ASHAROKEN VILLAGE HOLDS DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR NEW VILLAGE HALL

On November 24, 2015 – The Incorporated Village of Asharoken celebrated the grand opening of its new Village Hall today with a formal dedication ceremony. Asharoken Mayor Dr. Greg Letica and the Board of Trustees hosted the event that was attended by more than 100 Asharoken residents, friends and many local elected officials and dignitaries. Joining Mayor Letica and the Board of Trustee for the ribbon cutting ceremony was Congressman Steve Israel, NY State Senator Carl Marcellino and other local elected officials and dignitaries.

Above- Officials at the dedication ceremony included Huntington Superintendent of Highways Pete Gunther, Asharoken Village Trustee Laura Burke, U.S. Congressman Steve Israel, Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone and Asharoken Village Mayor Dr. Greg Letica. Photo by Steve Silverman

“The project to build a new Village Hall was actually started almost 10 years ago by Trustee and Police Commissioner Mel Ettinger; initially as an expansion to our old Village Hall. During the first 7 years, a fundraising campaign was started and a number of designs were considered, including expanding the then existing Village Hall as well as building a new building. Clearly, funding the cost of either a renovation or building a new building was always of major concern”, stated Dr. Greg Letica, Mayor of Asharoken Village.

Above – – Local Village Police Chiefs were given a tour of the Asharoken Police Station in the new Asharoken Village Hall. Pictured from left are Chuck Flynn of Lloyd Harbor Police, Chris Jack of Huntington Bay Police, Ray Mahdesian of Asharoken Police, and Bill Ricca of Northport Police. Photo by Steve Silverman

Mayor Letica continued, “When I ran for mayor 3 ½ years ago, I stated that if elected, I would oversee the building of a new Village Hall. Little did I realize that just a few months after my election that Superstorm Sandy would flood our existing Village Hall, forcing us to abandon it and commence an urgent project to build a new one. We asked the Asharoken Fundraising Committee to renew their campaign, filed a claim with FEMA and applied for some additional government grants. It took approximately 18 months to negotiate and settle our claim with FEMA. Congressman Israel was extremely helpful with the processing our claim with FEMA and I am certain that if not for his personal support and efforts we would have not be able to receive the grant of $533,855. NY State Senator Carl Marcellino was also very helpful and instrumental in helping our Village obtain a $50,000 grant for the construction of the retaining wall in the back of our property. These grants, together with the almost $360,000 that was raised by the Asharoken Fundraising Committee from donations received from more than 200 of our residents has enabled the Village to fund the cost of this beautiful new building”.

Following Mayor Letica’s remarks, he introduced Congressman Steve Israel. Congressman Israel welcomed the guests and the other local elected officials and dignitaries in attendance and offered his congratulations to the village officials and their residents on their success in building the new Village Hall.

Congressman Israel then joined Mayor Letica, the Asharoken Board of Trustees and the local elected officials and dignitaries in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony, officially opening the new Village Hall.

Mayor Letica then invited all the attendees to tour the new facility and to enjoy some refreshments.

Officials cut ribbon dedicating the new Asharoken Village Hall. Photo Steve Silverman

Congressman Steve Israel speaks at the dedication ceremony. Photo Steve Silverman

Asharoken Village Mayor Dr. Greg Letica speaks at the dedication ceremony. Photo Steve Silverman

Asharoken Trustee and Police Commissioner Mel Ettinger speaks at the dedication. Photo S. Silverman