What Are You Doing For New Year's Eve?

As my son just said, 2008 is already an "old geezer" and we're only a day away from 2009. What are you doing for New Year's Eve? Will you be staying home or going out? If you're still not sure, check out this article on Associated content about cool family stuff to do on Long Island.

Whatever you decide to do, be safe and don't drink and drive.

Happy New Year 2009 Mastic Beach!

Update On William Floyd High School Shooting

I was glad to just hear those involved in the shooting at William Floyd High School last Friday were apprehended. Here is the update from the William Floyd School District:


The Suffolk County Police Department has made an arrest in last Friday night’s incident at the high school. Police have identified both the suspect and the man believed to be the intended target as non-students in their twenties. The district is pleased that the Police Department has apprehended the suspect so quickly.

The basketball game scheduled for this Friday night has been moved to Saturday during the day. Attendance will be limited to ticket-holders only with valid picture ID. Tickets will be issued in advance only to parents and siblings of players, cheerleaders and rockettes. A limited number of tickets will be issued in advance to students. For students, a ticket to the game and a William Floyd student identification card are required. No one will be permitted to enter without both a ticket and valid photo identification.

No one will be permitted to enter the game after the first quarter. No one will be allowed to re-enter. Additional security and Suffolk County Police Department personnel will be present.

For updated information on this matter visit our website www.wfsd.k12.ny.us and click on the latest “Important Information” link.

A meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, 2009, at 7:30 PM in the high school auditorium to provide additional information and updates.

Gunshot At William Floyd High School

Last night I was running a few local errands and wondering why there were so many police and emergency vehicles. When I went to Grace Lutheran Church, I discovered there had been a shooting at the high school. Several teary-eyed teens walked through. Needless to say, everyone was concerned and upset but trying to keep it quiet for the sake of the smaller children.

We received an automated call from William Floyd School District this morning to "explain" the incident. The school district website posted:

"A William Floyd High School student was injured by a gunshot wound to the leg outside the school following a basketball game at William Floyd High School. The student was brought to a local hospital. The injuries are not life threatening.

"The incident occurred at approximately 8:10 PM on Friday, December 12, outside of the school. Bystanders helped the student into the building to receive medical attention at which point emergency responders were called to the scene. The school district is working cooperatively with the Suffolk County Police Department. The district will be taking all measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured student and the family. Please check our website for more information as it becomes available."

I am saddened to think of this injured student and the family during the holiday season. We must all pray for healing for the individual and our community.

Christmas Tree Lighting - Mastic Beach Property Owners Association

Last night we attended the Christmas tree lighting at the corner of Elder Road and Neighborhood Road, sponsored by the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association. It was truly a magical, wonderful evening for our family!

This year was the best ever. The Pattersquash Creek Property Owners Association gave out adorable candy canes wrapped in a felt reindeer. Meanwhile, MBPOA had all the holiday spirit covered. Hot chocolate, home baked cookies and endless cupcakes were served. A snowman, manger and Christmas tree were all present in the green. The gazebo was brightly decorated in light for the arrival of Santa. The William Floyd students sang Christmas carols. It was beautiful!

Santa Claus arrived in a decked out fire truck. All the children shouted with glee! Everyone went to sit on Santa's lap. All the kids received really nice coloring books, crayons (they even had a sharpener) and candy canes. Besides all the familiar, hard-working locals who made this possible, Keith Romaine made an appearance.

We had such a wonderful time. In anticipation of the tree lighting ceremony, we decorated our own house and yard. When we returned home, the twinkling lights reminded us of the great time we had at the tree lighting. Way to go MBPOA!

Happy Veterans' Day!

I remember moving into Mastic Beach seven years ago. I saw a variety of signs around the neighborhood supporting veterans and simply stating "Jesus". These signs let us know this was the right place for us. The longer I live here, the more I realize how many veterans reside in our community.

My husband is a disabled Vietnam veteran so this is an important day to our family. Let me take this time to thank every military member and veteran for their selfless support - you are the protectors of our freedom. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE MILITARY! HUGS AND WELCOME HOME TO ALL VETERANS!

HAPPY VETERANS' DAY ALL! Go hug your Veteran :)

Tangier Smith Victory!

Last night we attended the District Wide PTO Volleyball Tournament. It was so much fun! My daughter was in the Spirit Squad for Tangier Smith. They all looked so adorable with their royal blue shirts and pom-poms! Mrs. Markewitz is in charge of our Spirit Squad, which is why they are so enthusiastic and fun!

Hot dogs, pretzels and Gatorade made the event even more enjoyable. Everyone was snacking as they watched the teachers, administrators and PTO play volleyball with lively music in the background.

The Tournament was held in the William Floyd High School gymnasium. With Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Markewitz and all the other great players, we already suspected Tangier Smith would be winners. The excitement built as the Spirit Squad got louder. My son and his friends ran to the top of the bleachers to cheer Tangier Smith on (as older boys they felt too "cool" for the Spirit Squad but made just as much noise :).

We were proud when Tangier Smith won and proud of all the other schools, too. Everyone raised money for our District and we all had a great family time!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to everyone - have safe, happy fun tomorrow with no worries about getting up the next day - TGIF!

The Mastic Beach Property Owners Association is having their annual Halloween party (thank you Kate Browning). The Knights of Columbus in Mastic is also have a free Halloween party between 5 and 8 PM. You can take advantage of another free party at the police headquarters in Yaphank.

If you decide to go trick or treating, only visit people you know and don't trick anyone - it's really about the treats and having fun. Eat a little candy everyday to avoid stomach aches and toothaches. Watch out for traffic and carry lights at night. Keep safety in mind and everyone will have plenty of Halloween fun.

Smith Point - My Son Kicks Bass!

I spent all day writing yesterday and had to get out for awhile to "air out". My husband suggested four wheeling down to Smith Point to do some fishing. After stopping at Smith Point Bait & Tackle (the owners are our neighbors and always know the hot fishing spots) for some bunker, we were on our way.

It was a beautiful day at Smith Point and we were glad to feel the sea breezes whipping through our hair. In minutes, my husband and son set up the rods for surf casting. Within an hour, my nine-year-old son got a BIG hit on his line. My son is an experienced fluke fisherman but never went bass fishing so he was amazed by the strength of the pull on his line. He hesitantly asked his dad to reel it in for him and my husband persisted it was HIS fish and he deserved the rush of reeling it in himself.

At this point, a truck full of young guys stopped to cheer my son on. With dad urging, sister squealing, mom complimenting and the guys cheering, my son reeled in his first striped bass. Holy cow - the fish was 31 inches long (they have to be at least 28 inches to keep them) and almost 20 pounds! We're so proud of our son - now that he kicks bass, you know he'll be back for more!

Another Chance To See The Manor of St. George

Over the summer, the Community Library has a program to tour the Manor of St. George at the end of Neighborhood Road. The program was canceled this summer because of the mosquito population. The tour is rescheduled for this Saturday, October 4 at 11 AM. Check out the Community Library website for more info and to register your children for this wonderful historical experience.

Taking A College Road Trip To The Library

Our Community Library is the perfect place to gather. There's something for everyone and it's always free or low cost. My family and I went to see "College Road Trip" yesterday and had a great time!

The downstairs room at the library just like a movie theater, with comfortable seats and a large screen. Bags of popcorn and juice boxes were served. The movie was an excellent choice with back to school and encourages young people to think about college. "College Road Trip" stars Raven, Martin Lawrence and Donny Osmond, so we laughed during the entire movie.

Where else can you have such a fun afternoon for free?

Bike A Thon

It's funny how Back to School cool at the Community Library was good for the kids and I. While they made their colorful totes, I read a few magazines and took out a funny novel. The magazines inspired me to write for this blog more. Maybe if I take part in the upcoming William Floyd School District Bike-A-Thon, I'll want to exercise more. It's for charity, so it can't hurt to try.

The Bike-A-Thon is sponsored by SEPTO and fundraising benefits both the Special Education PTO and each building PTO. Ten percent goes to the school PTO and the rest benefits special needs children in our district. There are cool prizes for your sponsored donations - example:

$25 donation (smallest) - $10 Toys R Us gift certificate or $10 Target gift certificate (those holidays are coming)

$60 $25 Game Stop or $25 Best Buy gift certificate

$100 - 16" bike for boy or girl or AM/FM CD boom box

$180 I-Pod 2GB Shuffle

$200 - 14" Flat Tube Television

$1,200 - Laptop, 80 GB HD, 15" widescreen

There are all different prizes at various levels. To sign up mail wfsepto@yahoo.com or call 631-399-6258 or go to th HS Senior Cafeteria on Wed. 9/24 at 6 PM. Checks are made out to William Floyd SEPTO. The ride day is October 18 between 9 am and 12 pm. Ride time is less than 30 minutes. Riders are asked to attempt: 2 times around course for grades K-2, 4 times for grades 3-6 and 6 times for 7th grade and above. There are also cool raffles so get involved and get more fit!

Back To School Cool

The Community Library had a fun program on Saturday called, "Back to School Cool". My kids made great tote bags they will use to carry their library books during the years. Since both children read at least a half hour every night, we love the library! It was a terrific program that put my children in the mood for school and reading.

Parent Academy - Identity Theft

William Floyd School District is having their second Parent Academy Workshop. The topic is identity theft and the NYS Attorney General's Office. The educational event is hosted by the William Floyd Community Summit. It will take place at the High School Library on September 24 at 7 PM.

To enroll in the workshop, contact Human Resources (631) 874-1549 or email tmehnert@wfsd.k12.ny.us. Check out this important topic that affects all of us in this high-tech, fast-moving world.

Village of Mastic Beach and The Links

Are you concerned about Mastic Beach becoming an incorporated village? Do you wonder what will happen with the redevelopment project at The Links in Shirley? These are pressing concerns for all of us.

On October 13 at 7 PM the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley will have their monthly meeting at Ladakins Restaurants on Montauk Highway in Moriches. There will be two guest speakers. Paul Breschard, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pattersquash Creek, will discuss creating a village in Mastic Beach. A rep from the Holiday Organization will talk about future plans for The Links at Shirley. To get more info call Pres. Mark Smothergill at 631-399-0396. Be in the know and go to this meeting about your community.

Are You Ready For The Holidays? I'm Not, But...

On a day like today, we're all still thinking of summer. As my husband and kids go fishing, I'm working on several projects today. I keep taking breaks to blog about the community events coming up. Now that I've covered Halloween and Veterans' Day, it seems only natural to think about the holidays.

Am I ready for them? Not yet - I'm still shopping for back to school supplies and haven't even thought about what the kids will be for Halloween. (Well, we thought about it but didn't get anything yet.) Money is tight and we've saving for the holidays and hoping MI HEAP comes through. Despite those facts, the community marches on to plan the 39th Annual Mastics & Shirley Christmas Parade. The parade will be on December 7 at 12 PM at the Southport shopping center where Kohls is located. The rain/snow date for the parade is December 14.

Christmas Parade Grand Marshals are Paul Breschard, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Pattersquash Creek and Ray Hopp, Deputy Director of Colonial Youth & Family Services. Co-chairmen of the parade are Anthony Liberti and Fred Towle, Jr. For more information about supporting the parade, call 631-281-5500, ext. 103. Send donations to Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley, PO Box 4, Mastic, NY 11950. I just can't bring myself to say Merry Christmas yet...not when it's 80 degrees, anyway...

How About Veterans' Day - Since I Already Mentioned Halloween...

Now that I'm thinking of Halloween parties, the next natural thought to pop up is Veterans' Day in November. My husband is a disabled veteran so we always do something special. With all the new veterans in the current war, it's a good year for everyone to do something special for all those veterans who stand up for all of us.

On October 18 there wil be a Craft, Yard, Rummage Sale at American Legion Post 1533 located at the corner of Washington Avenue and Mastic Beach Road. To find out more call 631-1981. Vendors are wanted - contact Joanne at 631-399-5134. Support your local veterans!

Possible Relief From Rising Heating Costs

For all those who did not qualify for LI HEAP, there will possibly be a MI-HEAP as of October. Under the current guidelines, a single person would have to earn less than $22,512 to qualify for LI-HEAP and a family of four would have to earn no more than $43,308. With the proposed MI-HEAP guidelines, a single could earn up to $30,391 annually and a family of four can earn up to $58,465 annually. The program is run by the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association. Those who qualify will receive one-time assistance of $800.

According to Legislator Ed Romaine, "Too many county residents are falling through the cracks." We agree. Check out the story about the proposed MI-HEAP program.

Another resource for heating help is The United Way's "Project Warmth". For more details, call (631)940-3757.

Halloween Is Coming So Let's Party!

We always prefer to participate in a safe, organized activity on Halloween. While we still trick-or-treat, we stay on our own block where we know everyone. For the past two years, we've enjoyed the Halloween festivities at the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association with Kate Browning. This year our community has a Halloween Party and Networking Trad Show for all those new businesses to spread the word.

While I am still waiting to hear about Halloween at the MBPOA, these festivities are sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley and The Montauk Highway Merchants' Association. The Halloween Party will be on Friday, October 31, between 4 PM and 8 PM at the William Floyd High School Cafeteria. The event is free and for the first 800 kids under 13. The kids must be with an adult. Tickets are available starting October 1. Call 281-5330 for more info. If you want a table for the trade show, it's only $100 and you can all the same telephone number.

Fun includes a Halloween costume contest, candy and goodie bags, prizes, entertainment, pumpkin coloring and free giveaways. We love safe, free fun!

Family Fun Day Is On The Way!

The William Floyd Community Summit is hosting a fantastic Family Fun Day on September 27 from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Country Fair Entertainment Park at 3351 Route 112 in Medford.

Tickets are available in advance for $12.50 per person in advance. At the park on the 27th, you can still get tickets for $15 per person. The ticket includes your choice of 3 cool park attractions including: 1 go-kart race, 1 round of miniature golf, 4 batting cage tokens, 1 small bucket of driving range balls.

There will also be free activities and you only pay if you plan on using the park's attractions. You know we love something that is fun and free! Free activities include sack races and family fun relay events. You can pack your own picnic lunch or splurge on food at the park concession stand. Wear sneakers so you can enjoy yourself and be safe during the family fun.

For tickets, write: William Floyd Community Summit, PO Box 191, Mastic, NY 11950 or call for more information at 399-2639. Checks are payable to the William Floyd Community Summit by Monday, September 15 - so hurry up to take advantage of the savings of $2.50 per person (that adds up for large families). If the event is cancelled due to weather, you can still use the tickets on another day at the park up until November 15, 2009. See ya there!

Welcome Back To School!

This week marked back to school for all the parents and children in our community. We are glad to see the budget passed and everyone is taking buses and resuming after school activities.

Next week is Meet the Teachers Night. We can all look forward to meeting and greeting our children's new educators. I am particularly fond of the tradition in our school district that allows parents to bring their children up to the school the day before it starts to informally meet their teachers and see their classrooms. My children always visit their new classroom and teacher the day before school begins and it makes them feel calmer and more confident.

For some great back to school deals, check out Staples. It's so convenient to finally have an office supply store right in our own neighborhood. For just ten cents, you can get pocket folders! The only items Staples does not carry are marble notebooks. Check out Rite Aid who continues to run sales on them (I got 3 for 99 cents - a much better price than CVS, who is charging over 2 bucks apiece for marble notebooks).

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and successful school year!

Montauk Monster Mystery Solved - Or Not?

Remember the Montauk monster? It arrived ashore near the Ditch Plains of Montauk in the middle of summer and had everyone asking – it is a dog, is it a raccoon or is it an alien? Apparently, it's none of the above. After talking to the girls who capture the deceased beast on film, the carcass disappeared. There were stories it was in hiding and tales a man took it into his backyard to have mounted for his wall. Needless to say, no body appeared for scientific analysis.

After questioning Plum Island and considering the Men in Black, it seems the Montauk Monster is a publicity stunt. Rachel Goldberg, who discovered the beast, is the sister of producer Darren Goldberg who is making a monster movie called Splinterheads. On the other hand, Christine Pampalone from East Northport also took photos that day – check it out:



So is director Goldberg just hopping on a ready-made situation to start his own cheap viral campaign promoting Splinterheads? Did the second photographer photo a different beast? Although the questions seem to be answered, are they really? I don't think so but apparently Nicky Papers, owner of the www.montauk-monster.com thinks so because he's already selling the domain name. He says, “Maintaining this website has become too much work for me and it's been hard finding time because I have a full-time job. Additionally, I need to spend more time with family.” Hmm...still wondering what the real story is...

4th Annual Blue Claw Crab Festival

Did you catch the 4th annual Blue Claw Crab Festival thrown by the MBPOA at Marina 1? We had a great time again, despite the fact we missed the crabs. It's the second year in a row we missed out on getting the blue claw crabs the festival is named for. You really have to be the early bird to get a worm at this festival!

The entertainment was great. Remember the Drifters? We were privileged to have the DelSatins, featuring an original from the band. The music was excellent and really got everyone in the mood for fun.

Although we missed the crabs, the other food was tasty. Burgers, hot dogs, gyros, zeppoles, Italian ices, soda, beer and wine were all readily available. The vendors were interesting, with music playing and incense burning. I bought an adorable "Beach Party" lawn sign (what better to display if you live in Mastic Beach) and two wire pumpkins for fall. We all got t-shirt and sweatshirts for $2.50 apiece - who can beat that?

We enjoyed seeing Kate Browning, who always appears on the local scene. We gave her a hug and kiss and thanked her again for all she does. Bless you, Kate!

I had to reflect on the many things I like about Mastic Beach. Although we were disappointed they ran out of crabs again, it's part of what makes this place what it is. There is no waste and no excess. If you get there first, you deserve to get the goodies. It was so comfortable to hang out on our marina and relax. On Saturday, we went to a friend's party in Southhampton. Though it's a lovely place, the people have a different attitude. I love the unpretentious, laid-back attitude in our neighborhood. We're surrounded by beauty and yet act so natural and down-to-earth about it all. It's great to celebrate our neighborhood and waterfront delights every year with the Blue Claw Crab Festival - thanks MBPOA!

Krusty Krab Arrives In Mastic Beach - 4th Annual Blue Claw Crab Festival

Admittedly I watch too much children's television with my kids but I can't resist announcing the Krusty Krab has found it's way to Mastic Beach for all the Sponge Bobs who love crabby patties (better known as crab cakes in these parts).

On August 24, the Mastic Beach Property Owners will hold their 4th annual Blue Claw Crab Festival at Marina 1 on Riviera Drive. The festivities will start at 10 am and continue until 6 pm. With performanced by the Del-Satins along with country dancin' and singin', the event promises to be great family fun. We went last year and had a complete blast with our friends and neighbors. Admission is free and you can find out more by calling 631 399 6111. If you are an interested vendor, contact 631 281 2231.

Food served includes blue claw crabs, shrimp, crab cakes and clams. Beer, wine and soda are served to add to the good times by the beach. With face painting, sand art and a variety of craft vendors, there's something for everyone, young and old.

I am a major crab fan and have even visited Baltimore Maryland to feast on the best blue claws in the world - got news, Maryland has nothing on Mastic Beach! The locals whip up some fabulous crabby cuisine you just have to try. My family and I won't miss it - see ya there!

Metro Balloon & Music Festival Is Lots of Hot Air

I was excited about the Metro NY Balloon and Music Festival when it came to town last year. Imagine such an event right around the corner with performers from my youth such as Joan Jett! After finding out the cost of tickets, I decided to volunteer to offset the price. The only problem is volunteers have to arrive at 5 AM, a tall order when you have children and a business to run.

I wondered if I was being cheap when I thought $10 parking and $25 entry fees were outrageous - never mind the hundreds of dollars it costs to actually go up in a balloon. We are a family of four so I spoke to friends in the same situation. Both felt the prices were outrageous and were more beneficial for those profiting from this event rather than this area. In fact, my friend estimated for a family of four to experience the entire event (ride bracelets, a snack, balloon rides for everyone) would cost more than her last vacation to Disney. When I received a call to volunteer this year, I just chuckled and passed. In fact, we went camping in East Hampton instead to get away from the hectic pace in the neighborhood (we've grown accustomed to the quiet). Our entire weekend cost about 100 bucks and the kids had a great time.

After returning home, I still felt a bit guilty about skipping the festival another year. After checking out this blog, I realized my friends and I have plenty of company from the comments:

http://longislandnewyork.blogspot.com/2007/08/metro-ny-balloon-music-festival-august.html

I am sure many people enjoyed this event, though I doubt many are from around here. With the foreclosure rates so high in our area, people can barely keep a roof over their heads never mind attend such as pricey festival. How is this fun for the majority of our residents, who really can't afford it? Even those who are making ends meet, such as my friends and I, worked hard to get there and aren't ready to fritter away funds for a day trip.

There are things that would be fun and affordable for everyone. I am still concerned about the everyday quality of life in our neighborhood. What happened to our million dollar pool? Another summer goes by with no pool for our residents to appreciate. A decent town pool in our area is long overdue. Will there ever be a skate park or rec center for our kids? While people cluck at the kids skateboarding by the Community Library, they have no suggestions for alternative recreation. Where are they supposed to go? There are the things I want to see happening in our neighborhood...how about you?

Montauk Monster

Real life is stranger than fiction. As my husband and I were discussing scheduling our annual autumn getaway to Montauk Lake, the news flashed a story about the discovery of a Montauk monster.

Apparently a 26 year old girl, Jenna Hewitt, and her friends were walking along the Ditch Plains area of Montauk when they discovered a gruesome, leathery looking creature on the shore. Jenna took pictures of the purplish deceased beast before an older man shuffled the creature away to keep in his backyard. Nobody is sure who removed the creature but the photos are all over the Internet today. According to Newsday, County Executive Steve Levy stated if the creature could be certified as a Suffolk Loch Ness monster, the county would collect plenty of revenue from the tickets sold.

Several theories exist including a rumor the beast is really latex and intended to be a viral marketing campaign for Cartoon Network television show 'Cryptids are Real'. Other resources question whether this is a decomposing dog, turtle or raccoon. Still other people believe it's a Photoshop experiment. Finally, residents are questioning whether the creature is an experiment gone wrong from Plum Island.

On Friday, the girl who took the pics and two witnesses will appear on the web show 'Juice', released by Hamptons based website Plum. Do you think the discussion will shed any more light on this situation? Do you think the Montauk monster is a legend, a viral marketing campaign or a strange creature that requires additional scientific explanation?

St. George's Manor Overrun With Mosquitoes

Just a heads up to anyone who wanted to participate in Saturday's library program at St. George's Manor - it's been canceled because of excessive mosquitoes in the area. We loved the program last year because it is one of the few opportunities residents have to tour the premises and find out the rich history in our area. We're sorry to miss it this year!

National Night Out - William Floyd Community Summit

The William Floyd Community Summit is having a National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5 from 6 PM to 9 PM, rain or shine. A community rally is being held to promote safe neighborhoods. Representatives from local organizations and town and county agencies will be present.

The event is is free, which means we'll definitely be there :) Food, beverages, ice cream, live music and entertainment and fun and games for the kids are available. There will also be important community information presented. See you at the William Floyd High School football fields on Tuesday night!

YUMAAC - You've Gotta Love It

We recently attended the awards ceremony for YUMAAC to celebrate our son's first year playing baseball. It was an impressive event with trophies for all the participants. My family really enjoyed the formal nature of the presentation. The volunteers are all extremely dedicated, which is exactly what makes this fantastic program for kids possible. As of this year, YUMAAC has been helping kids learn about good sportsmanship for five decades. To find out more about YUMAAC, visit their website at www.yumaac.com - it's a great place for your son or daughter to discover the fun of playing baseball!

I'm Back, With Thanks

My husband was diagnosed with skin cancer and had to have surgery done on his nose and around his eye. It has been a difficult month for our family but last week my husband finally got the word from the doctor that all the cancer had been removed. After a month of caregiving and worry, I was able to let out a sigh of relief and thank God for his improved health.

I wanted to thank everyone who supported us during this stressful time. My son's teacher was wonderful and offered any assistance we needed along the way while keeping my son focused on learning. The mothers at my daughter's dancing school offering support, advice and shared stories. When I went to Norma and John's Deli, they insisted on sending home chicken soup for him and were so supportive. Mona's husband (from N and R Cool Cuts) was at Norma's and sent his sincere regards to my husband. My neighbors and friends checked in, helped with the kids and were truly concerned. After living in several places on Long Island during my life, I never saw such love and concern as from the people in Mastic Beach. What a caring community!

Just a reminder to everyone we care about -the summer is here, so don't forget to use sunscreen as you enjoy all those outdoor activities that make Mastic Beach so special to us all. As you go beaching, boating, biking and walking, put on sunscreen because skin cancer can creep up on any of us.

Happy summering - and grab that sunscreen!

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?

I'm Back...And So Are The Movies!

I left off talking about the rebuilt Mastic Movieland. I was sick for a couple of weeks and had to take time away from my blogging to recuperate. I'm glad to be back on my feet. I spent time in the yard with my kids and the neighborhood kids this week, exploring the new flowers that sprouted everyday (I just love the sunny faces of our daffodils) and checking out ladybugs.

With the arrival of the weekend, I'd like to finally check out the new movie theater. Everyone is saying how clean and beautiful it is and I can't wait to see it. I did discover the new telephone number to find out the movies playing is 631 657 3297.

We will also definitely be getting an Applebee's soon. I am really excited about this. Imagine a community where you can walk miles of wildlife trails at the Wertheim or the William Floyd then return to the mainstream for movies and burgers? It's coming to our neighborhood and it's all good!

Movies Are Back In Mastic!

We finally have our movie theater back! I was so happy and discovered it over Easter recess. My kids with staying with grandma to go to the movies, a fun day we all used to have together. I took a day out with my husband and on the way to Atlantic Seafood for a fine fish dinner, I saw the movie had opened again.

Legislator Kate Browning stated in Suffolk Life, "It's great that our kids will now have a place to go in the area. Kids enjoy going to the movies. Before, we had to go to Patchogue or up the [Long Island Expressway]. It's nice to have someplace close to go. But there are many more things we need to do for kids in our area. This is just the start. But I'm happy it's finally renovated."

Another fun place to go in Mastic Beach!

Why Leave Mastic Beach?

I'm guilty of it. For the first three or four years I lived here, I went back to my hometown for everything from dining out to haircuts to doctors. Finally, I settled in and found some great niches right here in Mastic Beach. Although the storefronts may look informal and unassuming, you'll find incredible, attentive service with a personal touch right here in your new hometown.
Don't drive for miles to enjoy yourself or get stuff done - do it in Mastic Beach!

What Is Smith Point Town?

I received an email from Vinnie, the proprietor of the Mastic Shirley Report, about Steve Levy approving the use of Smith Point as an address. Check out Vinnie's comments from his blog then read on to see mine:

In the March 26th edition of the SUFFOLK LIFE newspaper, there is an article in which 'Smith Point Residents Lobby for Own Zip Code'. (by Barbara LaMonica).

I consider this an outrageous attempt to secede from their community in what only can be described as elitism. Just what exactly is the Smith Point Beach Property owners association? Everyone knows that NOBODY owns land on Smiths Point, just NEAR it. How near do you have to be to be included? Is this a new 'other side of the tracks' issue? I can find no reference to this group either online or in any phone directory either. The two people quoted in the article state they are from the Smith Point Beach Property Owners association but is this a group of two? I do see a group called the Smith Point PeninsulaHomeowners Association but there is no listing for the two quoted in the paper as being members of that organization.

Statements like 'we always lived in the shadow of Mastic Beach' are truly incomprehensible to me....you ARE IN MASTIC BEACH! other statements like 'we started to realize that we were significantly different' and 'we are the gateway to the Fire Island National Seashore' infuriates me to no end! HOW DIFFERENT ARE YOU? DO YOU HAVE TWO HEADS? The post office response so far is that zip codes 'are not assigned to provide community identity' seems comforting, but what identity are they trying to create? IT smells to me like they simply don't want to live in mastic or shirley anymore!

Also, apparantly Steve Levy is on board with this as well according to the article. Ive emailed him and other community leaders looking for a response but there has been an utter lack of communication so far.

Now I have all of our town leaders linked on the main page. If this infuriates you as much as me, then ACT! WRITE! EMAIL! CALL! Make your opinion KNOWN!

I appreciate Vinnie's comments and want to add my own. First of all, let's not forget the discussions a few months ago to make "The Links" into a pricey gated community. Will the address there also be Smith Point? Is this to help big builders sell these houses more quickly because people may not realize it's actually Mastic, Shirley and Moriches? Are these people trying to avoid the negative media attention and set up a segregated area? What about all the promises made to our community as we pay taxes that continue to increase? The solution presented by government leaders is setting up an incorporated village and charging more taxes but will this really change anything? Should we examine villages such as Amityville for our answers?

Further, do government officials want to "dress up" the area where people from all over drive to the beach in the summer to attempt to "hide" what is going on a mere few blocks away? It's time to get real around here.

Spring Has Sprung

During the past week, spring has sprung in Mastic Beach! With daylight savings time, there is more sunshine so the children are playing outside longer and you hear the welcome sounds of laughter despite frequent bouts with rain.

St. Patrick's Day was Monday and we had a terrific time at the Community Library. My children decorated delicious shamrock cookies with green icing while my husband and I enjoyed laughter yoga. The kids got paper aprons and hats and decorated the cookie box then got to eat a tasty cookie - what could be better? My husband and I loved laughter yoga, a variation on traditional yoga which is also taught at the library. By using forced laughter and yoga stretching, you rejuvenate and improve your breathing. We all felt wonderful on St. Paddy's day at the library! Meanwhile, the Long Island Press had an article about Leg. Kate Browning, a native of Ireland, teaching Irish dance at the local Long Island School of the Arts. What an exciting, cultural community we live in!

Today is also the first day the children have off for spring break although many of the Easter and spring activities took place last weekend. There are still ongoing services for the holidays at the local houses of worship and you can find a last minute Easter bunny at Walmart in Middle Island. On Friday and Saturday between 10 and 2, the bunny will be at Walmart for free photos.

Meanwhile, in the back of all our minds is the idea that our neighborhood may become an incorporated village. What do you think of this?

With so much to see and do around town, have a wonderful spring break in beautiful Mastic Beach!

Getting Around Town

I just went for a haircut to Mona, the best hair dresser in Mastic Beach, and was pleased to see the community banding together again. Mona own's N & R Cool Cuts by the Mastic Beach post office and she talked to me about legislator Kate Browning coming in to visit the local shopkeepers with a petition about the WBLI situation. I told her about my recent Associated article and we talked about local merchants who were supporting our community and working toward improving its face. She was offering business cards from Norma's Deli & Grill (a new, great little place for sandwiches with terrific prices). Mona also had a sign up featuring a free pizza from Pizza Time with 10 haircuts (on the other side of that, Pizza Time offers a free haircut with ten pizzas).

I love living in a community where everyone is so supportive of each other, where legislators visit business owners and business owners promote one another. I've lived all over Suffolk County throughout the course of my life and never saw such a tight-knit community as Mastic Beach. Get in on it by supporting your local merchants and having pride in the place you live!

A Place for the Beautiful People

We've all heard the phrase, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". When I think of beautiful people, I don't think of fancy hairstyles or designer clothes (although ornaments can be attractive they don't endure). To me beautiful people are friendly, hard-working and not afraid to say what they feel. These beautiful people live in the unpretentious, natural environment of Mastic, Shirley, Moriches.

While surrounding towns are caught up in image, people here are concerned with substance. Although the journey may take a bit longer, in time our community will be stronger than ever because of the beautiful people that live here, continuing to share and give.

A Good Place With Bad Press

Tired of all the bad press about fantastic Mastic Beach? I recently wrote in article about the WBLI scandal and you can check it out at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/637775/wbli_dj_rowdy_randy_spears_makes_foolish.html

More good news - Vinnie Pinzone started a website for the community with updated news links at www.masticshirleyreport.com - I heard from him today through Associated Content where I posted the article about WBLI. It's great to see so many people in our community appreciate its value and unique beauty and are ready to stand up for it.

Just as a reminder there will be an important meeting of the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association tomorrow night at 7 pm and the councilman will be present. With all the issues on the table, including the possible incorporation of Mastic Beach as a village, everyone should try to make it.

Welcome To Mastic Beach

Welcome to magnificent Mastic Beach - the most beautiful and down-to-earn peninsula on Long Island where the American dream is still a reality. Join us to find out the latest happenings around town, to voice your opinions or to share useful information. If you live in this unique place, you know why and this blog talks about it.