Alive After Five dates to be reutilized

The Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce is looking to make the best of it with the Village of Patchogue-approved Alive After Five dates scheduled for July 8, 22, and Aug. 5 and 19.

“We have four dates the village gave us normally for Alive After Five; things are changing daily and we are going to change with it,” chamber executive director David Kennedy said. “We have every intention to host some on-street events. What that will be called and what that will entail is currently being worked on.”

The chamber and the Alive After Five Committee have scheduled a meeting this week to discuss the possibilities for the dates, which include a version of Family Fun Nights, moving the farmers’ market vendors to Main Street, and a combination of arts and music under the theatre marquee as well as outdoor dining. The hope, according to Kennedy, is to maintain the safety of eventgoers by limiting the amount of people gathering.

“We would rather do nothing than do something that would break the rules,” he added, taking precaution. “It will probably be something very similar to the on-street dining we did last year, with the possibility of progressing throughout the summer to become something closer to what we normally do.”

Dennis Smith, BID executive director and farmers’ market organizer, said the market currently operates with over 40 vendors who would be “eager” to go up on Main Street.

Mayor Paul Pontieri is also supportive of the push to host an event, but hopes it will be modest.

“These events will be very low-key compared to Alive After Five,” Pontieri said.

In addition to on-street dining and vendors, the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts executive director Michele Rizzo-Berg said they are planning to host performers under the marquee for free, and Patchogue Arts Council executive director Beth Giacummo said they will be bringing the arts to Main Street with live painting.

“I think we recognize that things are moving forward, but we still have to be mindful being that Patchogue is a focus. We need to set a good example,” added Alive After Five chairperson Jacqueline Routh. “Moving forward and teaming up with other members in the chamber, we will come up with something that is fun, safe and appropriate. It should be a fun summer if we do it right.”