Feather Hill was sold on Thursday for $6 million. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Downtown Southold’s Feather Hill plaza has been sold to three Nassau County brothers for $6 million.

The Main Road property, which consists of 12 freestanding buildings comprising over 26,000 square feet and hosts Robert’s Jewelers, Wednesday’s Table and Dunkin’ Donuts, changed hands on Thursday.

“That’s like the hub of the town,” said Marcello Pica, who bought the property with brothers Ralph and Alex. “It’s a beautiful place there.”

Located across the street from Capital One and the site of the hamlet’s Hampton Jitney stop, Feather Hill was built in 1986 and for the past 14 years has been owned by brothers Gary and Charles Salice, who also own property in Mattituck and Laurel. Though they weren’t actively shopping for a buyer, Charles Salice said the timing was right to “pursue other interests.”

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“We did really well with it; we enjoyed it,” he said. “We’ll work on developing other properties at this point.”

The $6 million price tag was the highest at least a couple of commercial real estate brokers could remember in recent years. North Fork Commercial broker Kris Pilles called Thursday’s deal more reflective of a commercial market on the rise.

“This transaction validates the North Fork as a market where investors are no longer afraid to commit millions of dollars to,” he said.

Marie Beninati, whose agency is right around the corner from Feather Hill, said that although commercial largely takes a back seat to residential real estate on the North Fork, the deal could be a good sign for the future of the area’s commercial market.

“I think this is good,” she said. “There are some good properties out here that you know aren’t getting the attention they should.”

The uniqueness of Feather Hill — its numerous Colonial-style buildings, post-and-beam interiors — coupled with its high-visibility location, make it a hard one to compare with other properties in the area.

“There are only three or four crown jewels on the North Fork,” said Mr. Pilles. “This is one of them.”

Mr. Pica, the buyer, said he doesn’t have anything specific in mind for the property as far as changes go. The Nassau native, who owns other real estate holdings in Suffolk — including Fratelli’s Pork Store in Centereach — said he “has always loved the North Fork,” and may move out here in the spring.

Robert’s Jewelers owner Bob Scott said this isn’t the first change of hands he’s seen. Through them all, he said, he’s found the property one worth staying in all along.

“It’s put together friendly, it’s nice and warm. The parking is great, and the location is excellent,” he said. “Otherwise, I would have moved out a long time ago.”

There’s a lot facing the young women of today: peer pressure, relationship troubles and unrealistic body expectations broadcast on television screens and social media sites.

With so much to keep up with, it can be easy for girls to lose their sense of self, and the bigger picture of the woman they hope one day to become. 

On Saturday, a number of organizations are coming together to help young women find that sense of self, at the first ever Girls’ Health, Wellness & Empowerment Conference, at Riverhead High School from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Open to area high school students, the event will encourage discussion of the many issues young women face and create a safe environment where they can open up about their experiences.

• Click here to read previous health columns

Dr. Jennifer Rich of Peconic Pediatrics said many messages girls receive through the media and in their day-to-day lives “don’t encourage girls to explore their own power — to say no — and to advocate for themselves.

“That’s not going to happen by accident without parents, the community and schools getting involved to give young women the tools they need to make themselves feel confident.”

A mother and pediatric physician for more than 17 years, Dr. Rich said she feels invested in these young women’s struggles, because every day she helps a young patient with one issue or another.

Maria Spera, a licensed clinical social worker with both the school and the Pederson-Krag Center, said she was inspired to create the event after seeing the struggles of girls at the high school level.

“I want these girls to find a way to empower themselves, learn how to take care of themselves and their bodies and project a positive image of themselves,” she said.

The day’s topics will include lighter chats about health and fitness, providing girls ways to stay healthy without having to spend money on costly gym memberships, such as doing simple workouts at home.

Dr. Alexis Hugelmeyer of The Suah Center for Natural Healthcare will join Dr. Rich in a discussion about healthy eating, and the dangers of crash dieting, which, Ms. Spera said, is a known issue among area high school students.

Once equipped with health tips, the girls will see a fashion show that includes styles for all different body types, to help them prepare for college and job interviews.

The conference will also foster discussion of healthy relationships, and students will hear from women their own age in a presentation by The Retreat, a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of domestic abuse and violence.

Two students from East Hampton High School who have overcome dating violence will share their stories as part of the group’s Teen Leadership Project.

The overall goal is to encourage the young women to become strong leaders, employees, or entrepreneurs, Ms. Spera said.

Dr. Rich said that many messages girls receive are “about them not being good enough.

“If you don’t stay mindful about what you think about yourself, you’ll succumb to all the bad messages,” she said. “I think a conference about feeling self-confidence and knowing who they are and what they have to offer, it is a really good message.”

For more information about the conference, contact Ms. Spera at 591-5950, 294-1540 or Maria.spera@riverhead.net.

Got a health question or column idea? Email Carrie Miller at cmiller@timesreview.com. Follow @carriemiller01

• A blessing of the artists will be hosted by the Spiritual Renewal Center Saturday, Nov. 15. The blessing will take place at 1 p.m. in the First Parish Church sanctuary on Sound Avenue, Northville. From 2 to 4 p.m., a reception and gallery showing will be held in Grange Hall across the street. 

Participating in the event are Andrea Shine, Terence Purtell, Kathleen Loomis, Georgeann Packard, Vivian Eyre, Maribeth Mundell, Sheila Anne Cunningham, Joe Giaquinto, North Fork Chocolate, Ted Strickroth, dancer Christina, Linda Berger, Lisa Barrow and Barbara Zegarek.

Contact Pastor Dianne Rodriguez at 516-673-1231 or email blackswan57@aol.com.

• East End Arts’ Holiday Gift Boutique opens with a reception Saturday, Nov. 15, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Riverhead gallery, 133 East Main St. The boutique, open through Tuesday, Dec. 23, will feature ornaments, jewelry and accessories and a variety of holiday crafts, all handmade by 38 local artists and East End Arts members.

The boutique’s extended hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.

• Gayle Wagner of Riverhead is Old Town Arts and Crafts Guild’s artist of the month for November. She works in photography and watercolor painting and teaches traditional crafts such as quilling, soap making, silk ribbon embroidery, pressed flower art and quilting. An artist’s reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Cutchogue gallery.

• Members of the New Forms Group will hold their annual art show and sale Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Remsenburg Academy, 130 South Country Road, Remsenburg, which will receive partial proceeds. Participating are ceramist C.C. Bookout of Riverhead, photographer JoAnne Dumas of Wading River, painter Gina Gilmour of Mattituck, fiber artist Sarah McNamara of Greenport, woodworker Will Paulson of East Quogue and jeweler Alice Van de Wetering of Calverton. For information, call 477-9723 or email paisleyrugs@gmail.com.

• Call for artists: Work is sought for the eighth annual ‘10×10=100’ art show and sale to benefit North Fork Environmental Council. The show will be hosted by The South Street Gallery in Greenport, where boards of cradled birch plywood are available. Artists may submit up to three pieces in any medium. The first board is free; two additional boards may be purchased for $7 each.

The submission deadline is Nov. 30. A preview will be held Friday, Dec. 5, with the sale beginning Dec. 6. Each piece will be sold for $100, with proceeds split among the gallery, the artist and NFEC.

Call 477-0021.

• Watercolors by Cathy Campbell are on display through December at Southold Free Library. Ms. Campbell began painting in 2008 when she attended workshops at the library, including watercolor taught by Mary Jane Stevens and multi-media art taught by Patricia McCarthy. She recently attended a workshop with renowned artist, Lian Quan Zhen, and looks forward to implementing the new techniques she’s learning.

A “Meet the Artist” reception will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

To send arts news, email lsisson@timesreview.com, fax to 298-3287, or mail to Times/Review Newspapers, P.O. Box 1500, Mattituck, NY 11952. Copy deadline: Wednesday at 5 p.m. to appear the following week.

Frommer’s has come out with a list of “Most Charming Small Towns in New York State” and guess who’s No. 1? You got it — Greenport! They called us the “cutest town on Long Island’s North Fork.” I’ll take that! 

Lucille Stocker of Greenport has all the luck! She recently took home the top prize of $5,000 at Greenport Rotary Club’s annual reverse raffle. Raffle proceeds benefit Rotary’s many humanitarian projects, including local scholarships, literacy, polio eradication, John’s Place, Mercy Ships, CAST, Gift of Life and clean water projects around the world.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport hosts overnight guests of Maureen’s Haven on the third Friday of each month, starting Nov. 21, and the fifth Friday when there is one. Volunteers from the community are always welcome, as are donations of warm socks, jackets and hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, toiletry items, combs, lip balm and new men’s and women’s underwear. Call 477-0662 to volunteer or for more information.

Here’s a blast from the past for all of you former St. Agnes School students. Sister Mary Redempta (now known as Sister Josephine Maria Thomas) turned 100 years old at the end of October. I did a little digging and came up with the following address if you’d like to send her a belated wish: Sister Josephine Maria Thomas, c/o Sacred Heart Convent, 100 Mercy Drive, Belmont, NC 28012.

The Greenport Elementary Drama Club will present its production of “A Modern Christmas Carol” today, Nov. 13. There will be a preview in the school auditorium at 1 p.m.; the actual performance will be at 7 p.m.

Here’s a reminder for all perspective varsity and JV winter athletes: Get your sports contracts in now to avoid delay in your start of the season. All contracts should be handed in to the athletic department — not directly to your coach.

Belated birthday wishes go out to Elbertie “Bert” Thornhill, who celebrated her 102nd birthday Nov. 4. I hope you had an extra-special day, Mrs. Thornhill.

Celebrating birthdays in the near future are Jillian Ruroede and Jane Conway on the 13th; Lee Fitting on the 14th; Sevastian Alvarado, Randi Juarez, Randy Peterson, David Gates, Eleanora Kopek and Erin Doucett on the 15th; Mark Mysliborski Jr., Betty Kalin and my cousin Rose Bondarchuk on the 16th; Christopher Dinizio, Angelo Stepnoski, Norma Slavonik, my dear friend Lynn Menaker and Taylor Swann on the 17th; Kelvin Martinez and Bob Staples on the 18th; Philip Doucett and Kim Skrezec Corazzini on the 19th; Ken Tamin and my niece Kaleen O’Connell on the 20th; William Stetler Jr., Marissa Schiavoni and Barbara Kettering on the 21st; Gen Montgomery and Albie DeKerillis on the 22nd; Charlie Parker, Jillian Vandernoth, Cory Browne and Denise Edwards on the 23rd; Allan Dinizio and Diane Purcell on the 24th; Eddie Yoskovich, Kelly Bracken and Chris Harris on the 25th; and Christian Gebhardt and Vaughn Edwards Jr. on the 26th.

June and Doug Peterson are wished a very happy anniversary as they celebrate 23 years of wedded bliss on Nov. 23.

Contact Greenport columnist Joan Dinizio at Lucky1inNY@aol.com or 477-9411.

CAST has dedicated much of its resources to tutoring programs that allow students from underprivileged families access to adult mentors for help and homework. This photo, taken in 2011, shows a CAST tutor working with a fromer Greenport High School student. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder, file)

The director’s office at Community Action Southold Town’s two-story headquarters in Greenport is lined with shelves overflowing with toys, books, puzzles and games that will soon be distributed to needy families across the North Fork.

Downstairs, in the nonprofit’s pantry, a fresh shipment of donations from the Greenport IGA has just arrived. Boxes of pasta, soup, frozen food and more cover the floor. 

Executive director Sarah Benjamin, who will step down from that role at the end of December, said the generosity of local residents has helped CAST — now in its 50th year and preparing to celebrate its golden anniversary in 2015 — not only survive through decades of funding crises and economic recessions, but thrive.

“I just can’t even believe the outpouring of support that really comes here,” she said. “I think Southold Town is still kind of a small town that takes care of people. It’s neighbors helping neighbors, but they actually do it.”

The support means even more to people like Rocio Diaz, a Mexican immigrant who has been living in Greenport since 2007. Ms. Diaz, who works part-time during the summer to support her family, is one of close to 40 people enrolled in CAST’s North Fork Parent-Child Home Program. Through the program, volunteer teachers visit the homes of young children across the town to help them learn reading, writing and other skills — with their parents’ help.

Ms. Diaz’s 4-year-old son, Brandon, is in his second year of the program and has already benefited from working with his bilingual CAST teacher, Miriam Sostre.

“I know some English, but whenever I don’t know, the program teaches my son a lot,” Ms. Diaz said through a translator. “He’s picked up a lot of words that even I don’t understand.”

With a new executive director set to be installed at the beginning of next year, CAST plans to expand its programs to meet the changing needs of the less fortunate in Southold Town.

The organization was founded in 1965 through an alliance of concerned citizens and local church leaders as part of the “War on Poverty” movement launched a year earlier by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a State of the Union address.

“There was no community action before CAST,” said the Rev. Ben Burns of Greenport, who was one of the group’s nine founding members when he was affiliated with the former Southold Methodist Church. “There was a ‘War on Poverty’ and the goal was to find the target group and find ways to serve them and help them to become self-sufficient.”

The Rev. Burns served as the first treasurer of the organization, which at that time met at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport. The Rev. Arthur Bryant — who helped migrant workers across the North Fork in the 1960s with the Rev. Burns — was also among the group’s founders.

Originally, CAST was federally funded, but “that money ran out and wasn’t renewed,” the Rev. Burns said.

“It’s interesting that it’s persisted as long as it has, because at the time it was founded it was kind of a branch of the county’s community action program,” he continued. “Many of [those groups] don’t exist [anymore].” 

Mattituck’s Kaan Ilgin was one of three players selected as all-state this season. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

On the eve of their state Class B semifinal game, three Mattituck Tuckers were named to the New York State small schools boys soccer all-state team during opening ceremonies in Middletown on Friday night. 

Co-captains Paul Hayes and Kevin Williams were selected along with midfielder-forward Kaan Ilgin. They are all seniors. Hayes has primarily played center back and Williams, a midfielder, is the most versatile player on the team, being able to play in the back, midfield or up front.

It is believed to be the first time that three Mattituck boys players were named to the all-state team in the same season.

“I’m very proud to get three players on the all-state team. They worked hard at it,” coach Mat Litchhult said. “It’s great for them, great for our team. “

All three players enjoyed outstanding seasons for the five-time defending Suffolk County Class B championships.

Hayes, who has been lethal converting corner kicks into goals, has anchored the backline, Williams has scored several goals via his dangerous free kicks and set up teammates with his pin-point passes and Ilgin is a scoring threat and has set up teammates for goals as well.

The Tuckers (17-2) will vie for their third state title in Middletown, taking on Skaneateles (17-2-1; Section III) at 9:15 a.m. Saturday. The final is set for the Middletown High School Stadium at 10 a.m. Sunday. Skaneateles won the Class B state title in 2010.

Mattituck shared the state Class C crown in 1982 and the Class B title outright in 2003, the latter under Litchhult.

Tim Bishop addresses the crowd on Election Day Nov. 4 after losing to Republican Lee Zeldin. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

When I began reporting on Suffolk County politics back in February 2006, the Democratic party here was on the rise.

In Brookhaven Town, where I was assigned at the time, Democrats were one month into their first majority in more than 25 years. The party controlled the Legislature, the 1st District Assemblyman was a Democrat and so was our local congressman. Suffolk also had just as many Democratic town supervisors as Republicans in office and the county executive was a Democrat. 

Nearly nine years later, many of those seats have turned Republican. Never was this change more obvious than last Tuesday, when Congressman Tim Bishop suffered a double-digit defeat to Republican challenger Lee Zeldin — and even Rob Astorino, who lost handily to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, won this county.

The golden age for Suffolk Democrats, if you can even call it that, really was short-lived.

The decline began with the 2007 election, when the Brookhaven Democrats lost their majority. Then, in 2008, Supervisor Brian Foley left for greener pastures in the state Senate and sold his soul to New York City leadership with one of the deciding votes to pass the MTA payroll tax. (He’s now in the little-known New York State Witness Protection Program, I believe.) Within two years, Sean Walter ousted Democrat Phil Cardinale for Riverhead Town supervisor and Dan Losquadro edged out Democrat Marc Alessi for state Assembly.

And while Democrats have been slowly falling back to planet Earth these past six years, the thud wasn’t heard or felt until Congressman Bishop’s loss last week.

First elected in 2002, Mr. Bishop was one of the lasting faces of the county’s Democratic surge in the last decade, and so much of the new energy felt in the party grew from his first campaign.

While it remains to be seen if the party can ever get that swagger back, it’s hard to imagine it happening anytime soon. Things look particularly bleak for Democrats in the towns our newspaper company covers, as Democrats hold two elected seats each in Shelter Island and Riverhead, and just one in Southold. Neighboring Brookhaven also has just one elected Dem.

Departing the Southold Town Democratic Committee event at Touch of Venice in Cutchogue last Tuesday night felt like leaving a funeral. Trustee candidate Abigail Field pointed out to me that she’d been drinking a light beer at the start of the evening, but her glass got darker as the night wore on.

The next two years will say a lot about the health of the Democratic party in Suffolk, even if the local towns continue to have little success. The party has fared very well in recent county races, but it must fight off a 2014 hangover next November if it is to maintain a six-seat majority in the Legislature.

The 2016 Congressional election could be the Dems’ last chance for a while at a true revival in Suffolk County — if they can find a way to turn Mr. Zeldin into a one-termer. History has shown that if a representative wins re-election once in the 1st District, he often goes on to win at least twice more, as have five of the past seven people to hold the office.

While the 1st Congressional District has traditionally been flipped in mid-term election years, the current political climate makes it difficult to predict whether it could turn Democrat again without the boost in voter turnout typically seen in a presidential election year, when the party benefits from increased participation by minority and female voters.

Since the 1952 election, the 1st District seat has flipped just three times in a presidential year, but each time it turned over in favor of the party that won the presidency. So it’s likely a Democrat would need to remain in the White House in order to win back the Congressional seat.

While Democrats have not fared well in recent years at the town level in Riverhead, Southold and Brookhaven, they still have a decent crop of potential candidates to choose from.

Sources within the Democratic party have told me they believe that right now, two years away from the election, it’s actually an Independent, Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman of Montauk, who has the best chance of winning the nomination to run against Mr. Zeldin in 2016. A former Republican, Mr. Schneiderman has a record of working with elected officials on both sides of the aisle, and he comes from the same South Fork base as Mr. Bishop. He’s also about to hit his term limit as a legislator and will likely want to remain in public office. Throw in the fact that he’s publicly mused about the seat in the past and has a history of landslide victories, and he’s definitely an early favorite.

Another county Legislator, Kara Hahn of Setauket, is also a name being thrown out there. She’s relatively raw, having been in office only since 2011, but could benefit from having a woman at the top of the Democratic ticket — if Hillary Clinton seeks and receives the presidential nomination. That phenomenon could also benefit current Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, also an Independent from Mr. Bishop’s hometown. The 1st District has never been represented by a woman, which, with Ms. Clinton on the ballot, would create some interesting opportunities. Even if another candidate wins the party’s presidential nomination, Democrats may still look to women’s rights as a key issue for 2016, something that could also help a female candidate earn the local nod.

Coming from the Three Village communities, one of Brookhaven’s few Democratic strongholds, also benefits Ms. Hahn.

Even closer to home, Legislator Al Krupski, a Democrat from Cutchogue, would make a heck of a candidate — especially given his appeal with Republican voters. As apolitical as he is, though, I have a hard time seeing him really want to take root in Washington, D.C., where partisanship often trumps all.

With things in the nation’s capital as contentious as they’ve been over the past decade, who knows if any of these potential candidates would really want to pursue the 1st District seat. But if the party hopes to make any sort of comeback in the next decade, local Democrats better hope they can persuade one of them to give it a shot.

Grant Parpan is the executive editors of Times/Review Newsgroup. He can be reached at gparpan@timesreview.com.

Two accidents were reported on County Road 51 early Saturday morning. (Credit: Google Maps)

A Cutchogue woman crashed into an unoccupied Southampton Town police car early Saturday morning on a closed roadway in Manorville as police and firefighters were responding to a single-car accident that seriously injured a Manorville man, Southampton Town police said.

Lisa A. Rizzo, 23, was arrested for driving while intoxicated and she was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries after crashing into the police car at 3:30 a.m. on County Road 51, police said.

Police said Ms. Rizzo drove a 2005 Honda Civic past a flared road closure and a police officer directing traffic before colliding with the police car in the northbound lane. County Road 51 remained closed until about 7 a.m., police said.

The initial accident occurred at about 1:47 a.m. when a 38-year-old man lost control of his 2005 Toyota Prius while driving southbound on County Road 51, south of Speonk Riverhead Road. He sideswiped the guardrail along the southbound lane, crossed over the median and the northbound lane before crashing into a tree on the northbound shoulder. The vehicle was found laying on its side with its roof crushed in leaning against a tree, police said.

The Riverhead Fire Department extricated the man from the vehicle and he was treated on scene by Flanders-Northampton Ambulance volunteers before being flown via Medevac to Stony Brook University Medical Center. His identification was witheld pending notification of family, police said.

The crash remains under investigation, police said. The car in the initial crash was impounded for further investigation and the two cars in the second crash sustained significant damage and required two tow trucks to remove them from the scene, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Southampton Police at 631-728-5000, the detective division at 631-702-2230 or the crime hotline at 631-728-3454. All calls will be kept confidential.

From left, Mattitucks’ Axel Rodrigues-Canel and Ryan Foster celebrate a goal against Skaneateles in the NYSPHSAA Class B semifinals in Middletown Saturday. (Credit: Sarah Jean Condon)

CLASS B STATE SEMIFINALS  |  TUCKERS 6, LAKERS 0

Referee Larry Bechard blew his whistle to signify the end of play.

The score was 5-0 in favor of Mattituck as the happy Tuckers walked off the Twin Towers Middle School field in Middletown, N.Y. smiling and hugging each other for a job well done.

And it was only halftime of the New York State Class B semifinals against Skaneateles Saturday morning.

In their most dominating performance of the season, the Tuckers made that score stand up and then some, adding another goal late in the match to register a 6-0 triumph over the Section III school. Mattituck (18-2) will gun for its third state title at Middletown H.S. at 10 a.m. Sunday against Beekmantown (Section VII; 18-2-0), 1-0 winners over Livonia.

The Tuckers would have preferred to have played Livonia, which eliminated them from the state semifinals in 2012, but you don’t always get what you want.

On Saturday, though, the Tuckers seemingly did whatever they wanted against the Lakers (17-3-1). Senior Mario Arreola led the way with two goals and one assist. Freshman Axel Rodrigues-Canel, called up from the JV, put the exclamation point on a virtuoso performance with 5:24 remaining on a cold, crisp, 37-degree morning.

“I don’t like the cold,” Arreola said. “Scoring goals keeps me warm, running around. I played the best soccer I’ve played in a long time today.”

Actually, Arreola and the Tuckers were more than warm. They were hot.

“The first 40 minutes was some of the best soccer that you can possibly watch, not even just from our own team,” Mattituck coach Mat Litchhult said. “It was our best 40 minutes. I was really, extremely proud of the ways the guys came out and dealt with the cold, got up early. From the opening whistle, they were dominant.”

Litchhult felt the loss to Livonia was part of his senior-laden team’s motivation.

“Being here as sophomores and the feeling of going home after the semifinals really pushed them and drove them,” he said. “Knowing that most of these guys are seniors and knowing the end is near you just have to leave it on the field. What we talked about before the match, these are great opportunities and big players rise to big occasions. I can’t point to somebody on our team who had a down match. Every single player that stepped on the field rose to the occasion.”

The Tuckers made quick work of the Lakers. Walter Jacob, a left back, scored off an Arreola pass at 8:20. Paul Hayes headed in a Kaan Ilgin corner kick at 12:58. Arreola put home a John Batuello feed from the top of the penalty area at 27:07 before James Hayes headed home a Kevin Williams corner kick at the right far post at 29:06 and Arreola scored on a breakaway with 2:01 left in the half.

It was then left up to the defense and goalkeepers Ben Knowles and Nick Vitolano, who came on with 4:08 left, to secure the clean sheet.

Litchhult had to call a few audibles. Instead of attending the state banquet Friday night, the team ate at a local Italian restaurant.

“Litch wanted us to stay away from Skaneateles, just wanted to keep our heads away from them,” Paul Hayes said. “There were some Twitter battles. It was a smart call.”

The Tuckers were scheduled to eat breakfast in the same room of their hotel room Saturday morning, but Litchhult thought better of it and brought in bagels, bananas, water and Gatorade for the team to eat in their rooms.

“It is kind of a weird setup,” he said. “When you are a few doors down from the team you’re playing in the same hallway in the hotel, separated by maybe or door or two, it kind of leads to some awkward tension.

“I didn’t think it would be an opportunity for us to go down there and rub elbows with a team that we’re going to be stepping onto the field with in a couple of hours. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

Unlike their some of their recent championship wins, the Tuckers did not celebrate after this one.

“It’s not over yet,” Paul Hayes said. “It’s great to win 6-0. I’m smiling. I’m happy, I’m speechless. But my goal is to win tomorrow.”

The Mattituck boys soccer team celebrates its 6-0 win over Skaneateles Saturday in the Class B state semifinals. (Credit: Michael Lewis)

Emma Quarty, 12, of Peconic, finishes her first 5K. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The Southold Athletic Association held its annual 5K race and fun run in Southold Saturday morning.

Despite the bitter cold and wind, 265 people participated in the race and several dozen kids took part in the fun run.

The fastest boy was 17-year-old Jerome Vessichio of Rocky Point, who finished with a time of 16:38.

Melanie Pfenning of Cutchogue, 15, took first place among the girls, with a time of 19:59.

Proceeds from the race benefit the Southold Athletic Association, which works to provide health and wellness opportunities to Southold students and The North Fork Parish Outreach Food Pantry in Greenport.

Click here for more coverage of the association. 

Katharine Schroeder photos below

Southold 6th grader Juliet Rand sings the Star Spangled Banner before the race.

A group of Southold students before the race.

Mattituck’s Emilie Reimer taking a swing while Broadalbin Perth’s Chelsea LeBlanc (10) tries to provide an obstacle. (Credit: Jim Ellis)

NYSPHSAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The big question for the Mattituck High School girls volleyball team as it headed into the state tournament on Saturday wasn’t whether the Tuckers would advance to the final. No, the question regarding the Tuckers was a much more modest one: Would they win a state semifinal pool game for the first time in their history?

This is the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships, and wins do not come easily. For the Tuckers, they haven’t come at all.

The Tuckers have had success in reaching the state tournament, something they have done four times in five years. State semifinal wins, on the other, are another matter. The Tuckers haven’t been able to clear that hurdle yet.

In their latest attempt, the Tuckers lost all six Class C semifinal pool games they played Saturday, leaving them with an 0-24 all-time record in such contests.

The scores of the first two games at Glens Falls Civic Center gave a hint as to what kind of a day it was going to be for Mattituck. The scores were 25-3 and 25-6 — not in Mattituck’s favor.

Welcome to Glens Falls.

The Tuckers had a rough start to the tournament, perhaps one of the roughest imaginable against a talented Broadalbin Perth team making its first appearance on the state stage. The Patriots, who were 19-2 going into the tournament, surely didn’t play like a team that had not been to the state championships before. After Julia Orlando served the first ball, the Tuckers didn’t serve again until Lisa Angell’s turn came up, and the Tuckers were down, 13-0, by then.

Broadalbin Perth breezed in both games, 25-3 and 25-6, and didn’t even go through its full rotation once. Only four Patriots served in the first game. The Tuckers took only four serves in the game and only six in the second, remarkably low numbers.

Broadalbin Perth finished the second game on a 14-1 run that included four straight aces by Zoe Simonson.

With setter Gabby Smith feeding 17 assists into the offense, Broadalbin Perth thumped the Tuckers, 20-1, in kills, 7 of them coming from Chelsea LeBlanc. Ten service aces didn’t hurt Broadalbin Perth’s cause, either.

And then, almost incredibly, there was hope. Real hope.

The Tuckers had a real opportunity to make team history. They twice had that elusive first win in their hands against Spackenkill, only to see it slip away both times.

The Tuckers led by 18-15 in their first game and 18-16 in the second game, but Spackenkill came back each time to win, 25-19, 25-19. A 10-1 run closed the first game and a 9-1 run capped the second game for the Spartans.

Lindsey Ackert had 12 assists and Nur Sher put down 8 kills for the Spartans, who were aided by strong serving down the stretch in both games by Anilee Sher.

Mattituck’s most dangerous offensive weapon, Emilie Reimer, had 7 kills.

And then there was powerhouse Eden, one of the most successful programs in the state. Eden, which was 31-5-4 (including tournaments and pool play) entering the tournament, has won 15 successive sectional titles, five straight state championships, seven in the last eight years, and a record 11 state titles.

A Mattituck win against Eden was, ahem, a longshot, to put it mildly.

The Tuckers lost those games, 25-6 and 25-14, although, for the record, they did hold early leads.

Eden swept its six games and will play Broadalbin Perth (4-2 in pool play) in tomorrow’s final.

Mattituck, the third team to march in to the Olympic-themed music during the opening ceremony, was greeted by cheers from a healthy showing of their fans, who wore gold T-shirts in support of the Long Island champions. “ROAD TO STATES … 2014” read the back of the shirts.

A player from each team was recognized with a sportsmanship award during the opening ceremony. Mattituck’s award winner is junior middle hitter Caroline Keil.

bliepa@timesreview.com

A Greenport man was charged with felony DWI Saturday night after he was involved in a crash in Mattituck, Southold Town Police said. 

Kurt Schmalz, 44, was involved in a motor vehicle accident at the corner of Main Road and Factory Avenue about 8:30 a.m., police said. Additional details about the crash were not disclosed.

He was arrested after he was found to be intoxicated, police said. He was held overnight at police headquarters for arraignment.

If you’re looking to hire, which is columnist Grant Parpan’s #1 raking tip, then Manuel Canel (left) of Canel Landscaping of Riverhead is available. Above he’s cleaning up an Aquebogue yeard with his crew, Jose Canel (center) and Victor Garcia (right hidden). (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

I don’t like leaves.

Sure, they’re beautiful when they change color, and I appreciate the shade they help provide on a hot day. But the agony caused by having to physically rake up thousands of leaves from my yard each autumn is enough to make me generally dislike them. 

My next door neighbor, Marion, appears to enjoy picking up leaves. A couple of weeks back, on a third consecutive day of rain, I heard that awful noise a rake makes as it pushes through the leaves. It was coming from her yard.

“I just couldn’t take another day of having to look at those leaves on my lawn,” Marion yelled out when I questioned why she was raking in a downpour. If only it were socially acceptable, I thought, I could tolerate another decade of them covering my lawn.

It’s not just the act of raking that bothers me, but also the scooping up and bagging, which is required in Brookhaven Town, where I live.

I suppose I could just hire someone to do it, but I’d rather spend that money on things I can’t physically do or just don’t have the aptitude or patience for, like pool and automobile maintenance or cleaning my toilet.

So over the past few years, I’ve come to grips with having to clear my yard, even if I haven’t learned to love it.

This fall I decided to put together a little cheat sheet for my fellow lazy homeowners on how to go about cleaning up all those leaves when it’s the last thing on earth you feel like doing.

If you’re a meticulous, hard-working homeowner with a Stepford yard, you can stop reading and click to a new page. 

Greek Bites will soon open in Mattituck Plaza. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

Hungry Mattituck residents will soon have another local option for ethnic cuisine.

The owners of Greek Bites Grill & Café in Moriches will open a second location in Mattituck Plaza in January.

Read more on northforker.

Looking for work, or know someone who is?

Times/Review classifieds offers local companies a place to advertise their job openings each week, and this week close to 40 positions are available from a barista, to a librarian, to a plumber.

And for anyone interested in submitting a classified ad, email: classifieds@timesreview.com.

Check out the listings below:

ACCOUNTANT/BOOKKEEPER: Needed for fast-growing business. Knowledge of QuickBooks helpful. Please send resume to theresa@hamptonseverything.com or call 631-779-3318.

ASSISTANT TERMINAL MANAGER: This F/T position requires working weekends and holidays. Cross Sound Ferry is seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills and computer literacy. Customer service and management experience required. This position also requires working outdoors and assisting with regular maintenance. Benefits include: competitive pay, 401(k), profit-sharing plan, health/dental plan and paid vacation/holidays. This position is located in Orient Point, NY. Submit resume to, Cross Sound Ferry, Attn: Andrew Binkowski, P.O. Box 524, Orient, NY 11957 or email, andy@longislandferry.com. An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

BARTENDER: Experience preferred. Four Doors Down Restaurant, 631-298-8311.

CASEWORKER: Professional level social casework duties in providing services for children in the Residential Treatment Center. Includes office and field work. Required MSW and valid NYS driver’s license. Spanish-speaking a plus. Related experience preferred. Little Flower Children and Family Services in Wading River, NY. Send resume, wadingriver-jobs@lfchild.org or apply online at littleflowerny.org or fax 631-929-6203. EOE.

CERTIFIED AEROBIC/SPIN INSTRUCTOR: P/T or F/T sub. 631- 734-4042.

CHILDCARE WORKERS: F/T and P/T positions available, including weekends. Needed to supervise the daily living activities and ensure safety of children in our Residential Treatment Center. Related experience preferred. Must have valid driver’s license. Little Flower Children and Family Services in Wading River, N.Y. Send resume to wadingriverjobs@lfchild.org or apply online at littleflowerny.org, follow link for careers, fax 631-929-6203. EOE.

COOK: P/T, Saturday/Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Riverhead, NY. Concern for Independent Living is seeking a cook to be directly responsible for all kitchen functions including food purchasing, preparation/maintenance of quality standards. Minimum of 1 year experience in varied kitchen positions in- cluding: food prep, line/fry cook and expediter required. To apply email resumes, careers@concernhousing.org or fax 631-750-2203.

DAY HAB WORKERS: P/T, Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Needed to assist our developmentally disabled adults attending a Day Hab Program. Valid NYS driver’s license is required. Related experience preferred. Little Flower Children and Family Services, Wading River. Send resume, wadingriverjobs@lfchild.org or apply online at littleflowerny.org, follow link for careers, fax 631-929-6203. EOE.

DAY SPA POSITIONS: Massage therapist and/or acupuncturist. Licensed. Needed for busy day spa in Cutchogue. Fax resume to 631-734-8365, 631-734-7727 or email to adagiodayspa@aol.com

DIRECT CARE WORKERS: P/T, weekends. Saturday/Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., or 12 p.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m., Needed for developmentally disabled adults residing in an intermediate care facility. Valid NYS driver’s license re- quired. Related experience preferred. Little Flower Children and Family Services, Wading River, N.Y. Send resume to wadingriverjobs@lfchild.org, or apply at littleflowerny.org follow link for careers, fax to 631-929-6203. EOE.

DISHWASHER: F/T, Wednesday- Saturday, year-round. With benefits. Fax resume 631-288-1638; call 631-288-1122, ext. 1036; apply in person, 7 Seafield Lane, Westhampton

FIRST MATE: F/T, on charter fishing boat. Orient. 2015 fishing season. Experience required. Email, captainsloan@gmail.com

HAMPTON COFFEE COMPANY POSITIONS: Baristas/front counter needed for our local espresso bars in Water Mill, Southampton and Westhampton Beach. Great pay, tips/flexible schedules. Positive environment. You must be hardworking, friendly/ reliable. Apply in person.

LAB TECHNICIAN (MEDICAL): P/T, F/T, days. NYS licensed. Good salary, retirement plan, health insurance, vacation. Riverhead area. Call 631-591-1086 or email nypathologist@gmail.com

LANDSCAPE COMPANY POSITIONS: For Summerhill Landscapes Inc., based in Sag Harbor. Looking to fill the following positions: Landscape estimator/CAD draftsperson: Assist project managers with estimating, drafting, scheduling, etc. Ability to fully comprehend architectural plans and shop drawings. 2 years’ experience preferred. Assistant plant buyer: Plant knowledge and computer skills a must. Office assistant: Assist with purchase orders and inventory tracking. Please fax resume, 631-725-8669 or email info@summerhilllandscapes.com (S)

LIBRARY DIRECTOR: Shelter Island Library seeks energetic director with experience supervising staff, working with governing board/volunteers. Technology expertise, understanding of library trends, donor relations and social media are important. Position involves public speaking/community outreach. Requirements: Master’s in library and information science from ALA-accredited program. Minimum 5 years’ increased supervisory experience and experience developing library budgets. Competitive salary/benefits. Send resume and 2 professional ref- erences, silibrarysearch@gmail.com

Sunday’s state championship came 11 years to the day since the Mattituck boys soccer team last won a state title.

That victory came 21 years after the Tuckers first won a state championship in 1982.

In honor of Mattituck’s state championship hat trick we present the stories the team’s two previous title games. 

Click on the dates or the page links below to read our prior coverage.

Nov. 20, 2003

Nov. 25, 1982

The Mattituck boys soccer team defeated Beekmantown, 3-0, Sunday in the Class B state finals.

Here are some photos from the game:

[Show as slideshow]

The celebration was on after Mattituck’s 3-0 win over Beekmantown in the Class B state finals Saturday morning in Middletown. (Credit: Michael Lewis)

State champs!

The Mattituck boys soccer team downed Beekmantown 3-0 Sunday morning at Middletown High School to clinch the third state title in school history. A senior-laden team that experienced a taste of the states two years ago, only to come up just short, the Tuckers left little doubt of their supremacy this time.

They won their two playoff games in Middletown by a combined score of 9-0.

Senior Kaan Ilgin scored twice in Sunday’s win and Kevin Williams added another.

• See more photos from the win

The Tuckers led 1-0 late into the second half before Williams scored on a beautiful deep kick that soared just over the oustretched arm of the Eagles’ goalkeeper. Ilgin added the final goal a few minutes later on a free kick from the right side that rocketed into the far corner.

The Tuckers close out the season 19-2.

It was the second outright title for Mattituck and first since 2003. The Tuckers shared a Class C state title in 1982.

The celebration was on after Mattituck’s 3-0 win over Beekmantown in the Class B state finals Saturday morning in Middletown. (Credit: Michael Lewis)

For two excruciating years, the Mattituck Tuckers lived with the belief and bitter memory that they were the best Class B boys soccer team in the state, but had nothing to show for it.

In 2012, they dominated Livonia in the semifinals, but lost to the state champions.

Last year, they felt they were the better team in the Long Island championship, but fell in overtime to eventual state winner Carle Place. 

As the top-ranked team in the state, the senior-leading team was not about to let another opportunity slip away.

Buoyed by two goals by senior Kaan Ilgin and another strike by Kevin Williams, Mattituck earned its third state title, recording a 3-0 victory over Beekmantown at Faller Field at Middletown High School Stadium in Middletown, N.Y. Sunday.

“Finally, we did it,” Ilgin said. “We were waiting for this moment. We should have won last year and the year before.”

But these Tuckers (19-2), a senior-laden team, were a year older and a year wiser.

Ilgin called it “the best feeling I ever had. I never had this feeling before. It felt so much different. We came up here two years ago it didn’t feel like this. We’re all seniors and we had to do the job. We didn’t come here to have fun. We came here to finish business and we did it.”

• See more photos from Sunday’s win

Indeed they did. The Tuckers secured an emphatic 6-0 semifinal win over Skaneateles Saturday, allowing coach Mat Litchhult to rest several players for Sunday’s main event.

Winning the state title was “pure joy” to Litchhult, who had directed the Tuckers to the 2003 Class C state crown in his second year as coach.

“We talked about it early on how the ride was going to be,” he said. “We thought there was only one way to end it. We went through some stuff early in the year, but these guys stuck together. What hurt us early on made us stronger late. It was only one way to go out and that was with a victory for these guys. It’s like a storybook ending for these guys.”

Litchhult admitted it took the team some time to gel at the beginning of the year. The team started the season 3-2, with one of its losses coming against the state runner-up in Class A, East Hampton. After a 2-0 loss to Hampton Bays Sept. 17, the Tuckers rolled off 16 consecutive victories.

“At times early in the season, we were trying to figure out each other,” Litchhult said. “We were trying to figure out who was going to take the lead and how we were going to go together as our family. It’s an amazing thing to get there and for these guys to win their last match together. It closes a chapter on an amazing ride these guys had for four years.”

Litchhult, who played on and coached some pretty amazing Mattituck teams, gave this one its due.

“The 2003 team was an amazing, hard-working disciplined team that loved to practice. But in a match, this team this year hands down better than them,” he said. “This is the best team that has ever come through Mattituck.”

Those were pretty strong words considering Mattituck has been playing the sport for 78 years.

The Eagles (18-3) proved to be a difficult side to break down, but the Tuckers finally found a way to separate themselves from their foes with 5:49 remaining in the first half. Mario Arreola, Saturday’s goal-scoring hero, launched a long pass that Ilgin ran onto down the left side before he chipped goalkeeper Colen Mrak.

“I told the boys, if we scored the first goal, we were going to win,” Iglin said.

Williams, who has scored most of his goals through free kicks, doubled the score after a deflected pass to Arreola came back to him. He drilled a 35-yard blast into the upper left corner at 51:47.

“I didn’t think about it,” Williams said. “I just hit it. I thought it was going way over. It looked like it was going to hit the post but it dropped in the last second or two.”

Ilgin put the icing on the cake, connecting off a 30-yard free kick with 5:13 left in the match for a career-high 20 goals.

Several minutes later, the Tuckers finally celebrated a moment they had been waiting two long years for. It turned out to be worth the wait.

Mattituck soccer players at the high school Sunday night. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo photos)

There were several reasons why Tuckers goalkeeper Ben Knowles had tears in his eyes Sunday night.

First and foremost, his Mattituck boys soccer team had clinched the third state title in school history earlier in the day. Secondly, the team bus was escorted by local police and fire department personnel from the town line to Mattituck High School. The soccer players were also greeted by community members as Queen’s “We are the Champions” blasted outside the school. 

As the cheers, music and group photo requests subsided, Knowles, holding the championship plaque, became emotional as he reflected on the evening.

“It’s incredible,” Knowles  said as he fought back tears. “As a senior, this is my last year being here with all of these guys and it’s the last time I’m going to be playing with them. It’s just incredible to come home with a final victory.”

Mattituck soccer coach Mat Litchhult kissed his newborn son before addressing the crowd.

“We haven’t lost since he was born,” Litchhult said. “This is the best team that’s ever been through Mattituck.”

• Read about the school’s other championship teams

Litchhult said the community’s support, including school board president Jerry Diffley providing championship T-shirts for the players, made Sunday’s win not just a Mattituck soccer victory, but a “Mattituck community victory.”

“I tried to do my best at times to keep their minds set on the ultimate goal and that’s this feeling right now,” the coach said.

The players were also greeted by the teams’ colors of blue and gold in the form of balloons and streamers on display at the school.

Parent Tricia Almberg said she raced back from the game to purchase decoration supplies and adorned the front of the building prior to the team’s arrival.

Ms. Almberg said she was at Sunday’s game and her favorite part was when her son, 17-year-old Connor Almberg, took the field.

“I was happy he was on the field when they won,” she said. “As a mother, I’m proud he stuck with it, even though he wasn’t the best on the team.”

Connor’s girlfriend, Tricia Dorneister, 19, described Sunday’s win as thrilling.

“There were a lot of hugs and smiles,” she said as she put up streamers. “They worked so hard. They deserve it for sure.”

jnuzzo@timesreview.com