Week in Review: Businesses Recoup After Fire, Assaggio Moves

Businesses Recover After Mystery Fire

It's been three weeks since a fire engulfed the American Samurai Jiu-Jitsu Center and caused smoke and water damage at each business in the Northgate Plaza in Mt. Sinai. Four of the stores are still closed, while others were able to reopen after about a week.

The fire began the night of May 23 in the Jiu-Jitsu Center, and the Mt. Sinai and Terryville Fire Departments responded to contain the fire to the one store. Fortunately there were no injuries and no animals from the animal hospital next door were harmed in the fire, which was recently ruled non-criminal by Suffolk Police. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Assaggio Owner Cites High Rent in Move From Rocky Point To Sound Beach

After years at its location at the Crossroads Plaza on Route 25a in Rocky Point, Assaggio Ristorante has moved to Whitestone Road in Sound Beach. 

The restaurant moves to the former location of Sal Anthony's, which initially opened up as the new Rubino's years ago. 

"The other store was way too big, I could not afford the rent," said owner Peter Rappa. "It was not profitable anymore so we moved here in more or less the same neighborhood."

Canal Road Reconstruction to Start this Summer

With construction set to begin on Canal Road this summer, Brookhaven officials are revealing Phase II of the project designed to improve traffic flow in the Mount Sinai-Port Jefferson Area. 

Phase I of the Canal Road project will start with the addition of left-turn lanes at specific intersections, a bike lane in each direction and drainage modifications, reports The Port Times Record. 

Miller Place Band Vying for Spot in Great South Bay Music Festival

'The Serotones', a group made up of current and former Miller Place students, are vying for a chance to play at the Great South Bay Music Festival and ned your help.

The contest, hosted by BOBBIEQUE Restaurant and WEHM Radio, consists of three rounds; the first was a recorded submission that was judged by the people at EHM, and the second is online voting available to the public. 

Two Men Convicted of Running Suffolk Heroin Ring

A Suffolk County jury has found two men guilty of running a heroin distribution ring that spanned from Sayville and Smithtown to Sound Beach. 

Joel Guzman, of Ridgewood, and Carlos Melendez, of the Bronx, were convicted on Class A-1 felony charges for operating as major drug traffickers following an eight-day trial and eight days of jury deliberation, according to District Attorney Thomas Spota.