Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gave his State of the County address yesterday at the general meeting of the County Legislature in Riverhead. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Romaine struck a reassuring tone vowing to invest in infrastructure projects, reform how money from an opioid settlement is distributed and repeated his commitment to fund new sewer projects during his second State of the County address. The Republican struck a bipartisan tone, vowing to work with all 18 legislators on the "challenges ahead." He painted the county's finances in a positive light but warned of "uncertain" economic headwinds nationwide. Delivered in a conversational tone, the county executive said, “I’ve been there before, and I’ve watched this happen, and we get through it all,” Romaine assured the legislators seated around the horseshoe in the Maxine Postal Auditorium. “I was a legislator in ’87, which you may not remember, but the stock market did a major redress back then,” he said. “And then I was back in the legislature in 2008 and 2009 and I don’t have to tell you what happened then. And then I was supervisor in 2020 when we hit the pandemic…We’ve been through tough times before, and we got through it, and we’ll get through this,” Romaine said. A former longtime county legislator, Romaine expressed respect for their role in government. “I know you’re the only voice for your district, and I want to hear that voice, because together, we are Suffolk, united,” he said. “We are Suffolk, so let’s stand as we have stood together. Let’s solve the problems that confront us. Let’s do what needs to be done,” he said. “I’m going to leave you with a little phrase in Spanish: Vaya con Dios. May you go with God. Thank you.”****Stony Brook Medicine held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly-constructed East Hampton Off-Campus Emergency Department this past Saturday — though a final opening of the much-anticipated 22,000 square foot facility is not expected until later in the spring. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that the building, at 400 Pantigo Place in East Hampton, once open, will be an extension of Stony Brook Southampton’s Emergency Department and one of only a few “free-standing emergency departments in New York State.” The building was funded through private donations and a $10 million grant from the state. The South Fork is typically thought of as a place that “has it all,” said Dr. William Wertheim, the executive vice president for Stony Brook Medicine, but it has “critical gaps” in health access, which the new facility will aim to help alleviate. Wertheim said the facility is fully staffed and “ready to go.” Currently, the staff is “here and available,” and it is running through protocols to get “used to the place” prior to the official opening. Most staff members are based nearby, either from Southampton or “other local” areas. However, some will have to commute; others will be doctors that travel from their main job at Stony Brook Hospital. With that, Wertheim said, “we want to provide jobs, if we can, to the community.” Despite the high cost of living, “so far, it’s been working out” for the anticipated staff.****The Town of Southampton will embark on a wholesale renovation and redesign of Red Creek Skate Park this month and is looking for members of the community who would like to be involved in helping craft the new designs. Southampton Town has budgeted $1.25 million for the park renovation in 2025, as it looks to remove components of the nearly 25-year-old skate park that are deteriorating and would need significant investments to repair in favor of new features that may be better used by skaters. Red Creek Skate Park is at 100 Old Riverhead Road in Hampton Bays. The renovation plans call for any new features to be constructed out of concrete, as was done for the celebrated renovation of the

The Town of Southampton will embark on a wholesale renovation and redesign of Red Creek Skate Park this month.