🌱 Smithtown Daily: Route 347 Modernization Project + Logan Hutter

Up and at 'em, Smithtown! Diane Witek here with everything you need to know to get this Wednesday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Occasional morning rain. High: 52 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories in Smithtown today:

1. Wondering why all the construction is going on around Route 347? It is getting an upgrade ahead of schedule! The $71.4 million modernization project will reconstruct and update Route 347, that was built in the 1950s, between Gibbs Pond and Hallock roads. Expect to see added traffic signals, crosswalks, raised planted medians and a continuous third travel lane in both directions when the project is completed in 2024. (Patch)
2. Let us all congratulate Logan Hutter, SUNY Cobleskill, Smithtown West High School alum, for being named the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Baseball Rookie-of-the-Week for the week ending April 3. Hutter, catcher/designated hitter, had an impressive offensive in the Fighting Tigers non-conference home doubleheader split with the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton College of Albany on Saturday "going 4-for-6 at the plate with a double, a walk, a stolen base, a run scored and five RBI on the afternoon.," according to Smithtown Matters. (Smithtown Matters)
3. During the week of March 28, Elsa, Anna and Olaf took the stage at Great Hollow Middle School. The cast performed the musical "Frozen" inside the school's auditorium. It was easy to see by the excited audience that the performers trained for months for their roles. (Smithtown Patch)
4. Police released a video of the man who, in February, struck a woman in the head from behind while she was putting her 2-year-old daughter in her car in the parking lot of Michael's, in Commack. If you know anything about this man, who police describe as 6 feet tall, and approximately 50 years old, please contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip via phone call at 1-800-220-TIPS. (Patch)

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Today in Smithtown:

• HSW — Gold Cord Breakfast — Smithtown High School-West. (8 a.m.)
• Library Playdate (Smithtown Library-Smithtown Building). (10 a.m.)
• Tai Chi (Smithtown Library-Nesconset Building). (1 p.m.)
• Underneath the Poet-tree (Smithtown Library-Kings Park Building). (4:30 p.m.)
• HSW — Smithtown Serenade — Smithtown High School-West. (6:45 p.m.)
• Craft Kits for Kids Volunteers (Smithtown Library-Smithtown Building). (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Nextdoor Neighbor, Forestwood: "Hi, neighbors! I just had a spring cleaning done on my property and I have to highly recommend Long Island Gardens Landscaping. What a beautiful job they did! If you are looking for someone to do a spring cleanup at a reasonable price." (Nextdoor)
• Public Information Representative Donna Harris, United States Postal Inspection Service - New York: "AARP and Postal Inspectors: Fighting Against Fraud Series — Join AARP and Postal Inspectors to listen to a webinar on fraud prevention. This is a 3-part series that will cover identity theft, elder fraud and romance scams." (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Fitness 4 You — (Visit website)
• The Creative House — (Visit Website)
• Robbins Podiatry — (Visit website)
• Val Shops for You — (Visit website)
• Add your business here.

Events:

• The Wellness Tour; Marci Baron Mindfulness and Meditation Event and Tasting. (April 6)
• Open House for "A Summer to Remember!"(April 9)
• Alice in Wonderland. (April 9 - 10)
• Open House. (April 10)
• Evening Labyrinth Walk with Flutist Charles Holdener. (April 12)
• U2 Easter Show with 2U — The Worlds 2nd Best U2 Show! (April 16)
• Add your event.

Announcements:

• Gurwin Social Day Program for Alzheimer's/Dementia. (Details)
• Behind The Scoreboard – Ed’s Love Of Baseball. (Details)
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For sale:

• Huge tree. (Details)
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Loving the Smithtown Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe.
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• Send me a news tip or suggestion at diane.witek@patch.com.

You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.