Farmingdale Village Updates: Business, Election News, Donations

FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale Village, like much of New York state, has continued to reopen over the past month.

Blink Fitness, on Main Street, reopened Aug. 24 along with other Long Island gyms. In other merchant-related news, Le Petit Café extended its hours on certain nights, according to Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand. The café/bakery concept is now open at nighttime Thursday through Saturday for desserts and coffee.

"Thank you everyone for following the guidelines in our Village!," Ekstrand wrote. "The restaurants and businesses have been very cooperative with enforcing the regulations in their establishments. We know it’s been a challenge; but from what the data shows, everything we are doing seems to be helping!"

Ekstrand thanked Discover Long Island for its efforts in helping downtown businesses by launching its mobile passport, "Long Island Downtown Deals Travel Pass." Farmingdale Village is one of the six original downtown areas to be included.

There is a donation box set up at Village Hall to collect non-perishable food items to help locals in the community in-need. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Also, Vision Long Island recently honored the Sidgmore Family Foundation for their charitable efforts launching the Split The Bill NY initiative which was piloted in Farmingdale Village in May, according to Ekstrand.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees and myself, we thank the Sidgmore Family Foundation for their incredible generosity with this program," he said. "The foundation donated $20,000 and it was depleted at 50 percent in just two days. It was a truly remarkable effort – to split the bill, reimbursing customers up to $50 during the pilot program / pandemic at participating restaurants in the Village."

The mayor joined the Women's Club of Farmingdale and local officials at the gazebo, on the Farmingdale Village Green, on Aug. 19th to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.

The Farmingdale Village mayoral election is scheduled for Sept. 15 from noon to 9 p.m. at the St. Kilian Auditorium, located at 50 Cherry St. Ekstrand will be opposed by former Farmingdale Village Mayor George "Butch" Starkie. Ekstrand has served as mayor for the past eight years following Starkie's stepping down from the position after his 2008 through 2012 term.

Frank Bondietti was congratulated for reaching 50 years as a Rotarian; he is also a past president of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce.