News

BELLONE, CALARCO AND ANKER ANNOUNCE SUFFOLK COUNTY’S PARTICIPATION IN AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

Sep
19
2013

     Today, County Executive Bellone was joined by Legislator Rob Calarco, Legislator Sarah Anker, Mayor Paul Pontieri, and representatives from AARP and the Suffolk County Office for the Aging to announce Suffolk County’s participation in AARP’s network of Age-Friendly Communities.
     To ensure Suffolk County’s full participation in the program, Bellone will convene Blue Ribbon Commission comprised of a representative from the Suffolk County Senior Advisory Council, senior community leaders representing each town and representatives from appropriate Suffolk County departments to review AARP’s criteria for Age-Friendly Communities as well as make recommendations for implementation within Suffolk County.
     “As we continue to promote economic development and an innovation economy it only makes sense for Suffolk County to support AARP’s Age Friendly...| read more ››

Schneiderman Clears Turtle Hurdles on Turnpike

Sep
18
2013

Mark Sypher and his team were in the middle of a construction job when he got a call from Suffolk County telling him to stop what he was doing and head to Bridgehampton.

Under contract with the county, Sypher Construction & Paving works on whatever job the county considers most pressing. On Tuesday, it was installing ramps for turtles along the newly constructed sidewalks on the Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor turnpike.

County Legislator Jay Schneiderman is hopeful that the asphalt inclines, which stretch from the top of the curb about halfway into the bike lanes, will provide a solution for the turtles — and the environmental groups advocating for them — following months of debate surrounding the sidewalks.

Addressing residents’ concern for...| read more ››

SALT FOR SERVICES: PATCHOGUE VILLAGE TO MAINTAIN SUFFOLK COUNTY ASSETS IN EXCHANGE FOR CRITICAL REPARATIVE MATERIAL

Sep
17
2013

     County Executive Steve Bellone joined with Legislator Rob Calarco and Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri today to announce the initiation of a unique shared services agreement between the County and the Village. The covenant, dubbed “Salt for Services,” calls for the Village to take on all general maintenance of the following County assets: County Road 19, (Waverly Avenue) from Roe Boulevard to Main Street, the 6th District Court property (located at 150 West Main Street) and the 5th Police Precinct property (located at 125 Waverly Avenue). In exchange, the County will provide the Village with free road salt, loan street sweepers on an as-needed basis and provide technical assistance.
     Efficiency was the chief goal of this agreement. Legislator Calarco...| read more ››

NEW EAST PATCHOGUE CIVIC GROUP TAKES OFF

Sep
17
2013

     Legislator Rob Calarco attended the second meeting of the newly organized Miramar Beach Civic and Neighborhood Association. The meeting, held in the basement of St. Joseph the Worker Church, drew more than 50 residents of the East Patchogue enclave, which consists of North to South roadways South Dunton Avenue, Clinton Avenue, Miramar Avenue, Bayview Avenue and the East to West streets which run between them.
     The primary focus of the meeting was improving the Town of Brookhaven-maintained park at the end of Bayview Avenue: Miramar Beach Bay Breeze Park. Local resident Jacquelyn Schwicke, who organized the group, led the discussion which centered on drug activity and loitering which is occurring in the late evening hours at the park. Legislator...| read more ››

Babylon Dems: Vote Judge John Kelly for Family Court

Sep
17
2013

The Town of Babylon Democratic Committee has announced their support for Judge John Kelly for Suffolk County Family Court. Judge Kelly has been a Suffolk County Family Court Judge since January 2004.

“For nearly ten years, Judge Kelly has provided an honest and impartial approach to the Suffolk County court system,” said Committee Chairman Robert Stricoff. “Judge Kelly's impressive resume of over 25 years of judicial experience is proof of his dedication to seeing that every case that comes in front of him is treated fairly under the law. I am proud to support John Kelly for Suffolk County Family Court Judge.”

Kelly, a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook and New York Law School, began practicing law in 1986...| read more ››

Legislator Spencer Secures Over $4 Million in Grants for Northport Sewer Treatment Plant Upgrades

Legislator Spencer Announces Grants Received to Northport Sewage Plant Upgrades
Sep
16
2013

Huntington, NY ‐

Over the past several years, the town of Huntington has worked tirelessly to find solutions to the water quality problems that plague our Harbors. Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer stood with County Executive Steve Bellone and many of the other individuals who have fought for our harbors to proudly announce the unanimous approval of Northport Village’s application for Sewer Infrastructure funding. This funding will help Northport upgrade its sewage treatment facility. This additional $3.184 million in grand funding, plus the $1.5 million grant previously secured from New York State, will give Northport a total of $4.7 million. This will substantially assist the Village of Northport with moving forward in these upgrades and the relating infrastructure....| read more ››

Schneiderman Proposes Larger Role for Suffolk County in Lyme Disease Prevention

Sep
16
2013

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman introduced legislation late last week to expand the county’s role in combating tick-borne illnesses. The legislation requires the division of Suffolk County Vector Control to submit a yearly plan to reduce the incidence of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Suffolk County controls the spread of insect-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis through the division of vector control. To date, the division has focused its attention on mosquito-borne illnesses, despite the fact it was specifically created to focus on both mosquito and tick-borne illnesses. The annual budget for the division of Vector Control is $2.5 million.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports 300,000 yearly cases of Lyme disease....| read more ››

William Lindsay worked for 'the little guy' say mourners at Sunday wake

Sep
16
2013

He had worked for years on construction sites as an electrician and later as a union official, but Sunday's wake for William J. Lindsay was held at his last work site, the squat brick Hauppauge building where for 12 years he presided over the Suffolk County Legislature.

"He had an uncanny, innate ability to cut through the nonsense of politics to what really mattered," County Executive Steve Bellone said of Lindsay, who died last week at 67.

A who's who of Suffolk County politics joined with private residents and inched along in the afternoon sun in a line that stretched at one point from a nearby parking lot to the auditorium doors. Mourners included Majority Leader DuWayne Gregory, former...| read more ››

Unshakable demeanor earned Bill Lindsay respect

Sep
15
2013

In an empty Holbrook catering hall after a 2009 political fundraiser, Suffolk's legislative Presiding Officer William Lindsay conducted late-night shuttle diplomacy in a final push to end a budget battle between County Executive Steve Levy and the powerful police union.

Going back and forth between union officials in Villa Lombardi's vacant banquet room and Levy in a nearby bridal suite, Lindsay, once a labor leader, forged a deal that resulted in $12 million in union concessions and averted 60 layoffs.

"If it was not for Bill Lindsay, that agreement would never have materialized," Police Benevolent Association president Noel DiGerolamo recalled last week. "Ninety percent of it was his demeanor. You felt like he was someone helping you to do what...| read more ››

The Lion of the Legislature

Sep
12
2013

It is with deep regret that I write to you today in the wake of the passing of Presiding Officer William J. Lindsay. I know that I am not alone in saying that we have lost a great friend.

Bill was an exemplary public official who lived his life with integrity and an extraordinary dedication to public service. His impact on the Suffolk County Legislature and on this Committee is truly historic and I know that he will be sorely missed. Bill will always be remembered as the Lion of the Legislature.

Earlier this year, the Long Island Federation of Labor put together a touching tribute to Bill and if you haven’t see it you can view it here...| read more ››