Rebecca Lillis said it has been a privilege to watch three of her most prominent field hockey players — Madison Tabor, Toni Esposito and Katie Tuthill — play ever since they were seventh graders. But the best may be yet to come.

All three of those juniors enter their fifth year as varsity starters for Greenport/Southold, and will be instrumental in how the Clippers fare this season.

Tabor, a forward, is a genuine talent. This summer she was selected to play in the USA Futures Field Hockey National Tournament. She played eight games in the four-day tournament in Pennsylvania, scoring one goal and picking up four assists.

For the Clippers last season, Tabor, was an all-conference player, tallying 13 goals and three assists (she had five goals and seven assists the year before). She was selected by The Suffolk Times as its Greenport female athlete of the year for 2014-15.

“She’s fast and she’s hungry for goals,” said Lillis.

Esposito, like Tabor, is a year-round field hockey player. The all-division midfielder rang up nine goals and one assist last year, but was especially valued for her defense and shot blocking.

“She’s amazing,” said Lillis.

Not surprisingly, Tabor and Esposito began preseason practices looking as if they had never stopped playing, said their coach.

Tuthill is another story. About midway through last season, the goalie suffered a concussion when she was kicked in the head in a game against Babylon. She sat out the remainder of the season.

“She’s a phenomenal goalie,” Lillis said. “She just hasn’t played for basically over a year. She’s trying to get back into the swing of things.”

The Clippers, who went 5-9 last year, are seeded 12th in Suffolk County Division III. It’s a young team with mostly sophomores and freshmen. The 15-player roster has only one senior and three juniors.

For all their youth, however, the Clippers have game experience. Forwards Madison Hilton, Ale Cardi and Ashley Payne, as well as defenders Zoe Medina and Liz Clark, are returning starters. Another sophomore, Isabelle Torres, took over in goal after Tuthill was injured.

The team’s lone senior, Suze Bunchuck, who can play midfield or forward, has varsity experience, as does freshman forward Brittany Walker.

Four freshmen are new to the team: Andria Skrezec, Jules Atkins, Nereida Toribio and Emelyn Azurdia. Atkins is a midfielder. The positions for the other three had not been determined.

Lillis, who takes an 11-33 record into her fourth season as the team’s coach, said the loss of three defensive players has left “a hole in our defense right now that we’re trying to patch up.”

One thing is for sure: Tabor, Esposito and Tuthill are not at a loss for motivation.

Said Lillis, “They want to finish their last two years of high school the most successful way they can.”

Photo caption: Greenport/Southold forward Madison Tabor, air dribbling in a game against Hampton Bays last year, played in the USA Futures Field Hockey National Tournament this summer. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

bliepa@timesreview.com

You can enter raffles for everything from fruit baskets to concert tickets. Now, you can even sign up for a chance to potentially see Pope Francis.

On Friday, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) announced in a press release that he will raffle off “pairs of two tickets” for the Pope’s joint address to Congress on the West Lawn of the White House at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept 24. The tickets provide “access” to the event, which will be simulcast, but “a view of the Pope is not guaranteed,” according to the release.

The raffle is open to all First Congressional District residents, an area that encompasses the North and South Forks, Shelter Island and Brookhaven Town. To sign up, go to http://zeldin.house.gov/pope. The lottery will close at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. According to Mr. Zeldin’s office, winners will be chosen at random and notified by phone the following day. Tickets aren’t available for resale and winners are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.

This month’s event marks the first time His Holiness, who was elected Pope in 2013, will visit the White House.

In a statement, the White House press secretary said President Barack Obama and Pope Francis will discuss a variety of issues at their meeting later this month, including “caring for the marginalized and the poor; advancing economic opportunity for all; serving as good stewards of the environment; protecting religious minorities and promoting religious freedom around the world; and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities.”

For more information about the raffle, call Mr. Zeldin’s office at 631-289-1097.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia commons

ryoung@timesreview.com

While most local students are returning to the classroom Tuesday, Greenport Union Free School District’s students are getting a reprieve until Wednesday.

Superintendent David Gamberg said about 650 students are enrolled this year and the district has hired a new physical education teacher, Luis Morales, who is also certified to teach grades K-12. His arrival gives the district a third phys ed teacher, as it had years ago. Mr. Gamberg said the district decided it would be advantageous to return to that model this year.

A land stewardship program is also being developed in the district, Mr. Gamberg said, and some teachers are planning to incorporate field-based learning opportunities into their lesson plans by taking students to visit different areas in Greenport.

Mr. Gamberg, who is also superintendent in the Southold school district, said there will be expanded opportunities for students from both districts to take different classes at their neighboring school. This year, for example, Greenport students will be able to take business and television production courses in Southold and Southold students will be able to take a college-level chemistry class in Greenport.

“What I envision,” Mr. Gamberg explained, “is doing a great deal more with professional development with the two districts.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo: Superintendent David Gamberg at last week’s seventh-grade student orientation. (Credit: Instagram @greenportufsd)

Listings prepared for Times/Review Newspapers by Suffolk Research Service, dated July 10-16, 2015.

AQUEBOGUE (11931)
• Wittmeier, O & J to Oakes, Edward, 117 West Ln (600-66-2-22), (R), $355,000
• Pryor Family Trust to Cassaro, Giacomo, 99 Beach Ave (600-113-2-13), (R), $415,000

CALVERTON (11933)
• Partridge LLC to Riverhead Central School District, 337 Edwards Ave (600-117-1-8.3), (C), $3,500,000
• 1998 Peconic LLC to EP Equity Holdings Four, 582 Edwards Ave (600-117-2-2.7), (V), $2,500,000

EAST MARION (11939)
• Messinger, M by Executors to Acevedo, Florentino, 2820 Shipyard Ln, Unit 1E1 (1000-38.2-1-9), (C), $485,000

FLANDERS (11901)
• Ungerland Jr, T & M to Housing Trust Fund Corp, 206 Sylvan Ave (900-123-1-42), (R), $550,000
• Fisher, R & Christensen to Fisher, Frank, 17 Priscilla Ave (900-143-1-7), (R), $206,000

• Thompson, C by Referee to Cypress LLC, 54 Oak Ave (900-144-2-14), (R), $80,001
GREENPORT (11944)
• Stanitsas, N to Zihnali, Balkir, 695 Westwood Ln (1000-33-2-8), (R), $530,000

JAMESPORT (11947)
• Jamesport Development to TDG Jamesport Owner LLC, Manor Ln (600-47-1-3.3), (V), $4,995,000

MATTITUCK (11952)
• Smithen, B to Hound’s Tree Estate LLC, 2600 Oregon Rd (1000-100-4-5.3), (R), $550,000
• Smithen, B to Hound’s Tree Estate LLC, 2600 Oregon Rd (1000-100-4-5.4), (V), $1,285,000

RIVERHEAD (11901)
• Kubetz, J & J to Wicklund, Scott, 614 Sound Shore Rd (600-7-2-11), (R), $525,000
• Reeve, L by Executors to Schwartz, Ronald, 143 Pier Ave (600-8-2-12.14), (R), $750,000
• Hackett Jr, R & D to Andreacchi, Joseph, 116 Linda Ln E (600-15-3-11), (R), $372,500
• de Lauzon, C & A to Zori, John, 2596 Roanoke Ave (600-16-2-20), (R), $340,000
• Devlin, J to 1315 West Main Street LLC, 1315 W Main St (600-119-2-38), (C), $305,000

SHELTER ISLAND (11964)
• King Jr, F Trust to Sweet Liberty LLC, Fred’s Ln (700-18-2-74), (V), $10,000
• Mooij, R & Kendall, C to Kneeland, Lila, 5 Shorewood Rd (700-23-2-25), (R), $828,750

SOUTHOLD (11971)
• Losquadro, C to Norcross, Kenneth, 2855 Boisseau Ave (1000-55-5-12.1), (R), $404,503
• Vinci Real Estate to Cannon, Lista, 475 Arshamomaque Ave (1000-56-2-17), (V), $299,000
• Meehan, T to Alexander, Mabel, 2555 Youngs Ave, #1D (1000-63.1-1-4), (C), $340,000
• Murphy, E Trust to Anderson, Robert, 1345 Founders Path (1000-64-4-18), (R), $330,000
• Mebus, S by Executor to Galeotafiore, Durante, 2675 Hobart Rd (1000-64-5-32), (R), $360,000

WADING RIVER (11792)
• Tuleja, L & A to Klein, Christopher, 278 Sound Rd (600-30-2-13), (R), $420,000
• Mertsaris & Kaliabakos to Stone Point Group LLC, 81 Park St (600-34-1-15), (R), $195,000
• Sabatini, R to Pisciotto, Paul, 8 18th St (600-52-2-31), (R), $237,500
• Roam, K to Comfort Living Properties, 80 Front St (600-74-1-56.2), (C), $125,000

(Key: Tax map numbers = District-Section-Block-Lot; (A) = agriculture; (R) = residential; (V) = vacant property; (C) = commercial; (R&E) = recreation & entertainment; (CS) = community services; (I) = industrial; (PS) = public service; (P) = park land; as determined from assessed values in the current tax rolls.)

Listings prepared for Times/Review Newspapers by Suffolk Research Service, dated July 3-9, 2015.

AQUEBOGUE (11931)
• Beechwood Highlands to Chattaway, Donald, 370 Stonecrop Rd (600-45-6-61), (R), $499,900

CUTCHOGUE (11935)
• Marchand, P & Budec, T to Borsen, Andrew, 305 Birch Ln (1000-83-1-29), (R), $689,000
• Rapuano, J Trust to Lynch, Sheila, 1140 Crown Land Ln (1000-102-7-11), (R), $665,000

FISHERS ISLAND (06390)
• W & S Realty Trust to McCall, John, 436 Alpine Ave (1000-10-8-3), (R), $450,000

FLANDERS (11901)
• Good Sam Properties to Minister Real Estate LLC, 1498 Flanders Rd (900-149-2-38), (R), $110,000
• Doroska, E & J to Kirmish, Chris, 25 Topping Dr (900-163-2-34), (R), $333,000

GREENPORT (11944)
• Norton, E to Eightofus Family Limited, Partnership, 131 Sixth St, Unit 2 (1000-49-1-25.3), (C), $960,900

JAMESPORT (11947)
• Dreeben, J to Andrinopoulos, Elias, 9 Legend Ln (600-90-2-1), (R), $252,000

LAUREL (11948)
• Orr, D & Soumas, E to Froehlich, William, 9160 Peconic Bay Blvd (1000-126-5-10.1), (R), $300,000

MATTITUCK (11952)
• Ameen, C to Forbes, Deaneal, 755 Lupton Pt Rd (1000-115-11-4.1), (R), $145,000
• Cacioppo Living Trust to Groome, Helen, 1265 Bay Ave (1000-143-5-1), (R), $400,000

PECONIC (11958)
• Banculli, P to Lindsay, Wayne, 275 Henrys Ln (1000-74-1-20), (R), $387,500

RIVERHEAD (11901)
• Sotomayor, L & M to Burros, David, 16 Linda Ln E (600-15-3-16), (R), $285,000
• Wilchar, S to Konior, Adrian, 127 Industrial Blvd (600-121-2-1), (R), $57,600

SOUTH JAMESPORT (11970)
• Henris, L to Keane Jr, Daniel, 45 4th St (600-91-4-7.1), (R), $346,000

(Key: Tax map numbers = District-Section-Block-Lot; (A) = agriculture; (R) = residential; (V) = vacant property; (C) = commercial; (R&E) = recreation & entertainment; (CS) = community services; (I) = industrial; (PS) = public service; (P) = park land; as determined from assessed values in the current tax rolls.)

Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead took a big step toward his third career Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified championship Saturday night when he swept the Twin 30 feature events for his seventh and eighth victories of the season.

The second race was shortened to 16 laps after a massive multi-car pileup. The wreck was the worst of its kind in recent memory, doing serious damage to several race cars. One driver was injured and taken to a hospital.

Entering a turn, contact was made by two cars with the result finding no less than seven cars getting caught up by the exit gate.  Involved were Vinny Biondolillo, Ron Silk, John Fortin Sr., Kyle Ellwood, Rob McCormick, John Fortin Jr. and Ken Darch. Fortin Jr. was transported to a hospital with an injured left wrist and arm, but was released to seek further care from an orthopedic specialist. All the other drivers were said to be fine.

Darch received the most damage to his car when the body was torn from the car. Darch’s helmet had tire marks on them, evidence of how lucky the veteran driver was to walk away.

With just six cars left on the track, NASCAR officials threw the checker flag and Rogers Jr. earned his 39th career NASCAR Modified win.

“I hope John Jr. is O.K.,” Rogers said after running over to the crash sight, “I’ve been there myself.”

Rookie driver Kyle Soper of Manorville was second to Rogers in the second race while Ryan Preece of Berlin, Conn., crossed the line third.

In the first race, Rogers Jr. was immediately followed by Preece and Soper.

“Ryan and I just race well together, whether it’s here or on the tour,” said Rogers Jr., who took a commanding 45-point lead over Soper with two races remaining in the season.

In other races:

Scott Pedersen of Shirley picked up his Figure Eight win of 2015, taking first place in a 20-lap race. Mike Mujsce of Quogue was second and Tom Ferrara of Patchogue third.

With several of his St. John’s University classmates cheering him on, Jack Handley Jr. of Medford drove to his fourth Blunderbust win of the year. Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge was second and newcomer Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace took third.

Dave Brigati of Calverton took home his second Super Pro Truck win of the season. The race was slated for 30 laps, but numerous caution flags ended the contest on Lap 28 when the final of many yellow flags waved, leaving Brigati with his eighth career Super Pro Truck win. Jimmy Rennick Jr. of Howard Beach. An impressive freshman talent, Jerry Giordano of Freeport, was third.

A 20-lap Legend Race Car event was a non-stop affair, with Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches collecting his fourth win of the year. Shawn Wanat of Riverhead was the runner-up. Vinny Delaney of Holtsville made a late-race pass for third.

Second generation driver Jamie Kilkenny of Howard Beach topped a 23-car field to win the National Demolition Derby Championship.

ANTOS, BURBOL PREVAIL Dave Antos of Lindenhurst won a 50-lap Grand Enduro while veteran Gene Burbol of Brookhaven was first in a 50-lap Truck Enduro on Sunday.

Following Antos was Greg Zaleski of Jamesport. The two will enter Saturday’s race tied for the championship lead. Erick Zegel of Medford was third.

In the Truck Enduro, Hank Hallock of Riverhead drove in second, with Donald Lawrence of Southampton third.

Brian R. Boeckmann of Cutchogue died Sept. 7 He was 59. 

Mr. Boeckmann was the golf course superintendent for Gardiner’s Bay Country Club on Shelter Island.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m.-noon and 3-6 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, with hours continuing Sunday, Sept. 13, from noon-1 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. Burial will take place at Cutchogue Cemetery.

A complete obituary will follow. 

With a new school year comes new infrastructure, such as a cafeteria and entryway, in the Southold Union Free School District.

The secondary school’s cafeteria recently received an upgrade to the serving line and kitchen, Superintendent David Gamberg said. The cafeteria, which he said was last renovated about 50 years ago, will “have a much better flow” and offer students an improved experience.

“It positions us, with this new layout and new equipment, to focus on enhancing what we can provide kids and faculty,” he said.

The district has renovated the secondary school entryway for added security. The principal’s offices were relocated to the front of the building as part of the redesign, Mr. Gamberg said.

The redesign is modeled on the entryway that was used in the 1940s, which is located on the side of the school by the cement steps.

A black and white checkered floor greets visitors in the new entryway.

“It has a beautiful, welcoming atmosphere,” Mr. Gamberg said.

The school’s new cafeteria.

Serving line and kitchen.

The school’s new entryway.

Offices and classroom space were relocated for added security.

At the elementary school, the Magical Playscape Amphitheater, which was unveiled in May and donated by Peter Castillo (Class of 2002), will be in use for its first full school year. The amphitheater will be used for recess, classroom activities and meetings, said elementary school principal Eileen O’Neill.

A new greenhouse at the high school, which is still being assembled, will allow students to take a new elective class called agricultural environmental literacy, Mr. Gamberg said.

“What it will do is it will take our garden program … so middle and high school students can continue what they learned in elementary school with agriculture,” he said.

A new pupil personnel services director, Lisa Scheffer, has been hired. She’ll work with the special education and English as a second language departments, among others.

The ESL program is being reformatted this year to accommodate statewide changes. Another ESL teacher, Leah Bufkins, was hired to help adapt to those changes.

In addition, the district will expand on a concept developed last year that allows for increased collaboration and exchange between Southold and Greenport.

Greenport High School students will have the opportunity to take business and television production courses at Southold and Greenport will offer a college-level chemistry class that Southold students can attend.

“We’re looking forward to the school year,” Mr. Gamberg said. “There’s so many good things happening, not just new but preexisting things.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Click on the tabs below for more back to school photos by Katharine Schroeder.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has vetoed a widely-supported bill that banned the use of drones on county parkland, saying the law’s privacy stipulations would be unconstitutional.

Rather than attempt to override the veto, the bill’s sponsor, Thomas Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma), is now working with Mr. Bellone’s office to tweak the bill to pass the Legislature again — and win the support of the county exec this time.

A spokesperson from Mr. Muratore’s office said a new version of the bill will focus on safety concerns posed by the unmanned aerial devices, instead of privacy. The new bill may be ready in time for Wednesday’s meeting of the County Legislature.

The original law passed by a 15-2 vote, with South Fork Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) abstaining. It banned drone use over county public beaches during the summer season and required drone operators to get permits from the County Parks Department if they wanted to fly over county-owned land.

At the time, legislators said the bill would protect beachgoers from being filmed without their consent, though an exception was made for credentialed news media. But in his veto Aug. 28, Mr. Bellone said residents have “no right to privacy in a public space.”

Mr. Bellone said he sympathized with “a family who wish to go to the beach wearing swimwear and find the notion of an overhead drone recording their activity to be disturbing.” But banning drones from filming would be unconstitutional, he wrote.

“It has long been recognized that citizens have the right to record or photograph in public spaces matters of public interest,” Mr. Bellone wrote. “This legislation, albeit well-intentioned, infringes on that right … it is not just news organizations who have a First Amendment right to make and display photographs or videotapes of public events; we all do.”

Mr. Bellone said the Legislature would be free to enact public safety requirements regarding drones, but added he would not support drone legislation that cited privacy as its main concern. The new legislation is likely to reflect that view, in order to earn Mr. Bellone’s signature.

Local legislator Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue), who voted in favor of the first legislation said he was still worried by “security” problems posed by drones, and would vote in favor of legislation that curtails the perceived threat.

“It’s not just the security of someone taking your picture, it’s the security of it hurting someone,” Mr. Krupski said. “I think it is a danger. You don’t know whether the operator is properly qualified.”

Legislator William Spencer (D-Centerport), a co-sponsor on the bill, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

psquire@timesreview.com

Three interceptions in one game! By a football player making his varsity debut, no less.

Jake Skrezec himself acknowledged, “It’s crazy.”

Crazy, perhaps. Virtually unheard of, definitely.

Making an interception is hard enough, nevermind three of them, but that is just what Skrezec did for Greenport/Southold/Mattituck in its 16-12 season-opening win over Wyandanch on Friday night.

Wyandanch quarterback Stanley Joiner may have nightmares about Skrezec, who, to the delight of fans at Greenport High School’s Dorrie Jackson Memorial Field, picked off one pass in the second quarter and two more in the third. Something like that doesn’t happen every day.

“It certainly hasn’t happened when I’ve been coaching, I can tell you that,” said the Porters’ coach, Jack Martilotta.

Skrezec, a junior who plays safety and slot receiver in addition to returning kickoffs and punts, said Martilotta had told him the day before that he was going to have a good game.

If Skrezec was a little unsure of himself, it would have been understandable. Not only was this his first varsity football game, it was his first football game, period, in two years. He had played for the Porters’ junior varsity team two years ago before switching to play soccer last year.

“I didn’t enjoy football as much so I wanted to see if I liked soccer more,” Skrezec explained. “Then I ended up realizing I don’t like soccer at all. I like football a lot now.”

What’s not to like after a three-interception game?

So, were there some nerves before the game? You bet.

“I was so scared,” he said.

Those nerves evaporated, Skrezec said, after he was hit for the first time. Then Skrezec, a fast player with a nose for the ball, went to business.

Interception No. 1: Skrezec was playing back deep by himself when Wyandanch faced fourth-and-17, an obvious punt situation. The Warriors didn’t punt, though. Joiner floated a pass downfield that Skrezec gratefully slid under 61 seconds before halftime. “I just read the quarterback’s eyes and got right to the spot and just caught it,” he said.

Interception No. 2: Skrezec put an end to Wyandanch’s second possession of the third quarter, reading Joiner’s eyes and cutting in front of a receiver on a slant to snatch the pass and take the ball 27 yards in the other direction. “I just couldn’t believe I got another interception,” he said.

Interception No. 3: Wyandanch’s next possession was also cut short by Skrezec on a similar play, returning that one 51 yards. On the next play, Tristin Ireland bounced off a tackler and plunged forward for a 12-yard touchdown run. “I couldn’t believe it,” Skrezec said. “I thought I was dreaming. I said, ‘I can’t believe this is happening right now.’ ”

Skrezec also made a tackle to bring down Wyandanch’s Matthew Rosa after Rosa intercepted a pass in the first quarter.

“Three in a game,” Martilotta said. “That young man had quite a few yards on interceptions today.”

Asked if anything surprised him about the game, Porters wide receiver/outside linebacker Zach Holmes answered: “Jake Skrezec. Great interceptions. We knew he was fast and we know he can read the ball.”

Skrezec said he made two interceptions as a freshman on the junior varsity team, including one in the season-opening game against, you guessed it, Wyandanch.

Skrezec said he never imagined he would have three interceptions in Friday’s game but, in retrospect, he believes he probably should have had five. Regardless, it was quite a night for him.

He said, “Oh, I’m never going to forget this.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Jake Skrezec, who made three interceptions in his varsity debut for Greenport/Southold/Mattituck, returning a kickoff against Wyandanch. (Credit: Garret Meade)

Candice Schott, pictured here with her son Rowan Schur, is launching a grocery delivery service called ‘North Fork Provisions.’ (Credit: Vera Chinese)

The drive from Greenport Village to Lake Grove, where one of Suffolk County’s only two Trader Joe’s stores is located, is 52 miles long and takes at least an hour to complete. The means Speculoos cookie butter and raisin rosemary crisps-loving North Forkers have to devote half a day — allowing time for driving, parking and shopping — to get their fix.

Until now.

Candice Schott, a Greenport resident and mom of four, is launching a home delivery service where she will pick up all of your favorite Trader Joe’s products at cost and deliver them to your doorstep for a flat delivery fee.

“This is for anyone who is too busy,” Schott said. “I have people in Riverhead who say they don’t want to drive [to Trader Joe’s]. Everyone’s time is really valuable.”

Read more on northforker.com.

Southold’s top runner, Owen Klipstein, was the Suffolk County Class D champion last year and his team won the county title as well. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk, file)

Owen Klipstein has a lot of things going for him as a cross-country runner. The Southold High School junior is tall, has long legs, is dedicated and follows his coach’s workout instructions to the tee.

“He’s the complete package as far as what you want from a runner,” said Southold’s coach, Karl Himmelmann.

Himmelmann said Klipstein is something else. “I’d have to say he’s the best runner I’ve coached in the five years I’ve been at Southold,” said the coach.

The First Settlers (5-1) are coming off a stellar year in which they won their third Suffolk County Class D championship in four years.

“They were absolutely thrilled,” Himmelmann said. He recalled: “We knew we were strong. I told them at the beginning of the season, ‘Stick with the plan and things will turn out well.’ ”

Klipstein is the only one of the team’s top seven runners from last year’s team who is back, but what a runner to have back. He won the Suffolk Class D race in 18 minutes 21.23 seconds at Sunken Meadow State Park’s 3.1-mile course. Then he finished 40th in the state meet on a muddy course at SUNY/Canton, completing 3.1 miles in 17:59.1. It was his third appearance in the state meet.

Klipstein was named an all-league runner and the team’s most valuable player.

“He’s an incredibly talented runner,” Himmelmann said of his team captain. “He’s looking incredibly strong. He has a legitimate shot at being an all-county runner this year.”

In order to do that, Klipstein would have to run under 17:50 at Sunken Meadow State Park.

Three former Southold teammates have helped Klipstein get to where he is: Jon Rempe, Gus Rymer and Chris Buono. “He always had to work a little bit harder just to keep up with them,” said Himmelmann.

Despite losing six of his top seven runners, Himmelmann believes the First Settlers have an “excellent” chance at repeating as county champions. That speaks well of returning runners Joe Saporita, Ethan Sisson, Gage Bennett, Kyle Skrezec, Joe Tsoumpelis and Rob Kruszeski. They are all juniors except for Sisson, a senior.

Justin Tobin, a sophomore transfer from Bishop McGann-Mercy, joins the team along with a strong field of freshmen: Michael Chacon, Patrick Connolly, Max Kruszeski (Rob’s brother), Anakin Mignone and Rob Elliston.

The First Settlers finished second in League VIII last year to Port Jefferson (6-0), the only team that beat them.

“One of these days we’re going to get them,” said Himmelmann, who is beginning to see the fruits of a junior high school team that was formed a couple of years ago. “They have a culture of running in that district. It seems like they grow strong runners. … Every year out they pump out strong runners.”

The First Settlers haven’t done too bad themselves in recent years.

“Last year there were a lot of seasoned veterans,” Himmelmann said. “This year it’s a lot of young kids. They’re energetic. They’re excited. Every day they run better. … It’s going to be exciting to see what happens.”

Mattituck (3-2) has a standout runner in its own right: Jack Dufton.

“I believe his potential is astounding,” Mattituck’s second-year coach, Mike Jablonski, said of the senior. “His running ability and his understanding of running is just beyond any of my other athletes.”

Dufton is the undisputed leader of Mattituck’s 31-runner team. He trains as hard as anybody. He helps teammates.

“Everything, it’s all great,” Jablonski said. “He’s a great student, a great person. … He’s a guy I tell everybody, ‘That’s what you want to be right now.’ ”

Not too far behind Dufton, however, is junior Dan Harkin. Both were all-league runners last year.

“Dan at times is just as good a runner as Jack,” Jablonski said. “On certain days he can beat Jack.”

Also among the team’s possible scorers are senior Lucas Webb and juniors Josh Prager, Frank Imbriano and Thomas Hoeg.

The team has prepared for the season by running trails near Laurel Lake. Jablonski said the first week of preseason practice is the most brutal and he was encouraged that all the runners had stayed with it. The team’s motto is “hugs and high-fives,” he said, “just get everybody through it.”

Jablonski said: “We like to have fun and enjoy each other’s time, but we like to work hard. I expect everyone, from my ninth graders who had never run in their life to my seniors to push it every day.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Opinions over a proposed Southold Town code that would define and regulate aquaculture uses fell into two camps at Tuesday night’s public hearing.

On one side were the farmers who supported the law and urged its quick adoption by the Town Board.

On the other, the residents who demanded — at times loudly — that the board members restrict aquaculture further, accusing the board of “bending over backwards” for out-of-towners.

“You’re killing the area … and you’re only getting a subculture that’s here to use and abuse,” said Margaret Skabry of Peconic during the nearly 2-hour-long public hearing.

The law as proposed would limit land-based aquaculture — the production of fish or crustacean or other sea animal for sale — to properties of at least 7 acres in the agricultural district

Single-family homes are also allowed in those types of zones.

According to the new aquaculture regulation, facilities housing aquaculture operations would need to be 200 feet away from any adjacent properties that could have homes and 100 feet from any roadway.

Aquaculture could also be built in light industrial zones without those restrictions, under the proposed law. Aquaculture in any part of the town could use up to 10 percent of its space for retail sales, according to the proposal.

The Town has no current definition of where aquaculture is permitted, which puts the Southold in a precarious situation, board members said. New York State has ruled marine farming is protected under the state’s agriculture and markets laws, which give prospective businesspeople a so-called “right to farm.”

Supervisor Scott Russell warned that without a code in place, an new aquaculture business could complain to the state that the Town’s rules are inflexible and could win a judgement that would force the business in poor location for residents.

Chris Baiz, who runs Old Field Vineyard in Southold and is chairperson of the Town’s agricultural advisory committee, said the legislation’s critics were grappling with “anxieties of the unknown.”

He said most of the concerns about potential aquaculture uses were “extreme” and said the law should be adopted as quickly as possible.

“Agriculture has one constant and that constant is change,” Mr. Baiz said. “Let’s just get this done.”

But North Fork Environmental Council president Bill Toedter said the board needed to consider what kinds of uses it was allowing before moving forward with the law.

He said opening the door too wide could bring in problems.

“To fix them costs a lot more than to prevent them,” he said.

Mr. Toedter said he was concerned by potential wastewater discharge from aquacultural uses, invasions of non-native plant and animal species, and antibiotic drugs that could seep into the groundwater and add “pressure upon pressure onto the environment.”

Though the public hearing was supposed to focus the proposed legislation, much of the focus shifted to Celestial Farms, a proposed shrimp growing company that spurred harsh reactions from some residents after it met with the board during a work session meeting months ago.

Celestial Farms co-owner Tess Gordon gave a five-minute slideshow presentation about their proposed facilities.

Ms. Gordon said their farm would be hormone-free and wouldn’t have any processing of their shrimp on site.

She said farming has always been in flux and displayed historic photos of old farm equipment through the years as her proof.

“Aquaculture is just the next logical step,” she said.

Though Mr. Russell tried to steer the conversation back to the proposed law, the presentation seemingly opened the door to comments about the company itself.

“It’s their dream to do it,” said Tom Stevenson, a farmer from Orient. “Try to help their dream at least get a start.”

Mr. Stevenson said the Town Board should pass the legislation as is, “just get a start and take it from there,” adding the board could reevaluate the law in a year’s time.

But Rod Stankewicz of Peconic said he didn’t want the North Fork to become a testing ground for someone else’s business.

“You need to slow down a little bit,” he told the board, “because I think you need to have some safeguards built in so you don’t have any problems.”

John Skabry, Ms. Skabry’s husband, cited a news story from Indiana about a fish farm that had angered neighbors to show what he believes could happen if aquaculture is allowed. He likened the Gordons to the company in that story, implying their operation wouldn’t be as clean as they had claimed.

At one point during his comments, Mr. Skabry also accused Mr. Russell and Planning Director Heather Lanza of improperly meeting with the Gordons before their application. He said the Town Board was rushing into the legislation.

When Mr. Russell tried to interject, Mr. Skabry shouted, “I have the floor!”

During her public comments, Ms. Skabry — who has been among the most vocal opponents of proposed aquaculture uses near homes — said the Town Board needed to put its residents first.

“This is our land and we have our regulations,” Ms. Skabry said, warning election season was coming up. She said aquaculture operations should have to play by “all the hard rules.”

Specifically, she wanted to see the acreage limits increased to at least 10 acres.

Others said aquaculture uses would ruin preserved farmlands that had been purchased with taxpayer money.

“I think there’s a lot of fear in the people here about losing our town,” said George Aldcroft of Peconic.

“I don’t care how long it takes, we need to protect what we have,” added Nancy Swastownicz of Cutchogue. “If they don’t like that, let them go build it somewhere else.”

Ms. Swastownicz said the Town Board should reconsider the legislation and “protect the people who live here, who love the North Fork.”

That upset Celestial Farms co-owner Todd Gordon, who took to the podium.

Mr. Gordon said he and his wife had lived in Southold Town for 11 years. They weren’t “outsiders,” he protested.

“How long do I have to live in this town [before I’m a local]?” he asked.

“Never,” a voice, laughing, called from the audience. “It never happens.”

The Board ultimately tabled the law to bring back up at a later date.

psquire@timesreview.com

Photo Credit: Oyster farmer Karen Rivara speaks before the Town Board as residents listen intently. Ms. Rivara said the proposed legislation was not permissive enough for aquacultural operations similar to hers.

Nearly a year after he closed his hardware store on Main Street in Greenport Village and held an auction to sell its inventory, Stuart Kogelschatz is looking to get rid of his possessions again.

But Mr. Kogelschatz has found that emptying out a barn he’s filled with hundreds of items over the past 18 years — including boats, bikes, stoves and other antiques — may take a lot longer than he initially anticipated.

Mr. Kogelschatz, who’s moving after he sells his home and neighboring barn on Front Street, had a permit to hold a yard sale over the weekend. But he was shut down within a day once village officials determined he’s already held more yard sales this year than village code allows.

“I’m moving outside Greenport Village and even though I’m not going to be here anymore I don’t want to leave on a terrible note,” Mr. Kogelschatz said. “I’m trying to do the right thing.”

Village code enforcement officer Ed Ward said he visited Mr. Kogelschatz’s property Saturday after a neighbor complained about parking congestion caused by the yard sale.

Although Mr. Ward said he found Mr. Kogelschatz had a permit for Saturday and Sunday, he determined during his investigation that it was only valid for one day.

According to village code, homeowners can host just two yards sales per year.

Mr. Ward said he had been at Mr. Kogelschatz’s previous yard sale on Aug. 21, which counts toward the two-sale maximum.

“Saturday was his second day,” Mr. Ward said. “Even though his permit was also good for Sunday, it was issued in error because the village official who issued it wasn’t aware he already had [a yard sale]. So the second day of the permit was revoked.”

Mr. Kogelschatz, who described Mr. Ward as being “very gracious” during his visit, said he’d held a yard sale previously to empty out his house after he found a buyer. At the time, Mr. Kogelschatz said, he planned to keep the barn and its contents.

When the deal fell through about 10 days ago, Mr. Kogelschatz found a new buyer who was only interested in striking a deal if it included the barn.

Mr. Kogelschatz said he’s happy the potential buyer is an architect who wants to preserve both the house and barn, which date to the 1850s.

His latest move comes nearly a year after he and an ex-wife, Therese, each announced plans to close their Main Street hardware store after nearly 25 years in business.

The couple had purchased the business from Bob White, whose father established White’s Hardware in 1930. Mr. White took over the store after serving in World War II and ran the business for nearly 50 years before selling it to the couple in 1990.

Mr. White, who still owns the building, initially hoped a buyer would purchase the hardware business and keep it as is. But he has said he’s happy to have Harbor Pet as a tenant. The boutique pet store moved into the space in February.

Mr. Kogelschatz said he’s looking forward to unloading many of his personal belongings and moving into a smaller space. He’s currently selling the rest of his possessions by appointment only, which the village code enforcement officer confirmed is permissible.

A friend recently gave Mr. Kogelschatz a book — “The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo — that he’s been reading most mornings.

Although the village’s decision to shut down his yard sale has been burdensome, Mr. Kogelschatz said he still finds it enjoyable when someone visits his barn and takes an interest in an item.

“My family is all gone,” he said. “It’s a good time for me to move on and let it all find new homes, new life. This stuff will live on — just not with me.”

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Top photo: Former hardware store owner Stuart Kogelschatz next to a steamboat’s wheel, which is for sale along with other antiques by appointment only since the village shut down his yard sale this weekend.

Here are some items featured at Mr. Kogelschatz’s barn:

Should the federal government allow dumping of materials into the Long Island Sound? Here’s your chance to share your thoughts.

As part of the ongoing debate, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold two additional public hearings next week — one of which is on the North Fork.

The first of the two will be held Wednesday Sept. 16 at Hotel Indigo on Main Street in Riverhead. Registration for the hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the hearing starts at 6 p.m.

The following day, a second hearing will be held in New Haven, CT.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the hearings will “solicit the public’s comments and input” on the Long Island Sound Draft Dredged and Material Management Plan (DMMP) and Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PIES) released on Aug. 17.

Critics of the proposals say the new rules allow the dumping of potentially toxic materials in the Long Island Sound from sites in Connecticut. Local officials, such as Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, have openly opposed the regulations and some had criticized the Corpsand the Environmental Protection Agency for not including enough public comment.

Copies of each plan can be found on the Corps website.

“Many are unaware that dredged material removed from Federal or private projects is subjected to rigorous physical, chemical and biological testing that not only tests the dredged material, but also the proposed placement site, as well as a ‘reference site,’ to ensure that the material is environmentally acceptable,” the Corps said in a release.

The public comment period on the DMMP and PEIS will now run through Oct. 16. If you can’t make the hearings, the Corps asks you send your comments by mail to the following address: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District (Attn: LIS DMMP/PEIS Program Manager Meghan Quinn) 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751.

nsmith@timesreview.com

Frederick F. Rackett of Orient died Sept. 9 at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport. He was 99. 

The family will receive visitors Friday, Sept. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where Orient Fire Department services will be held at 7:00 P.M. Interment will be private at Orient Central Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Orient Fire Department Rescue Squad.

A complete obituary will follow.

One year after locals expressed an outpouring of support for a townwide ban on plastic bags, a group of residents at Tuesday’s Southold Town Board meeting had a question: What happened?

The advocates, which included neighbors, farmers and the North Fork Audubon Society, also brought a petition with hundreds of signatures.

“Here we are a year later, and you have before you … a petition signed by your fellow citizens saying we want you to stand up for the environment,” said David Markel of Southold. “We want you, the Town Board, to ban single-use plastic carry-out bags.”

Last December, Southampton and East Hampton towns banned single-use plastic shopping bags; the ban took effect this year.

A few months before the South Fork towns adopted their ban, Southold Town hosted a public forum to discuss whether it too should implement one. At that meeting, an overwhelming majority of attendees spoke in favor of a ban.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Ann Surchin, secretary for the North Fork Audubon Society, said the town was “at a threshold.”

“The amount of plastic waste in this world is really frightening,” she said. “We can make a smart decision.”

But Supervisor Scott Russell said he wouldn’t support a townwide ban at the moment, though he’d consider a broader measure on the county level.

Mr. Russell said a ban could make it harder for businesses that rely on plastic bags, like 7-Eleven or nearby supermarkets.

“What this ban would do would be adding to the operational costs of local businesses … at a time when Riverhead is unwilling to do that,” he said.

“What businesses are going to suffer?” Mr. Markel responded. He accused the Town Board of dragging its heels on studying the issue so that it might be forgotten.

Some business owners at Tuesday’s meeting backed Mr. Markel and the plastic bag ban.

Adam Suprenant, owner of Blossom Meadow Farms in Cutchogue, said they use reusable wine tote bags and paper bags in their tasting room.

“There’s no downside to passing this,” Mr. Suprenant said.

Some Town Board members said they’d consider exploring a ban after doing more research.

“Philosophically, I’m not opposed to it to begin with,” said board member Robert Ghosio.

Board member William Ruland said he’d first want to see how widespread support for a ban is in the community.

“The first thing I want to do is read the petition,” he said.

psquire@timesreview.com

Photo Caption: Tess Gordon of Laurel holds up her reusable bag at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting. She said she supported a ban on plastic bags in town.

Another survivor of July’s fatal limousine crash has filed plans to sue Southold Town and Suffolk County, alleging their negligence played a part in the limousine crash that killed four young women.

Alicia Arundel, a 24-year-old Setauket resident who survived the crash, filed a notice of claim Tuesday afternoon, making her the fifth victim or family to do so.

Her claim alleges the town and county are partially responsible for the crash because there was only a blinking yellow light installed at the intersection of Route 48 and Depot Lane in Cutchogue, where the crash occurred.

“The dangerous conditions including the absence of traffic control devices, lights and traffic signs at the subject intersection existed prior to the aforementioned motor vehicle accident for an unreasonable period of time,” the claim stated.

As a result, it stated, Ms. Arundel “sustained multiple severe serious and permanent injuries,” including a crushed left humerus and cuts to her face, both of which required surgery. The claim also indicates she suffered extensive psychological and emotional trauma.

On July 18, the limousine, driven by Bethpage resident Carlos Pino, tried to make a U-turn at the intersection to head west. A pickup truck driven by 55-year-old Steven Romeo of Peconic struck the limousine as it turned.

Four women were killed: Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park; Lauren Baruch, 24, of Smithtown; Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack; and Brittney Schulman, 23, of Smithtown. Four others, including Ms. Arundel, survived.

Mr. Romeo was arrested and faces a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge. Prosecutors do not expect to assign any criminal charges to Mr. Pino.

Ms. Arundel’s claim of intent to sue is the fifth filed against the town and county in the months following the crash, all of which accuse the town of “negligence, carelessness and recklessness.”

In August, the father of Ms. Baruch filed a notice of claim against Southold Town and Suffolk County. One week later, both Joelle DiMonte, a survivor of the crash, and the family of Ms. Schulman filed similar notices.

On Friday, the mother of Ms. Grabina filed her own notice of claim.

Another survivor, Olga Lipets, 24, filed a separate civil suit in Brooklyn in July against both drivers.

Legislator Al Krupski said after the crash that the blinking yellow light at the intersection will be upgraded to a standard traffic light.

Mr. Romeo is due back in court Sept. 18.

clisinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Firefighters on the scene of the July 18 fatal crash in Cutchogue. (Tim Gannon file photo)

A trio of primaries will be held Thursday in the race for Southold Town justice.

Southold attorney Eileen Powers is challenging the town Republican committee’s nominee, William Goggins, for that party’s line, and both candidates will face Democratic nominee Brian Hughes for the Conservative and Independence nods.

The three candidates are vying for the seat being vacated at the end of the year by retiring Judge Rudolph Bruer, who announced in April that he would not seek re-election after 20 years in office.

For both Mr. Hughes and Mr. Goggins, this marks a second bid for town justice. Ms. Powers, who screened with GOP officials but did not receive the nomination at the party’s convention in May, is making her first run for public office.

“I think my résumé speaks for itself and I’m the best candidate for the job,” she told The Suffolk Times when announcing her primary campaign June 1.

A trial attorney with a private practice in Riverhead, Ms. Powers previously served nearly a decade in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, first as an assistant district attorney and later as an assistant bureau chief. For the past 13 years she has run her own private practice while also serving as town attorney in Southampton from 2002 to 2005 and village attorney in Belle Terre since 2006.

She said it’s her experience both as a former prosecutor and as a trial attorney in each of the East End courts that best qualifies her for judge.

“I’m a trial attorney who is in court every day,” Ms. Powers said. “I know what my clients want in a judge and I think I am that person.”

Mr. Goggins, who ran unsuccessfully against Judge William Price in 2013, said knowing he had the support of most of the Republican committee convinced him to run again.

The Mattituck attorney also told The Suffolk Times he believes he’s the ideal candidate for the job.

“I have the experience,” he said. “I have 25 years as both a civil and criminal attorney. I couldn’t even count how many trials I’ve had and they’ve given me the opportunity to see things from both sides. I have a lot of knowledge of what works and what doesn’t.”

Mr. Hughes, of Southold, is a registered Independent who lost a bid for town justice in 2011. He is an attorney and former FDNY firefighter and fire marshal. His Democratic nomination is not being challenged, so heading into the primary he is the only candidate guaranteed to appear on the ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.

At the Democratic nominating convention in May, Mr. Hughes pointed to the arrest and conviction of former justice court clerk Christine Stulsky for stealing from the town’s bail fund as a major problem in the courts that needs addressing, saying ethics need to be restored to the court.

“With nobody noticing, half the court’s proceeds went missing,” he said, referring to the more than $260,000 Ms. Stulsky admitted to stealing. “I want to have someone watching that.”

Mr. Hughes said he would bring courtroom experience, executive administrative experience and ethical considerations to the office.

gparpan@timesreview.com