This week in Huntington newsletter: Community center plan gets bipartisan push, and Scorsese speaks out
Debbie Conte, wife of James D. Conte, with Assemb. Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) at the ceremony announcing the funding last week. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Hi, everyone. We're in peak fall season — this weekend I'll likely start preparing my garden for winter and planting garlic to harvest in the spring. As we look forward to next year, our town got some good news recently from the governor's 2027 capital budget, as I reported: The state has committed $7.5 million for the long-proposed James D. Conte Community Center in Huntington Station.
The idea for the center started with the man for whom it's named — and the push for it harkens back to a spirit of bipartisanship too rarely seen these days.
Conte, who was a Republican assemblyman, led efforts to have the state convey the former armory on East Fifth Street to the town before his death in 2012. The intent was to transform it into a community center. But costs to renovate it continued to climb over the years, so in 2023, the town decided it would construct a separate building for the center and use the old armory for storage.
James D. Conte in 2010. Credit: Kathy Kmonicek
In addition to the $7.5 million committed by Kathy Hochul, and $6 million pledged by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie — both Democrats — Republican Town Supervisor Ed Smyth told me the town has about $6 million earmarked for the project.
As Conte's daughter Samantha said last week on the day the funding was announced, "It's Dad's legacy; this is was the last thing I remember him doing."
What do you think of the town's plan for a community center? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
Elsewhere in town
Martin Scorsese earlier this month at Walter Reade Theater in Manhattan. Credit: Getty Images for FLC/Jamie McCarthy
Hollywood heavyweight supports Dylan Skolnick. Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese has entered the discussion about Skolnick, the former co-director of the Cinema Arts Centre who was fired last month. Read what Scorsese had to say in this story by Newsday's John Valenti.
ACOTAR fantasy books have fans. The headline on this story caught my eye because I hadn't heard of the ACOTAR book series. Catch up on the meaning, including comments from a Huntington bookstore owner, in this story by Newsday's Maureen Mullarkey.
Father of former town supervisor dies. I wrote an obituary this week about Chad Lupinacci's father. Read about Sal Lupinacci's impactful life.
Things to do
Ghost Pepper performs Sunday at Mighty Fine Cafe. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
Check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week and more at newsday.com/lifestyle.
Free music in the garden. Mighty Fine Cafe will host the popular six-piece jam band Ghost Pepper in its backyard garden on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.
KIDZ BOP Daytime Dance Party. Join the fun at The Paramount in Huntington on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Halloween at Heckscher Park. Enjoy a family friendly event with a bounce house, trick-or-treating, music and more on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Prime Avenue and Route 25A.
Find more things to do in Newsday's calendar of events.
Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.
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