The chamber of commerce’s welcome sign on the north side of Holbrook tells visitors they are in “a beautiful place to live and work.” And they mean it. The hamlet, which straddles Islip and Brookhaven townships in central Long Island, is largely residential with few open spaces. But the chamber — along with local civic groups and churches — has a beautification project underway to spruce up the main arteries through town, including Main Street and Patchogue Holbrook Road. Plans include weeding and shrub-planting.
The median value of a Holbrook house or condo is about $388,000, according to City-Data.com. The community of about 29,000 is next-door to MacArthur Airport, Ronkonkoma train station and major highways — all of which help to make Holbrook “a little big town,” long-time resident Anthony Tymvios says. “It’s a nice, quiet place with not too much craziness going on.”
What the locals say
Anthony Tymvios, 22, has lived here for 10 years.
Likes: “I like that this is not too far from the city, but it’s quieter than the city.”
Dislikes: “There’s not much nightlife around here, aside from a couple of local bars,” Tymvios says.
Tara Ragona, 36, lives in Medford and works in Holbrook.
Likes: “I like the movie theater on Portion Road, because it’s not one of the big conglomerates,” she says of the Regal theater in nearby Ronkonkoma (565 Portion Rd.).
Dislikes: Ragona is frustrated by ongoing traffic congestion on Portion Road, which is being widened from two lanes to four.
Things to do in town
» Meet filmmaker Marino Amoruso May 18 at the Sachem Public Library (150 Holbrook Rd.) and see the director’s cut of his film “The Baseball Chronicles.” www.sachemlibrary.org
» Gear up, but only if you’re a collector and interested in buying or selling antique classic cars at The Auto Museum (901 Lincoln Ave.). www.theautomuseum.phanfare.com
» Zagat’s Long Island guide ranks Mamma Lombardi’s (400 Furrows Rd.) as one of the island’s top Italian restaurants. www.mamalombardis.com
» Find a buddy at the Pet Adoption Fair at Sachem Public Library’s outdoor extension, the Inside/Out garden (150 Holbrook Rd. behind the library) on May 21 (rain date June 4). Elizabette Cohen, host of WCBS Newsradio 880’s “Your Healthy and Happy Pet” will attend, along with a dog training expert and animal rescue and advocacy groups. Donations for local shelters will be gladly accepted. See www.sachemlibrary.org for more.
» Putt around at the Holbrook Country Club (700 Patchogue-Holbrook Rd.), which features a regulation 18-hole public golf course as well as soccer, tennis and other athletic spaces. Grab a bite onsite at Trio Restaurant. For more information, see www.HolbrookCCGolf.com.
