News

Summer of Science Returns!

News | March 7, 2022

This summer, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO)’s Summer of Science returns to the Edwin Ernst Marine Conservation Center in West Meadow. Three sessions (each a five day program) will run depending on age group from July 18^th to August 19^th. Registration is required for these programs. Depending on the program, cost per child is $275 to $325.

These open-air outdoors programs emphasize hands-on exploration of plant and animals species along the shoreline, student driven research projects, and scavenger hunts to compare & contrast the marsh and sandy beach habitats. Salt Marsh Explorers (ages 6 to 9) runs from July 18^th to the 22^nd, Salt Marsh Detectives (ages 10 to 12) runs from August 15^th to the 19^th.Both programs are $275 per student, start at 10am and end at 1pm. Salt Marsh Scientists (ages 13 to 17) runs from August 1^st to the 5^th , is $325 per student, starts at 10:00am and ends at 2pm.

Click here for the registration form!

To learn more about Summer of Science programs, register your child, and to learn more about the WMHO, call the Ward Melville Heritage Organization office at 631-751-2244.

Dogwood Hollow: Memories & Music

News | March 3, 2022

Built in 1947, Dogwood Hollow Amphitheater is notable as the setting of the Stony Brook Music Festival Series which became a highlight of the Long Island music scene for one and half decades, running from 1955 to 1970. The amphitheater hosted musical greats as Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett and Pete Seeger.

Recently, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) had the honor of receiving a Young Gardiner Scholar grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. With this grant, WMHO was able to recruit Sean Brass, a junior at Stony Brook University in the Social Studies Teacher Education Program, to archive its hundreds of documents related to the creation and legacy of Dogwood Hollow Amphitheater.

As part of his internship, Sean also created a short video for the public to be able to catch a glimpse into the history of Dogwood Hollow. Watch the video on YouTube below.

Congratulations to Sean for his excellent work- and thank you to the Robert David Gardiner Foundation for the opportunity to help WMHO share this fascinating chapter of Stony Brook Village History!

SUPPORT FOR HEALTHCARE HEROES CONTINUES INTO 2022

News | January 11, 2022

The call to help our healthcare heroes on the frontlines at Stony Brook University Hospital is being answered by Stony Brook Village establishments. Organized by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO), Stony Brook Village restaurants and eateries will deliver meals and breakroom snacks to Stony Brook University Hospital in efforts to continue support for our healthcare heroes with the Stony Brook Village / Stony Brook University Hospital Meal Program.

The Grist Mill Eatery, Mirabelle Restaurant at the Three Village Inn, Crazy Beans, Stony Brook Chocolate, the Village Coffee Market, Sweet Mama’s Restaurant, Brew Cheese and Premiere Pastry will be participating in the current meal program.

During this ongoing effort you can help show support for our healthcare heroes.

You can donate to participating Stony Brook eateries directly, or you can send your donation to the WMHO, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, founded in 1939. Your donation to the WMHO is fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Every dollar will go to this cause.

For further information or to donate via credit card, call (631)751-2244. Checks should be made payable to WMHO. Please specify in the check memo that your donation is for the Stony Brook University Hospital Meal Program account. Please mail checks to WMHO, P.O. Box 572, Stony Brook, NY 11790.

2021 Gift Guide

News | December 9, 2021

Having trouble deciding what to get your favorite people this holiday season?

Stony Brook Village is here to help! View our 2021 Gift Guide HERE!

Want to let them decide what they want this year?

Stony Brook Village Gift Certificates are usable in ALL Stony Brook Village establishments, plus gift certificates can be used in more than one shop/eatery!

Gift Certificates are available for purchase Monday through Friday, between 9am and 5pm in Stony book Village’s managment office. Plkease call (631) 751-2244 for more information.

The Legends & Spies Puppet Procession!

News | December 3, 2021

December 5, 2021

2:15pm – 3pm

Starting at Stony Brook Fire Department!

Watch in awe as seven 14-foot puppets proceed through Stony Brook Village! Click HERE to learn more about each puppet, their role in Stony Brook Village and American history!

Take a look at the procession route:

Don’t Hit the Hay – The 31st Annual Scarecrow Competition is back this October!

News | August 25, 2021

STONY BROOK, NY – This October, scarecrows will once again line the walkways throughout Stony Brook Village in the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s 31^st Annual Scarecrow Competition! Register as an individual, group or professional and create a scarecrow masterpiece. First place winners will receive a cash prize. Registration and entry fee of $25 due by Friday, September 24^th.

Vote for your favorite scarecrows between October 1^st and October 25^th. Ballots can be found in all shops and eateries in Stony Brook Village and must be returned to shops no later than October 25^th to be counted. Winners will be notified on Tuesday, October 26^th by 5pm and will be announced during the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Halloween Festival on October 29^th.

The sponsors of the 30^th Annual Scarecrow Competition are as follows: The Main Event sponsor – Suffolk Speech, The Black Cauldron sponsor – RJG Group, the Goblins and Ghouls sponsor – Dr. Robert Quilty, Ph.D., and the Candy Corn sponsor – Goldfish Swim School.

Registration for this event is required. You can pick up a registration form at any of the shops in Stony Brook Village, or you can download it digitally HERE. To enter this competition, please return the completed registration form to the Ward Melville Heritage Organization – P.O. Box 572, Stony Brook, NY 11790, with the entry fee of $25.

For more information on the Scarecrow Competition, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) or the Halloween Festival, please call the WMHO at 631-751-2244.

All Aboard – Individual Reservations are BACK!

News | July 21, 2021

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) is now accepting individual reservations for the Discovery Pontoon Boat Cruises starting in August. Cruises (up to 27 passengers) will run from August through October, seven days a week where high tide, sunset and weather allow. Reservations are heavily recommended – $35 per person, $25 per child aged three to six, and $5 per child aged two and younger.

Enjoy an hour and a half long cruise on West Meadow Creek on a roofed, open-air pontoon boat. Onboard, a naturalist will narrate your experience – the wildlife observed, the natural and human history and development of the area.

Walk-ons are welcome, but are cash only ($40 per person, $30 per child three to six, and $5 per child two and younger). Private cruises are also available for up to 27 passengers and are $550. Children under 12 must wear a life jacket, children four and under must bring their own.

For more information about the cruise, the WMHO, other upcoming events in Stony Brook Village and to reserve your seats, please call the WMHO office at 631-751-2244

Music to Our Ears – The Summer Concerts are BACK!

News | July 16, 2021

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) proudly presents two live music summer concerts on the two-acre Stony Brook Village Green to take place this August. Performing bands include Carolyn Benson & the Anthem Band: A Tribute to America on August 15^th, and the Jazz Loft Big Band featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Nicole Zuraitis on August 29^th. Both bands are scheduled to perform 7pm to 9pm with a short intermission at 7:45pm. Both concerts are FREE.

Carolyn Benson & the Anthem Band, a 5-piece band, will be performing a patriotic rock and roll salute to veterans, service members and all Americans. The Jazz Loft Big Band, a 17-piece band, will perform with Grammy-nominated vocalist and winner of the 2021 Gold Medal and Ben Tucker Jazz Award in the American Traditions Vocal Competition, Nicole Zuraitis. They will perform classic and historic big band arrangements from the 1940s through 1960s, many from their own archives.

The 2021 Summer Concerts on the Green are sponsored by Realty Connect Team Ardolino, Camco Realty/Charlie Lefkowitz, TEB North Country Car Care, Edward Jones of Stony Brook, Holiday Inn Express and Bagel Express.

For more information about the concerts, the WMHO, other upcoming events in Stony Brook Village, please call the WMHO office at 631-751-2244

SUMMER OF SCIENCE: HANDS-ON, OPEN-AIR PROGRAMS

News | May 11, 2021

This summer, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO)’s Summer of Science returns to in-person programming at the WMHO’s Ernst Marine Conservation Center in West Meadow Creek.

Three sessions (each a four day program) will run depending on age group from July 12th to August 13th. Registration is required for these programs. Depending on the program, cost per child is $250 to $275. Early Bird registration by June 15th will include a $25 reduction in the program rate.

Salt Marsh Explorers (ages 6 to 9) runs from July 12th to the 16th, Salt Marsh Detectives (ages 10 to 12) runs from August 9th to the 13th. Both programs are $250 per student, start at 10am and end at 11:30am. Salt Marsh Scientists (ages 13 to 17) runs from July 26th to the 30th, is $275 per student, starts at 10:00am and ends at 1pm.

To learn more about Summer of Science programs, register your child, and to learn more about the WMHO, call the Ward Melville Heritage Organization office at 631-751-2244.

The Take Out Inn

News | February 5, 2021

The Stony Brook Village Center, the County of Suffolk, and the Town of Brookhaven announced a new concept for restaurants when the weather gets colder and outside dining won’t be possible. Suffolk County Department of Health suggested the idea months ago, “Why don’t landlords think of using empty stores for restaurant take-out?” This is how the “Take Out Inn” was created. Stony Brook Village Center President, Gloria Rocchio said, “The objective of this entire project is to help restaurants with small seating capacities to survive”. Stony Brook Village Center representatives worked with the Suffolk County to receive the necessary approval from the Department of Health.

Stony Brook Village Center representatives worked with the Town of Brookhaven to receive necessary permits from Planning Board, Fire Marshal and Building Department. “Since it appears this is the first of its kind on Long Island, it presented a challenge, but we made it happen”, said Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine.

The new Take Out Inn is located in a 3,000+ square foot facility, formerly occupied by Jos. A. Bank in Stony
Brook Village Center.

The facility will be open seven (7) days a week from 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, and 9am to 4pm,
Saturday and Sunday. Customers inside the Take Out Inn will be able to access touchless menus by use of QR
codes for Crazy Beans, Robinson’s Tea Room and Pentimento Restaurant – order their food and eat inside the
facility.

The Take Out Inn is CDC compliant and following all New York State guidelines. It has 15 tables and 15 seats
that are spaced six feet apart.

Stony Brook Village Center has installed ionized generators in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning
system. As the air flows through the system, ions actively purify the supply air, killing mold, bacteria and
viruses in this space. The ionization process also reduces allergens, smoke and static electricity, as well as
controlling odors and other particles in the air without creating ozone or any harmful byproducts.

To learn more about Take Out Inn call Stony Brook Village Center at 631-751-2244.