WANTED VOLUNTEERS

A pledge of 50 volunteers by February 12th is needed to work the Smith Point Triathlon on August 8th 2010. Please email info@antihamptons.com to pledge to volunteer.

The race is a sprint distance triathlon starting at the north east corner of the Smith Point parking lot by the new fishing pier. We will have a 500 meter Narrow Bay swim. Followed by a flat 12 mile bike ride over the Smith Point Bridge to Wertheim National Refuge and back; and a scenic 3.1 mile run over the bridge ending at the Atlantic Ocean. We anticipate the Smith Point Triathlon’s inaugural event to have around 600 participants and 400 spectators.

We are looking to recruit local community activists to highlight the warmth of the area by volunteering for the race. By recruiting volunteers to the race you will also be raising money for a local Smith Point Triathlon Beneficiary. We are planning on donating $10 per volunteer. It's a great way to get the community involved with helping people reach their health goals, while showing off the tri-hamlet in a positive light—all while raising money for your worthwhile local cause.

Volunteer Positions include:
• water handlers
• bike and run course officials
• transition area officials
• security
• hospitality volunteers
• race course clean up

Our mission for the race is to educate and generate funds for research and local community outreach and to make a positive impact in the fight against poor health that involves citizens and businesses in a shared goal of a Healthy Long Island.

Please pass this blog link to everyone in the Tri-Hamlet!

Tri-Hamlet Chamber Meeting

The Chamber meeting was once again informative. It was held at Ladakins and this time was a sit down dinner instead of a buffet.

Mark Lesko gave a State of the Town speech and answered Q&A from our local businesses. He covered many subjects from Building Codes, Sewers, Skate Park, Promotion of the Area, Balloon Festival, and Town Tax breaks for businesses. It was the usual stump speech with a business focused angle. The new Brookhaven.org website is about to launch and Spvr. Lesko plans on using the public t.v. station to advertise goings on in the town.

Next month will be a meet the candidates of the 6th Town Council District.

MBPOA General Meeting

I went to the MBPOA general meeting this past Thursday Jan 7th. The Guest Speaker was Inspector David Ferrara of the Seventh Precinct, who took over for Inspector Meehan. The Inspector spoke frankly about gangs, drugs and prostitution in the area. He reminded us that it is our DUTY as citizens of this community to report every infraction of the law, be it graffiti, a fight, drug use, harassment, gunshots, etc....the more complaints are logged at the precinct, the more funding we get, the more police on our street to stop these quality of life issues.

He also addressed the frustration we feel down here towards SOME police officers. Many of the members told the Inspector that when they call the police they sometimes get commentary like..."What do you expect you live in Mastic Beach."..."If you don't want crime, you should move out of Mastic Beach to a good neighborhood." The Inspector said this attitude is UNACCEPTABLE! If another police officer makes comments like this we should report them. It is their job to work with the community to make it a better place to live NOT to encourage law abiding citizens to move out of an area so that it can become a seaside 'wild west' resort. We applaud the Inspector for this attitude.

We know most of the police officers in the 7th precinct are AMAZING! They work hard to keep us safe and put their lives on the line everyday by keeping the lawless element off the street. We here at the AntiHamptons would like to thank the officers of the 7th Precinct for all their hard work.

We also want to remind our community that we are to be persistent in our unrelenting quest to create a better quality of life here in Mastic Beach.

Creating a Downtown

Thoughts about bringing in a developer to revitalize Mastic Beach's downtown on Neighborhood Road. Creating storefronts, apartments, live/work spaces for artists. What are your thoughts?

Mastic Pool

At 10:30am this morning, I spoke on the phone with Ed Morris, the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation at the Town of Brookhaven about the status of the Mastic Pool.

He said, "The town is taking over the management of the pool from the YMCA. We think we will be able to better manage and maintain the pool for the residents of Brookhaven at a lower cost and be able to add more programs, like swim lessons and water aerobics, as well as summer camp. The residents of Brookhaven will also have a lower fees to join a single, family and monthly memberships will be significantly lower than last year."

When asked, "Why the pool is currently closed?" His response was, "The first week in November, the pool is routinely drained and cleaned as per the Suffolk County Health Department."

I asked, "Why is it taking so long?"

He said, "When it was drained we noticed the lights were broken, one was leaking and needed to be repaired. We are replacing the lights with energy efficient LEDs and fixing the leaks, repairing some tiles, caulking, and other basic maintenance. As the repairs to the pool were being made we decided that it was in our best interest to repair the heating system in the woman's locker room which has never worked correctly since the 2007 re-opening. We had to wait to get on the calendar for the Town Board to approve the work. Now, all the POs are in, and the contractors are doing the work. We are looking to re-open in two weeks. The entire job should cost around $25K."

I asked, "So what about the residents that already have a yearly membership at the pool, will they be getting a refund?"

He said, "We are going to be extending their membership and additional 2 months. If they choose to not take the extended membership they are entitled to a refund."

I asked, "What about the investigation from the $7M 2000-2007 renovation, what is going on with that?"

He said, "The pool has had a black mark over it for a few years now. We are taking it over and are planning to hire a new pool managers, lifeguards and on-site maintenance personnel. Lowering the cost for the residents while providing more services. We're going to remove the black cloud hanging over this pool, and make it something to be proud of."

MBPOA Meeting - Steve Levy guest

The MBPOA had it's monthly meeting last night. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy was the guest speaker. He gave his usual speech, "I cut spending, I reduced the budget, I made the hard decisions, I, I ,I." Now, don't get me wrong, I like Steve Levy. I like that he has slashed and burned the programs and services in this county. I am very impressed with his fiscal conservatism. I do believe that he was ahead of the curve as far as living within ones means.

Seriously nothing burns me up knowing that my taxes dollars pay for anything frivolous. Especially when I go without, in order to live within my means. i.e. 1 car for a family of 4, no cell phones, basic cable, no netflix, no wii, no dinners out, no fancy trips to exotic destinations, fruits/veggies are home grown, EVERYTHING is recycled.

"Hey kids check out this cool new thing, it's a barbie car, it's a cash register..."

"mom, it's a egg carton."

Don't get me wrong, if I have a good month we get out to dinner. If I find a deal, we go on a trip. You gotta live! But only after the bills are paid, retirement, children's future education and emergency savings are fully funded. I want my government to live the same way.

The thing that bugged me about the speech is that he did the usual pass the buck when it comes to sex offenders "that's the state... that's the town... that's the fed..." Which was disappointing.

He's a math guy, he's not the creative type, he's not thinking up ways to rid our community of these problems he needs our help. If you have an idea for what to do about sex offenders, code compliance or anything thing else that is truly ruining your quality of life don't just complain about it! Figure out some thing to do, make a plan and forward it on the Steve Levy, Kate Browning, Mark Lesko, Keith Romaine, Fred Theile, Tim Bishop, Brian Foley, Sheldon Silver, Andrew Cuomo, David Paterson, Charles Schumer, Kristen Gillibrand, Barak Obama.

Let's annoy the crap out of them until they all say, "FINE tri-hamlet, we'll do it, we'll implement your plan, just leave us alone."

Smith Point Triathlon August 8th, 2010

On August 8th 2010 there will be a sprint-distance triathlon at Smith Point County Park. The triathlon will be produced by Event Power, Long Island’s Premiere Triathlon Event Company, and will be sponsored by Getco Company, the parent company of AntiHamptons.com and Between The Ports. The race will be raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation—Matt Pack and the Long Island Wounded Warriors. The charities are located on Long Island and the money raised will be spent on Long Island. The Smith Point Triathlon is part of the Long Island Triathlon Tour’s program Get Healthy Long Island.

Get Healthy Long Island has been created to build awareness regarding the five Chronic Diseases* on Long Island. All five of these chronic diseases can be significantly reduced with diet, exercise, early-detection and stress management. These four building blocks (diet, exercise, early detection and stress management) are the cornerstone for a healthy Long Island. By raising money and awareness through the Smith Point Triathlon and the Long Island Triathlon Tour, the goal is to reduce Long Island's collective chronic disease risks and cultivate a healthier Long Island.

Starting at the immaculate Smith Point County Park the race starts with a fast 500 meter Narrow Bay swim. The swimmers will be exiting the water at the New fishing pier. Followed by a flat and fast 12-mile bike ride over the Smith Point Bridge to the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge and back. Concluding with a scenic 3.1-mile run over the bridge ending at the Atlantic Ocean. With ample parking, a race-day-expo, and the allure of a post-race ocean beach day, this race is a must-do for athletes of all abilities on Long Island.

The race will have the standard race categories and awards:
• Top three overall Male & Female Individual.
• Top three Mixed Relays, Female Relays & Male Relays.
• Top three Athena (150lbs) & Clydesdale (200lbs) Athletes
• Top three Challenged Men & Challenged Women
• Individual Age Groups (top three in each category): under 19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

The race producers are allso considering adding some additional awards:
• Suffolk County Government Relay Challenge (Townships, Departments, County)
• Suffolk County Emergency Relay Challenge (EMS, Fire, Police)
• Suffolk County Corporate Relay Challenge
• Suffolk County Corporate Individual Challenge

Online race ace registration will open December 1, 2009 on www.eventpowerli.com

“The race will showcase the beauty and amenities of the Tri-Hamlet and Smith Point County Park. The citizens of this outstanding community have always known this area to be a diamond-in-the-rough, this race will help give it a polish.” said, 3rd District Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning.

“By focusing on health and fitness through the safe and fair conduct of races, we want to place a strong emphasis on ‘Empowering Yourself’ through the completion of a triathlon. We not only raise money and awareness through our Long Island Triathlon Tour races, but we foster the opportunity for the average Long Islander to make incremental health goals, which creates a stronger Long Island.” Steve Tarpinian, Event Power

“We are looking to generate funds for research and local community outreach. We want Long Islanders to become active participants in reinvigorating the Island’s physical and economic potency.” Maureen Getchell, Getco Company

*The top five chronic diseases on Long Island are (As per the Suffolk County Community Health Assessment 2005-10) heart disease, diabetes, cancer, lung disease and cirrhosis.

Village Taxes: Misinformation vs. Fact

Last night I went to the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association Mastic Beach Village Exploratory Committee general meeting. Lou Marcoccia the Town of Brookhaven's Receiver of Taxes was the speaker. He was speaking on "Village Taxes: Misinformation vs. Fact" his main message was if the Village doesn't pay staff positions, pensions, or health care. If it doesn't create debt for infrastructure, by building parks, building a town hall, buying property. If the Village takes into consideration the insurance and legal costs associated with a municipality and uses it's revenue stream from the taxes reallocated away from the Town of Brookhaven to the Village. We will be able to keep our village taxes close to zero.

Village Questions

We have consolidated the questions about the Incorporation of the Village of Mastic Beach. I will be asking these questions at the Nov 2nd meeting at the Firehouse and will post the MBVEC answers on this blog. If you have any other questions you would like for me to ask, as long as they are legitimate and not offensive, I would be more than happy to add you question to this list. We want to be sure that everyone has the opportunity voice their concerns about the village especially those that are unable to attend the meetings. email questions to info@antihamptons.com
—Maureen Getchell, Publisher, AntiHamptons.com

1. Who will be running for Mayor?

2. Who will be writing the Village Constitution?

3. What will be the Village hierarchy?

4. How will the Village be broken up as far as representation? Vote or Appointment?

5. Why does the map of the proposed Village go into Shirley and Mastic?

6. How will the Village handle abuse of power?

7. Who gets the power to decide housing codes?

8. What will be the code of conduct for Village representatives?

9. What sort of focused letter writing campaign has been put forward towards the town and the county as far as sex offenders, sober houses, gangs and drugs?

10. Where are the protests in the streets?

11. Where is the downtown revitalization by the citizens?

12. Why aren't more people opening stores on Neighborhood Road or frequenting the ones there already?

13. Will the Village ask for a more pronounced and active Neighborhood Road Merchants Association?

14. Why aren't the Village leaders getting together and buying the crappy houses fixing them up to sell to responsible people?

15. Why aren't the citizens of Mastic Beach spending their time cleaning up their yards, cutting their lawns, picking up litter and cigarettes that they throw from their car windows, and formulate a serious neighborhood watch and positive community programs?

16. Why don't we live our lives like we're already a Village?

17. What if Incorporation doesn't happen—then what?

18. Who will pay for the side walks to be ripped because the entry aprons are too steep?

19. Where will be Village Hall?

20. Who will clean up the massive gas plume under the Track gas station that is working its way to the creek? Who will pay for the monitoring and abatement will the Village inherit the burden?

21. What are the proposed salaries for the officials?

22. Will every contractor who will works in MB have to pay for a seperate licence?

23. Will insurance go out to bid?

24. Will the Village pay for the sewer system needed and where does the treatment plant go?

25. What is the Villages plan regarding property value assessments?

Other points of view

AntiHamptons.com has received the following letter to the editor. Do you share the views of the letters author? Do you want the area to remain the same? Do you want the area to change? Let us know. —Editor, AntiHamptons.com

Food for Thought
i have wanted to reach out to you for some time now regarding several matters which seem to be major themes within your organization and circle of friends. i am not writing this letter as "hate mail" however i don't quite align with your way of thought. i myself am a life long resident of brookhaven hamlet. i don't know how long you have resided in these parts. i have grown up along these shores and have even gone so far as to refer to it as my "backyard". i have grown up knowing that it was long islands best kept secret. you are right in your points how it has all the amenities of the hamptons without half of the glitz and BS that's associated with it. i would like to think of myself as a creative type too and have grown to embrace the characters that reside in these parts that share such interest as well. my problem comes in with you exploiting and continued whoring of the area. why do you want to flaunt the area's riches that will eventually bring in the riches? some stuff is better off left a secret. isn't there any allure in that? i don't think you grew up here, but when i went out of town and told people where i was from they smirked and laughed as it is not some glamorous beach town that's on the map. yeah a lot of what would be deemed "white trash" for a lack of better terms reside in mastic but you know what, it keeps out people with the big bucks and keeps the area blue color. the blue color middle class is constantly getting displaced from housing due to prices being raised. this little microcosm of long island provides your average joe with great resources that most aren't privy too. i know my parents couldn't afford to raise me in a typical beach town. now i know you want to bring in more creative types. well creative types get displaced too. for arguments sake- downtown nyc gives way to williamsberg which gave way to bushwick and beyond. now you want to go and market this as some creative bohemia. well what do you think will happen once developers know an art community has sprung up? it is going to become some destination place. i can for see what will come. and something else. those lesser income people that reside there now, they were there before you and have a right to live. they might not be glamorous, or well educated, but they are people too and don't need to see the price of living go up. i have grown up with these people and call them friends. i surf with them year round, yes that's right, we don't just surf when the weather warms up and can catch a tan too! the vibe in the water at smiths point is mellow but a lot of my friends i know aren't afraid to step up and localize the break when push comes to shove. i hope this letter sheds light on the issue, and may i end with this. the community programs you want to facilitate, more power to you. art shows- cool. local publications- cool. it would be ideal to create a creative hub with out blowin it up. maybe it can be possible. i like the fact that this area is kind of a "black-eye" to long islands south shore. it keeps it quiet. that's the way people like it around here.

Shirley and the Mastics in NYTimes

We have heard a whole lot of positive feedback from this article. Unfortunately we have also had a few complaints that the writer didn't mention the fantastic Italian restaurants, markets, marinas, or the open-view waterfront. In the Times defense, they did come out to see the place in March —not the sexiest of months anywhere on the east coast.

The AntiHamptons are beach towns, pure and simple. Come out from May-October and you will fall in love with the pristine coastline, abundance of wildlife, and warmth of the residents.

Maureen Getchell
Publisher and Editor-In-Chief
AntiHamptons.com

change outside perceptions

As you all know we are working hard to change outside perceptions of our area. We have been doing some brainstorming and we have noticed that other communities —not nearly as beautiful, or with as many dedicated citizens— have come up with some really clever ideas to bring awareness to their communities. These great ideas have worked raising money for their neighborhood causes, got them lots of positive press, and strengthened their community reputations.

All of you who are invested in our community should consider the following list and make these ideas come to fruition here in the AntiHamptons! Good Luck!!!

Restaurant Weeks
Go Green Festivals
Movie Nights
House Tours
Music/Arts/Street Festivals
Passports/Community/Business Guides
Runs
Bike Races
Swims
Triathlons
Golf Outings
Fishing Tournaments
Taste of the Area
Chicken BBQs
Chili Cookoffs (we may want a pizza or seafood cook-offs!)
Poster Contests
Maps
Tri-Hamlet Dollars (use at local businesses and get a discount)
Business Expos
Person of the Year (Who doesn't love an award!)
Vacation Guides

Social Apps

AntiHamptons.com has expanded its reach using social applications like Twitter and Facebook. Become Fans and Followers!

twitter.com/AntiHamptons

Facebook Groups: AntiHamptons

Absentee Landlords

Should there be an additional tax for absentee landlords in the AntiHamptons? If yes, how much? If no, why not?

Neighborhood Road Revitalization

What do you think of Neighborhood Road? The new sidewalks? The lamps? The benches? The town square? What else do you think Neighborhood Road needs to become a thriving business district and a place for the community to congregate?

Election

What issues are the most important to you in the upcoming election?

What sort of things should we as a community do to make the AntiHamptons more fun?

Here are a few of our ideas...

1. Outdoor movie night behind senior center on Neighborhood Road or at Kalers Park?
2. Garden plant exchange at new gazebo on Neighborhood Rd?
3. Farmers market where local gardeners and farmers have a place to sell their extra fruits, veggies, pies etc. at Smith Point Marina Saturdays from 9-12 may-oct?

Do you have any other ideas? Can you improve on the ideas above?

Where is the best place to fish in the AntiHamptons?

A few great fishing spots in the AntiHamptons include:

• Carmens River

• Cranberry Dock

• Moriches Inlet

• Tutthill Point

What's your favorite fishing spot? 

4th of July

Since we live in a community that one of the founding fathers once lived, what do YOU do to celebrate the 4th?  How do you celebrate our country's birth? Tell us your traditions. What new traditions would you like to see adopted in the future?

Mastic Beach Incorporation

What do you think about Mastic Beach incorporating into a village? What are the pros and cons?

Making a Vibrant Community!

Spring is upon us and all the terrific people in the AntiHamptons are gearing up for summer. What will you be doing personally to make the AntiHamptons a better place to live and work this season?