Pictured front row, left to right are new homeowner Staff Sergeant Omar Domenech, his son  Omar, Jr., wife Angela and daughters Ashley and Anastasia. Pictured back row, left to right are  Landmark Properties President Mark Baisch, Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI) CEO Mitchell Pally, Deputy Supervisor / Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh, Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld,  Supervisor Mark Lesko, LIBI Vice President Mike Kelly, Councilman Dan Panico, Councilwoman  Jane Bonner, Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp. President Tom Datre and  Treasurer Clara Datre.

Farmingville, NY – Supervisor Mark Lesko joined Council members Kathleen Walsh, Jane Bonner, Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld and Dan Panico, members of Long Island Home Builders Care Development Corp (LIBHC), neighbors and friends to welcome returning veteran and Purple Heart recipient Staff Sergeant Omar Domenech and his family to their new home in Sound Beach. The home is the first of four affordable homes being built by LIHBC for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The property was donated by Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI) member Mark Baisch of Landmark Properties, and the house was built with donated materials, materials purchased at a reduced rate, and labor from local building material suppliers and sub-contractors. Brookhaven Town assisted the LIHBC by “fast tracking” all required building permits and inspections so the Domenech family could be in their new home by Veterans Day. The selection of Staff Sergeant Domenech for this home was conducted by the Veterans of Foreign War Post 6249 in Rocky Point. The program is made possible through the joint efforts of Suffolk County, the Town of Brookhaven and members of Long Island Builders Institute. The Town of Brookhaven has donated two lots in East Patchogue and one in Ronkonkoma for future homes.

“We honor and thank every veteran for their service to our country and need to do whatever we can to help them settle back into civilian life,” said Supervisor Lesko, “This program is a great example of government, business and the community coming together to support those who have served our country. I welcome Staff Sergeant Domenech and his family to Brookhaven Town and wish them the best of luck in their new home.”

Deputy Supervisor / Councilwoman Walsh “It’s getting harder for our returning veterans to find an affordable place to live but this program offers them an opportunity to do so. They have sacrificed so much in service to their country and they should never feel as if the American Dream they fought so hard to defend is out of reach for them and their families.”

“I am very proud of the way that the Brookhaven community has come together in their support of returning veterans and I thank Long Island Home Builders Care for helping to make home ownership a reality for Staff sergeant Domenech and his family,” said Councilwoman Jane Bonner. “Sound Beach is a great place to live and I’m sure they will enjoy their new home for many years to come.”

“Helping a returning veteran settle into stable home ownership is a great way to begin to say thank you for their service to our country,” said Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld. “I'm glad we could be of assistance in expediting the needed permits at the Brookhaven Town government level, I commend Long Island Home Builders Care and I thank all the carpenters, sub-contractors and building supply companies for their efforts on behalf of this hero's family.” “Projects like this exemplify what is great about America,” commented Brookhaven Town Councilman Dan Panico. “Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude and when people volunteer their time, resources, energy and effort to show their appreciation it really goes a long way. I wish Staff Sergeant Domenech and his family all of the best and thank the Long Island Builders Institute and all those involved in making this dream come true.”

For more information about Long Island Home Builders Care, call 631-232-2345 or visit www.libi.org

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
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