Episode 1 Recap
Huntington Matters has launched a new weekly series on TikTok Live to keep residents informed about what’s happening across the Town of Huntington, New York.
Hosted by June Margolin, Dana Richter, and Diane Schaber, the Huntington Matters Weekly Update highlights local events, community discussions, safety tips, and resources for residents from Cold Spring Harbor to Commack, Asharoken to Melville, and every hamlet in between.
In this first episode, the team covers recent events, upcoming community meetings, local issues residents are talking about, and a few favorite Huntington restaurants.
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What’s Happening Around Huntington
Diane Schaber shared highlights from the Huntington Matters Community Calendar, including recent and upcoming community events.
Recent Events
- Huntington St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- Blood Cancer United student fundraiser (and interview)
- Huntington Art Week (running through the weekend)
Upcoming Events
Residents can also check out several upcoming events around town:
- Huntington Farmers Market
- Election Machine Demonstration – Huntington Public Library.
Residents can test the new voting machines that will be used in upcoming elections. See our demo experience. - Boating Safety Certification Class – March 16 & 18
Required certification for operating boats and watercraft including kayaks in New York. - Self-Defense Free Class with Suffolk County Police – Half Hollow Hills Public Library
- Hats Off To Us – Keep our work and personal lives balanced
Hosted by Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Committee
You can find details and directions for all of these events on the Huntington Matters Community Calendar.
Important Public Hearing: Melville Crossing Development
One of the most important upcoming community meetings involves the Melville Crossing project proposed by Steel 75 Maxess LLC.
Project Details
The project would include:
- Approximately 400 residential units with 20% allocated for Affordable Housing
- More than 37,000 square feet of retail space
This is the first project proposed within the new Melville Town Center overlay district, and residents will have the opportunity to review the plans and provide comments.
The team discusses why this meeting is important and how residents can participate. See submitted documents in advance on the Town Website.
How to Use the Huntington Matters Community Calendar
The Huntington Matters Community Calendar is one of the most popular features of the website where residents can browse events across Huntington, add events directly to Google Calendar or iCal, get directions and discover local activities and community meetings.
Submit Your Event
Local organizations and businesses are encouraged to submit events to the Huntington Matters Community Calendar. Requirements include: Event title, Event graphic or photo and Event details.
Submitting events early helps ensure they are visible to the community before the event date. Diane posts upcoming events twice a week on Huntington Matters social media and June includes them in the weekly email newsletter.
Community Buzz: What Residents Are Talking About
Dana Richter highlights conversations happening in our Facebook group Huntington Matters Community Forum.
- Potholes and road damage after winter storms – submit pothole repair requests using the Town of Huntington “At Your Service” portal.
- Route 110 / New York Avenue road conditions due to the Huntington Station sewer infrastructure project
- Dead birds in Heckscher Park tested positive for avian influenza. Keep pets away from dead birds or bird droppings. If you encounter a deceased bird:
- Do not touch it at all!
- Contact Huntington Animal Control at (631) 754-8722 or after hours emergency line at (631) 351-3234
- Report sightings to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Fave & Crave: Huntington Restaurant Picks
The episode also introduced a fun new segment called Fave & Crave:
- FAVE – a favorite restaurant you visited this week
- CRAVE – a place you want to try next
This Week’s Picks from the Hosts
Diane Schaber: Fave: Victor’s Pizza & Pasta – Melville, Crave: Branzino’s – Northport
Dana Richter: Fave: Panera Bread – Huntington Station, Crave: Cactus Cafe – Jericho Turnpike
June Margolin: Fave: Zaro’s Greek & Italian Café – Huntington Station, Crave: Raan Thai – Huntington Station
Residents are encouraged to share your own Fave and Crave restaurants in the comments.
Neighborhood Watch & Community Safety Updates
For 11 years, Huntington Matters Neighborhood Watch has worked closely with the Suffolk County Police Department Second Precinct to share crime and safety updates.
Reporting Suspicious Behavior and Crime Tips
- 911 for emergencies
- Crime Stoppers: 1-800-220-TIPS
- Anonymous tips use the P3 Tips website
Anonymous tips can be also be submitted to Huntington Matters at info@huntingtonmatters.com and they will be passed along to the second precinct.
St. Patrick’s Day Safety Reminder
With St. Patrick’s Day celebrations taking place around Huntington, residents are reminded:
Never drive after drinking — use rideshare services or a designated driver.
Driving under the influence puts lives at risk and can result in serious legal consequences.
Emergency Preparedness Tips for Spring
With spring approaching, Diane shared a few emergency preparedness tips:
- Refresh your emergency kit
- Keep flashlights and batteries accessible
- Secure outdoor items before storms
- Keep cash on hand and gas in your vehicle
- Store a copy of important documents and pet vaccination records in ziploc bags
Charity Spotlight: Huntington Community Development Agency
Each week the show highlights a local nonprofit making a difference. This week’s spotlight is the Huntington Community Development Agency (CDA).
The CDA supports local residents through several important programs.
Food Distribution Program
The agency hosts monthly food giveaways, including delivery for residents who are:
- Homebound
- Ill
- Unable to travel to food pantries
Home Rehabilitation Program
The CDA also provides assistance for homeowners who need repairs or accessibility upgrades.
Examples include:
- Wheelchair ramps
- Doorway widening
- Accessibility improvements
- Appliance replacement
- Safety improvements
Funding is provided through low-interest or deferred financing, helping income-qualified homeowners make necessary improvements.
Residents can contact the Community Development Agency at: 631-351-2881
Stay Connected with Huntington Matters
For more than 11 years, Huntington Matters has helped connect neighbors across the Town of Huntington, New York.
Residents can stay informed by:
- Visiting HuntingtonMatters.com
- Browsing the Huntington Matters Community Calendar
- Following Huntington Matters on social media: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook Page
- If you live, work or grew up in the Town of Huntington, NY join our Facebook Group Huntington Matters Community Forum
- Subscribe to the Huntington Matters Weekly Email Newsletter
Know about an event, issue, or local story we should cover next week?
Let us know in the comments — Huntington Matters is built by neighbors helping neighbors.
