Directors of the Matinecock Neighborhood Association hosted a luncheon on Saturday, May 2, at the Basil Leaf Cafe for Hon. H. Tom Hogan and Ms. Barbara Goldstone. The two were honored as the recipients of the 1997 and 1998 awards for Most Improved Business Properties in Locust Valley.

"We honored them back-to-back, because is was such a large project. We were planning to do it in 1997 and then decided to do it all at one time," said Diane Fagiola, secretary of the Matinecock Neighborhood Association.

Mr. Hogan was a Town of Oyster Bay Councilman for many years and has his law office in Locust Valley. When the Locust Valley Chamber of Commerce started several years ago, he was a great supporter of the group. Barbara Goldstone, owner of G. Willikers (with her partner Marge Rosenberg), served as the chamber's first president.

Mr. Hogan and Ms. Goldstone have dedicated themselves for many years to maintaining and improving the health of all the businesses in Locust Valley. With the recent purchase and exquisite refurbishment of an entire row of storefronts on the east side of Birch Hill Road in the Village Center, Mr. Hogan and Ms. Goldstone have attracted a number of exceptional retailers to Locust Valley, said Ms. Fagiola.

Since before Christmas, the Hogan building with Hunt's Hair Styling; Dragons of London Limited, a children's personalized handmade furniture and clothing store and The Finer Things Antique Shop were refurbished and had apartments built upstairs.

At the same time Barbara Goldstone refurbished Bernard's Antiques. They totally redid the store and the apartment above it.

Mr. Hogan was also responsible for the construction of The Meridian, a cigar bar after five, that during the day serves light lunches and coffee. It is owned by Pollack Investment of Maryland. That started before last Christmas and has "found its own level of water:" its own customers, said a Locust Valley resident.

At the same time, as the work was being done by Mr. Hogan and Ms. Goldstone on the east and west side, the building on the west side of the block, was being refurbished by Paul Pereira of Pereira Construction. "He was our builder and at the same time, he became his own builder, he became caught up in the refurbishment movement," said Mr. Hogan.

That building was owned by Dr. Dondero, a dentist, who sold it to Mr. Periera. It has four apartments, two in front and two in back upstairs, and a small shop that was also restored. Presently the Locust Valley Food Company is located downstairs. A new dentist, a husband and wife team Doctors Schmitz and Schweikhardt are there. "Lovely people," said Mr. Hogan.

"Everything is being done beautifully and with consideration to how people feel about the town. There is every detail attended to - and done with a lot of style and grace," said the Locust Valley resident.

Mr. Hogan said, "What would be wonderful, is to acknowledge John Collins, a historic building design consultant who made the first conceptual renderings for the area. He is a wonderfuly gifted man." He also designed the Hogan law offices at 108 Forest Ave., Locust Valley.

Work has just started on Boutique La Maison on the east side, which was also designed by Mr. Collins. All in all, they are creating a revitalized business climate to please their customers, old and new.

"We love Locust Valley," said Mr. Hogan.

"Everyone is getting into the spirit. The chamber and the Neighborhood Association have purchased more street lights. They will be going up shortly.

"It is turning the corner and becoming a very good shopping community," said Mr. Hogan.

Interestingly, Mr. Hogan had more good news to share. On May 12 the court of appeals denied the Town of Oyster Bay's motion to reargue the Westbury Drive-In case and the town has been ordered to grant the special use permit to Tom Hogan and Eleanor Learner to procede to build a United Artist's Theater and BJ's wholesale club on Brush Hollow Road.

There had been an attempt to make the site an Oyster Bay Landmark. The case was argued at a hearing in town hall but the move was defeated. Landmarks have always been buildings, not businesses said Mr. Hogan who helped establish Oyster Bay's Landmark Preservation Commission.

"It's been a long road," said Mr. Hogan. The cost has been high: he lost his seat on the town board, a job he truly loved, and for which he was much respected; during the past few years his parents have died and Mrs. Learner's husband has died. It has been a trying and costly time for Mr. Hogan.

The work on the new project should begin in the fall.