News

Why Fix County Road 39 at the Height of the Summer?

Aug
31
2012

Shuffling summer traffic east.
In the latest efforts to reduce congestion on County Road 39, titled Phase 3, the stretch of road spanning two miles from the intersection at North Sea-Mecox Road in Southampton Village to the Flying Point/Hampton Road intersection in the hamlet of Water Mill is being widened to facilitate traffic eastbound.
Construction began on July 30 after the county received its federal aid to begin the assignment. The federal aid is covering about 80% of the project’s cost.
“Phase 3 is our latest feature and I think this will help a lot because traffic moves through there,” says Legislator Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, the Chairman of the County Public Works and Transportation Committee. “This will...| read more ››

New York State Public Employees Federation Endorses Joe Dujmic

NYS Public Employees Federation
Aug
31
2012

We are extremely proud to announce that we have received the endorsement of the New York State Public Employees Federation (NYS PEF).

The Public Employees Federation represents 55,000+ professional, scientific, and technical public employees in the state of New York. The union (known by its acronym, PEF) is one of the largest local white-collar unions in the United States and is New York's second-largest state-employee union. PEF also represents employees who work in private-sector jobs and local government agencies. The union publishes The Communicator, a newsletter with a distribution of more than 70,000, on a monthly basis.

As someone who has dedicated his life to serving the public, I have the utmost respect for PEF and all of its members...| read more ››

Joe Dujmic Unveils Comprehensive Four-Point Plan for a Greener and Healthier Long Island

Huntington, NY
Aug
29
2012

Huntington Station, NY - New York State Assembly candidate Joe Dujmic today unveiled a comprehensive Four-Point Plan for a Greener and Healthier Long Island that would protect the region's sole source aquifer by requiring proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals by health care facilities, and ban the three most harmful pesticides while promoting organic farming.

"Long Island is unique in that we derive all of our drinking water directly from the aquifer underneath us, and we owe it to this and future generations to protect this natural resource," said Dujmic. "As a member of the New York State Assembly, I will be a strong advocate for policies that will ensure a clean water supply and healthier environment for all."

The Four-Point...| read more ››

Suffolk calls reorganization critical to ME's office

Aug
28
2012

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office would split from the county health department under a new plan meant to give the office more control over its budget and staffing.

The plan would create a separate department with the power to submit its own budget to the county executive, who proposes Suffolk's annual budget. The county legislature approved the measure earlier this month, and it awaits state approval.

The move follows budget reductions that forced the health department to cut more than 100 jobs in June. The medical examiner's office, which investigates some 4,500 deaths and performs about 900 autopsies a year, was largely spared from those cuts, losing a single clerk's position, said Grace Kelly McGovern, a Health Department spokeswoman....| read more ››

Lawmakers to weigh Long Island’s water supply

Aug
27
2012

The future of Long Island’s water supply will be on the agenda of a public meeting held by legislators from both counties on Wednesday.

Nassau County Legis. Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck) and Suffolk County Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport) are scheduled to host a public hearing on aquifers on Long Island, and how they can be protected from overuse and intrusion from pollution and saltwater, among other topics.

The meeting is slated to take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rose Y. Caracappa Auditorium at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Hwy., in Hauppauge.| read more ››

Front-runners for Brookhaven supervisor

Aug
23
2012

Front-runners for Brookhaven supervisor
Town Dems for Beedenbender; Romaine announces for Republicans

By LINDA LEUZZI

Brookhaven’s Democratic Committee decided on Brian Beedenbender, Mark Lesko’s chief of staff, on Monday night to run for the Brookhaven supervisor position, while Legis. Ed Romaine made his own announcement as a Republican in the running for the job Monday
afternoon.

“I have a wonderful job and I love my legislative district, but there are two reasons I want to run. One is the challenge of putting the town on the right track and the second is my son,” Romaine told the Advance. Romaine’s son, Keith Romaine, 36, had just been reelected as Brookhaven Town councilman in November 2009 and was jubilant on...| read more ››

Brookhaven Democrats choose Beedenbender

Lesko’s chief of staff Brian Beedenbender is the Democratic Committee’s nomination for town supervisor.
Aug
23
2012

The Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee has named Brian Beedenbender as its nominee to replace Supervisor Mark Lesko, who last week announced his plan to resign after he presents his 2013 budget next month. Beedenbender currently serves as Lesko's chief of staff.

The town will hold a special election in November to fill the spot Lesko will be vacating. Deputy Supervisor Kathy Walsh (R-Centereach) will be the acting supervisor until the special election.

Lesko will become the first executive director of Accelerate Long Island, a collaborative economic growth initiative that involves the Long Island Association, Brookhaven Town and research institutions.

"In the time that I've worked with Mark, we've made our entire plan and agenda about moving forward," Beedenbender said in...| read more ››

Brian Beedenbender named to replace Mark Lesko

Photo credit: Kathy Kmonicek of Newsday | A file photo of Brian Beedenbender. (May 20, 2009)
Aug
21
2012

The Brookhaven Democratic Executive Committee Monday night recommended Brian Beedenbender as the party's candidate to replace Town Supervisor Mark Lesko, who is stepping down next month.

The executive committee made the unanimous vote at party headquarters in Setauket after meeting over the weekend with Suffolk Democratic chairman Richard Schaffer and all of the potential candidates.

"Everyone had an interest," said Marc Alessi, town Democratic chairman, who along with Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and town board member Connie Kepert were also potential contenders. "But everyone was inspired by Brian's passion to do the job."

Earlier in the day, County Legis. Edward Romaine, a front-runner for the GOP nomination, announced his candidacy for Brookhaven's top job.

"We cannot have town residents wait...| read more ››

Dems Nominate Beedenbender to Follow Lesko

Brian Beedenbender
Aug
20
2012

Hours after Republican County Legislator Ed Romaine announced that he is seeking his party's nomination to fill the Brookhaven Supervisor seat left open by Mark Lesko's resignation, Newsday reported that Democrats voted on a nominee of their own: Lesko's chief of staff and a former county legislator himself, Brian Beedenbender.

The unanimous vote reportedly took place at Brookhaven Democratic Committee headquarters in East Setauket, where Committee Chairman Mark Alessi said the party was impressed with the enthusiasm Beedenbender brings to the table.

"Everyone had an interest," Alessi told Newsday. "But everyone was inspired by Brian's passion to do the job."

Beedenbender, 32, has served as Lesko's chief of staff since the beginning of 2010. He previously served one term in...| read more ››