News Nearby: Wall Catches Fire in Hidden Ponds Home

Federal agency denies village's complaint against National Grid over business practices that keep energy prices on Long Island artificially high.
  
Commack Eateries Take ‘Tremendous’ Hit from Sandy

More than three weeks after Hurricane Sandy, power has been restored to most of Commack's residents and businesses. While residents are attempted to resume life as usual, many local restaurants and eateries are trying to overcome what some described as 'tremendous' blow.

"We lost all the food we had in refrigeration, we lost all of our business for four days" said Peter Georgatos, owner of Premier Diner.

Wall Catches Fire in Hidden Ponds Home
Firefighters from the Smithtown, Hauppauge and Nesconset fire departments rushed to extinguish a house fire in the Hidden Ponds gated community Wednesday morning.

Eateries Suffer Irreparable Losses from Power Outages
Businesses are back to operating regularly now that power has been restored in Smithtown after Hurricane Sandy, but the two weeks without it caused irreparable damage to some, specifically in the food industry.

"We emptied out our whole store, there was nothing left," said Frank Mannino, owner of Mannino’s on Main Street.

Not all was negative with the monetary and product losses many these businesses suffered as the business owners said being able to serve customers strengthened many bonds with the locals not able to make warm meals or enjoy dessert at home.

“It was like a big party and everyone was happy to eating something that made them feel good,” said Ellen Bedziner, owner of Yogurtini. “It got people's minds off of what was going on around them.”