Informational Meeting For East Islip Lanes To Be Virtual

EAST ISLIP, NY — An informational meeting about the future of East Islip Lanes will now be completely virtual.

Benchmark Senior Living, the assisted living community that intends to purchase the bowling alley, announced Monday that its Feb. 15 meeting will take place entirely on Zoom and will require a passcode.

"This determination is made due to present concerns with the COVID-19 virus and Benchmark's commitment to public safety," a letter addressed to property owners stated.

Owners of the bowling alley, which has served the community for more than 60 years, confirmed on Friday that it is in the process of being sold. It would take two to three years for the sale to officially go through, said Mike Gibiser, the bowling alley's proprietor.

The Feb. 15 meeting was originally scheduled to be held in person at the Marriott Hotel, located at 11 Court House Drive in Central Islip, and was also intended for immediate neighbors. Community members who do not live nearby the bowling alley will have a chance to learn about the changes at later dates, a Benchmark representative said.

“The intent of this meeting is for Benchmark to share information with the immediate neighbors to the property and to take any questions from those neighbors. This is the first step in our community outreach," the representative said. "There will be many opportunities for the broader community to learn more about the project and have their questions answered.”

Many residents took to social media last week, in opposition of the sale.

One resident created a Change.org petition against the sale, saying that a senior living community is not what the town needs. So far, the petition has garnered almost 700 signatures.

"This offers no benefit to our community and only adds traffic, noise, lighting, dumpster servicing, and traffic to our already crowded Main Street," the petition description said. "We understand we're losing the bowling alley, but this proposal is an insult to East Islip."