Smithtown Round-Up: Holiday Events, Parking Lot Repairs

TOWN OF SMITHTOWN, NY — Next week, we gather with friends and family for Christmas, Hanukkah, the Festival Kwanza and gear up to welcome new beginnings as we say farewell to 2019 and usher in 2020.

Before we get into what's going on in the specific communities of Smithtown, St. James and Nesconset, here's a broad message from Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim:

"This is the time of year when we are reminded of what is truly important to us. We reflect on all we have to be grateful for. Each year, my fellow elected officials in Smithtown come together to sponsor local families who are in need of a little extra kindness. I would like to say 'thank you' to the Smithtown Children’s Foundation and the school district social workers who helped us to discreetly surprise these families with gifts in time for their respective holiday. The work they do year round is an extraordinary gift to our community. They are in good company with many local non-profit groups, ensuring no one is forgotten this holiday season.

Volunteers at Christmas Magic have been gathering every Saturday morning in Hauppauge to wrap gifts for 13,000 homeless children in shelters across Long Island and even branch out to the outer boroughs. The organization, founded by Hauppauge attorney, Charles Russo, relies solely on private donations year round to deliver thousands of holiday miracles.

The Nesconset non-profit; Heros 4 Our Heroes, will devote the afternoon of Saturday Dec. 21 to handing out Hams & Turkeys to local U.S. Veterans at the Northport VA. Volunteers or families looking to give back together this year can still donate online or lend a hand by arriving before noon at the lobby of the Northport VA hospital.

Collection boxes for Baxters Food Pantry (Long Island Cares) are still posted in the lobby of Town Hall and at our Animal Shelter (410 Middle Country Road) if you would like to help a four-legged stranger in need.

There is no shortage of goodwill in Smithtown and for that I am truly grateful to serve in a community that cares so deeply for neighbors and strangers alike.

However you choose to spend your holiday, on behalf of all of us at Town Hall, we wish you and yours a very healthy and Happy Chanukah, a Merry Christmas, Kwanzaa celebrations filled with joy and prosperity and may your New Year be filled with hope, promise and great expectations."

Here's what's happening on a community level.

Smithtown

The Silver Chords will be performing a holiday concert at the senior center for Smithtown residents 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 30. The concert is performed as a "thank you" to the senior center for allowing the multi-generational chorus to practice singing their traditional, classical and modern repertoire across all musical genres throughout the year.

Traffic Safety’s traffic signal maintenance supervisor is working to restore the defection at the Landing Golf Course traffic signal. This work is in anticipation of a new traffic signal rebuild, slated for 2020.

The Parks Department will continue working on asphalt repairs to the municipal parking lots at the Smithtown LIRR station. Work will continue as long as weather temperatures and conditions remain optimal.

Parks teams are also busy winterizing the parks in the hamlet which include Brady Park, Morewood Park, East Hills park, Peter Nowick Sr. Park and at the landmark Bull statue.

St. James

The St. James Chamber of Commerce's Menorah lighting ceremony will be held nightly from Dec. 22 through Dec. 29. The St. James community will gather at the Triangle at Lake Avenue, Moriches Road and 25A each night of Hanukkah at 5:30 p.m., with the exception of Friday, which will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Wehrheim is very pleased to announce the official completion of phase one of the Lake Avenue revitalization project. Traffic Safety put the final touches on the project last week, completing the pavement markings and striping along Lake Avenue from Patrick’s Way to Jericho Turnpike.

PSEG-LI has completed the installation of the emergency trunk line at Mills Pond Road.
National Grid is also doing maintenance work along Lake Avenue this week. Traffic may be slower than usual between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Residents should plan an extra few minutes for the morning commute.

Nesconset

Wehrheim announced a wonderful beautification initiative by the Town's Traffic Safety Team in Nesconset. The traffic team will be installing a flagpole at the "five corners" located at Browns Road. They will be adding power in order to install a flood light so the flag is properly lit at night.

Parents Night Out, Medieval Night will take place on Dec. 20 at the Nesconset Elementary School from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. A small $15 fee per child (ages 5-10) covers the costs of providing a night of fun for your little one. Space is limited, so reserve quickly.

The Smithtown Parks Department continues to work on the custom built steps leading down to the Gazebo from Charles P. Toner Park. In addition to this project, the Town's parks teams are winterizing irrigation systems at the Gazebo, the Armory/Charles P. Toner Park, Browns Road Park and Gibbs Pond Park.

If you have ideas or would like certain topics discussed in this weekly report, you can email the Supervisor Office at supervisor@smithtownny.gov