Back in March, when we started our COVID-19 page, we
had no idea how long this journey would be.
Unfortunately, we formatted the page in a way that
became more and more unwieldy as the amount of
information grew. We recently decided it was time for us
to reformat the COVID-19 page to make it easier for you
to find what you’re looking for.
First, we
changed the look of the page. The type is a little
smaller so that you can take more information in at a
glance, gone is a lot of the bold type and gone are the
red headlines. The page is now less, “in your face.”
Next, instead of one long page that goes on and on,
we broke the updated information into three pages. One
is for March 2020 to May 2020, one is for June 2020 to
August 2020, and the third is for September 2020 to the
present. If you haven’t already done so, we urge you to
at least take a glance at the earlier information as
much of it is very useful and wasn’t repeated later on.
Next, we’re all very interested in how we’re doing
locally and how Suffolk County is doing so we’ve added
links at the top of the COVID-19 page that go directly
to that information. While you’re at the top of the
COVID-19 page, you’ll also find anything we feel is
important enough to specifically draw to your attention,
such as our latest Editorial, “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s
Over.”
Next, in addition to any information
relative to Suffolk County information for a particular
date, you’ll also find a shortcut link that will take
you to all the Suffolk Country information that’s
available so that you can look at the information both
ways.
And finally, in our long tables of
accumulated numbers, we now have the latest information
at the top of the stack, rather than at the bottom. We
know you’re interested in the latest information and
this way it’s easier to find without having to scroll
way down to the bottom of the stack.
We hope
your find these changes helpful and we’ll continue to
“tweak” the page as we think of additional ways to
improve it.
Click here to visit the page.
It's time for a new Bellport.com Photo Contest! This
time we want your photos showing Downtown Bellport
Village. People, shops, houses - they are all acceptable
as long as the photos are taken near Downtown Bellport
Village! Photos must be submitted by Saturday, October
31st. Happy Shooting!
The Prize? A good one!
To help support our local businesses, Bellport.com is going to buy a $50 Gift Certificate from
LuAnn Thompson at
Bellport Arts and Framing, and donate
it to the winner of the contest. At Bellport Arts &
Framing, you'll find frame designs galore along with a
fine selection of giftwrap, cards, gift items, and local
art. They also offer fine art restoration, frame
repairs, photo restoration, custom corkboards and
blackboards, and more! Lots of great gift ideas for the
upcoming holidays!
Click here for
more information about how to submit a photo!
Join the Brookhaven Village Association as they present, "Gordon Heights: A History" on Sunday, October 25th from 3:00pm-4:00pm outdoors at the Post Morrow Foundation, 16 Bay Road in Brookhaven. Local history librarian at the Longwood Public Library, Melanie Cardone-Leathers will discuss the resilient community and origins or the Gordon Heights Fire Dept. Click here for more information.
Merckling Family Chiropractic is pleased to announce that they are now offering Acupuncture services in their downtown Bellport Village office! Acupuncture can help with everything from physical problems with your muscles, joints and nerves, to emotional problems with stress and sleep patterns. It has been proven to alleviate some of the pains associated with arthritis, helping people with arthritis regain mobility and improve their overall physical health. Acupuncture is also used frequently to aid the pain and nausea that is associated with cancer and cancer treatments. Click here for more information.
Early Voting:
The Suffolk County Board of Elections has released
the dates, times, and locations for early voting in the
November 3rd General Elections.
Click here for more information.
The closest
site to the South Country area seems to be the Mastic
Recreation Center located at 15 Herkimer Street, Mastic
NY 11950. If you’re familiar with the area, it’s right
behind the Ice Cream Cottage. Enjoy!
The hours are:
• Saturday, October 24:
10:00am - 3:00pm
• Sunday, October 25: 10:00am -
3:00pm
• Monday, October 26: 7:00am - 3:00pm
•
Tuesday, October 27: 12:00pm - 8:00pm
• Wednesday,
October 28: 8:00am - 4:00pm
• Thursday, October 29:
8:00am - 4:00pm
• Friday, October 30: 12:00pm -
8:00pm
• Saturday, October 31: 10:00am - 3:00pm
•
Sunday, November 1: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Join the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society for a FREE tour of Woodland Cemetery on Station Road in Bellport on Halloween, Saturday, October 31st at 3:00pm. Many of our illustrious old souls reside here: Bellport's founders the Bell brothers; photographer Frances H. Toms; Civil War General Nathaniel MacLean; and social activist Birdsall Otis Edey. RSVP today! Click here for more information.
Planning and Shopping for Thanksgiving: 3 hours
Preparing and Cooking for Thanksgiving: 8 hours
Cleaning up after Thanksgiving: 2 hours
Calling the
Bellport Country Club @ 631.286.4227: 60 seconds!
Why spend time shopping, cooking and cleaning this
Thanksgiving when you can spend all of that time with
your family and friends? The Bellport Country Club will
prepare a Thanksgiving feast that will leave your
bellies full and faces smiling! Turkey, Mashed Potatoes,
Homemade Stuffing, Candied Yams, Grilled Vegetables,
Gravy, Apple and Pumpkin Pies, Cranberry Dressing, and
Dinner Rolls!
New this year: smaller
package options! With meal options to feed
groups as small as five or as many as 15 guests, as well
as single items available to order, the Bellport Country
Club has everything you need for your Thanksgiving meal!
Availability is limited and this great meal will
sell-out!
Click here for more information.
The Harmony Cafe will be holding two very special
events in November to help those who could really need
some help. First, starting on Thursday, November 11th,
and continuing for every Thursday thereafter, “Buy One
Soup And One Is Given To A Person In Need.” Heartbeet
Farms is providing the soup at cost. Your buying the
soup makes it possible for the Harmony Cafe to give the
soup to people who really need it, for free! They call
the program, “Yes, soup for you and your neighbor too.”
The second special event is a Free Thanksgiving
Dinner at “Toast” in Patchogue on November 24th. It will
be a sit down dinner for those hit hard by the COVID-19
crisis, front line workers, and those in need.
Click here for more information on the Soup Program.
Click here for more information on the Free Thanksgiving
Dinner.
The Bellport Middle School is holding a “Spiritwear”
fundraiser to help support the dances, field trips,
class shirts, 8th grade picnic, and several senior
scholarships the PTA helps with each year.
This
year, the Spiritwear Fundraiser consists of the sale of
“Bellport” logoed apparel such as Hooded Sweatshirts,
Tee Shirts, Cotton Masks and various other items sure to
please.
To see what’s available or to place an order, please
click here.
Usually, at this time of year you would be receiving
an announcement from South Country Concerts, the SCC,
describing a three-concert series they would be offering
over the coming 2020-2021 season. Unfortunately, this
year, they are unable to present a fall concert because
of the restrictions imposed on social gatherings due to
COVID-19.
South Country Concerts is uncertain as
to when they will be able to offer a new schedule of
concerts, but they are absolutely committed to the
continuation of being able to provide high quality,
live, music to our community. Be assured that despite a
few basic organizational operating costs, SCC is
financially stable thanks to YOU, their donors and
subscribers. The SCC will be back as soon as possible,
performing for the South Country community!
In
recent news, over this past summer, the SCC was able to
come up with an innovative response to the times in
which we now live. With gratitude to their donors and
ticket holders, Laurinel Owen performed boutique-style
concerts outdoors at her home. Each of seven
performances featured Bach’s Partita #3, BWV 1006 and
Benjamin Britten’s Suite for Cello, Op. 72. They were
pleased by the turnout of so many of their dedicated
supporters. One of the performances from this series was
recorded and it can be viewed by clicking this link,
Almost Live. The SCC invites you to settle back and
enjoy an interlude of outstanding music at your leisure
and they hope to see you soon.
One of our readers, Norman Pearlmutter, wrote in to
tell us that we had misinterpreted NY State’s rules for
when Absentee Ballots would be tabulated. Norman is
absolutely right. Although the ballots will be
pre-processed as soon as they are received, according to
the New York Times, tabulation won’t begin
until November 6th.
We apologize for our error
and thank Norman for pointing it out to us.
Here’s a
link to the original NY Times article we cited.
The Coronavirus has negatively affected so many Long
Island families this past year. That is why Lighthouse
Mission is preparing for a record number of people at
their Thanksgiving food distribution locations this
season. The Lighthouse Mission was started in 1992 and
now is the largest mobile food pantry on Long Island.
Sadly, donations are down while the need has gone
up. They expect to provide 10,000 Suffolk families with
a complete Thanksgiving dinner, but they need help to
make this happen! They are in need of food, clothing and
monetary donations. Visit their
website for more information on how to help!
Safe at Home for Seniors is a new United Way of Long Island managed COVID-19 health and safety outreach program in partnership with a network of agencies. Community Navigators are in place to help seniors remain in the comfort and safety of their own home, where they are best protected while maintaining social relationships. They can help with everyday tasks such as groceries and prescriptions, coordinating appointments and staying in touch with loved ones. Click here for more information.
Founded in 1998, the South Country Education
Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to
improving educational opportunities for all students in
the South Country Central School District. The mission
of the Foundation is to promote and enhance educational
initiatives by providing supplemental financial support
for projects and programs that are outside the South
Country school budget.
Since their founding, they
have granted over $1,000,000 to teachers,
administrators, students and community groups in our
district who have come to them with their innovative and
creative ideas. Funding for these grants comes from
generous donations to the foundation by community
members, alumni and local nonprofits as well as from the
proceeds of our annual cocktail party and auction.
The SCEF will offer only one grant cycle this year
as they did in 2019. Grant applications are now
available on their website.
Click here for more
information.
Deborah L. Galligan broker/ owner of Swan Realty Corp would like to welcome Loula Fernandes, LSA to the Swan Realty team! Click here for more information.
New letters to the Editor have been posted. Click here for more information.
COMPASS Unity will be hosting their first ever Annual Red Ribbon Week 5k Run/Walk/Wheelchair Race October 23rd through October 31st! This fun and free virtual 5K race aims to raise awareness about drug abuse prevention. This is an inclusive race and they invite those of all different abilities to participate! Click here for more information and to register for the race!
For several months I’ve been hearing about a computer
program that will alert you if you’ve been in close
proximity to someone who has tested positive for
COVID-19 and I just received a copy of the program.
COVID Alert NY is a testing and tracing program that
can significantly help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Developed by NY State, “COVID Alert NY” is a free
smartphone app that uses Bluetooth technology, not
location data, to quickly alert you if you’ve been in
close contact with someone who has tested positive for
COVID-19. If the program alerts you, you can then
quickly protect yourself and others by self-quarantining
and then contact your doctor so that you can be tested.
Click here to read the
new Editorial.
The Town of Brookhaven will hold a paper shredding, e-waste disposal and prescription drug take back program on Saturday, November 7th from 9:30am-1:30pm at the South Country Library, 22 Station Road, Bellport. This event will help residents dispose of sensitive documents, e-waste and expired prescription drugs in an environmentally safe manner. It is open to all Brookhaven Town residents and small businesses. Click here for more information.
The Rotary Club of Bellport has established a
“Durable Medical Lending Closet” for those in need
within Bellport, East Patchogue, Brookhaven, Yaphank,
and Mastic-Shirley. Once stocked, the Bellport Rotary
Club will be able to loan, free of charge, durable
medical equipment, such as: walkers, crutches,
wheelchairs, stair ramps, shower seats, knee walkers,
and canes to those in need of these medical items.
Would you like to donate any of these medical items
you’re not now using? All items donated will be
photographed, tagged and inventoried. The Rotary will
sanitize the equipment and store it until it is needed.
An “In-kind” donation letter will be given to those
making donations. As the Rotary Club of Bellport, Inc is
a tax exempt, not for profit, 501.c.3 organization, you
can claim your donation as a charitable donation on your
taxes.
Contact them through
Facebook or via
email!
A new classified ad has been posted offering tutoring for elementary through high school students. Click here for more information.
Are you ready to get outside and enjoy the Fall weather? Then check out Rich Weissmann's "Hiking on Long Island" column on Bellport.com! Many areas on Long Island offer a wide array of opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you are a couch potato, or a kid; a seasoned athlete or a senior citizen, there is a place to enjoy a walk, a saunter, or a fairly serious hike within a short drive of Bellport. Click here for more information.
A Letter To The Editor got me thinking that it might be time for me to write a follow up to my July Editorial, “COVID-19, It Ain’t Over.” This time, I’m calling it, “It Still Ain’t Over.” Click here to read the new Editorial.
"Long Island Stories" is an opportunity for local authors, or authors who write about Long Island events and places, to share their work with our local community. We're excited to share with you the latest submission, "The Little Red House- So Much Bigger on the Inside" by Deb Canellis. Click here for more information.
A new classified ad has been posted offering tutoring/teaching for children who are interested in learning to read and write Mandarin and Cantonese. Click here for more information.
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.
On Monday, August 31st, Supervisor Ed Romaine,
members of the Town Council, the Department of Housing
and Human Services and the Long Island Housing
Partnership announced the 2020 Town of Brookhaven’s Down
Payment Assistance Program for First-Time Homebuyers.
This program provides eligible first-time homebuyers
with up to $20,000 in down payment/closing costs toward
the purchase of an eligible, new or existing
single-family home, provided that the applicant meets
all program requirements to secure a mortgage.
Homeowners are required to reside in the home as their
principle residence for a minimum of 10 years or the
United States (US) Department of Housing and Urban
Development will require a full repayment of the HOME
Investment Partnership Program down payment assistance
provided. Funding for this program comes from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. The
application is now available online at
www.BrookhavenNY.gov/DownPayment.
For more
information, call the Long Island Housing Partnership at
631-435-4710 and ask about the Brookhaven Town HOME Down
Payment Assistance Program.
The Village of Bellport, more than ever before, needs the support of the Bellport Village Program Fund and its donors to execute vital projects within the Community. The BVPF was not able to host their annual fundraising party, so they are fundraising online. With the loss of the support generated from this event, and with the Village grants frozen by various governmental agencies, the Bellport Village Program Fund does not have the financial resources to continue to uphold our mission to back Community projects. To ensure they are building towards a bright future, when we can come together again as a Community in a non-socially distanced manner to enjoy the many resources that the Fund has continually supported, the Board of the Bellport Village Program Fund is excited to launch an inaugural annual appeal, #BVPF4Bellport. Click here for more information.
Not only do the people of the world have a virus without a cure, but many of the trees in our lovely Village are also suffering. The Bellport Garden Club has just been informed that every Ash Tree in the Village (the Village has about 30) is infected with emerald ash borer and will have to be removed. Your donations to the Tree Fund can help keep Bellport shady and green! Click here for more information.
August 20, 2020: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today
signed into law sweeping election reforms that will make
it easier for New Yorkers to vote and be counted in
November. The three-part package includes new measures
allowing absentee ballot applications to be submitted to
the Board of Elections immediately, expanding the
necessary protections to allow a voter to get an
absentee ballot due to risk or fear of illness including
COVID-19 and ensuring all absentee ballots postmarked on
or before Election Day or received by the Board of
Elections without a postmark on the day after the
Election will be counted. Ballots with a postmark
demonstrating that they were mailed on or before
Election Day will be counted if received by November
10th.
"The federal administration has ordered an
unprecedented attack on the U.S. Postal Service and with
COVID-19 threatening our ability to have safe, in-person
voting, these measures are critical to ensuring a
successful and fair election at one of the most
important moments in our nation's history," Governor
Cuomo said. "These actions will further break down
barriers to democracy and will make it easier for all
New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote this
November."
Relating to Absentee Ballot
Requests Due to Risk of Illness (S.8015-D/A.10833)
This legislation gives voters the right to request an
absentee ballot due to risk of illness to themselves or
others. You can now write in as your reason
for requesting an absentee ballot, “Fear of illness,
COVID-19.”
Relating to
Absentee Ballot Requests (S.8783A/A.10807)
This legislation authorizes voters to
request absentee ballots immediately,
adding almost 7 weeks to the amount of time a voter has
to vote by absentee ballot. This legislation eliminates
an outdated statutory provision that prevents voters
from requesting absentee ballots until 30 days before
Election Day. The legislation gives voters reassurance
that they will receive and can cast their vote in a
timely manner.
Relating to Ballots
Postmarked on Day of Election (S.8799A/A.10808-A)
This legislation allows ballots to be
postmarked on the day of the election, November 3.
The legislation also amends election law to allow the
Board of Elections to count all absentee ballots that
have a time stamp showing it was delivered to the Board
of Elections the day after the election but does not
have a dated postmark. The Board of Elections shall deem
those ballots mailed in a timely fashion.
Absentee Voting:
Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot (Click
here for Deadlines)
• Absent from your
county or, if a resident of New York City absent from
said city, on Election Day.
• Unable to appear at the
polls due to temporary or permanent illness or
disability; or because you are the primary care giver of
one or more individuals who are ill or physically
disabled.
• A resident or patient of a Veterans
Health Administration Hospital.
• Detained in jail
awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after
conviction for an offense other than a felony.
How to Vote by Absentee Ballot (Click
here for Deadlines)
• Applications for
Absentee Ballots are available at your county board of
elections.
• You may also download a PDF version of
the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form
-
Download English Form
-
Download Spanish Form
• Upon completion,
applications must be mailed to your
county board no later than the seventh day before
the election or delivered in person no later than the
day before the election.
• You may also request an
Absentee Ballot by sending a letter to your county board
of elections. The letter must be received by your county
board no later than seven days before the election. The
letter must contain the following information:
- the
address where you are registered
- an address where
the ballot is to be sent
- the reason for the
request, and
- the signature of the voter
If
you apply by letter, an application form will be mailed
with your ballot. The application form must be completed
and returned with your ballot.
If you cannot pick
up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it
through the mail, you have the right to designate
someone to pick it up for you. Only that person
designated on your application may pick up and deliver
your ballot.
If you are permanently ill or
disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee
Ballot for each subsequent election without further
application. Simply file an application with your county
board of elections indicating permanent illness or
physical disability. You will then automatically receive
an absentee ballot for every election until your
registration is canceled.
Click here for the Board of Elections Absentee Voting information.
The Covid-19 Pandemic poses new challenges to all
students as they return to school this fall. With the
many new plans in place, fear and anxiety can be
overwhelming and lead to strong emotion. Youth are often
unable to identify and express their feelings and the
change is seen in their behavior.
The Town of
Brookhaven Youth Bureau’s Sanctuary Program offers
professional counseling, crisis intervention, case
management, information and referrals to youth 12-24
years of age who may be having difficulty with stress
management, relationships with friends or family, school
avoidance and more. Support services are also available
to at risk, runaway and homeless youth. Currently,
services are being offered through video communications
via Zoom or telehealth.
Some steps parents and
guardians can take in talking to their children about
going back to school are:
● Talk to your
child/teen about COVID-19. Ask what they know as a
starting discussion point.
● Validate your child’s
feelings. These can be scary times for everyone.
●
Limit exposure to news and social media.
● Talk to a
friend or a loved one.
● Maintain a feelings journal.
● Set healthy habits; good sleep schedule, regular
exercise and nutrition.
● Avoid too much caffeine.
● Be patient toward others. Although we are all
experiencing the pandemic, each person’s situation is
different.
The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention states mental health is an important part of
overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think,
feel and act. It may also relate to how we handle
stress, relate to others, and make choices during an
emergency.
Virtual groups to help students and
parents are being planned to further support families as
they acclimate to the uncertainty that lies ahead.
Please refer to
brookhavenny.gov for upcoming information or visit
the
Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau’s Facebook page.
If you or someone you know is interested in
receiving counseling through the Brookhaven Youth
Bureau, please call 631-451-8011.
After writing my first Editorial regarding the reimbursement of rental fees to marina slip holders, I thought that would be the end of it. The slip holders weren’t able to use their slips because the Village contractor hadn’t finished work on the marina on time so the boaters couldn’t use their slips. It was such a clear case of right and wrong that I really thought the Village Board would issue partial refunds to the slip holders and that would be it. Well, with the exception of Trustee Mackin, the Village Board just won’t let go. Click here to read the Editorial.
Today, almost 66% of you are visiting Bellport.com with a mobile device, a cell phone or iPad, and our old design made it difficult for you to navigate the site. We wanted to make sure your experience here is a positive one, so it was time for Bellport.com to evolve with the times. Click here for more information.
Every week, The Village News features a photo
submitted by one of our readers. 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 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
Supporters!
Click here to
submit your own ad.