner of the William Floyd Parkway and Long Island Expressway The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has acquired property at an industrial park near Long Island Rail Road tracks in East Yaphank, taking a major step forward in plans to relocate the little-used Yaphank train station said the new train station would be built on 5.36 acres at the southeast corner of the William Floyd Parkway and Long Island Expressway on vacant land near warehouses and medical offices Yonkers-based developer Rose-Breslin Associates "donated" the land to the MTA last month for a "nominal fee," Rose-Breslin spokesman Brian Ferruggiari said The MTA confirmed the transaction but offered no additional comment and did not cite the potential cost of the project The agency confirmed the authenticity of renderings furnished by Panico that show plans for the new station The drawings show a single train platform and a small who have sought the new station for a decade say moving the Yaphank stop to a more spacious location will improve service for LIRR commuters many of whom travel to the Ronkonkoma station 11 miles from Yaphank for more trains and parking it looks like it’s going to come to fruition," Panico said He added that a new Yaphank stop also could appeal to commuters from South Shore areas like Mastic and Shirley and North Shore communities such as Shoreham and Rocky Point “I think it’s going to be very well-utilized and even more well-utilized in the future,” he said The Yaphank station is on the Ronkonkoma branch and located about a half-mile south of LIE Exit 67 about a mile west of the East Yaphank site on Hubbard Road beneath a Yaphank Avenue overpass has limited parking in a gravel lot with unmarked stalls The daily schedule on weekdays includes only five westbound trains and four eastbound trains Ronkonkoma has more than 20 eastbound and westbound trains daily and parking for thousands of cars Ridership at the Yaphank station last year totaled 4,365 including 3,710 on weekdays and 655 on weekends or 15 riders a day on weekdays and six a day on weekends was the only passenger to disembark in Yaphank from a Greenport-bound train at 12:15 p.m He said he normally goes to the Ronkonkoma station when visiting family in Suffolk County "This station doesn't have many pickups or stops," he said adding he would consider using the new Yaphank station when it opens "Whatever gets me there the fastest." The East Yaphank site is on Precision Drive within Rose-Breslin's 48-acre industrial park which includes warehouses for the Uncle Wally's baked goods and Tate's Bake Shop franchises Panico said plans call for a single elevated platform for both eastbound and westbound trains a bus loop and a “kiss and ride” passenger drop-off Electrification on the Ronkonkoma line ends at the Ronkonkoma station Yaphank Civic Association president Chad Trusnovec said group members were "still learning the pros and the cons" for moving the Yaphank station adding the new location could be a problem for some residents It's Shirley or East Yaphank," he said "We’re trying to figure out what they’re going to call it.” But Trusnovec said the East Yaphank site would be "much much more accessible,” adding the current location is "very difficult to get to" and hard to find "A lot of people don’t even know that it’s there,” he said Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008 He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons 2025 at 7:57 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A 76-year-old man was arrested Wednesday night after Suffolk police say he was involved in a head-on crash involving drunken driving in Yaphank NY — A 76-year-old man was arrested Wednesday night after Suffolk police say he was involved in a head-on crash involving drunken driving in Yaphank was driving a 2016 Dodge Caravan southbound in the northbound lane of Yaphank-Middle Island Road when his vehicle crashed with another vehicle at around 9:45 p.m. but the man was charged with driving while intoxicated The MTA is officially relocating the Long Island Rail Road station in Yaphank a few miles east — and the new station needs a name situated under the Yaphank Avenue overpass will be moved to an industrial park near William Floyd Parkway it is their hope that it will be someday,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico Panico took to Facebook to invite Long Islanders to suggest potential names for the new station “Officials are mulling East Yaphank, Upton, and a couple more,” he said, adding “Please feel free to suggest a name that I may pass on but know that this will going forward.” Greater Long Island conducted a poll on its Facebook and Instagram pages where “East Yaphank” emerged as the favorite name is an unincorporated hamlet within the Town of Brookhaven Many consider the industrial park to be part of this area The second most popular choice was “Upton,” a tribute to the former Camp Upton The site is now home to Brookhaven National Laboratory and was once served by the same train tracks used by the base Other names suggested by commenters included “North Shirley,” “Brookhaven,” and “Floyd Industrial.” Top: Panico released the rendering for the new station on Facebook NY — A man was hurt in a fall from an apparent construction site on Boulevard East in Yaphank on Thursday then was taken to NYU Langone Hospital in East Patchogue at around 10:30 a.m. The 911 caller who reported the fall said it took place on a construction site Further details were not available from the police 2024 at 7:49 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A small brush fire broke out Wednesday night in Yaphank NY — A small brush fire broke out Wednesday night in Yaphank It broke out at Long Island Avenue and Gerard Road just before 10 p.m. It was doused by the Yaphank Fire Department Investigators say it happened on Reserve Drive just before noon Police say there were no shots fired and no injuries Starbucks opened Thursday in the hamlet’s new mixed-use complex, The Boulevard a 322-acre development at the corner of the Long Island Expressway and William Floyd Parkway The Starbucks is located on the east side of The Shoppes a retail area anchored by a 197,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter the Yaphank Starbucks is an end-cap location in a new shopping strip the site boasts a spacious outdoor patio with alfresco seating A shift manager informed Greater Long Island that the new Starbucks currently operates daily from 5 a.m In addition to Yaphank, another Starbucks is in the works for the nearby area. Brookhaven Town has approved plans to build the coffee shop at Floyd Harbor Center on Montauk Highway in Shirley. The location will feature a drive-thru, 17 indoor seats, and eight additional seats outside. Click here to read more The Shoppes at The Boulevard also hosts Southpaw Brewing Company Northwell Health is currently developing medical offices and a surgical center in the complex New buildings tailored for restaurants are also being constructed formerly the site of the Parr Meadows horse track with work expected to continue through 2026 Upon completion, the property will feature nearly 1,000 housing units, including apartments, condos, and townhomes. Click here to learn more about The Boulevard Top: The new Starbucks location in Yaphank Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates The westbound Long Island Expressway reopened hours after a crash with serious injuries A major crash closed westbound Long Island Expressway in Yaphank on Monday One victim was ejected from a vehicle and suffered serious injuries a Suffolk County Police spokesperson told Daily Voice The roadway was reopened shortly after 5 p.m It was not immediately clear how many vehicles were involved or how many people were injured from the Disney film “Frozen.” And like her namesake A young deer was fighting for her life after falling through thin ice into a freezing river at Southaven County Park in Yaphank with her nose and mouth barely above the water Leading the rescue was Frank Floridia of Strong Island Animal Rescue who boarded a small boat and began chipping away at what seemed the length of a football field of inch-thick ice separating him from the deer With Floridia painstakingly hacking a path forward wildlife rescuer Ryan Gilmartin of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center used an oar to push the boat along “It took a lot of endurance and speed, and we knew that it was a life-or-death situation in the end and we pulled it off,” Floridia told News 12 Long Island Floridia snatched the wide-eyed deer into his arms and hoisted her onto the boat additional rescuers tugged the boat back back to shore Gilmartin knew the rescue crew had no time to lose “I saw the signs that she was still alive but suffering the effects of severe hypothermia,” he told News 12 Long Island I knew I needed to get her back as quick as possible so I could start warming her up while en route to the hospital.” Suffolk County Police assisted at the scene and Floridia emphasized just how close Elsa had come to dying she definitely would not have made it,” he said Rescuers said they hope the doe will be strong enough to return to the wild in the coming days Top image: Facebook/Strong Island Animal Rescue is dropping plans for a proposed Yaphank waste transfer station project at the 228-acre site on Horseblock Road is dropping plans for a proposed Yaphank waste transfer station project that was seen by local officials as critical to managing Long Island's future trash removal needs but drew opposition from local residents and others a company spokesman told Newsday on Friday vice president Will Flower said Brookhaven Rail which owns the 228-acre site on Horseblock Road where the facility was planned to be built has agreed to sell the site to Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development which is developing a warehouse project on an adjoining parcel Selling the property effectively ends plans to build the transfer station which had faced an uncertain approval process amid opposition and lawsuits aimed at blocking the project “Brookhaven Rail has made the decision not to pursue plans for the rail transfer station," Flower said A Brookhaven Rail spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment Friday Winters Bros. and Brookhaven Town officials have said previously the Yaphank station was critical to Long Island's future waste management needs as the town prepares to begin closing its landfill later this year The project required approvals from federal and state agencies and Brookhaven officials The project was never formally submitted to town officials for approval The state NAACP and Farmingdale environmental nonprofit Citizens Campaign for the Environment said Friday the project's demise is "a comprehensive victory," adding the deal to stop the project stemmed from negotiations between both groups and the developers Under the deal described in a statement released by NAACP and Citizens Campaign officials NorthPoint Development agreed to buy out Winters Bros.’ interests in the property and to abandon the waste transfer plan The deal includes open space preservation easements for NAACP and the Citizens Campaign and deed restrictions blocking future solid waste uses on the Winters Bros the NAACP and Citizens Campaign officials said in the news release which plans to build industrial buildings on the site agreed to host job fairs in conjunction with the NAACP to fill positions at the new facility Citizens Campaign and the NAACP opposed the station saying it was not needed because they believed other transfer stations on Long Island would be enough to process construction waste after the landfill closes "This victory is sweet," Brookhaven NAACP president Georgette Grier-Key said in a statement for our fair share of state funding for our schools and more The NAACP and Citizens Campaign last year sued the town in state Supreme Court to block the project. A state judge threw out the lawsuit earlier this year which would have been one of the largest such facilities in the state would have collected up to 2,000 tons a day of construction waste and shipped it by rail to landfills as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania Proponents said it would have cut the number of trucks needed to haul construction trash off the Island Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said the project's cancellation was "a loss for Long Island as a region and a missed opportunity.” He added the demise of the project would not affect plans to close the landfill The dump is set to stop accepting construction waste in December and close completely when it stops taking ash in 2028 from incinerators operated by Reworld “The plans for the landfill will proceed as planned," he said "But this potentially could mean higher prices for residential and commercial customers and taxpayers.” plan failed in part because state lawmakers in recent years declined to approve the use of open space land for part of a rail spur that was to have served the facility Winters Bros. was purchased in July by industry giant WM The spur was to be built on a three-acre section of a 68-acre conservation easement that runs through the Brookhaven Rail property the town would have received six acres that would be preserved as open space known as a "park alienation" bill never was approved amid heavy lobbying from environmentalists and the NAACP “I think it’s safe to say Brookhaven Rail did not see a pathway to move forward with the project and made the decision" to sell the land to NorthPoint Development Citizens Campaign for the Environment executive director Adrienne Esposito said the nonprofit was “delighted with the outcome.” noise and air pollution to the neighborhoods,” she said “We heard the public’s cry for help and we answered them.” She added: “We have to have a meaningful plan for solid waste and they could not demonstrate a need for this large a facility." Caithness bought 105 acres of land in Yaphank when it built the island’s first combined-cycle power plant which increase efficiency by using waste heat to produce additional power operator of Long Island's most heavily used and efficient power plant is proposing to build two battery energy storage plants on the Yaphank property The battery plants could be offered in an upcoming state solicitation for battery storage and would require approval from the town of Brookhaven The proposed Caithness Long Island Energy Storage projects are "aimed at supporting the integration of renewable energy sources which will help reduce carbon emissions," the company said in a statement confirming the move "The site is ideally situated on an industrial-zoned Caithness-owned property in close proximity to the LIPA Sills Road substation and is more than one-half mile from any residential property." That plant uses only 21 of those acres and the batteries will use 20 acres Caithness could still build the Caithness 2 plant of some 750 megawatts — more than twice the size of the original combined cycle plant remains the newest and most modern fossil-fuel plant on Long Island which produces 22% of Long Island’s locally generated energy uses a fraction of the water other such plants do — the air-cooled plant uses around 16 gallons a minute compared to hundreds of millions of gallons a year used by older plants "will be built using advanced battery storage technology It will adhere to strict fire codes and safety standards ensuring the safety and protection of all stakeholders involved." faced with a tidal wave of local opposition to eight separate battery storage plants proposed across the town recently said it won’t approve any new projects until the state finalizes new dedicated fire-safety codes for the plants Opposition has centered on fires at the plants across the state in 2023 including one owned by NextEra and National Grid in East Hampton Nearly all Long Island towns have moratoriums on new battery-plants The Caithness official said the battery projects could be operational by 2027 assuming they are accepted in an anticipated upcoming solicitation by New York State They are already listed in the roster of projects with the New York Independent System Operator Caithness previously offered the battery projects under an earlier LIPA solicitation but the utility ultimately awarded contracts to another vendor who will build plants at Shoreham and Hauppauge The Caithness plants’ proposed lithium-ion batteries would be in separate containers and use safety codes expected to be approved in the state for storage batteries later this year Caithness had previously proposed a 750-megawatt power plant But there’s a remote chance the old plan for the bigger plant could be dusted off for a new-age use Brookhaven National Laboratory has broached the notion of using a plant such as Caithness 2 to provide the dedicated level of power needed for a data center at the lab according to three people with knowledge of the matter A BNL spokesman declined to comment on the prospect of a new data-center or a new energy source to power it which has mandated an emission-free power grid by 2040 Such a plant would require a new natural gas line to fuel it The previous plan for Caithness 2 involved a new natural gas line to power it "If they need more power we are certainly ready to consider it and would build something that’s upgraded from Caithness 1 in terms of efficiency," the official said The prospect of a plant for Brookhaven National Laboratory is extremely preliminary according to the three sources familiar with it and there are no assurances the center will get a green light from the federal government or any local power source approved Caithness has spoken to technology firms in other parts of the country about providing dedicated power for planned data centers a market that "absolutely" will be expanding over the next decade MTA and LIRR representatives join local government officials Thursday for the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Yaphank LIRR station A new Yaphank train station should open in about a year in an industrial park off the Long Island Expressway replacing a rail depot that is one of the oldest and least used on the Island Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and elected leaders announced Thursday The $20 million station will be built on a 5.36-acre plot at Precision Innovation Park about a mile east of the expressway's Exit 68 and 3 miles from the current Yaphank station off Yaphank Avenue officials said during a groundbreaking ceremony The new station will have a paved parking lot and bus loop — a marked upgrade over the current station which has a gravel lot and unmarked parking stalls “Times have changed and the riders deserve a more modern station that is better situated for Yaphank and the community around us that exists today,” MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said which has been at its present location since 1844 has long been a high priority for elected officials in Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town should be more convenient for employees and guest researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory many of whom use the Ronkonkoma station 20 minutes from the lab which also includes an Amazon distribution facility and warehouses for brands such as Uncle Wally's baked goods and Tate's Bake Shop was held in a muddy field during a rainstorm as officials huddled under tents and umbrellas "We're getting thunderous applause," LIRR President Rob Free said after thunder rolled overhead The station is being funded through the MTA’s capital budget and should open sometime next year The location is a geographical anomaly — depending on the reference The LIRR already has a Mastic-Shirley station about 6 miles south on William Floyd Parkway Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico suggested the new station will get a new name “The favorite seems to be ‘Camp Upton/BNL,' which pays homage to the history of this area and recognizes Brookhaven National Laboratory for the powerhouse that they are,” Panico said a World War I-era military training ground was on the site now occupied by Brookhaven lab Would-be train riders say the Yaphank station Many local residents say they don't even know it's there Ridership at the current Yaphank station last year totaled 4,365 — 3,710 on weekdays and 655 on weekends — or 15 riders a day on weekdays and six a day on weekends “I think the data shows that the current Yaphank station is sparsely if hardly ever used," Panico said in an interview after the ceremony there’s only benefit in the relocation here.” The new station will include a two-car train platform a parking lot with 50 spaces and a plaza area with a bike rack Kathy Hochul said the new Yaphank station “promises to be a world-class fully accessible experience that connects riders to additional amenities faster than ever before.” president and CEO of the Long Island Association said relocating the Yaphank station "has been an LIRR holy grail .. today marks a giant leap forward in Brookhaven’s journey for improved service greater access and the economic growth bound to come.”   as part of the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan the railroad intends to begin early work on building a second track to Yaphank and extending electrification to the station Brookhaven lab chief operating officer Ann Emrick said the lab fills shuttle buses nearly every day to take staff and researchers to and from the Ronkonkoma train station The new Yaphank train depot will be less than 10 minutes from the Upton campus “We are so excited to have this train station," Emrick said in an interview "This will give them much better access to get out here especially those who come from the city airports.”   had pushed for the relocation for more than a decade “We’re taking an almost-impossible-to-find former station and locating it in a bustling industrial park … literally in walking distance of Brookhaven National Laboratory,” he said “Even though we’re standing here with muddy feet in puddles it’s gratifying to see that it came to fruition.” Here are some details about the new Yaphank train station NY) – NYS Senator Dean Murray presented a NYS Senate Resolution that passed overwhelmingly earlier this year in the Senate to the Yaphank Historical Society recognizing its Golden Anniversary at the Swezey-Avey House in Yaphank      The Yaphank Historical Society was founded in 1974 by a group of concerned and dedicated residents who saw a need to preserve the hamlet’s rich heritage The Society currently maintains and manages four historic houses three of which are on the National Register of Historic Places and provides ongoing stewardship for several small historic burial grounds and the Carmena River Nature Trail and Sanctuary The Society looks to the future to continue restoration and preservation opportunities within the historic district.       “Thank you to the Historical Society for all you have done to protect the rich history of Yaphank’s past to continue to enrich its future,” said NYS Senator Dean Murray 2024 at 8:42 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}​A Yaphank woman is facing driving while intoxicated charges after Suffolk police say she was involved in a crash that killed a 75-year-old woman in another vehicle in Middle Island NY — A Yaphank woman is facing driving while intoxicated charges after Suffolk police say she was involved in a crash that killed a 75-year-old woman in another vehicle in Middle Island Melissa Koprowski was driving a 2014 Dodge Durango eastbound on Middle Country Road when she tried to make a left turn onto Wading River Hollow Road and crashed the Dodge into a 2022 Nissan Rogue that was traveling westbound was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue where she was pronounced dead was taken to the same hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries who was seated behind the driver at the time of the crash was also taken to the same hospital with non-life-threatening injuries The vehicles were impounded for safety checks She was scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip Her arraignment disposition was not available Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Major Case Squad at 631-852-6555 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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A lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges the DEC improperly approved an air permit for the Caithness Long Island Energy Plant in Yaphank Three environmental organizations have filed a state lawsuit alleging the state Department of Environmental Conservation illegally exempted the owners of a Yaphank power plant from a recent state climate law that seeks to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions The DEC "abdicated its responsibilities" last year when it approved an air permit for the gas-fired Caithness Long Island Energy Plant without weighing the impact of emissions on local residents The suit was filed Wednesday in Nassau County State Supreme Court by the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group the Sierra Club and the Long Island Progressive Coalition The lawsuit asks the court to rescind the air permit and compensate the plaintiffs for costs incurred by the suit "We have not reviewed the claims in the lawsuit and have no comment at this time." Residents of nearby communities such as North Bellport say the Caithness plant is one of several industrial facilities in the area that contribute to high rates of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis North Bellport is about two miles from the Caithness plant The lawsuit states that DEC officials ignored a 2019 state law the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act which they say requires state agencies to consider the impact of emissions on North Bellport and other "vulnerable" communities “We’re talking about decades of pollution that these communities have had to endure,” said Gilbert Zelaya which filed the suit on behalf of the Sierra Club that means the DEC is sending the message that they don’t care about the health and well-being of these communities.” The 350-megawatt Caithness plant opened in August 2009 the first major power plant built on Long Island in 30 years Caithness Energy said at the time the plant would use 34% less fuel than older fossil fuel plants and save Long Island ratepayers $40 million annually The lawsuit states the 2019 law requires power plants to cut emissions by 30% over five years The five-year permit granted by the DEC last September includes no provisions for cutting emissions The DEC's decision to grant the air license "effectively guarantees the agency’s failure to meet the mandate that the Legislature imposed" in the 2019 climate law a North Bellport resident and climate justice organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition said Caithness and other industrial locations cause "poor air quality" in the area "We just can’t have these polluting facilities not adhering" to the 2019 law we have an asphalt facility in our community We have warehouses that are constantly proposed for our community They need to be the ones to enforce the law.” Brookhaven officials have said they plan to close the landfill when it runs out of capacity in 2028 The landfill stopped accepting construction and demolition waste on Jan 1 but still takes ash from Long Island trash incinerators 2025 at 8:37 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Two hunters were caught illegally harvesting a deer at South County Park in Yaphank recently the state Department of Environmental Conservation said NY — Two hunters were caught illegally harvesting a deer at South County Park in Yaphank recently Environmental Conservation Officers were alerted by a park visitor and then saw footprints and fresh blood near tire tracks where the suspected vehicle had parked four officers and two Suffolk park rangers followed the footprints through the park and found evidence consistent with an animal being killed Officers interviewed two people identified during the investigation and the first subject admitted to carrying a bow in the park and failing to have a hunting license while the second admitted to shooting the deer in the park Notices of Violation were issued for trespassing and additional charges for hunting in a park closed to deer hunting 2024 at 7:01 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Suffolk County Sheriff’s office is hosting its annual Open House and Family Day on Sunday in Yaphank NY — The Suffolk County Sheriff’s office is hosting its annual Open House and Family Day on Sunday from 11 a.m The free event will feature jail tours throughout the day for residents ages 12 and up exciting demonstrations by the office's different departments including the Emergency Response Team and K-9 unit Suffolk County Girl Scouts will also be able to earn a special patch at the event The event coincides with state Sheriffs' week Sheriff Errol Toulon's office says he is encouraging the public to come out The Yaphank Correctional Facility is located on Glover Drive in Yaphank For more information, please visit www.suffolksheriff.com 2025 at 6:17 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}At least one person was seriously injured in a crash on the Long Island Expressway in Yaphank on Monday afternoon Suffolk police said the roadway was opened up NY — At least one person was seriously injured in a crash on the Long Island Expressway in Yaphank on Monday afternoon All lanes of the westbound lane of the LIE were closed at Exit 67 just before 3 p.m The crash was reported at around 12:45 p.m 2024 at 8:18 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Two people were injured in a crash on the Long Island Expressway in Yaphank early Thursday NY — Two people were injured in a crash on the Long Island Expressway in Yaphank early Thursday A 63-year-old man was driving a 2016 Toyota SUV eastbound on the expressway when it was struck the rear by a 2022 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by a 39-year-old man Both drivers were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries 2024 at 8:47 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Suffolk police will host a property auction on Oct 23 at the department's Property Section in Yaphank NY — Suffolk police will host a property auction on Oct 23 at the department's Property Section in Yaphank and there will be a preview of jewelry and select property on Oct Among the items being auctioned are jewelry Participants must be at least 18 years old to bid All items are sold in “as in” condition and must be purchased with cash Screens showing surveillance camera video inside the newly expanded Suffolk Crime Analysis Center at the Suffolk police headquarters in Yaphank on Friday The suspect held up a gas station at gunpoint on Friday morning before fleeing in a vehicle fearing the pursuit could lead to injuries to innocent bystanders analysts using video from hundreds of cameras placed along Suffolk roads and highways tracked the suspect from the Suffolk County Crime Analysis Center in Yaphank The suspect’s location was transmitted to officers in the field and police were able to surround the suspect’s vehicle and make an arrest without incident according to Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina Catalina said at a news conference at police headquarters announcing the expansion of the center first created in 2019 Catalina joined Suffolk County Executive Edward P Romaine and state and local officials Friday to unveil the newly expanded Suffolk Crime Analysis Center the Yaphank facility authorities said uses data to help police agencies solve has invested nearly $1 million to triple the size of the center housed at Suffolk County Police Department Headquarters The expansion will allow the center to accommodate 45 crime analysts prosecutors and other law-enforcement officials from agencies around Long Island and beyond The message is very clear to the criminals out there," Romaine said and if you come to Suffolk County to commit a crime The Yaphank crime center is one of 11 across New York State with similar facilities in Nassau County and New York City In her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget released earlier this week Kathy Hochul is seeking $13 million to create a New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Operations Command Center that would coordinate and share crime data with hundreds of police departments State officials said the center would be the first of its kind in the nation "The intelligence sharing and coordination facilitated by these centers allows law-enforcement agencies across the state to focus resources where they are needed most maximizing our ability to keep New Yorkers safe," Hochul said in a statement The heart of the Suffolk center is a 24-foot-wide 41/2-foot-high video wall that receives feeds from hundreds of surveillance street cameras across the county Analysts use the cameras to capture license plate data as well as the make the color of vehicles — even if it has bumper stickers or roof racks — to identify and track vehicles reported as stolen or used during the commission of crimes The data is also used to identify crime trends and assist agencies in deploying resources Catalina said: "We know that bad guys do not respect jurisdictional lines They go from place to place committing crimes If we are not a step ahead of them in solving the crimes through intelligence like this we are never going to catch them — and we are getting better and better at that." the Suffolk center received more than 30,000 requests for assistance — nearly a quarter of the 131,000 total requests received by the 11 centers — and helped 70 law enforcement agencies with cases ranging from hit-and-run crashes to murders agencies that have provided personnel to the crime center include the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation Construction is underway on a new Long Island Rail Road station promising faster A Long Island Rail Road train in Garden City.  A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the new Yaphank LIRR station located roughly three miles east of the current Yaphank platform The new transit digs promise a “world-class fully accessible experience,” ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act It will be strategically closer to major thoroughfares such as William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway we are delivering for Long Islanders once again — continuing on the path to strengthen the local economy and bring these riders the modern efficient transit experience they deserve,” Hochul said The station will feature a parking lot with a 50-car capacity integrated bus loops for easy drop-offs and pickups and additional amenities including a plaza area with real-time schedule displays and secure bike storage the $20 million project will replace the existing station LIRR President Robert Free said Friday the railroad could use capital funds for smaller "day-to-day" improvements at stations The $6 billion in Long Island Rail Road upgrades proposed in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority new five-year capital program will let wheelchair users take a train to catch a Mets game and commuters to never again have to sit in a train with wood-paneled walls Though in some way less ambitious than past capital budgets which funded projects like the Third Track in Nassau County and the construction of Grand Central Madison proponents say the MTA’s 2025-2029 plan will deliver meaningful improvements for the LIRR’s 260,000 daily riders It also takes early steps toward more transformational changes in the future like further electrification in the railroad’s "diesel territory" in Suffolk The projects are a relatively small slice of a $68.4 billion spending plan released by the MTA this week and will be put up for a vote by the transit authority’s board on Wednesday After that comes the arduous process of having the plan approved Here’s a closer look at what’s in store for the LIRR in the MTA’s latest capital plan Among the planned investments most welcomed by LIRR commuters is the purchase of new train cars that will allow the railroad to finally junk its fleet of M3 electric cars that first rolled out in the mid-1980s The LIRR had planned to retire the relics years ago but have needed them to flesh out the increased service levels that came with the opening of Grand Central Madison last year analysis and reporting on serious crashes on Long Island’s roads the M3 cars — recognizable by their faux-wood walls and seats held together by duct tape — are far less reliable than newer trains which go about 400,000 miles before failing because these old trains have been in existence for so long," said Anthony Simon who heads the union representing LIRR conductors The LIRR plans to buy 160 new "M9A" cars — enough to replace all 100 M3s still in service and grow the size of the railroad’s current fleet which has been stretched thin with the boost in service that came with the addition of Grand Central Madison said the planned purchase of 60 more cars than are needed to replace the M3s was a "pleasant surprise." "I think it gives the railroad a lot more flexibility and it’s going to make things a lot more comfortable for the riders," Bringmann said The LIRR also plans to replace some of its diesel fleet including the "double-decker" bi-level cars that came online about 25 years ago The LIRR will come closer to its goal of making all of its stations fully accessible as the capital plan will bring four more stations compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act: Douglaston "That’s going to bring us to 98% of stations (being) ADA accessible That’s certainly the best percentage across the entire MTA system," Jamie Torres-Springer president of MTA construction and development adding an elevator at Mets-Willets Point has long been a high priority for disability rights advocates because of the station’s proximity to major destinations The station was set to get an elevator as part of a Port Authority plan to build an AirTrain linking the station to LaGuardia Airport the responsibility to make the Northern Queens transit hub accessible returned to the MTA And it’s not accessible?" said Bringmann who has been pushing the MTA to address the issue for more than a decade could also be in line for upgrades under the plan LIRR President Robert Free said in addition to major renovations the railroad could use capital funds for smaller "day-to-day" improvements bathroom component replacements," Free said about 14% of the LIRR’s nearly 600 bridges and viaducts "are in either poor are marginal condition." The plan aims to shrink that figure by waterproofing and repainting about 45 bridges and viaducts and more comprehensively rehabilitating or replacing 11 others said the urgency of addressing the crumbling structures was on display when he and other board members toured the LIRR system as part of a "working group" that helped shape the capital program where public officials have for years pleaded with the MTA to address the crumbling concrete and exposed rusting rebar that looms above pedestrians at the village’s elevated station The MTA has been "patching up stuff there with paint" for years it can cost us many more down the road," Chu said Also included in the plan is the "comprehensive rehabilitation" of the tunnels running under Atlantic Avenue along the LIRR’s Brooklyn line After planning for Grand Central Madison and the Second Avenue Subway for decades the MTA has recently turned its attention to the next major expansion of its transit network The Interborough Express would be the MTA’s first light rail system with connections to 17 subway stations and to the LIRR’s East New York station The capital plan would provide the first half of funding needed for the project —$2.75 billion The MTA would also create an $800 million pool of funding to study including expanding electrification of the LIRR’s Main Line to Yaphank The railroad will also consider "improvements" to the Montauk branch and to the Port Jefferson branch which Suffolk public officials have long sought to have electrified "The reality is [the Port Jefferson project] is 23-miles It’s a tremendous project," said Free who noted that the branch includes 23 bridges and several curves "We need to look at one of those projects and deem what’s feasible and what we can do sooner." Suffolk County’s representative on the MTA Board said electrifying the 11-mile stretch between Ronkonkoma and Yaphank was deemed "the easiest to get done," and particularly important given plans to relocate the LIRR’s Yaphank station to be closer to Brookhaven National Laboratory The majority of the MTA’s proposed capital budget is earmarked for "state of good repair" — projects aimed at maintaining and renewing existing infrastructure About half the LIRR’s $6 million allotment would go to nuts-and-bolts efforts including installing 29 miles of new signals replacing or renewing 16 electric substations Herbst said the planned upgrades may be less conspicuous than some of the bigger-ticket LIRR efforts that have been completed in the last decade But the needs for the commuter today is investment in the power the things that are not sexy," Herbst said "It’s not the megaprojects with the ribbon-cutting but it’s necessary to maintain the system."