Money Secured for Vince Cannuscio Trail

Work is set to begin on the Vincent Cannuscio Trail in Hampton Bays following a Southampton Town resolution securing the money for the project.  The late supervisor, who passed away two years ago, was beloved in the Hampton Bays community.

"We're very excited that this is happening." We've waited for this for years," said Hampton Bays Beautification Association President Susan von Freddi at the association's Nov. 1 membership meeting.

The project is expected to cost $123,000 with $84,000 to come from Suffolk County, $32,812 from the Town of Southampton and $12, 500 from the Hampton Bays Beautification Association.  Von Freddi said that $6,250 of the association's contribution comes from a grant and $6,250 comes from contributions.

The trail will run through Good Ground Park, a 38-acre park the beautification association had a large park in designing, creating and funding.  The park sits on Main Street across from Scotto's Pork Store.  The pocket park will be the gateway to the trail, which will connect to the parking lot in the back. 

Von Freddi said Cannuscio was always giving back to his community.  "He was very instrumental is getting HBBA's major projects off the ground," she said.  "He was the beginning of the rejuvenation of Hampton Bays back in 1996 when he was elected.  He told me that he wanted to give back to the community that he lived in."

The beautification association Monday night also welcomed Joe Roggieri of Sunrise Energy Concepts in Hampton Bays, who did a short presentation on solar energy and discussed how it can cut utility bills. Ruggieri and his wife, Jenn, opened Sunrise Energy Concepts, Inc. on West Montauk Highway next to the Hampton Bays Diner.  He is an environmental scientist who brought the company's services to the East End.  They install solar systems and evaluate houses for solar installation at no cost.

The beautification association also set the date for its summer concert.  It will be held on August 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  "It's our biggest event of the year," von Freddi said.  "We had 2,400 people last year.  It was phenomenal."

Two other upcoming events for the association have been scheduled.  They will hold their Annual Dinner Dance on Friday, November 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Indian Cover Restaurant.  The cost is $70 per person.  For more information, call Madeline at (631) 728-5725 or Grace at (631) 723-0726.  The association will also hold its Annual Holiday Luncheon on Wednesday, December 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Oakland's Restaurant and Marina.  Tickets are $30 per person. For more information, call Joan at (631) 728-2017 or Phyllis at (631) 728-8027.  The association asks that participants bring perishable food.