Week in Review: 2 St. James Businesses Close

A little over a year ago, Rebecca McDonald and Miriam Acard were both running their own craft stores at opposite sides of Smithtown Boulevard. McDonald - a knitting and bead shop, and Acard- a needlepoint business. However, it was a mixture of luck and opportunity that brought them together.

McDonald had been looking to expand her store, when a retail space at the Nesconset Plaza opened up. The problem though, was that it was a bit too large for her to take on alone. That’s when she walked into the needlepoint shop down the road and met Acard.

Missing Signs Have Supervisor Candidate Crying Foul

Missing and defaced signs for Robert Creighton's run for Smithtown Supervisor have his campaign pointing fingers at the opposition.

Scott Santamaria campaign manager for Creighton, said he is not exactly sure how many have been taken or defaced but said they receive calls daily from residents who say the signs have been taken from the lawns and yards.

Road Work Ahead for Route 25A in Saint James
Drivers should start finding alternative routes as Route 25A in St. James will get repaved over the next two weeks. 

New York State Department of Transportation announced they be closing down lanes of North Country Road to repave from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on various days over the upcoming weeks. 

Empty Chocolate Store Leaves Cavity in Nesconset Plaza
There is now a gap at Nesconset Plaza where Dara's Chocolates, a specialty sweets store, used to be.

The chocolate store opened in November 2012, but was only open for a brief five months. It closed after Easter in March.


Smithtown Tree Service Grows Too Close for Resident's Comfort
Smithtown residents are begging town officials to keep a Jericho Turnpike business more than 10 feet away from their homes and property. 

Prisco Reality, owner of Reliable Tree Service at 970 Jericho Turnpike, went before Smithtown Board of Appeals Tuesday night for the second time seeking multiple variances to permit a trucking station and reduce the buffer to residential homes to 10 feet. 

Boulevards Bar and Grill Closer to Completion
Boulevard's Bar and Grill is taking shape at the corner of Francis Street and Smithtown Boulevard, opposite Borella's Wholesale Nursery and farm stand.

The tape that covered the facade in April is gone and construction trucks were on the property Wednesday, though no workers were at the site at the time.

Artsy Packs Up For Smaller Smithtown Studio
After existing only one year on Lake Avenue, Artsy, a St. James studio offering small group art classes, will be relocating to the owner's Smithtown home studio at the end of July.

Owner Danielle Azzi said her home studio offers the right amount of space for the needs of her classes.