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Thursday, July 18, 2024 ~ Volume 136 ~ Issue Number 35 ~ $1.00
Battle of Bull Run: Town Awaits Court Date for Federal Case with Developer By Matt Meduri
Residents speak with the Town Attorney on the status of the Bull Run Farm Litigation (Credit - Matt Meduri)
The Bull Run Farm property in St. James has been a subject of public debate and legal feuds between developers and the Town. Developers applied for a special exception from the Town Board to build an assisted living facility on the parcel of land that holds the historic Bull Run Farm, which dates back to 1917. A special exception would ask the Town Board to hold a public hearing to grant or deny a possible zone change to allow for the ninety-seven-bed assisted living facility. The special exception has been considered a loophole by the general public in the Town Code that primarily applied to assisted living facilities, hospitals, nursing homes and other adult care type facilities that must fulfill a need and “give due consideration to the character of the surrounding area” within the community in question. The recently-adopted Smithtown Master Plan had recommended updating antiquated Town Code, and pointed out loopholes, most notably pursuant to public insistence that the loophole be closed. Continued on page 3
9/11 Responders Remembered Hosts Hoyt Farm Fundraiser for New Memorial Wall By Diane Caudullo (Credit - Johnathan Rudilosso)
Although the September 11 attacks is an event that happened some time ago, it is without end for most of us. For some, tragically more than others, they are still living daily in the aftermath. 9/11-related illnesses have taken so many lives since that dreadful day and continue to do so. Judi Simmons who lost her husband Martin, a NYC firefighter, in 2008 to 9/11-related illness now serves as President of the 911 Responders Remembered and works tirelessly to assist in maintaining the 911 Responders Remembered Park and Memorial Wall located at Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve in Commack, an absolutely beautiful park managed by the Town of Smithtown now serving as an amazing everlasting tribute to our heroes, uniformed or not. Continued on page 10
FULL STORIES ON:
House Passes LaLota’s Town Weighs Halt on Long Island Sound Act Battery Storage Facilities Page 4
Page 15
Smithtown PAC Opens ‘Newsies’ Page 24