In an effort to consolidate our information, we've created a page just for Coronavirus updates that are important to our community. We will continue to update this page with any news we receive. Click here to visit the page.

Thanks to the great response last week, the wonderful people at the Bellport Country Club are repeating their Free Meals program this Friday, April 3rd, between 12:30 and 3pm. This time, the FREE meals will be limited to the first 80 families. You don’t have to call or email ahead; simply show up at the Country Club between 12:30 and 3pm on Friday.

Now, to offset the cost of the Free Meal program, the Country Club will also be offering a special, Half Tray, menu for sale. Each Half Tray provides about 10 servings. If you'd like to order any of the below, give them a call at 631-286-4227.

Half Trays Available (Serves 10):
• Caesar Salad Kit - $35
• Steamed Green Beans - $28
• Salmon w/ Lobster Cream & Fresh Lemon Dill - $64
• Chicken Francaise, Parmesan, or Grilled - $65
• Petit Steak Burgundy - $72
• Penne alla Vodka - $39
• Roasted Potatoes - $26
• Rice Pilaf- $26
• Mac and Cheese - $35

The South Country Library will remain closed until further notice.

All April Programs Cancelled: All April programs and meetings are cancelled through the end of April, regardless of when they re-open. This is in accordance with the prevailing approach of health and governmental officials that we can all help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus by limiting exposure.

Returns: Their book drop is closed. There will be no accrual of fines on any items currently checked out to hang on to them until they are able to re-open.

Reserved Items: Any items on the reserve shelf will be waiting for you when they re-open.

Library Card Renewals: Any library card that was due to expire in March or April will automatically be renewed until June 1st (allowing for continued use of their online services).

Online Resources: In addition to their downloadables and streaming services they are continuing to seek out new ways to provide library services online to our community, including educational offerings for children while schools are closed.

Stay in Touch with the Library: Feel free to reach out with questions or comments to the library at sctyref@sctylib.org  or visit their website or Facebook page.

Designscapes of Long Island will make your dreams come to life and make it safe & enjoyable for your family to stay home. They offer many quality outdoor living products and services such as: pavilions with space heaters, cabanas/gazebos, outdoor fireplaces, built in BBQs and bar units, fire pits, hot tub areas, koi ponds, fencing, baseball cages, turf for miniature golf, tennis courts, basketball sports courts, swimming pools & water features. They design backyards with three seasons in mind with today's fire features or space heaters. Outdoor living room sets and weather proof TV's add something for everyone. Landscape lighting today, especially low voltage lighting, is easier than ever with high quality fixtures.  Click here for more information.

By now, we’re all aware of the potential impact the Coronavirus is having on all of us. Many local businesses and organizations are adapting to the new rules being imposed upon them to keep our community safe. We've compiled the latest updates from several businesses in our area. Please support them in these unprecedented times. Our community must stay strong and safe together! Click here for more information.

On Sunday, April 5th at 11:00am, THOS. CORNELL GALLERIES, LTD. will hold an online only Estate Auction. THOS. CORNELL GALLERIES, LTD. has been chosen to sell the Geoffrey Beene archives through a series of auctions. All proceeds will be going to the Memorial Sloan Kettering / Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center. Items featured include designer, couture, runway costume jewelry, furniture, decorations, accessories, books, art and much more! Click here for more information.

The Bellport.com WABAC Machine, (pronounced "Way Back,") features events from years ago. We started producing the first videos for Bellport.com back in 2005. Those were the days of Dial-up modems and tiny screen sizes. Although visually outdated today, these videos still give you a sense of how things have progressed over the years. We hope you enjoy looking back.

Our next featured video is of a "Loop" of the Dock featuring Browns Lane and Livingston Rd. from August 2006. Click here to check it out!

With all the doom and gloom around us, I thought I’d share some good things and thoughts that have been happening around me. I guess I’m a “glass half full” kinda guy. Drop me a note about the positive things you see happening at this very stressful time. How are you coping? Are there special people, businesses, or government agencies you’d like to single out for special mention? We want to publish your thoughts. Click here to read the latest Editorial.

COMPASS Unity has been Bellport/South Country School District's drug and alcohol prevention coalition since 2009. Their mission is to address and revitalize the negative social and environmental conditions, which expose youth to drug and alcohol use. They strive to help keep the youth of South Country schools and community safe and drug-free! Click here to read their latest seasonal newsletter.

We'd like to thank Dr. Gary Welch for sharing his article with us regarding ways to minimize the spreading of the Corona Virus (COVID-19). He drew this information from New England Journal of Medicine and the CDC. Click here to read his article.

We’re happy to announce that Deer Run Farms, located at 282 South Country Road in Brookhaven Hamlet, has opened for the season!  Click here for more information.

As with so many other things in our lives, our current health crisis is affecting Playcrafters' plans. In order to ensure that they have adequate time to mount a quality production, they will be postponing their upcoming show, "The Fox on the Fairway" to Fall 2020. The cast is in place and rehearsals will resume once it is safe to do so! More information to come!

New Letters to the Editor have been posted.  Click here for more information.

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).

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.

Thanks to this drive thru, free testing site right here at Stony Brook University, Long Islanders will have greater and expedited access to the testing needed to identify, contain and combat this outbreak.

Starting this Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 6am, the Stop & Shop food chain has announced special shopping hours for seniors, 60 years old or older!

Stop & Shop’s announcement said...

“Now, more than ever, it’s important we come together as a community to support each other during challenging times. Part of that is showing compassion and care for some of our neighbors who are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. According to the CDC, that is members of the population who are age 60 and older.

To support this group, beginning Thursday, March 19th, all Stop & Shop stores will open earlier in order to service only customers who are age 60 and over from 6:00a.m.-7:30a.m. daily.

We’re making the decision to offer this every day of the week to allow for community members in this age category to shop in a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing. They’ll also be shopping prior to any other customers entering.

Beginning Thursday, people ages 60 and up can use a designated entrance, which will be marked at their local store, from 6:00a.m.-7:30a.m. Although we will not be requesting ID for entry, we ask that you please respect the purpose of the early opening – and do the right thing for your neighbors. Store associates do reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not a member of this age group.

As previously announced, most stores have adjusted their hours to 7:30a.m. to 8:00p.m. to enable our associates to spend more time unloading deliveries, stocking shelves – and to take some time for rest. Please note that our stores receive deliveries throughout the day, so our shelves will be replenished for shoppers at all hours. And, we have implemented added cleaning and sanitation efforts, which will continue throughout the day at all stores.

Our home delivery service will remain available to all customers as well. If you have a grandparent, parent, friend, or neighbor in this age group, remember you can place an order on their behalf with our new “Contact-Free” delivery option. With this service, we’ll notify you by text or email when the driver arrives, and they will simply leave the bags on the doorstep or building entry and return to their vehicle. We recognize there may be some delays with this service due to unprecedented demand, and we are continuing to work hard to meet your needs.

Bellport.com applauds Stop & Shop for their service to our community. Click Here for the Stop & Shop supermarkets in our area.

The South Country School District has made arrangements for distributing food to all families in need beginning Tuesday, March 17th.

Distribution will occur Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00am and 1:00pm at the following locations.

· Bellport High School
· Frank P. Long Intermediate School
· Verne Critz Elementary School

Distribution will be “Grab-and-Go” with curb-side pickup to prevent group gatherings. Included in each grab-and-go will be two breakfast and two lunch meals.

When you arrive at the site, simply state how many school-age children in your family, and you will be provided a two-day supply for each student.

This service is being provided for ANY family in need and all are encouraged to take advantage of the food availability.

By now, we’re all aware of the potential impact the Coronavirus is having on all of us. Here’s something we’d like you to consider... Click here to read the latest Editorial.

We believe the letter we received from Mr. Roger Baker today deserves your attention so we decided to run it as an Op-Ed rather than as a Letter To The Editor. Mr. Baker says, "As someone who has been involved in the heavy construction industry for 45 years I would like to comment on the dock reconstruction." Click here to read the Op-Ed.

As Mayor Fell has decided to not let me ask questions in public at Bellport Village Board Meetings, I guess for the sake of transparency, I have no other choice than to ask my questions here, in print. So here goes... Click here to read the latest Editorial.

Boat slips are available at Fireplace Boat Basin on Beaver Dam Creek, off Bay Road in Brookhaven. The basin is run by the non-profit Carmans River Maritime Center. For information, call Charlie at 631-949-4441.

As Residents are still not allowed to ask questions at Bellport Village Board Meetings or Village Board Work Sessions, here are some more questions I have for Mayor Fell.

Thanks to the Bellport Yacht Club’s video feed from the Marina, we’ve all been able to monitor the progress on the work being done at the Village Marina. So far, it appears that all of the work is being done on the bulkheading. Being that time is short to the contractual completion date of March 31, 2020 for the work being done on the Marina, wouldn’t it be wise to work on the Electrical System, the Fresh Water System, and the Drainage System at the northern end of the Marina at the same time as the work on the bulkhead is being done? I’m not an engineer, but I would think work on these systems wouldn’t interfere with one another. I also note that work doesn’t appear to be being done on Saturdays or on an extended workday in order to meet the deadline. Mr. Mayor, are you still sure the work on the Marina will be completed by your deadline of March 31, 2020? If not, what’s your plan? Are you sure you’re going to impose significant financial penalties on the contractor if the deadline isn’t met? Click here to read the rest of the latest Editorial.

The Bellport Village Program Fund (BVPF) is pleased to announce that it is reviving the annual summer 5K race in Bellport. Formerly known as the Clipper Classic, the newly christened Bellport Bay 5K will be staged on Sunday July 12, 2020. There will also be a 1-mile Fun Run for kids of all ages. All proceeds from race registrations and tax-deductible sponsorships, after race-related expenses, will go to benefit the BVPF.

“For years, this road race was a central event in Bellport’s summer, and we are pleased to see that the Bellport Village Program Fund is bringing it back as the Bellport Bay 5K,” said Bellport Village Mayor Ray Fell. “I want to thank the Bellport Village Program Fund and all those who are volunteering in the effort to put on a successful race.”

“By bringing back this race as the Bellport Bay 5K,” said Michael Foster, the BVPF Chairman, “we not only will be putting on a great race for everyone who loves to run, but we also will raise money for our ongoing and new projects in and around Bellport. Our goal is to continue the long tradition established by the Clipper Classic and make this race an annual event on Bellport’s summer calendar.”

The registration page is live now! Click here for more information and to register!

For the 7th year in a row, Bellport.com has been selected by Constant Contact to receive their coveted "All Star Award" for 2018. Every spring, Constant Contact selects their All Star Award recipients for the prior year. With over 5 million customers, Constant Contact has been a leader in email marketing since 1995 and is one of the leading communications companies designed to help small businesses and non-profits communicate with the world.  Click here for more information.

We're starting something new in our weekly email blasts... a "Featured Photo of the Week!" Your photo could be featured at the top of one of our weekly email blasts! If you have a photo you'd like us to consider featuring, email it to us. Be sure to sign up for our weekly email blasts to see if your photo has been chosen!

Placing an ad in the Bellport.com Classifieds works! Take a look at two letters we recently received from readers who had posted Classified Ads:

"Thank you for posting a photo of a beagle and our request for a sitter. We received many calls and found a lovely couple in Bellport Village to care for our beagle Molly. Many thanks and you can now remove the posting under pet sitting." - Mary and Tom

"Once again, with the help of bellport.com we have been successful in our efforts. This time we placed an ad for help in caring for our garden. Once again bellport.com made it a successful move. So please discontinue our ad. What would we ever do without you?" Best regards, Elaine

Place your classified ad today! Don't forget- Classified ads are FREE for Bellport.com Subscribers!

Click here to submit your own ad.