Huntington Notebook: Melville Employment Center Study Highlighted

New Melville Employment Center Study Highlighted

The Town's new Melville Employment Center Study was highlighted at a panel discussion hosted by the Comercial Industrial Brokers Socety in Melville recently.

The preparation of a Melville Employment Center Plan, spearheaded by Town Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, was a key recommendation of the Town's Horizons 2020 Comprehensive Plan. 

The overall goal for the Melville Plan is to help the Town manage the future growth in Melville so as to maintain its position as the Island's preeminent business and employment hub, while addressing community impacts and improving development character.

"The Melville Plan Advisory Committee is comprised of leaders from the business, real estate, transportation and government sectors,” said Cuthbertson. “It is my hope that the plan will lay the foundation for future transportation, infrastructure and land use policies in fostering Melville’s continuing evolution as a corporate employment center and development as Long Island’s thriving Downtown."

Huntington Station Children's Benefit a Blast

Hundreds piled into Huntington High School’s auditorium Saturday night for an evening of entertainment sponsored by the United Methodist Men of the United Methodist Church Huntington-Cold Spring Harbor, Councilwoman Susan A. Berland, the Town of Huntington and the Huntington Branch of the NAACP to raise money for programs and initiatives that will benefit children living in Huntington Station. One of the proposed initiatives is a water/splash park.

The occasion kicked off with a welcome from Reverend Dr. Luonne Rouse and Ms. Marie Rouse of the United Methodist Church followed by an invocation by Ms. Raquel Patterson-Reeves. Berland welcomed local community leaders and spoke of the productive collaboration between public and private entities that led to the evening’s success and thanked Dr. Rouse and his congregation of United Methodist Men for taking the initiative to support the children of Huntington Station.

Mr. Alvin White of the Huntington Union Free School District, Ms. Delores Thompson of the Huntington Station Enrichment Center and Ms. Betty Miller of the Huntington Branch of the NAACP were the honorees of the evening and also spoke.

“A Diva, A Comedian and Broadway for the Children of Huntington Station” starred Tony Award winner and four-time Grammy Award nominee Melba Moore and featured performances by Far Rockaway native and singer/songwriter Bria Monet Barfield as well as a joint chorus from the Oakwood Primary Center and Maplewood Intermediate Center led by Ms. Luella Pinelli and Ms. Vanessa Melillo.

“It was great to see so many Huntington residents in attendance Saturday evening,” said Berland. “I would like to thank the United Methodist Men for leading the charge to bring this event to fruition and all of our generous sponsors. Thank you to Ms. Melba Moore, Bria Barfield and the joint children’s chorus from the Oakwood and Maplewood schools who accompanied Melba Moore. It was such an enjoyable night of music, fun and community. I am looking forward to the creation of a water/splash park for children living in Huntington Station and this fundraiser went a long way towards making that happen. The success of the event Saturday evening proves how much we can accomplish when we all work together.”

"Melba Moore was an exceptional contributor to our focus on projects for Children of Huntington Station,” commented Reverend Dr. Luonne Rouse. “Ending the show with the children’s chorus made the night unforgettable and blessed. Now, we set sight on raising 50 percent of the estimated costs for a possible splash park and playground for the children."