People of Ronkonkoma: Kathy Easterson

As part of this week's Town Focus: Ronkonkoma series, Erin Geismar will be conducting quick interviews of everyone from community leaders to  people on the street.

Kathy Easterson
Age: 53
Address: Beach View Place, Ronkonkoma

What brought you to this area? I’d come out here to go to Stony Brook University when I was 18.

What were your first impressions? Well, I moved to Ronkonkoma a few years after moving to Long Island. Great beaches, great clubs -- I was young.

And what made you stay? I just always moved growing up so I wanted to stay in one place. I like to have roots. And my husband and I live right on the lake so we will never move.

What does living near the lake mean to you? Beautiful views, sunsets, sunrise. A lot of activity. There are ice boats in the winter -- that will draw people to together. When the lake freezes over it can turn into a little city.

How would you define Ronkonkoma, or describe the character of the community? There are so many people and everyone’s very busy. It’s a great location, we have the airport, the train, we’re close to the LIE. There’s also lots of shopping. And I think there’s been a lot of work done lately, so it’s like a revitalization.

Photo: Kathy Easterson, who has lived in Ronkonkoma for more than 30 years, attends a meeting of the Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board. (Nov. 29, 2011)