George Kriss, former Mattituck resident from 1985 to 1998, and best known to North Fork residents as manager of the Arcade Department Store in Greenport from 1984 to 1988, died peacefully at his Leesburg, Fla., home with his wife by his side after a lengthy heart-related illness. He was 83 years old. 

He was born on Jan. 26, 1932, in New York City to Peter and Gertrude Kriss. He graduated from Valley Stream High School and immediately went to work as an assistant manager at F.W. Woolworth Company, which started him on a successful lifelong merchandising, operations management, and store management career in retail that he truly loved. Some of the stores he worked for in his lengthy career were the Nassau stores in Lake Success, Rogers Five and Dime in Hicksville, Forest Distributors, Suffolk stores, McCrory’s at the Walt Whitman Mall and New York City locations, Channel Home Centers, Genovese Drug Store in Mattituck, and Paperoni Party Goods all over the island. At one point he managed a store on the lower level of one of the Twin Towers, and after its awful 9/11 demise, he often commented how he would have been among the fatalities had he still been working there. When not on an extended camping trip, he enjoyed working at the Dollar General and Tuesday Morning stores near where he lived in Florida. He took his managerial responsibilities very seriously, protecting the assets of the stores he worked for during his lengthy retail career. In so doing, he put his life on the line several times. Once he was held up with a gun to his head in New York City, and another time he took a knife wound in the neck, just missing his jugular vein, while he was pursuing a shoplifter out the back door while he was managing the Arcade Department Store in Greenport.

He was proud of being a member of the Masonic Brotherhood, Babylon Lodge No. 793, F. &. A. M., earning the 32nd Degree. He was also a member of the Mecca Temple Shriners in New York City and enjoyed bringing the benevolence of the Shriners Hospitals services to children in need whom he met through the years.

He moved from Bay Shore to East Marion in 1984 and, as a bachelor at age 53, married Patricia Clancy of Levittown in 1985, moving his new family, including her two teenage children, into a brand-new home on Bayer Road in Mattituck. In the early 1990s he put an addition on their home to accommodate his elderly father, Peter, who succumbed to stomach cancer there in 1993. After retiring to Florida with his wife in 1998, they fulfilled their dream of becoming full-time campers, criss-crossing the country several times in their camper they lovingly named “Time Out,” visiting all of the continental states and Canada. They also took multiple cruises, the last two of which were to Alaska to celebrate their 25th anniversary, and to the Panama Canal to celebrate his 80th birthday. He said the highlight of his retirement was a summer-long camping trip from his home in Florida all the way up to Canada and Alaska. He looked forward to seeing a brown grizzly bear, and while driving along the Alaska Highway delighted in seeing one up close and personal as it leisurely meandered along the opposite side of the road. In the summer of 2012, on what turned out to be their last camping trip, he took ill on Prince Edward Island in Canada while touring the East Coast of North America. He was medically evacuated by air back to Florida. That illness was the beginning of a series of medical issues that ultimately led to his death on June 27 of this year.

He was the beloved and devoted husband to Patricia for 30 years; loving father to Patricia’s children, which he referred to and loved as his own children: son, Daniel Paulauskas Jr., and daughter, Kathleen (Paulauskas) Moore; dear father-in-law to Barbara and Gavin Sr.; and dear brother of Dennis and Kathy Clancy of Wheatley Heights. He was predeceased by both of his parents and his brother, Louis. He was especially proud of being the cherished Gramps to Gavin and Shannan Moore, and Daniel and Sophia Paulauskas, ranging in age from four to 10.

Upon his death he gave his body as an anatomical gift for medical research, which his father had also previously done. After his cremated remains were returned to his wife, a private Celebration of Life memorial service with close family and friends was held for him in November at the Church of Christ in West Islip. His loving family takes comfort in knowing he is now with Jesus.

Memorial donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals.

This is a paid notice. 

Sponsored By Peconic Landing.

Peconic Landing strives to be a preeminent senior services provider. Guided by our core values, and philosophy of innovation, we are committed to work in partnership with all to achieve our vision.

“I’m not ready yet.”

It’s a response said by many when deciding when is the best time to move to a retirement community. But it’s important to ask yourself, what it is that you’re not ready for? Have you even begun to explore what retirement communities have to offer?

“We always feel younger than our chronological age, and that’s a good thing,” said Dr. Roger Landry, a preventive medicine physician who strives to help Americans age successfully. “It’s good to think young, but you also want to plan on how to continue feeling young.”

Retirement communities like Peconic Landing, a Lifecare community in Greenport, design programming to help members do just that.

“Whether it’s continuing your education, participating in aqua aerobics, or finding purpose through volunteerism; we offer all that and more,” said Patricia Lutzky, Vice President of Resident Services. “Our goal is to help you to continue doing the things you love; and introduce you to other experiences you may enjoy.”

This means each day you will wake up with something to look forward to, perhaps even several, depending on how involved you would like to be. Aside from staying physically active , having something to look forward to is also significant in maintaining emotional well-being.

“We want you to get out of the house, meet with your friends, and feel accomplished when you lay your head down at night,” Lutzky said.

Feeling that sense of purpose will help to keep you feeling young, Dr. Landry said.

In order to take full advantage of retirement life aging adults should start early when thinking about how they plan to spend their senior years. That’s because depending on the type of retirement community, you may have to pass a health evaluation to gain membership. If you wait too long, you may no longer be eligible.

At Peconic Landing, which is a Continuing Care Retirement Community offering a Lifecare care contract, prospective members must be able to live independently for membership approval.

“We want you to be able to enjoy everything we have to offer,” Lutzky said. “Our goal is to keep our members enjoying life to fullest, with the security that their long-term care needs are met should a need arise.”

For more information about retirement visit www.PeconicLanding.com.

Marie Antoinette Heller.

Longtime Greenport resident Marie Antoinette Heller died Dec. 5. She was 61. 

She was born Sept. 10, 1954, in Flushing and was the daughter of Leona Rees Llewellyn Rescigno and Joseph Rescigno, M.D. She married Larry Heller June 12,1976, in Greenport.

Ms. Heller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Family members said she was a homemaker, who loved dogs, travel and opera. She volunteered for Community Action Southold Town (CAST); North Fork Animal Shelter and was a PTA past president.

A member of St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, Ms. Heller was active in the church Rosary society and bereavement group and volunteered to help provide shelter for the homeless. She was also a member of the R.C. Parish of Mary’s Nativity – St. Ann in Flushing.

Predeceased by her father in 1987 and her mother in 1986, Ms. Heller is survived by her husband, her daughter, Eva; her son, Thomas and her brothers, Joseph Rescigno of New York City and Thomas Rescigno of San Bernal, Calif.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery in Flushing.

Memorial donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League in Southold or Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, mbcn.org.

Life after Liam may not be so bad after all.

It has happened before. A team loses a star player and yet, somehow, things fall into place and the team actually plays better. 

That may be the case with the Southold High School boys basketball team, which bid farewell to Liam Walker, an all-state fourth team player who graduated this year with 1,180 points over four varsity seasons.

And yet, coach Phil Reed believes the First Settlers’ chemistry is a little better, the offense is more well-rounded and there is a greater commitment to defense.

Call it addition by subtraction.

“Liam helped us big-time with scoring,” Reed said. “It’s a new era for us. I miss Liam, but I think it’s a new era for Southold basketball. We’re going in a nice direction. Our program is going to improve.”

The First Settlers return a good deal of talent from a 10-9 team that lost to Pierson in a Suffolk County Class C Tournament outbracket game last season. Leading the way are Greg Gehring, a senior guard/forward, Pat McFarland, a junior guard, and Noah Mina, a senior guard.

“They really play together,” Reed said. “There’s no egos [among] the three of them.”

Gehring and McFarland both averaged about 8 points per game last season. Gehring, who brings physical and mental toughness to the floor along with a high basketball IQ, led the team with eight rebounds per game.

Another returner, 6-foot-2 senior center Aiden Vandenburgh, provides a low-post presence and is coming off a great fall season, said Reed.

The fifth starting position will likely go to Aidan Walker, Liam’s brother who Reed called the team’s unsung hero. In only his third year of organized basketball, Aidan Walker captains the team along with Gehring and Mina.

Michael DiCandia, a 6-3 power forward, and guard Dylan Van Gorden are also assets.

The First Settlers have junior prospects coming off the bench in Doug Fiedler, Alex Baldwin, Gus Klavas and Mathew Cardi. Myles Williams and Joey Worysz are new additions.

The First Settlers will face stiff competition in what could be the deepest League VIII in recent memory. Not only does the league feature two county champions in Class C Stony Brook and Class D Bridgehampton, the defending league champion, but Port Jefferson joins the league, which also includes Shelter Island, Greenport and Pierson.

“I don’t think there’s [any] easy outs in our league,” Reed said. “It’s up for grabs at this point.”

Photo Caption: Greg Gehring averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds for Southold last season. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

Senior point guard Bayron Rivas is part of a Greenport team that has bright prospects for this season. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

Greenport’s coach, Ev Corwin, knows there will be no cupcakes in League VIII. “You can’t get complacent,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of close games.”

A year ago at this time, Corwin knew that his Porters were facing a rough season, and it was. They finished with a 4-14 record.

“Four and 14,” he said. “I spent a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out how to turn it around.”

But Corwin saw the cavalry on the horizon. He knew help was on the way.

What a difference a year makes. The picture for the Porters has brightened considerably.

Three seniors — point guard Bayron Rivas, forward Ryan Costello and guard Brendan Walker — have a good deal of playing experience, as does sophomore guard Darrius Strickland. Costello made the League VIII all-academic team.

A fresh infusion of talent from an undefeated junior varsity team helps, too. Julian Swann, a 6-3 freshman center, along with 6-4 junior center Sam Strickland Jr. and 6-3 junior forward Jack Webster, bring the Porters the sort of size they haven’t had in quite a while.

The backcourt has depth with Jordan Fonseca, Tashawn Lawrence, Remy Droskoski and Ben Bracken, who have been promoted to the big team along with forward Evan Maroney.

Corwin said, “In small schools sometimes it’s tough to have real competition on a team … but we’re deep at every position, and guys know there are guys waiting for their spots who can play.”

As for playing style, with their height and athleticism, the Porters will look to run.

“I think we have a chance to win every night,” Corwin said. “I’m excited.” Then, thinking it over, he said, “Definitely, it’s time for us to start winning now.”

Mattituck senior guard Joe Tardif made the all-league second team last season. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

How do things look in League VII? Don’t ask the Mattituck coach, Paul Ellwood, because he is just as likely to ask you.

“I’ve never gone into a year knowing [so little about] how the year is going to play out. A lot of teams have lost guys,” said Ellwood, who has coached the Tuckers (10-8) since the 2003-4 season. He added, “Nothing would shock me.”

Even the Tuckers aren’t the same. Ellwood is left with an uneasy feeling.

“We’re not deep,” he said. “In the past couple of years we’ve been deep, so if one guy went down, it was not a big problem. This year, if one guy goes down, we’re in trouble.”

Two Tuckers, senior forward Ryan Mowdy (leg) and senior guard Jon Dwyer (arm), are both coming off of injuries, as it is.

Having missed the playoffs by one game last season, the Tuckers will need to stay healthy and rely on their four returning starters. Senior guard Joe Tardif, senior forward Dan Fedun, senior point guard Parker Tuthill and Mowdy each averaged 9 points per game last season. Tardif made the all-league second team and Mowdy was the League VII rookie of the year.

Dwyer is the only other returning player.

New to the varsity scene are: Carter Montgomery, Brendan Kent, Alex Burns, Ryan Shuford, Ryan McCaffery, Matt Mauceri and Joe Mele. They are all forwards, except for McCaffery and Mauceri, who are guards.

The Tuckers face a tough early schedule with games against East Hampton and Bridgehampton before rivalry games with Southold and Greenport and then the opening of the league season with Babylon and Southampton. Babylon and Southampton are 71-1 against the rest of the league over the last three years.

Ellwood said, “We’ll get tested early.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

John J. Callahan of Southold passed suddenly Dec. 5, 2015. Formerly of Holbrook, he was 73 years old. 

He is survived by his children, Coleen Fryer, Michael Callahan (Susan), Christopher Callahan (Dawn), Kathleen Dolomite, Richard Coons (Michele), Ronald Coons (Leigh), Jeannette Smith (Dennis), Dawn Bobal; his 24 grandchildren, Keenan Fryer, Kelsey Fryer, John Callahan, Michael Callahan, Katie Callahan, Patrick Callahan, Christopher Callahan, Jillian Callahan, Sierra Callahan, Mason Callahan, Tyler Callahan, Nicholas Callahan, Agnesa Dolomite, Joseph Dolomite, Richard Coons, Sean Coons, Megan Coons, Carter Coons, Tommi Ann Hansen, Denise Smith, Monica Smith, Dennis  Smith, Marissa Smith, Jenna Smith and six great -grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Joan Callahan. He is also survived by his companion Betty Anderson; former wives Karen Callahan and Donna Callahan and his sister Barbara Anderson (Gus).

John was a local business owner of Lighthouse Appliance and Southold Appliance and was an appliance repairman for over 50 years; most recently serving the East End.

He will be remembered as a devoted father and cherished husband and will be greatly missed by his family.

Friends may call Friday, Dec. 11, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greenport. Interment will follow at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold.

Memorial donations to Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice. 

Frances Lillian Blakely of Southold died at her home Dec. 7, 2015. She was 76 years old. 

She was born June 7, 1939, in Greenport to Joseph and Lillian (née Elak) Krukowski.

After graduating from Southold High School, she attended Syracuse University where she majored in Elementary Education and was a member of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority.

On Nov. 22, 1980, she married John N. Blakely and together they made their home in Beixedon Estates.

Fran had been an executive secretary to several chief executive officers of Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. She was a member of Executive Women International (EWI) and enjoyed traveling in her free time.

Surviving is her husband John N. Blakely; a brother Joseph Krukowski (Marilyn “Tootsie”) of Southold and their children Wendy and Todd; and many other nieces and nephews.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Memorial donations to the Southold Fire Department, P.O. Box 1469, Southold, NY 11971.

This is a paid notice. 

A turf athletic field and other facility upgrades are coming to Southold schools.

Southold School District residents approved a nearly $9.8 million capital improvement project by a 257-192 vote on Tuesday night.

“Now we get to work,” Superintendent David Gamberg said. “We believe this to be a very positive result for the entire Southold community.”

Mr. Gamberg and school board president Paulette Ofrias said they were speechless shortly after the results were counted.

Ms. Ofrias had tears in her eyes as she expressed her gratitude to the community’s support.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she said shortly after the results were counted.

The district’s plan to pay for the construction project includes using $2 million in reserves and issuing a $7.76 million bond to fund the rest.

The district’s previous $14 million capital improvement bond, which carries a 20-year term, is scheduled to be paid off in June 2018. That bond was issued in 1998 for construction projects at the elementary school, district auditorium and secondary gymnasium.

The $14 million bond still costs the average homeowner about $200 a year. The new $7.76 million bond proposal is estimated to cost the average homeowner $130 annually, which school officials described as a “$70 reduction” per year for the average household when compared to the previous debt that’s about to be paid off.

Some of the proposed construction projects include a new track and synthetic turf multi-sport athletic field with organic fill, added security features, reconstructed parking areas with bus loops and student drop-off zones, conversion of the existing weight room into a TV production studio and relocation of the weight room to the athletic storage area.

Also included for the high school are a refurbished ROTC classroom, upgraded art room and photo studio and renovated cafeteria dining areas.

At the elementary school, the proposal involves upgrading the library media center and creating flexible learning spaces, among other projects.

School officials estimate construction will start in 2017 and take about two years to complete. Work is expected to be done over the summer, as well as nights, weekends and school holidays.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Top photo: Superintendent David Gamberg and school board president Paulette Ofrias hug after they reviewed the voting results with district clerk Patti DiGregorio (right). (Credit: Jen Nuzzo photos)

From left, Southold director of operations Marcus DaSilva, superintendent David Gamberg, school board president Paulette Ofrias and assistant superintendent for business Charles Scheid at Tuesday’s vote.

The unusual opportunity afforded to the new Mattituck High School girls winter track team was outlined by its coach, Chris Robinson, before its first official competition. Prior to the crossover meet at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood on Dec. 5, Robinson told his athletes that there were going to be a lot of school records set that day.

It was the start of something new. A new beginning. A new team, the first girls winter track team in school history.

“It’s a cool feeling,” said Robinson, who had never coached winter track before. “I think that the kids are excited about it. The school is excited about it.”

Like the school’s new all-weather outdoor track, the winter team should benefit the spring track team.

A core of spring track athletes form the winter team along with a mix of athletes from other sports such as Mattituck’s successful cross-country and lacrosse teams.

“We have a very diverse group and every girl is good in different areas,” said junior Melanie Pfennig.

Pfennig competes in the 3,000 meters, the 4×800 relay and possibly the 1,500.

“Obviously, when she steps on the track, she’s a tremendous competitor and she does what she needs to do to find success, so I don’t expect anything less,” said Robinson.

• See also: A new team for the Mattituck boys

Meg Dinizio, a sophomore sprinter, and Sam Husak, a junior high jumper, both competed in the state meet last spring. Amy Macaluso, a junior sprinter, handles the 55 meters, the 55-meter hurdles and 4×200 relay.

If there was a surprise to Robinson, it might have been eighth grader Payton Maddaloni, a long-distance runner inherited from the cross-country team.

“I didn’t know much about Payton,” said Robinson, who oversees a roster of 23 athletes.

Two cross-country runners, Audrey Hoeg and Mia Vasile-Cozzo, are among the team’s four seniors, along with Christina Hatzinikolaou and Miranda Sannino.

“I just think that we’re going to do great things this year,” said Pfennig.

The first competition was a good start. Robinson liked what he saw. Husak’s high jump of 4 feet 8 inches was only 2 inches shy of her personal record. Robinson said Maddaloni ran “an unbelievable 3,000,” clocking a time of 11 minutes 21.11 seconds. Dinizio (8.13 in the 55 meters), Hoeg (1:53 in the 600) and Sascha Rosin (3:31 in the 1,000) also turned in commendable performances.

“A lot of us didn’t know what we were going to go and do because we had never been to a winter meet before,” said Husak. She continued: “I think we did really well. I think we came out strong, and we’ll just get better throughout the season.”

That is Robinson’s hope.

Robinson said he has learned that his athletes are resilient and capable of picking up things on the fly.

“It’s a new thing for everybody, even myself,” he said. “A lot of these kids never did anything like that before in their lives and they were able to kind of tackle that, and we had some great numbers and some kids did some great things, so it was impressive.”

He added: “The girls are up for the challenge. I’m up for the challenge.”

Photo caption: Melanie Pfennig will compete in the 3,000 meters, the 4×800 relay and possibly the 1,500 for Mattituck’s new girls winter track team. (Credit: Daniel De Mato, file)

bliepa@timesreview.com

A homeless man arrested earlier this month for giving a fake name to police is facing a felony burglary charge after he allegedly stole from Greenport Village Hall.

Southold Town police were investigating a theft at Village Hall that occurred about 10:33 p.m. Monday, according to a police news release. The burglar “unlawfully entered” the building and took a “small amount” of coins, two flashlights and headphones, according to the release.

Police ultimately arrested 46-year-old Richard Kurdt for the burglary, and found he had the missing flashlights and headphones on him, police said.

Mr. Kurdt was charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property. He was taken to police headquarters and held for arraignment.

Wednesday’s arrest marked the second run-in with police for Mr. Kurdt in just over a week. Last Sunday, Dec. 6, he was arrested for false personation after he was questioned by police for sleeping in the North Ferry terminal in Greenport Saturday. Mr. Kurdt was also arrested for harassment in Mattituck this past August, according to Southold police.

It’s impossible not to have entertainment ruined these days.

I’m talking, of course, about the biggest bogeyman in pop culture: the “spoiler.”

A spoiler is the tidbit of information that gives away the twist of a movie or a book. It’s the online speculation about a character’s death that you haven’t seen yet. It’s your friend casually bringing up who was eliminated in last night’s episode of “Dancing With The Stars.”

I’ve had countless movies and shows have been spoiled over the years. Admittedly, some were my fault. After all, I think there’s a statute of limitations on spoilers. If the movie’s more than a decade old, you should have seen it by now. If you don’t know the twist ending of “The Sixth Sense” yet, God help you. No complaints.

But pop culture is now being ruined before it even happens. Trailers in movie theaters give away the plot points, show us the ending or worse. Today, even the worst movies give away the best parts in their trailers. How often have you gone to see a comedy only to realize they put all the best jokes in the trailer?

It’s as if the advertisements for “Jaws” showed — spoiler alert — Police Chief Brody shooting the shark to bits.

So for the past three years, I’ve been avoiding spoilers at all costs for one of the most hyped movies of the millennium: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

So far, I know only four things for sure about the new movie: It’s directed by J.J. Abrams, there’s a character who’s a black stormtrooper, the bad guy’s lightsaber has a hilt and the Millennium Falcon spaceship now has a square radar dish. That’s it. No more.

At first it was easy. When Disney — owners of the franchise since 2012 — would spill out details on the cast and new characters, I wouldn’t pay attention. I turned off the TV or ignored the news article.

But for the past month, it’s been practically impossible. I’ve sworn off late night talk shows, since just about every one has had “Star Wars” cast members on set to chat about the film. My Facebook feed has become a minefield of friends gushing about the latest morsel of news.

There’s “Star Wars” commercials on TV, “Star Wars” toys, “Star Wars” festivals, even “Star Wars” branded lipstick. But the most dreaded of all are the “Star Wars” movie trailers.

Teasers and trailers have become the bane of my existence. They are ubiquitous. I can’t seem to dodge them no matter how hard I try.

I can’t enjoy movies in theaters now, because each one begins with a sneak peak of the next “Star Wars” installment. I’m stuck closing my eyes, plugging my ears and muttering in my seat to avoid it all. The moviegoers next to me must think I’ve lost my mind in a kind of Star Wars-induced insanity. I’m surprised no one’s called the cops.

My biggest fear is that I won’t be able to avoid what a friend once called “set-piece spoilers,” the big moment, the explosive action scene, the shot that has your eyes boggling and blows you back into your seat in awe.

The original “Star Wars” movie had that in its first scene, when a giant spaceship loomed over the audience and blasted away with its laser beams. I remember watching that scene as a 10-year-old and having my prepubescent mind blown. It was a nerd’s dream come true.

In the years since, I haven’t felt that awe in a movie theater. After all, the best moments of a movie had already been playing on repeat across television screens for months to drum up hype.

I want that feeling again. So when the first “Star Wars” screenings kick off tonight, I’ll be going to the movies for the first time since I was a kid completely unsure of what I’m going to see. Everything on that screen will be brand new. I won’t know the characters, or the plot or where the movie’s going to take me.

It could be good. It could be bad. Who knows? At least it’ll be new.

Come opening night, I’ll be waiting in line for my ticket. And, trust me: if I see you around after the movie ends, I won’t spoil it for you.

The author is the web editor for the Times Review Media Group. He can be reached at psquire@timesreview.com or on Twitter @pauljsquire (Just get in touch after the movie premieres, of course. Until then, he’ll be in hiding).

Here is the Suffolk Times Service Directory for Dec. 17, 2015. If you are interested in placing an ad, please call Karen, 631-354-8029 or email kcullen@timesreview.com.

Suffolk Times Service Directory: Dec. 17, 2015

Here are the classifieds for Dec. 17, 2015. If you are interested in placing an ad, please call Karen, 631-354-8029 or email kcullen@timesreview.com.

Times Review classifieds: Dec. 17, 2015

Finding George and Sandra Berry’s Southold home is no easy feat.

It’s located at 345 Willow Pond Lane, which is a couple of turns off Main Bayview Road. The house is on a hill, near a bend on a dead-end street you’ve likely never driven down.

Since there’s very little traffic near their home, the Berrys don’t decorate to please the masses each holiday season. Instead, the high school sweethearts put in countless hours of work preparing their house for the enjoyment of their 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren on Christmas Day.

Their festive home, which was selected this week as the winner of Times Review Media Group’s second annual Deck the Halls holiday decorating contest, is worth going out of your way to see.

“It’s a beautiful winter wonderland,” said Liz Person, one of two judges to give the Berry home a “perfect 10.” For their efforts, the couple will receive a $1,000 gift card from Riverhead Building Supply, the grand prize sponsor of our contest.

The Berrys first began putting extra effort into decorating for the holidays about a decade ago, they said. Mr. Berry, 80, hangs white icicle lights on the front of the house and projected images of snowflakes fall from a detached garage.

The lawn displays also use mostly white lights, though there are the touches of red in Santa’s suit or Rudolph’s nose. A North Pole scene and a life-sized snowman are highlights.

It’s not until you actually step inside that you get the full of effect of the Berry home. That’s where the many years of collecting holiday decorations and the personal touches can be experienced.

“Many of the decorations have nice family stories behind them,” noted judge Lauren Sisson.

There’s the more than 75-year-old Lionel train set Ms. Berry’s father bought for her first Christmas. It runs around their spinning Christmas tree through a ceramic winter village.

Also noteworthy is the story behind the family’s crêche, which was purchased from Woolworth’s with pieces costing as little as 19 cents.

“Back then we couldn’t afford to buy the whole set at once,” Ms. Berry said with a smile.

Eight of our judges rated the Berry home above the other seven houses we visited. None ranked it lower than second, for an average score of 9.3. With added decorations this year, the Berrys improved their overall score from our first contest, in which they finished with the second-best score.

“It’s like walking into the home of Santa and Mrs. Claus,” remarked judge Monique Singh-Roy.

Judge Cerria Torres said she was shocked to “not see Santa sitting inside.”

What resonated most with many of our judges, however, was how the Berrys continue to decorate each year out of the love they have for their grandchildren. It’s a holiday tradition sure to warm your heart.

“While the outside of the home sparkles, the inside warms visitors up with a cozy feeling reminiscent of Christmas Eves spent at their own grandparents’ home as a child,” said judge Vera Chinese.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Click below for more photos of the Berry house from photographer Katharine Schroeder, as well as photos of the runners-up in our annual Holiday Lights contest.

A $580,000 investment from New York State will help the North Fork plan for its future — and retain a piece of the past.

The Regional Economic Development Council — part of New York’s Empire State Development program — released a list last week detailing $2.25 billion that will support almost 1,100 projects statewide. As part of the annual effort to pump state funds into local economies from Oswego to Orient Point, two projects on the North Fork made that list: support for the completion of Southold’s Comprehensive Plan update and funding for restoration of a historic boat that once belonged to the New York City Fire Department.

Southold’s Comprehensive Plan update was going to be completed either way, according to planning director Heather Lanza. But the state funding — $165,370 through the Department of State — will help make it a better product.

The complex process of updating the plan began in 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2017. The final product is likely to comprise 11 chapters. One of those draft chapters is 80 pages long; another contains nine appendices.

So making the sure documents that will help pave the way for the town’s future are reader-friendly is key, Ms. Lanza said. Instead of designing the final product on their own, town planners can now hire an outside agency to publish the plan without having to worry about how — or of — the town will pay for it.

“I don’t think it’s a time savings as much as the quality that is going to come out of it,” she said. “We just would have had to have found the funding elsewhere and maybe not everything would have been funded.”

Southold’s original Comprehensive Plan was completed in the 1960s and was updated in the mid-1980s. Since then, studies that have been a little narrower in scope have been completed, such as the town’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan.

Ms. Lanza hopes the update to the Comprehensive Plan will be drafted by the end of next year. Public hearings and further adjustments would follow that, leaving a goal of 2017 for adoption of the plan, she said.

The second project funded by New York State is an “effort to preserve the hull area of the Fireboat Fire Fighter, a decommissioned FDNY Marine 9 vessel,” according to the Economic Development Department. The goal is to “improve the area as a tourist attraction, and to help improve the image of the dock area.”

The project was granted $414,000 through the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Fire Fighter was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It currently sits at the railroad dock in Greenport, where it arrived in 2013 after over 70 years of service in the FDNY. It was decommissioned in 2010 and given to a nonprofit that currently oversees it with hopes of restoring the vessel to its former glory.

The nonprofit received about $80,000 in grant funds earlier this year to help start the effort of reworking Fire Fighter’s hull.

Charlie Ritchie, who runs the nonprofit, said the state funding will help pay to finally bring the boat out of the water, undertake a proper estimate of what needs to be done and bring the ship up to speed. It won’t make it brand shiny new, though it will pay for much of the work. Mr. Ritchie estimates that about $100,000 in additional funding will need to be raised.

“Fire Fighter is the most famous fireboat in the United States,” notes the application made to the National Register of Historic Places. It also stated that the boat was televised during the country’s Bicentennial Tall Ships event and was present for a rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986.

Having such a piece of the past is a gift not only to visitors to Greenport, but to the village itself, says Mr. Ritchie, who plans to offer free sails aboard Fire Fighter once it’s been restored.

“There’s not a lot of things you can do for free,” he said.

“This has been an attraction for the village since we got here and now that we can get the shipyard work done, that’s going to increase the level of attraction for the village,” Mr. Ritchie said. “Now that it will be restored — I’m not going to say 100 percent, but a great percentage — we can get underway and do more water displays.”

After 42 years of combined service, three members of the Southold Town government — trustees Dave Bergen, Jim King and assistant town attorney Lori Hulse — are leaving their positions in the new year.

They were each presented with a proclamation Wednesday, read by another board member, commemorating them for their dedicated service.

Trustee president John Bredemeyer spoke first and acknowledged Mr. King — the longest tenured at 20 years — for his work as a lobsterman and focus on protecting natural resources. Mr. King didn’t attend the meeting — the last of the year and therefore his last as a member of the board — due to a scheduling conflict. Mr. King did not seek reelection this year.

“The people of the town so appreciated Jim’s work ethic and environmental leadership,” Mr. Bredemeyer said. “The Southold Town Trustees express their most sincere gratitude and appreciation for Jim’s 20 years of service to the Board of Trustees and the Town of Southold.”

Mr. Bergen, donning a red Santa hat for most of the night, received his next in honor of his 10 years. Vice president Michael Domino reminded the audience of Mr. Bergen’s dedication to the town and its water quality projects.

In November, Mr. Bergen lost to Glenn Goldsmith by 19 votes after absentee ballots were tallied in tightly-contested race. Nick Krupski received the most votes and will be filling Mr. King’s vacant position.

Dave Bergen (left) and Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski after Mr. Bergen received his proclamation for his 10 years of service as a Southold Town Trustee. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

“It’s an honor and a privilege,” Mr. Bergen said of his time as a Trustee. “I felt that I worked very hard this last decade to try and focus on water quality in the Peconic. We have many other responsibilities as Trustees, but that’s been my focus … it really meant a lot to see the Downs Creek project started with the generosity of the McCall family. It’s a great way to leave office.”

He read Ms. Hulse’s proclamation next. She served as assistant town attorney for 12 years and in November she was elected as Riverhead Town Justice, handily defeating Jeanmarie Costello. Mr. Bergen, who spoke about Ms. Hulse, noted her “esteem legal prowess, knowledge of town codes and staunch defense of the board of trustees.”

“Lori Hulse’s administrative abilities, public service and community involvement have resulted in her election as Town Justice in Riverhead Town — formally part of Southold Town — where she is always welcome to return,” he added with a smile.

Following the proclamations, the longtime friends hugged as the dozen or so people in the audience applauded and continuously thanked Mr. Bergen and Ms. Hulse for their years of service. Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski — a former Southold Town Trustee — attended the meeting and presented Mr. Bergen with a second proclamation.

“Sometimes you get as good or better than you deserve and I think the residents of the town certainly got a really good deal in the service of Dave Bergen, Jim King and Lori Hulse,” Mr. Bredemeyer said.

Photo Caption (top): Trustee Dave Bergen shares a hug with Lori Hulse Wednesday. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

nsmith@timesreview.com

Four months, more than 500 hours, $8,000 in labor and countless moments of frustration.

That’s the cost Russell Tillman of Cutchogue paid to repair a crumbling structure at Cutchogue Presbyterian Church.

One of the posts supporting the church façade had been decaying, so Mr. Tillman, 87, a retired engineer who owned his own construction business, took matters into his own hands.

He worked six hours a day, six days a week, hammering and sawing and pasting and painting. After all his hard work, Mr. Tillman finally finished this week — though that’s unlikely to slow him down.

Mr. Tillman took photos of his work as he went along, including one taken Sept. 6 demonstrating the damage inflected by wood rot before he repaired this section. (Credit: Russell Tillman, courtesy photos)

“I will probably continue to work until I leave Earth and go to another place,” he said last Thursday, while working on the post he rebuilt. “When I finish here, believe me, I’ll be looking for another project.”

Mr. Tillman is part of the church’s board of directors, and once someone pointed out a deteriorating column and its base to the right of the building’s front steps, he took it upon himself to fix it. 

Originally built in the 1880s, that whole chunk was suffering from extensive wood rot, Mr. Tillman said, to the point where a piece of trim fell right off when he touched it.

“Everything was so rotten, I tore three-quarters of it apart with my fingers,” he said.

Since he could not remove the base pedestal itself without risking a roof collapse, Mr. Tillman repaired it piecemeal, first stripping the paint off to see the extent of the damage and then adding newer pieces of wood to plug holes chewed open by the fungus.

He then built 36 10-degree wedges to form a new column, which he then carved by hand last month to match the contour of the existing columns.

The column itself was so far gone that Mr. Tillman had to scrap it altogether and build a new one himself.

“It was in bad condition,” said Richard King, a pastor at the church. “The building wasn’t going to fall down, but that column had no strength left.”

So Mr. Tillman stuck a block of wood in its place to support the roof’s weight, and then busied himself creating three dozen 10-degree wedges. After that, he put the wedges together to form a rough new piece and carved it by hand to mirror the contours of the original columns.

To his surprise, that section took only a day total.

The church paid about $700 for materials and Mr. Tillman did all the work for free. In doing that, he saved the church $8,000 or more in labor costs, he said, since a carpenter would charge about that much for the same amount of work.

Fellow church member Tom Wickham said the work Mr. Tillman has done for the church, including replacing the front door to the fellowship room, is always done in an authentic way that keeps with the tradition of the church.

Once Mr. Tillman began destroying the original column, the degree of wood rot became even more clear in late November.

“It’s a small church, so everyone contributes in his or her way,” Mr. Wickham said. “This is his way. It’s an outward manifestation of his appreciation.”

Mr. Tillman will admit it: At times, the work was vexing, despite his years of construction experience as the owner of Cutchogue Development Corp.

“On a job like this, if you count hours, you feel defeated,” Mr. Tillman said. “You don’t count hours. You just enjoy the progress … You just take it microjob by microjob.”

And for Mr. Tillman, the project is not just a labor of love; it’s also a way to keep himself busy at the age of 87.

“It keeps an old man alive,” he said. “It’s exercise. It’s something to do.”

The project was completed just this week.

The octogenarian is quite popular at the church — anyone who walks by as he is working has to stop and chat — and it’s not hard to see why, considering his sprightly verve and playful demeanor.

“Very few could do what he did,” Pastor King said. “I can’t believe his energy at his age. It’s incredible.”

He’s full of one-liners, too. On carpentry: “That’s where the fun is.” On staying healthy at his age: “You can’t sit around all day and do crosswords.” On doing construction work in his retirement: “I say I’ve retired, but really, I’ve just changed occupations.”

Next, Mr. Tillman says, he might turn his attention toward fixing the leaky church roof or toward some siding that needs replacing.

“He’s just amazingly dedicated,” Pastor King said. “The dedication to the church and using his talents — it’s just amazing.”

clisinski@timesreview.com

Top photo: Russell Tillman, 87, built this replacement column by hand for the Cutchogue Presbyterian Church building and repaired the base underneath it. He estimates the project took him more than 500 hours. (Credit: Chris Lisinski)

Southold Town Police are warning residents about phone scams after a string of complaints from residents claim they received phone calls from subjects fraudulently claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service and demanding money.

Police sent a press release Thursday afternoon noting “several complaints over the past week” of potential fraud. In these instances, the callers tell residents they owe “large sums of money” to the IRS and give instructions on where to send payments, which police say is a red flag.

“All agencies, such as the IRS, would never conduct business of this nature over the telephone and request money to be sent in this fashion,” the release stated.

Any residents who receive similar phone calls are asked to report them to Southold Police at (631) 765-2600. Residents may also contact police to verify the identity of callers if they are suspicious.

When Suffolk Times editors asked Maj. William Grigonis of the local Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps for a list of some of the unit’s recent accomplishments this week, we expected a paragraph or two telling us how many students had received scholarships and a few other details about the program. 

Instead, the major sent an eight-page packet listing nearly 50 awards and dozens more academic scholarships and military appointments. We should have known that if you ask the New York Yankees of the NJROTC world to write down all they’ve done, it will take a while to read.

To see all the achievements of Southold-Mattituck-Greenport NJROTC students outlined in one document was nothing short of amazing.

The program has been named Most Outstanding Unit in the region each year for the last decade. A local student has been named New York State Cadet of the Year eight times during the same decade.

About 85 local NJROTC students have received academic scholarships over the program’s 41-year history. The unit, meanwhile, has averaged more than 11,500 hours of community service annually since 2001, including more than 15,000 hours in 2015.

With this level of service to the community and the many opportunities for students, it’s easy to see why the unit has grown in the past 20 years from fewer than 100 members to 320 — with enrollment almost never dipping year to year.

Since its inception, the NJROTC has gone from a fledgling school activity to the most accomplished youth program on the North Fork.

That’s not to say there haven’t been bumps in the road. In 2001, when enrollment was about a third of what it is today, a change in Navy policy threatened the program by potentially forcing each school to establish its own unit. The schools successfully navigated that issue and, under the leadership of Maj. Grigonis, the three-school NJROTC has thrived.

Today, it’s hard to imagine the North Fork without this storied program. To anyone who’s ever worn the uniform, including the men and women who have served as instructors, we salute you.

Caption: Southold-Mattituck-Greenport Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps senior instructor Major Bill Grigonis talks to some of the cadets after the inspection. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

When 16-year-old Joseph Saporita saw flames begin to spark in the runaway bus he and 16 family members were traveling in, he noticed how scared his younger cousins were.

As the bus attempted to stop along the Long Island Expressway, the Southold High School junior, a member of the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program, knew he had to be brave and stay focused.

For his saving the lives of his family members, Cadet Ensign Saporita was honored Friday during the Southold-Mattituck-Greenport NJROTC’s annual inspection at Southold High School with the program’s highest honor, the Cadet Meritorious Achievement Award.

It’s just the third time in the local unit’s 41-year history that a cadet has earned the award.

It all started with Joseph’s choice to sit in the back of the bus. He was the oldest among the cousins around him, ranging in age from 11 to 13.

“My first thought was the bus driver fell asleep at the wheel,” Joseph recalled in an interview Monday. “I thought the initial jolt would have definitely woke him up, but once we continued to slam into the guardrail, we knew something else was up.”

It was Sept. 20 and the family was en route to Citi Field to see the Yankees play the Mets and celebrate his uncle’s 50th birthday. The bus was traveling in the HOV lane when it suddenly swerved over to the right shoulder — rapidly crossing three lanes of traffic.

His father, Mark, was closest to the driver and started to relay information to family members as the runaway bus continued to slam against the guardrail.

“The first thing we heard was that the brakes were out,” Joseph said. “I then grabbed my little cousins next to me — pulled them in close — and had my arm around them.

“I knew they would go flying,” he continued, “so I put my knees up on the seat in front of me and braced myself with my knees while we just kept ramming the guardrail.”

Then everyone on the bus began to panic as they saw flames coming out of the front of the bus.

“We were going up on the grass and at that point we thought we were going to flip because the bus was tipping,” Joseph said. “But then the driver hit another guard rail on the side of the bus and everything stopped really quickly.”

Related Story: Mattituck High School student earns Marine Corps ROTC scholarship

Flames continued to spark and started reaching into the interior of the bus. A cooler had flipped over and blocked the front exit. The family was trapped.

That’s when Joseph found the emergency exit window and first helped his little cousins get out safely.

“The emergency handle on the window got caught on my cousin’s bracelet and started to fall, so I put my hand up to block it so it wouldn’t hit her in the back,” he said. “I could tell the second the window fell that she had a broken wrist.”

Joseph’s father, a physician at East End Cardiology, and aunt, a nurse at Peconic Bay Medical Center, tended to his cousin’s wrist by making a splint from a tree branch and an ACE bandage.

Joseph led his cousins about 100 yards away from the bus, told the oldest among them to watch over the children and then returned to the bus to make sure the rest of his family had exited safely.

“It was about 30 seconds after everybody was off the bus and the entire thing was engulfed in flames,” he said.

The family remained on the side of the road for about an hour. While traffic backed up, people passing by offered cases of water and granola bars, he said.

The police then drove the family to Kitchen Kabaret, a Jewish deli on Glen Cove Road in Roslyn Heights that’s one of the family’s favorite eateries.

“My family stops there every time we go upstate to visit my mom’s family,” Joseph said. “Once we got there, I felt more secure because it’s something that I’m really used to. Everybody got to Kitchen Kabaret — that’s when we all knew we were safe.”

Joseph said a relative who lives in the area met them at the restaurant. The baseball game was already halfway over. Feeling grateful that a tragedy had been avoided, the group just wanted to go home and spend time together.

When asked how he remained calm during the ordeal, Joseph said he knew he had to take charge of the situation because he’s the oldest.

“I looked around and my younger cousins looked really scared — I knew I had to step up and be responsible for them because their mother was closer to the front of the bus and, if something did happen, I had to react quickly because there was no way she could get back there to take charge of them,” he said.

Editorial: A salute to our local NJROTC

His experience this past summer at the Leadership Academy in Newport, R.I., where he learned how to sail for the first time, had also helped prepare him to make split-second decisions under pressure.

“You have to make a decision, even at a time where things might be bad, you have to stick with it,” he said of his sailing experience. “You have to do what needs to be done. You can’t let it get to you.”

On Friday, Joseph received NJROTC’s highest award — given to cadets who save lives — for his dedication and bravery.

One of his mentors in the program, Navy Counselor 1st Class Felicity Turner, said this is the first time during her eight-year tenure that one of her cadets has received such recognition.

“It’s an honor,” she said. “Joe always steps up and does the right thing. This is an example of it.”

His mother, Lorrie, said she was notified two days before he received the award and had to keep it a secret in order to not ruin the surprise.

“We’re very proud he received this,” she said, fighting back tears. “We’re very happy he’s being honored for his actions. It’s been a very emotional experience.”

As high school graduation nears for Joseph, he is gravitating toward careers that involve saving lives.

He’s on the fence about studying to become a cardiologist, like his father, or a neurologist. But Joseph said his NJROTC experience has inspired him to also serve in the military after he’s done with college.

“I felt very honored because it’s a very prestigious award and not many people get it,” he said. “I just hope that I can live up to that honor.”

Caption: Joseph Saporita poses with his award Monday. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo)

Greenport residents say small, overcrowded housing lots in the village are leading to overdevelopment and other problems, and they urged the Greenport Village Planning Board not to approve any more subdivisions Thursday. 

The two specific subdivision applications that triggered this response both came from developer James Olinkiewicz of Shelter Island, and both were on for discussion at the Planning Board’s work session meeting Thursday.

The first proposal deals with property on 238 Fifth Ave., which Mr. Olinkiewicz proposes to subdivide into lots of 5,392 square feet and 4,026 square feet.

The larger lot already has a two-family house on it, and the smaller lot would have a new, 800-square-foot, one-family home built on it, under the proposal.

Both lots would require variances from the village Zoning Board of Appeals since the current minimum lot size allowed is 7,500 square feet.

The other application is on 221 Fifth Ave., where Mr. Olinkiewicz owns a lot that’s 3/10th of an acre, or 14,206 square feet.

Mr. Olinkiewicz proposes to subdivide that into lots of 7,619 square feet and 6,587 square feet. There’s an existing two-family house on the larger lot proposed and new construction is proposed on the other lot, which would need ZBA variances in order to be below the minimum lot size. It would also need variances to allow it to be closer to  neighboring properties than the village code permits.

Jack Weiskott of Second Street submitted a petition signed by 35 residents opposing any further subdivisions on Fifth Avenue.

“We are dismayed at the seemingly endless overdevelopment in our village,” Mr. Weiskott said. “Single-family homes are increasingly being purchased by investors and are frequently converted into overcrowded two-family rentals.

“Fifth Avenue, in particular, is possibly the most densely populated street in the village, with resultant heavy traffic and on-street parking.”

He said the road has essentially become a one-way street because of all the cars parked on the side of the road.

“His proposal will not meet code and therefore should be denied,” said JoAnne McEntee, who lives next door to the 238 Fifth Ave. property.

She said the village code calls for gradually eliminating uses that don’t conform to zoning.

“The code needs to be followed,” she said, adding that the variances being sought are excessive.

“How much smaller can the village make a lot and build on it,” Ms. McEntee said. “Southold Town would never allow such small lots to build on.”

Ms. McEntee said she believes Mr. Olinkiewicz will put two-family homes on the new lots. “I can almost guarantee that,” she said, saying he has a history of converting one-family lots into two-family lots, and that he owns at least 30 lots in the village.

“This is another sign of overcrowded within our village,” Ms. McEntee said.

“I don’t see Mr. Olinkiewicz buying property on Shelter Island and destroying property where he lives,” Mary Ann Jaeger of Front Street said.

Diane Peterson of Sixth Street suggested the Village Trustees enact a moratorium on “substandard building,” saying these are not the only applications for subdivisions that would create smaller than permitted lots. (Mr. Olinkiewicz also has another subdivision application before the Planning Board on a Third Street property.)

“We have to look at the village overall to make sure we are not urbanizing the village, and we have to look at overcrowding,” she said.

“Making it Queens is not what any of us want to see happen,” Ms. Peterson said.

Mr. Olinkiewicz’s attorney, Kimberlea Rea, said the application clearly states that the proposal calls for a one-family house.

She said Mr. Olinkiewicz has, in every instance in the village, rehabilitated old buildings and brought them up to code.

“Many of these were dilapidated, disheveled, unlivable buildings,” she said. “At 238 Fifth Ave., he took a 19th Century building, a very beautiful old building but one that really needed renovation, and did it beautifully. I would like to make it clear that his intent is to create housing that is code compliant.”

Planning Board chairman Devon McMahon said he doesn’t believe there should be a moratorium on all subdivisions because some are appropriate and some aren’t.

In this instance, he said these are substandard lots being proposed and the Planning Board would have to deny it, although the applicant could still subsequently apply for variances before the ZBA.

Planning Board members Ben Burns and Peter Jauquet had both said at the beginning of the meeting that they felt the village should consider a moratorium on subdivisions in the village, something Fifth Avenue residents had asked the Village Trustees to do through a petition submitted on Nov. 19. It had 38 signatures.

Ms. Rea said she understands the Planning Board has to deny the application, and she would like to take the application to the ZBA.

The Planning Board, with members Pat Mundus and Chris Dowling absent, voted to put off any official action on the application until its next voting meeting in January, when it will likely reject the application.

If the applications can get ZBA variances, they would eventually come back to the Planning Board for public hearing and a possible vote at some point in the future,  Mr. McMahon said.

Photo Caption: Fifth Avenue resident JoAnne McEntee, at podium, was one of several residents to speak against allowing small lots to be subdivided at Thursday’s Greenport Village Board work session. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

tgannon@timesreview.com