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- Exceptional Legal Representation Throughout
- Long Island and New York, Since 1993.
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SUFFOLK (631)-271-3737,
QUEENS (718)-751-0226
-
NASSAU (516)-307-0262,
BROOKLYN (347)-508-9316,
BOHEMIA (631)-223-4502
- Exceptional Legal Representation Throughout Long Island and New York, Since 1993.
Great River
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy Solutions
The purpose of federal bankruptcy legislation, sometimes known as Title 11 of the United States Code or the “Bankruptcy Code,” is to provide an opportunity for financial reorganization or a fresh start for legitimate debtors who are unable to fulfill their obligations.
Foreclosure Solutions
As you are undoubtedly aware, many homeowners are in arrears on their mortgages as a result of the 2020 recession brought on by the coronavirus. At first, most lenders had been understanding and would have granted a brief suspension of the late payments.
Debt Negotiations & Settlements
Clients regularly hire the Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. to represent them in negotiations with banks, mortgage holders, credit card issuers, auto financing providers, landlords, tax authorities, and other creditors.
Mortgage Loan Modifications
The most common strategy used by our firm to prevent a house in severe mortgage arrears from going into foreclosure is a mortgage modification. Mortgage modification and other potential Retention Options are the potential goals of most homeowners in foreclosure because most people experiencing serious hardships with their mortgages are looking for “Retention Options
Credit Card Solutions
For consumers, credit card debt and other unsecured personal loans are the most common types of debt. There are a few legal options for handling credit card debt, including the following: Litigation, bankruptcy, and/or negotiated settlements are the three options.
Debtor Litigation Defense
Many of The Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C.’s clients face the possibility of litigation or collection activities from their creditors because they are accused of having debt that they are unable to pay or because they contest the existence, amount, or obligation of the debt.
Landlord Tenant Solutions
Landlord-Tenant Law is one of our firm’s areas of expertise; we defend landlords and tenants in a variety of legal proceedings before the Landlord-Tenant Court and the New York Supreme Court. When it comes to eviction and/or collecting large amounts of past due rent.
Distressed Real Estate
A. Pre-Contract When a seller (the “Seller”) sells real estate to a buyer (the “Buyer”), there are usually a number of important steps involved. A seller will first list their property on the market for sale. A real estate broker is frequently hired by the seller to help locate possible buyers for their property.
Student Loan Solutions
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” as Benjamin Franklin famously said. This phrase has recently been amended by popular opinion to include student loans. Since most jobs these days require a bachelor’s degree, the amount of debt that Americans owe on their student loans
Tax Debt Solutions
Many people have trouble keeping up with their tax payments to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (“NYS”), which includes sales taxes, income taxes, payroll taxes, and other state taxes, as well as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), which includes individual income taxes.
Table of Contents
- WELCOME : Great River
Great River is a suburban hamlet and CDP in the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located approximately 50 miles (80 km) (55 mi driving) east of New York City on the South Shore of Long Island, adjacent to the Great South Bay, shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island.
Great River’s name is derived from “Connetquot,” an Algonquian term meaning “Great River.” In the pre-1900s era, Great River primarily housed affluent families on estate-sized properties. According to the 2010 census, the population of Great River was 1,489.
The architecture of Great River includes a New York City-style steakhouse housed in a turn-of-the-century (20th century) public house, a delicatessen, a rural delivery post office, and the Great River Fire Department.
- Geography
Great River is situated at 40°43′29″N 73°9′36″W (40.724626, −73.159916).
As per the United States Census Bureau, the CDP spans a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.4 km2), with 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2) being land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 11.46%, being water. The Hamlet of Great River consists of 465 land parcels. Additionally, Great River CDP and the GRFD have responsibilities that extend to Heckscher State Park, although most mailing addresses listed by the NY State are categorized under East Islip.
- History
For centuries, groups of the Algonquin people known as the Montaukett Indian Nation inhabited the region referred to as Secatogue, now part of the town of Islip. They resided in clusters located at West Islip (Secatogue), Bay Shore (Penataquit), Great River, and Oakdale (Connetquot).
On November 29, 1683, William Nicoll (or Nicolls), the founder of the Town of Islip and son of New York City Mayor Matthias Nicoll, received the first royal patent for the eastern end of what is now the Town of Islip. Nicoll acquired land from Sachem (Paramount chief) Winnequaheagh of Connetquot. He named his 50,000-acre (20,000 ha) plantation “Islip Grange,” in tribute to his ancestral home of Islip (UK) in East Northamptonshire, England, from which Matthias emigrated in 1664. Nicoll’s estate stretched from East Islip to Bayport and encompassed present-day communities such as Sayville, West Sayville, Oakdale, Great River, Islip Terrace, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Bohemia, Brentwood, Holtsville, and a section of Ronkonkoma. Nicoll paid an annual quit-rent (tax) to Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick and Governor of the Province of New York, consisting of five bushels of good winter wheat or twenty-five (25) shillings payable annually on March 25.
Other early land patent holders included Andrew Gibb (Islip hamlet), John Mowbray (Bay Shore, originally Awixa), Stephan Van Cortlandt (Sagtikos Manor), and Thomas Willets (West Islip).
William Nicholl also bought five islands from Winnequaheagh on November 19, 1687, including Hollins Island (also known as East Fire Island). This purchase was confirmed by Governor Dongan on June 4, 1688, through a patent. Altogether, William Nicoll acquired four land patents, with the final purchase being made on September 20, 1697, issued by Governor Benjamin Fletcher. Under Col. Fletcher, piracy was a significant economic development strategy in New York City’s rivalry with the ports of Boston and Philadelphia. New York City became a haven for pirates (freebooters) who brought substantial wealth into the struggling colony. Nicoll’s estate eventually became the largest manor on Long Island.
By 1710, the colonial government passed an act allowing the precinct of Islip in the County of Suffolk to elect two assessors, a collector, a constable, and a supervisor, giving the people a voice. However, growth remained stagnant until the end of the American Revolutionary War, when progress in the seventeen (17) years that followed exceeded that of the preceding fifty (50) years, partly due to the impact of American shipping.
The Great River hamlet was previously known as Youngsport. In the 1840s, the Youngs family resided approximately one and a half miles south of Montauk Highway on Great River Road. Erastus Youngs and his family began constructing and repairing boats on the west shore of the Connetquot River near Great South Bay. With few other residents (21 houses), the area was called Youngsport for thirty years. Youngsport had one store and a freight station on the South Side Railroad of Long Island, located two miles north of it. The inhabitants were mainly bay men. Alva Vanderbilt (later Alva Belmont), the Oakdale socialite and suffragette, purchased the Youngs’ home and donated it to Trinity Lutheran Parish of Brooklyn, which utilized it as a summer camp called “Seaside Camp” for city children. The name of Youngsport Village was changed to Great River either in 1870 or 1881.
In 1883, William Lawrence Breeze acquired the 290-acre (120 ha) “Timber Point Farm” from William Nicoll.
The Great River freight station was upgraded to a passenger station in the summer of 1897.
William Nicoll 7th (great-great-great grandson of the original William) served as School Commissioner of East Islip and was the last owner of Islip Grange. He served as Warden of Emmanuel Church in Great River for 22 years and tended to the small cemetery there, where he is now buried. William 7th donated part of the land on which the present East Islip Junior High School now stands.
Heckscher State Park (1,600 acres (650 ha)), named after industrialist August Heckscher, was originally part of Nicoll’s estate and the site of the Nicoll Manor house. Heckscher Park’s land (Nicholls Neck) was formerly home to the 19th-century estates of J. Neal Plumb (the original location) and George Campbell Taylor (1,500 acres (610 ha) in 1886). This should not be confused with the similarly named, but much smaller (18.5 acres (7.5 ha)), national historic district of Heckscher Park in Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island.
- Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 1,489, with 503 households and 403 families residing there, a decrease from 1,546 people in the 2000 census. The population density was 323.7 inhabitants per square mile (125.0/km2), with 517 housing units at an average density of 112.4 per square mile (43.4/km2). The racial composition of the CDP was 96.8% White, 0.5% Black, 0.0% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.3% belonging to some other race, and 0.5% identifying with two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race accounted for 4.2% of the population.
Of the 503 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, while 69.4% were headed by married couples living together. Additionally, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. Individuals living alone comprised 15.5% of all households, with 8.2% being someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 2.96, and the average family size was 3.36.
Regarding age distribution, 24.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.0% were between 18 and 24, 16.2% were aged 25 to 44, 35.0% were aged 45 to 64, and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years, with 105.4 males for every 100 females. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
For the period 2007–2011, the median annual income for a household in the CDP was $127,578, while the median income for a family was $176,974. Median income for males was $80,625 compared to $70,781 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $57,414. Due to high margins of error, the number of individuals living below the poverty line was not known.
- District information
Great River falls within New York’s 2nd congressional district. National elections are conducted at the Great River Fire Department, while local election years are held at Timber Point Elementary School.
- Transportation
Great River, a station on the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, sits at Connetquot Avenue and Hawthorne Avenue, nestled between Sunrise Highway (NYS Route 27) and Montauk Highway (Route 27A).
Before passenger service was established, the site of Great River Station was occupied by a freight-only station erected by the South Side Railroad of Long Island and known as Youngsport Station. This station was a popular stop for Gilded Age wealthy businessmen traveling to the South Side Sportsmen’s Club in Connetquot River State Park Preserve after the closure of the Club House Station in 1897.
Suffolk County Transit Bus routes 40 & 3C offer connecting services.
Alternatively, Central Islip on the LIRR Ronkonkoma Branch is very close, just seven miles to the north, and offers more frequent trains.
- Notable sites
Sunrise Business Center
Sunrise Business Center, situated at 3500 Sunrise Highway, originally served as a Grumman Aerospace site before undergoing technological revitalization to become the “Long Island Business & Technology Center.” Covering an expansive 355,000 square feet, it mirrors the advanced infrastructure of Rudin Management’s New York Information Technology Center at 55 Broad Street in Manhattan. Through a connection to New York National Grid’s network, the building boasts high-speed data transmission capabilities, clocking in at 10 billion bits per second. With an 82-acre site, there’s potential for an additional 787,000 square feet of construction space.
Lessing’s stakes its claim as the oldest continuously operating, family-owned, and highly diversified food service company in the United States, headquartered in Great River.
The United States Coast Guard National Response Center (NRC), an integral component of the federally established National Response System, is operational around the clock under the auspices of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Sunrise Business Center in Great River, NY serves as the headquarters for NRC, housing over 500 employees worldwide.
St. Joseph’s College (New York) has expanded into 27,500 square feet of office space within the Sunrise Business Center, courtesy of Metropolitan Realty Associates. Situated in Great River, NY, the college, with campuses in Brooklyn and Patchogue, occupies the entire 4,000-square-foot standalone building at the complex entrance.
St. George’s University, a private institution, offers a range of degrees spanning medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, health sciences, nursing, arts and sciences, and business. The St. George’s University School of Medicine is affiliated with the CityDoctors scholarship program.
Netsmart Technologies operates as a holding company specializing in providing software, hardware, and software services in the human services sector, particularly catering to behavioral health providers such as psychiatric hospitals and mental health clinics.
Connetquot River
The Connetquot River, also known as Great River, spans six miles and is renowned for its brook, brown, and rainbow trout fly fishing, as well as crab trapping from docks. Flowing into Nicoll Bay in New York State, near Nicoll Island, it holds the distinction of being recognized by the state of New York as a Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River, ranking among the four largest rivers on Long Island.
Within Suffolk County, the Connetquot River’s habitat stands as the largest undeveloped contiguous area, encompassing an entire river watershed. While only the Estuary portion south of Sunrise Highway NY Route 27 bears the official name Connetquot River, colloquially, both the brook and river share the same designation.
Great River, housing the Connetquot River, offers numerous spots for water activities, with both public and private docks and launch sites available. Three public locations, including one equipped with a ramp for launching mid-sized boat-trailered vessels, cater to enthusiasts. Additionally, there’s a launch site in New York State’s Heckscher Park, along with at least two private launch sites.
Great River Ramp, also known as Memorial Park, provides public access for launching mid-sized vessels from trailers. Marked by a flagpole and a memorial stone honoring deceased armed forces residents, the park adds festive touches during the winter season, such as a holiday tree and a menorah. Outside the gate, Adirondack chairs donated and installed by BSA Troop 205 offer seating.
Great River Dock, situated at approximately 400 Great River Road, serves as a small park with direct river access for fishing and crabbing, although boat launching is prohibited. The park features stations for bait cutting and crab/fish preparation, along with benches provided by NYS. Picnic tables and Adirondack seating, donated and installed by the local BSA Troop 205, enhance the park’s amenities. It’s a popular spot for community events like the annual holiday boat parade on Thanksgiving weekend, often accompanied by Grucci fireworks sponsored by Oakdale restaurants. Despite closing at dusk, it’s considered a safe locale, except during special events.
Near Nicoll Island, a public sandy beach section, sometimes mistakenly referred to as Timber Point Park due to its proximity to the golf course, offers an ideal launch point for kayaks and canoes. However, motorized vessels are prohibited due to the shallow and sandy bottom, making launching difficult. The Great River Community Association typically organizes an annual kayaking BBQ during the summer, while Long Island schools utilize the area for crew team practice. Kayakers can also access Nicoll Island, which features a stretch of clean white sand reachable by kayak.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Emanuel Episcopal Church, also known as the “Little Chapel,” situated on Great River Road, came into existence in 1862 through the generous donation of one-half acre of land by Mr. and Mrs. William Nicoll. The chapel’s bell tower bears an inscription that reads, “Emmanuel Church, Islip, L.I., Thou shall open my lips, O’Lord and my mouth shall show thee praise”.
At the original chapel entrance stands a stained glass window from France, gifted by the Plum family. Additionally, the Nicoll family memorialized loved ones with Tiffany glass windows, including the “Crown of Heaven” named after Sarah Nicoll and the “Jewel Cross” named after William Nicoll. Between 1903 and 1915, Emmanuel received several other Tiffany windows as donations.
In 1889, Mr. & Mrs. W. Bayard Cutting generously funded the construction and furnishing of the church rectory.
Adjacent to the church lies the Emmanuel Church Cemetery, where notable figures like William Nicholl VII and the financier H. B. Hollins rest in eternal peace.
In 2012, Emmanuel Episcopal Church celebrated its 150th anniversary, marking a century and a half since its establishment on November 16, 1862.
Timber Point Country Club
imber Point Golf Course is a comprehensive 27-hole public golf facility positioned south of Montauk Highway in Great River, where the Connetquot River converges with the Great South Bay.
Originally crafted as an 18-hole course by the esteemed architectural duo Colt & Alison during the vibrant 1920s, Timber Point stands alongside other opulent estates that dotted the South Shore at the time. The former mansion now serves as the clubhouse, maintaining its majestic view over the expansive 231-acre property, reminiscent of its inception when Horace Havermeyer, Buell Hollister, and W. Kingsland Macy founded the club.
In 1925, Angel de la Torre, Spain’s premier golf professional, journeyed to the United States to participate in the U.S. Open. It was then that, on the advice of Captain Allison, a distinguished architect he encountered in England, de la Torre assumed the role of golf professional at the newly erected Timber Point Country Club. At its zenith, Timber Point ranked among the top 100 courses in the nation.
Though altered significantly since then, Timber Point, originally a challenging course especially from the back tees, offered a diverse array of terrain-based challenges. The front nine skirted the bay before traversing inland through heath-like terrain and sandy stretches reminiscent of Pine Valley. The back nine, predominantly constructed on reclaimed marshland, featured bold holes like the 460-yard par-four eleventh, the 470-yard par-four fourteenth, and the 205-yard fifteenth, inspired by Dr. Alister MacKenzie’s iconic Gibraltar hole at Moortown Golf Club, England. The final holes hugged the seaside, with the 510-yard eighteenth inviting aggressive play.
Now operated as a 27-hole facility by Suffolk County, Timber Point retains its allure, open seven days a week from March 15 to December 30, offering substantial improvements since the Suffolk County Parks Department relocated its Golf Courses headquarters here.
Adjacent to the golf course lies Timber Point Marina, nestled on the Great South Bay within the Timber Point Country Club. Divided into two sections, it provides 153 slips, a fuel dock, sewage pump-out station, restrooms, electrical hookups, water, and transient slips for visiting sailors.
Bayard-Cutting Arboretum
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park, spanning 690 acres (280 ha), once formed part of the expansive Bayard Cutting Estate, originally sprawling across 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) and boasting 12 structures. This estate, once owned by William Bayard Cutting (1850–1912), was generously bequeathed as an arboretum to the State of New York by Cutting’s widow and daughter, Mrs. Olivia James.
Recognized as a national historic district since 1973, Westbrook estate, within the arboretum, comprises a remarkable Tudor-style English country house surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens. Designed in 1886 by architect Charles C. Haight for William Bayard Cutting, a multifaceted figure in law, finance, real estate, sugar beet refining, and philanthropy, Westbrook showcases exquisite features like grand fireplaces, intricate woodwork, and stunning stained glass windows.
In 1890, an annex was added to the mansion, housing amenities such as a billiards room, a small organ, a gaming area, and guest accommodations.
The landscape surrounding the estate was crafted by Frederick Law Olmsted, often hailed as the father of American landscape architecture. Renowned for his collaborative work with Calvert Vaux on iconic urban parks like Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City, Olmsted’s touch lends an enduring charm to Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park.
Presently, the manor house serves as the administration office and houses a café, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the history and natural beauty of this remarkable estate.
Westbrook, Suffolk County, New York
Westbrook, an expansive and sprawling residence adorned with numerous gables and towering chimneys, rests peacefully on the South Shore of Long Island, overlooking the serene Connetquot River on its western bank.
Crafted in 1886 by architect Charles C. Haight in the Tudor style, Westbrook was commissioned by William Bayard Cutting (1850–1912). To add to its authentic charm, Scottish heather was imported to adorn the gatehouse with thatch, a feature still visible at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Great River Road. In 1895, William Bayard Cutting and his brother Robert Fulton Cutting undertook the development of a golf course at Westbrook, marking a significant milestone as the first private golf course established in the United States.
Heckscher State Park
Heckscher State Park, spanning 1,469 acres (5.94 km2) and fondly referred to as the “Home of the White-tailed Deer,” graces the shores of the Great South Bay. Originally the site of Islip’s founder, William Nicoll’s Islip Grange estate, the park underwent transformations over the years, serving as the 19th-century estate of J. Neal Plum and later George Campbell Taylor before being acquired by the State of New York in 1929 through a generous donation from August Heckscher.
Offering a plethora of recreational activities, Heckscher Park features a beach, boat launch, pavilions with picnic tables, playgrounds, playing fields, and a variety of recreation programs. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and cross-country skiing within its scenic grounds. Regrettably, budgetary constraints led to the closure of amenities such as the campground, olympic-sized swimming pool, and food concession in 2015.
Accessible via the Heckscher State Parkway, particularly at exit No. 46, the park hosts the Long Island Philharmonic’s annual concert in July, attracting music enthusiasts from far and wide. Additionally, Heckscher State Park serves as the starting and ending point for the Suffolk County Marathon To Support Our Veterans, an event inaugurated in 2015 and held in mid-September. Following the marathon, the park comes alive with the “Taste of Long Island” food festival, providing a delightful culinary experience for participants and spectators alike.
Lorillard Estate and Racing Stable
George L. Lorillard (March 26, 1843 – 1892) was a notable American figure, known as a tobacco magnate in New York City and a prominent owner of Thoroughbred racehorses. His expansive property on Long Island, stretching over 800 acres, now houses the Bayard-Cutting Arboretum, positioned north of Montauk Highway and west of Connetquot Road. Lorillard spared no expense, constructing a substantial stable and a track for training racing horses. R. Wyndham Walden oversaw Lorillard’s racing stable, guiding them to an unprecedented five consecutive victories in the Preakness Stakes from 1878 to 1882, as well as triumphs in the Belmont Stakes in 1878, 1880, and 1881, and the Travers Stakes in 1878 and 1880. Notable horses under Lorillard’s ownership included Saunterer, Vanguard, Grenada, Tom Ochiltree, and Duke of Magenta. Duke of Magenta’s remarkable wins in 1878 earned him a place in racing history, a feat later matched only by Man o’ War and Native Dancer. Even the renowned American Pharoah, winner of the 2015 American Triple Crown, faced stiff competition, finishing a close second in the hard-fought Travers Stakes, thus ending his eight-race winning streak.
The United States Congress made an unusual move on October 24, 1877, suspending activities for a day to allow its members to attend “The Great Race” at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. This event featured a thrilling 2.5-mile match race between three esteemed champions: Ten Broeck, Tom Ochiltree, and Parole. Parole, ridden by jockey William Barrett, surged ahead with a late burst of speed, crossing the finish line three lengths ahead of Ten Broeck and six lengths ahead of Tom Ochiltree, which had set the early pace with renowned jockey George Barbee in control. Approximately 20,000 spectators crowded into Pimlico to witness this historic event. The Great Race is immortalized in a massive four-ton stone bas-relief, based on a Currier & Ives print and sculpted by Bernard Zuckerman, hanging over the clubhouse entrance at Pimlico. This grand artwork, gilded in 24-karat gold leaf, measures 30 feet in length and 10 feet in height.
In 1884, George Lorillard made a significant decision, selling a substantial portion of his estate to William Bayard Cutting.
- Filmography
- “The Age of Innocence,” a film directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Joanne Woodward, is an adaptation of Edith Wharton’s 1920 novel. Set in the Gilded Age, the movie delves into New York’s high society. One notable scene, the Archery/lawn party (1:28), was filmed at the picturesque Bayard Cutting Arboretum, adding a touch of historical elegance to the cinematic portrayal.
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