Moats is the newest Canine Companions for Independence puppy. The organization is hosting a fundraiser at Martha Clara Vineyards July 31. (Credit: Eileen Benthal)

Help out a companion dog

A fundraiser for Canine Companions for Independence will be held July 31 at 7 p.m. at Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead. Tickets for “Wine and Noses” cost $60 each and include a glass of wine, appetizers from Grace and Grit, your choice of entree from either the North Fork or Roaming Fork food trucks and dessert from North Fork Table & Inn. The event will also feature raffles and presentations about CCI programs. To buy tickets, visit atcci.org/LIWineAndNoses or call Eileen at 631-833-1897.

Cruise for Joey

Claudio’s Clam Bar & Wharf in Greenport will host its East End Restaurant Employee Gala Monday, July 14. The fifth annual event will benefit the Lt. Joe Theinert Scholarship Fund, which was established by the Shelter Island resident’s family after he was killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan June 4, 2010.

The charity awards scholarships in memory of Lt. Theinert and provides support for organizations that enrich the lives of active and veteran United States service members, their dependents, caregivers and Gold Star families. Scholarships are awarded at Shelter Island, Mattituck and Sag Harbor high schools.

The highlight of the fundraiser is the round-trip “Cruise to Claudio’s” from South Ferry in Shelter Island to Claudio’s Clam Bar aboard a boat named for Lt. Theinert. Tickets cost $100 and include signature cocktails, seasonal bites, music and a “We Remember Joey” tee-shirt. To purchase, visit josephjtheinertmemorialfund.org. The ferry will depart from Shelter Island at 6 p.m. and return to Shelter Island by 11 p.m.

That same evening, South Florida’s top band, Wonderama, will perform on the dock of Claudio’s Clam Bar. A $15 donation upon entry is required. Dock festivities will take place from 7 to 11 p.m.

Kickoff breakfast for cancer walks

A kickoff breakfast for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks will be held at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7.

The walks, which raise money for the American Cancer Society, will take place Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Dowling College Brookhaven Campus and Sunday, Oct. 19, at Jones Beach State Park. For more information, visit http://makingstrideswalk.org/longisland.

Chinese auction in Southold

A Chinese auction will take place at the Southold American Legion at noon July 26 to benefit the APS (autoimmune polyglandular syndrome) Type 1 Grant Fund. The event is being organized by Cathie Dunn of Jeni’s Main Street Grill in Southold in honor of her nephew. More than 100 baskets will be auctioned off. For more information about the disease, visit apstype1.org or call 631-751-3732.

Here are 10 Suffolk Times stories you may have missed over the last week. To make sure you stay on top of breaking North Fork news, follow @thesuffolktimes on Twitter.

News Alert: Mattituck hired superintendent at special meeting last month — http://t.co/onXzcQVceQ

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 9, 2014

Split Mattituck school board fails to elect a president — http://t.co/1Vbt3KuSCO #Suffolk #Cutchogue

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 11, 2014

Wolf apologizes, defends special Greenport BOE meeting — http://t.co/7FDyhCXGeJ

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 8, 2014

Returning tenured teacher breaks the budget in tiny New Suffolk school district #education #LI http://t.co/5eyCQvLITr

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 9, 2014

Waterfront Fund: Price tag to renovate Galley Ho — $385K. Details: http://t.co/CQIdbhvtR6

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 12, 2014

A fired Fishers Island ferry manager has sued the ferry district, the town and others for alleged age discrimination: http://t.co/ddhSZzqP4y

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 10, 2014

Blue Inn neighbors reiterate concerns, but owner’s stifled http://t.co/ERpFqM6p4p

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 8, 2014

Photos: 37th annual street fair takes over Love Lane http://t.co/DLErE1PJea

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 13, 2014

Steiskal closes gap to win first Mighty North Fork #triathlon http://t.co/ercR80FsuK pic.twitter.com/LPPSkoe729

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 13, 2014

Place feels right at home in Mighty North Fork #Triathlon http://t.co/JS2HinZAru

— Suffolk Times (@thesuffolktimes) July 13, 2014

East End Arts is looking for students interested in jazz. (Credit Barbaraellen Koch, file)

High school musicians and vocalists ages 14-18 with an interest in jazz may apply for the East End Arts Music Masters Fellowship Program, to be held Monday evenings, Sept. 29 through Dec. 1, at the EEA school in Riverhead. The intensive program will be led by professional guitarist Steve Salerno. A final performance will take place Dec. 2.

Applicants must submit an online application and provide a recorded performance sample by Aug. 4, the extended deadline.

Visit eastendarts.org, call Shenole Latimer at 369-2171 or email education@eastendarts.org.

Levi Silverman, a 17-month-old boy from Southold, riding a tractor in the kids’ corner at Hallockville Museum Farm. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder photos)

More than 70 tractors were on display over the weekend at Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead during the Long Island Antique Power Association’s annual summer show.

Some tractors were built in the early 1920s and the show featured a tractor pull where drivers dragged heavy cement blocks across a dirt track.

Click on the tabs to view more photos.

Southold Town is hoping to host a public meeting on helicopter traffic, an issue Southold Supervisor Scott Russell has called a top complaint among residents.

During its work session Tuesday morning members are scheduled to discuss the possibility of a community meeting about noise and other concerns created by helicopters flying over homes in Southold Town. No date or details have been decided, town special projects coordinator Phillip Beltz said Friday.

A proposed solution to the problem was enacted in 2012 by the FFA, which temporarily restricted helicopter traffic over North Fork houses. However, loopholes in the limitations have defeated the purpose, Mr. Russell said.

Moreover,  the air restrictions are set to expire in 2016.

Southold Town Board’s work session to discuss the public meeting on helicopter traffic is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall meeting room.

Read the board’s full agenda below:

2014-07-15 Town Board – Full Agenda-1362

Tuna tartare at Vino & Vittles.

Northforker.com presents our latest “Experience North Fork” Giveaway. We are giving away great prizes through rafflecopter, you just have to “like” or “follow” the giveaway partner’s pages to enter. We welcome our newest partner, Vino & Vittles in Greenport.

Vino & Vittles is giving away a $100 gift certificate to be used towards dinner at their new restaurant in downtown Greenport.

The raffle runs until July 21 at 2:00p.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Sunday bus service ridership is most popular on the S92.

Six months after Suffolk County made year-round Sunday bus service available to the public, ridership has steadily increased month-over-month, specifically on the route which spans the East End.

According to numbers provided by Legislator Jay Schneiderman’s office, ridership on Sundays in June topped 5,000 — up from about 1,100 in January.

Suffolk County first started offering Sunday bus service as a pilot program in 2011, solely offering it on the S92 (running from East Marion to East Hampton) and 10C (East Hampton and Montauk) routes during summer months. After making the lines available year-round in 2013, county leaders expanded the offering to seven more routes across the county, as well as the county’s SCAT service, which offers transportation for individuals with disabilities.

A total of 78,892 Sunday bus tickets have been sold in the first half of the year. The S92 bus route — which runs from Orient Point to East Hampton, making stops in Sag Harbor, Water Mill, Southampton Village, Hampton Bays, Flanders and Riverhead — had the most Sunday riders in the county with a total 16,832 riders through the end of June, according to Mr. Schneiderman’s office.

“Public transportation provides people with the ability to access employment, medical care, and other community resources across the county,” said Mr. Schneiderman. “I’m pleased to see the number of residents taking advantage of this service.”

RIVERHEAD RACEWAY

Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead rebounded from a Lap 2 tangle in a 35-lap NASCAR Modified feature event Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway to capture his second win of the 2014 Whelen All-American Series.

Vinny Biondolillo, seeking his first career win, stayed glued to Ellwood’s rear bumper over the closing laps, but Ellwood held on for a had fought-victory. Looking back at his early-race contact with Dave Brigati, the race winner said: “I really don’t know what happened. I was under him, thought I was good, and we got together.”

Biondolillo of Farmingville had to settle for second place. Jason Agugliaro of Islip was third. The division leader, Howie Brode of East Islip, and Jeffrey Goodale of Riverhead completed the top five.

In other races:

Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Mass., scored a milestone victory in a 25-lap Late Model feature, winning his 20th career race in the class.

Kulesa took advantage of a front-row starting position and led for the duration, but it wasn’t easy. Roger Oxee, the all-time leading winner in the class, was all over Kulesa’s back bumper, trying to see if he should go low or to the high side to attempt a pass for the lead. However, Kulesa did a masterful job of protecting the line as he drove to the win.

Oxee of Peconic will have to wait for at least another race to capture his 65th career win. He was second. Third place went to Peter Eriksen of Baldwin.

One week ago, Scott Pedersen of Shirley had to pit from the Figure Eight lead when his car threw a belt and overheated while Pedersen had a comfortable lead. Well, as they say, what goes around comes around.

That was the case for Pedersen, who won a 15-lap feature and in the process held off 111-time race winner Roger Maynor of Bay Shore. Maynor ended up second, with Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead coming in third.

As the Blunderbust season hits the second half, it seems that Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge is catching fire. He won for the second time in three races, taking a 20-lap affair. It was his division-leading 53rd career win. Terry Stiles of Rocky Point was second. The division leader, Jack Handley Jr. of Medford, raced his way from 14th to finish third.

Roger Turbush of Riverhead may have put a recent run of bad racing luck behind him Saturday when he won his 19th career race, leading from wire to wire to score the 20-lap Super Pro Truck victory. Lou Maestri of Deer Park was second while Mike Albasini of Flushing had to be content with third-place money.

If there is no outside groove at Riverhead Raceway, don’t tell that to Legend Race Car winner Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches because that is exactly the line he used to win his fourth feature event of 2014. Davidowitz made an outside pass on Lap 17 to take the lead from Vinny Delaney. Once out front, he never looked back, notching his fifth career triumph. Delaney of Holtsville was the runner-up. Brad Van Houten of Wading River crossed the finish line third.

The 75-lap, Eight-Cylinder Enduro saw defending champion Ed Brown Jr of Mastic score the win. Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma was second. Jeffrey Otto Jr. of Deer Park scored a career-best, third-place tally.

Paul and Barbara Stoutenburgh being interviewed in their Cutchogue home in 2011. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch, file)

When Paul Stoutenburgh was a boy roaming the fields of Cutchogue and fishing in its creeks, it would have been impossible to imagine the impact he’d one day have on the region’s precious natural resources.

But given the gift of hindsight at a ceremony renaming the Arshamomaque Pond Preserve in honor of Mr. Stoutenburgh last year, County Legislator Al Krupski did his part to put it in perspective.

“He helped change the culture of the town,” Mr. Krupski said of the longtime environmentalist. “He really had a vision of the town going into the future.”

Mr. Stoutenburgh, a longtime Cutchogue resident, died at his home Sunday surrounded by family members. He was 92. 

His body was donated to Stony Brook University for medical research. The family has made no plans for a ceremony at this time.

Mr. Stoutenburgh worked as a shop teacher at Greenport High School until he retired in 1978 at the relatively young age of 55. But his true passion was nature, which evolved from his childhood days in Depression-era Cutchogue, where he spent his time walking the fields and woodlands and fishing, clamming and scalloping in the open water.

Even before his retirement, he dedicated much of his time to environmental causes, becoming an environmentalist before the title was ever invented.

He wrote, along with his wife Barbara, the Focus on Nature Column published in the Riverhead News-Review — and later The Suffolk Times — for 50 years.

The Stoutenburgh’s retired from writing their column in 2011 — they wrote the first one while John F. Kennedy was in the White House in 1961 — and the newspaper retired the iconic column along with them. Even after it became difficult for Mr. Stoutenburgh to keep a journal, he would dictate the column to his wife, who would type it up and send it to the newspaper.

But much of Mr. Stoutenburgh’s work was accomplished not behind a desk or in front of a computer, instead it came in the natural world he and his wife fought so actively to protect from following the same destructive development that forever changed the rest of Long Island. 

Here are some of today’s top stories across the North Fork. To stay on top of local news, follow The Suffolk Times on Facebook.

Kevin Montgomery of Southold died at his home July 12, 2014. He was 71.

He was born in Jamaica, N.Y. Dec. 30, 1942, to Robert H. and Eileen (née McKie) Montgomery.

Surviving are his wife, Kathleen D. Montgomery; two children, Maura and Brendan; a brother, Lewis and two grandchildren, Paul and Lucas.

The family will receive visitors Friday, July 18, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, July 19, at noon at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery.

Memorial donations to East End Hospice, American Lung Association or World Vision would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Elthea S. Cohen of Southold died at her home July 13, 2014. She was 94.

She was born in Brooklyn May 30, 1920, to Edward and Adrian (née Godfrey) Riker.

Thirty-two years ago, she and her husband, Eugene moved here from New Hyde Park. They spent their winters in Florida.

Elthea was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Griswold Terry Glover Post #802 of the American Legion in Southold and was a watercolor artist.

In earlier years, she was active in the Boy Scouts as a den mother and then became an instructor to those wishing to become den mothers. She was the recipient of the Silver Fawn Award, because of her outstanding contributions to scouting.

Predeceased by her husband, Eugene A. Cohen on March 28, 2005; she is survived by two sons, Doug (Fran) of Rotterdam, N.Y. and Duane (Lynn) of Mt. Sinai; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was also predeceased by a granddaughter, April.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 15 from 7 to 9 P.M. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Interment will take place Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. at Calverton National Cemetery, with the procession leaving the funeral home at 9 a.m.

This is a paid notice.

Mount Sinai’s Julia Golina and Victoria Johnson (14) try to stop Mattituck’s Liz Dwyer, who produced 15 points and 11 rebounds in Monday’s game. (Credit: Garret Meade)

Nowadays, perhaps more than ever before, the words of their past coaches echo in the minds of Alex, Alexa and Allie, the three A’s who constitute the new coaching troika for the Mattituck girls basketball summer team.

Alex Berkoski, Alexa Orlando and Allie Wilcenski, all members of the Mattituck High School Class of 2013 and former prominent players for the Tuckers, are the new coaches for the summer league team and they laugh when recounting how they find themselves repeating what their coaches told them when they were players.

“We started saying things that we heard my dad say for years and it’s like, ‘Oh my God, now I finally understand,’ ” said Wilcenski, whose father, Don, is an assistant coach for the Mattituck High School varsity team. “You understand where they were coming from and … I keep hearing myself say things that my dad has said to me for like years. … It’s like having people say you start sounding like your mom.”

To help out the Mattituck varsity coach, Steve Van Dood, the threesome volunteered to run the team for him, and the results have been eye-opening. The three young women, who are all new to coaching, and their team are 4-1 in the Town of Brookhaven Summer League. Not bad. Not bad at all.

“We’ve been doing pretty well, I guess,” said Orlando.

The Brookhaven Summer League provides opportunities for young coaches as well as young players, and the Mattituck trio seems to be enjoying their foray into coaching. It gives them a glimpse of what life is like on the other side of the clipboard.

Wilcenski, who attends Indiana University and plays club ball, said she never thought about coaching before but was excited about the opportunity. She said she has found that it can sometimes be just as much fun as playing. Berkoski and Wilcenski also get to coach their younger sisters, Taylor Berkoski and Liz Wilcenski.

“It’s pretty rewarding,” said Orlando. She continued: “You get to look at [basketball] from a different view, but I would say, honestly, it’s almost the same. You just have to pretend you’re out there playing and tell [the players] what you would do if you were out there.”

Alex Berkoski said: “It’s almost as exciting as playing on the court. I think it’s more stressful but it feels just as good to win.”

That’s a feeling the three have experienced more often than not this summer. Following a season-opening loss to Shoreham-Wading River, the Tuckers have run off wins over Port Jefferson, Islip, Bayport-Blue Point and, most recently, Mount Sinai.

Monday evening’s game presented a challenge for the Tuckers, who had the odds stacked against them. They had only five players and no substitutes. That meant that Liz Dwyer, Hannah Fitzgerald, Courtney Murphy, Courtney Penny and Sam Smilovitch had to play the whole game, all 44 minutes (42 on running time), without a breather, except for halftime and timeouts. They played in a steamy Patchogue-Medford High School gym that felt like a sauna against a Mount Sinai team that pressed the whole way with 12 players. On top of all that, Mount Sinai shot out to an early 8-0 lead.

To their credit, though, the Tuckers pressed back, stayed in the game and pulled out a 31-30 triumph.

“You could call it a mini-miracle, for sure,” said Wilcenski.

It wasn’t a pretty game (the teams combined for, gulp, 41 turnovers), but the Tuckers showed intestinal fortitude in persevering under trying conditions.

Successive baskets by Dwyer, Fitzgerald, Murphy and Dwyer again made it 31-30. Dwyer’s running bank shot with 2 minutes 44 seconds left proved to be the game’s final points. The Tuckers missed three free throws down the stretch and Mount Sinai’s Victoria Johnson clanked two foul shots with 7.9 seconds to go.

Dwyer, who hit two 3-point shots, finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Penny and Smilovitch came down with 8 rebounds each.

Johnson had an impressive game for Mount Sinai (3-2) with 12 points, 9 steals and 7 rebounds, all team-high figures.

The game marked another step in this new journey for the Mattituck coaches. They indicated that their experience so far has been positive.

Said Alex Berkoski, “No clipboards were broken so far.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Orient State Park

Sponsored By Glenwood Village.

An Active Adult Community for Eastern Long Island.

The North Fork is home to more than just beautiful beaches. Summer brings many activities to the area and this season Glenwood Village has put together a list of recommended ideas that those over 50 can enjoy during a weekend visit.

Start off your weekend on the North Fork by enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the sun rise over Gardiners Bay. You can even bring some fishing gear and have a chance at catching some striped bass and flounder.

Gardiners Bay – Bug Lighthouse

Once the sun has risen, spend the afternoon walking the beaches of Orient. After that, take a trip to the old whaling port in nearby Greenport. The whaling ports were once home to over two dozen large whaling vessels, which made over hundreds of voyages between the 1790s and the Civil War. See this historic piece of the North Fork while enjoying the beautiful harbors and outdoor summer weather.

North Ferry to Shelter Island

Continue your day by spending an afternoon on Shelter Island — easy access to the Island is provided by the North Ferry Co. in Greenport. Once on Shelter Island, head to Picozzi’s Service Station and rent a bicycle. Tour the Island with your bike while getting some great exercise.

Corey Creek Vines

End your day back on the North Fork, first by visiting the Corey Creek winery in Southold and sampling some North Fork wines.

Finish the weekend by taking a trip to Riverhead. Visit the Atlantis Marine World and catch a glimpse of what is under the sea that surrounds you. Special attractions and exhibits are available ,such as taking a seat in the trainer’s chair and working with sea lions and seals.

Long Island Aquarium

After you visit the underwater life, catch some great deals on your favorite apparel at Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead. Once you work up an appetite shopping, grab some dessert at Turkuaz Grill downtown and fill up on homemade rice pudding or an ice cream sundae.

These activities are sure to fill your weekend on the North Fork with fun and enjoyable experiences. You will feel like a North Fork pro once you take part in these activities on your visit to this wonderful summer area.

Michael Bredemeyer (center) standing in front of the demolition with his grandmother, Jeanne, (left) and mother, Beverly. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

Lifelong Orient resident Michael Bredemeyer never imagined he could own a house in his hometown. Even with a steady job working as assistant parks and recreation supervisor at Orient Beach State Park, he believed the high cost of living on Long Island would eventually force him elsewhere in order to purchase a home of his own — and move out from his parents’ home.

But at the age of 26, Mr. Bredemeyer has seen his dream of homeownership come true after being selected to live in a Habitat for Humanity home in Orient, just a few miles from where he grew up.

On Monday Mr. Bredemeyer could barely contain his excitement as he watched construction crews begin demolishing a blighted and empty house on Greenway East, where his Habitat for Humanity home will soon be built. Standing alongside his mother and grandmother, he watched as the walls fell and encroaching trees were removed.

“It is a dream come true,” he said. “I’m just overwhelmed. Not many people who are 26 can have a house.”

The long-vacant house was identified by Suffolk County’s 72H affordable housing program, through which repossessed properties are turned over to local communities for the purposes of affordable housing.

Encouraged by his father, Southold Town trustee John Bredemeyer, and mother, Beverly Bredemeyer, he applied for a chance to own the home when the program was announced in March. Until now, Mr. Bredemeyer had always lived with his parents.

His application was one of five filed that met the eligibility requirements for affordable housing in Southold Town, said town special projects coordinator Phillip Beltz.

After interviewing all hopefuls, Mr. Beltz narrowed the selection to four applicants. The process was then taken over by Habitat for Humanity. Following months of financial and other background checks, the organization’s volunteer family selection committee made the final decision at the end of June.

To qualify, Mr. Bredemeyer had to show had no excessive credit card debt or multiple bills in collection, hadn’t declared bankruptcy in the past five years, and had had a stable income for the last 12 months. He also had to prove that his gross income fell within the guidelines for Habitat’s housing.

Although Habitat for Humanity is typically known for helping struggling families or military veterans, manager of family services Lindsey Ross said Suffolk County presents different housing problems, opening up the program to young single people whose salary is 40 to 60 percent below the area’s median income.

“Suffolk County is unique compared to other parts of the U.S.,” Ms. Ross said. “We don’t generally see families that are homeless or living in a basement or a garage. We see people who are paying excessive amounts of rent or even have steady income and a good job, but at their income level it is not likely they will be able to afford a home on the open market.”

“[Mr. Bredemeyer] has invested in his community,” she continued. “He grew up there. He is a member of the fire department. He was a great candidate for the community because now he can stay there and continue to put down his roots.”

The Orient home is Habitat’s first property in the Town of Southold. Southold Councilman Bob Ghosio called the house a huge benefit for the community because the town has limited options for residents who need affordable houses.

“It is great to be able to have something like this in our town that struggles with affordable housing,” he said. “To take a piece of property that has been an eyesore for so long and repurpose it is fantastic.”

As part of his agreement with Habitat, Mr. Bredemeyer must contribute 300 hours of hands-on build time, or “sweat equity.”

Over the next 10 to 12 months he is expected to work with volunteer crews to help build the new house. Once it is complete, Mr. Bredemeyer will be responsible for paying his own mortgage — which will be calculated based on the final cost of construction, Ms. Ross said. Usually the payments are around 30 percent of the homeowner’s annual income, she said.

As the remains of the demolished house were thrown into a trash bin, Mr. Bredemeyer’s thoughts were already on the future.

“I’m not afraid of the work, I’m already thinking long term,” he said. “Definitely thinking of adding a pool.”

cmurray@timesreview.com

Now here’s a scene you don’t necessarily see much of these days.

In the waning moments of Mattituck’s 2-0 victory over Southold in a Town of Brookhaven Boys Soccer Summer League game Monday night, First Settlers goalkeeper John Charles Funke congratulated the Tuckers defender-turned-striker Walter Jacob for scoring the insurance goal.

“It was all and all a friendly game for me,” Funke said at the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer Complex. “I shook my friend’s hand and congratulated him because they finally deserved it.”

And here’s a scene you won’t see at all this coming school season: Southold playing Mattituck in a game.

Yes, the two North Fork neighbors will meet each other in a Sept. 3 scrimmage, but it won’t be counted in the standings.

For years, the Tuckers and the First Settlers had one of most enduring rivalries, playing in the same league and classification. But that has changed since Mattituck moved up to from Class C to B in 2005 due to the increase of the number of students attending the high school.

“I tell the kids stories about the checkered history of Southold and Mattituck and they look at me like I have three heads because it doesn’t happen any more,” Bill Hayes, the high school assistant coach who directs the summer league team, said. “The rivals now are Center Moriches and the Hamptons because we’re the same size. I know for me, my wife and I’m pretty sure for [head coach Mat Litchhult] there is a certain extra sentiment towards beating Southold that makes me feel good. It used to be a huge rivalry. Huge.”

Litchhult agreed. “It’s a pride thing,” he said. “It’s something that’s a North Fork thing. You still want to beat Southold. But overall, I would say through the last 10 years the rivalry has diminished some because of the separation of leagues and class.”

Jacob, whose team improved to 6-1, said there was a difference between Southold (3-3-1) and Center Moriches. The Tuckers won the Class B crown last year, the First Settlers the Class C title.

“I don’t know a lot of players on Center Moriches like friends,” he said. “This is like playing against your friends. It’s a good rivalry because they’re very good. When we play against Center Moriches we get mad. Here, it’s just frustrating because we don’t get to show off to our friends who we haven’t played in a while.”

So, the rare meetings have been reduced to non-league or summer-league encounters. Even for a summer league game, both sides performed with intensity, even if one friend was trying to stop another from scoring.

“During the game, barely know him, but off the field, he’s a good kid,” Funke said.

Funke stood on his head during the 60-minute match that was threatened by rain, making at least 10 saves and denying James Hayes, Brian Doherty and Jacob before Hayes finally broke through in the 25th minute.

“Sometimes he keeps us in the game singlehandedly,” assistant coach Lucas Grigonis said. “Our defense still has to work through some things, but we’re very lucky to have him to fall back on to. He always brings it.”

As superb as Funke was, he was not perfect as Jacob found the back of the net on a breakaway with barely a minute remaining.

“He played amazing,” Jacob said. “He was absolutely fantastic. He knew exactly where to be when he had to make a save.”

Funke and company will get another crack at Mattituck on Sept. 3.

“When we do have that scrimmage, we treat it as a real game,” Grigonis said.

Sounds like there’s still some sort of spark in that old rivalry after all.

Lewis Joseph Whitecavage of Greenport passed away July 8, 2014 at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport at the age of 60. 

He was born Nov. 18, 1953 in Hartford, Conn. to Walter and Marjorie (Kalin) Whitecavage. He attended Southold schools, and later moved to the Greenport school district.

Lew enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. and from 1971 to 1975 served as an engineer equipment operator earning the rank of sergeant. After serving his country, he worked as a commercial fisherman, spending most of his life on the water while providing for his family. Most recently he was employed at Port of Egypt Marine in Southold. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, family and friends.

Lew was predeceased by his father and his wife, Lauren (née Klipp). He is survived by his mother, Marjorie Nugent; his two sons and their spouses, Joseph (Diana) Whitecavage and Joshua (Emily) Whitecavage; his brothers Joseph (Traci) Whitecavage and Robert Nugent and one granddaughter, Riley Lauren Whitecavage.

The family received visitors July 12 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, followed by a graveside military service at Cutchogue Presbyterian Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Greenport Fire Department Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 682, Greenport, NY 11944.

This is a paid notice. 

Guillermo Alvarado Ajcuc was sentenced to 25 years to life Tuesday morning for the murder of Mirian Yohanna Garcia Mansilla. (Credit: James Carbone, Newsday)

The sister and mother of Mirian Yohana Garcia Mansilla each went up to the podium in a Suffolk County courtroom and faced the judge.

As they took their turns speaking, each glanced over at the man standing in a white T-shirt and jeans surrounded by court officers, the man who killed their beloved “Yohana.”

They urged the court to make sure that man spends the rest of his life in prison. 

“My sister will never come back,” said Zully Garcia Mansilla through a translator, her voice wavering with emotion. “This person has damaged all of our lives. Totally.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the family got as close to their wish as possible.

Guillermo Alvarado-Ajcuc, who was convicted on two counts of murder two months ago for killing Ms. Garcia Mansilla near the Riverhead DMV parking lot in 2012, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, the maximum sentence allowed.

Early on May 6, Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc led an intoxicated Ms. Garcia Mansilla away from the bar toward a wooded area. There, prosecutors said, he attempted to rape her and strangled her with his belt when she resisted.

Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc spoke for the first time at the sentencing, asking for forgiveness from his victim’s sister and mother. But he also claimed that he was too drunk to realize what had happened when Ms. Garcia Mansilla was killed.

“It wasn’t my intention,” Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc said through a translator. “I hope some day they are able to forgive me.”

Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc’s defense attorney, Eileen Powers, said that she believed Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc’s statements backed up her position that Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc still doesn’t remember what happened.

But Suffolk County assistant district attorney Glenn Kurtzrock said that Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc showed a “shocking lack of remorse” throughout the trial, and called the murder particularly violent.

“She died in pain, in fear and she died horribly,” Mr. Kurtzrock said.

Judge John Toomey called the murder a “completely senseless act.”

“You had to take that belt off, by your hand,” Judge Toomey told the killer before sentencing. “Your actions that night were far-reaching.”

Ms. Garcia Mansilla was a Guatemalan immigrant who had worked cleaning ships at Larry’s Lighthouse Marina in Aquebogue. She was a hard-worker and aspiring DJ who also played on a North Fork soccer team, friends said in the wake of her death.

Mr. Kurtzrock said Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc — an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala — would be deported if he is ever released. The prosecutor said he hopes Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc spends the rest of his life behind bars.

“He’s certainly earned it,” Mr. Kurtzrock said.

After the sentencing, family members hugged the prosecutors who had helped them during the two years the case spent in court. Yohana’s mother, Marta Mansilla, said through a translator that she knows her daughter is “celebrating with God” and that justice was done. But the loss still weighs heavy on her.

“I feel very, very sad because I’m never going to see my daughter again,” she told reporters through tears. “I know she’s in peace and she’s in a better place.”

Ms. Garcia said she was glad her sister’s killer got the maximum sentence.

“I know my sister is not going to come back,” she said. “But at the same time, we feel at peace because justice has been done.”

Ms. Garcia said she saw tears in Mr. Alvarado-Ajcuc’s eyes as she spoke in court.

“I feel sorry for him,” she said. “My heart was broken not because of him, but because of his family. I thought about his mother and his father. The suffering he caused [them].”

She said “in her heart” she is able to forgive the man who murdered her sister knowing that he will have to face God in the end.

“I know what we do, we pay for it,” she said. “He deserves to suffer a lot.”

psquire@timesreview.com

Fed up with the noise created by helicopters flying over homes in Southold Town, Supervisor Scott Russell is looking to hold a public meeting and possibly establish a town committee to help combat the issue on a state and federal level.

“I’m getting calls from residents all over Southold,” he said Tuesday morning during the Town Board’s work session. “We need to create rapid response plan.”

The meeting, which would take place at the end of the month, would bring Southold residents together with other groups advocating against helicopter traffic on the North Fork— such as Group for the East End  — to discuss strategies to reduce the number of helicopters flying overhead on their way to the South Fork, Mr. Russell said.

“We need to bring this whole thing together on the North Fork,” he said.

Ultimately, he’d liked to see Southold Town create its own action committee to work with regional groups as well as Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-Brooklyn) to resolve the noise problem.

Both the senator and the congressman has been pushing to make permanent a temporary Federal Aviation Administration restriction on flights over the North Fork that is set to expire in 2016.

The restriction mandates pilots fly the North Shore route, which require helicopters to fly over Long Island Sound between Huntington and Orient Point.  Unless otherwise authorized, they must fly one mile off the coast to limit noise for residential areas.

While towns to the west are supportive of the measure, Mr. Russell said loopholes have made the limitations moot for Southold residents. Pilots can deviate from those requirements for safety reasons, such as weather conditions or transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing.

Although no date has been set, Mr. Russell said he hopes to host the forum alongside Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) during the last week of July.

cmurray@timesreview.com

A handful of residents spoke at a forum Tuesday about the upcoming shortage of area codes. (Credit: Claire Leaden)

The possibility of a new area code replacing 631 for part of Suffolk County may be viewed as an annoyance for some. After all, who wants go through their phone to update numbers?

For Larry Huff, the potential change also comes with a more substantial downside: a price tag upwards of $500,000.

Mr. Huff, the vice president of Electronix Systems in Huntington Station, spoke during a public hearing Tuesday afternoon in Riverhead where representatives from the New York State Public Service Commission discussed potential remedies to the predicted area code shortfall. 

Mr. Huff spoke against splitting the area code, which would divide a new territory similar to how all of Suffolk County changed from 516 to 631 in 1999.

“To do a split would probably require our company to visit 20,000 subscribers and reprogram those security systems and life safety systems to conform to the new number if we are in the new area code range,” Mr. Huff said.

He estimated that could cost his company $500,000.

Mr. Huff was one of a handful of people who attended the meeting. Mark Amendolare of Bellringer Communications in Southampton echoed Mr. Huff’s sentiment.

In 1999, Mr. Amendolare said, the change to 631 cost his company about $325,000 and “a lot of man hours.”

“I hope that you guys take into consideration the factors and costs in doing this and hopefully you’ll make the right decision,” he said.

• Previous Coverage: 631 area code may soon be exhausted

Prior to the public hearing portion at the Suffolk County Center, the Public Service Commission detailed the looming problem. The region is running out of central office codes, the middle three-digit part of phone numbers, which are assigned to specific geographic regions. So the 631 number itself is not running out, but the number of central office codes that can be assigned to the 631 area code, according to David Kitchen, a utility engineer with the commission who gave the presentation.

Only about 64 central office codes remain, about eight percent of what the region began with in 1999 when 631 was implemented.

Mr. Kitchen said an increase in carriers and technology usage has contributed to the rapid use of codes.

“Some things that you wouldn’t think use a phone number — like 3G or 4G tablets — do use them,” he said. “And, once a code is assigned, it can’t be shared.”

The North American Numbering Plan Administration predicted, based on industry forecasts, that the codes will be exhausted in the first quarter of 2016 at the latest. Mr. Kitchen said he did a separate analysis that confirmed that timetable.

There are currently two options: an overlay or a geographic split, which Mr. Kitchen said were the only two choices. An overlay would mix in a new area code within the 631 region.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have an option here, to either not do anything or really do anything else, because there are ‘industry guidelines,’ really hard and fast rules, that we all have to do everything the same way or the telephones won’t work properly,” Mr. Kitchen said.

An overlay would have no effect on the existing numbers. The drawback, Mr. Kitchen said, would be that current 631 residents would have to type in the 10-digit number (area code included) for every call they make, even within the 631 region.

For a geographic split, Suffolk County would be further separated into two zones will a line straight down from Smithtown to Islip. One side would keep 631.

It hasn’t been determined which side would be assigned a new code.

The 516 area code was first assigned to Nassau and Suffolk in 1951. Every other overlay in New York has been done in New York City. When asked by an audience member, Mr. Kitchen said that a geographic split hasn’t been put in place since 2007 in Texas.

Representatives from the Public Service Commission said they weren’t leaning one way or another as to which route to take.

“We’re trying to make this as painless as possible,” Mr. Kitchen said. “It won’t be painless, but we’re trying to minimize the impact. I need you to help me to help you.”

The informational forum and public hearing was one of four between Tuesday and Wednesday. Other forums are in Holbrook, Smithtown and Huntington Station.

Residents can voice their opinion by visiting dps.ny.gov and entering case 14-C-0182. Or email secretary@dps.ny.gov or call 1-800-355-2120. Comments must be submitted by July 31.