May 23, 2013
Your Village is really communicating!
I'm pleased to announce that the Village of Asharoken has established a Twitter account. You can follow the village
@Asharokenny if you have a Twitter account or on the Internet at
twitter.com/Asharokenny.
If you do not have a Twitter account you can establish one very easily at
Twitter.com. You can also download the Twitter app to your smart phone.
The Village will post notices on this account to provide information on road closures/openings, changes to scheduled village events and other vital information. The village will make every effort to post
real-time notices regarding the road and encourages you to utilize Twitter rather than calling the police to determine if Asharoken Avenue is open to traffic during storm conditions.
This new Twitter account is in addition to all the other forms of Village communication. Do you have access to them all? Our Village Clerk issues "email blasts" from time-to-time about Village business. To add your email address to that list, email her at:
rittenhousevc@gmail.com
or stop by Village Hall to give it to her in person. We also publish a printed newsletter, all Village residents are mailed a copy. Then there is
www.Asharoken.com,
the five-year-old website managed by two long-time Village residents. Asharoken.com also issues Tweets informing residents about new information available on the website--so be sure to sign up for their Tweets as well.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day and please remember all of the Americans who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms.
Mayor Greg Letica
The next general Asharoken Election for officers will be held on June 18, 2013 at the Eatons Neck Fire House from noon until 9pm. The following candidates are seeking office and terms as follows:
| Two Trustees, two year term: | Mary P. Pierce |
| | Ian Jablonski |
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| One Trustee, one year term: | Laura Rittenhouse Burke |
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| One Village Justice, one year term: | Mark D. Kleczka |
Click here to read the full Legal Notice.
The Asharoken Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing at 7 Woodside Avenue, Northport on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 7:30pm to consider the application for renewal by Cablevision Systems.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has developed a new web gateway to serve as a one-stop location for information for permittees undertaking construction on the coast or near coastal areas impacted by Super Storm Sandy:
The Asharoken Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing at the Northport American Legion Hall, 7 Woodside Avenue, Northport on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 7:30pm to consider three requests from residents.
Click here to read the full Legal Notice.
The next
regular meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 7:30pm.
The last meeting was held on May 7,
Click here
to view the draft text of the May 7 meeting agenda.
To view the full 2013 schedule of the Board of Trustees meetings click on the "Government" tab above, then "Trustees Meetings" or
click here. All meetings are open to the public.
Except as otherwise noted, all meetings will be held at the Northport American Legion Hall, 7 Woodside Avenue, Northport.
The Village of Asharoken mourns the passing of former Justice Miner D. Crary Jr., who passed away peacefully on May 7, 2013 at the age of 92. Mayor Greg Letica said of Miner, "I am proud to say that I knew Miner Crary for most of my adult life. He exemplified what it means to live in Asharoken by combining community service with a love for our beachfront lifestyle. I extend my deepest condolences to the Crary family on behalf of myself, Linda and the entire Village. Miner will truly be missed."
Miner was a partner at the New York law firm Curtis Mallet-Provost, Colt, and Mosle where he practiced trusts and estates law for over 60 years. Miner graduated from Amherst College in 1942. He served in the Navy during WWII as a supply officer and paymaster in the Pacific, and went on to get his law degree from Harvard University after the war. Like many of his generation, Miner had a passion for civic involvement which he demonstrated by supporting education, the arts, and his community. Miner was a devoted family man, and deeply attached to Mary his late wife of 63 years. He was known for the hospitality he and Mary extended to all who shared outings at their home on Duck Island.
Click here to read the obituary of Miner D. Crary in the May 12, 2013 edition of The New York Times.
May 12, 2013
July 4th Fireworks Update:
Our Village has finalized a deal with Fireworks by Grucci for our 4th of July fireworks display. Start time is scheduled for 9:15 PM. The rain date is July 5th. I would encourage sound side residents to invite their bayside neighbors over to enjoy the spectacle.
I would like to thank Martin Hakker for a terrific job sourcing the fireworks and working out all of the details. Additionally, I would like to thank everyone who donated to Save the Fireworks for helping defray the cost of the display. Carol Cassamassima, Chair of the Save the Fireworks Committee, presented the village with a $3,500 check at the last Board meeting. Carol did a great job, considering that the holiday party fund raiser was cancelled due to Sandy. Your continued support allows this Asharoken tradition to go on year after year. Thanks again!
Linda and I would also like to wish everyone a very
happy Mother’s Day.
Mayor Greg Letica
The next General Village Election for officers will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, Noon-9pm, at Eaton's Neck Fire Department (55 Eaton's Neck Road).
Up for election are the following positions:
- Trustee, Two Year Term
- Trustee, Two Year Term
- Trustee, One Year Term (For the balance of the two year term expiring 6/2014)
- Justice, One Year Term (For the balance of the four year term expiring 6/2014)
Are you registered to vote? Will you need an absentee ballot? Contact Asharoken Election Officer/Village Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse for assistance.
The last day for individuals who may register with the Suffolk County Board of Elections to be eligible to vote in the Village election is Friday, June 7, 2013.
To register to vote, an individual must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- At least 18 years of age on Election Day
- A resident of New York State and Asharoken Village for at least 30 days preceding the election
Voter Registration forms, and Absentee voting information, are available at Village Hall or by calling the Suffolk County
Board of Elections at (631) 852-4500. For more details on the web:
New York State Board of Elections.
Will you need an Absentee Application?:
Absentee Applications:
If by mail, must receive absentee applications by June 11. Please return applications ASAP.
Absentee Applications:
If by Walk-in, absentee applications can be walked in to Village Hall until June 17 (deadline).
NO Absentee Applications can be given or received on Election Day! Questions call Board of Elections at 631-852-4500.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 will be the second monthly pick-up of a Village program to pick-up yard debris materials once per month, in the spring and fall. Mayor Letica and your Board of Trustees have reviewed the costs involved and the benefits and have decided to continue this program, which was begun in 2011. Eligible for pick-up are leaves, bundled branches, gardening debris and pruning materials--
no grass clippings.
Please visit the
Asharoken Services section for more details. Click on the "Government" button above, then "Services". For the monthly pick-up schedule refer to the
online calendar for exact dates (click on the "Calendar" button above) which are: May 14, June 4; (dates for the fall TBD).
April 25, 2013
Dear Neighbors,
I am happy to report that the Village of Asharoken just received a payment in the amount of $77,305.97 from FEMA. This is the federal share of village expenses incurred during Sandy. This amount does not reflect any money for damage done to village hall which is being treated as a separate item and is still under analysis. The village is also awaiting additional funds from New York State to cover our costs from Sandy and reimbursement from the FHWA for the dune repair.
Have a great day!
Mayor Greg Letica
A public hearing of the Board of Trustees will be held at the Northport American Legion Hall, 7 Woodside Avenue, Northport, NY 11768 at 7:30pm on May 7, 2013 to review the required draft presentation of the MS-4 Annual report for the period 2012-2013. Click on the items below to view full details.
The Tax Roll and Warrant for the Fiscal year 2013-2014, ending May 31, 2014 has been delivered to the Treasurer and Clerk for the purpose of collecting taxes from June 1, 2013 to July 1, 2013.
Click here to read the full Legal Notice.
The Asharoken Village Clerk has released the tentative budget for 2013-2014. Click on the items below to view full details.
Asharoken Mayor Gregory Letica, on February 14, 2013, received a letter from the New York Department of Environment Conservation. It contains a response from Governor Cuomo regarding the restoration of Asharoken's beach and dune structure.
Click here to read the letter.
March 22, 2013
Dear Neighbors,
The first phase of the dune repair has been completed. 5,000 CYDs of
sand have been placed in the dune area. This should provide a moderate
amount of protection for the road during major storms until a more
complete beach restoration can be completed. The Federal Highway
Administration will reimburse the village for the full cost of the
sand and its placement (approx. $145,000). I would like to thank
everyone who was inconvenienced during this construction project for
their patience and understanding.
The village is awaiting delivery of beach grass, sourced from a
supplier in Michigan, to plant on the repaired dune. Unfortunately,
due to the cold spring the nursery has had a late start digging up the
grass. We expect to receive the sprigs soon and they will be planted
as soon as they arrive. The FHWA will pay for 80% of this project
costing the village about $3,500.
Beach lot owners are really encouraged to augment the grass by
planting other vegitation that is native to our dunes: rosa rugosa,
beach plum, virginia creeper and yucas. Secondarily, beach lot owners
are encouraged to construct steps to cross the dunes. It might make
sense to join with several of your beach lot neighbors and construct a
common set of steps. Sample plans are available at village hall and
Clerk Rittenhouse can help you get in touch with your neighbors to
work cooperatively.
Finally, the village had a meeting with Robert Allen, Manager of the
National Grid Power Plant, to start preliminary planning for the
45,000 CYD sand replacement scheduled to commence this fall. I will
keep everyone informed on the start date and details of the work as
they become available. Mr. Allen advised me that National Grid will
repair the collapsed parts of the chain link fence near the nature
preserve.
And, for all the doubters who do not believe that spring is here, our
pair of nesting Osprey have returned. This is a sure sign that
warmer, snow free days are not far away.
Linda and I wish you and your family a Happy Easter and a terrific Passover.
Mayor Greg Letica
February 28, 2013
Hi Everyone:
During lunch today Barry Bradley told me about an unusual looking dead animal in the Duck Island Wetlands. I went over to investigate and discovered that it was a Harbor Porpoise.
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| Harbor Porpoise |
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This is the second Harbor Porpoise I have seen in Asharoken, the other had gotten trapped in Carter's Bight several years ago. I confirmed the identification with the Riverhead Foundation and they are planning on collecting the carcass for a postmortem.
If you live on the bay side of the strip you may have noticed and enormous group of ducks in the bay. These ducks are Scaup and a large group is referred to as a raft of Scaup. It is really an amazing sight and is worth looking out for.
Have a great day.
Greg Letica
February 22, 2013
Dear Neighbor:
The Board of Trustees, Treasurer
Hayes, Clerk Rittenhouse and I have worked very hard over the last month to
construct the tentative budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. A village budget
is a spending plan for a fiscal year. It needs to be considered in its totality
and not in the minutia of each sub account. The tentative tax levy is below the
New York State two percent real property tax levy limit.
The tentative budget has a 3.66%
tax increase that translates into a $120 increase for an average home in the
village. The increase is made up of several factors that we have little control
over: For instance the police & state employee retirement pension has risen
$22,375, health insurance costs have increased $7,000, workers’ compensation
insurance up $4,000, fire & EMS protection costs up $4,000, and claims and
judgments of $19,000 was budgeted to prepare our village for potential payouts
for small claims assessment settlements. These direct payouts were never budgeted
in the prior years. If you back out these increased costs our taxes would be
virtually unchanged.
The budget includes contractual
increases for our police and salary increases for other employees. Additionally, money earmarked for village hall, when offset by a withdrawal
from our tax stabilization fund, adds $3,000 to our budget. Helping reduce our budget
is a $30,000 (50%) reduction in legal fees and a reduction in weekday marine
police patrol expenditures.
Potentially, the village could have
a substantial reduction in contributions to our police & state employee
retirement if Governor Cuomo’s budget is passed as currently proposed. The
village is also doing all it can to obtain maximum funding from FEMA for storm
costs and rebuilding village hall.
The complete detailed budget is
available for viewing at Asharoken.com and copies are available at village
hall.
The public hearing on the
proposed budget will be held on March 5 at the Northport American
Legion Hall, 7 Woodside Avenue in Northport. I look forward to hearing any
suggestions and questions that you may have either in writing or in person.
Best Regards,
Mayor Greg Letica
February 9, 2013
Dear Neighbors:
I hope that everyone made it
through the snow storm without any problems. It really was refreshing to just
have a run of the mill storm. Enjoy the beauty of Asharoken in its full winter
glory for as long as it lasts.
I would like to update everyone on several ongoing Asharoken concerns.
Sand on the Beach: Currently we have two Sand on the Beach projects in
the works.
- Included in the Sandy
Relief Funding Bill is over $30 million that can be used by the Army Corps
of Engineers and the DEC to complete the feasibility study and begin the full
scale reconstruction project. The study is needed to determine the best
offshore locations to dredge and to minimize any environmental impact. I
have reached out to all of our state elected officials to encourage the
DEC to expedite the completion of the study.
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| Senator Schumer announces aid package for protecting New York's Coastline, which includes over $30 million earmarked for Asharoken. Note Asharoken highlighted on the map. |
Deputy Mayor Pierce and I
attended a press conference in Point Lookout hosted by Senator Schumer on
Sunday, January 27 where he announced the aid package. At the same time I
had an opportunity to publicly thank him for his efforts to have Asharoken
included in the bill.
- The existing permit between
National Grid and The Army Corps of Engineers requires National Grid to place
approximately 45,000 cubic yards of sand on Asharoken Beach every three
years. The last deposit of sand took place in the fall of 2010. The ACOE just
advised me that "the next three year cycle for nourishment of Asharoken beach
is due by 31 December 2013 and should include placement of 45,000 cubic
yards of sand." As plans progress I will keep you informed.
Dune Repair: The village is working with the Federal Highway
Administration to have an additional 5,000 cubic yards of sand added to the
dune area to increase the size of the dune protecting the road. This week
we heard back from the FHWA and it appears that they will pay for the entire
sand placement and 80% of planting the dune. The net cost to the village is
approximately $3,500 out of an estimated $170,000 gross cost.
Although the full
reconstruction is still several years away the smaller additions should help
protect homes and the road until then.
Village Hall Reconstruction:The need for a new
village hall becomes more evident every day. In doing our due diligence, the
village has solicited three quotes to repair the old structure. Based on the
first estimate it makes no sense to repair the antiquated, flood prone and
entirely too small village hall. The village is working closely with FEMA to
provide all of the needed documentation to determine the amount of funding FEMA
may be able to provide for the new village hall.
The Village Hall Fundraising Committee: In the last two months residents have raised over
$80,000 of additional donations. Our neighbors have been unbelievably
generous and approximately 150 families have donated money. Included are two
$25,000 donations, one $20,000 donation, seven $10,000 donations and 63 donations
between $1,000 and $7,500.
At the moment we have
approximately $350,000 available to build Village Hall. We will likely need at
least twice as much to complete the project. The building will be functional,
appropriately sized and represent our community. Along with offices for the
Clerk and the Police, there will be an all-purpose room used to hold board
meetings, court sessions, community functions and more importantly a place for
residents to go in case of an emergency. The village is working hard to get
grants and funding from FEMA as well as exploring borrowing money to raise the
needed additional funds.
Proposed Budget: The proposed budget for the next fiscal year is being
worked on and will be available in complete detail on the website and at
village hall by the end of February. Your board of trustees is working very
hard to minimize any tax increase. I look forward to you comments and suggestions
once the proposed budget is finalized. Your Asharoken taxes are a value when
you realize that you get 24/7 private police, fire protection, EMS,
sanitation, court, building inspector, zoning and planning boards.
Have a wonderful day,
Mayor Greg Letica
Asharoken resident and Master Gardener
Joan Hauser has written her first installment for 2013,
Looking Ahead: Springtime Thoughts. Joan covers the gamut from indoor windowsill growing projects to tips on improving your garden soil and readying your yard for spring.
Click the "Resources" button above, then "Home & Garden" to find all of Joan's past articles.
| Having trouble viewing the article? Click the button to the right to make sure you've got
the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed: |
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Dear Neighbors:
Below is the letter that I sent to our elected officials on December 27. Thanks again to all of you who have reached out on the village's behalf.
December 27, 2012
Dear Governor Cuomo, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Israel, State Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Raia.
Last night we had our third Nor'easter since Sandy and the inadequacy of the piles of sand that protect Asharoken Avenue was clearly exposed. What were once vegetated dunes prior to Sandy are just piles of sand and the contour of the beach allows the water to easily reach the littoral side of the piles. There is no doubt that the road is at risk of being destroyed should we have a major storm. Asharoken Avenue is the only means of access to Eaton's Neck home to over 2000 people. Something needs to be done quickly to resolve this dangerous situation.
The Army Corps of Engineers and the NYS DEC have been working for many years to fully restore Asharoken beach by adding 600,000-1,000,000 CYDS of sand. Now is the time to act. If we lose the road the cost of fixing the problem will increase radically and thousands of people's safety will be put at risk. I do not think that this is something we should allow to happen.
Following Sandy, all sorts of dredging and beach restoration is underway on the south shore of Long Island. It is high time to get one of these dredges up here and start restoring Asharoken. Every day that we wait to act is one day closer to the next big storm. It is time to finish the never ending feasibility study, fund the project and restore the beach.
I am asking that you do all you can to find funding for this project and expedite its completion. Asharoken is a community of 650 people and approximately 300 homes. There is no way that we can be expected to bear the burden of the cost of this project, particularly since it will benefit far more residents of Huntington than Asharoken. We need your help to provide full funding from the federal and state government. Our project is small enough that finding the funds in a pool of $50 billion of proposed aid should not be too difficult.
I have attached two photos taken today to show how poorly the sand piles protect the road. As I have done before, I invite you or a representative of yours to come to the village and see first hand how badly we need help.
I wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year.
Dr. Gregory Letica
Mayor, Village of Asharoken
December 27, 2012, 3:00pm
Dear Neighbors:
Last night's Nor'easter showed how badly we need to have the beach restored. About 2 weeks ago I mailed a letter asking that you contact our elected officials and respectfully ask for their help to get our beach restored. If you have not had a chance to reach out to Governor Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Israel, State Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Raia, there is no better time to do so than now. They need to hear from as many of us as possible. The most effective way to be heard is to email them and you can do so directly from their web sites. If you have already corresponded with them, thank you. In an effort to expand our political pressure I have also reached out to the residents of Eaton's Neck via the POENB to do the same.
I would like to wish everyone in Asharoken a healthy, happy and storm-free new year.
Regards
Greg Letica, Mayor
Editor's Note: Direct links to the websites of all our elected officials may be found on our website. Click the "Government" button above, then click the "Elected Reps/Gov't Links" button. Or, click here
.
Those mailing actual letters should use the following addresses:
Senator Charles Shumer
145 Pinelawn Road
Melville, NY 11747 |
Senator Kristen Gillibrand
155 Pinelawn Road
Melville, NY 11747 |
Congressman Steve Israel
150 Motor Parkway
Hauppauge, NY 11788 |
Governer Andrew Cuomo
New York State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224 |
Assemblyman Andrew Raia
75 Woodbine Avenue
Northport, NY 11768 |
State Senator Carl Marcellino
250 Townsend Square
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 |
Dear Neighbor:
In order to help get the restoration of Asharoken beach completed, I think that it is important that our elected officials hear from each and every one of us. Below, I have written a brief letter, which you are free to copy and use. If you would like to support the Village, maintain our real estate values, protect our road and assure our safety, I strongly encourage you to contact our Senators, Congressman, Governor, State Senator and Assemblyman and ask for their help to get the beach restored.
Thank you,
Mayor Greg Letica
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Dear _________________________:
I am respectfully asking you to do all you can to encourage the NYSDEC and the ACOE to fully restore Asharoken Beach. The safety of the residents who live on the road, the long term protection of the road and access to Eaton’s Neck (home to over 2000 people, many of whom are not Asharoken residents, the Eaton’s Neck Coast Guard Station and a Huntington Town Beach) are all dependent on a full and complete restoration of the beach.
During Hurricane Sandy many homes were damaged and the road was nearly lost. The village of Asharoken has approximately 300 homes and about 650 residents and can’t be expected to carry the burden of the cost of this restoration. The village is asking for full federal and state funding for the feasibility study as well as the restoration project.
Thank you for your help.
_______________________________,
Village of Asharoken
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To print this letter, click here. The letter will appear in a new window.
November 16, 2012, 5:03pm
Dear Neighbors:
It has been a very challenging three weeks for everyone in the village. The village has made great strides to become fully functional again. I hope that those of you who had damage to your homes have also made good progress in getting your lives back together. Linda and I would like to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving and hope that you get to spend some relaxed and rewarding time with your family. We all really need it.
Here are a few quick updates on how things are going village wise:
1-Our police and clerk have moved into their new offices. Trustee Ettinger. Paul Rittenhouse, and many members of our police were indefatigable in their efforts to get the police up and running. It really underscores the inadequate nature of our village hall when moving into a construction trailer is an improvement. John Ross and the reconstruction committee are working tirelessly to finalize plans for the new structure and the village is seeking every means possible to help finance the construction.
2-The Village is working with the FHWA to place more sand on the dunes to help protect the road. Although not yet finalized, we are close to finalizing the deal. We will also look to transfer more sand from parking lots to the dune. This will fortify the dune and allow parking. Concurrently, we are looking to clean out the tidal wetlands using employees paid for by the Department of Labor.
3-The Bevin Road corner still needs work as does the shoulder of the road in the same area. The Village is finalizing a plan to correct some minor undermining of the road and the back filling of the ditch will follow. The corner of Bevin Road is awaiting mark outs of utilities and a test hole to see what is the composition of the soil at the corner. How we proceed will depend on what we find. Thanks to Highway Superintendent Tony Wenderoth and Andy Mendelsohn for their contributions to solving these problems.
4-The Village is working on the needed documents to reimburse us for costs incurred during the storm This effort is spearheaded by Deputy Mayor Pierce and Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse. Among the covered expenses: police salary, road clearing and repair, the trailers and set up, debris removal and many others. As of now the split apprears be 90/10 leaving the village responsible for 10% of the costs.
5-Following up on a Newsday article reporting that Senators Schumer and Gilibrand will seek money for beach replenishment, I wrote to both of them explaining our needs and included a few photos to underscore the point.
We still have a ways to go and we will get there. The village is here to help you in any way that it can. Please contact Nancy Rittenhouse at 631-261-7098 if you have any questions or need assistance. The residents of Asharoken have shown great patience and understanding during this challenging time. Without your help things could never have gone as smoothly as they have. Thank you!
Have a great Thanksgiving and safe travels.
Mayor Greg Letica
The Village of Asharoken is building a Village Resident E-Mail Contact List. The list will be used to broadcast e-mail announcements such as updates to the waste pickup schedule, road closure information, and newsletters. To add yourself to the list please print and complete the
E-Mail Request Form. Completed forms may be dropped off at Village Hall, placed in the police mailbox, or you may simply email the information to the Village Clerk at
rittenhousevc@gmail.com
Invitations have been mailed for Asharoken's Annual "Save the Fireworks" Holiday Dinner Party set for Saturday, November 3, 2012.
The evening will include cocktails, dinner and dancing at the Indian Hills Country Club in Northport. Ticket price: $80/pp. The evening is open to Asharoken residents, family and friends.
The invitations were mailed with "Save the Fireworks" raffle books (proceeds will benefit the 2013 July 4th Fireworks Barge). First prize: Judith Ripka Blue Quartz Pendant & Chain; Second Prize: Apple's "New iPad"; Third Prize: A Evening for Two in Northport: Dinner at Rockin' Fish and tickets to the John Engeman Theatre.
Questions: Contact committee co-chairs: Carole Casamassima: (631) 261-1895 or Anna Pollaci: (631) 261-1069.
To view photos and story details about our past holiday fundraiser parties, visit our Asharoken Spirit section (click the "Asharoken Spirit" button at the top of the page) or
Click Here.
On August 31, 2012, U.S. Postal Officials announced their plans to close the Northport Post Office and direct all area residents to use the East Northport facility.
A public rally to save the Northport Post Office, attended by Asharoken Mayor Letica, Deputy Mayor Pierce, other elected officials and over 200 area residents was held on September 12. During the rally, a petition was circulated for residents to sign. If you would like to sign the petition, it is available at Asharoken Village Hall during regular business hours.
For more information about the status of the possible closing and how to write to your elected officials visit our Government page (click the "Government" button at the top of the page): or
Click Here.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the audited Annual Financial Statements for year-end 5/31/2012 have been filed and are available for inspection in the Village Clerk’s office at One Asharoken Avenue, Northport, NY 11768.
Date: August 31, 2012
Published: September 6, 2012
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk
August 10th, 2012
Dear Neighbors:
On Tuesday, August 7th the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously voted to approve Sandpiper Farm’s application to be included in an Agricultural District. This is not a guarantee that the property will not ultimately be developed. But, hopefully, this will be the first step to permanently preserve this beautiful, undeveloped parcel.
Recognizing the desire of Village residents to preserve open land and prevent development, the Board of Trustees dropped its opposition and reached a written understanding with the property owners. Once Sandpiper Farm’s application is approved by the State Commissioner of Agriculture, the Board of Trustees and other Village officials will meet with the property owners to reach an agreement for payments to the Village in lieu of taxes and reasonable restrictions on the use of the land. Three members of the Board of Trustees and I agreed that this was the proper approach to take.
I have every reason to believe that the property owners will, in good faith, work with the Village in the best interest of all of our residents. Asharoken has several very costly problems to deal with in the near future (beach restoration, sea wall maintenance, Village hall reconstruction and police contract and retirement) which can only be accomplished if we all work together.
If all goes as I expect, we have reached an historic and important milestone in the history of Asharoken. I look forward to working with the owners of Sandpiper Farm to preserve the Asharoken lifestyle that all of us treasure.
Sincerely,
Mayor Gregory Letica
Asharoken Village Hall
