Great Mom and Pop Places In Mastic Beach

I received a recent comment about my excitement that an Applebee's is coming and I wanted to thank you for reminding me to talk about those great mom and pop places in Mastic Beach. The writer stated there are plenty of mom and pop places that are better if you look beyond the green neon. This is true and whether Applebee's ever arrives, I will still remain loyal to all our local merchants because they are so terrific.

Who can beat Onofrio's for a fabulous, romantic Italian meal or a get together with family for a special occasion? Patti makes you feel right at home. If you want a private meal with good service or one of the best pizzas on Long Island, John's Pizza is the place. For breakfast and lunch, you have to check out Norma's Grill, where John and Norma whip up some of the best pancakes and sandwiches around. Barbara's Kitchen has homemade meals just like mom's. The greatest part of our local merchants is they know you by name and really take care of you. I don't think you'll ever get that at Applebee's...

Also, thanks for the comment with the link for the new movie theater http://www.island-cinema.com/index.aspx - you can get updated listings and be on your way after a delicious local lunch or dinner.

On another note about local business, a comment in response to a post I wrote in April:

" The Suffolk Life article you refer to only quotes members of the Smith Point Beach Property Owners Assoc. You are mentioning the Smith Point Peninsula Homeowners Assoc,(who had NOTHING to do with that article), as the group behind this news story. We are not. As for Smith Point Town, no, however we are a recognized hamlet in the town of Brookhaven. Our boundaries as shown on the Manor of St George map,run south of the Links, east to Flower Rd and west to Smith Rd. We are not Mastic Beach, however we respect and admire our neighboring community of Mastic Beach. We don't believe that a post office or even a zip code change is necessary to improve our identity. In fact, a separate post office would be a colossal waste of federal tax dollars which could be put to much better use for our community (sewers? beach erosion?) The Smith Point Beach Property Owners are the group quoted in the news. Their president is one of the two people quoted in the article and is NOT a member of our association, nor would she be as she is not a resident of Smith Point. She actually lives up off Montauk Highway by CVS. The second person quoted is the chairman of SPBPOA, also NOT a member of our association. Thanks for your interest. Please feel free to visit our website www.smithpointhomeowners.org "

Finally, with the idea of supporting local talent I have linked to other local blogs with some really great content. Check out the websites and blogs supporting our neighborhood. It's incredible when everyone works toward the same goal!

A Victorian Tea In Mastic Beach

I was completely charmed on Thursday evening when I attended a Victorian Tea at the Tangier Smith Elementary School. It was a fun, cultural experience that was a good time for all.

Tasty gourmet cookies and a variety of teas were served, including herbal tea and iced tea for the children. Students from the William Floyd High School orchestra played in the background, which was simply perfect. It was a pleasure to see teens devoting their evening to such a worthy event for children. The children made an easy craft which turned out adorable. It was a simple sachet with fabric and potpourri, which only took a few minutes and will add a pleasant scent to our drawers. There was even a raffle at the end.

My children and I really enjoyed this little event just a few days after Mother's Day. Just one of the many cultural events we get to appreciate in Mastic Beach!

Live Author/Illustrator Evening At Tangier Smith

Last night was just another reason why I love living in Mastic Beach. Tangier Smith Elementary School held its first Live Author/Illustrator Evening with 22 favorite local authors and illustrators. All of the other elementary schools were invited to attend and the turnout was terrific.

Because I am a writer, my children were really excited about this program. The whole family attended and the organized, artistic envirionment really impressed us. Books were available for purchase with the authors and illustrators on hand to sign them for the students.

My daughter was mesmerized by Mary McManus Burke, a lovely writer from Smithtown while my son was enthused to see his friend's grandfather, Frank DeWitt, who lives right here in Mastic Beach. With writers such as Joyce Zucker, Paul Rodriguez, Sheila & Letty Sustrin and Dr. Kathryn T. Hegeman, there were diverse selections for all the children.

Cultural programs such as this encourage our children to exceed all limitations and dream big for the future. Good stuff, Tangier Smith Elementary!

Mastic Beach As An Incorporated Village

I am fence straddling about the idea of Mastic Beach becoming an incorporated village. While the additional tax revenue and designation would certainly improve the face of the community over time, can the residents afford it? Many people are strugging to maintain their homes now and Mastic Beach has one of the highest foreclosure rates in Suffolk County. Can we really place the burden of improving an entire community upon a limited number of already strained taxpayers? How will this impact the surrounding communities? What do you think?