Golf club parking lot paved at VA center
The Village of Northport is located in the Town of Huntington on Suffolk County's North Shore. It was settled in 1656 and incorporated in 1894, the first area in Huntington to do so. (April 21, 2011) Credit: T.C. McCarthy
For five years, Mario Buonpane has been trying to get paved the parking lot of the Northport Golf Club at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Buonpane, chairman of the American Legion Post 694 VA Golf Committee, said he wanted the lot paved because it was made of loose gravel and he worried people could get hurt if they fell.
Buonpane met with Huntington Town board member Eugene Cook earlier this month and they discussed projects the golf course wanted to see happen, including the parking lot. Cook said the town didn’t have money available but added that he works in paving and concrete and that he would make a few calls.
“I made three phone calls and that’s all it took,” Cook said.
Within two weeks, three businesses pledged to donate their services, equipment and supplies. Wednesday, workers put the finishing touches on the lot — the stripes — and it will be open for use today.
Buonpane said he is “eternally grateful” to Cook and the three local businesses. Posillico Inc. of Farmingdale donated the asphalt. Lindley Brothers Asphalt Paving Inc. of Northport paved the lot. M G M Sealcoating Inc. of Wantagh provided the labor, equipment and materials to stripe the area.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 360 also helped with the paving — raking and shoveling the asphalt. Their troop leader is Jeff Lindley of Lindley Brothers.
The golf course is located at 79 Middleville Rd. The golf committee has leased the 64-acre golf course parcel from the VA since 1996.
“It was great people doing a great thing for great people,” Cook said. “I was thrilled to be a part of it.”
