Asharoken Opens New Village Hall 3 Years After Superstorm Sandy

Photos by Steve Silverman

Just three years after Superstorm Sandy forced the Asharoken community to abandon their Village Hall, members of the community came together to celebrate the grand opening of a new Village Hall on Nov. 24.

The project to build a new Village Hall, which was initially meant to simply expand the old Village Hall, began nearly 10 years ago thanks to Trustee and Police Commissioner Mel Ettinger.

“During the first 7 years, a fundraising campaign was started and a number of designs were considered, including expanding the then existing Village Hall as well as building a new building,” Dr. Greg Letica, Mayor of Asharoken Village, said in a press release. “Clearly, funding the cost of either a renovation or building a new building was always of major concern.”

Three years ago, Superstorm Sandy flooded the old Village Hall which forced the community to abandon it and begin working to build a new one.

“We asked the Asharoken Fundraising Committee to renew their campaign, filed a claim with FEMA and applied for some additional government grants,” Letica said.

After 18 months of negotiations, the Village received a $533,855 grant. Letica said this would not have been possible without the assistance of Congressman Steve Israel who helped process the Village’s claim with FEMA.

The Mayor also credited State Senator Carl Marcellino, who helped the Village obtain a $50,000 grant for the construction of the retaining wall in the back of the property.

“These grants, together with the almost $360,000 that was raised by the Asharoken Fundraising Committee from donations received from more than 200 of our residents has enabled the Village to fund the cost of this beautiful new building,” Letica said.

More than 100 residents and public officials, including Israel and Marcellino, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, which was hosted by Letica and the Board of Trustees. After the ceremony, all attendees were invited to tour the new facility and to enjoy some refreshments.

Photo Captions:

1. Officials cut ribbon dedicating the new Asharoken Village Hall.
2. Asharoken Village Mayor Dr. Greg Letica speaks at the dedication ceremony.
3. Congressman Steve Israel speaks at the dedication ceremony.
4. Asharoken Village Trustee and Police Commissioner Mel Ettinger speaks at the dedication.
5. Congressman Steve Israel, left, speaks with Asharoken Village Trustee Mel Ettinger.
6. Officials at the dedication ceremony included Huntington Superintendent of Highways Pete Gunther, Asharoken Village Trustee Laura Burke, U.S. Congressman Steve Israel, Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone and Asharoken Village Mayor Dr. Greg Letica.
7. Local Village Police Chiefs were given a tour of the Asharoken Police Station in the new Asharoken Village Hall. Pictured from left are Chuck Flynn of Lloyd Harbor Police, Chris Jack of Huntington Bay Police, Ray Mahdesian of Asharoken Police, and Bill Ricca of Northport Police.