This week in Huntington newsletter: The newest town board member wants to hear from you

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Huntington’s newest town board member, Jen Hebert, convened a meeting at the South Huntington Public Library on Tuesday evening to connect with residents, and I stopped by. It was the first gathering of “Let’s Talk, Huntington,” an initiative she plans to hold monthly to speak directly with members of the community. About 18 people showed up to chat in an open forum. 

It was a friendly vibe, with the topics including the Melville Town Center Overlay District, water quality, the Conte Center, which is the proposed community center for Huntington Station, and housing.

The top environmental issues mentioned were the purchase of more green space, the protection of the aquifer and the regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers.

Hebert said she thought the evening went well.

“Anything we can do to build confidence with our community and be more available and more accessible and more transparent, that builds our community in a way that we really need," she said following the two-hour meeting. 

Bonnie McAfee, a South Huntington resident, said she came away with a feeling of connection. “There is still community here,” she said. “I feel encouraged, even empowered that you can still make a difference.”

Hebert, a Democrat, said she couldn't take full credit for the evening. She said one of her opponents for a town board seat in November’s election, Conservative and Republican candidate Greg Grizopoulos, planted the idea of bringing Town Hall out into the community, and she just went with it.

Hebert said that each month, she’s planning to meet in public libraries south of Jericho Turnpike, such as Dix Hills, Elwood and Commack, by request. “That’s what I heard when I was knocking on doors for my campaign,” she said. “People in those communities in the township feel kind of neglected.”

Eventually, she said, she may work her way back to libraries in the north part of town. Wherever the meeting is held, Hebert said, it's a way to build trust. Residents, she said, "have to see that they can trust us; it has to be demonstrated.” 

What question would you ask a town board member if you were able to sit down with them one-on-one? Tell me at deborah.morris@newsday.com.

Info session on Huntington Station

Hebert isn't the only town official looking to connect with residents. On Tuesday, Town Supervisor Ed Smyth will host a community information session to discuss the Huntington Station Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

In 2023, the hamlet was awarded a $10 million state grant to revitalize Huntington Station's downtown. 

The meeting will provide updates on the streetscape projects for Huntington Station, New York Avenue and Route 110 that the program is paying for. State officials are also expected to attend.

Although not paid for with that grant money, improvements in Huntington Station started last summer with a sewer installation. That's made it tough for motorists to navigate Route 110, thanks to patched pavement and metal plates in the roadway, as I reported in January. 

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Huntington Community First Aid Squad, 2 Railroad St., Huntington Station.

What would you like to see covered in this newsletter? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.

Elsewhere in town

• Instead of having a babysitter come to your home, parents planning a night out or needing to run errands now have an alternative. My colleague Cathi Turow wrote about a trend at gymnastics, gaming and art venues: The hosting of Parent's Night Out. Venues in Huntington and East Northport are among those she highlighted.
• Thank goodness for our first responders: Firefighters from nine departments battled an early morning blaze last week in Melville. There was extensive damage to the home but no serious injuries. My colleague John Valenti wrote about it.
• Another fire in East Northport late Tuesday severely damaged a home. Here's the story by Maureen Mullarkey.

• An East Northport restaurant has closed after 25 years. The owners of Precious, a Chinese food mainstay on Larkfield Road, are retiring. Food writer Marie Elena Martinez takes us down memory lane with highlights of past reviews.

• Rust & Gold and 1653 Pizza Company, two fixtures in the Huntington food scene, are up for sale. Read Erica Marcus' story.

Things to do

Check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week. 

Mike DelGuidice in concert

When: April 10 and 11, 8 p.m.

What: The singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, a fixture at the Paramount, performs his original music and fan-favorite rock classics.

Where: The Paramount in concert with Northwell, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

Information: Tickets start at $30. For more information go to paramountny.com

Post-Passover celebration 

When: April 9, 8 p.m.

What:  Dinner with dancing at The Suffolk Y JCC to celebrate Passover. The adults-only event features a Mimouna celebration, a return to eating chametz (leavened bread) and a Moroccan musical presentation with Mor Schwartz. 

Where: The Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Rd., Commack

Information: Cost is $25; bring your own bottle of wine. To register, click here.

Exhibit of art by local high school students

When: Through April 26

What: Visual art exhibition of works by 11th and 12th grade student artists from districts including Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Harborfields, Huntington, Northport-East/Northport and South Huntington. 

Where: Huntington Arts Council, Main Street Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington and its website.

Information: huntingtonarts.org.

Find more things to do at newsday.com/lifestyle.