Sabrina Artusa

Freelance Writer

News •

Staller development moves forward in Port Jefferson Station after zoning change | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
Brookhaven Town Board approved the long-contested Staller Associates rezoning application for the Jefferson Plaza property in Port Jefferson Station Sept. 26. It was a crucial step signifying the progression of Staller’s plan to repurpose the plaza into a residential property along with commercial usage.
Staller Associates is an Islandia-based privately-held real estate company engaged in the development, ownership and management of commercial and residential real estate on Lon...
News •

Northport-East Northport BOE eyes collaborative teaching model, reviews goals for 2024-25 school year | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
At the Sept. 18 meeting, the Northport-East Northport Board of Education reviewed upcoming goals and changes as the school year begins. 
Students and schools have completed a seamless transition into the 2024-25 school year, which started on Sept. 4 for students grades 1-12. 
The board reported that it met with various committee leaders and liaisons. The committee meetings will be starting next month. 
“I think we had a really positive start to the school year and I just want t...
News •

Stony Brook recoups with community and government help | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
At Mill Pond in Stony Brook, a group of swans and mallards can be observed on the sandy banks. On occasion, some Canadian geese can be seen as well, crossing the road confused and displaced. 
After August’s rain, Stony Brook’s residents — both people and animals — are gradually recouping. A month later, the road ahead is a little clearer as questions on funding and rebuilding become less intimidating. 
Community support
Gloria Rocchio, president of The Ward Melville Heritage Or...
Environment •

Dam breach drains Stump Pond, leaving devastation at Blydenburgh Park | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
Walking past the dead, dried grass littered with sharp stumps and intercepted by a slight meandering stream of water, longtime visitors of the beloved Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown can hardly believe the hundreds of acres of mud and dead vegetation, yellowing in the sun, was once an 8-foot deep lake. 
The lake, also known as Stump Pond or Weld’s Pond, was fed by the headwaters of Nissequogue river and maintained by a dam, which breached after the Aug. 18-19 storm produce...
News •

Proposed apartments ignite debate in Kings Park revitalization effort | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
Cornerstone Kings Park, a 50-unit luxury apartment building proposed for the corner of Meadow Road and Indian Head Road in Kings Park, was discussed at the Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing on Aug. 6.
The 44,883-square-foot project would sit outside of the LIRR train station and would be part of the Kings Park downtown revitalization effort.
The proposed project necessitates a special exception as the surrounding area is currently zoned as commercial-business &...
News •

Editorial: Our town codes | TBR News Media

Each town, and many hamlets, have town codes that their politicians strive to enforce. However, these codes are not hard and fast and are subject to amendments, which are happening all the time and often in response to community input. 
For local legislatures, the community wields enormous power — our voices, if they are loud enough, have the capability to incite change. While these codes can at times be enigmatic, it’s imperative that we take the time to understand them so that we, as members o...
Environment •

Diving into ‘Shark Week’ on Long Island | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
“Shark Week” originated as a Discovery Channel television program in 1988, appealing to the public’s long-standing curiosity of one of the ocean’s fiercest predators. Thirty-six years later, it remains one of the most popular programs, as well as the longest-running cable television event. It’s a testament to America’s fascination with these exotic fish.
Over time, the program has tended to succumb to fearmongering and docufiction — a combination of documentary and fiction — ag...
News •

TOH Planning Board revokes approval of Halesite development | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
The Town of Huntington Planning Board rescinded preliminary approval for a development proposal in Halesite located at 78 Bay Ave. and 211 Vineyard Road. The developer, Vineyard Bay Estates LLC, proposed an eight-home subdivision to be built in on a 4-acre plot.
The board approved the application in February and has received ardent community pushback since its passing. The development sits on 10 acres of wooded, hilly land — an area the community says has immense environmental...
News •

Mills Pond Group files assisted living facility lawsuit against Smithtown | TBR News Media

By Sabrina Artusa
In April 2023, the Smithtown Planning Board amended the Smithtown Town Code Chapter 322 to exclude “convalescent” and “resting” homes from being considered a special exception to zoning restrictions, thereby preventing a proposal submitted by Mills Pond Group LLC from progressing.
Mills Pond Group, owned by Frank Amicizia, filed a proposal to build a 97-bed living residence on the former Bull Run Farm in St. James the month prior to the board’s amendment. The proposal depended...
News •

Valentin Staller addresses Jefferson Plaza proposal at PJS/T civic meeting | TBR News Media

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association reviewed a potential plan by Staller Associates to redevelop the Jefferson Plaza on Route 112 at the civic’s June 20 meeting.

The civic invited Valentin Staller, vice president of Staller Associates, to answer questions regarding the proposed redevelopment.

Staller Associates already owns a residential property in Farmingdale and submitted a proposal to rebuild Jefferson Plaza in 2021. Staller hopes to rezone the area to accommodate the chang
News •

Port Jefferson rowers compete in top heats at Youth National Championships | TBR News Media

The Port Jefferson Rowing Club sent four boats to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships, where all four boats competed in the top heat.

Teammates Andrew Smith, 18, and Andreas Simoni, 18, rowed especially well in their double scull, consistently ranking at the top of their heat in the time trial on June 6 and the semifinals on June 7.

Both athletes began rowing competitively around a year earlier in the Port Jefferson Rowing Club, a nonprofit aimed at bringing novices into the sport.

T
News •

Private equity firms are buying up veterinary practices | TBR News Media

Across Long Island and the United States, private equity firms are buying privately-owned veterinary clinics. Veterinary hospitals hold steadfast against economic recessions, making them an attractive acquisition for private equity firms looking for a profitable, fragmented industry in which to invest.

The veterinary industry poses a unique opportunity for private equity firms. The cash-based industry is brimming with private practices and has reaped enormous benefits as pet ownership increases
Environment •

Port Jefferson residents discuss bluff revitalization options | TBR News Media

With further recession of the East Beach bluff threatening the safety and structural integrity of the Port Jefferson Country Club, tennis and pickleball courts and golf course, the Village of Port Jefferson held a town hall meeting May 28 at the Waterview catering hall to discuss how to proceed with the bluff revitalization plan initiated in 2021. This plan was interrupted by fierce storms that damaged the barrier wall the village spent two years and approximately $6 million building.

While por
News •

Suffolk County committee rejects home ownership resolution | TBR News Media

The Suffolk County Economic Development, Planning & Housing Committee met May 29 to consider, among other business, a resolution designed to increase home ownership.

Resolution 1355, proposed by county Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) in early April, would obligate owners of developments with more than 20 units to designate at least half of them as owner-only units, either through condominiums or cooperatives.

In an area with notoriously high property taxes — some of the highest in the c
News •

Brookhaven proposes crack down on illegal and commercial signs | TBR News Media

The Town of Brookhaven is making a revitalized effort to remove illegal signs and enforce commercial sign restrictions.

Unclear diction in the existing code made enforcement difficult, but now, as the town revises the code, officials are reviewing and discarding prohibited signs throughout Brookhaven.

Signs in the right of way along state-owned highways were simplest to extricate, as anything in that zone is considered litter according to New York State. However, restrictions unique to the tow
News •

Mount Sinai civic explores battery energy storage system | TBR News Media

New Leaf Energy has proposed a new battery energy storage system facility in Mount Sinai — a proposal that necessitates a rezoning of the current property.

The increase in development of battery energy storage systems in the state is part of the effort to achieve the goal of the 2019 New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which states that by 2030, 70% of electricity should be derived from renewable energy.

The battery energy storage system will work to offset the lack
News •

Stonebridge golf club withdraws its development proposal | TBR News Media

As of May 7, Stonebridge Golf Links & Country Club withdrew its application to modify the 1999 agreement, which if accepted, would have allowed the club to further develop its property.

While the development proposal was accepted initially by the Town of Smithtown, the Planning Board’s approval was necessary for any covenant change.

After fierce backlash and extensive media coverage, Stonebridge withdrew its application three days before the end of the feedback period.

When Stonebridge releas
News •

Town of Smithtown partners in program to redefine sustainability | TBR News Media

Earth Day, April 22, is a great day to renew an appreciation for the environment, from the waterfronts of Northport and Port Jefferson to lush parks like Avalon Nature Preserve and Blydenburgh. Let us all reexamine obligations to the natural world.

Taking advantage of the eco-friendly practices and resources offered by our towns is an important way to get involved in sustainability.

Recycling is a well-known strategy to reduce our environmental impact. However, due to lack of resources, inconv
News •

Village of Head of the Harbor board meets under new mayor | TBR News Media

Michael Utevsky, a real estate attorney, held his first board meeting since being elected as Head of the Harbor mayor in March.

His first course of action was to appoint new counsel, Perillo Hill, a Sayville firm that also represents two other municipalities and describes themselves as “seeing both sides of the aisle” when it comes to common township cases. While Lisa Davidson, the newly-elected deputy mayor, couldn’t attend due to sickness, the other recent electee and long-time member, truste
News •

Port Jefferson Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay runs for NYS Assembly | TBR News Media

Rebecca Kassay (D), current Port Jefferson trustee and deputy mayor, will be running for election to the New York State Assembly as the representative of District 4, which consists of Port Jefferson, Stony Brook, Setauket, Belle Terre, Old Field, Poquott, Port Jefferson Station, Terryville, Coram and Gordon Heights.

In addition to her work as an elected official, Kassay was a youth program director at Avalon Park and Preserve in Stony Brook and the owner of the Fox and Owl Inn in Port Jefferson
News •

Village of Head of the Harbor welcomes new trustees | TBR News Media

Village of Head of the Harbor has inducted Mayor Mike Utevsky, trustee Lisa Davidson and incumbent trustee Judith Ogden to its Board of Trustees.

Utevsky unseated the previous mayor, Doug Dahlgard, who had occupied the position for 10 years. All three members are on the Heritage Party line, a party whose principal approach to governance is preservation.

A real estate attorney who hasn’t run for office before, Utevsky said he decided to run after noticing the desire of other residents for a cha
News •

Smithtown Town Board holds hearing to discuss Comprehensive Plan | TBR News Media

Smithtown Town Board held a public meeting March 21 to review the master Comprehensive Plan and receive feedback from residents.

In partnership with H2M architects + engineers of Melville, the town began developing the plan in 2019 with the intention of updating zoning districts to reflect future land-use development and preservation goals. Since then, the town has held several public outreach meetings to garner feedback on the plan.

Lisa Rickmers, senior environmental planner at H2M, said the
News •

Lawrence Aviation buildings demolished, redevelopment awaited | TBR News Media

The long-abandoned Lawrence Aviation Superfund site in Port Jefferson Station is now completely demolished, and nearly ready for development.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been pursuing a contract to purchase 40 acres of the property to convert into a rail yard. Another portion is expected to be used for a solar farm. The rest will likely be preserved as open space.

Herb Mones, Friends of the Greenway editor-in-chief and president of the Three Village Community Trust, wrote in
News •

Middle Country BOE reviews pupil personnel budget | TBR News Media

The Middle Country Central School District Board of Education reviewed the pupil personnel budget at its March 6 meeting.

The board was transparent about the fiscal pressures facing the district and what actions they are taking to prevent them from mounting. Assistant Superintendent for Business Beth Rella included costs related to special education as a cost driver in her presentation.

“Additional high-needs students have increased significantly in the last few years,” Rella said. “The three-
Load More