News

Legislature Discounts Green Fees for Veterans at County Golf Courses

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.

“The opportunity to give back to members of the armed forces is what this is all about," Schneiderman is quoted as saying in a statement from his office. "I encourage our Veterans to take advantage of the discount and benefit. It is the least any one of us could do to show our...| read more ››

Montauk Point lighthouse named a landmark

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 Secretary Ken Salazar.

It will be the 12th place in Nassau and Suffolk counties to receive the country's highest historic honor.

"Wow, this is terrific," said Suffolk Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk).

It took more than six years to obtain the designation. The fact that it was one of the...| read more ››

Drugs ending up in water supply in Suffolk

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 down the toilet. A quarter of the facilities use a reverse distributor service to collect the unused drugs and 12 percent participate in a take-back program sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, according to the report, released at a news conference in Hauppauge.

"Our morning coffee should have coffee, milk and sugar, not Valium, morphine and...| read more ››

Seal viewing at Westhampton park

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 weather, the walks will be held at 9:30 a.m. on March 3 and 4, at 9 a.m. on March 17, at 10 a.m. on March 18, and at 1:30 p.m. on March 24.

Five species of seal can be found on Long Island’s shores, but...| read more ››

The State of Our County

Bellone Logo
Feb
21
2013

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 our County is "rebuilding" in the wake of crises ranging from our budget to Superstorm Sandy.

As you know, I inherited a budget deficit that was estimated at more than $400 million over three years and rather than continuing the infighting that had ground our county to a halt, I rolled up my sleeves and worked with the...| read more ››

$7.5M sought for Northport sewage plant

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 output into Northport Harbor. The village is required to reduce nitrogen emissions from the plant by 2014 or face steep daily fines from the state.

Northport Harbor has been subject to increasing outbreaks of red tide, harmful algae blooms that make shellfish in the waters toxic. The algae blooms are fed by increased nitrogen levels,...| read more ››

Calarco to Hold Five Community Forums in Five Months

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 Medford Community Forum, and it was a very productive evening. Folks had questions that pertained to the County, which I was able to answer – but they also had concerns that we were able to refer directly to the representatives from the Town. From the outset my primary goal has been to...| read more ››

Calarco Sees Pat-Med Robotics Team on Ascent to Victory

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
Jan
31
2013
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 “Ultimate Ascent,” and tasks teams with building a robot... | read more ››

Suffolk police plan targets convicted sex offenders

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 the county.

While aides to County Executive Steve Bellone declined to release details of the plan, Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) said Bellone suggested to him that the homeless sex offenders would be relocated in a way that wouldn't burden any one community. The county houses about 40 homeless offenders in trailers...| read more ››

Legislator Calarco Celebrates Grand Opening of Free Dental Hygiene Clinic in Patchogue

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 its doors for all comprehensive dental hygiene services. It will be open for walk-ins or by appointment between 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The clinic will provide a variety of services, including dental and medical histories; vital signs; radiographs; oral cancer screening; periodontal (gum) treatments; fluoride applications; dental sealants; coronal polishing and other preventative services Anyone interested...| read more ››