News

EXPERIENCE STONY BROOK VILLAGE IN A WHOLE NEW WAY

News | May 9, 2022

Stony Brook Village is proud to present that the Stony Brook Village Audio Experience is now available and can be enjoyed on your own time and at your own pace!

The experience is FREE to the public and will allow all visitors of Stony Brook Village to immerse themselves in the quirky history and stories of the lifestyle center and some of its surrounding properties. The audio experience is obtained by scanning QR codes throughout the village and is also available at audio.stonybrookvillage.com

Currently, the experience has ten stops, and covers the history and the stories from the Three Village Inn’s original residents to the entire development of Stony Brook Village Center.

It is recommended that participants of the experience begin at the Three Village Inn. Additional stories will be added soon: the Country House (c.1710), the Stony Brook Grist Mill (c.1751) – including the first vineyard on Long Island, and T. Bayles Minuse Mill Pond Park.

Spring Appreciation Day Returns to Stony Brook Village

News | March 22, 2022

Stony Brook Village’s Spring Appreciation Day returns on April 23 (rain date April 24) with live music, a car show, a petting zoo and scavenger hunts with prizes from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. This event is free to the public. 

Throughout Stony Brook Village there will be something for everyone: Rocking Horse Farms will be set up in front of the Rustic Loft with a variety of animals for children to pet.  The Antique Automobile Club of America car show will be located in the parking lot of Market Square featured vintage vehicles. Burke and Brenda will be performing original and cover songs in the genres of R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic at the Stony Brook Post Office. The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO)’s Youth Corps will be offering scavenger hunts around Stony Brook Village. Each person to return a completed scavenger hunt  will be entered into a raffle to win Discovery Wetlands Cruise tickets. The Stony Brook Grist Mill (c. 1751) will be open for tours ($4 for adults, $2 for children, cash only) of the inner mechanical workings and history of the building, and shopping in the Country Store.

Sponsored by News 12 Long Island 

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 18th to August 19th. 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 18th to the 22nd, Salt Marsh Detectives (ages 10 to 12) runs from August 15th to the 19th. Both programs are $275 per student, start at 10am and end at 1pm. Salt Marsh Scientists (ages 13 to 17) runs from August 1st to the 5th , 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 31st 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 24th.  

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

The sponsors of the 30th 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 15th, and the Jazz Loft Big Band featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Nicole Zuraitis on August 29th. 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