Back-to-school sales lure shoppers

At the Bay Shore Mall Sunday, shoppers were focused on back-to-school clothes and supplies, and end-of-summer sales. And a few miles east, one business owner said the summer had been a good one.

Elizabeth Bilello, 14, of West Islip is entering ninth grade and was shopping with her mother Jean Bilello, 35.

"I'm going shopping and getting the last of my school supplies before school starts; I got a few pairs of pants and one shirt," said Elizabeth.

Richard Maughnes, 55, a bus driver who lives in Brentwood, said he and his wife found end-of-summer sales helpful for a trip they're planning to the Caribbean. "Clothing, shirts, pants, woman's clothes," he said. "It's warm down there, so we got some sales because summer's over here."

Frances Astarita, 40, of Bay Shore was shopping with her 4-month-old daughter, Alexa. "Just buying some clothes for the baby. We got a lot of sales on baby T-shirts, baby pants," she said. "The whole weekend was for the baby. I'm tired of the heat and hot weather; I just want the fall to come."

Monique Hernandez, 43 a graduate student at Dowling College, was shopping with her three daughters - Kayla, 14, Lindsey, 10, and Kamryn, 11. Said Kamryn: "We bought back-to-school clothes, a vest, dress and a Mickey Mouse sweater and two pairs of jeans. . . . I'm excited to go back to school."

Cathy Rossi, 53, of North Babylon, who works in customer service, was with her son Rolando, 17, who is going to be a senior at North Babylon High School. He is Rossi's fifth - and youngest - child. She said they bought "back-to-school clothing. T-shirts that are usually $20-$30 apiece, I got them for $5 apiece, I like going now because that's when all the sales are.

"He's the last of five kids. . . . This is the last back-to-school shopping for me."

On Sayville's Main Street, the owner of Village Panini said the season was "fantastic."

"We opened here in Sayville and we've only been here a year," said Stephen Prisco, 54, who lives in Manorville. He said this summer featured "a lot of business" from customers taking the ferry to Fire Island.