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Flooding shutters community center

TIM GANNON PHOTO
The George G. Young Community Center in Jamesport normally hosts town-run programs that range from bridge club to hip-hop dancing.

The Jamesport community center was closed last week indefinitely due to safety concerns due to flooding in its basement, said Riverhead Town engineer Ken Testa.

“We ordered it closed because … we had concerns about people getting electrocuted,” he said. “Also, we had to shut the elevator in the building down, and it’s needed to get to either of the floors in the center.”

The elevator is hydraulic and all its equipment is located below the basement floor, Mr. Testa explained.

The town hopes to reopen the facility, called the George G. Young Community Center, located on South Jamesport Avenue off Main Road, once the water table goes down.

But that could take as long as two weeks, Mr. Testa said last Thursday.

The community center normally plays host to recreational programs every day except Sunday, with programs offered both during the day and at night, said Ray Coyne, the town recreation supervisor.

“We have everything from yoga classes, youth nights, tap dancing, hip-hop dancing, exercise ball classes, and bridge club,” Mr. Coyne said.

His department was told last Wednesday to move its programs out of the building, he said. Programs are now being held at the senior center in Aquebogue and the little-used Henry Pfeifer Community Center in Calverton.

Activities might also be moved to the state armory building on Route 58. The Riverhead School District has also said it can make some of its facilities available if needed, Mr. Coyne said.

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