Week in Review: New Businesses Open in St. James

St. Baldrick's Benefit Raises $30K for Childhood Cancer Research

Many locals walked into Napper Tandy's on Main Street in Smithtown with long, flowing hair on Saturday but left with shaved heads as part of the fund raising event St. Baldrick's Day.

St. Baldrick's Day is an event where participants raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, an organization that funds childhood cancer research grants.

While dozens of people participated, the biggest crowd of the event surrounded Cassandra Steinle, a 15-year-old Smithtown West High School student who is a Neuroblastoma IV survivor, but now critically ill from lung disease, a result of her treatments.

Chants of "No more cuts" and "We count too" echoed throughout Perry Duryea State Office Building parking lot in Hauppauge on Friday as more than 1,000 people stood outside protestingGov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed funding cuts to services for the developmentally disabled.

"I don't understand what the governor is thinking by cutting these people, of all people," said Margaret Raustiala, mother of an autistic son and member of the Alliance of Long Island Agencies. "Restore the money, restore the cut, find some other place to cut ... all I know is this cannot happen. It's really, really sad." 

The proposed 6 percent cuts to the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities would result in a reduction of more than $120 million that would fund developmentally disabled services – including Smithtown's Developmental Disabilities Institute. Coming on the heels of cuts in recent years, leaders in the field have called the proposal unsustainable without taking a step backward.

Uncle Giuseppe's Routinely Fails Health Inspections

On Sept. 27, 2012, New York health inspectors destroyed nearly five pounds of canolis and other cream-filled pastries deemed unfit for sale at Uncle Giuseppe's market in Smithtown, a critical health issue that resulted in the market's eighth failed health inspection since opening in 2005.

The canoli problem was one of seven critical flaws – considered hazardous to a person's health – uncovered by inspectors responding to a shopper complaint that marinated raw chicken bought at the store made them sick, according to public information supplied by the state'sDepartment of Agriculture and Markets.

New CrossFit Gym Opens in St. James

The CrossFit craze has made its way to St. James.

CrossFit, a community-oriented fitness program that utilizes constant and varied high-intensity movements, is now offered in a new gym to the area, located at 648 Middle Country Road, units 4 and 5.

The gym is co-owned by Ryan Davis, a Setauket native and certified CrossFit coach since January, who before opening his own gym had prior coaching stints at LA Fitness and CrossFit Stony Brook. 

Alongside Davis in CrossFit Smithtown is co-owner and coach Alexandra Totino. Davis and Totino have recently added another CrossFit coach, Brad Pareso, who will begin coaching by the end of March.

New York Stuffed Cone Company Sweetens Up St. James

For a cone that requires a spoon and toppings that go beyond rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, head to the recently opened New York Stuffed Cone Company and prepare to pack in some serious topping temptations.

The shop, which opened at the end of February, is the creation of husband and wife Dave and Lauren Saracino, who believe St. James is ripe for a place like this.

“We wanted to create a place for kids and families to come and not feel rushed,” said Dave. “It’s like an old-fashioned urban mix.”

East Lacrosse Star Makes Max Preps' Top 25 Player List

A Smithtown High School East sophomore has landed on Max Preps' Top 25 high school lacrosse players from across the country for 2013.

Midfielder John Daniggelis landed on this year's list, one of nine New York players to do so.

Permits Issued to Repair Blizzard-Damaged St. James Lumber Yard

The February blizzard wreaked havoc on the vacant former home to Sider Lumber, and the damages to the roof and interior could soon be repaired.

According to the Town of Smithtown Building Department, permits have been issued to JJJ Enterprises, LLC, the property owner of the St. James lumber yard. John Bongino, director of the Building Department, said work could begin immediately.

Subway's Smithtown-Kings Park Border Location to Open in 2 Months

Construction and electrical workers at the soon-to-be-home to Subway Restaurant on the Smithtown-Kings Park border confirmed Friday that the eatery could be open in as soon as two months. 

The workers from T.R.C. Electric were working at the scene late Friday afternoon and said the work on the 1217 Route 25A location, the former home to Ji Sushi & Chinese Food, began last Monday.