Islandia’s newest Village Trustees, Raymond Bush and Victor Montanez III, spearheaded the Board of Trustees’ decision to include the construction of two pickleball courts to be added to the grounds of Village Hall.
The construction is included in the village’s 2023 budget and should be operational and available for residential use by this summer. In commenting on the new courts, Trustee Montanez said, “Considering the growing popularity of the sport and the difficulty to find open courts, we thought this was the perfect addition to our village.”
Trustee Bush agreed, adding, “Pickleball is great for all ages, especially for seniors who want to be active, but are looking for a competitive sport that has less physical demands. The new courts will be another enhancement to our local quality of life that living in a village provides us.”
With the weather getting warmer, the First Responders Recreational Ball Field is expected to see more village residents using the park. The park features a variety of amenities, including a state-of-the-art ball field, a children’s playground, a fitness path and a gazebo.
The ball field has bleachers which can hold several hundred spectators, concession stands and restrooms. Since it first opened in 2018, the ball field has hosted baseball and softball clinics, as well as youth and adult baseball and softball contests. Residents can use the field for themselves when it is not in use (proof of village residency is required).
The village recently purchased a pitching machine to help ballplayers improve their hitting skills and intends to install a batting cage and bullpens in time for this coming season.
A children’s playground is located inside the park where children can climb, swing and slide. Residents can take advantage of the walking path featuring ten separate exercise stations.
The park also features a common area with a gazebo that has been the site of village events, such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt, Village Bar-B-Que and Pumpkin Fest and the first-ever Movie Night. The village anticipates bringing back these events this year.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Residents can also access the park for non-profit and commercial uses. For more information, contact the village’s parks and recreation commissioner, Denise Schrage, at 631-348-1133 or at dschrage@newvillageofislandia.com.
Allan M. Dorman (left), Mayor, Village of Islandia, is joined by Michael Zaleski (third from left), Deputy Mayor, Village of Islandia and Second Assistant Chief, Central Islip Fire Department, and members of Suffolk County Boy Scout Troop #272 in Ronkonkoma as they place a wreath at the memorial at First Responders Recreational Ball Field at a special ceremony on June 2.Allan M. Dorman (right), Mayor, Village of Islandia, watches Collin throw out the first pitch to commemorate the grand opening of the First Responders Recreational Ball Field on June 2. Also pictured (left to right): Denise Schrage, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, Village of Islandia; Harry Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Bolla Market; Kamljit Singh; and Chuck Kilroy, Suffolk President and General Manager, Jake’s 58.
On June 2, the Village of Islandia held its grand opening of the First Responders Recreational Ball Field, just in time for the summer. Mayor Allan Dorman and village officials were joined by local first responders, firefighters, and police officers; representatives from Delaware North and the Bolla Foundation; local war veterans and elected officials for this special event.
The ceremony began with the unveiling and dedication of the memorial honoring local responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Mayor Dorman then led the dedication of the ball field and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
In addition to a state-of-the-art ball field and concession stand and memorial, the park also includes a walking path with exercise stations. Local businesses provided more than $2.5 million to make this project a reality, including Delaware North (the operator of Jake’s 58), the Bolla Foundation and Breslin Realty.
“We are proud to open the First Responders Recreational Ball Field to the residents,” Mayor Dorman said. “It is truly an honor to dedicate this park in the memory of our brave first responders. I foresee the park becoming the focal point of our village, where we will be able to come together as a community and enjoy an enhanced quality of life that living in a village provides.”
Mayor Allan M. Dorman (third from left), Village of Islandia, is joined by dignitaries, local elected officials and first responders for the groundbreaking of the First Responders Recreational Ball Field on June 7. Also pictured (l-r): Michael Zaleski, Deputy Mayor, Village of Islandia and Chief, Central Islip Fire Department; Brian Hansberry, President, Gaming Division, Delaware North; Harry Singh, President/CEO, Bolla Market; Salvatore Vitale, Senior Property Manager, Breslin Realty; and Thomas Muratore, Suffolk County Legislator.
On June 7, Mayor Allan M. Dorman, Village of Islandia, joined Islandia Village Trustees, local elected officials and representatives of Delaware North, Bolla Market and Breslin Realty in the groundbreaking of the First Responders Recreational Ball Field.
The First Responders Recreational Ball Field will feature a state-of-the-art ball field for youth and community baseball and softball games. The redeveloped park will also include a concession stand, restrooms, a playground and an exercise path around the perimeter of the park with 10 different exercise stations.
Delaware North, operator of the new Jake’s 58 in Islandia, provided $1.53 million for the completion of the construction and the development of the ball field as part of its Taxpayer Relief Agreement with the village. Bolla Market contributed $500,000 for construction of the restrooms, a storage area and a concession stand. Breslin Realty had also donated $100,000 for the development of the ball field.
In 2014, the park, formerly known as Old Nichols Road Park, was acquired by the village from the Town of Islip with the help of then-Town Supervisor Tom Croci, for the purpose of developing a ball field on an underutilized, dilapidated property.
The acquisition was made possible through the assistance of then-New York State Senator Lee Zeldin and New York State Assemblyman Al Graf, who introduced legislation the previous year to authorize the transfer of ownership of the seven-acre park to the village at no cost. On June 17, 2013, the state Senate passed the bill; four days later, it was approved by the Assembly. On October 21, 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law.
“We wish to thank Delaware North, Bolla Market and Breslin Realty for their financial assistance on making this neighborhood baseball field become a reality,” Mayor Dorman said. “The park promises to be a place where members of our community will come together to spend time with their children and enjoy the outdoors. It will have the potential to become the focal point of our community, where we will be able to enjoy and improve upon our quality of life that living in a village affords to us.”
“Delaware North always establishes strong, cooperative relationships with the communities where we operate, so Delaware North and Jake’s 58 are proud to have established a strong relationship with the Village of Islandia and appreciate the village’s support,” said Brian Hansberry, president of Delaware North’s gaming division.
Will Be Renamed Village of Islandia First Responders Memorial Recreational Field Plans to Enhance Field Calls for New Baseball Diamond with Dugouts
Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi (second from left) and New York State Assemblyman Al Graf (third from left) hold up a rendering of the Village of Islandia First Responders Memorial Recreational Field while Mayor Allan M. Dorman (third from right), Village of Islandia, displays a certificate from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office which grants ownership of the ball field to the village. Also pictured (l-r): Suffolk County Legislator Tom Muratore and Islandia Village Trustees Michael Zaleski and Patty Peters.
On February 14, Mayor Allan M. Dorman, Village of Islandia, was joined by local elected officials to accept ownership of Old Nichols Road Park from the Town of Islip. He received a certificate from the Office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo giving ownership of the ball field, which will be renamed Village of Islandia First Responders Memorial Recreational Field.
In May 2013, New York State Senator Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman Al Graf co-sponsored legislation authorizing the Town of Islip to transfer ownership of the seven-acre Old Nichols Road Park to the village. The bill gives the village sole proprietorship of the ball field at no cost and provides the village residents with more recreational opportunities. The bill passed the Senate on June 17, 2013 and the Assembly four days later. It was then signed into law by Governor Cuomo on October 21, 2013.
The ball field will be renamed the Village of Islandia First Responders Memorial Recreational Field in honor of the memory of five first responders from Islandia who were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Upon acquisition of the property, the Village of Islandia will construct a second baseball diamond on the field, complete with dugouts. Local businesses will help with the building of the ball field and will be asked to help maintain it once construction is completed.
“I wish to thank Assemblyman Graf, Senator Zeldin and the Town of Islip board members and its Parks and Recreation Department for this generous donation to the village,” Mayor Dorman said. “This ball field will provide our residents greater access to more recreational activities being offered by our village. We are also looking forward to the local business community providing its assistance in maintaining the pristine conditions of our ball fields.”
Mayor Allan M. Dorman (right) breaks ground with a ceremonial shovel at the proposed Veterans Way subdivision on May 23. He is joined by (left to right): Adam Famularo, General Manager, Cloud Computing Business, CA Technologies; Edgar Goodale, Chairman, and Tom Datre, President, Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp.
On May 23, Mayor Allan M. Dorman, a Vietnam War veteran, joined war veterans, local elected officials and representatives of Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp. (LIHBCDC) and CA Technologies in a groundbreaking ceremony for Veterans Way, a subdivision in which six homes will be built off Motor Parkway and made available at low cost to war veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the groundbreaking, Mayor Dorman thanked the veterans in attendance for their service to this country and expressed his gratitude that the first subdivision of its kind is being built in Islandia Village. He also discussed how he worked with other local elected officials and LIHBCDC — the nonprofit arm of the Long Island Builders Institute — to bring this project to Islandia. They also worked with CA Technologies, which graciously donated the 3.5-acre parcel of land for construction of the homes.
The houses will be available to the veterans at a price below market value. In order to be eligible, all veterans who apply must meet certain qualifications and will be selected by a committee of local, county and state commanders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Construction of the houses is scheduled to be completed before Veterans Day.
Mayor Allan M. Dorman Joins Village Officials in Groundbreaking of Village of Islandia Commons
Site of Former Delicatessen Purchased by Village Will Provide Office and Retail Space, House Suffolk Police and Village Public Safety Unit
On June 30, Mayor Allan M. Dorman, Village of Islandia, joined village officials in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Village of Islandia Commons. The mayor has announced that the village has purchased the building that was the In & Out Deli, located at the corner of Old Nichols Road and South Bedford Avenue.
Mayor Dorman also announced that the building will be renamed the Village of Islandia Commons. In order to generate revenue, the village will lease out office and retail space to incoming businesses. An artist’s rendition of what the building will look like was available for public view to the residents in attendance. The retail space will be occupied by a flower shop while a local business will move into the office space.
The building will also house Suffolk County Police and the village’s Public Safety Unit in order to increase police presence in the area, since the building has high visibility along the main corridor, and to eliminate blight from the village which attracts criminal activity and drives down property values.
Islandia Village Officially Opens its Community Garden for Seventh Season
Village residents, board members and employees got together at the village hall grounds to take part in the village’s seventh annual Community Garden planting on May 12. They planted tomatoes, spinach, beans, radishes and peppers in the community garden. The young plants were graciously provided by Borella Nursery. Now, local residents can visit the garden, help take care of the plants and enjoy watching the fruits of their labor grow.
The garden was opened in 2006 as the result of an initiative put forth by Village Mayor Allan Dorman. Mayor Dorman and the village residents are hoping for a bumper crop this year. Residents who participate in the planting not only help beautify the village, but will get a chance to work alongside their neighbors and enjoy each other’s company.
Islandia Village Mayor Allan Dorman (standing, second from left) joins village trustees and local residents in the sixth annual Community Garden Planting on May 7.
On May 7, the Village of Islandia held its sixth annual Community Garden Planting on the village hall grounds. Village residents, board members and employees planted tomatoes, spinach, beans, radishes and peppers in the community garden. The young plants were graciously provided by Borella Nursery. Now, local residents can visit the garden, help take care of the plants and enjoy watching the fruits of their labor grow.
The garden was opened in 2006 as the result of an initiative put forth by Village Mayor Allan Dorman. Mayor Dorman and the village residents are hoping for a bumper crop this year. Residents who participate in the planting not only help beautify the village, but will get a chance to work alongside their neighbors and enjoy each other’s company.
Pictured (left to right): Islandia Village Trustee Patty Peters, Highway Commissioner Tony Church, Deputy Mayor Diane Olk, Mayor Allan M. Dorman, and Trustees Mike Zaleski and Barbara Lacey.
On December 13, 2010, Allan M. Dorman, Mayor, Village of Islandia, was joined by village employees to show the completion of a 1,500-foot long fence that was constructed alongside Veterans Memorial Highway. This project was two years in the making, and is part of the Village Beautification Plan.
The purpose of the fence is to act as a sound barrier and provide privacy for over 1,000 of the village’s residents. With no State or County funds available for this project, the Village paid for the project itself. The total cost of this project will be just under $200,000. The project demonstrates the flexibility of local government to react in order to address a growing quality-of-life issue.
