Highway Supe Race, Dock Fire Dominate Headlines This Week

Blaze Extinguished After Large Fire Erupts on Port Jefferson Dock

A fire broke out Tuesday morning in what is being called a service building on the dock behind Danford's Marina in Port Jefferson Harbor, police and the village mayor have confirmed.

Reports started coming into Patch at around 9:36 a.m. that a fire was raging on a dock in downtown Port Jefferson. Witnesses have reported that the fire is burning near Danford's Marina.

Port Jefferson and Terryville Fire Departments responded to the scene. Suffolk County Police confirmed that a call came in at 9:13 a.m. reporting the fire.

Port Jefferson Fire Department First Assistant Chief Dave Williams called the Danford's Marina dockhouse a "total loss" after a fire ripped through it Tuesday morning. Though luckily no injuries were reported as several fire departments came to aid in knocking down the fire.

Though "he structure is basically gone," the fire chief said, Danford's General Manager Stewart Weiner remains optimistic for the upcoming season, telling Patch earlier in the day, "We still have 2 months until the season starts. We have time to rebuild and open up."

Port Jefferson Station Hess Plan to Move on as Planned

While the Hess Corporation announced earlier this week it was quitting the retail gas business, that won't affect the Hess currently under construction on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station.

Andy Lautenbacher, Hess Corporations' northern permit manager, confirmed Friday that the construction and plan will continue as expected.

The plan has been well received by many residents, as well as the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Civic Association. President Ed Garboski said that even though the company may eventually sell, he is pleased with the development of the property.

The Comsewogue School District has put together a budget that stays within the tax levy cap yet preserves current programs and services – and which may even carry a lower-than-initially-proposed tax levy increase depending on whether the district receieves more state aid than it's currently slated to receive.

Susan Casali, assistant superintendent for business, called the budget "a rollover budget with minor enhancements."

While a power service agreement between Long Island Power Authority and National Grid remains under review by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, village officials remain hopeful for a swift approval during a budget season that – as in past years – attempts to take into account a substantial amount of revenue that may, or may not, be there.