News Roundup

Mar
15
2013

The Suffolk County Legislature last week unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Legislator Jay Schneiderman, of Montauk, to make golfing on county courses cheaper for veterans.

In 2006 the Legislature voted to grant veterans the same discounts at county parks that Suffolk seniors enjoy — except for discounts on green fees.

Schneiderman's legislation will extend the senior discount to veterans for one year, on a pilot basis...read more ››

Mar
6
2013

The big lighthouse at Montauk Point stood sentry in the bright sun Monday, as it has since it was completed more than 200 years ago on the orders of President George Washington.

But for the first time, it stood with its historic value fully recognized.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has decided to designate the lighthouse a National Historic Landmark, according to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who had lobbied Interior...read more ››

Mar
5
2013

More than half of Suffolk's hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes are flushing expired and unused medications, leading to trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in Long Island's water supply, according to a new report.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a statewide group based in Farmingdale, reviewed the pharmaceutical disposal plans of 59 facilities and found that 51 percent reported relying on flushing medications...read more ››

Feb
22
2013

In March, visitors to Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton will be able to sign up for seal-watching walks to catch a glimpse of the rotund mammals.

The Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island will hold five walks on weekends next month, each lasting about two hours and covering a mile. The walks depart from the western end of the parking lot on Dune Road, and are suitable for children.

Depending on the...read more ››

Feb
21
2013
Bellone Logo

On Tuesday night, I was honored to deliver my second State of the County address as Suffolk County Executive. If you missed it, you can view it here.

I talked about the progress we have made over the first year of our Administration as well as the significant challenges still facing Suffolk County. This year, I declared that the State of...read more ››

Feb
15
2013

Suffolk County Legis. William Spencer, who represents the 18th District, introduced a resolution earlier this month requesting more than $7 million from a county fund for the planned upgrade of Northport Village’s sewage-treatment plant.

The Feb. 7 request for $7,536,000 from the county’s assessment stabilization reserve fund would, if granted, cover most of the roughly $9-million cost of upgrading the plant to reduce its nitrogen...read more ››

Feb
7
2013

County Legislator Announces Dates for the Remainder of the Series

Patchogue, LI—Wednesday, February 6: Two weeks after holding his first community forum in a packed meeting room at the Medford Firehouse, Legislator Rob Calarco announced a plan to host five more town-hall style meetings over the next five months.

Legislator Calarco was pleased with the Medford Community Forum “We had more than 70 people come down to the...read more ››

Jan
31
2013
Mr. Ray explains the new computer program the Pat-Med Robotics Team is using for the 2013 season. Pictured, left to right: Legislator Calarco, Mr. Ray, Ricky Wecera, Tim Oliveira, Justin Ferrari

Team Tackles 2013 FIRST Robotics Challenge Head On; Legislator Supports Efforts

Medford, LI—Thursday, January 31: Legislator Rob Calarco recently visited the Patchogue Medford FIRST Robotics Team 329 where the team was in the process of tackling, what one of their team advisors, Dean of Students Mr. Kevin Ray, called the most difficult challenge he has seen in his 13 years of supervising the club.

This year’s challenge is called...read more ››

Jan
31
2013

Suffolk police are expected Thursday to announce the closure of East End trailers that house homeless sex offenders, as part of a plan that will involve the "most intense monitoring" of convicted sex offenders in the nation, a county legislator said.

Chief of Department James Burke will appear before the legislature's Public Safety Committee to detail a comprehensive plan to more closely monitor all 1,000 sex offenders registered in...read more ››

Jan
29
2013

Suffolk County Legislator recently celebrated the grand opening of the Briarcliffe College Dental Hygiene Clinic in Patchogue. The clinic will offer dental hygiene services to Long Island residents while providing learning opportunities for Briarcliffe College students. The Briarcliffe College Dental Hygiene Clinic will officially open to the public in February 2013 for pre-screening and radiology appointments and on March 11, 2013, will open...read more ››