WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JULY 6, 2017 39
Mayors leading unique towns
vschneps@gmail.com
With our recent acquisition of the
beloved, historic Long Island
Press, we are planning to add
a monthly print newspaper to the digital
edition. So I’ve begun visiting neighborhoods
that I heard were “ hot” but that
I’m not familiar with. I had the pleasure
of meeting the mayors of Freeport and
Patchogue and hear their vision for their
towns. I was very impressed!
In Freeport, the famous Nautical Mile
is literally a mile of one great restaurant
aft er another, many rebuilt aft er Sandy,
including some old-timers that have held
on and improved and enhanced their
location. I had the pleasure of enjoying
my seafood dinner while looking out on
the fi shing boats that brought in many
of the dishes on the menu. It doesn’t get
better than that.
Mayor Robert Kennedy talked with
great pride about his municipality and
its uniqueness. A trustee before he was
elected mayor, he’s lived in his beloved
town most of his life.
Having lived through the massive devastation
of Superstorm Sandy, even fi ve
years later he is passionate about prevention
opportunities and is advocating for
barrier gates be built. A feasibility study
has been funded.
Although the four square miles with
50,000 people seems small compared
to New York City neighborhoods, its
uniqueness has a great advocate who
has made his town a place we
should all feel great about visiting.
More to come....
Th en, last weekend, I was
happy to have the opportunity
to visit a village with
a big buzz, Patchogue. I
can report that great things
are happening in this South
Shore community bordering
on the great South Bay, 40 miles
from Queens and 50 miles west of
Montauk, accessible by the Long Island
Railroad. Its buzz is well deserved, and
what I was most impressed with are the
people leading Patchogue in its rebirth as
a magnet for artists. Th e real estate taxes
are aff ordable with rental apartments
and homes near the center of town.
I had the great pleasure of meeting
Mayor Paul Pontieri, Jr..and his devoted
Marian Russo, the BID executive director,
the team leading the newly restored historic
Patchogue Th eater for the Performing
Arts, the director of the Plaza Cinema and
media arts center, Melissa Kuehnle, the
director of communications for the local
respected St Joseph’s College, and David
Kennedy who serves the 500-member
Chamber of Commerce. All shared their
enthusiasm for their hometown and what
is happening there.
I think what impressed me most was
the cooperation of the various entities to
achieve their goal of making Patchogue,
with 50 restaurants, many on the waterfront,
a destination for dining and enjoying
the art scene and quality of life.
I’m a believer and look forward to
helping them raise their town’s visibility.
Pay a visit. You too will love these
towns!
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
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Shown from left inside the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts: Dennis Smith, Executive
Director Patchogue BID; Gary Hygom, Executive Director Patchogue Theatre for the Performing
Arts; Patchogue Mayor Paul V. Pontieri; Marian H. Russo, Executive Director Patchogue CDA; James
Skidmore, President Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce; and Bernie Fabig, Public Relations
& Marketing Manager for Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy
Dennis Smith and Marian Russo are pictured at the Measuring Tape Mural; the measuring tape was
invented in Patchogue.
The newly restored and renovated Patchogue
Playhouse featuring live performances.
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