This week in Huntington newsletter: Pride, frustration mix over Northport flag flap
Pride flag and veteran banners on display at Northport Village Park on Tuesday. Credit: Morgan Campbell
A quick decision last week by Northport Mayor Donna Koch turned into quite a controversy.
After a complaint from the Northport American Legion commander about pride flags flying in Northport Village Park on lampposts above banners featuring military veterans, Koch ordered that the flags be removed while she came up with a new plan. But the move quickly drew consternation from LGBTQ+ community.
At a previously planned village board meeting Tuesday, about 90 people, many of them in shirts with messages of LGBTQ+ support, showed up demanding answers.
At that meeting, Koch announced the village would take down half the pride flags at the park while also removing half the veterans' banners in what she saw as a compromise. She said she made the decision after conferring with other members of the village board.
Koch told me she was sorry for the decision, apologized to anyone who was offended and that there was "no malicious intent."
The hullabaloo comes as Northport Pridefest, a series of events celebrating gay pride throughout June, is set to host an all-day festival Saturday in the village. It's from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Northport Village Park.
Interestingly enough, Koch is to deliver the opening speech there, according to a schedule on the Pridefest website. She said Thursday she has not yet written her statement to open the festivities.
"I hope that everyone comes together in unity," Koch said. "I'm hoping for a joyous celebration and for everyone to embrace who and what they are."
What do you think of the compromise? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
A pause on battery storage
Huntington Town Board member Dave Bennardo sponsored the resolution. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Huntington officials have approved a six-month battery storage moratorium. Town board member Dave Bennardo, who sponsored the resolution, said the pause will allow officials to consider and address concerns of first responders. He said he doesn't know if six months is enough time to figure things out, but it's a start. Meanwhile, pauses like this one in other towns across Long Island have left environmentalists frustrated. Read my story here.
What's your opinion of battery storage facilities? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
Elsewhere in town
Laurie McManus, left, Jodi Eisner and Betty Cole at the canasta table. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
- While mah-jongg may be the current rage, another old-school game resurgence is on the rise. Check out this story by Beth Whitehouse on canasta, a complicated card game that has one group of Long Islanders, including a Huntington resident, excited.
- The state has announced that $12 million will be designated to replace the Asharoken Avenue seawall. The funding was included in a state package announced Thursday. Read my colleague Carl MacGowan's story.
- Check out a profile by my colleague Tom Rock of James Nicholas — the first golfer to tee off at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club this weekend. At one point, Nicholas won a tournament in Huntington, setting him on a path to the Open.
- Looking for a sweet treat to try? Newsday food writer Erica Marcus recommends four places, including one in Huntington. Read about it here.
Things to do
Check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week.
Fill a bag with books at The Next Chapter in Huntington. Credit: Linda Rosier
Book Sale
When: Friday, June 19, starting at 9:30 a.m., through Sunday, June 21, at 9 p.m.
What: Bring a bag and fill it with as many books as possible from The Next Chapter bookstore's clearance room and pay only $20 plus tax. All records priced $8 and under from the entire store are included in the sale.
Where: The Next Chapter, 204 New York Ave., Huntington
Information: For more information, go here.
Tribute To Long Island Hip-Hop Legends
When: Saturday, June 20, noon-6 p.m.
What: Freedom Beats is a full-day cultural and media arts experience honoring the legacy, artistry and lived history of Long Island hip-hop. The event features the screening of the documentary film "Long Island Underground Legends of Hip Hop," directed by filmmaker Archie Snowden.
Where: Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington
Information: Tickets are $40. To purchase, go here.
Celebrate Juneteenth
When: Saturday, June 20, 3-6 p.m.
What: An afternoon of historic reflections, music, food, giveaways and cultural experiences to celebrate June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Texas found out they had been freed from slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation issued by presidential executive order in 1863.
Where: Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington
Information: Bring a lawn chair. The event will be moved to Huntington Town Hall, 100 Main St., in case of rain. For more information, go here.
Find more things to do at newsday.com/lifestyle.
Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.
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