In this month’s newsletter you will find a review of the many projects the Civic has worked on diligently during 2011. You will most likely notice that one of the projects that the Civic has been involved with since its inception is notably absent from this list: the Portion Road Renovation Project. This is chiefly because the project has been successfully completed. Of course, we still continue to hear from members about minor issues now and again, but all of the major goals of creating a pedestrian-friendly roadway have been accomplished.

(I’m reminded here of the old advertising caveat that “your results may vary,” because we all still experience some traffic issues along the road, but if you can recall what it was like five years ago you will realize that the situation has substantially improved. Even more so if you’re a pedestrian or bicyclist.)

Over the years the Civic has used the bulk of its resources on advancing the Portion Road project, and with its completion we can now use those resources on the Portion Road Land Use Plan, the Ronkonkoma Hub (see below), and other community planning efforts to improve our region. But the Portion Road project was such an integral part of the mission of the Civic (it’s even stated as such in our bylaws) that there has been an ongoing discussion on the Executive Board about how to re-orient the mission of the Civic. After all, the Civic doesn’t exist just for the sake of having a local civic organization; it exists to address those issues that its members have identified as being crucial or having the biggest impact on the community at large.

As a member, your voice is essential in helping the Civic define its role. That’s why I’m making this personal appeal that you attend our meeting on Thursday, February 9th at 7:30 PM, at the American Legion Hall, 115 Church Street. I realize that our meetings compete with the many other activities available on a typical Thursday night; from a school-related activity to watching your favorite television show. So I’m asking that this one time you set aside other pursuits and take the time to help us, and your neighbors, plan for the future, our future, in Lake Ronkonkoma, for 2012 and beyond.

- George Schramm, LRCO President

Below is the Civic's meeting schedule for 2012. All meetings are at 7:30 PM, at the American Legion Hall, 115 Church Street, Lake Ronkonkoma.

If you use Google Calendar, you can subscribe to the Google's LRCO Meeting Calendar by clicking on this link:

Thursday, February 9th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, March 8th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, April 12th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 10th: Annual Meeting & Elections
Thursday, June 14th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 13th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, October 11th: Meet the Candidates
Thursday, November 8th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, February 14th, 2013: General Membership Meeting

Throughout 2011 the Civic continued to work closely with the Town of Brookhaven Planning Department to craft the future for the area around the Ronkonkoma railroad station.
The Civic president participated on the Town’s selection committee, which ultimately chose the TRITEC Company, a developer based on Long Island, as the master developer for the Ronkonkoma Hub.
Moving forward, the Civic will continue to work with the Town, and the master developer, in creating a vibrant and exciting transportation oriented development that will appeal to the next generation of workers and residents.

Planning is a rational way of preparing for the future. A process that includes gathering and analyzing data, forecasting future trends and needs, and considering alternatives, all with community input. Such was the case for the Portion Road Corridor Land Use Plan.
What began as a vision-driven process became a comprehensive community plan with specific goals, an understanding of trends and opportunities, and strategies for implementation. Back in early 2010 the Civic was proud to support the Town of Brookhaven’s adoption of Portion Road Corridor Land Use Plan, a plan the Civic helped to create.
Some of the goals of the Plan include:
• The revitalization of the long-established downtown center at Hawkins Avenue, and the development of a new downtown area at Morris Avenue, near Nicolls Road.
• The creation of Transition Areas along the roadways that bring vehicles and pedestrians into the downtown centers.
• The integration of existing Regional Centers by providing more pedestrian-friendly connections to local residential areas.
• The further development of Transportation networks that reduce congestion, enhance safety, and encourage a diversity of transportation options.
• An economic development plan that will increase appropriate retail activity, encourage the expansion of local businesses, increase the quantity of local jobs, and provide an adequate tax base.
• The interconnectivity of commercial and residential areas with local resources, such as the Lake. A related goal is the preservation and promotion of the history and historic structures in Lake Ronkonkoma.
• The establishment of architectural design guidelines to improve appearance of buildings undergoing construction or renovation, because a picturesque downtown draws more shoppers.
The adoption of the Land Use Plan was a significant accomplishment for the Civic, but it was only the first step. In June 2010, there was a Special Town Board Hearing at Brookhaven Town Hall to re-zone certain parcels within the area of the Land Use Plan, along Hawkins and Ronkonkoma Avenues. The Civic supported this series of re-zonings because it changed the zoning of specific parcels where the current use of the property matched the Land Use Plan, but not the current zoning. This action removed the burden of a Change of Zone application from property owners who want to develop a parcel in compliance with the Land Use Plan, and it also protects residential parcels from inappropriate development. The Town was successful in re-zoning close to all the parcels presented at the hearing. Another special hearing for a similar purpose for parcels along Portion Road will be scheduled for 2012.
The Civic also continues to work on enforcing the architectural design guidelines contained in the Land Use Plan. The Civic’s Land Use Plan Implementation Committee comments on drawings submitted to the Town of Brookhaven and appears in front of the Town’s Planning Board to ensure that proposed façade changes comply with the design guidelines.

When was the last time you were able to meet face to face with one of your elected representatives to voice your concern about a particular issue? Well, if you’re a Civic member who attends our meetings then that opportunity occurs almost every month. Our monthly meetings are frequently attended by elected representatives from New York State, Suffolk County, and the Town of Brookhaven. These representatives provide our members with the latest information on local and regional issues, such as the Ronkonkoma Hub, the Bavarian Inn property, LIPA, taxes, and budgets. Members also get the opportunity to ask about issues that are important to them.
Also, don’t be surprised if an officer from the 4th or 6th Precinct is in attendance to report on the what’s happening in the area.

The Civic website started accepting credit cards, so now you can pay your membership dues online, quickly, safely and securely. New or renewing members can visit our "Join the Civic" web page, and then need only click on a button to be automatically transferred to a secure PayPal-hosted page where they can complete the payment for membership using American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa, or a PayPal account. Credit card information remains safe and secure with PayPal's encrypted website, and the Civic does not store, nor have access to, any credit card data.

By making membership renewal easier, the Civic can reduce the need to mail out letters and make phone calls to remind members to renew and devote its limited resources to other activities such as…
Creating Eyes on the Street

In 2011, the Civic continued to promote the establishment of Neighborhood Watches. During the year, the Civic, along with other local community groups, had a chance to meet with Inspector James Rhoads, Commanding Officer of the 4th Precinct, and other precinct officers. One of the many topics we discussed was the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watches. Within the 4th Precinct, which encompasses the Town of Smithtown and portions of Islip and Brookhaven around the Lake, there are 21 active Neighborhood Watches, of which 7 are in Ronkonkoma. That’s a great start, but the Civic knows that we can still do more to fight local crime.
By working together with Suffolk County Police, neighbors learn how to safeguard each other’s homes by observing and reporting. By observing and reporting any suspicious circumstance, neighborhoods actually increase their own safety.
Police cannot fight crime they do not know about. When alert citizens keep them informed, the police are far more effective against crime, and citizens have better protection and safer neighborhoods.
In 2012 the Civic will continue to help organize Neighborhood Watches in our area. If you’re interested, contact the Civic President at president@lakeronkonkomacivic.org or the COPE office at the 4th Precinct at (631) 854-8478, or for neighborhoods east of Hawkins Avenue, the COPE office at the 6th Precinct at (631) 854-8670.

Overall the Civic continues to advocate for public involvement in the development of our community. We have voiced support for the zoning changes necessary to implement the Portion Road Land Use Plan and continue to monitor building proposals for their compliance with the Plan. The Civic supports the concept of a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Plan for the Ronkonkoma Hub and worked hard to assure there were community meetings to give residents a chance to voice their concerns over this Plan. The Civic also continues to oppose flag lot developments that significantly degrade the character of residential communities.

Every election year the Executive Board has invited local candidates to a Civic meeting to meet with our members, and this year was no different. This past October our members were able talk one on one about the issues that are important to them with the candidates for Suffolk County Executive, Suffolk County 4th and 12th Legislative Districts, Brookhaven Supervisor, and Brookhaven 5th Council District, along with local judicial candidates.

The Town of Brookhaven scheduled Town-wide cleanup events once again this past April as a part of their Keep Brookhaven Beautiful campaign; an affiliate program of Keep America Beautiful. The Civic continued to participate in the planning and coordination of this annual event by identifying some local sites in need of special attention and getting local residents to volunteer their time.
Because a clean community discourages littering and raises local living standards and quality of life, the Civic also hosts a monthly litter cleanup along Portion Road. On the first Saturday of the month, volunteers meet in the parking lot at the southwest corner of the intersection of Portion Road and Holbrook Road, where our litter coordinator, Ken Kellaher, distributes gloves, safety vests and trash bags. Then each team walks a small section of the road collecting litter in bags that will picked up later. If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to walk more this year, you can improve your health and your community by volunteering for our litter cleanup. For more information, you can contact Ken at 736-0626.

Every year we ask our members to keep an eye out for street name signs and traffic control signs that are missing or vandalized or in generally bad condition and report the locations to the Civic. The Civic then compiles a list and sends it to the appropriate departments at the Town of Brookhaven with a request to have the signs repaired or replaced, and in the majority of cases the Town has done so. Although this yearly task may seem minor, the Civic encourages members to participate every year because visible traffic control signs, such as stop signs, help reduce accidents, and legible street signs can assist emergency vehicles when responding to a crisis.

The Brookhaven Planning Board holds hearings regarding proposed development site plans, subdivisions, and variances for the clearance of property vegetation. The Civic monitors the Planning Board’s agenda and speaks out on behalf of the community when there are site plans that are unattractive or objectionable to adjacent homeowners, or against subdivisions that will overcrowd our area or are poorly designed. The Civic also opposes the relief of clearing covenants that significantly reduce the required percentage of native trees and natural vegetation on certain parcels. Excessively replacing native growth with landscaped areas can increase water pollution from fertilizer and insecticides, and reduce the habitat available to local wildlife.
The Civic also enforces the architectural design guidelines contained in the Portion Road Land Use Plan by commenting on façade designs submitted to the Town’s Planning Board.
We encourage our members to attend Planning Board hearings and let their voices be heard; the success of the Civic indicates that our participation does not go unheeded.

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization played a major role in the designation of the lake by Governor Patterson as a New York State Inland Waterway. To take advantage of that designation, during 2011 the Civic worked with Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy to have Suffolk County and the Towns of Brookhaven, Islip, and Smithtown to create a Lake Ronkonkoma Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. That effort will continue into 2012, and when completed the LRWIO would facilitate the coordination between the municipalities in regard to activities within the watershed and create a watershed management plan.
To further the public-private partnership strategy for the area around the lake, the Civic also created a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, the Ronkonkoma Lake Foundation, which has the ability to apply for grant funds for educational and environmental programs related to the lake.

The Civic’s Annual Fall Festival is a big draw for people from all over the region, and it is THE place to be on the last Saturday of September. Besides lake activities, we have food, children’s games and rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, and many vendors and local organizations to interest everyone. Our local fire departments and police bring information and demonstrations, and tours are given from the at the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society’s Homestead. It is the perfect combination of laughter, shopping, and our beautiful lake!
At the beginning of every December we welcome Santa with our annual Breakfast With Santa, and in the Spring we have our annual Bagels With Bunny. At both the children have great fun (though we suspect the adults have just as much fun as the children) with crafts to make, coloring and puzzle sheets, food, goodie bags (and Santa hands out reindeer food), and, of course, a visit and photo-op with Santa and the Easter Bunny. Check our website for the dates for each event and reserve your seats early for a memorable time for your children or grandchildren.

The Civic is proud of our youth and we recognize their participation at school and in our community by offering a scholarship to a January or June graduate who lives within the area served by the Civic. Applicants are required to write an essay explaining how they have volunteered for community projects and it is certainly heartwarming to see how so many students make their time available for the benefit of others and the Lake Ronkonkoma area.

In 2011 the Civic continued coordinate improvements to the previously abused triangular shaped property at Church Street and Pond Road. Civic member Nick Crismali heads our Buy-a-Brick campaign to raise funds for the park; residents and businesses can buy a brick engraved with a custom message, to be placed in a plaza around the flagpole. The Civic has also planted trees and flowers on the property and has it mowed regularly. We would like to give a special thanks to Civic member Daren Caranella for mowing the grass. In the future we plan to add a flag light, more trees, flower gardens, benches, and picnic tables.

"Mirrors of the Past" Photographic Exhibit Opens at the Port Jefferson Village Center
Exhibit traces the history of Lake Ronkonkoma with 120 enlarged photos
Now through February 29, 2012

Reception - Sunday, January 15, 2012, 1 - 3 pm
Meet the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical SocietyRead more...

For this month’s installment of Town Focus, Newsday.com will be running a series of articles by community journalist Erin Geismar about Ronkonkoma. Look for the Civic and the Civic president at: http://www.newsday.com/ronkonkomafocus

Civil Air Patrol is a non-profit service organization with headquarters in Bohemia near Islip Airport. Their members include Cadet members from 12-18 years old and Adult members.
They will be holding a Parents Open House on November 13th from 11AM to 3PM, on the east side of L.I. MacArthur Airport at 1600 Lincoln Ave. Holbrook, NY 11741.
This is a great opportunity to find out about the Civil Air Patrol.

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization, is pleased to announce we are offering a $500 scholarship to any January or June, 2012 graduating senior who intends to go on to college and lives within the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization boundaries (see the Civic map).
The application can be picked up in the Sachem North High School Guidance Office or the Teen Desk at Sachem Public Library, or downloaded from our website. A 500-word essay is required, and contents and grammar will be taken into account. Outstanding finalists will be invited to appear for an interview.
The completed packets should be mailed to: Patricia Duffield, Chairperson, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization Scholarship Committee, PO Box 2916, Lake Ronkonkoma NY 11779. If you have any questions, contact Patricia Duffield at kenpatduff@hotmail.com. Good luck to all who apply!

Here on are some recent news items regarding the proposed transit-oriented development of the 50 acres around the Ronkonkoma Train Station:Read more...

On July 28, 2011, members of the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization attended a Public Information Meeting hosted by the Town of Brookhaven at the Middle Country Public Library in Centereach. Read more...

The Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization’s Annual Fall Festival, held September 24th at the Michael P. Murphy Beach, was a huge success. Read more...

The Civic has a Buy-A-Brick program for the memorial plaza that will surround the flagpole. For a modest $40 you can purchase a brick engraved with 3 lines of text. They make great holiday gifts. Civic member, Nick Crismali, has graciously volunteered to oversee our Buy-A-Brick program.
You can download an order form from our Downloads page.

About Arrowhead Community Park
In the fall of 2005, the Civic was successful in persuading the Town of Brookhaven to purchase the triangular-shaped property, bounded by Pond Road and Church Street, using Open Space funds. Since that time, the Civic has worked with the Town to make improvements to the park, such as new curbs, pedestrian crossings, an enclosing fence, and interior pathways. Using the triangular shape of the park as an opportunity to celebrate the Native American history of Lake Ronkonkoma, the park has been named the Arrowhead Community Park. (And if you’re wondering if any actual arrowheads were ever found nearby, the answer is “Yes!” and you can see a marvelous collection of them at the Historical Society Museum on Hawkins Avenue.)
Residents just like you have made a significant impact in their community with the simple act of donating some of their time to improve a once-abandoned parcel of land. But there’s plenty of space in the park and plenty of opportunity to show how much you care. Contact park coordinator, Mark Salzano at 1250zuluwx@optimum.net to volunteer.

Thanks to a grant by Suffolk County Legislator, Tom Muratore, in 2010, the Civic was able to buy park benches for the bus stops along the new Portion Road where bus shelters were not feasible. The benches were fabricated on Long Island and were installed this past Spring by Civic volunteers.

Congressman Tim Bishop was pleased to give an update on federal issues to the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization and take questions from the membership on important issues.
Congressman Bishop discussed the need to find a balanced approach to reduce spending and cut the deficit with job creation. As an example of his work to cut the deficit, Congressman Bishop cited his efforts to eliminate approximately $20 billion in tax breaks enjoyed by the top five Big Oil companies. He noted that while those subsidies may have been useful when oil cost $18 a barrel, they are unnecessary when it is $100 a barrel.
"I want to learn what's on people's minds," Congressman Bishop told the Civic. "I want people to know the facts. There's an awful lot of misinformation out there. Misinformation is debilitating. My belief is that when people are possessed with the facts, reasonable people will make good decisions."
Congressman Bishop also discussed his support for Medicare and his opposition to plans to turn Medicare into a voucher system.
Congressman Bishop’s office is now located at 31 Oak Street in Patchogue and the phone number has been changed to 289-6500. Residents are urged to call Congressman Bishop’s office if they need assistance with any federal agency. In particular, Congressman Bishop has a caseworker who specializes in helping Suffolk County veterans and veterans are urged to contact the Congressman if they need any help.

Vision Long Island honored the Town of Brookhaven’s Portion Road Land Use Plan with a Smart Growth Award at a ceremony on Friday, June 17th, at the Crest Hollow Country Club. The Plan was recognized for “Certainty & Predictability” which are essential attributes for a successful land use plan. The Civic worked tirelessly alongside the Town’s Planning Department to craft a land use plan that implemented the community’s vision.
Watch the video about the award: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Yb-R03UHw

The Smart Growth Award for the Portion Road Land Use Plan at the Vision Long Island luncheon: (L to R) Vision LI Executive Director Eric Alexander, Town of Brookhaven Planning Commissioner Tulio Bertoli, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization President George Schramm, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization Recording Secretary Pat Duffield, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization Vice-president Dawn Hopkins, Town of Brookhaven Joseph Sanzano.

Our fiscal year ends at the end of May and that means it’s time once again to renew your membership. Renewing your membership early helps to save the Civic the cost of repeatedly mailing renewal forms.
So, if there is a blue membership renewal form inside your newsletter, then it’s time to pay your dues.Read more...

On March 7, 2011, the Town of Brookhaven issued a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) for developers to present the Town with a concept plan for the Ronkonkoma Hub transit-oriented development, which is one of the most significant opportunities in the region to create a beautiful new transit-oriented downtown.
Read more at the Brookhaven website: http://www.brookhaven.org/PressRoom/tabid/56/newsid970/985/Default.aspx

Brookhaven Town and the Ronkonkoma Cenacle have signed a conservation easement agreement that will protect approximately 12 acres of the over 40-acre estate once owned by the famous 19th century stage actress, Maude Adams.
According to the agreement, the purpose of the easement is to forever conserve the property to “assure the sustained, natural capacity and the ecological integrity of the Protected Property and its soils and vegetation and limit adverse aesthetic, wildlife and ecological impacts, particularly in public vistas.” Some of the land uses that are prohibited by the agreement include housing, camp grounds, golf courses, recreation fields, hotels, antennas, and equipment for telecommunication.
Maude Adams, who famously portrayed Peter Pan in 1905, donated her estate to the Cenacle Sisters in 1922. In 2007 the sisters decided to replace the 1927 Retreat House with a smaller, greener building scheduled to be complete in September 2011.

By George Schramm, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization President

The year 2010 saw the loss of one of our community’s greatest assets: Bob Molinari, who passed away in November.Read more...

Assemblywoman Ginny Fields held a Press Conference today, March 19th, at the Islip Town Beach at Lake Ronkonkoma to announce the recognition of Lake Ronkonkoma as a state inland waterway.
You may see some of the press conference tonight on TV 10/55 News tonight at 11PM.
You can also read about it and see photos and video at a new local online news service called Sachem.patch:
http://sachem.patch.com/articles/lake-ronkonkoma-is-first-long-island-lake-added-to-list-of-states-inland-waterways

New York State Governor, David Paterson, signed legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Ginny Fields and Senator Brian X. Foley officially designating Lake Ronkonkoma as an inland waterway. Recognition as a state inland waterway will enable Lake Ronkonkoma to receive new streams of funding and expedite economic development in the surrounding communities.

Every first Saturday of the month volunteers like you help keep Lake Ronkonkoma clean.
Saturday, April 3, 9:00 AM will be our next Portion Road & Hawkins Avenue Clean Up, weather permitting.
Read more...

The New York State Assembly passed legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Ginny Fields officially designating Lake Ronkonkoma as an inland waterway. The bill, which passed in the Senate earlier this month, now goes to the Governor for signature.

The New York State Senate passed important legislation sponsored by Senator Brian X. Foley (D – Blue Point) officially designating Lake Ronkonkoma as an inland waterway. The bill is a crucial step towards cleaning up the lake and revitalizing the lakefront area. Read more...

A Neighborhood Watch program has proven to be a successful method of reducing the risk of crime. But don’t wait until your neighborhood has problems to participate; establishing a Neighborhood Watch now can prevent those problems from occurring.The Civic can assist your neighborhood in establishing a Neighborhood Watch.Read more...

Congratulations to Civic Vice-president, Dawn Hopkins, who was appointed as Brookhaven Town’s representative on the Suffolk County Parks Board of Trustees. Read more...

Becoming a member of the Civic is now just a click away, and renewing your membership couldn't get any easier.

The Civic now accepts credit cards, so now you can pay your membership dues online, safely and securely.Read more...

Lake Ronkonkoma residents, community groups, and Civic members participated in this year’s Great Brookhaven Plant-In by planting flowers and trees in the new Arrowhead Community Park.Read more...

Suffolk County Homemakers, Unit 38, will be meeting every Friday, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, at the Ronkonkoma Fire District Building, on the corner of Portion Road and Hawkins Avenue, in Lake Ronkonkoma.
Suffolk County Homemakers is an organization that hosts local community service projects, donates to scholarships, worthwhile charities and organizations, and provides a social atmosphere where members can share talents and skills.
New members, and those who are interested in finding out more, are welcome to attend.

Lake Ronkonkoma is stocked and ready. Are you ready for the challenge of largemouth and smallmouth bass, Walleye, Chain Pickerel, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Carp, and Brown Bullhead?Read more...

The WS Commerdinger, Jr. County Park is open.Read more...

"Traffic does not yield to simple, appealing solutions. Adding lanes or roads is a short-lived fix. Widen one highway, and drivers from another will defect. Soon that road is worse than it was before." - Tom Vanderbilt, in his new book, "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (And What It Says About Us)."Read more...

Navy Names New Ship and Town Dedicates “Serenity Plaza” for “Medal of Honor” Recipient Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy

On Wednesday afternoon, May 7th, on the shore of Lake Ronkonkoma, U.S. Navy Secretary Dr. Donald C. Winter, Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley, 5th District Councilman Timothy P. Mazzei, and 1st Congressional District Representative Tim Bishop today joined the Murphy family to honor Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy of Patchogue. Lt. Murphy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan June 28, 2005, received the nation’s highest military medal, The Congressional Medal of Honor, for his courage, sacrifice, and heroic efforts to save the Navy SEALs under his command.Read more...

Brookhaven has unveiled its new Constituent Response System “451-TOWN.” This new system uses a single phone number to provide Brookhaven residents with direct access to all town services and information. Read more...

You can support your Civic and buy get some great stuff at the same time.
We have hats, shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more with the Civic logo and other neat Lake Ronkonkoma artwork.Read more...