Deep Discounts at Bayport Flower Houses

Everyone loves a sale! Starting tomorrow - Saturday, September 19th to Monday, September 28th at Bayport Flower Houses it's their Tent Sale. Sometimes when you go to a sale, it's really not that good. But trust me - this is one sale you do not want to miss.

All the items in the tent are truly "On Sale" for 75% to 90% off - plants, pottery, giftware, garden art, tools and more. A few years back I purchased wooden window boxes that were originally $75 each for $20 each. I also got a huge, beautiful wicker hanging basket for $3. Bargains, Bargains, Bargains!

Bayport Flower Houses has been in Bayport for over 75 years and is really a family run business. Even if you don't buy anything, they do not mind you wandering around their grounds and greenhouses to get inspiration.

Bring the kids too, they will have fun because Bayport Flowers is very kid friendly. On their grounds next to the Annual House, is a wooden playhouse that your kids love to play in. Your children will also enjoy looking at the flowers and throwing coins into their many fountains, to make a wish. The Flower Houses even hold classes for children called - Saturday for Super Kids.

All of the staff at Bayport Flowers are friendly and helpful. When you are there sign up for their newsletter , which is also online. In it are coupons, class schedules and all sort of other helpful tips. They accept their coupons if you print them from their online newsletter. Bayport Flower Houses is a beautiful place.

Bayport Flower Houses

940 Montauk Highway

Bayport, NY 11705

631-472-0014

BayportFlowers.Com

Bayport Safety Group

Below is some interesting information from The Bayport Safety Group ~

The Bayport Safety Committee on June 16th held a well publicized, highly attended, robust community forum on traffic safety issues at the Academy Street Elementary School. The Committee also surveyed hundreds of Bayport residents on the quality of life issues related to vehicular speeding and reckless driving that affect our neighborhood. All viewpoints and related actual experiences on the topic were encouraged to be expressed. No opinions were neglected, it was an interesting evening.

The main focus of our concern has to deal with the historic heart of our community, Middle Road. This beautiful collection of 19th and early 20th century houses should be made into a "National Historic Registry District". It must not continue to be despoiled by the out of control vehicular speeding problem. The 30 m.p.h. posted speed limit is adhered to by less than 10% of the motorists who traverse this road, many of whom are our neighbors. Speeds of 50 to 65 m.p.h. are the norm. If a pedestrian is struck by a car doing 30 m.p.h., that individuals statistical chance of survival is 20%. Lower that to zero if the vehicle is a high-front van, SUV or landscaping truck. Thus safety for our families, friends and pets is our paramount issue. This is a topic on which there can be no logical disagreement. Where the trouble occurs is how to address the speeding problem--stoplights, stop signs, speed bumps, chicanes, rumble strips, police speed traps, better engineering or just good old fashioned responsible driving? That is the problem we face. We have analyzed our survey data, listened to forum participants and are now prepared to offer some remedies.

We are not traffic engineers or behavioral psychologists. Our proposal is not infallible, but reflects a prevailing majority respondent input. We are solely "concerned neighbors" who want to see a "common sense" solution to this traffic issue that will benefit all our residents. What once was a pleasant, bucolic, winding road has become at times a fearful, dangerous annoyance for responsible drivers and pedestrians. Excessive speeding, tailgating and illegal passing have become the norm not the exception on this stretch of road. It has become the "A-27-A By-Pass" for those wishing to avoid the traffic lights and congestion on Montauk Highway. The problems have been exacerbated by the increased traffic volume and lack of speed impediments on this 2-1/2 mile Middle Road/Gillette Avenue to Montauk Highway route.

Traffic calming encompasses what are called the 4 E's--Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Encouragement. Working off these categories we would like to offer our "street smart" recommendations for action:

ENGINEERING
Starting on the west end of Bayport by "Meadow Croft" and the "Loughlin Vineyard":

** Many people recreationally fish, bike, jog or walk on this natural stretch. Some type of engineered speed impediment should be incorporated into the roadbed by Brown's River to discourage vehicles from going over 30 m.p.h., thereby protecting these individuals.

** Following this open stretch there should be an attractive "Welcome to Historic Bayport" carved wood sign with "Speed limit strictly enforced" engraved underneath. An identical sign should be placed on Middle Road just east of Gillette Avenue.

** The next section of Middle Road from the first houses at Baywood Lane/Crestview Drive to Suydam Lane needs mitigation to slow the flow--this is a problem--McConnell Avenue is the most logical place for a stop sign, it is a dangerous curve, however the street does not align well for signage. Our committee could not agree on another stop sign location.

** All our other stop sign proposed placements correspond with pedestrian crosswalks at busy, important neighborhood locations. Edgewater Avenue--a 3 way stop sign (Bayport Commons and a school crossing), Snedecor Avenue--a 4 way stop sign (Methodist Church, Tiny Tots Nursery and a school crossing), Bayport Avenue--a 3 way stop sign and overhead red flasher (old downtown, and dangerous curve), Gillette Avenue--a 4 way stop sign and overhead red flasher (important recreational crossing and dangerous curve).

** We feel the sidewalk gaps on the south side of Middle Road need to be remedied. This is a "pedestrian" school district without busing. Unfortunately these gaps make foot or bike transit dangerous for our children, a situation that even in this tough fiscal climate needs to be addressed. The existing contiguous sidewalks on the north side of Middle Road also need routine maintenance (i.e. pruning and crack repair). Our pedestrian crosswalks need clear delineation with more durable paint, not decals and where appropriate "right of way" road cones.

** Trying to make a turn on Montauk Highway is a motorist nightmare. We feel the south turn signal at Gillette Avenue serves a very beneficial purpose. We would additionally add one east bound at the same location so drivers could turn north onto Gillette with ease and confidence. At Montauk Highway and Bayport Avenue we would add both north and south turn light signals. At Snedecor Avenue a south turn light should be installed eastbound. The same signal should be placed at McConnell Avenue. These additional turning lights would diffuse the traffic that now gravitates to the southbound Gillette Avenue signal for safety reasons. These measures would lessen the traffic burden on both Gillette and Middle Road.

** The Town of Islip program that planted 58 new trees curbside on Bayport Avenue should be expanded to as many other streets as is fiscally possible. Visually they help slow traffic.

ENFORCEMENT
** We cannot expect to always have police on demand when conditions cry out. The proposed stop signs would reduce the need for speed patrols. However, the reckless drivers who disobey our school crossing guards while also running stop signs and speeding still need to be ticketed. We would ask for police resources to be deployed during the school year from 7:15 to 9:00 a.m. and 2:15 to 6:30 p.m. Some people need $100 speeding tickets and penalty points on their licenses to get the message.

** Increased DWI patrol on weekend nights.

** One of the biggest speed culprits is the S-40 Bus that uses Blue Point Avenue and Middle Road as an "alternate route". Ridership on this diverted route leg appears to be minimal. It should be kept solely up on Montauk Highway instead of our narrow residential roads.

EDUCATION
** Our teen-age students are the next generation of motorists. Offer a mandatory driver education program at the High School, as well as a refresher defensive driver course for older folks.

ENCOURAGEMENT
** Develop a public safety program for our schools as well as residents. This is a wonderful area we are fortunate enough to reside in, why not a campaign touting "Drive at 25" and enjoy the scenery. Life is short enough--this is often forgotten when speeding to a child sports event or stressful job. There is something to be said for the slogan--"Stop and smell the roses".

CONCLUSION
The Bayport Safety Committee has been formed to make the community aware that there is a serious quality of life problem that taints our enjoyment of the wonderful benefits of living here--traffic anarchy. Many neighbors through the years have perished in horrible accidents. It is not "if" there will be another tragic case of a poor resident being killed or maimed but "when". It could be a member of your family, a close friend or a neighbor on the next block. We have the power to fight this inevitability. The "status quo" is not acceptable. No more road mayhem, let's slow things down.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT------NOT ANOTHER 20 OR THIRTY YEARS FROM TODAY!

Bayport Safety will walk the streets this summer to enlist more support. We welcome all the help we can garner. We will petition our present as well as potential future political leaders to help achieve our goals. Come September we will hold a second community forum and possibly a fundraiser. We already have promised donations for our "Welcome to Historic Bayport" sign proposal as well as the "public awareness" campaign. We have struck a responsive chord amongst the citizenry. We are also exploring the possibility of turning the responsibility for Middle Road from the County to the Town of Islip. It is easier to fix a neighborhood problem at the grass-root level. The responsiveness of the individuals sitting as well as aspiring to be members of the Islip Town Council at our forum was heartening. We look forward to a better, safer future.

Submitted by the: BAYPORT SAFETY COMMITTEE--contact us at bayportsafety@optonline.net

Sylvan School Improvement Team

Sylvan Avenue School in Bayport has a School Effectiveness Survey online at http://bbpschools.org/newsite/Bayport/Schools/sylvan.php/

The survey is on the right side of this site. It is given annually to assess the effectiveness of different aspects of the school. The results are then used to guide the School Improvement Team in formulating it's goals. The survey will be online until June 26, 2009.
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The Flower House Of Bayport

When I was little Bayport had greenhouses and flower shops all over town. This area was actually well known for their greenhouses. Most of them now are condos and a 7-11, but there are few that are still around. The biggest and oldest is Bayport Flower Houses.

Bayport Flower Houses is just a great place to wander around - it is huge. Beside plants, they have tons of other interesting goodies. The staff from the owners to the check out people are so nice and so knowledgeable and so helpful. They have a lot events here and you have to go at Christmas time. It is decorated beautifully and a great place to try to get a Christmas card photo of the kids. Every year they hold a tree lighting and have Santa available for photos - it's free and so much nicer then that mall Santa.

If you ever buy anything from Bayport Flower Houses make sure to give them your address because you will receive their newsletter in the mail. I just got mine yesterday. It is filled with all sorts of gardening tips - I am pretty much just above a black thumb in the gardening department. They also hold classes. The big plus with the newsletter is the coupons. These coupons are not the same ones they have in the local papers, they are different and better. The best coupon in the newsletter was 50% off any single item - limit of $100. That's a great coupon!

Their web site also has coupons and lots of information - http://www.bayportflowers.com/
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A New Munchkin In Sayville

The Bayport Bubble now has a Dunkin Donuts close by in Sayville. A brand new store just opened on the corner of Main Street and Greene Avenue. Very exciting stuff - if you have little kids. I took the kids yesterday and got chocolate Munchkins and pink donuts. They loved it! And the most exciting part for them was that the door handle was a pink "D". I got some blueberry coffee - yummy!!! Anything having to do with blueberries - I love. It was way cheaper then a cup of coffee from Starbucks and Starbucks does not have blueberry coffee.
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Count Me In

A Census taker rang my doorbell today. A nice looking older man in a yellow Census polo shirt with an id badge and a small computer attached to his wrist. He told me he was part of The Census Bureau and needed to verify my address - which he did. I thought it was strange cause it says my address right on my door. Then he asked if I had any apartments in my house with people living it - I don't. He handed me a sheet of paper from The Census Bureau and punched some stuff into his wrist computer and went on his way to the next house. Look out Bayport Bubble - we are being counted! I find the whole process of taking The Census very interesting.
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Eggs And Milk On Sale

There were some great coupons for King Kullen in Newsday today. 99 cents for a dozen large eggs and 99 cent for a 1/2 gallon of milk with an additional purchase of $25. Valid 5/12 - 5/14. King Kullen is in The Bayport Bubble. Other stores are cheaper, but I always end up at King Kullen.
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Sylvan Avenue Burger King Day

Monday, May 11th from Noon to 8 pm at Burger King on Montuak Highway in Blue Point is having a Sylvan Avenue Elementary School Day. The Sylvan Avenue School PTA will receive 20% of all orders on eating in, taking out and driving thru.
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I Love The Smell Of Two Cycle Oil In The Morning

I really do love that smell and Ultimate Lawn Care & Sprinkler gives it to me on Friday mornings when they do my lawn. Ultimate Lawn Care & Sprinkler has been keeping The Bayport Bubble beautiful for 15 years! For any landscaping need you have in The Bayport, Blue Point, Sayville area call them for a free estimate at 631-472-6363. They do weekly lawn maintenance, clean ups, thatching and aeration.

Ultimate Lawn Care & Sprinkler also has the sprinkler part - from new sprinkler installations, adding a zone, repairs, turn ons and blow outs. For sprinklers they will go outside The Bayport Bubble to anyplace in Suffolk County. Ultimate Lawn Care & Sprinkler is fully licensed and insured according to all the latest regulations of Suffolk County. They are reliable and courteous. Call Ultimate Lawn Care & Sprinkler at 631-472-6363.
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Happy Mother's Day From The Bayport Bubble

It's Mother's Day in the Bayport Bubble! Beautiful sunny day but windy. The town was busy yesterday with everyone doing their last minute shopping at CVS, Bayport Flowers and Daisy Gardens. Have a great day Moms! =)

If It's Free, It's For Me - Baby And Kid Classes At The Library

Anything free that you can do with your kids is beyond terrific! I have been enrolling them in The Bayport-Blue Point Library Classes since they were babies. My son when he was five months old and my daughter when she was three months old. The classes start at three months and go all the up to teens. The classes are the same activities same that they do in The Mommy & Me classes that you have to pay for. And the big plus for me is that I get to meet other kids that will go to school with my kids. I also meet other moms, dads, grandparents and babysitters.

Since these classes are of no cost, when it is time to register you must get there at least 45 minutes before they open the doors. There is a Bayport Bubble Urban Legend that there is one guy gets there at 6:30am! I get there about 9:15am to stand in line till 9:45am to register for the classes I want. I know this turns a lot of people off, but for two months of classes that are about one hour each and free - I can stand in line for one hour. There is a lot of variety of classes - my son is very excited about The Space class coming up. Stand in line and have some fun with your kids!!! =)

Here's their website - http://bprt.suffolk.lib.ny.us/

The Bayport Bubble

I figured out one of the things I can blog about - The Bayport Bubble. The Bayport Bubble is what I call my hometown of Bayport, New York. Once you are here you cannot leave and if you do leave you always want to come back. Bayport is on the south shore of Long Island. Stay tune for more info on The Bayport Bubble.
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