Police beat: Wheels stolen in Greenlawn

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A man stole two cell phones today from behind a counter at the CVS store on Commack Road.

Greenlawn

The wheels and rims were stolen from a car in the owner’s driveway on North Lane yesterday.

Huntington

A burglary was discovered today at Tip Top Cleaners on Gerard Street. The police report said a glass door was broken to gain entry and money was taken.

Huntington Station

A resident on West 10th Street told police that someone broke into her apartment yesterday.

Security personnel at the Macy’s in the Walt Whitman Mall called police yesterday to report that a mother and daughter that were caught shoplifting in the store were causing a disturbance.

A man who broken into Artie’s Deli on East 17th Street was arrested and charged with burglary today. The owner of the deli said money and electronic equipment were stolen.

Police reported yesterday that a woman was assaulted and robbed of her pocketbook with money and jewelry in it by another woman on Longley Place. The assailant was arrested today.

Melville

A driver-side car window was broken yesterday on a car at the Huntington Hills Hospice on the South Service Road and a electronic system was stolen.

A man was stopped and arrested today and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle on Sweet Hollow Road.

Dream Dinners coming to East Northport

Meals being made at an already-open Dream Dinners franchise.

By Deborah S. Morris
deborah.morris@newsday.com

The question, “What’s for dinner?” may never be the same again for East Northport residents thanks to an innovative meal assembly store opening soon.

The Dream Dinners franchise is coming to the Blue Ribbon Plaza at 3028 Jericho Turnpike thanks to residents Mindy Rogers and Betsy Hall. The store offers a new way to answer the age old question and helps to eliminate the stress of daily menu planning, grocery shopping, prep-work and clean-up by moving the process out of home kitchens into specially equipped retail outlets.

“We’re already getting a great response from the local community and are very excited to be bringing this valuable service to East Northport,” Rogers said.
Dream Dinners works by letting customers preview a monthly menu online, select a menu and then attend a meal assembly session at a local Dream Dinners retail location.

At that session consumers rotate among refrigerated recipe stations, scooping cut and prepped uncooked ingredients into the provided baking pans or zip-top freezer bags. The uncooked dinners are taken home and placed in the freezer to be enjoyed in the weeks ahead. The whole process takes two hours and averages $260 for 12, 6-serving dinners, or around $3.60 per serving.

A grand opening will be held Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The East Northport Dream Dinners will be the first meal-assembly store to open in the local area.

Attendees at the East Northport grand opening will have an opportunity to win a chest freezer with a session sign up, as well as the opportunity to receive a free marinated steak dinner. In addition, for each customer who signs up for a session, a donation will be made to Have-a-Heart Children’s Cancer Society to assist families going through the difficult and costly process of treatment for their child.
For more information call 631-486-6214.

What's happening at Huntington schools

There’s a lot going on in the Huntington school district now that the students are settled in. Here’s just a sampling of announcements from the administration this week:

CSI Huntington (they’re not calling it that).

High school's Parent-Teacher-Student Association meets Tuesday.

A senior does biomedical research at Cold Spring Harbor labs.

Blue Devils marching band starts off on a high note.

Biology becomes “Living Environment.”

The rules for going to the dance.

Woodhull leads in elementary enrollment.

Photos from Meet the Teacher night at Southdown.

Arts-in-education program shapes up.

Pop quiz for adult ed chief in Huntington

By Tim Healy
tim.healy@newsday.com

Kenneth A. Card, the principal of the Woodhull Intermediate School, has been named director of the Huntington school district’s adult and continuing education program. He is a May 2006 graduate of Dowling College’s doctoral program in educational administration, leadership and technology and he has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history from Stony Brook. Before coming to Huntington, he was an assistant principal at Oldfield Middle School in the Harborfields district. There are details below about signing up for classes, but first we asked him some quick questions:

Q. Do you have any changes planned yet in terms of programs?
A. Not really, because I got appointed late in August and I really have to scramble quickly to try to get it together for the fall, but in the spring I hope to add many more choices for the residents in Huntington, looking at programs from working on the Internet to maybe programs geared toward citizenship for some of the people who live in our community who might be pursuing citizenship. More things that are creative and fun for the community residents . . . We’re also looking at programs related to real estate – how to be a wise consumer of refinancing your home mortgage – because I think that’s really important, given the current climate we’re in.

Q. What’s the most popular course now?
A. At this moment, I would have to say the dancing. There’s a ballroom dancing course that’s offered and I think that’s been pretty consistent over the past couple of years. I also think that our sports programs … indoor soccer has been widely attended by many of the district residents … Hopefully we’ll be able to build on those.

Q. What’s your most unusual course?
A. Probably creating travel books . . . It’s pretty unusual, but pretty creative.

Q. You’re the principal at the intermediate school, and now you’re going to be dealing with adults. Do you have any sense yet of which kind of students are easier to deal with?
A. Well, I think they are a different population … I think adult ed/continuing ed people are doing it for their own enrichment and enjoyment. And kids are pretty much mandated – it’s something they have to do, but we hope that once they get here, they see that there are many other things that they can do, that really are rewarding in terms of being with their peers and learning together with their peers and working with teachers to build knowledge. So I think they are two different groups and I really don’t think you can compare them.

How to find out and sign up
The Huntington School District’s adult education program will hold fall semester registration from Monday to Wednesday in the Huntington High School lobby from 7-9 p.m. Regular course fees are $15 for resident senior citizens (whenever space is available, except for those classes marked special fee or limited), $50 for other district residents and $65 for those living outside the district. Fees can vary based on the specific course and the duration of the class. (One day seminars can run as little as $16 for residents.) Classes begin the week of Oct. 1.

Information on fall courses can be found on the district’s Web site. If you need more information, contact Card at 673-2010 or e-mail him at adulted@hufsd.edu. And they're accepting ideas for new courses or proposals to teach a class.

What the neighbors are up to

Compiled by Lynn Petry

The town’s Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. to consider the following applications:

Commack

Angela Cipriani seeks front-yard variance to legalize front wood porch and legalize conversion of rear open porch to an enclosed heated porch, west side of Larry Drive, south of Rosalie Place.

Richard Punturo seeks to legalize a 12-foot by 10-foot storage shed, 8-foot by 7-foot gazebo, both in front of the main house, and legalize decks attached to rear of house, northwest corner of Galleine Street and Burton Lane.

Dix Hills

Thomas Raneri seeks side-yard variance to build a second-story addition, new portico, two dormers and interior alteration and legalize conversion of detached two-car carport to attached two-car garage by an enclosed breezeway and legalize front porch, west side of Westminster Avenue, north of Ormonde Street.

All Island Permits seeks long-street side-yard variance to build a front roofed-over porch, southwest corner of Broadoak Lane and Woodsend Road.

East Northport

Vincent Mercuries / All Island Permits seeks front- and long-street side yard variances to build first- and second-story additions with proposed front portico and masonry steps with planter in long-street side-yard and to replace expired permit for addition and garage conversion, southeast corner of Cedar Road.

Raffaele Petruzzellis seeks a side-yard variance to legalize a cellar entrance, west side of Larkfield Road, south of Cedar Road.

Huntington Station

Huntington Indoor Tennis Inc. seeks to build an addition of 8,092-square-foot for additional tennis court requiring rear-yard relief, relaxation of buffers, interpretation from zoning board of appeals and parking relief, south side of Broadway across from Highview Avenue.

Melville

Anthony Branchinelli / Route 110 Associates, Llc, received parking relief (Zoning Board of Appeals 18947) to apply to Planning Board for site-plan approval to demolish existing 2800-square-foot restaurant and build 4,550-square-foot structure, as per Department of Transportation, applicant now requires relief for two additional parking spaces.

Huntington Marine completes training

Marine Corps Pfc. Victor Y. Kim, son of Choon Hwa and Woon Tae Kim of Huntington, recently completed the Electro-Optical Ordnance Repairer Course, the Defense Department announced today.

During the 20-week course at the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., students receive training on inspection and maintenance of electro-optical equipment used in tanks, howitzers, light armored vehicles, guided missile systems, lasers, night vision equipment and survey instruments. Students also receive instructions in electrical theory, electronics, digital and analog circuits, schematic analysis, precision soldering, and test diagnostic troubleshooting.

Kim is a 2005 graduate of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School of Bayside, and joined the Marine Corps in September 2006.

Police beat: Dix Hills robbery arrest

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A car was broken into yesterday in a parking lot on Motor Parkway and a briefcase was stolen.

Police reported that a woman was arrested and charged with grand larceny involving the use of a credit card at the Hamlet County Club.

Dix Hills

A man was arrested yesterday on Elliott Avenue and charged with robbery and displaying a firearm. The police report did not indicate what type of firearm was used.

East Northport

The driver-side window was broken yesterday on a car on Dickinson Avenue and the navigation system was stolen.

Elwood

A man was seen stealing video games from the Circuit City store on Jericho Turnpike yesterday. The store security people gave police a description of his car but they didn’t get the license plate number.

Huntington

A theft was reported yesterday at the Citgo gas station on East Jericho Turnpike. The owner said cars were broken into and parts were stolen.

A man was arrested yesterday at Routes 25 and 110 and charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

A burglary was discovered today at a deli on East 17th Street. The owner told police money was taken.

A man broke a window today in the back door of the Depot Laundry on Depot Road.

Pool safety measure passes unanimously

The Suffolk County Legislature today unanimously approved creation of an annual "Be Pool Smart" public education campaign to promote pool safety.

The vote follows the drowning death of a 3-year-old Mastic Beach boy in his family's backyard pool earlier this month and the drowning of a 4-year-old Commack girl who was found in her family's pool last month.

The measure, sponsored by Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Huntington), above, is designed to inform the public about pool safety steps, include proper fencing, pool alarms and door exit alarms, as well as safety covers when pools are not in use. The campaign will emphasize that none of these steps is a substitute for constant adult supervision.

The cornerstone of the campaign will be an annual poster contest for elementary school students in Suffolk County. The winning poster will be featured on the front cover of a pool safety pamphlet that will be printed each year by the Department of Health and Human Services and that will be distributed free to schools, public libraries, pool supply stores and other locations.

Services for driver in Greenlawn crash

An East Northport man who lost control of his car and hit a pole in Greenlawn last week has died of his injuries.

A wake for Kyle D. Herman, 20, begins today at Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home, 5 Laurel Avenue, Northport. His funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Centerport United Methodist Church.

He was driving a 1994 Saturn east on Wells Road in Greenlawn around 12:15 a.m. on Sept. 14 when he lost control of the vehicle, police said at the time. The car then struck a utility pole on the south side of the roadway, in front of 99 Wells Rd. He was taken by police helicopter to the Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he died Monday.

Coltrane tour in Dix Hills hits right note with officials

Councilwoman Glenda Jackson with Robert Hughes, the town historian; Steve Fulgoni, president of Friends of the John Coltrane Home; Charla Bolton of the Historical Society; Irene Moore, head of the AAHDC; and local historian Rex Metcalfe.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

A contingent of local officials and historians took a private tour earlier this month of late musician John Coltrane’s former home in Dix Hills, which is where the saxophonist composed his four-part jazz masterpiece, “A Love Supreme,” in 1964.

“It’s truly amazing to be in the same rooms where legendary music was made,” said Councilwoman Glenda Jackson, who noted the album was ranked 47 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. “It’s a great historic and educational resource.”

Sitting on 3.4-acre wooded area on Candlewood Path, the brick and wood ranch has four bedrooms, an expansive living room, a studio and a practice room above the garage. But it also has structural problems ranging from stripped walls to severe water damage, which is now in the hands of the Friends of the Coltrane Home, a non-profit organization founded specifically to fund preservation of the historic home.

The recent tour, Jackson said, was a chance for local officials to survey restorations made so far to the one-story house, which the town declared a local landmark in 2005 and purchased as part of an ongoing effort to document the town’s African American history.

“We’re continuing efforts to stabilize the home after being vacant for five years,” said Steve Fulgoni, president of Friends of the Coltrane Home. “We have partially restored electricity, water, and done extensive cleaning inside the home during the last few months. We’ve also been making the exterior of the home more presentable for the community.”

Jackson said she was “impressed” with what she saw on the September 5th tour.

“The original flooring is still there, which is simply amazing to me,” said Jackson. “They’ve done a lot of cleanup, but they’ve just scratched the surface. It’s a big project.”

Click this screen to hear Coltrane play:


Down the road, the Friends group hopes to restore the old home to its appearance when Coltrane lived there, while turning it into a permanent John Coltrane resource center. They also hope to secure a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, Fulgoni said.

So far, Friends of the Coltrane Home has collected about $50,000 in donations, about half of the group’s goal of $100,000 needed to stabilize the house by year’s end.

“I urge people to get involved and help in whatever way they can,” said Jackson. “This is not a project they can do alone.”

In addition to Jackson and Fulgoni, other officials in attendance included Town Historian Robert Hughes, African American Historic Designation Council Chair Irene Moore, local historian Rex Metcalfe and Charla Bolton, a preservation advocate with the Society for the Preservation of Long Island.

Walt Whitman singers back from Europe

Students Jane Pigliacelli, Lauren Varolian, Alanna Shalinski, Kayla Cook, Danielle Burby and Noelle DeLorenzo with Judy Leopold, the Whitman choir director.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Seven students from Walt Whitman High School were among 96 statewide to partake in the American Music Abroad Summer Tour in Europe, where they represented the U.S. as goodwill music ambassadors. The school had more students chosen than any in the state.

“We had scattered performances in some beautiful cathedrals and monasteries,” said senior Lauren Varolian, a soloist along with Michael Fawcett, who graduated in June. “I really didn’t think the people over there would enjoy us as much as they did. One time, we attracted a crowd of over 100 people when we only expected a handful to show up.”

Before departing on their 21-day trip, the students traveled to East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania for three days of rehearsing, culminating in a farewell concert for their families. In mid June, they traveled to Switzerland, where their journey began.

“We left our TVs and Internet behind and saw a new side of the world,” said Varolian, who noted that the highlight was having a snowball fight on an Austrian glacier in July. “It was amazing to see 1,000 years of artifacts that we simply don’t have in our country.”

Police beat: Pavement breaker taken in Melville

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A GPS unit was stolen yesterday from a car in the Hampton Inn parking lot on Commack Road. The police report said the driver-side window was broken to gain entry to the car.

A Scarlet Drive resident told police his golf clubs were stolen from his garage yesterday.

An air conditioning unit was reported stolen yesterday from the Ultra Cuts Hair Salon on Commack Road.

Graffiti with what police described as a possible gang mark was found spray-painted on a building on Motor Parkway yesterday.

Dix Hills

A Fig Drive resident reported yesterday that her jewelry was stolen from her bedroom.

Huntington

A man at a law office on Harrison Drive said his car was damaged by a pellet gunshot yesterday.

A man was arrested yesterday on Route 25 and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

A man was arrested on Park Avenue yesterday and charged with leaving the scene of a accident with property damage involved.

Huntington Station

A man was arrested yesterday on Oakwood Road and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Melville

A woman on Walt Whitman Road told police she was robbed yesterday.

Police reported yesterday that a man was arrested and charged with reckless driving on Old Country Road.

A pavement breaker was reported stolen today from a KeySpan equipment station on Spagnoli Road.

South Huntington breast cancer intern

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Tehreem Rehman, a junior at Walt Whitman High School, recently completed a breast cancer laboratory research internship at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. During her four-week experience, Rehman helped to extract DNA samples from tissue and investigated common pollutants and their effects on the development of breast cancer.

“I learned how cancer-causing elements like dioxins are very prevalent in our air,” said Rehman, 16 who first heard of the summer internship through her science teacher. “I’ve always believed that the rising rates of cancer are somehow related to the environment, and getting the opportunity to aid in research focused on that issue was truly phenomenal.”

As part of the research program, Rehman worked everyday with two staff mentors and lived with one of the Fox Chase researchers and her family. She was sponsored by a grassroots scholarship launched by the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition’s “Prevention Is The Cure” campaign.

Huntington Bay zoning meeting tomorrow

The Huntington Bay Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing tomorrow night at 7:30 to review five applications. Because a large crowd is expected, the meeting has been moved to the Halesite Fire House, 1 New York Ave., Huntington.

The five applications, as described by the village, are:

Morris Sendor; 17 Locust Lane: In order to construct an in-ground pool, patio and pool equipment the applicant requires a variance for Area of lot and Lot Area Coverage. The subject property is located within flood hazard zone: X, areas outside of five hundred (500) year floodplain.

Fran Geier; 23 Heckscher Dr. In order to construct additions and alterations the applicant requires a variance for Area of lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage, Side yards, Rear yard, and Items permitted in setback areas. Site Plan Review by the Planning Board of the Village of Huntington Bay is also required. As the subject property is located adjacent to Huntington Harbor,a permit for construction or a letter of non jurisdiction issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is required. As the subject property is within 500ft. of a village boundary, referral to the Suffolk County Planning Commission is required.

Dan Lefkowitz; 1 Shore Dr. In order to legalize an enlarged reverse gable and a new reverse gable, both built without benefit of a building permit, the applicant requires a variance for Area of Lot, Width of Lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage, Front yard, Side yards, Rear yard and Items permitted in setback areas, compliance of driveways. Site Plan Review by the Planning Board of the Village of Huntington Bay is required. As the subject property is waterfront property, a Permit or Letter of Non-Jurisdiction from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is required. As the subject property is within 500ft. of a village boundary, referral to the Suffolk County Planning Commission is required.

Wendy & Michael Busby; 183 Bay Ave. The property is located in the Incorporated Village of Huntington Bay Zoning District `C.' In order to construct a new dwelling to replace one destroyed by fire the applicant requires a variance for Area of lot, Width of lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage and Items permitted in setback areas, compliance of driveways. The subject property is located within flood hazard zone X, areas outside of the five hundred (500) year floodplain.

6 Castle Harbor Partners, LLC; 1 Schwab Rd. Suite 8, Melville In order to replace an existing dwelling at 6 Castle Harbor Road the applicant requires a variance for Area of Lot, Floor area ratio, Lot area coverage, Side yards, Items permitted in setback areas, compliance of driveways. A Steep Slope Special Permit issued by the Planning Board is required. Site Plan Review by the Planning Board is required. The subject property is located within flood hazard zone X, areas outside of the five hundred (500) year floodplain. As the subject property is within 500ft. of a Village boundary, referral to the Suffolk County Planning Commission is required.

Exhibit at Walt Whitman Birthplace

The Walt Whitman Birthplace has opened a new exhibit entitled “Ancient Musical Instruments and Mystery of the Past; Romantic Expressionism in Oil Paintings,” by Edward Tabachnik which runs through Oct. 20th.

On hand to open the exhibit were, from left, Assemb. Andrew Raia (R-East Northport); Galina and Edward Tabachnik; Assemb. Jim Conte (R-Huntington Station); Tom Casey, Birthplace board president; Sherri Casey, trustee; and Cynthia Shor, the executive director.

The Birthplace is located across Route 110 from the Walt Whitman mall. At this time of year it is open Wednesday to Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for those over 65. Free for WWBA members and those 18 and under.

Police beat: Melville security booth hit

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A couple were caught shoplifting yesterday at the Macy store on Veterans Memorial HIghway.

A resident on Antrin Court said she found graffiti on her garage yesterday.

Shipping pallets were stolen yesterday from a company on Mall Drive.

East Northport

A gas station attendant on Elwood Road said a car with New Jersey license plates drove off without paying for gas yesterday. Police were given the license plate number of the car.

Huntington Station

A book of New York State inspection stickers was stolen yesterday from Honda Auto on East Jericho Turnpike.

A window and neon sign were broken yesterday on a building on East Jericho Turnpike.

Melville

A sliding glass door at a security booth at The Greens on Old East Neck Road was broken after it was hit with what was described as a shot yesterday.

West Hills

Numerous plants and shrubs were stolen yesterday from the West Hills Animal Hospital on West Jericho Turnpike.

Fall festival at Centerport beach house

Senior citizens in the Town of Huntington are invited to a Fall Festival tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the senior citizen beach house in Centerport.

Among the activities planned are a picnic, dancing, bingo, tap dancers, a sidewalk sale of art by senior citizens, and a “charity workshop” involving handmade goods, according to Anne Carballeira, the program supervisor and Beach House manager. The organizers have also set up a raffle with 18 prizes, including a $75 gift certificate at a hair and nail salon, wine and flowers.

Apples have been donated by Richter’s Orchard, and the Town Council will give out free sundaes. A hot dog and iced tea can be purchased for $1, with a cup of coffee going for 25 cents. The event is being run by the town’s Human Services Department, Senior Citizen Division.

The Senior Citizens Beach House and Cottage are located at Centerport Beach Beach and are opened Sunday through Friday from June to September. The facility, which offers recreational, social and exercise programs that include dancing, fitness, games and arts and crafts, also serves lunches and early-bird dinners throughout the year.

Town sets more babysitting workshops

Remember the Huntington Town babysitting workshops we told you about last month? (If not, click here.)

More have been scheduled at the Dix Hills, Greenlawn, Melville and Centerport fire departments. You can call 351-3171 for starting dates, times and exact locations.

They are open to young teenagers and will run for four consecutive weeks, one hour session each week. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion and their name will be placed on a course completion roster.

A parent or guardian seeking the services of a babysitter can either call Project EXCEL or the participating Fire Department for the name of a local youth that completed the course. At that time, an interview can be set up to discuss family childcare information, emergency numbers, household rules, etc.

'Honor Flight' for local veterans

Veterans of World War II have a chance to travel free from Long Island to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Oct. 13, to visit war memorials and other sights.

The flight, announced today by Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern (D-Huntington), who is chairman of the Veterans and Seniors Committee, goes from McArthur Airport in Islip to Baltimore-Washington Airport.

The flight is provided by Honor Flight, a non-profit organization founded by retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse to give aging veterans the chance to visit the new World War II memorial in our nation’s capital. Honor Flight provide free transportation and meals for veterans wishing to do so. Above is a group at the memorial earlier this month.

The organization hopes to continue the program to include Korean War and Vietnam War veterans in the future.

There are 57 seats available on the flight. They could be open to other veterans, but World War II veterans are given priority. The flight take off around 7:30 a.m. and return to Islip around 8 p.m. the same day.

“Our World War II Veterans made enormous sacrifices to protect our values and freedoms,” Stern said in a statement issued yesterday. “Now that they are finally able to visit a monument to their courage and valor, many are too frail to travel without assistance, both physical and financial. Honor Flight provides this assistance and truly provides 'One more flight with honor' to our brave veterans. I encourage all who are interested to sign up for this trip.”

Veterans are provided with a guardian who assists them and makes it easier for veterans to travel comfortably.

Veterans can obtain more information about the upcoming “Honor Flight” by visiting the organization’s website at www.honorflight.org or calling Honor Flight at 937-521-2400, according to Chris Cosich, the Long Island representative.

Huntington Bay expands tax exemption

By Tim Healy
tim.healy@newsday.com

The Huntington Bay Board of Trustees last night voted to expand property tax exemptions for senior citizens and arranged for later votes on measures to raise parking fines and toughen regulations against unauthorized construction.

The village board’s approval of the property tax change was unanimous. It allows seniors (age 65 and over) earning less than $27,000 a year to obtain a 50 percent reduction in their property’s assessed valuation. The existing village code offers exemptions to seniors earning less than $7,500. The measure, which also cuts the residency requirement for the exemption to one year, down from five, brings the village regulation closer to that of the Town of Huntington.

“I’m not sure there’s going to be a whole lot of people taking advantage of this thing,” Mayor Herbert Morrow said last night before the vote, “but even if it’s only one or two, it’s still the fair thing to do.”

In a last minute amendment to the measure, the board last night moved the deadline for filing for the extension back a month, to March 1. No members of the public commented on or questioned the measure at last night’s hearing.

The board discussed setting up a public hearing on a proposal to toughen regulations against unauthorized construction. The measure would triple the fees for permits to “legalize” construction that has already been completed, and it would prevent anyone from starting new work on a residence without finishing the paperwork necessary for existing construction. A grace period would be set up before the law took effect to allow residents the time to apply for necessary permits.

“To hit the residents with this without a bit of a buffer would not be well received,” Morrow said last night.

The board also discussed raising the fines for parking on village streets to $55 from the current $35. The board discussed studying the need to improve the quality and number of signs at entrances to the village notifying drivers that parking on village streets is prohibited unless a large event is scheduled and registered with village police.