With about a month to go until their contract expires, teachers in the Southold school district have a new four-year deal.

After the school board unanimously approved the agreement at last Wednesday night’s meeting, Superintendent David Gamberg said the teachers union had agreed to “modest raises and a slowing down of the step schedule.”

“Essentially, the teachers recognize the climate that we are in right now,” he said.

[Scroll down to read the new teachers contract]

The contract, which runs from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2019, carries no raises for the first year. In the second and third years of the deal, teachers will receive 0.75 percent raises. During the 2018-19 school year, they’ll get a 0.5 percent raise, according to the contract.

Teachers will also contribute more toward health care coverage.

Starting July 1, 2016, contributions toward health insurance premiums will increase by 1 percent to 13 percent. Two years later, contributions will increase to 14 percent.

Under the new agreement, annual flat-fee longevity payments of $1,000 will also be made to each union member who has worked in the district for at least 20 years. After the contract expires, eligibility for longevity payments will revert to its previous level, affecting only those who have worked in the district for at least 25 years.

American history teacher and varsity baseball coach Mike Carver, who’s also president of the Southold Faculty Association, said he’s pleased an agreement was reached without a lapse.

Mr. Carver, who’s worked in the district for 20 years, described the negotiations as fair and said he believes the state-mandated cap on tax levy increases restricted both sides’ ability to negotiate salary and health care contributions.

“Both sides were realistic and acknowledged the district’s financial constraints, which is very important in a small community,” he said.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Southold teachers contract 2015

Mattituck senior Jack DiGregorio carries the ball against Babylon in Wednesday’s county championship. (Credit: Bill Landon)

SUFFOLK CLASS C FINALS  |  PANTHERS 9, TUCKERS 5

A team’s first trip to the red and white LaValle Stadium at Stony Brook University rarely ends well. Before Mount Sinai broke through in 2008, there were the beatdowns at the hands of Shoreham-Wading River.

John Glenn needed a loss against Mount Sinai before clinching a title of its own in 2010. That year, the Knights defeated Bayport-Blue Point for the Class C title. 

One year later, Bayport cemented its arrival in Suffolk boys lacrosse with a county title of its own.

History would suggest a title may not be too far away for Mattituck/Greenport/Southold. The Tuckers, in just the fifth year of a varsity program, made their inaugural trip a county championship Wednesday afternoon. But as many teams in the past have found out, championships don’t come easy.

Facing a Babylon team that defeated the Tuckers twice in league play, the Tuckers fell 9-5 in a game they never led.

“We’ll enjoy it, this has been an amazing year,” said Mattituck coach John Amato. “But I think it’s going to make them hungrier. I really do.”

After winning the first playoff game in program history last week, the Tuckers had their sights set on even bigger things when they stepped onto the turf against the Panthers.

Amato even channeled his inner-Hoosiers to help his players.

“I think the awe of the stadium kind of got into them,” he said. “I said, hey, it’s just another lacrosse game on a different looking field. It’s still the same lines. It’s still a lacrosse field.”

The Panthers broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring four unanswered goals to take its biggest lead of the game, 8-3.

A team that doesn’t necessarily score in huge numbers, the Panthers played a deliberate fourth quarter en route to its second straight championship. It was the fifth county crown in program history and first back-to-back run since 2003-04.

Babylon will play at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Long Island Championship against Cold Spring Harbor.

For a team that started just three seniors Wednesday, the Tuckers are determined to make it back next season.

“We owe it to our seniors,” said junior Jeff Hauser, who scored a goal with an assist against Babylon. “Next year we’re going to be back. County championship again.”

Hauser credited the seniors on the team for helping the Tuckers get to this point.

“[Midfielder] Jack DiGregorio, he led by example,” Hauser said. “He pushed everybody in practice. A lot of the guys did that.”

Amato said the seniors were there during the early lean years as the program was just building.

“They stuck with it and that shows a lot about who they are,” he said. “I’m really proud of them and their leadership.”

The Tuckers hoped to keep Babylon to single digits. They accomplished that, but simply couldn’t generate enough offense even with a decided advantage in face-offs. Junior Dylan Marlborough was dominant on the face-offs, but the Tuckers couldn’t always turn those wins into possessions.

“Dylan does a good job, but we started losing the ball at the face-off X in the second half and that’s where it kind of started to slip,” Amato said.

The Panthers struck quickly in the third quarter on goals by junior Bodie Pitagno and Theodore Allen. The Tuckers thought they were in good position after trailing by just a goal at halftime.

“The second half it fell apart a little bit,” Hauser said. “A couple little minor mistakes and they make goals off those mistakes.”

Pitagno scored three goals for Babylon. Senior Brian Boehm had two goals and two assists. Junior Nick Antolini posted three assists to go with a goal.

The Tuckers got two goals from eighth grader Max Kruzseski. Junior Tim Schmidt and sophomore James Hoeg added the others.

Seeing an eighth-grader score a pair of goals might have turned some heads in the stadium. Not Amato’s.

“He’s just a kid having fun,” he said. “He doesn’t feel pressure. He’s just having a good time.”

The Panthers had their own eighth-grader shine. Brendan Watt started between the pipes and made several tough saves.

joew@timesreview.com

The Mattituck Tuckers (23-1) wrapped up their second straight county championship and fifth in 13 years. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

SUFFOLK COUNTY CLASS B FINALS, GAME 2 | TUCKERS 11, PANTHERS 6

The Mattituck High School baseball players were let out of school earlier than usual on Wednesday and had a chance to get a little batting practice in before taking the bus ride to Babylon for their big game. It was during that batting practice session when Chris Dwyer could sense that he was in the zone. Within hours, it became obvious to everyone else that Dwyer was locked in at the plate.

Dwyer could do no wrong in the batter’s box. His stellar 4-for-4 batting led the way as Mattituck’s relentless offense pounded 16 hits to beat Babylon, 11-6, and take the Suffolk County Class B championship series in two games.

It is the Tuckers’ fifth county title in 13 years and second in a row. They will play the undetermined Nassau County champion in a regional semifinal on June 5 at the Dowling Sports Complex.

Dwyer, a senior who usually plays second base, was moved to shortstop since the team’s regular shortstop, Marcos Perivolaris, was the starting pitcher. While Dwyer had two assists and two putouts, it was the considerable damage he caused with his bat that hurt Babylon the most. After doubling in each of his first two at-bats, Dwyer knocked his fourth home run of the year and singled. In Dwyer’s fifth plate appearance, he was awarded first base on an intentional walk. Dwyer drove in four runs and scored three himself.

After falling behind, 2-1, the top-seeded Tuckers (23-1) took the lead for good with a four-run burst in the third inning. Dwyer lashed a ground-rule double for the first of those runs before James Nish knocked a two-run single through middle and Mike Onufrak chopped a run-scoring single.

Three more Mattituck runs the next inning from Dwyer’s two-run blast and Victor Proferes’ run-scoring double expanded Mattituck’s lead to 8-2.

No. 2 seed Babylon (17-6) didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Panthers ran up a four-run rally of their own in the fifth. Zack Carmody (3 for 4) singled in a run, Ryan Matthews doubled in two more and Brandon Beierle produced a sacrifice fly, trimming Mattituck’s lead to 9-6.

But the Tuckers tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh on singles by Joe Tardif and Ian Nish. They were the third hits of the day for both of them.

Perivolaris (8-0) gave up eight hits and had seven strikeouts over the six innings he pitched. He did not issue a walk, but hit two batters.

Dwyer relieved Perivolaris in the seventh, retiring three of the four batters he faced.

The Tuckers had won Game 1 the day before, 7-0.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Here are the classifieds for May 28, 2015. If you are interested in placing an ad, please call Karen, 631-354-8029 or email kcullen@timesreview.com.

Times Review classifieds: May 28, 2015

Here is the Suffolk Times Service Directory for May 28, 2015. If you are interested in placing an ad, please call Karen, 631-354-8029 or email kcullen@timesreview.com.

Suffolk Times Service Directory: May 28, 2015

A Suffolk County committee is seeking public feedback on a proposal for what has been dubbed as the area’s “last great park.”

During the North Fork Preserve Suffolk County Park Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday, the committee agreed to organize a presentation about the Northville property sometime later this summer and invite various stakeholders like school officials and representative from the Boys and Girls scout groups.

According to the committee’s March 12 minutes, the current plan for the more than 300-acre North Fork Preserve includes leaving the northern section undeveloped for passive recreational uses such as hiking and developing the southern portion for more active recreation, including RV camping with electric and water hookups, cabins for year-round camping, tent camping, a pavilion, bathhouse, clubhouse with arcade, and communal fire pit, among other amenities.

An area that contains existing structures will be used by the Suffolk County Parks Department as a check-in station, a caretaker residence and a small office area for park staff.

Equestrian activities are also planned for the park, including: an indoor arena, boarding space and corrals. In addition, a wildlife viewing area with a platform overlooking the water is also included in the proposal.

“I’m sure you can find many people that would like to see the entire 300 acres as passive recreation,” said Nick Gibbons of the county parks department. “On the flip side, you may find people who would like to see a greater slice of that pie for active recreation. We’re done with that already, in a sense, because the monies that were used obligate us to go one way or another on this property.”

Riverhead Town Councilman George Gabrielsen said he’ll invite the town’s recreational and open space committees into the discussion.

He also suggested the county consider allowing solar panels on the property, which Mr. Gibbons agreed was a good idea.

During the public portion of the meeting, Laurel resident Joe Slovak asked how the man-made clay tennis courts were going to be maintained and proposed building a bubble over them like facilities in West Hampton and Bethpage so that players could use the courts in the winter.

Another resident suggested the county allow Eagle Scouts to create trails and install markers for cross-country runners, another idea the committee seemed to favor.

The committee, which was created last summer, is expected to schedule its next meetings for June and August. [Check back for the dates]

Email county legislator aide Gwynn Schroeder at Gwynn.Schroeder@suffolkcountyny.gov for more information about the proposal.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Extra patrols were requested of the Southold Town Police Department in anticipation of an advertised “sex party” on Saturday, according to a police report.

The report reads that a woman told authorities she found a flier stating there would be “some type of sex party” at Cove Beach Estates on May 23.

The property, which is owned by the woman’s boss, is currently vacant, police said.

No additional information was provided.

A construction worker loads the remains of the First Universalist Church into dumpsters at the site Thursday morning.

The historic First Universalist Church, which was almost totally destroyed by fire in March, has seen its last day.

The few remaining pieces of the building left standing — the lone eastern wall and the back rooms — were leveled Thursday morning by a construction crew.

The church, dating back to 1835 and located at the bend of Main Road near Southold village, was badly damaged in a fire that broke out March 14. Investigators later said the fire was not suspicious.

The church’s congregation hosted a farewell service for the church earlier this month and have been meeting for regular weekly services at another historic building: the Custer Institute observatory down the road.

The First Universalist Church had been restored in 1907, with the now-lost steeple getting its own restoration roughly 80 years later after it was damaged by Hurricane Gloria, according to Suffolk Times articles.

Church leadership is currently exploring ideas to rebuild or relocate, church president Susi Young told the Suffolk Times.

psquire@timesreview.com

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Mattituck’s Melanie Pfennig finished in sixth place in the 1,500 meters at the Division Championships. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk).

DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS

Shoreham-Wading River High School has a proud history of producing good long-distance runners. Perhaps it’s the wooded areas near the school that provide the right training venue for them, surmised Paul Koretzki, Shoreham’s girls track and field coach.

Whatever it is, it’s working.

Shoreham runners produced three of the top four places (and four of the top eight) in the Suffolk County Division III 1,500 meters, not to mention the champion, Kaitlyn Ohrtman. The 3,000-meter champion, Katherine Lee, also ran for the Wildcats.

The 1,500-meter race in the Division Championships on Thursday at Northport High School held out the promise of being a good one, and it did not disappoint. Ohrtman, a junior, led from the early going and held on for an impressive victory in 4 minutes 41.42 seconds.

Perhaps just as impressive was who followed her. Lee, a freshman, took second place in 4:45.31, ahead of the third-place finisher, Bishop McGann-Mercy junior Meg Tuthill (4:47.90). Shoreham sophomore Alexandra Hays was fourth in 4:48.55.

The race featured a heavy presence of local runners, with Melanie Pfennig of Mattituck (4:58.29) sixth, Kaitlyn Butterfield of McGann-Mercy (4:58.64) seventh, Francesca Lilly of Shoreham (4:59.67) eighth and Kaylee Bergen of Mattituck (5:14.74) 11th.

On the first day of the meet two days earlier, Lee had coasted to victory in the 3,000 in 10:28.60. Hays was fourth in 10:51.84 and followed by Pfennig and Bergen (10:59.16).

Tuthill, who lives in Southold, earned a winner’s medal in the 800, edging out Lee by 1/100th of a second with a time of 2:17.76.

Ohrtman also ran the anchor leg for a triumphant 4×800-meter relay team. She joined forces with Lilly, Lee and Hays for a first-place time of 9:31.21.

Tuthill handled the anchor leg for McGann-Mercy, which was second in 9:35.18. Butterfield, Maddie Joinnides and Devyn O’Brien also ran for that team.

Shoreham pole vaulter Haley Lindell cleared 9 feet to land in third place. One of her teammates, Payton Capes-Davis, was sixth at 8-0.

Capes-Davis, Ohrtman, Megan Kelly and Alexandra Kuhnle were fourth for Shoreham in the 4×400-meter relay in 4:15.03. The McGann-Mercy team of Dayna Young, Olivia Kneski, Delaney Macchirole and Juliana Cintron-Leonardo was fifth in 4:16.54.

McGann-Mercy’s 4×100-meter relay team of Young, Macchirole, Cintron-Leonardo and Adafih Blackburn was fifth in 52.54.

In the 400, Joinnides (1:01.18) and Kneski (1:02.49) took fifth and sixth.

Shoreham’s Courtney Wrigley was sixth in the high jump at 4-8.

Megan Dinizio of Mattituck was sixth in the 100 in 13.87.

Bayport-Blue Point earned the team title with 126 points. Shoreham finished fifth in the team rankings with 66 points, McGann-Mercy was eighth with 31 and Mattituck was 15th with 5.

TWO THIRDS FOR SMITH In Division II, Ra’Shae Smith of Riverhead had third-place throws in both the discus (105-1) and the shot put (37-5 1/2).

Ashley-Ann Courts of Riverhead finished fourth in the long jump with a distance of 17-4.

Riverhead ranked 12th with 17 points. Huntington won the team title with 91 points.

bliepa@timesreview.com

To the editor:

The New York State Department of Conservation can start killing and mutilating (amputating) wings of healthy wild mute swans if the mute swan bill passed by the state Senate does not get voted on before the Assembly recesses. The DEC’s plan states the swans are non-native and invasive. Current research and worldwide swan and wetland habitat specialists state mute swans serve as an indicator species in alerting to problems in the environment, something the DEC readily admits in its plan. These same swan/wetland habitat specialists and current researchers dispute that the mute swans are any more detrimental to the environment or aggressive than any other wildlife species protecting their young. The DEC seems to ignore this research.

Yet, the DEC farms and introduces 30,000 non-native Asian pheasants, which have been shown to be invasive by displacing other wildlife through laying eggs in other birds’ nests. Among others, the DEC also farms and introduces approximately 1.8 million non-native European brown trout into the natural habitat. The trout is listed as one of the top 100 invasive species in the world (International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Columbia University, and National Park Service). The trout destroys native species and habitats. Once again, the NY DEC violates their own policy on invasive species and ignores current research because it makes millions from hunting and fishing permits.

Do these money-making ventures give the NY DEC a free pass on violating NY’s Invasive Species Act?

Can all the DEC’s introduced non-native invasive species be hunted and fished? The numbers of released birds and fish would indicate (by common sense) that some are going to escape capture. We seriously doubt 2,200 swans can do more damage than 30,000 non-native and invasive pheasants and 1.8 million trout released annually by the DEC. The DEC’s farming and releasing of this many pheasants and trout seriously diminishes their argument that mute swans are going to exponentially increase. The Assembly needs to get this bill passed before the summer recess.

Sheila Bolin
CEO/president
The Regal Swan Foundation Inc.

Village Trustee Doug Roberts’s ‘no’ vote was the turning point against the contract payments for Tall Ships Thursday night. (Credit: Paul Squire)

In a surprise split vote Thursday night, the Greenport Village Board failed to get enough votes to approve payments due for the upcoming Tall Ships festival.

Since the Village Board wasn’t able to approve the contractual payments, those vendors, as of now, will not be paid. How that will affect the four-day July festival remains to be seen, village administrator Paul Pallas said.

“There will be gnashing of teeth,” he said after the meeting.

The $21,500 in payments, which were due to cover some marketing expenses and the appearance fee for the festival’s headlining ship Hermione, were split off from other Tall Ship payments at the request of Trustee Doug Roberts, who has criticized the village’s handling of the festival since taking office earlier this year.

Mr. Roberts voted against the payments, while Mayor George Hubbard and Trustee Mary Bess Phillips voted in favor.

But trustees Jack Martilotta and Julia Robins chose to abstain from the vote, and the necessary three-vote majority wasn’t reached. Mr. Martilotta and Ms. Robins both said they abstained because they are the Village Board’s members of the Tall Ships steering committee.

The payments that were rejected included $4,000 in payments for Creative Advertising Concepts, the marketing firm hired for the festival, as well as $5,000 for commercials. A $12,500 “port fee” for the Hermione also failed.

Mr. Hubbard told a Suffolk Times reporter he also wasn’t sure what will happen next.

The other festival items up for discussion — portable toilets, tents and payments for bands — were all okayed.

Before the vote was held, Mr. Roberts railed against the Greenport Business Improvement District, which is helping to organize the Tall Ships event. He specifically took issue with a perceived snub by the BID, who were supposed to present an update on the event’s finances to the Village Board last month. 

The representatives never came.

“They showed you up and they showed us up,” Mr. Roberts said to Mr. Hubbard.

BID president Peter Clarke had told The Suffolk Times he didn’t know he was expected. Mr. Clarke couldn’t be reached for comment late Thursday night.

At the meeting, Mr. Roberts also criticized the BID for not being more transparent about the amount of fundraising it had completed. He demanded the BID raise the $100,000 it had promised to give the Village.

In the meantime, ”the CAC sales commission, CAC’s fees, they can wait,” he said.

After the vote, Mr. Roberts said he hopes the decision forces the Greenport Business Improvement District to hand over the funding it has collected, reach out to more sponsors to get the money, or pay the fees themselves.

“It’s not like the work can’t go on,” Mr. Roberts said. “They can get the money from anyone else.”

But before he engineered the failed Tall Ships vote, Mr. Roberts’s own event had come under scrutiny at the board meeting.

Mr. Roberts — who is the board’s liaison to the Dances in the Parks committee — proposed several resolutions related to the annual event, including compensating the event’s volunteer coordinator $1,500 as a “consultant,” paying for $10,000 worth of band appearances, selling sponsorships on banners and spending $2,700 on sound engineers.

All that blew through the $11,000 budget set for the dances. Mr. Roberts said a donation would cover the difference, but some board members said the budget for the event already factored in that money.

“If only we were this careful about $275,000 for Tall Ships,” Mr. Roberts said. “We’re talking about 11-grand.”

“It’s the same concept both ways,” Mr. Hubbard replied. “You complain about the Tall Ships. We’re trying not to repeat the same mistakes that happened with that.”

The board ultimately voted to approve the bands and banner costs, but did not authorize the sound engineer contract to keep the dances from exceeding the budget. The board also put out a formal request for a paid events coordinator, in order to comply with state hiring rules.

Mr. Roberts will now need to find the money to bring the free event back under budget.

psquire@timesreview.com

A view of Old Sound Avenue (center) from the corner of Love Lane and Main Road. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Early on Tuesday, before most shops along Love Lane had opened, business owners, residents and Mattituck Chamber of Commerce members gathered to discuss the possibility of closing down part of Old Sound Avenue to vehicular traffic.

Hosted by the chamber, the meeting was held to allow people to voice any concerns regarding the proposal so that potential problems can be addressed. 

“I’m seeing the positive here, of keeping people [staying] longer on Love Lane,” chamber vice president Danielle LaScala said. “Once you go down the block, really, that’s it. There’s no reason to hang out here, there’s no reason to spend time here unless you’re at the vineyard or getting dinner, but that’s different. Maybe we could have music at night and get those longer nights that we were speaking of.”

Ms. LaScala compared the future of Mattituck to other popular villages, like Huntington and Port Jefferson.

Concerns brought up at the meeting included access to parking and storefronts, safety issues and access to large events like weddings and funerals at Church of the Redeemer, located just west on Old Sound Avenue.

“Well, to me it sounds really lovely, but practically speaking, I don’t understand how things would work,” said Kate Altman, owner of Altman’s Needle and Fiber Arts.

Her chief concern was that access to the parking lot behind the shops on the west side of Love Lane, and, thus, her shop, would be hampered.

“Anything that makes it harder to park, to me, is a hindrance,” she said.

The pros seemed to outweigh the cons at this particular meeting, however, as people began brainstorming uses for the additional space. Ideas included adding more parking or making the area, which chamber president Terry McShane described as 140 feet by 35 feet, a space where concerts, farmers’ markets, holiday events and more could be held.

“The idea was to get those cons — we got a few — and I think some were evaded right here, really,” Mr. McShane said. “I have a list of concerns and I’m going to use them, because I think they’re all valid.”

Those concerns will be aired when Mr. McShane meets with the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association and the Southold Town Board in upcoming months, he said.

“Getting the Love Lane representation and people from the church,” Mr. McShane said. “I think it’s important and a great first step.”

The idea to close part of Old Sound Avenue was introduced some time ago but “died a horrible death” since it was brought up around the time the economy went south, Mr. McShane said. The proposal was revived this past winter, with Supervisor Scott Russell mentioning it during a January chamber event.

“Scott [Russell] didn’t want it to be driven by the town; he wanted it to be driven by the people, if they want it,” Mr. McShane said. “And that’s why we got together with [the business owners], because you are the people.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Despite all the negative news in education these days, the Mattituck-Cutchogue school district remains focused on doing great things for kids. One of its proudest accomplishments is the incredible art program that promotes the passion and creative energy many of our students have for the arts. The New York State Art Teachers Association Art Portfolio exhibit, representing over 200 talented Suffolk County students, was recently on view at the Anthony Giordano Gallery at Dowling College. Mattituck High School students swept the awards this year, which is not a small feat. Congratulations to winners Sarah Pfennig, first place; Emma Leaden, second place; and Adrianna Lawson, third place. Great job!

Southold Relay for Life takes place this Saturday, May 30, from noon to midnight at Jean Cochran Park. This is the relay’s 10th year and the event has raised over $1 million thus far. Register to participate at relayforlife.org/southoldny. For more information, contact Claire Smith, claire.smith@cancer.org or 631-300-3146.

Cutchogue East Elementary’s Hope Team is raffling off a Quilt for Hope to support the American Cancer Society. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and can be purchased at either the high school or elementary school before the Relay for Life event.

Birthday wishes go out to Erik Koch, Aidan Carter, Wendy Zuhoski, Peter Rauseo, Matt Wilsberg, Jeff Smith, Michael Lentini, Cory Dolson, Anne Smith and Lareann Volinski.

I got a call recently from a mom who wanted to update me about her son, Morgan Barta, MHS Class of 2000. Morgan has had a busy life. A proud member of the Marine Corps, he was an aviation crew chief until recently, when he graduated as a gunnery sergeant from The Citadel. Morgan has done three tours as a drill instructor at Parris Island, where he instructed some of Mattituck’s students. Thank you for your service, Morgan. You make Mattituck proud!

The MacDonald family has been really busy. Jaimie recently earned a master’s in literacy from LIU and is now teaching fifth grade in the Riverhead school district. If you know this family, you know soccer is in their blood, so it’s no surprise that in their spare time sisters Kelly and Jaimie, both MHS alumnae and former varsity soccer players, currently play for the L.I. Women’s Soccer League and are surely becoming a force to be reckoned with!

Bev Wowak at Mattituck-Laurel Library wants everyone to know that copies of “Vanished” by Joseph Finder, the June book discussion title, are ready for pickup. The discussion takes place Thursday, June 25, at 6:30 p.m.

Special thanks to the PTSA for once again hosting the pre-prom reception for this year’s MHS prom. Seeing the community gather to celebrate and admire our kids as they enjoy a milestone of their high school career was priceless.

Contact Mattituck columnist Pat Arslanian at Pat5543782@aol.com or 298-8489.

Marine Corps Pfc. Kevin Thomas. (Credit: Courtesy)

Out of more than 300 recruits, a 2013 graduate of Bishop McGann-Mercy High School recently finished boot camp at the top of his class.

Marine Corps Pfc. Kevin Thomas, 20, of Jamesport earned the honor after he graduated from the Parris Island, S.C., Recruit Depot earlier this month.

Sgt. Pablo Abad, a Riverhead-based Marine Corps recruiter, said Pfc. Thomas was selected because of his high grades and leadership skills.

He also described Pfc. Thomas as very motivated, driven, physically fit, and said he “has a good head on his shoulders and scored above his peers on the armed service aptitude exam.”

“It’s not just being smart and strong,” Sgt. Abad said. “We want the whole package — someone who possesses all the qualities of a marine. You have to go before the board and be selected. That’s how you become an honor grad. It’s pretty tough.”

Although becoming an honor grad is a difficult task, the accomplishment didn’t come as a surprise to the Thomas family.

“We were extremely proud, but we were not surprised because he went in with a goal of becoming an honor grad,” said his mother, Dawn Thomas. “He’s a very strong willed young man and if he decides to do something he generally gets it done.”

Pfc. Thomas, who wasn’t immediately available to comment for this story, was in charge of leading 60 new recruits and was the platoon’s guide through the entire duration of boot camp, Sgt. Abad said.

Pfc. Thomas is now training in California to become a reconnaissance marine, which Sgt. Abad described as “the elite of the elite.”

“He has the qualities that it takes to actually lead marines,” Sgt. Abad said. “He will be remarkable at whatever he does. He has an enthusiasm for life.”

Ms. Thomas said her son always knew he wanted to join the military and described his accomplishments as impressive.

“If we don’t have people like Kevin and other young men and women serving in our military, then we don’t have anything,” she said.

nsmith@timesreview.com

A motorcyclist crashed on Route 25 Thursday night and fled into the woods, leading to a large-scale search from Southold Police that included a K-9 unit and a Suffolk County Police helicopter. 

A Southold officer observed a black motorcycle with one person on it driving at a high rate of speed eastbound on Route 25 in Mattituck at around 10:30 p.m., police said. The motorcycle passed two eastbound cars as it approached a bend in the road at Manor Hill in Cutchogue, police said. When the officer arrived at the top of the hill, he spotted the motorcycle crashed in the road with the driver no where to be found.

A witness told police the driver ran into the woods, police said.

The search led to police locating the owner of the motorcycle a short distance away. The owner, Robert DeJesus, 35, claimed to be the passenger on the motorcycle at the time of the crash. He was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

No other person was ever located.

Police did not list any charges yet against the owner of the motorcycle.

Peconic Land Trust and other local organizations held a press conference Friday in Riverhead to announce a new grant available to farmers. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

The Peconic Land Trust has announced it’s partnering with several organizations to offer $1 million in grants to help new Long Island farmers with their businesses.

The Farmers for the Future grants covers infrastructure and equipment costs. Eligible farmers can also receive reimbursements of up to 20 percent, or $25,000, on purchases through the program.

During a press conference Friday at the Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center, Peconic Land Trust president John Halsey said the grant is important because new farmers are struggling.

“We realized one piece of the puzzle to keep agriculture here is access to capital,” he said.

In order to receive the grant, farmers must have been operating an agriculture or aquaculture business, or a not-for-profit organization, in Nassau or Suffolk counties for less than 10 years.

Other requirements include: creating a new commodity, method of production or new business plan, as well as upgrading equipment or infrastructure to comply with food safety regulations.

Cutchogue farmer Paulette Satur said she believes supporting farmers that are new to the industry is important because start up costs “are immense,” especially due to new food safety standards.

Between 50 and 100 farmers are expected to qualify for the program.

Partners of the grant include: LI Regional Economic Development Council, Suffolk County Planning Commission, the Long Island Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Farm Credit East, Long Island Wine Council and Edible East End.

Auggie Ruckdeschel of the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning said she believes helping new farmers is “extraordinarily important to the future of this industry.”

“We have an aging farming population, so we really need to zero in and target and focus our efforts on finding those next generation of farmers,” she said. “It is one of the main driving forces behind this effort.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Mattituck junior Jack Dufton, competing in the long jump, landed a second-place finish in the pentathlon. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS

To say that Ryan DiResta had a good track and field meet would be putting it mildly. The Riverhead High School senior produced personal records in four of the five events that make up the pentathlon. No wonder he not only finished first in points, but he also set a school record in the process in the Division Championships at Comsewogue High School on Friday.

DiResta ended up with a total of 3,159 points to top the Suffolk County Division II field. That shattered Riverhead’s previous record of 2,791 that was set by Yves Perodin in 1993, according to coach Steve Gevinski.

“This is like a big achievement for me,” said DiResta, who is in his second year of competing in the pentathlon.

DiResta’s nearest competition came from Smithtown East senior Ben Lebit, who had 3,010 points.

To help him reach the top, DiResta put up personal-best numbers in the 110-meter high hurdles (second in 17.07 seconds), the high jump (second at 1.83 meters), the shot put (fourth at 11.03 meters) and the 1,500 meters (second in 4:36.00). He was also second in the long jump at 6.22 meters.

DiResta’s fine showing, along with victories by triple jumper Curtis Flippen and the 4×100-meter relay team, helped Riverhead to a third-place team ranking with 74 points. The only teams to finish ahead of the Blue Waves were Huntington (99) and Eastport/South Manor (86).

The most thrilling race of the day might have been Riverhead’s triumph in the 4×100 relay. In a photo finish, Steven Reid III leaned his head forward at the finish line to nip a Copiague runner by the slimmest of margins. After a review of the photo confirmed the victory, the Blue Waves screamed and jumped for joy.

The team, which included Andrew Smith, Jacob Robinson and Marcus Reid, Steven’s brother, was timed in 43.27 seconds, nipping out Copiague by 1/100th of a second.

On Wednesday, the first day of the meet, Flippen, a junior, covered 43 feet 4 1/4 inches to take first place in the triple jump.

Riverhead pole vaulters Kyle Gevinski and Brendan Krumbiegel finished in a four-way tie for second place, clearing 11-0.

Another Riverheader, Troy Trent, threw the shot put 54-1/2, good enough for second place.

Steven Reid III and Robinson turned in third-place finishes, with Reid’s time of 11.39 in the 100 and Robinson’s 50.09 in the 400.

EXHAUSTED YOUNG TRIUMPHS IN 400 Bishop McGann-Mercy’s Dale Young was exhausted following the Division III 400-meter final, and for good reason. The junior had won in 50.02.

Shoreham-Wading River senior Matt Gladysz flew to victory in the 800 in 1:59.18.

Mattituck junior Jack Dufton took second in the pentathlon with 2,683 points. Dufton capped off his meet with a winning time of 4:24.25 in the 1,500. He was also first in the high jump (1.73 meters), second in the shot put (9.77 meters), tied for third in the long jump (5.62 meters) and sixth in the 110-meter high hurdles (19.95).

In the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, McGann-Mercy’s Alex Frabizio came in third in 57.63.

Shoreham’s Brendon Frances ended up third in the shot put with a throw of 45-0.

Amityville won the team title with 123 1/2 points. Shoreham (24) was ninth, McGann-Mercy (16) was 14th, Mattituck (8) was 17th and Greenport/Southold (2) was 19th.

bliepa@timesreview.com

The Southold Town Democratic Committee’s 2015 slate: (from left) Brian Hughes for Justice, Debra O’Kane for Town Board, Matt Kapell for Trustee, Damon Rallis for Supervisor, Albie de Kerillis for Town Board, Nick Krupski for Trustee and Linda Goldsmith for Assessor. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Memorial Day has long been considered the official start of summer in these parts. It’s also fast becoming the unofficial start of silly season. 

About this time each year, local political parties hold their nominating conventions and, once the names are, well, named, none of the candidates seems able to afford to enjoy the summer and start politicking after Labor Day, as they used to. Once just a couple of candidates start campaigning publicly the rest suddenly have to keep up. If they sit back, they risk being left behind in the all-important task of getting their message out — and, perhaps just as important, defining (read: distorting) their opponent’s message. With this all in mind, we’re in for a very long campaign at both town and county levels.

• See also: Southold Democrats announce their election slate

We have long prided ourselves on providing complete coverage of town and county races through our newspapers and websites, and we will continue to do so. The county executive’s position and all 18 Suffolk Legislature seats will be decided in the fall. Locally, supervisor positions, Town Board seats and other positions, including judgeships, are up for grabs.

Democracy is an imperfect and often messy business and campaigns frequently generate far more heat than light. Some venerable issues — government spending, affordable housing, land preservation and water quality, for example — can be counted on to color, if not dominate, the dialogue. It’s up to all of us to recognize the differences between what’s merely entertaining and what’s critical to our communities’ future.

In the coming weeks, these pages will undoubtedly carry considerable commentary about the people and propositions on the November ballot. We ask those who seek office to stick to the issues and abide by our general letters policy. That means keep it to under 350 words and prepare to be edited as we deem fair and appropriate. Aside from a single introductory letter from each candidate, this isn’t the place for self-promotion or promises — and those types of letters won’t see ink. And if you belong to a local political committee or work for someone already in office, you will be identified as such.

For letter writers who do stick to the issues and call out officials or others on their actions or positions, remember to keep it civil. We live in small towns and today’s adversaries can be tomorrow’s friends and neighbors. That’s not a prohibition against tough criticism, but it is a ban on nasty personal attacks.

Early last week I was behind a ginormous truck that was scoring the middle of the newly laid blacktop on the North Road. It didn’t occur to me what that was all about until late last night when I was headed west after the last ferry from Connecticut. At some point I migrated onto the painted yellow line in the middle of the road and my tires shrieked out an unpleasant chant that returned my attention to the road. Hopefully that will keep others less familiar than I in their lane as they make their way “up island” from the Point. 

Last week, Jay McKasty reported a group of turkey vultures hanging out on Main Road and pacing in front of Town Beach. They were in full mating regalia so probably not paying attention to passing cars that they might decide to jump out in front of. Please be attentive.

My next ‘public service announcement’ comes with the help of Jane Winsch and Noreen Bischoff, who shared that even the shortest walk down the street with their beloved Maggie Mae produces a dog covered with ticks — despite vigilant tick treatments. Please check your pets often.

My next request comes from many Village folks. As the new “season” is launched there is much concern about drivers racing around town. Please watch your speed.

Last but not least, please, please, please pick up after your dogs.

Orient Country Store proprietors Miriam Foster and Grayson Murphy became aunt and uncle again May 5 with the arrival of Mary Hazard Eaves, daughter of Hannah Foster Eaves (Miriam’s sister) and her husband, Jack Eaves. The proud parents are naval officers stationed at the Pentagon. Mary was born at the Old Bethesda Naval Hospital, which is now Walter Reed. Congratulations all around. (Grandparents Tom and Dinah, also!)

Another set of very proud grandparents is Ann and Bob Hulsmann, whose son James and his bride, Renee, welcomed their first child in Tokyo, Japan. Liam Christian arrived May 9, weighing in at 7 pounds. The maternal grandparents are Tom and Amy Chan of Vancouver, Canada. Hearty congratulations to you all.

Volunteers are needed to help with planting an organic community garden on the grounds of Orient Congregational Church. For more info or to sign on please email Cheryl at cak2705@optonline.net.

The East Marion Community Association’s annual meeting is this Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. (9:30 for goodies). There will be updates on the issues, an election of the Board of Directors and a lecture by John Holzapfel about the history of menhaden (bunker fish), the East Coast’s most abundant catch, and its effect on the North Fork area.

After that, head on over to the Oysterponds School, where there will be a car wash from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to benefit the 6th-grade trip to Washington, D.C. They’re asking for a $10 donation.

Orient Linen Company, Janet Markarian’s shop on Village Lane, opened this past weekend. Janet has joined forces with East Marioneer Jackie McKee and they will stock items from Local Lure, which is Jackie’s brand, as well as a rotating selection of other interesting locally produced items. Good luck, neighbors.

Put on your dancing shoes next Sunday, June 7, and get yourself to St. Agnes Hall in Greenport, where the music of Sahara will entertain you from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person or $20 per family. There will also be games and prizes. Please bring your own appetizers and drinks. Tickets are available at the church rectory, Call 477-0048 for more info.

See you back here June 11. This is the best time of year on the North Fork. Enjoy every minute.

Contact Oysterponds columnist Carol Gillooly at medinnov@aol.com or 323-3899.