Community Corner

Hampton Bays Business Owners Honored by Beautification Association

Among those honored were Joe Smeraldo, Michael Brausch and Vincent and Tina Allegretta

The honored area business people on Saturday at their annual garden party, held at the new restaurant. 

During the annual event, Joe Smeraldo, Michael Brausch and Vincent and Tina Allegretta were all recognized for doing their part in helping to beautify the Hamlet of Hampton Bays. 

, president of the association, said each honoree went above and beyond to help in the association's ongoing mission to make Hampton Bays a special place to live and work. 

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"These are exceptional volunteers who really love their community," said von Freddi. "We are very fortunate to have these volunteers helping Hampton Bays."

According to von Freddi, Joe Smeraldi, owner of was presented with the Business Beautification Award for cleaning up the site of his new business. 

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"He did something extra special," said von Freddi. "He took a really unattractive building and really landscaped it and made it attractive."

von Freddi said Smeraldo also donated labor and white fence for the .

Smeraldi, who said he moved into his new location about a year ago, said he was humbled by the award and thanked his landlord, Tom Hennington, owner of S&P Carting, for helping to clean-up the property, which Smeradi says was previously an asphalt business.

"There was not a blade of grass in sight when I took it over," said Smeraldi.

Michael Brausch, a long-time Hampton Bays resident was handed the association's Community Appreciation Award for repairing association signs around the hamlet. 

"He reached out to us," said von Freddi. "and wound up saving us thousands of dollars."

von Freddi said that the association had looked into getting the signs repaired, but was given estimates in the thousands. Brausch did it for free.

Brausch said he was happy to help and honored that the association recognized him with an award.

"I want to do the best I can for my little town," said Brausch, who works part time for .

Also honored on Saturday, was Vincent and Tina Allegretta of 

According to von Freddi, they were given the Community Appreciation award for providing electrical repair services for the association's that are strung in December.

"They repaired and fixed our electrical boxes," said von Freddi. "We are very appreciative of that." 

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