Babylon Town officials issued numerous summonses to the owners of the Zodiac Lounge in West Babylon last week after they learned that the owners were operating "a hot new swingers" and bondage club there. Two weeks ago, the owners, Felice and Dora Rubino, advertised that they were offering "Long Island's only fetish and BDSM Club" night every Thursday, offering "on premises play, multiple mistresses to satisfy any submissive desires and Guest Mistresses every week."

The Club is located at 760 Sunrise Highway, just hundreds of yards from residential homes, said Town officials. It violates local codes and ordinances that require that adult-use facilities not be at least 1,000 feet of residential properties.

Tickets were issued to the Rubinos and the Zodiac Lounge Thurs., Aug. 28 for failing to have a proper public assembly permit, and using the premises in opposition to the permitted use and approved plans. Additional summonses are expected to be written later this week, said Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone.

"Responding to a tip, we conducted a raid on the club and found multiple violations including their operating an adult-use establishment in a non permitted area, near homes and residences," said Bellone. "The facility has been shut down by our Quality of Life Task Force and we will pursue the case against the operators to ensure that it stays closed.

Ron Kluesener, administrative assistant to Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone said that the owners had complained about the Town's response.

"They said that we were picking on them because they were homosexual," said Kluesener. "That is, of course, not the truth; we're concerned about this kind of operation running illegally in the Town, regardless of who is running it."

Attempts to reach the owners for comment were unsuccessful. They did not return phone calls.

On Thurs. night, Aug. 28, the parking lot for the Zodiac was quiet at 10 p.m. Two security guards were outside monitoring the patrons going into the establishment. One acknowledged that the club was operating as advertised but said it was a low-key operation. "Nothing crazy," he said. "Just people having some fun."

According to the Lounge's website and email messages sent last week, the club opened Thurs., Aug. 21 and is open every Thursday night. It includes a fully-equipped dungeon play area, dance floor and "play and friendly interaction is encouraged." Patrons are asked to park in a "discreet entrance."

This is the second adult-use establishment to open along Sunrise Highway in West Babylon in the past 18 months. Another business opened nearby and sells erotic clothing, videos and DVDs. It has been cited by the Town as operating illegally and without a certificate of occupancy.

In that incident, the Town acted quickly, also issuing summonses and taking the case against the owners to the Supreme Court, Suffolk County. It is before Justice Jeffrey Spinner.

To date, however, the judge has not ruled on the case, and that has been a source of frustration to Town officials. "We still await a ruling on this issue, but in the meantime the this store to continues to operate in clear and flagrant violation of our local laws," said Bellone. "They don't even have a certificate of occupancy; how can we enforce our laws when something as simple as that is not quickly upheld by the courts. We are hoping that a ruling will come down soon so we can take appropriate action on behalf of our residents."

In the meantime, Bellone said that for the Town's part, he will remain aggressive and continue to monitor and move against these types of violators who brazenly operate outside of the law and threaten the quality of life for residents and property values.