LRCO June Meeting

17 06, 20 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Please join us for our next civic general membership meeting via conference call. We will have updates from local elected officials and community leaders. There will also be information on local development projects and other community news.

Date: Thursday, June 25th Time: 7:00 PM Conference call number: 1-(701)802-5420 Access code: 2428358 followed by #

Note: please keep your phone on mute during the call to ensure no background noise and that we can hear the speakers. Please submit any questions ahead of the meeting to the civic via email (information@lakeronkonkomacivic.org) or via Facebook. Questions can be about the pandemic or any other civic/community issue. Questions can also be submitted during the meeting via email or Facebook. Thank you and feel free to share this info with others who may be interested in joining the meeting.

Civic Board Votes to Postpone Board Elections Due to Coronavirus

17 06, 20

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization Board has decided to postpone this year’s Board elections. Once the restrictions on social gatherings has been lifted and regular Civic general membership meetings can continue, the Board will hold elections following the process contained in the Civic’s Bylaws.

LRCO May Meeting

24 05, 20 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Please join us for our next civic general membership meeting via conference call. We will have updates from local elected officials and community leaders related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date: Thursday, May 28th Time: 7:00 PM Conference call number: 1-(701)802-5420 Access code: 2428358 followed by #

Note: please keep your phone on mute during the call to ensure no background noise and that we can hear the speakers. Please submit any questions ahead of the meeting to the civic via email (information@lakeronkonkomacivic.org) or via Facebook. Questions can be about the pandemic or other civic/community issue. Questions can also be submitted during the meeting via email or Facebook. Thank you and feel free to share this info with others who may be interested in joining the meeting.

Memorial Day Suggestions

24 05, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

Please see suggestions below for ways to observe Memorial Day this year.

Suffolk County Parks Update

24 05, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

Overall Park Status

Please see information below regarding the current status of Suffolk County Parks during this phase of the pandemic:

Suffolk County Parks are open for visitors

Park areas that do not provide social distancing opportunities are closed. (Example: Park Offices, Restrooms, Campgrounds, Playgrounds and Dog Parks).

SCParks@suffolkcountyny.gov with the required documents (Picture of Driver’s license, green key and vehicle registration). It takes about 5-7 days to receive request after customer makes the payment. Requests are mailed via US Postal Office.

Park Offices are closed to the public. Green Key and Permits can be requested by emailing

Suffolk County Golf Courses Update:

Bergen Point is OPEN beginning Saturday April 25th
Indian Island is OPEN beginning Monday, April 27th.
Timber Point is OPEN beginning Wednesday, April 29th.
West Sayville is OPEN beginning Monday, April 27th.

Campground Status:

May 31 Due to COVID-19. (Date is subject to change)
Campgrounds are closed until
with begin date between April 1 – May 31 will be cancelled
All Camping Reservations

- scparks@suffolkcountyny.gov to request refund to credit card
  Full refunds will be issued to household account unless otherwise requested by the camper. They can email
- All campers impacted will be emailed.

Campground Dump Stations are closed.
Southaven remains open for hardship (transient campers) and essential workers (i.e. traveling nurses). These reservations are approved through West Sayville.

New camping reservations for the 2020 season are suspended. If you've made a reservation for the 2020 season beginning June 1, and we determine your campground is safe to open, your reservation will be honored.

Marina Status

OPEN.
Marinas are
th
Marina Season shifted due to COVID-19 to April 25 – November 28

While parks and marinas are open certain facilities and areas within a park that do not allow visitors to maintain social distancing, may be closed. Because of this, all public restrooms, showers and the gas dock are closed until further notice. In addition, please no picnicking or use of park BBQ’s.

Boat Ramps are OPEN
SCParks@suffolkcountyny.gov with any questions or concerns.
Due to the high call volume and limited staffing please email us at

Donations Needed

24 05, 20 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

To assist those less fortunate during these troubling times, the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization is requesting donations of non-perishable food, baby formula and diapers. We will be accepting these items on Tuesday May 26th from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Hiawatha Elementary School on Patchogue-Holbrook Road. Look for our table with the green LRCO banner. We will distribute the items collected to those in need in the community. Please share this message with others who may be able to assist.

Thank you!

Phase 1 Business Reopening Guidance

17 05, 20

Please see information below from NYS Governor Cuomo's office regarding the reopening of businesses. Feel free to share.

Phase 1 business guidance is now available at https://forward.ny.gov/industries-reopening-phase On the website you will find a summar y of guidelines, a link for businesses to read and affirm detailed guidelines, and a printable business safety plan template. Please note that these guidelines are applicable once a region is permitted to begin reopening based on the regional COVID19 metrics.

The regional monitoring dashboard can be found here: https://forward.ny.gov/regional-monitoring-dashboard.

Businesses that are currently operating as per the ESD essential business guidance (https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026) still need to read and affirm the guidance and utilize the safety plan template.

A helpful FAQ about reopening can be found here: https://esd.ny.gov/nyforward-faq .

25 03, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

Some thoughts from the executive board of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization during these challenging times:

Please check in with your elderly neighbors and friends, or those who may be more vulnerable to the virus. Offer to buy groceries or pick up prescriptions from their pharmacy. [And maybe even share a few rolls of toilet paper that you may have stocked up on…]

Please support local businesses however possible. Order takeout from your favorite restaurant perhaps. Many of these businesses have laid off most of their staff and are getting by on a skeleton crew.

If you do order food or other items for delivery, make sure to add a couple of extra bucks to your usual tip. Not all service, health care and retail workers have the privilege of working from home or calling in sick. They're working because they can't afford not to.

During this time of “social distancing”, take the time to pick up the phone and call a friend that you haven’t spoken to in some time. Or email friends and family to check in. Or call or write a note to an elderly relative who may be shut-in.

https://www.charitynavigator.org/

Donate money if you can. Plenty of local organizations and charities, as well as those that serve globally, are looking for monetary support. Charity Navigator has compiled a list of trustworthy charities to donate to, and food banks, shelters and other charities in our area certainly need support.

Take a walk! The weather is warming up, it’s a great time to take your spouse, kids and/or your dog for a stroll around the neighborhood.

Lastly, we’re grateful to all of the civil servants who are still working: the mail is still being delivered, our garbage and recycling is still being picked up. UPS and Fedex drivers are making sure our packages are being delivered while we shop online.

And we’re especially grateful to all of the local emergency responders (police, fire and ambulance personnel) as well as to all of the doctors and nurses who are on the front line, taking care of those who may be ill.

Let’s all be good neighbors and help our community!

Thank you and be well! Drink lots of water, rest and wash your hands!

COVID-19 Testing

25 03, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

We're sharing this information for those of you who may want to pursue testing:

Suffolk County’s first drive thru, free testing site for coronavirus is now open at Stony Brook University in the South Commuter Lot (P Lot). This is off of Stony Brook Road.

The mobile testing site features six lanes to accommodate up to 1,000 tests per day and will be open 7 days a week from 7am - 7pm.

If you wish to be tested, call the State of New York Coronavirus Hotline 24/7 at 1-888-364-3065 to make an appointment. If you can't make it to Stony Brook, call your doctor for additional testing options and availability.

Some community information regarding COVI-19

25 03, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

Town of Brookhaven updates are here (closings/cancellations etc.)
https://www.brookhavenny.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2158

Suffolk County Updates 3/20/2020

SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE BELLONE ANNOUNCES NEW ACTIONS TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY COVID-19
For more information, please click here.

Important Links:
CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19)
S.C. Covid-19 Update Page
NYS Coronavirus Information

Governor Cuomo Update-March 20, 2020

Some of this information may be helpful to you. Please share if you believe others will find it useful. Thank you.

Governor Cuomo will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of workforce must stay home, excluding essential services. This order excludes pharmacies, grocery stores, and others. Effective Sunday, March 22, 2020 by 8:00 pm

Effective March 21, 2020 8:00 pm - until further notice, all barber shops, beauty salons, tattoo or piercing parlors and related personal care services will be closed to members of the public. This shall also include nail technicians, cosmetologists and estheticians; and the provision of electrolysis, and the provision of electrolysis, laser hair removal services, as these services cannot be provided while maintaining social distance

#COVID19 pandemic.
New York will implement a 90-day moratorium on evictions for residential and commercial tenants. We will do all we can to help those financially suffering because of the

For assistance in finding child care please contact the Child Care Council of Suffolk hotline # 646-926-3784. We are prioritizing child care for essential workers, including health care workers, first responders, grocery and pharmacy employees and others who are critical to keep our essential supports operational.

Grocery Retailer Senior Shopping Hours updates-March 20, 2020
Dollar General 8-9 am-Daily
Stew Leonard 7:30-8:00 am-Daily
Stop and Shop 6:30-7:30 am-Daily
Uncle Giuseppe’s 7-8:00 am-Daily
Giunta Meat Farm 6:30-7:30 M/W/F
Target 8-9 am Wednesdays
Walmart 6-7 am Wednesdays

Suffolk County Business Recovery Unit is Open -March 19, 2020-
The Suffolk County Business Recovery Unit -- a key component of the County’s overall plan -- is now operational within our Labor Department.

12 Labor Department employees dedicated to this unit and not only will they address questions and needs, but they will be able to track the data and information provided by our local businesses.

To be connected to the unit, our local businesses can Dial 311 and once prompted press 2 to be transferred to the unit, email Business.Recovery@suffolkcountyny.gov or they can visit
www.suffolkcountyny.gov/bru.

We also want to encourage our residents to fill out the Business Recovery Survey located on the top right of the Suffolk County Government homepage. While it can be accessed on a mobile device, we recommend the use of a desktop or laptop.

Governor Cuomo Update-March 19, 2020

The Governor also announced the Department of Financial Services has issued a new directive to New York State mortgage servicers to provide 90-day mortgage relief to mortgage borrowers impacted by the novel coronavirus. The directive includes:

Waiving mortgage payments based on financial hardship;
No negative reporting to credit bureaus;
Grace period for loan modification;
No late payment fees or online payment fees; and
Postponing or suspending foreclosures.

Additionally, the Governor has asked the Department of Financial Services to instruct state chartered banks to waive ATM fees, late fees, overdraft fees and fees for credits cards to help lessen the financial hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic on New Yorkers.

Suffolk County Parks Update-March 19, 2020
While all of our County Parks remain open for our residents to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air, today we will be closing all dog parks and playgrounds in the interest of public health.

Residents can still visit our parks to get outdoors with their family or for walks with their dogs. Additionally, as of tomorrow all County golf courses will open EXCEPT Timber Point.

The Park’s Department will continue to post updates on the County website to keep our residents informed.

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IMPLEMENTS A FILING SYSTEM AND EXTENDS HOURS TO ADDRESS THE INFLUX OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AND MAKE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT FOR CLAIMANTS-March 18, 2020

To file a claim log on to: https://applications.labor.ny.gov/IndividualReg/

NYSDOL is implementing a new more efficient filing system based on the first letter of the applicants last name (alphabetical order). Here is the step-by-step process for filing;

A - F : Monday
G – N : Tuesday
O – Z : Wednesday
Missed your day : Thursday and Friday

Filing later in the week will not delay payments or affect the date of an individual’s claim, since all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.

Stony Brook University Drive Through Testing Site
NYS Coronavirus Hotline
The New York State Department of Health is allowing people to make appointments at their Suffolk County mobile testing site now. Suffolk County residents who want to make an appointment for the test can call the NYS Coronavirus Hotline 1-888-364-3065 and they will be triaged by a nurse or a healthcare professional.

Suffolk County Department of Social Service
Riverhead Center
893 E. Main Street Riverhead, New York 11901-2542
Telephone: (631) 852-3500
Fax: (631)852-3505

Coram Center
80 Middle Country Road Coram, New York 11727
Telephone: (631) 854-2300
Fax (631) 854-2123

Smithtown Center
200 Wireless Boulevard Hauppauge, New York 11788
Telephone: (631) 853-8714
Fax: (631) 853-8842
South West Center

2 South 2nd Street Deer Park, New York 11729
Telephone: (631) 854-6600
Fax: (631) 854-6672

All efforts to reduce public contact are being made while meeting the needs of the County’s most vulnerable residents.

Applications
Applications for assistance programs can be submitted by mail (instead of coming to a center). Please visit the SCDSS website for information or to download applications at: https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Social-Services/Client-Benefits-Administration

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications and case recertification can be submitted electronically @ mybenefits.ny.gov or by mail (instead of coming to a center).

Additionally, SNAP benefits can be used for online grocery purchases. Current participating retailers include: Amazon, Walmart and ShopRite. Amazon is available statewide; Walmart and ShopRite participate in specific zip codes. Walmart, depending on specific locations, offers delivery, pick-up or both. Clients can enter zip code on the Walmart or ShopRite websites to find availability.

Establishments that are not abiding by the closure order
The County Executive announced today, March 17, 2020, that if someone sees an establishment not abiding by the Governor’s closure order for bars and restaurants, please call 631-852-COPS or 311.

SMART 911
We are encouraging residents to sign up for SMART911, which allows individuals and families to provide critical medical information to 9-1-1 and first responders.

The information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables us to know who is at the greatest risk in our community. We can provide individuals with critical updates based on their location and health history.

Ultimately, Smart911 gives our community the chance to be proactive, and lets us know who requires our services. Residents can visit Smart911.com to sign up.

As part of this effort, residents can now sign up for SMS text message updates on their mobile devices to receive updates on the latest information, health guidance and other developments relating to the coronavirus. Residents should text COVIDSUFFOLK to 67283 to enroll.

Closure of Suffolk County Department of Human Resources, Personnel and Civil Service

As of March 17, 2020- The Suffolk County Civil Service Building will be closed to the public for the next two weeks or until further notice.
All essential functions will continue. Almost all transactions and general inquires can be addressed online via access to the website or by phone. For those wishing to drop material off at the building we greatly encourage you to mail instead.

New Yorkers with Student, Medical, and Other State-Referred Debt Will Have Payments Frozen for At Least 30 Days
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Attorney General Letitia James-Debt Relief Announcement March 17, 2020 Effective immediately — the state will temporarily halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection, for at least a 30-day period, in response to growing financial impairments resulting from the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs as well as SWEP are closed to the public. Information is available by phone and email.

631 853-4600  Consumer.affairs@suffolkcountyny.gov
631-853-6600  SC.DOL@Suffolkcountyny.gov
631-853-3820  Suffolk Works Employment Program (SWEP) Help Line

NYSED-Effective March 18, 2020:
Early Intervention and 4410 Preschool Special Education Services, including SEIT, Evaluations, Related Services and Transportation are suspended. This will remain in effect thru April 1, 2020.

COVID Testing Procedures:
Reach out to Primary Care Physician (PCP) or call your local Urgent Care Facility to assess your conditions/symptoms. Currently, it is also flu and allergy season as well as many are experiencing signs of the common cold and cough. Your Primary Care Physician or Urgent Care Facility should be able to triage your symptoms to eliminate other possibilities before being tested for COVID 19.

Food Pantry and Feeding Programs
Long Island Cares (LIC) Michael Haynes

LIC will perform Grab and Go breakfast to children and adults in need (Gus Truck) ;

Saturday, March 21: Wyandanch Community Resource Center, 1585 Straight Path (from 9:30 to approximately 10:30 a.m.)
Saturday, March 21: Mercy Inn, 17 S. 20th Street, Wyandanch (from approximately 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.)
Sunday, March 22: HELP Suffolk, 685 Brookhaven Avenue, Bellport

Sunday, March 29: Mastic Fire Department, 1080 Mastic Road, Mastic

LIC will provide emergency bags of food to seniors and individuals in need (Support our Seniors Program) Consists of: 9 meals per person, 3 meals per day, for 3 days based on Feeding America guidelines

3/18/20 - Moriches Bay Recreation Center-12:00-1:00pm- 313 Frowein Rd. Center Moriches, NY 11934
3/18/20 – Hampton Bays 10-11:00am -31 E Montauk Highway Hampton Bays, NY 11946
3/18/20- Avery Village – 2:30 pm -3:30 pm -1100 Village Drive East Patchogue, NY 11772
3/20/20 - Mitchel Houses 1pm-2pm -1485 Front Street, East Meadow, 11554
3/20/20 –- Sienna Village10:00 am – 11:00am – 2000 Bishops Rd , Smithtown, NY 11787-
3/23/20 - Plainview Housing- 10:00 am -11:00 am - 115 Central Park Rd, Plainview, NY 11803
3/27/20 – Village of Brentwood 10:00am-11:00am- 95 2nd Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717

LIC will provide emergency food to individuals in need (Mobile Outreach Resource Enterprise) Mobile Outreach Resource Enterprise (M.O.R.E.): Provides emergency food to individuals- They will be provided 3 meals per day for 3 days.

3/20/20 - Rogers Memorial Library - 11am-12pm - 91 Coopers Farm Rd, Southampton, NY 11968
3/20/20 – Westbury FQHC Family Health Center – 10:30am - 11:30am 682 Union Ave, Westbury, NY 11590
3/25/20 - Middle Country Public Library – 11am-12pm - 101 Eastwood Blvd, Centereach, NY 11720
3/25/20 - Comsewogue Public Library - 12:30m-1:30pm - 170 Terryville Rd, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

LIC operates satellite locations including its own emergency food pantries at several community locations. Satellite centers will serve 6 families at a time. People in need are encouraged to call the LIC location closest to them to make an appointment to alleviate time constraints. Food boxes will be delivered to vehicles. Hours and locations are as follows:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Tuesday-Thursday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Our staff will also be available to assist people at other times including, weekends by appointment only by calling
(631) 582-3663 Ext 109.

Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank
10 Davids Drive – Harry Chapin Way, Hauppauge
(631) 582-FOOD for appointment

Nassau Center for Collaborative Assistance
21 East Sunrise Highway, Freeport
(516) 442-5221 for appointment

South Shore Service Center
163-1 North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst
(631) 991-8106 for appointment

Harry Chapin Food Bank and Humanitarian Center
220 Broadway, Huntington Station
(631) 824-6384 for appointment

Baxter’s Pet Pantry & Retail Food Rescue Center
161 North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst
(631) 991-8106 for appointment

Hunger Assistance & Humanitarian Center of the Hamptons
286 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays
(631) 613-3344 for appointment

Suffolk County Department of Health Services as of March 16th

I tested positive for COVID-2019 What do I do now?

If you test positive for COVID-2019, you should isolate yourself from other household and/or family members (those who live with you). In addition, your household and/or family members should also remain at home under quarantine.

Quarantine or isolation means you must stay separate from others in the community to prevent the possible spread of COVID-2019.

·        You must stay at your residence all the time, during the period you are self-quarantined. You should avoid having company at your residence

·        You will need to take your temperature with a thermometer twice a day: in the morning and later in the day, and record your temperature on a sheet of paper or electronically.

·        You can live with other family members in your home, but you must sleep in a separate bedroom and use a separate bathroom until the quarantine or isolation period is over.

·        During this period, you should avoid close contact for social or dining activities. Food should be delivered to your individual quarters.

·        You may walk outside your house on your own property, but should not come within six feet of neighbors or other members of the public. You should refrain from walking in your neighborhood.

·        Symptoms of novel coronavirus include: fever, cough, shortness of breath. If you develop any of these symptoms, you should put on a face mask immediately to prevent other people in your household from becoming sick.

·        If you have a true emergency, call 911, and let the person that answers know that you are under quarantine or isolation for novel coronavirus.

·        If you feel you need to be relocated to another jurisdiction (city, town, or state), you must first speak to the SCDHS Public Health Staff at 631-854-0333 who will handle your request.

·        If you have any questions or if you need assistance with daily living (e.g. food, laundry, etc.), please call 311.

·        If you have concerns about your employment status, SCDHS can provide you with a letter asking your employer to excuse you from work.

·        You will be advised by the SCDHS in consultation with the New York State Department of Health when your quarantine or isolation period will end.

March Civic Meeting: Cancelled

11 03, 20 Filed in: Events

Out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling our March general membership meeting. This is consistent with the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus by limiting things like gatherings of people. The disease risk is greatest for those age 50 and older and those with pre-existing conditions or risk factors.

Thank you.

The March meeting of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization will be held on Thursday March 12th at 7:00 PM
at the Ronkonkoma Hub - Station Square
1000 Mill Rd, Ronkonkoma

There will be updates on the Phase 1 & 2 Hub construction and a tour of the completed buildings.

Directions
From Union Avenue, turn south on Mill Road, and look for the Alston Leasing Office sign on the left.

Meetings are open to all residents of Lake Ronkonkoma, Farmingville and Holbrook.
Follow us on Twitter: @LRCO2003
and Facebook: @lakeronkonkomacivic

Screen Shot 2020-03-03 at 9.23.20 AM

Animal Shelter Celebrates “St. Pet-rick’s Day” with “Irish I Had A Home” $65 Dog and Cat Adoptions

10 03, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with its “Irish I Had A Home” promotion, offering $65 adoptions on March 16 and 17. The normal adoption fees are $137 for a dog and $140 for a cat. Adoptions will also include free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, license, heartworm, flea and fecal tests. Pictured are two of the Animal Shelter’s adoptable pets, “Jocyln” (left) and “Helga” (right).

If you want to adopt a forever friend, visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.brookhavenny.gov/animalshelter or call 631-451-6950.

Thank you!

Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board Meetings

19 02, 20 Filed in: Events

LAKE RONKONKOMA ADVISORY BOARD

MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2020

Wednesday, March 18th

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: William H. Rogers Legislature Building (Bldg. No. 20), 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY

Information: if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to our office at 631-854-3735 or ali.nazir@suffolkcountyny.gov

February Civic Meeting

19 02, 20 Filed in: General Announcements

Thanks to everyone who attended February’s civic meeting.
For those of you who weren’t able to attend, you missed an informative meeting.
Hope to see you at our March meeting. Some highlights from the meeting:

1. The COPE officers from Suffolk County Police Department’s 4th and 6th precincts were in attendance and spoke about reckless youth biking. See flyer below. They also answered questions on a number of other local issues.
2. Membership drive: we plan on 2020 being a growth year for civic membership. Stay tuned for more info and expect to hear us speak to the benefits of a large membership base at upcoming meetings.
3. We discussed the Town of Brookhaven’s proposed re-design for the Five Corners intersection. See rendering below. Please come to the Community Meeting on February 24th, 6:00 PM, at Lake Grove Village Hall on Hawkins Avenue. Representatives from the town and the town’s consultants will present their proposal, answer questions and take feedback from the community.
4. The civic provided updates on a variety of land use projects and properties in the community. We discussed:
- The proposed 7/11 on the site of the former Shell gas station (corner of Hawkins & Portion) and how the civic worked to make sure it complied with the land use plan.
- The proposed 7/11 & gas station for the site of the former miniature golf business on Portion Road. The civic is opposed to this as it is not in compliance with the land use plan. Town elected officials seem to be in favor of this though and we will continue to push for appropriate compliant use of this parcel.
- The Agnew & Taylor building.
- The parcel on the southeast corner of Holbrook and Portion Roads.
- The Cenacle property
- Newton’s Garage site
- Ronkonkoma Hub current and future development.
5. For reference, here is a link to the adopted land use plan on the town’s website. This is our guiding document for development and re-development on Hawkins Avenue and Portion Road. It took many years to compile this plan – please take some time to review it.

https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/730/2009-Portion-Road-Corridor-Study-and-Land-Use-Plan-for-Lake-Ronkonkoma-and-Farmingville-PDF

Town of Brookhaven Holiday Recycling Days

24 12, 19 Filed in: General Announcements

This Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Wednesdays, our normal recycling days. The Town will collect recyclables on the Saturday after both holidays.

Plastic and metal recycling pickup will be Saturday, December 28.
Paper and cardboard recycling pickup will be Saturday, January 4.

Plastic and metal recycling includes plastics 1 and 2, aluminum and tin. Never include glass or plastic bags. Please do not put your recyclables in a plastic bag inside your recycling bin.

Paper recycling includes clean and dry cardboard and paper only. No soiled paper or cardboard. Please do not put your recyclables in a plastic bag inside your recycling bin.

Commerdinger County Park Info

04 12, 19 Filed in: General Announcements

If you weren’t in attendance at the November general meeting of the civic, you missed a fantastic presentation on the Commerdinger County Park. This jewel of a park is right in our backyard, on the border of Lake Ronkonkoma and Nesconset. Please click on the link below for more information on the park and the Commerdinger Preservation Society which is in partnership with Suffolk County in preserving these 100 acres of green space, of which there are few remaining in our area.

Paul Albert, the chairman of the Commerdinger Preservation Society, engaged us in the history of the historic house, built in 1810, and its various owners throughout the years and how they were intertwined in local history as well as U.S. history. There are many walking trails throughout the property where one can enjoy the peacefulness of the forest and the wetlands. Dogs are welcome as well.

However, the Preservation Society is challenged by the lack of attention by Suffolk County in keeping the historic house safe from vandals. It isn’t clear if this is due to a lack of funding or lack of interest; regardless, without intervention and protection, this historic house is at risk of being destroyed by either fire or neglect. Please contact your local county legislator to ask that they provide the needed services to ensure the historic house and park will be preserved for many years to come:

Legislator Leslie Kennedy: Leslie.Kennedy@suffolkcountyny.gov
Legislator Tom Muratore: Tom.Muratore@suffolkcountyny.gov
Legislator Tom Cilmi: Tom.Cilmi@suffolkcountyny.gov

http://commerdingerpreservation.com/

657e242d-6632-490c-a99e-dbb70b0eb0aa

No Civic Meeting in December and January

22 11, 19 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

There will be no General Membership Meeting in December and January.
Next meeting: February 13th, 2020. Enjoy the holidays!

Membership Drive!

29 10, 19 Filed in: General Announcements | Your Action Needed

If you are not a dues-paying member or have let your membership lapse, please join us!
You can be an active, involved member. Or just stay up-to-date & informed about the future planning of our community. Your choice, but please support us. We are an all-volunteer organization and operate on a shoestring budget. But we do need your dues to pay for operational expenses (printing, mailing, insurance, website, etc.)

Some of the work and achievements of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization as we mark our 16th anniversary in 2019:
- Had the county design Portion Road the way the community wanted.
- Worked with the town to redesign and beautify Michael Murphy Beach.
- Protect the lake as representatives on the Suffolk County Lake Advisory Board, working with state, county and town governments.
- Coordinated the purchase and beautification of Arrowhead Park at Church Street and Pond Road.
- Worked with Brookhaven Town and Tritec to properly develop the area around the railroad station.
- Created a Land Use Plan using community input for the area along Portion Road to revitalize our downtown, increase business, and make our town more attractive. Dunkin Donuts, Wendy’s, Ralph’s Ices, Bolla Market, Burger King and IHOP are examples where the civic’s input resulted in more attractive & functional establishments.
- Sponsor a Summer Concert Program at Raynor Park.
- Helped organize Neighborhood Watches.
- Regularly meet with developers to work on making their site plans fit the desires of the community.
- Sponsored a Junior Civic Club at Samoset Middle School.
- Host a monthly litter cleanup of Portion Road.
- Provide a forum for local government representatives to talk to our members.
- Appear at Town, Planning, and Zoning Board hearings to speak for the community.

If you appreciate the past and current work of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization, please become a member and join us!

You can join online using Paypal or print off a membership form to mail in right here from our website.

Election 2019: Meet the Candidates on October 10th

01 10, 19 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

The Executive Board has invited candidates for Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town positions to the General Membership meeting on Thursday, October 10th to meet with our members.
The Board does not endorse any particular candidate or political party, but we do encourage our members to come to the meeting and ask our guests about the issues that are important to them.

The meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the
Sachem Public Library
150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook

Monthly Litter Clean-up

03 09, 19 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Saturday, September 7th, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM: Monthly Portion Road Litter Clean Up
Meet at the southwest corner of Portion Road & Holbrook Road.
Please spend an hour or two helping us keep our "main street" clean.

Thank you!

Summer Concerts at Raynor Park - THANK YOU!

03 09, 19 Filed in: General Announcements

Special thank you's to: Civic President Dawn Hopkins and civic board members Mark Salzano, Eileen Torraca, Ken Kellaher, Peter Bonna, Bonnie Sulz, George Schramm and Gregg Freedner for organizing the events. Sachem student Ava Rush for singing the National Anthem. Decadia and Miles to Dayton for providing the great entertainment. Suffolk County Parks Department Suffolk County Parks Police for keeping us all safe And local sponsors - please support community businesses!

Bruno's Beverage

Fun Fitness
Gino's Pizza
Giunta's Meat Farms
Lakoma Deli
MB 111 Deli
Shennanigans
Sufffolk Nursery

Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Summer Concert Series at Raynor Park!

2019 LRCO Summer Concerts at Raynor Park

28 08, 19 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

Please join the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization this summer as we present our second annual Summer Concert Series at Raynor Park. See below for dates. Please share widely and help to make this FREE community event a success! Thank you!!!

Brookhaven Animal Shelter Dog Days of Summer

21 08, 19 Filed in: Events

In celebration of the “Dog Days of Summer,” the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will offer discounted adoptions throughout the month of August. The normal adoption fees of $137 for a dog and $140 for a cat will be reduced to $65 and include free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, license, heartworm test, flea and fecal.

Those who are interested in adopting a dog or cat should visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, please call 631-451-6950 or visit the Animal Shelter website.

Discounted Pet Adoptions in August at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter

Ronkonkoma Street Fair: Sunday, 9/1

21 08, 19 Filed in: Events

Sachem Budget Vote - May 21st

13 05, 19 Filed in: Events

If you missed the last civic meeting, you missed a comprehensive presentation by Superintendent Kenneth Graham and Deputy Superintendent John O'Keefe on the upcoming Sachem School budget proposal. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 21st.

Budget newsletter:
http://www.sachem.edu/NewsAssets/83197/1920_sachem_budget_newsletter_Eng.pdf

For additional information on the budget, please click on the links below:
http://www.sachem.edu/board_of_education/budget_information

Brookhaven Resident Parking Stickers for Town Facilities

08 05, 19 Filed in: General Announcements

The Town of Brookhaven Resident Parking Stickers are now available for purchase. Click here for more information:
https://www.brookhavenny.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1133
Price
The price of the sticker is $15.00 for the season. Daily and weekly fees available.
Discount
If purchased prior to Saturday, May 25th, the sticker cost is $10.00.
Seniors, Handicapped Residents and Veterans
The price for a senior citizen (60+), handicapped resident or veteran is $5.00. Handicapped residents must present their BLUE permanent placard, not the RED temporary placard. Learn more about parking permits for persons with disabilities
Disabled Veterans
Disabled veterans that are Brookhaven residents will receive a free sticker (must show United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued identification card stating “Service Connected” disability).

Click here for more info and to find out where you can obtain a sticker:
https://www.brookhavenny.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1133

Parking Sticker Information

Civic Annual Meeting: Thursday, May 2nd, 7:00 PM

28 04, 19 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

The election of officers to the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization Executive Board will take place at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 2nd, at 7:00 PM, at the Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook.

2019-2020 Executive Board Nominees
Vice-president: George Schramm (Term Ends 5/21)
Corresponding Secretary: Bonnie Sulz (Term Ends 5/21)
Membership Secretary: Mark Salzano (Term Ends 5/21)
Director #3: Peter Bonna (Term Ends 5/21)
Director #4: EileenTorraca (Term Ends 5/21)

Next Civic Meeting

20 04, 19 Filed in: Events

Our next meeting is on Thursday, May 2nd, 7:00 PM at the Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook

Our guest speaker will be Dr. Kenneth Graham, Superintendent of the Sachem School District. He will be discussing the upcoming school budget vote.

Meetings are open to all residents of Lake Ronkonkoma, Farmingville and Holbrook.
Follow us on Twitter: @LRCO2003
and Facebook: @lakeronkonkomacivic
blogEntryTopper

2019 Brookhaven Special Recycling Event Schedule

09 04, 19 Filed in: Events

Problem Streets & Roads - UPDATE

24 03, 19 Filed in: General Announcements

Thanks to everyone who "nominated" roads in our area that need major repairs and/or paving! We had many responses, and many streets that were submitted by multiple people so it is clear that specific roads were in bad shape. We compiled the list of roads and submitted them to the Town of Brookhaven. There was a total of 38 roads on the list, in Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Centereach and Farmingville.

We received feedback from town officials and have been informed that the following nine roadways from our list are scheduled for resurfacing during the 2019 paving season (which runs from April through November).

Rustic Road (from Smith Road to Middle Country Road)
Cenacle Road (from Portion Road to Smith Road)
Smith Road (from Rustic Road to Dead End)
Pleasant Avenue (from Curtis Street to Middle Country Road)
David Street (from Ackerly Lane to Mill Road)
Walter Street (from Ackerly Lane to Smith Avenue)
Brian Street (from Ackerly Lane to Smith Avenue)
Alan Street (Smith Avenue to Mill Road)
Donald Street (from Smith Avenue to Mill Road)

In addition to these roads, the town will also be paving other roadways in the area.

Although it is disappointing that more of our problem streets won't be addressed in 2019, we are pleased that some of the worst ones will be resurfaced.

Thanks again for the responses - we will try again next year!

Suffolk County DA Community Meeting

24 03, 19 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini is hosting a community meeting at Newfield High School located at 145 Marshall Drive in Selden on Thursday, March 28th from 7pm-9pm.

The DA will give a brief overview of his time thus far as DA, his initiatives and priorities, and will take questions and comments from the audience after he concludes his remarks.

Sini

Nicolls Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System

24 03, 19 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

You are invited to a public information meeting on the Nicolls Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System.

Bus Rapid Transit is an innovative public transportation solution offering many of the advantages of a light-rail system but at a fraction of the cost – both for the passenger and to the municipality. BRT Systems feature:

State-of-the-art, comfortable, Wi-Fi-equipped busses
Dedicated bus-only lanes, with priority traffic signaling for less stops due to automobile traffic
Level boarding using pre-paid fare cards and electronic passes
Modern, safe and comfortable stations with real-time transit, fare and location information.
Connection to transit hubs for multimodal transportation, e.g., other bus systems, railways, airports, etc.
BRT Systems have been implemented in over 190 cities across the world, allowing passengers to arrive to their destination faster– avoiding traffic and helping to reduce road congestion.

The transformation of Nicolls Road into a multimodal corridor will establish the first direct north/ south connection between three Long Island Railroad lines; linking Brookhaven National Lab to Stony Brook University and Suffolk County Community College; connecting our Patchogue and Ronkonkoma Hub downtowns to Long Island MacArthur Airport; and creating an extensive hiking/biking network. The next public information meeting for Nicolls Road BRT will be held at Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus on Tuesday, April 2nd from 6:30- 8:30 P.M.

Nicolsrdbrt

Recycling Info

06 03, 19 Filed in: General Announcements

As you know, our February general membership meeting featured a discussion on recycling changes in the Town of Brookhaven. Waste Management Commissioner Chris Andrade shared an informative presentation on why the town was forced to change how and what it recycles. We will continue to share information with our members on the town's recycling program.

As a follow up to the meeting, the Commissioner clarified that the following items ARE recyclable:
Paper / Fiber

Newspaper
Copy Paper
Magazines
Colored Inserts
Cardboard corrugated and non-corrugated INCLUDING cereal boxes.

Plastic / Metal
Tin Cans
Aluminum Cans
Steel Cans
Plastic # 1 (Soda bottles, water bottles)
Plastic # 2 (milk jugs, laundry detergent, bleach)
So if items are not on these lists, don't put them out on Wednesdays as they will contaminate the recycling stream. And a reminder, tomorrow, Wednesday is PAPER recycling day!

2019 Brookhaven Town Road Survey

24 02, 19 Filed in: Your Action Needed

As many of you know, the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization has advocated for our community’s streets & roads to be maintained and improved appropriately. We have spent a great deal of time exploring how the town determines which roads will be paved and how paving dollars are allocated by hamlet and by council district within the Town of Brookhaven.

In 2015, we asked the community for input on problem streets that needed some kind of paving work. We submitted that list to the town. Only a handful have been addressed since then. As such, we are asking you all to “nominate” local streets again; it is clear that some communities in Brookhaven are getting many more paving projects than our hamlets.

So, please let us know as quickly as possible of any streets that you feel are in need of paving work; please send pictures if possible. The civic will compile a list of problem roads and forward on to the town councilmen who represent our area. Please forward this information to the civic at its general e-mail address: information@lakeronkonkomacivic.org Thank you and please feel free to share this with neighbors.

New Displays at the LRHS Museum

21 02, 19 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board Meetings

13 01, 19 Filed in: Events

LAKE RONKONKOMA ADVISORY BOARD

MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2017

Wednesday, January 18th, 2017

Wednesday March 15th, 2017

Wednesday May 17th, 2017

Wednesday July 19th, 2017

Wednesday September 13th, 2017

Wednesday, November 15th, 2017

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Clerk’s Conference Room at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building (Bldg. No. 20), 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York.

Information: if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to our office at 631-854-3735 or ali.nazir@suffolkcountyny.gov

Cyber Safety and Security Seminar

12 01, 19 Filed in: Events

On Monday, February 4, 2019, the Suffolk County Police Department will present to the Middle Country Central School District their “Cyber Safety and Security Seminar”.

The presentation /lecture will assist both parents and students in identifying the risks involved with their online activities and will provide information about current laws and consequences offenders may face.

The program begins at 7:00 pm sharp in the auditorium of Newfield High School which is located at 145 Marshall Drive in Selden.

cyberbully

Out with the Old, In with the New at Sachem Public Library

11 01, 19 Filed in: Events

Sachem Public Library
150 Holbrook Road • Holbrook, NY 11741

Monday, January 14 7:00pm

Pollution from sewage is responsible for massive fish kills, turtle die-offs, toxic algae blooms, and closed beaches around Long Island. This presentation by Suffolk County and the Citizens Campaign for the Environment will educate you about the benefits of replacing cesspools and antiquated septic tanks with innovative alternatives that will help protect our waterways and drinking water. Find out if you are eligible to receive up to $11,000 in grant funds from the county to help offset the cost of a new unit.

All are welcome to attend this free event at the Sachem Public Library. Register here, or call 631-588-5024.

Lake Management Strategies Survey

18 12, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

Please see link to survey below. This survey will ask the user several questions regarding possible management strategies in Lake Ronkonkoma and the watershed of the lake. The survey is divided into sections 1) in-lake management interests, 2) in-lake management attitudes, 3) watershed management interests, and 4) watershed management attitudes.
As many of you may know, Monica Matt, SUNY Oneonta Lake Management M.S. student, is developing a long-term management plan for Lake Ronkonkoma. The survey results will be used to help determine the main topics, layout, and design of the lake management plan. Note, as you go through the survey, some of the questions switch between 5 being "for" something and 5 being "against" something. Read/answer questions carefully. Thank you.

https://goo.gl/forms/WHB9yywQmidp5mPj1

Town of Brookhaven Resident Services

18 12, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

451-TOWN (8696) is a state-of-the-art Constituent Response System utilizing one phone number -- 451-TOWN -- for residents to receive any and all town services and information. The Contact Center Representatives utilize state-of-the-art technology to help them manage the high volume of calls received on a daily basis. They answer general information calls as well as specific questions about services such as garbage collection and recycling, public safety, code enforcement, street lighting, highway maintenance, parks and Town events. 451-TOWN was designed to provide residents with a single phone number to access the complete spectrum of information and Town services. Since its inception in 2007, 451-TOWN has received over 1.3 million calls.

Do you need to contact the Town of Brookhaven? Do you need to report a pothole that needs to be filled or a burnt out street light? Do you have a question about your garbage pickup or how to properly dispose of something? Those and many other issues can be handled by the staff at Brookhaven's Contact Center: call 451-TOWN (8696).

Animal Shelter Home for the Holidays

02 12, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

www.brookhavenny.gov/animalshelter or call 631-451-6950.

Thank you!

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will celebrate the holiday season with its “Home for the Holidays” promotion, featuring free pet adoptions throughout the month of December. Each adoption includes free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, license, heartworm test, flea and fecal. The normal adoption fees are $137 for a dog and $125 for a cat. Pictured is “Cinderella,” one of the adoptable pets looking for a home this holiday season.

Those who are interested in adopting a pet this holiday season should visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit

Brookhaven Recycling Program Changes

27 11, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

FYI, there are significant changes being made to the Town of Brookhaven's recycling program. The primary changes are that glass will no longer be recycled and that the town is returning to alternating Wednesdays for paper vs. plastic/metal recycling. But see flyer below for details.

Please share this information with your friends and neighbors.

Thank you.

2018 Brookhaven Special Recycling Event Schedule

21 10, 18 Filed in: Events

Election 2018: Meet the Candidates on October 12th

25 09, 18 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

The Executive Board has invited candidates for State and Federal positions to the General Membership meeting on Friday, October 12th to meet with our members. The Board does not endorse any particular candidate or political party, but we do encourage our members to come to the meeting and ask our guests about the issues that are important to them.

The meeting begins at 6:30 PM at the
Sachem Public Library
150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook

Help Us Reach More People

26 07, 18 Filed in: General Announcements | Your Action Needed

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Together we can grow our organization to better serve the needs and interests of you and your neighbors.
We need your help to spread the word about the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization.
Let’s get more of our neighbors involved.

Recruit dues paying families to join the civic and enjoy a gift card to a local business as a thank you.
Recruit 2 dues paying families and get a $10 gift card.
Recruit 3 dues paying families and get a $15 gift card.
Recruit 4 dues paying families and get a $20 gift card.
Recruit 5 dues paying families and get a $25 gift card.

You can get a gift card more than once.
Simply have your recruits put your name on their application each time you get people to join.
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Memorial Plaque at Arrowhead Park

30 05, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

Many of you may know that Pat had been an active member of the Lake Ronkonkoma community. She served on the Executive Board of the civic organization since its inception, holding a variety of positions. She also chaired our Fall Festival for many years, organized many of our events and chaired our Scholarship Committee. She advocated for the Town of Brookhaven to purchase the parcel of land that has been transformed into Arrowhead Park. Pat was also active in the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society and Friends of Sachem Library. She was a cheerleader and supporter for Lake Ronkonkoma and we hope that this plaque helps to acknowledge her efforts to better our community.

Thank you.

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization has placed a plaque at Arrowhead Park (corner of Pond Road & Church Street) in memory of Pat Duffield who passed away in 2014.

May Meeting: Sachem Budget Presentation

14 05, 18 Filed in: Events

After that, Sachem Library Director Neely McCahey discussed the updated mission of the library, the many new program offerings and took questions on how the civic and the library can work together to advance our respective goals.

Please see below for a photo from the meeting.

Thank you!

If you weren't in attendance at the last civic meeting, you missed a lively discussion of the proposed Sachem School District budget. Superintendent Graham and Assistant Superintendent O'Keefe presented details about the budget and the impact on the tax levy. They took many questions from those in attendance.

Pet Adoption Fair

07 05, 18 Filed in: Events

SACHEM PUBLIC LIBRARY
SATURDAY MAY 19th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
RAIN OR SHINE

Come meet your new best friend at the library's 7th annual Pet Adoption Fair in Inside/Out, the library's garden extension. Representatives from over a dozen agencies will attend with adoptable cats, dogs and more. Bring the whole family and pick out a new addition!

Note: Please do not bring your own pets. Only adoptable animals from approved agencies are permitted in Inside/Out. In the event of inclement weather, the fair will be moved indoors.

NEW Lake Management Study Surveys

19 03, 18 Filed in: General Announcements | Your Action Needed

The Lake Ronkonkoma 2017-2018 Management Study wants to know your opinion.
There are new surveys available regarding Lake Ronkonkoma.
You can visit the Management Study website here: https://mattma17.wixsite.com/ronkonkomamanagement/surveys
Or go directly to the survey here: https://goo.gl/forms/9OeHVqMssYPOwTMC2

Proposed Amendments to Civic Bylaws

25 02, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

The Civic Board has proposed amendments to the Organization's Bylaws. In accordance with Article X, Section 2, The Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting of the ORGANIZATION, providing that the proposed text of the amendment has been previously submitted in writing and reviewed by the Bylaws Committee in accordance with Article VIII, Section 2, and the proposed text shall have been made available to the entire membership at least ten days before such meeting.

This posting of the proposed amendments below, which have been reviewed by the Board and Bylaws Committee, shall be considered the necessary notification ten days prior to the March 8th General Meeting.

Deletions to the Bylaws text are in red and struck through; additions are green and in bold.

Screen Shot 2018-02-25 at 10.46.47 AM

Suffolk County Announces Additional Free Flu Clinics

19 02, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken today announced that the Department of Health Services will be providing additional influenza clinics at no charge to residents in light of Governor Cuomo’s declaration of a public health emergency in New York. All residents six months of age and older who have not already obtained their flu shots are urged to do so as soon as possible.

“The health and wellness of our residents is of utmost importance,” said County Executive Bellone. “We thank Governor Cuomo for providing the funding to allow us to increase access to flu vaccines to help save lives.”

“We ask residents to obtain immunization against the flu to protect not only themselves but others who may be especially vulnerable to the flu, especially infants who are too young to be immunized, pregnant women, older residents and those with other health conditions that make them more vulnerable to flu,” said Dr. Tomarken.

Flu shots are available for residents who are age two and older at local pharmacies and for everyone age six months and older at pediatricians’ and healthcare providers’ offices.

For those who are unable to access flu immunization, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services will be providing flu immunizations to all residents six months and older at the following times and locations:

Thursday, February 22, 2018, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
H. Lee Dennison Building, plaza level
100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY
Entrance is to the left side of the building when facing the traffic court.

Saturday, February 24, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Riverhead Library
330 Court St., Riverhead, NY
Entrance is on Osborne Ave.

Residents with questions or who wish to preregister may call 631-787-2200 Tuesday through Friday, February 20 through February 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For Town of Brookhaven residents: Resident Parking Stickers for Town Facilities

05 02, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

The Town of Brookhaven Resident Parking Stickers are available for purchase. The price of the sticker is $15.00. If purchased prior to Saturday, May 26th, the sticker cost is $10.00. The price for a Senior Citizen (60+), Handicapped and Veteran Sticker is $5.00.

For more detailed information:

http://www.brookhavenny.gov/Forms?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=10269

FYI...

New Lake Management Study Website

29 01, 18 Filed in: General Announcements

The Lake Ronkonkoma 2017-2018 Management Study now has its own website. There you can find out more about this study, participate in surveys, and learn what YOU can do to help out your lake! https://mattma17.wixsite.com/ronkonkomamanagement

Amvets Post 48 Valentine's Day Party

29 01, 18 Filed in: Events

FYI, see below. The party will be held on Saturday February 17th at the Amvets Post, 660 Hawkins Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma. The phone number there is 631-588-1401.

Ronkonkoma Hub Groundbreaking

18 12, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

http://libn.com/2017/11/20/tritec-holds-groundbreaking-event-for-ronkonkoma-hub/

Representatives from the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization participated in the Ronkonkoma Hub groundbreaking event on November 20th.

Dawn Hopkins, the civic's president, addressed the attendees. Dawn relayed how the civic has worked for many years with members of the community, with the Town of Brookhaven and with Tritec to transform the blighted area around the train station. The goal has been to create a walkable community centered around the transportation options of the LIRR, the airport and the LIE, and also to provide much-needed living accommodations for the both the younger and more senior members of our community. The civic is also seeking to foster a strong link between the Hub, the existing downtown Lake Ronkonkoma business district on and around Hawkins Avenue as well as the Lake itself in order to maximize the economic benefit of this project.

Here is a link to an article about this event in the Long Island Business News:

Sachem School Board Meeting, November 15 2017

21 11, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

The Sachem School Board held a routine meeting this past Wednesday, November 15. Board meetings follow a standard agenda which includes a Superintendent’s discussion, a Presentation, Board actions, and public comment:

The Superintendent’s discussion covers current events in the district.
The Presentation varies at each meeting and covers various subjects of interest to the Board and the Community.
The Board actions mostly include contract approvals and personnel transactions.
The public comment section is an opportunity for community members to raise issues they want the Board and Administration to address.

The Presentation at this week’s meeting was about a major initiative to revise the current Code of Conduct. The current Code of Conduct was developed many years ago and is broadly viewed as out of date. The new Code of Conduct is almost complete, and will be presented to the Board shortly for approval.

The Administration advised that their work on the Code of Conduct is only the first step in the overall process. They also need to develop a strategy and tactics to roll out the Code of Conduct to students, the administration and parents. Then they need to create a strategy for dealing with students who don’t comply with the Code of Conduct.

The Board was quite vocal about the importance of making sure that the non-compliance strategy be fair, address students with different needs appropriately, keep all personnel safe, and support the overall Sachem goal of helping our students grow.

School Board meetings are often informative and the public is invited to attend. The current meeting schedule may be found at this link. Scroll down and look at “Upcoming Events” on the left side. The next meeting is on December 6 at 7:30 PM at Samoset Middle School, in the Board Room. We strongly encourage Sachem residents to attend these meetings. The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization often has a representative at the meetings to report back to membership on the business of the Sachem School District.

http://www.sachem.edu/boardofeducation/default.aspx

Meeting Schedule for 2018

30 10, 17 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

All meetings are at 7:30 PM, at the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum,
328 Hawkins Avenue.

Thursday, February 8th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, March 8th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, April 12th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 10th: Annual Civic Meeting
Thursday, June 14th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 13th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, October 11th: "Meet the Candidates"
Thursday, November 8th: General Membership Meeting

If you use Google Calendar, you can subscribe to the Google's LRCO Meeting Calendar by clicking on this link:

RONKOKOMO!

18 09, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

Ronkokomo featuring Comedian/Actor Christopher Brian Roach from Kevin Can Wait on CBS! A tribute to his hometown.

News from Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue

29 08, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

Please consider adopting one of these dogs or cats, or donating towards their care. Please share this with others.

Over two dozen dogs and cats came in to Save A Pet from Rebel Ranch Rescue in Texas after the owner of the Ranch, Amy Allen, was murdered on August 21st. All animals were tagged, vaccinated and enjoyed stretching their legs from the long journey. All except two will need to be spayed or neutered. Everyone will be heartworm tested, many need dentals and blood work. Please consider donating at: http://www.saveapetny.org
Their lives depend on all of us!

For information please call (631) 473-6333. We are open 7 days a week, Monday to Saturday 11-5 and Sunday 12-4. Save-A-Pet is located at 608 Route 112 Port Jefferson Station

Suffolk County launches program to thwart park dumping: RID (Report Illegal Dumping)

22 08, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

RID@suffolkcountyny.gov

Please share this with others, thank you!

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Suffolk launches program to thwart park dumping, vandalism
August 21, 2017 By Carl MacGowan carl.macgowan@newsday.com

A wave of illegal dumping incidents in Suffolk County parks in recent years prompted officials Monday to make it easier for visitors to report suspicious activity.

County lawmakers announced a new telephone hotline and email address that parkgoers can use to report dumping and other problems such as vandalism and graffiti they see in parks.

“What we want people to do is report it if they see it,” Legis. Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) said during a news conference at Lakeland County Park in Islandia. “It’s important that those of us who are here to enjoy our beautiful parks are also going to protect them.”

County officials plan to launch a social media and public awareness campaign to call attention to the program, dubbed Parks Watch, which is modeled after neighborhood watch programs in residential areas.

The campaign, also known as Report Illegal Dumping, or RID, will be highlighted in county parks by new signs bearing a pair of owl eyes that list the phone number, 631-854-1423, and email address, RID@suffolkcountyny.gov, for visitors to use.

Officials have been alarmed by a spate of dumping incidents in parks and open spaces in Melville, Manorville, Coram, Miller Place and elsewhere.

Islip Town’s Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood — which closed in April 2014 when 40,000 tons of contaminated construction debris was found there — reopened on July 31.

Besides illegal dumping, officials said parks are easy targets for vandalism, drug dealing, gang activity and graffiti.

Visitors should call 911 if they spot “serious criminal activity,” Legis. Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) said. Suffolk County police are installing security cameras to monitor parks for illegal activity, Anker said.

“You’re not going to see them. You’re not going to know where they are,” she said of the cameras. “It’s a shame we have to get to this, but we have to protect our parks.”

Suffolk has about 70,000 acres of county parkland, County Parks Commissioner Philip Bertolt said. About one-third of the county consists of state, county or municipal parks, he added.
Much of that land is in remote areas away from homes and businesses, making those places difficult to monitor, Bertolt said.

He added he hopes the Parks Watch signs alone might deter people from vandalism and illegal dumping in the parks.

“If people will know they are being watched, hopefully it will keep them away,” he said.

Visitors who call the hotline should provide useful information such as license plate numbers of involved vehicles, and the date and time of suspicious activity, Hahn said.

She said dumping and vandalism cost the county “millions of dollars” to repair and replace playground equipment and bathroom fixtures that suffer damage.

“We love our parks in Suffolk County,” Hahn said. “And we’re going to protect them.”

Please see article from Newsday below regarding a new county initiative to reduce illegal dumping in our parks.

There is a hotline to call: 631-854-1423
Or e-mail address:

Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center Offering Free Adoptions in June

11 06, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

www.brookhaven.org/animalshelter.

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will celebrate the start of summer with free adoptions through the month of June. The normal adoption fees of $137 for a dog and $125 for a cat will be waived and include free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, license, heartworm test, flea and fecal. Pictured is "Jaidyn," one of the Animal Shelter dogs available for adoption.

Those who are interested in adopting a dog or cat should visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, please call 631-451-6950 or visit

Ronkonkoma Hub Update

11 06, 17 Filed in: General Announcements | Ronkonkoma Hub

If you missed the last civic meeting on June 8th, you missed a comprehensive presentation by Rob Loscalzo of Tritec, the developer of the project. Rob provided some history of Tritec's involvement with the project and relayed some information on when construction of Phase I might start. He discussed the impact of the sewer line on the project, the number of housing units, Phase 2 (the retail/office section), parking, and much more. He also shared several renderings, a few of which are included below.

Local History Program at Sachem Library

11 06, 17 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

The Manor of St. George
Sachem Public Library • 150 Holbrook Road • Holbrook, NY 11741

Wednesday, June 14 6:30 pm

At one time Suffolk County boasted 13 manors, founded by influential individuals with money and connections to the British Royal Governors, yet the patriots from the towns who won the Revolutionary War wrote LI history as if the manors never existed. The Manors of Long Island, a series of documentary films produced by the Suffolk County Archaeological Association and directed/researched by Gaynell Stone, PhD, tells this untold story. The Manor of St. George uncovers the history of the manors owned by William "Tangier" Smith in Strong's Neck, Yaphank, and Mastic. Dr. Stone will introduce the film and answer questions.

All are welcome to attend this free event at the Sachem Public Library. Register here, or call 631-588-5024.

Kids 4 Vets Day - Sunday June 4

02 06, 17 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization is supporting the upcoming Kids 4 Vets Day. Please see flyer below for details and share this email with others.

Thank you!

Substance Abuse Education Workshop for Parents

30 05, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

Please see flyer below for information about this workshop. Please share with others who may be interested.

Town of Brookhaven Events, Programs & Other Information

30 05, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

http://www.brookhavenny.gov/Forms?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=10423

Seasonal Employee Online Application:
https://brookhaven.munisselfservice.com/employmentopportunities/default.aspx

Pre-Season Resident Parking Sticker Sale:
https://www.brookhavenny.gov/Forms?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=10269

Cedar Beach Marine Stewardship Center & Environmental Programs: see flyers below.

Holtsville Ecology Site & Animal Preserve programs:

Cedar-Beach-Marine-Stewardship-Center-2017

LRCO update: Sachem budget information

07 05, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

Residents in the Sachem School District will be receiving the notice below in the mail regarding the 2017-18 budget to be voted on on May 16th.

There is more information available on the school district's website as well as in a comprehensive budget newsletter:

http://www.sachem.edu/Assets/1718_Budget/050517_SachemBudgetNewsletter2017.pdf?t=636295997493570000

http://www.sachem.edu

For Town of Brookhaven residents - 2017 Special Recycling Event Schedule

07 05, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

Please see 2017 schedule below for special recycling days for electronics, pharmaceuticals and paper shredding in the Town of Brookhaven. The next event is tomorrow in Mt Sinai at the Rose Caracappa Center.

2017 Spring Street Sign Clean-Up

02 05, 17 Filed in: General Announcements | Your Action Needed

The civic is once again compiling a list of street name signs and traffic control signs that are missing, vandalized or in generally poor condition. Send your list of signs to the civic; we will verify and forward on to the appropriate town departments for review and possible replacement. Either bring your list to the next civic meeting, or mail the list to the civic at PO Box 2916, Lake Ronkonkoma, or e-mail the list to information@lakeronkonkomacivic.org. Deadline is May 31st.

Also a reminder that if you notice particular potholes that need filling, please call Brookhaven's Constituent Call Center: 451-TOWN (8696).

Civic Annual Meeting: Thursday, May 11th, 7:30 PM

27 04, 17 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Join us on May 11th for our Annual Meeting and a presentation and discussion on the results of our 2017 Community Survey.

The election of officers to the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization Executive Board will take place at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 11th, at 7:30 PM, at the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum, 328 Hawkins Avenue.

2017-2018 Executive Board Nominees
President: Dawn Hopkins (Term Ends 5/18)
Vice-president: Jeff Kagan (Term Ends 5/19)
Treasurer: Jeff Kagan (Term Ends 5/18)
Recording Secretary: Thalia Bouklas (Term Ends 5/18)
Corresponding Secretary: George Schramm (Term Ends 5/19)
Membership Secretary:Gregg Freedner (Term Ends 5/19)
Director #1: Brianna Fitzgerald (Term Ends 5/18)
Director #2: Peter Bonna (Term Ends 5/19)

The position of Director #3 (Term Ends 5/19) is vacant.

Suffolk County Police Department 4th Precinct Monthly Community Meeting: May 2nd

27 04, 17 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

Note: in general, in our area, if you live east of Patchogue-Holbrook Road, you are in the 6th Precinct; west of Patchogue-Holbrook Road is the 4th Precinct.

You are invited to the SCPD 4th Precinct monthly Community Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 2nd at 7PM at the Nesconset Public Library located at 148 Smithtown Blvd. Special guest is SCPD Homeland Security. All are welcome.

Earth Day at Arrowhead Park

27 04, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Saturday's Earth Day event at Arrowhead Park!

• All of the volunteers who dug holes, shoveled mulch & soil, planted trees & bushes and spruced up this community park.
• The local nurseries who donated the plantings: Mike from Bloomin' Haus Nursery in Holtsville, Richard & Scott from Longwood Farms in Middle Island and Donna from Bohemia Garden Center.
• The Town of Brookhaven which provided the mulch and soil.
• And especially Lesia Macko who organized the event!

Volunteers needed at Arrowhead Park - Saturday April 22nd

26 03, 17 Filed in: Events | General Announcements | Your Action Needed

Please help and ask others to assist as well for this Earth Day event!

Two local nurseries have donated several trees to the civic organization to be planted at Arrowhead Park. Brookhaven Town has donated soil and compost. Now we need volunteers to get the trees in the ground. Bring your own shovels & gloves, and wheelbarrows if possible.

LRCO Second Community Survey

11 03, 17 Filed in: Your Action Needed

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization is always looking for new ways to ensure it is meeting the needs of the community. We issued our first survey last summer. This second survey focuses on recreational activities.

Please follow the survey link below and share your thoughts so we may help make our community a place we want it to be. And please share this with other members of the community - the more voices we hear from, the more effective this survey will be.

https://goo.gl/forms/V1ERJu4672or7HGj2

Thank you!

Presentation at Sachem Library: The Revitalization of Lake Ronkonkoma

21 02, 17 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

The Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement Group will present a program on Saturday, March 18th, 2:00 PM, about the revitalization of the lake, featuring Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley and Brookhaven Town Councilman Kevin LaValle. The program will include slides of the history of Lake Ronkonkoma provided by the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society and will showcase the accomplishments of the Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement Group.

Update from Suffolk County Police Department Update from Suffolk County Police Department Update from Suffolk County Police Department

19 02, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

discussed the prevalence of massage parlors in our community; some have been involved in human trafficking and prostitution.

We recently heard from the commissioner's office regarding two arrests that took place after a raid at a massage parlor on Portion Road in Lake Ronkonkoma after numerous complaints from local residents were made to the SCPD. See details in press release below. They urged residents to continue to alert the SCPD of any illegal activity believed to be going on in our neighborhoods.

As you may recall, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini attended the November meeting of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization. During that meeting, we

Suffolk County Community Protection Act

19 02, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

The County Executive asked that local organizations share this link with their members:

https://www.change.org/p/new-york-state-protect-our-children-support-the-community-protection-act

Lake Ronkonkoma St. Patrick's Day Parade

17 02, 17 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 PM
Parade will begin at Patchogue Holbrook Road at Portion Road, West on Portion Road, South on Hawkins Avenue, West on Church Street, ending at Pond Road.
Visit http://saintregiskofc.com for details.

Public Hearing for Ronkonkoma Hub - February 7, 2017

01 02, 17 Filed in: General Announcements | Events | Your Action Needed

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, February 7th at 2:30PM in the Legislative Auditorium of the W.H. Rogers Building (located at 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, NY 11787) regarding the proposed expansion of the Southwest Sewer District (Suffolk County Sewer District No. 3) to support the Ronkonkoma Hub development.

The proposal was originally presented at a public hearing last year, but was not voted on by the Legislature due to concern it was not clearly expressed this would come at no cost to the taxpayer. These improvements will be paid for using Sewer District Serial Bonds and a grant from the Empire State Development Corporation, with contributions from the developer of the Ronkonkoma Hub. The expansion of the Southwest Sewer District will provide sewage treatment to previously un-sewered areas, creating a favorable ecological and economic impact to the County, and allowing for the construction of an asset within the District that has the ability to generate revenue and future cost savings to District rate payers.

This hearing is critical to the redevelopment of the Ronkonkoma Hub. The County Legislature is deciding on the appropriations for the pump station.

This issue has recently become "political" and if the appropriations are not approved, then the entire project is at risk. The project requires proper sewering to move forward.

It would be helpful if community members in favor of project attend the hearing and state their support of the project and relay how important it is to redevelop the blighted area around the train station.

Emma Bruno Passes Away at 102

31 01, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the passing of Mrs. Emma Bruno. Emma passed away on Saturday January 28th; she was 102 years old.

Many of you know Emma Bruno through her varied community and civic involvements. She had been a steadfast pillar of the Lake Ronkonkoma community for most of her life. Emma's generosity through philanthropy and volunteerism was known by many. She was honored by the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization in 2006 as our Citizen of the Year (see photo below).

Emma Bruno had been an active member of the Lake Ronkonkoma Homemakers Club, the Friends of Sachem Public Library Club, the Lake Ronkonkoma Senior Citizen Club, the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society and the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization. She was an avid gardener and was known to share her vast knowledge of Lake Ronkonkoma history with anyone who was interested. Mrs. Bruno’s husband, Louis, passed away in 1991.

Arrangements are as follows:

Wednesday February 1st: Joseph A. Weber Funeral Home, 231 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Thursday February 2nd: Funeral service to be held at Weber Funeral Home. Internment at St. Charles Cemetery, 2015 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale

Information Regarding Patchogue-Holbrook Road Bridge

22 01, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

As many of you know, the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization has been sharing as much information as possible about this frustrating bridge project. We arranged a community meeting with the New York State Department of Transportation in June and have provided any additional information on the project as received.

Just this week, we were provided with the flyer below (even though it was released in November.) It provides some additional information about the project especially with regard to the closure of the northbound lanes.

Please feel free to share via e-mail or Facebook with others in the community who may be interested.

PH-Road-Bridge-NYS-DOT-info-11-2016

Lake Ronkonkoma Intermunicipal Watershed Organization Meeting

12 01, 17 Filed in: Events

The next meeting of the Lake Ronkonkoma Intermunicipal Watershed Organization will be held next Wednesday, January 18th at 6:00PM, prior to the Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board meeting at 6:30PM. The meeting will be held in the Rose Y. Caracappa Auditorium in the W.H. Rogers Legislative Building, 725 Veterans Hwy, Smithtown, NY 11787.

Town of Brookhaven Coat Drive

10 01, 17 Filed in: General Announcements

Nicolls Road Bus Rapid Transit: Report on the Public Meeting December 13

28 12, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

Representatives from the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization attended this public meeting regarding the proposed Nicolls Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on December 13th. While funding is always an issue with Suffolk County projects, there is a lack of adequate north-south transit options. The BRT system would connect Stony Brook University and Patchogue with the Ronkonkoma Hub and the LIRR. The LIRR connection combined with a train station near the Brookhaven National Labs pulls together some key population centers. The proposed buses would be comfortable and make for a pleasant ride. And the proposed schedule calls for frequent departures.

Nicolls Road has a wide center median which would readily accommodate the additional lanes required for the buses. The attached exhibits show the alternatives current being considered.

Some might ask about a Smith Haven Mall connection. We believe that there would be normal bus service from the Ronkonkoma Hub to the Mall to accommodate this route.

Folks should send their comments to LIinnovationzone@suffolkcountyny.gov

Pet Adoption Fees Waived During "Home for the Holidays" Promotion at Brookhaven Animal Shelter December 15 through January 15

27 12, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will celebrate the holiday season with its "Home for the Holidays" promotion, featuring free dog and cat adoptions from December 15 through January 15. Each adoption includes free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, license, heartworm test, flea and fecal tests. Pictured is "Jalapeño," one of the adoptable pets looking for a home this holiday season.

Those who are interested in adopting a pet this holiday season should visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The shelter is closed on Wednesdays. For more information, please call 631-451-6950 or visit
http://www.brookhaven.org/animalshelter

DOG-PIC

Public Hearing for Ronkonkoma Hub - December 20, 2016

19 12, 16 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

This hearing is critical to the redevelopment of the Ronkonkoma Hub. The County Legislature is deciding on the appropriations for the pump station.

This issue has recently become "political" and if the appropriations are not approved, then the entire project is at risk. The project requires proper sewering to move forward.

It would be helpful if community members in favor of project attend the hearing and state their support of the project on December 20th and relay how important it is to redevelop the blighted area around the train station.

See notice below for Public Hearing number 2055; as noted, public hearings begin at 2:30. The general meeting is held at William H. Rogers County Center in Hauppauge.

Upcoming Events

04 12, 16 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

1. The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4th (tomorrow) at Raynor Beach County Park at 2:00 PM.

2. The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization will be holding a Farmers Market on Sunday December 11th, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Ronkonkoma Fire District Building (corner of Portion Road and Hawkins Avenue). Vendors will be offering a variety of foods and other goods. We expect to have additional Farmers Market events in 2017 - more info to follow.

3. Suffolk County will be holding a public information meeting on December 13, 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Suffolk Community College regarding the Nicolls Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System.

Bus Rapid Transit is an innovative public transportation solution offering many of the advantages of a light-rail system but at a fraction of the cost – both for the passenger and to the municipality.
The transformation of Nicolls Road into a multimodal corridor will establish the first direct north/south connection between three Long Island Railroad lines; linking Brookhaven National Lab to Stony Brook University and Suffolk County Community College; connecting our Patchogue and Ronkonkoma Hub downtowns to Long Island MacArthur Airport; and creating an extensive hiking/biking network. The first public information meeting for Nicolls Road BRT will be held at Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus on Tuesday, December 13th from 6:00- 9:00P.M.

4. The Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Hanukkah Menorah Lighting on December 26th, 7:00 PM at Raynor Beach County Park.

5. Their will be no regular meetings of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization in December or January. Stay tuned for information regarding topics/guest speakers at meetings starting in February.

Upcoming Farmers, Craft, Artistry Market

04 12, 16 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

Pasted Graphic
Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization
Farmers, Craft, Artistry Market

Sunday, December 11

8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Ronkonkoma Fire District Building
(Corner of Portion Road and Hawkins Avenue)

Vendors will be offering a variety of foods and other goods.

Ronkonkoma Hub Update

04 12, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

Several members of the community have recently asked us to provide an update on the Ronkonkoma Hub project since we previously shared that ground would be broken for Phase 1 in late 2016.

According to Rob Loscalzo from Tritec Real Estate:

In July, Tritec purchased the fence company site on Mill Road and in August, Tritec purchased the World Gym site.
In early October, Tritec finalized the Phase 1 Site Plans with the Town of Brookhaven, and so far have received approvals from the following departments: Planning, Engineering, Highway, and Traffic Safety. The plans were then submitted to the building department and Tritec expects to have a building permit before the end of the calendar year.
The Phase 1 Site Plans have received approvals from Suffolk County Department of Public Works (DPW) and Suffolk County Health Department.
In September, the Council of Environmental Quality unanimously approved the pumping of waste to the Bergen Point Plant and made a recommendation to the Suffolk County Legislature to approve the pump station. Earlier this month the pump station plan was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature Environmental Subcommittee to be voted on by the full legislature. Last week, the full legislature voted to approve the pump station. The SC Legislature also voted unanimously to approve the inter-municipal agreement with the Village of Islandia to allow the forced sewer main to go through the street Right of Ways in the Village. Tritec has been working with the County Engineers to finalize the path through the development area.
On December 6, the Suffolk County Legislature Budget Committee makes its recommendation to fund the appropriations to build the pump station and forced sewer main.
On December 20th, the Suffolk County Legislature will have a public hearing on the appropriations to fund the construction.
After the Suffolk County Legislature approves the appropriations, the Suffolk County DPW will be able to go out to bid with the plans. They will notice the bid in the paper for 6 weeks, after which they will take 4 to 6 weeks to qualify the bids and another 4 to 6 weeks to negotiate a contract. After the contract is executed, construction will start on the forced sewer main and pump station. It is expected to take about 18 to 20 months for completion.
Tritec plans to mobilize on site this January, and depending on the weather, expects to start demolition and site work. The start of Phase I construction is planned for April 2017.
Tritec is aware of graffiti on a few buildings that have been purchased & are now vacant. They have started the process to have the graffiti cleaned or repainted. They have met with the police since the same vandal tagged other buildings in the area.

Keep Ronkonkoma Clean Every First Saturday

30 11, 16 Filed in: Events | General Announcements

Every first Saturday of the month volunteers like you help keep Lake Ronkonkoma clean.
Saturday, April 3, 9:00 AM will be our next Portion Road & Hawkins Avenue Clean Up, weather permitting.
Read more...

Highlights from the Last LRCO Meeting

16 11, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

1. The civic held its first Farmers Market on November 6th. There will be another one in December - details to follow. We expect to schedule additional ones over the next few months.

2. Dunkin Donuts is proposing the addition of a drive-thru; a public hearing is scheduled for November 17th at Brookhaven Town Hall. The civic will indicate its opposition to the Town Board as a drive-thru in that location is not in compliance with the land-use plan for Portion Road. In addition, the site is not configured properly for a drive-thru.

3. The proposed 2017 Brookhaven budget was discussed.

4. We received updates from Councilman LaValle's office regarding some outstanding issues.

5. There is another lake clean-up scheduled for November 19th.

6. Guest speaker Police Commissioner Tim Sini addressed the members in attendance and shared a tremendous amount of information. Some highlights:

- He discussed the opioid epidemic in Suffolk County. Year-to-date, there have been 259 fatalities, 30 in our local community. The SCPD has a multi-pronged approach to this crisis including prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement.
- The SCPD has an anonymous hotline that can be used to report drug dealing in your neighborhood. Call 631-852-NARC.
- He discussed the Long Island Heroin Task Force.
- He discussed drug prevention activities in the local schools.
- Narcan training has been provided to all officers and first responders. There have been 550 saves YTD, including several "repeats".
- Gang activity is an issue in several Suffolk County communities but is not significant in our area.
- The SCPD has a full time traffic analyst who is monitoring traffic fatalities in Suffolk County. The issue is being addressed with enforcement and also communication to local governments if there is a road safety issue. 2016 fatalities are 27% lower than 2015 so far this year.
- SCPD Shield is a program that partners with local businesses and also churches; it allows them to share information with the SCPD to assist in crime investigations.
- The Commissioner discussed initiatives to increase efficiency in the 911 call system, including the ability to generate a police report over the phone by calling 631-852-COPS.
- He discussed the new false alarm law (if the SCPD responds to three false alarms at your residence, you will be fined). So far, false alarm calls are down 30%.
- 2015 had historically low crime rates; 2016 in on pace to be even lower.
- We discussed the Police Explorers program for youth ages 14 to 20 that are interested in learning about a possible career in law enforcement.
- Commissioner Sini encouraged the formation of Neighborhood Watch Groups.
- He provided crime statistics specific to our area. We have a very low rate of violent crime. We have high rates of property crime and larcenies likely related to the opioid epidemic.
- We discussed the prevalence of massage parlors in our community; some have been involved in human trafficking and prostitution.

Hope to see you at a future meeting!

If you weren’t at the last civic meeting, you missed the following:

LRCO Community Survey Presentation

04 10, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

If you missed the last meeting of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization, you missed a presentation on the results of our first community survey.
Click on Read more… below to see the presentation slides.Read more...

Additional Opportunities to Meet the Candidates

01 10, 16 Filed in: Events

ABCO & Member Civics: Debate
Monday, October 17, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
1st District Congressional Candidates
Medford Firehouse, 171 Oregon Avenue, Medford

Centereach, Selden, Lake Ronkonkoma Civics:
Wednesday, October 26, 7:30 PM
Centereach Fire House, 9 South Washington Ave, Centereach

Lake Cleanup October 15th, 9 AM

01 10, 16 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Meet at Brookhaven’s Michael Murphy Beach on Lake Shore Road.

Lake Cleanup August 27th, 10 AM

18 08, 16 Filed in: General Announcements | Events

Summer Concert Re-cap

15 08, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

On August 4, 2016 the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization held its first summer concert at Raynor Park in Lake Ronkonkoma. Presenting a mix of classical music and show tunes, the seven musicians and a barbershop quartet provided excellent entertainment with their array of talents. Many in the crowd enjoyed the sing-alongs to "Sweet Summertime", "Yankee Doodle Dandy", and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Seven lucky members of the civic won gift certificates to Mamma LaRosa's, Chimichanga, Mesoyios, Flanagan's, and the Island Rock Diner. Some in the crowd went to Gino's Pizza and the Island Rock Diner afterwards where they were given 10% discounts. We wish to thank both of them for their generosity and the diner for donating two gift certificates for our raffle. Please see some pictures from the concert below.

We hope to see you at our upcoming concerts and events. If anyone would like to perform in our future concerts, please contact Fred at 631-338-6062

Thank you!

IMG-20160804-191411

Long Island's Hidden Past: Lake Ronkonkoma

07 08, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

A special lake, in the heart of Long Island, is featured in this month's Long Island's Hidden Past segment.
Three different tribes lived around Lake Ronkonkoma. To them, the lake was sacred, and used to do their hunting and fishing.
Formed by ancient glaciers, is Long Island's largest fresh water lake.

http://longisland.news12.com/news/long-island-s-hidden-past-lake-ronkonkoma-1.12118139

Follow Up Regarding Patchogue-Holbrook Road Bridge

07 08, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

The civic has received additional information regarding the bridge project that we'd like to pass along:

Crews have been working every day since the community meeting.
As was requested by the community, the number of left turn lanes from the North Service Road onto the bridge was reduced to one from two.
They are working on getting a left-turn signal on Patchogue-Holbrook Road & the North Service Road (northbound while on the bridge) to help move traffic along quicker.
They will be putting "Do Not Block the Box" pavement markings on the intersection with the South Service Road.
They have moved the detour sign on Patchogue-Holbrook Road BEFORE Union Avenue to give unfamiliar drivers the opportunity to take Union Avenue as an alternate.
They have increased signage on the entrance ramps to the LIE before the bridge in each directions.

We will continue to pass on additional updates as received. Thanks again to everyone who attended and provided practical and sometimes obvious solutions to some of the traffic impacts of this bridge project.

LRCO Community Survey is Closed

07 08, 16 Filed in: General Announcements

The LRCO Community Survey has just been closed out. We wish to express our sincere thanks to those who took the time out of their busy days to participate. Your responses will help us set priorities for future actions.

We are in the process of analyzing the information and will share what we’ve learned at an upcoming General Membership Meeting.

Enjoy the beautiful summer weather!

The LRCO Executive Board

LRCO Summer Concert August 4th

12 07, 16 Filed in: Events