We kicked off the weekend by volunteering at Deepwells Historical Farm at an impromptu Trunk of Treat event, thanks to Mr. Scott Posner who set the idea into motion. This event was sponsored by the Deepwells Farm Historical Society, St James Chamber of Commerce, Civic Association of Greater St James, and Celebrate St James, when the St James Halloween Parade was rained out and the weather didn’t cooperate for the kids on Halloween. Speaking of haunted happenings, the Smithtown Recreation Department held it’s Ghosts and Goblins event at Brady Park in Smithtown, collecting more than 150 non-perishable items to be donated to the food pantry. As we move forward into the season of giving, I’m pleased to announce that the township has deemed November the official Mental Health Awareness Month in Smithtown. Over the next few weeks, we will roll out our Smithtown Social Pledge, promote awareness, and encourage kindness both online and in person. We hope you will join us in activities and initiatives that foster acceptance, understanding and awareness.
COMMACK:
Hoyt Farm’s annual Monster Mash was bigger than ever this year! We hosted 1200 people, including 600 children who had the time of a life.
Leaf removal, aeration of lawns, seeding, grass cutting and general end of season maintenance is underway at hamlet parks like Burr Winkle and Whitman Hollow. This routine maintenance is done regularly during the week so our residents and fall sports leagues can practice and play on the fields.
The highway department is expected to finish removing the remaining tree stumps that were uprooted by the June 30th straight line wind storm this Summer. There are approximately 28 tree stumps remaining that will be collected and turned into mulch at our Municipal Services Facility. Landscaping around the areas where the trees were removed is expected to be complete by the end of this week. Additionally, the highway department will be continuing road work along Sommers Lane this week, as long as the weather holds up. Fall tree plantings will continue this week as we complete planting over 100 street trees in the hamlet of Commack.
HAUPPAUGE
Fall cleanup is underway at our Hauppauge park facilities, including Bill Richards Park and Pine Cone Woods Park. Routine maintenance includes leaf removal, grass seeding, and lawn aeration. Fall tree plantings will continue this week in neighborhoods off Terry Road, Mount Pleasant, Old Willets Path, Townline and Smithtown Bypass among other areas.
Traffic Safety has completed the new modern Mast Arm for the traffic signals at Grandview Lane & Old Willets Path, at the intersections of Marcus Avenue and New Highway and at Adams Ave and New Highway. The next steps are for the Highway department to begin to plan for road grading. Upon completion of the project, the newly deemed Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge will have a much safer, more visible entryway, ensuring improved conditions for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians.
KINGS PARK:
Fall maintenance and cleanup is underway at various parks in the hamlet, including San Remo, Cy Donnelly, Callahan’s beach and at the Kings Park Bluff. Our Parks department has been making good headway on the Kings Park Memorial Park Playground. Upon completion of demolition work, they will install a brand new multi level jungle-gym playground with new surfacing.
Additionally, parks teams will begin to remove flower baskets and planters along the business district in anticipation of the holiday streetscape. Our Traffic Safety team anticipates that we will soon have a new ornamental crosswalk installed at Savatt Square on Main Street in the coming weeks.
The highway department is expected to complete tree stump removal and landscaping around the areas where the trees were removed from the June 30th straight line wind storm by the end of this week.
NESCONSET:
Fall park cleanup is underway at our Nesconset Parks. Our parks department teams will be doing routine field maintenance at Gibbs Pond, Sprofera Park and at the Armory (Charles Toner Park.) The Town of Smithtown Recreation Department is gearing up for Parents Night Out, on Friday November 8th at Nesconset Elementary School (29 Gibbs Pond Road). The theme for the first Parent’s Night Out is “Candyland” followed by “Super Hero Night” held on November 22nd. This is a great initiative, where our High School Students volunteer to supervise small children enjoying arts & crafts, gym activities and movies.
We’ve also added a second glass recycling disposal unit at the Highway Department for Nesconset Residents. This particular location was seeing more volume than the other four locations. As a gentle reminder, this drop off is only for glass recyclables and should not be used for solid waste.
SMITHTOWN:
Fall maintenance and cleanup is underway at Hamlet parks including Brady Park, East Hills, Laurel Drive, and Peter Nowick Sr. Memorial Park. Additionally, our parks teams will begin the removal of flower baskets and planters along Main Street. The Smithtown Chamber of Commerce has provided beautiful new holiday banners and wreaths which will adorn the street lanterns through the end of December.
Asphalt repairs are underway at a number of Municipal parking lots in Smithtown. I’m also very pleased to announce that the Meadow Road drainage bioswale, aka “rain garden” project has been completed. This outstanding ecological restoration initiative was led by our talented planning and engineering departments.
The highway department will continue with road work along Larkspur Drive, and concrete work along Teal Lane and Dove Lane, pending weather conditions.
ST JAMES:
Our Parks Department has begun postseason maintenance at the Long Beach Marina in addition to rebuilding the stairway to Schuberts Beach. Fall parks cleanup is underway at St James Parks including Vets Memorial, Gaynor, and Valmont parks. Additionally, our parks department team will begin removing the hanging baskets along Lake Avenue in anticipation of the holiday streetscape.
I’m extremely eager to announce that St James, phase one of the Lake Avenue Downtown Revitalization is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. Upon completion of concrete work, highway teams will mill and then pave Lake Avenue from Woodlawn to Jericho Turnpike. On Friday we celebrated on the northern end of the business district on the steps of the General Store, with the first downtown revitalization project to be completed in the hamlet. The new pedestrian crossing and landscaping will provide our residents and visitors with a much safer crossing to the oldest general store in the United States, just in time for pictures with Santa.
Lastly, for residents and commuters who travel down Mills Pond, you will be pleased to know that PSEG-LI has nearly completed it’s major emergency trunk line. PSEG has agreed to fund any asphalt work that needs to be redone after the trunk line work is completed.