Huntington Town Notebook: Berland Claims Bamboo Win

Huntington Town Councilwoman Susan Berland was able to claim victory after the Town Board voted Tuesday to require homeowners to control running bamboo so that it won't spread and damage the property of others.

She had pushed for the restrictions for more than a year, after hearing horror stories from property owners who had battled the spread of the invasive plant. Her efforts failed until Councilman Mark Mayoka joined her and Town Supervisor Frank Petrone in approving the measure. Councilmen Gene Cook and Mark Cuthbertson voted against it.

Townwide Fund Mixer

The Townwide Fund plans a networking mixer on Tuesday at Porto Vivo.

Guest speaker will be Kathy Genova, Hospice House RN from Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, Inc.  

The mixer features happy hour-priced cocktails and free appetizers.

The event gets underway at 6 p.m. RSVP to Mary: 631-972-8040 or  Mary@townwidefund.org

Petrone Meets With Black Clergy

Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone met on Wednesday with the members of the Huntington Ecumenical Ministerial Alliance. 

The supervisor meets several times a year with the Ecumenical Alliance, whose members represent Huntington’s black clergy, to discuss matters relating to youth development and community health and safety. Topics include ways the town and the alliance can work together on programs and events that enhance cooperation and understanding among those of different social, religious and ethnic communities in Huntington.

Young Professionals Blender

The Huntington Chamber of Commerce is offering a young professionals' business blender Thursday, 6-8 p.m., at AMF Commack Vet Lanes. Chamber members bowl for free; non-members pay $10.

Cemetery Cleanup

Councilwoman Susan Berland and a team of volunteers cleaned up Carll Cemetery recently. As part of her annual “Keep Huntington Beautiful” campaign, Berland hosted a restoration and beautification event at Carll Cemetery on Vanderbilt Parkway and Deer Park Avenue in Dix Hills. Volunteers raked leaves, cleared branches and snipped away sticker bushes and other brush from the historic gravestones. Participants included the Town of Huntington Cemetery Stewards, Town Historian Robert Hughes and members of the Huntington Youth Council. Following the cleanup, volunteers were treated to pizza and garlic knots, courtesy of Spuntino of Dix Hills.

Home for Handicapped Teen Progresses

Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and Council members Mark Cuthbertson and Susan A. Berland joined Dylan Thompson and his mother, Gloria, in watching as the Thompsons’ Centerport house was demolished to make way for a new home that will more accessible for 19-year-old Dylan, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The Town worked with the Syosset-based Building Hope for Long Island Foundation, the not-for-profit that helped raise money for the project, which it is undertaking.

Petrone waived all permit fees, expedited the demolition and building permits and assisted the foundation in finding companies that could help with disposal of the debris.

“Several years ago, Dylan’s Footprint, the organization that helped raise money for the project, participated in the Town’s Earth Day Expo because the new house will not only be handicapped accessible but also energy efficient and environmentally sensitive. It is exciting to see the project reach this stage,” Cuthbertson said.

Cancer Study Enrollment to Get Underway

Enrollment for a study of cancer is scheduled for Saturday at the Huntington YMCA. Volunteers willing to commit to a longterm study and who have never had a cancer diagnosis are invited to participate.

Coming up: 

The Economic Development Corp. meets Monday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall

The Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall