“Welcome to The Beach House!” reads an ad on homeaway.com promoting a five-bedroom rental on a private road in Orient.

The “large entertaining home” has an average price tag of $586 per night and sleeps 14 people, according to the listing.

Fourteen is also the minimum number of nights the home can be rented for, the ad states.

A calendar on the website shows no bookings for this summer.

One of six houses on Windward Road in Orient, its owners are now seeking a new way to rent out their property in light of Southold Town’s new short-term rental law: becoming a bed and breakfast.

Last Thursday, nine months after that law was adopted — and just weeks before the busy summer season gets underway — this property owner and three other short-term landlords appeared before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals for public hearings on four separate applications. Two of the homeowners are seeking to turn their houses into bed and breakfasts. The other two are seeking an interpretation of the town code that would permit their rental operations to continue as a non-conforming use, allowing them — and other “grandfathered” short-term landlords — to rent for less than the minimum 14 nights.

A common thread among the four applicants is that they are all seeking a way to keep their existing rental properties viable.

But during each of last Thursday’s hearings, neighbors spoke out against the applications, citing quality of life concerns about transient rentals and accusing the applicants of attempting to circumvent the new law for their own financial benefit.

Attorney David Leno of Rivkin Radler in Uniondale submitted letters from four of the five other homeowners on Windward Road — where visitors are greeted by a sign reading “Private road: Please do not enter” — raising concerns about the impact a bed and breakfast might have on their neighborhood.

“This has always been portrayed and listed as a rental house and this is just a segue to turn it into a different type of rental house,” Mr. Leno said of the B&B application.

James O’Hagan, owner of the rental property, is requesting approval to operate the house as a four-bedroom B&B. His wife, Renee Murray, appeared on his behalf at last week’s ZBA meeting, saying recent changes in their professional lives have made it possible for them to make Orient their full-time home and they intend to operate it as a legitimate bed and breakfast.

“I recently lost my job in Manhattan, but my husband and I built this house here nine years ago,” she told the board, adding that her husband now works within commuting distance of Orient. “We want to manage and operate our own business so I can still work from home and generate income as well. Our goal is to be a professional operator. There will be no funny business.”

But Mr. Leno and several neighbors who spoke at the hearing questioned whether guests of a B&B would have a legal right to access the private road leading to the residence, the walkway to a private beach for Windward Road property owners or the beach itself.

Mr. Leno also said the regular addition of “four families by virtue of this bed and breakfast would have a material and adverse impact on this small community.”

Renee Murray of Orient (left) stares across the room as her neighbor Sharon Kuehn explains to the Southold Town Zoning Board of Appeals why she objects to a bed and breakfast operating on their provate road. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

So far this year, the ZBA has hosted five public hearings for homeowners seeking special exceptions to operate a bed and breakfast, though one was for the expansion of an existing B&B. Over the same period of time last year — before the short-term rental law was on the books — only one such hearing was held.

The two hearings last week were the first in which the proposals encountered opposition from concerned neighbors.

While declining to speak on any specific application, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said this week that “the chief distinction between short-term rentals and B&Bs is that operating a B&B requires that the owner live in the home and that it is designated as the primary residence of the owner.” He said he has encouraged short-term landlords to pursue operating as a bed and breakfast.

“I suggested at the time [the transient rental law was adopted] that anyone who wants to stay in the hospitality business should apply to the ZBA for a B&B use and meet all of the criteria to ensure the surrounding community is protected from impacts of that use,” Mr. Russell said in an email.

Mary Ann Fleischman of Holden Avenue in Cutchogue said that’s partly why she appeared before the ZBA last week to seek a special exception to operate a bed and breakfast in her home. The ZBA told her the B&B would have to be limited to one room and that her driveway would need to be reconfigured to accommodate three parking spaces and allow room for guests to turn their vehicles around.

The driveway leading to Mary Ann Fleischman’s house on Holden Avenue in Cutchogue would need to be reconfigured for the home to be used as a bed and breakfast. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Ms. Fleischman said that during 2015, she rented out a room in her home on Airbnb every weekend except one from mid-May to mid-September. Since the current law took effect last November, she has not booked a single rental, she said in an interview following the hearing.

A licensed clinical social worker who also operates a therapy business out of her home, Ms. Fleischman said she’s always lived on the property full-time. She said she began renting out her daughter’s former room once she left for college and uses the supplemental income to help pay her taxes.

“I was born and raised here and don’t want to do anything to bring the area down,” she said in an interview. “I had no complaints from anyone last summer.”

Still, the town has received five letters from residents on her block objecting to her application for the special exception. One of her neighbors, Gerard Schultheis, also spoke at the hearing. He questioned whether the town code allows for a bed and breakfast and an office in the same residence, among other concerns over COs on the property. Ms. Fleischman said the town building department has since assured her she could operate both a bed and breakfast and her therapy practice from her home.

The Fleischman and O’Hagan applications are expected to be taken up again at a ZBA meeting next Thursday, May 19.

As for the interpretation of the transient rental law, the ZBA closed its hearing and now has two months to render a decision, ZBA chair Leslie Kanes Weisman said.

About a dozen town residents appeared before the board to ask that it consider rejecting the grandfathering argument. Still others, including Southold attorney Patricia Moore, who expressed a personal interest in the decision as an attorney and not a professional one, said they believe it should be treated as a non-conforming use.

“It’s [the opinion of my husband, attorney William Moore, and I] that when the Town Board adopted this law they chose to adopt it as a zoning regulation and it’s pretty clear in zoning law of the State of New York … that any use that has been established prior to the law being adopted is grandfathered,” she said.

The two homeowners asking the ZBA for an interpretation of the code — Laurie Bloom of Paradise Shore Road in Southold and Lisa Credit of Sound Road in Greenport — are among about a dozen transient renters represented by Orient attorney Salem Katsh, who in March sent a 23-page letter to the town arguing in favor of the non-conforming use.

Another attorney representing a large number of short-term landlords, Abigail Field of Cutchogue, estimated that about 300 property owners in Southold Town who rented out their homes before the adoption of the law will be affected by the ZBA’s decision.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Top photo: Should a bed and breakfast be allowed to operate on a private road? Neighbors of this home on Windward Road in Orient have objected to the owner’s application to operate a B&B. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

In July 2014, a corporation named Southold Sunsets bought a small beach cottage on a third of an acre adjacent to Kenney’s Beach in Southold.

The company name surely derives from the location of the property, which abuts the beach parking lot, where many local residents sit in their cars to watch the sun sink slowly into Long Island Sound.

The new owner’s plans for the parcel, however, have neighbors complaining that their nightly view of this natural occurrence could soon be interrupted.

That’s because Southold Sunsets has submitted plans to tear down the existing 900-square-foot structure at 4200 Kenney Road and replace it with a two-story 1,900-square-foot house on top of a 15-foot piling structure. With decking the new structure would be 2,700 square feet.

“It’s a completely out-of-control application,” said Mattituck attorney Bill Goggins, who represents homeowners in the Kenney’s Beach area who object to the proposal, which requires permits from the Southold Town Board of Trustees as well as a pair of variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals. “Property owners in the area are pretty upset,” he said.

Attorney Michael Kimack of Riverhead appeared on the property owner’s behalf at a ZBA hearing last Thursday, claiming a hardship and arguing that the home, which is in the flood zone and in poor condition, needs to be raised, making the build-out necessary.

“No matter what we do, it’s going to be new construction,” Mr. Kimack said after Mr. Goggins and a neighbor from North Sea Drive both spoke in opposition to the proposal.

In order to move forward with construction, Southold Sunsets needs front and side yard setback variances from the ZBA. The owner must also receive wetlands and coastal erosion permits from the Town Trustees for the waterfront property, which is entered from the public parking lot at the beach.

ZBA chair Leslie Kanes Weisman expressed a lack of support for increasing the size of the house, but appeared open to the idea of raising it.

“The thought of putting a one-story, something similar to what’s there, on pilings so that it is not a massive in-your-face house sitting on a public parking lot and beach is something that perhaps is worthy of consideration,” she told Mr. Kimack.

Ms. Weisman urged Mr. Kimack to arrange for a hearing before the Board of Trustees and then take that testimony to the Town Board.

“I don’t think that it’s the zoning board’s responsibility to permit new construction 100 percent within the coastal erosion area,” she said.

In an interview following the meeting, Mr. Kimack said he doesn’t see anything written in the town code that would lead to the outright rejection of his client’s application.

“In the zoning, is there a consideration for the neighbor’s visibility? I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t see it.”

At last Thursday’s hearing, Ms. Weisman referred to the “balancing test” the ZBA is faced with.

“We’re not here to take away property rights, but we are here to protect the balance between the rights of property owners and the welfare of the community,” she said.

Mr. Goggins argued in an interview after the meeting that if the homeowner’s wishes were always to rebuild the house, those plans should have been made clear when the property was purchased for $750,000 in 2014. He took exception to Southold Sunsets’ hardship claim.

“You claim a hardship when you have a situation where you want to maintain status quo but can’t because of circumstances,” he said. “It’s not a hardship when you want to build a bigger, better house.”

Mr. Kimack said at the hearing Southold Sunsets – which is registered at the same address as a real estate company in Queens — comprises “two or three” families who plan to use at it as a vacation home. He said one of the reasons the proposed new construction is so large is that the families have disabled kids, a comment that caught Ms. Weisman’s attention in light of the proposed staircase to the first floor of the house.

“That’s going to be fun getting them up those stairs,” she remarked.

“Not that disabled,” Mr. Kimack replied.

Citing a “culture of corruption,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone demanded district attorney Thomas Spota, who he described as the head of a “criminal enterprise,” resign following the latest investigative story published by Newsday today detailing the DA’s office failure to prosecute crimes revealed on a wiretap. 

“Tom Spota, you must resign from this office so we can begin the process of reforming this place,” Mr. Bellone said at an afternoon press conference held outside the DA’s office.

Mr. Bellone threatened to request Governor Andrew Cuomo remove Mr. Spota from office if he does not step down in a timely manner. As he spoke, he held a letter in his left hand that he planned to deliver to Mr. Spota requesting his resignation. Mr. Bellone said he believes the governor has the power to remove the DA and he’s consulted the attorney general.

The governor’s office has been in communication with Mr. Bellone, he said.

Mr. Bellone said Mr. Spota refused to cooperate with federal law enforcement officials on the Gilgo Beach murders, unnecessarily prosecuted former Suffolk Det. John Oliva, lied about former police chief James Burke to conceal his past and violated his sacred oath as the top law enforcement official by letting criminals go and leaving some cases unresolved.

“Today’s report gives a real insight into what’s been happening here,” Mr. Bellone said, praising Newsday’s effort to expose the “criminal enterprise.”

Mr. Spota held his own press conference shortly afterward to defend himself and said that during his tenure he has always tried to do what’s right. He said the allegations were “completely baseless” and said they were a “personal vendetta.”

“The county executive made multiple personal pleas to me in the presence of other prosecutors not to investigate or prosecute people he was close to,” Mr. Spota said.

“I believe [Mr. Bellone] has other motives, other reasons he wants me out of office,” he added.

Mr. Spota had not been informed of the request prior to the press conference, Mr. Bellone said, and the two have not spoken “in some time.” He said he would not be calling on anyone else to resign.

“If [Mr. Spota] chooses not to step down, we can make the choice to call on the  governor to pull that choice out of his hands,” Mr. Bellone said.

Mr. Spota responded by saying: “If the governor chooses to sit down or send somebody in, I’d be happy to speak with them.”

Mr. Bellone was elected county executive in 2011 and was responsible for promoting Mr. Burke to chief of police in 2012. Mr. Burke left his post in October 2015; Mr. Bellone said he fired him. Mr. Burke was later arrested and pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a man who allegedly broke into his department vehicle. Mr. Burke had been a former lead investigator in Mr. Spota’s office prior to becoming police chief.

“All of us in this county politically, governmentally, everyone involved bear some responsibility for what has happened here,” Mr. Bellone said.

The county executive did not offer any recommendations as to who should replace Mr. Spota and said now is not the time for that.

“My view is I want anyone who thinks they can do the job to step forward,” he said.

Earlier this week Sheriff Vincent DeMarco wrote an opinion story in Newsday calling for Mr. Spota to resign as well.

“We need new, bold and untainted leadership in the district attorney’s office,” Mr. DeMarco wrote.

Mr. Spota responded with a statement to Newsday saying Mr. DeMarco’s “attempt to force the highest elected law enforcement official from office with neither fact nor proof is nothing short of frightening.”

Suffolk GOP leaders have also called on Mr. Spota, a Democrat, to resign this week, Newsday reported. They renewed that call in a press release issued Thursday.

“At a time when we are experiencing an unprecedented addiction crisis, and given the reality that Suffolk County leads the State of New York in heroin overdoses, the thought that the District Attorney may have spared drug dealers in order to protect corrupt politicians is beyond horrifying,” said Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi (R-Islip). “If true, to say this is disgraceful, disgusting, nauseating, would be far too generous.”

Photo Caption: Mr. Bellone pictured in 2014. (file photo)

joew@timesreview.com

Hundreds of bunker, their mouths yawning open as they gape for oxygenated water and to clean their gills, were filmed swimming in the Peconic River Wednesday.

It’s a sign that a harmful algal bloom, known as mahogany tide, could soon cause another large fish kill in the river. 

The video was shot underwater off the banks of the Peconic River at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday by marine biologist Chris Paparo.

 “I was down there this morning and there was even more fish than there was yesterday,” Mr. Paparo said Thursday morning.

Marine Researchers have been tracking a bloom of the same algae that caused a massive die-off in the river last May, according to an in-depth report published Wednesday on riverheadlocal.com.

 “They get so dense that they cloud the water,” Mr. Paparo said of the blooms. “It’s like an orangey, rusty brown.”

Predator fish, like bluefish and striped bass, frequently chase bunker into shallow, low oxygen waters sometimes causing die-offs around this time of year. But last year scientists reported one of the biggest fish kills ever in the region following an algal bloom, something they said in a February report could become the norm.

On Thursday, the Riverhead Town Board discussed a plan to remove bunker fish from the Peconic Bay in hopes of preventing another large fish kill. The town and the state DEC would pay fishermen four cents a pound to remove the bunker, under the proposal.

Fishermen hired by the DEC have already removed over 150,000 pounds of bunker fish since Monday, Town Supervisor Sean Walter said.

Nitrogen is the key culprit in a fish kill. The nutrient gets washed into the water supply by rain. Nitrogen can come from septic tanks, cesspools or fertilizers.

The nitrogen then gets eaten by blooms of algae. The algae grows bigger and sucks oxygen out of the water at night. 

Algae, like all plants, uses oxygen when the sun goes and down and emits CO2.

Fish also need oxygenated water to survive and when the oxygen content reaches dangerously low levels, the fish die.

vchinese@timesreview.com

Five years ago, Patrick Rogers and Jessica Peters met through mutual friends over some Long Island seafood and craft beers. By the end of the day, they were already planning their first date.

On Thursday, the Manorville couple officially began planning their wedding after learning they’ve won Peconic Landing’s annual “Veterans Day Wedding Giveback” at Brecknock Hall in Greenport.

Mr. Rogers, 33, has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 13 years and has received more than 15 honors and awards throughout his military career, including his rescue and recovery efforts during the 2009 Hudson River plan crash.

Ms. Peters, 30, a producer at Telecare TV, described her fiancé as a hard worker who has decided to devote his life to the military.

“His job is something he really takes pride in,” she said. “All of his hard work — I can’t believe that it has afforded us a wedding.”

The couple got engaged in March. They said they were surprised to find out they won Thursday because they thought they were just meeting with Peconic Landing’s selection committee.

Instead, they found a room filled with cheerful staffers holding red, white and blue balloons.

“I’m shocked,” Mr. Rogers said. “I’m very grateful. This is an amazing experience.”

The couple learning that they would be married at Brecknock Hall on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

This is the sixth year Brecknock Hall at Peconic Landing has held its annual Veterans Day Wedding Giveback. The contest provides current or veteran service members and their significant others the opportunity to have a wedding on the North Fork free of charge on Veterans Day.

Bob Syron, president and CEO of Peconic Landing, congratulated the couple and thanked Mr. Rogers, a Petty Officer 1st Class in the U.S. Coast Guard, for his service.

“We just wanted to do something that we thought was a recognition of your service to our country,” Mr. Syron said.

Dr. Jan Harting-McChesney, a Peconic Landing resident and member of the selection committee, said the group spent time reading each application submitted by five couples.

“We all had the same first choice,” she said. “They’re an outstanding young couple. Maturity came through in their application and letter.

“They really do exemplify the values we wanted to reward.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo: Patrick Rogers and Jessica Peters are the winners of this year’s Veteran’s Day Wedding Giveback through Peconic Landing. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

The North Fork is such a special place when it comes to scouting because parents and the community really support our local troop. Congratulations to East Marioneer Nick Wallace, son of Nicole Wallace and grandson of Kathy and Bob Wallace, who recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. As part of his project he constructed a planter bench consisting of two cedar flower boxes with a bench in-between. The bench has been donated to Greenport High School and installed by the trees near the tennis courts. WTG, Nick! Congratulations on being a great kid.

Speaking of great Oysterponds kids, can you believe it’s been four years that Kerri Hands (daughter of Janet and Billy) has been at the U.S. Naval Academy. She will graduate soon and be commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Currently she is a midshipman lieutenant grade and 3rd Battalion drill officer.

The presidents of three of our village’s civic associations met recently with a few other interested parties to discuss the fate of the Orient Methodist Church building/campus on Village Lane. All agreed it needs to be preserved. They will meet again and if you’d like to be part of this movement, call Geoff Proud at 631-323-3523.

Speaking of Geoff Proud, he will fill the pulpit at the Methodist church this Sunday, May 15, for Trinity Sunday to deliver a homily on the topic of “How We Know God.” As always, all are welcome.

The East Marion Community Association will meet this Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m. for the annual election of officers, as well as committee reports and updates on important issues affecting the hamlet, including the Oki-DO mega-resort, affordable housing, land use, water quality and helicopter noise/East Marion flight path. All members or prospective members are welcome. Be there at 9:30 for coffee and goodies.

The Orient Association will hold its annual meeting Saturday, May 21, at Poquatuck Hall at 10 a.m. Again, be there at 9:30 if you want refreshments.

Oysterponds Historical Society will host a cookbook swap Sunday, May 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the School House lawn. This fun free event will take place rain or shine and refreshments will be served. You can drop unwanted cookbooks at OHS weekdays or at the Country Store on the weekend. For more info, call 631-323-2480.

OHS is also launching a four-part art workshop series. Class sizes are limited and first come, first served. The first class is Saturday, May 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on “Unraveling the Mysteries: Abstract Painting.” The teacher is Suzzanne Fokine, MFA, of the University of Washington, who has an impressive biography. For details and sign-up, visit oysterpondshistoricalsociety.org. I’ll remind you about future classes as they approach.

Mark your calendar for an old-fashioned pancake breakfast at the OFD firehouse Sunday, May 29, from 8 to 11 a.m. More info will follow.

Congratulations to Oysterponds/GHS alum Melissa Kondak, who tied the knot with Jeff Blum in a dream wedding April 30 at the Don Cesar in St. Petersburg Beach, Fla. Melissa, daughter of Patti and Dr. Ed Kondak, and Jeff, son of Michael and Gayle Blum of the San Francisco area, were surrounded by many North Fork friends and relatives. The newlyweds are honeymooning in South Africa as I type. Congratulations to all.

Our library’s calendar is chock-full of events for the weeks ahead. Visit floydmemoriallibrary.org and check out all the interesting plans. You can also call 631-477-0660.

A celebration of the life of Alison Millis is set for this Sunday, May 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Orient Yacht Club. Please join her children, Andy, Peter and Rob, to share your reminiscences of their mom. If you plan to attend, please email petermillis@gmail.com.

It’s hard to believe we’re just one column away from the official kickoff of the North Fork summer season, when we welcome back summer folks, etc. Until then, enjoy the solitude.

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

Speaking before the Southold Town Democratic Committee Tuesday evening, Greenport Village Trustee Jack Martilotta gave a presentation on expanding the village’s sewer district into some unincorporated parts of Greenport.

Whether that will become a reality, however, remains to be seen.

Greenport Mayor George Hubbard Jr., who was not invited to Tuesday’s meeting, said in an interview Wednesday that the village has been investigating potential funding sources for the proposal in recent months. The previous village administration had commissioned a study by engineering firm Dvirka and Bartilucci on a possible expansion. That report was submitted in February 2015, according to the mayor.

Mr. Hubbard said the village has not formally voted to move forward with any expansion.

Nevertheless, Mr. Martilotta, a Greenport Middle School science teacher, explained to the town Democratic committee that the village sewage treatment plant is currently operating at about half its maximum capacity and could take on additional sewage flow.

Meanwhile, there are neighborhoods just outside village boundaries that are not hooked up to the sewer plant, and use traditional septic systems. Many of these properties, he said, are in areas within 10 feet of the water table and have medium to dense housing, which can threaten water quality.

The engineering study the village commissioned breaks the potential expansion down into three segments.

One is the area stretching from the western village boundary on Sixth Street to an area further west, at about 9th Street, Mr. Martilotta said.

This area includes about 60 homes, all of which use septic systems, he said.

Another target area is just north of the village boundary on Main Street, stretching toward Route 48, where about 75 existing homes are using septic systems.

The final piece — which includes a piece of the incorporated village that is not hooked up to the sewer system — is the area near Sterling Basin. This part of town has about 40 homes and about 150 boats in the summer, Mr. Martilotta said.

The cost of connecting all three areas to village sewers would be about $6 million, he said.

“But it would get rid of all those septic systems and it would eliminate all that stuff from going into the bay,” he added.

Sewer system extensions generally require affected property owners to pay for the hookup, as well as for daily sewer usage, Mr. Martilotta said.

He said he believes a number of funding sources are available, including a proposal on the November ballot to allow up to 20 percent of the existing Community Preservation Fund tax to be used for water quality projects, subject to voter approval in each of the five East End towns.

The CPF, which comes from a 2 percent land transfer tax, is used primarily for open space and farmland development rights purchases.

Greenport Village is the only area of Southold Town that has a sewage treatment plant.

It will be up to Southold Town to formally schedule the referendum on the CPF change, which was authorized by state law in December.

The town Democratic committee voted by way of a show of hands to invite Southold Supervisor Scott Russell, a Republican, to speak on the issue at a future meeting. Reached by email Wednesday, Mr. Russell said he’d be happy to do so.

“The idea of improving water quality is important,” he wrote. “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss it in any venue.”

Mr. Russell said he’s aware of the Greenport engineering study, which was sent to him by village officials.

“There are several impediments that I can see,” he said. “First, the CPF extension hasn’t even been voted on by the community yet and it’s probably bad public policy to try to spend money that doesn’t yet exist.”

He said the town and village would have to prioritize what projects to use the funding on, and would have to be shrewd in doing so, since there won’t be enough to accommodate all of the work that needs to be done.

The town and village will need to “establish criteria, identify priorities, identify priority areas and undertake a full environmental impact analysis to determine with projects give us the most bang for our buck,” Mr. Russell wrote. “The plan that they are discussing factors in none of that.”

The supervisor said the proposed vote in November would not create additional funding and that the town would have divert CPF revenue from existing preservation programs in order to use it for water quality improvement programs, such as the Greenport sewer extension.

Glynis Berry, executive director of Peconic Green Growth, a nonprofit that deals with sewage issues on the East End, also attended Tuesday’s meeting. She said concerns about the proposed sewer extension leading to increased development are mitigated by the fact that most of the areas proposed for the extension are already developed with homes that have existing septic systems, so there’s little room for new development.

Both Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Russell questioned why the presentation was given at a political committee meeting, which the supervisor called a “rather odd approach.”

Mr. Hubbard said Mr. Martilotta was speaking for himself Tuesday and not the Village Board.

“He didn’t ask the board for permission and the board didn’t sanction what he said,” Mr. Hubbard said Wednesday.

Southold Democratic chairman Art Tillman said he’d been speaking informally about this subject with Greenport Trustee Doug Roberts and asked Mr. Roberts if would speak to the club about it. Mr. Roberts was unable to make it Tuesday and sent Mr. Martilotta in his place.

tgannon@timesreview.com

Credit: The Greenport Village sewage treatment plant. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo, file)

More than 80 cartons of cigarettes worth about $9,000 were stolen from a Mattituck gas station sometime last Thursday night, police said.

An employee of Speedway on Main Road arrived at work at 6 a.m. Friday morning to find the front glass door had been broken, officials said.

In addition to the cigarettes, the police report also states that about $100 in cash was stolen.

The damage to the glass doors was estimated at about $700, officials said. No arrest have been made.

With one bill — the Campaign Finance Reform Act — already before the Suffolk Legislature and aimed at corruption in the county’s electoral process, a group of Suffolk legislators led by Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) is putting together another measure that would set up an office to investigate corruption, fraud and waste in Suffolk government and protect whisteblowers.

The Campaign Finance Reform Act (which was featured in this space last week) would restrict campaign contributions from county contractors and public employee unions including police unions, which have become big players in Suffolk politics with large campaign contributions. Authored by Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) it says: “Limiting the amount of campaign contributions that contractors and public employee unions can make to county officials is a reform measure that will strengthen public confidence in the integrity of the political system and increase the likelihood that county contracts will, in fact, be awarded to the best qualified individuals and businesses.”

Legislator Hahn said “we have a bipartisan group putting together a bill that would provide strong oversight.” She explained that “we don’t have a final version” yet, but it might happen by the end of the year.

National “experts,” she said, in fighting governmental corruption are being consulted. “We’re treading very carefully and I’m hoping at the end we’ll have something that everyone — or almost everyone — will support,” she added. “We want a significant measure.”

A likely title of the new entity the bill would create is the “Suffolk County Office of Public Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.”

From my perspective as a journalist based in Suffolk for more than 50 years, I’d say it’s an understatement that this measure has long been needed.

Indeed, when I began as a reporter in Suffolk in 1962 in Nassau County, its just-elected reform-minded county executive, Eugene Nickerson, had appointed Milton Lipson as commissioner of accounts. (The title subsequently became commissioner of investigations.) “Mitch” Lipson was ideal for the job, and quite an extraordinary person. He cut his teeth conducting investigations in the first campaign of reformer Fiorello LaGuardia for New York City mayor, became an attorney and then joined the U.S. Secret Service and was the personal bodyguard of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

Further west, the City of New York Department of Investigation was founded in 1873 (initially as the Office of the Commissioner of Accounts). As it says on its website: “DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country, formed in the 1870s following a scandal in which the corrupt William “Boss” Tweed and his unscrupulous cronies skimmed millions from the city coffers. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee from the city, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City. As New York City’s watchdog, DOI’s strategy attacks corruption comprehensively through systematic investigations that lead to high-impact arrests, preventive controls and operational reforms that improve the way the City runs.”

And what about Suffolk County?

When I started as a reporter my older peers in journalism were still talking about the “Suffolk Scandals” of the 1950s. A series of special state prosecutors had been sent into Suffolk to investigate governmental corruption. They found it on a wide scale. The county was still undergoing changes largely caused by the “Suffolk Scandals,” including getting a charter form of government headed by a county executive. But scandals have continued through the decades.

The current Suffolk County executive, Steve Bellone, is critical of the bill being developed. He was quoted in Newsday saying “we don’t even fully understand how our current agencies failed.” And Noel DiGerolamo, president of the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association, asserted: “We have district attorney investigations, federal government investigations — adding another level of bureaucracy to do what?”

When it comes to corruption, especially in a place like Suffolk with a long tradition of it, there’s no such thing as too many agencies fighting corruption. We’ve had a mixed bag of District Attorneys here in dealing (or not dealing) with the problem. Moreover, in New York City there are five D.A. offices, one for each borough, and that hasn’t meant its Department of Investigation is unnecessary. Similarly, there have been differences among U.S. Attorneys with jurisdiction over Suffolk and state attorneys general. The more entities with missions to battle corruption the better, notably for Suffolk with a record that would make “Boss” Tweed envious.

Ms. Hahn knows Suffolk County well. She’s been a legislator since 2011 and previously worked for the legislature. She and her colleagues are on the right anti-corruption track.

Karl Grossman’s syndicated “Suffolk Closeup” column is printed in the Shelter Island Reporter, a Times Review Media Group publication.

Southold Town will have offer an amnesty program next month for people who have unpaid parking tickets issued between Jan. 2007 and Feb. 2016.

Between June 1 though June 30, Southold Town Justice Court will grant a 50 percent reduction in the amount of fines and late penalties. The reduction is only valid if the parking tickets are paid in full in June, according to a press release.

Southold Town Justice Court director Leanne Reilly pitched the idea to the Town Board in February and the board formally adopted the plan in April by a 4-0 vote, with council members Bob Ghosio and Louisa Evans absent.

The board, in approving the program, also authorized a contract with Fundamental Business Services Inc. for administration of the amnesty program.

Between 2007 and Feb. 2016, the town issued 984 parking tickets that still have not been paid, Ms. Reilly told the Town Board in February. Because of that, the town is owed more than $170,340 in base fines and late penalties, she said.

Supervisor Scott Russell said the Town Board implemented the amnesty based on the suggestion of the Justice Court.

“Honestly, I had some reservations since it essentially gives a ‘discount’ to people who ignored the system for a long times,” Mr. Russell said in an email. “However, it has been successful in other jurisdictions in getting past fines paid. It’s revenue we weren’t going to get, so, if this spurs payment, then we can at least get some revenue for the taxpayers.”

Officials described the program as a one-time opportunity to resolve unanswered summonses and have a savings at the same time.  After June, penalties will be re-instituted by the town and all appropriate enforcement and collection procedures will be implemented.

The program offers three options:

• Pay online at http://www.southoldtownny.gov

• Mail in payment using certified check or money order to the Southold Town Justice Court, P.O. Box 1179, Southold, NY 11971

• Pay in person at the Southold Town Justice Court office located at 53095 Main Rd. in Southold during business hours.

For more information, contact the Southold Town Justice Court at 631-765-1852.

If Mattituck is to be denied a third straight league championship, it will take another high school baseball team to do it. On Friday, though, it was a force of nature that kept that league title out of Mattituck’s hands for at least another day.

Mattituck was leading, 8-1, in the bottom of the second inning when its Suffolk County League VIII game against Pierson/Bridgehampton was suspended because of heavy rain at Mattituck High School. The game will resume Monday at the point it left off — with Mattituck runners on first and second and two outs.

Mattituck (16-2, 14-2) needs one more win to clinch at least a share of the title. It would be Mattituck’s ninth league crown.

Aside from the completion of the suspended game, the Tuckers have only one other regular-season game remaining, tomorrow in Greenport.

Mattituck, the defending New York State Class B champion, is being chased by second-place Babylon (15-4, 15-3) and third-place Southold (15-4, 15-4).

After falling behind, 1-0, to Pierson (11-7, 11-7) in the top of the first inning, Mattituck batted through its order in the bottom half of the inning for a 5-1 lead. A bases-loaded walk by Jon Dwyer and a run-scoring single by Victor Proferes started the rally.

Mattituck extended that lead in the second. Bryce Grathwohl singled in a run and designated hitter James McDonald knocked in two more, giving himself three runs batted in and the Tuckers an 8-1 lead.

As game time approached, rain fell harder. While the Tuckers were batting in the second, the sky let loose and it poured, prompting the umpire to call both teams off the field while the pitching mound and home plate were covered. Only 55 minutes of baseball were played.

Christian Figurniak pitched for Mattituck, striking out the side in the second to give him five strikeouts. He allowed one hit.

The only run the lefthanded Figurniak allowed came in the first after singles by Sam Warne and James Sherry put runners at the corners. Sherry stole second base before Ryan Chisholm brought a run in a groundout to shortstop Matt Heffernan.

bliepa@timesreview.com

 Photo caption: Heavy rain forced the suspension of Friday’s game between Pierson/Bridgehampton and Mattituck in the bottom of the second inning with the Tuckers leading, 8-1. (Credit: Garret Meade)

Some rules were clearly broken during Thursday’s high school baseball game between Smithtown Christian and Mattituck, yet no one is complaining.

John Tardif, who is the twin brother of Mattituck’s star pitcher and center fielder, senior Joe Tardif, may be the team’s most loyal fan. John, who has cerebral palsy, attends virtually every one of the team’s games, sitting in his wheelchair and accompanied by his parents, John and Shelly.

But in Thursday’s game at Mattituck High School, John was caught by surprise when he suddenly went from spectator to participant.

Mattituck’s James McDonald was due to bat in the fifth inning, with the Tuckers leading by 7-1 on the way to a 10-1 win, when coach Steve DeCaro sent Joe Tardif into the batter’s box instead. Joe was walked intentionally.

Then it was time for a surprise pinch runner. Mattituck assistant coach Rich Pisacano carried a No. 37 jersey over to John and told him, “They will not let you on the field unless you have a jersey.”

John was wheeled over to first base where he received a helmet from Mattituck’s Jon Dwyer.

Public-address announcer Kevin Chartrand made the announcement, “Now pinch running for Mattituck, No. 37, John Tardif.”

With Joe Graeb at bat, Joe Tardif pushed his brother on a steal of second base and then all the way around third base and to home plate where he was greeted and cheered by the Tuckers as the theme song from “Rocky” played.

“He was ecstatic,” Pisacano said. “He was so happy. We treated him like he scored the winning run.”

DeCaro said: “I think it was emotional for everybody who watched it. For all of us who got to see Joe and John grow up, it was very emotional.”

The idea for it all came from DeCaro’s wife, Marge, who was inspired by a YouTube video she saw.

DeCaro then spoke to Pisacano about it. More talks followed with Mattituck athletic director Gregg Wormuth, umpires and Smithtown Christian coaches, whose cooperation made the idea become a reality.

“He’s our biggest supporter,” Joe Tardif, a three-sport athlete who also played soccer and basketball for Mattituck, said of his brother. “For him to be out there with all of us, playing like one of us meant a lot to him. It meant the world to him. It meant the world to my parents. My mom, she had a smile on her face until this morning, too. She’s still smiling.”

The Tardif brothers have shared the Fred Williams Award, which goes to a basketball player who has dealt with adversity. Mattituck soccer coach Will Hayes made John an honorary captain. “But nothing came close to this at all,” Joe said. “This was really special.”

“He’s always there to watch me,” Joe continued. “He always watches me when I play. Now it’s his time to shine. It was a really great moment.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: John Tardif and his parents, John and Shelly, watch a Mattituck game in the rain. (Credit: Garret Meade)

While driving on the two-lane section of Sound Avenue in Mattituck, you might notice a wooden sign on the south side that reads “Strawberry Fields.” No, there aren’t miles of red fruit lining the hilly landscape.

It’s the name Gene Davison gave the property he’s owned for over 40 years, after the popular Beatles song. It’s where he built two houses, raised two children and four grandchildren, tended to numerous animals and ran a successful Christmas tree farm. But within the month, Mr. Davison, now 87, will say goodbye to his compound and move upstate to be with his daughter.

In the late 1960s, Mr. Davison and his wife decided it was time to move their family from Stony Brook, but they weren’t sure exactly where to go. His wife visited the North Fork one day and returned home with a gleam in her eyes, saying she’d found the place. Then, Mr. Davison made the trip east.

“I came out here to work one day,” he said. “It was just twilight, I saw the little house and thought ‘OK, this is it.’ ”

Gene Davison visits with his horse, Sudie, a Dutch warmblood. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

When he purchased the 12 1/2-acre property, for which he paid $3,000 an acre, Mr. Davison said, “You could stand here and see to the edge of the earth” because the region was what he described as “depressed” due to the downfall of the potato industry.

After World War I, two brothers had opened Kirkup Chicken Farm on the property. When the Davisons moved there in 1969, the house they lived in — which Mr. Davison later sold to his current neighbors — was a reconstructed chicken barn. A carpenter by trade and the owner of Davison Construction Corporation, he built his current home in 1988.

The basement of the original house is where the chickens were hatched and kept in incubators, Mr. Davison said. The animals were slaughtered in what is now the kitchen and the egg-laying chickens lived in a barn next door.

“The original chicken house blew away in a hurricane in 1938,” Mr. Davison said, adding that the homes on the property today are reconstructed versions of the original henhouse.

The entrance to Gene Davison’s farm off Sound Avenue in Mattituck. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Inspired by the property’s history and feeling the need to put the old henhouse to good use, Mr. Davison purchased 2,500 chickens by mail order and used them to produce white eggs, which he sold to neighboring farms.

After two years, he said, egg production slowed down, so he sold the remaining chickens to a friend.

Those weren’t the last of the farm animals to grace the property, however.

In anticipation of his upcoming move, Mr. Davison has rented out the barn and land in front of his home, where horses are now kept. But he still owns four goats, a pony, a cow named Annabelle and a horse named Sudie — all of whom will make the move upstate with him.

As an homage to his carpentry roots, the interior of Mr. Davison’s current house is full of handmade wooden accents, such as the white pine floors, tables, desks, chairs, cabinets, oak ceiling beams and more. Contrasting with the dark wood throughout the first floor are white and brick walls. The exterior and roof are made entirely of wooden shingles.

After retiring from carpentry more than two decades ago, Mr. Davison established a Christmas tree farm in his backyard, planting five acres behind the barn stalls and the house with hundreds of concolors, Douglas firs and Frasier firs.

After the chicken farm, but before Mr. Davison acquired it, the property had also been a Brussels sprouts farm, he said, which gave the soil the ability to sustain healthy trees.

Gene Davion’s Mattituck home is surround by 5 acres of Christmas trees, which he opened to the public 18 years ago as a cut-your-own-tree farm. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

The Christmas tree farm is Mr. Davison’s favorite part of the property. He often climbs to the top of the hill in his backyard, sits on a stone bench under a maple tree and surveys all he’s accomplished in the past four decades.

“It’s gorgeous,” he said. “Everywhere else is flat, but this place has a lot of character.”

As his time at Strawberry Fields draws to a close, Mr. Davison said there are many things he’ll miss — the sight of horses as he comes up the driveway, the examples of his craftsmanship around the house and the expansive pine tree fields, to name a few — but he’s ready to move on.

nsmith@timesreview.com

Top photo: Gene Davidson takes in the view from his favorite spot on his property, overlooking the Christmas trees and the home he built for his family. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Before he transitioned to nursing, Daniel Lumley, R.N., spent 23 years building docks across Long Island.

“They’re two totally different careers,” said Mr. Lumley, who was recently named director of perioperative services at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. “It makes life very interesting.”

In his new role, Mr. Lumley oversees all aspects of nursing care in ELIH’s operating room and ambulatory surgery unit.

“It’s basically overseeing everybody and making sure they’re performing to their highest ability for patient care,” he said. “Then I make sure we’re working within our budgets, not overspending and doing everything to the best of our ability to save money.”

Mr. Lumley, who is 52 and lives on the South Shore with his wife, Lisa, and their three children, grew up in Holbrook and was most recently nurse manager in the operating room at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore.

He became a dockbuilder at age 17 but began studying nursing after deciding to retire from the physically taxing work around age 40. His wife, a registered nurse herself, encouraged him to enter the medical field.

“She suggested I go into nursing because a male nurse would do very well,” said Mr. Lumley, who has worked at hospitals throughout Suffolk County. “It was a time in my life when I knew I wanted to get a degree in something and change my career.”

A registered nurse since 2002, Mr. Lumley graduated cum laude from SUNY/Farmingdale in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. He’s now pursuing a master’s degree in nursing leadership at Stony Brook University.

“I enjoy learning,” he said. “I believe that, especially within the medical field, you need to be on top of the latest information to give the highest-quality care to patients. If that means going to school to get my doctorate, that’s what I’ll be doing next.”

Q: You worked as a registered nurse for many years. How did you transition to your new position at ELIH?

A: A colleague of mine mentioned they were looking for someone to be a leader and help the hospital grow as they move along their journey to new operating rooms. At first I was like, I’m not too sure since it’s so far from where I live, but I fell in love with the hospital. It’s a great place — a very patient-centered facility.

Q: What challenges do you face in your new role?

A: Budgetary restraints are the first one. And trying to keep a fine balance of, number one, keeping our patients happy and also keeping our staff and our surgeons happy. It’s a fine line. The patients come number one, no matter what.

Q: How do you plan to enhance services at ELIH?

A: I would like to bring ELIH to the next level. I would like to enhance nursing and patient care by exploring innovative surgical equipment that offers the latest in up-to-date technologies to enhance the safety of our patients.

We’re looking into 4K [resolution] technologies, like an Olympic scope used for any kind of laparoscopic surgeries that has almost a 3-D look. It’s amazing. It enhances the surgeons’ views, making it a safer procedure. We actually just trialed it this week and are considering purchasing it for all our operating rooms. We were the first one on Long Island to trial it.

Q: When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?

A: I like to ride my motorcycle. My wife and I like to ride together. We’ll take day trips out east. I also like to play golf. And we love going to the beach.

Have a health column idea for Rachel Young? Email her at ryoung@timesreview.com.

The liquor license of controversial Cutchogue winery Vineyard 48 was suspended for three weeks last month as part of a State Liquor Authority ruling over complaints from neighbors and local police.

But that suspension and the $10,000 fine that followed is over already, having began on April 5 and ended on April 26. And town officials and neighbors say the punishment didn’t go far enough.

“The $10,000 fine is nothing more than the cost of doing business for the Vineyard,” said Mary-Beth Shipman, who lives across the street from Vineyard 48 and has been a witness in proceedings against them. “It’s a slap on the wrist. Quite honestly, after four years worth of work by the SLA attorney to bring this case to fruition, to have that be the end result, with all the evidence was there, boggles my mind.”

The winery on Route 48 — which neighbors say is more of a nightclub than a winery — was back on the SLA’s agenda on March 1 as a result of numerous state Alcohol Beverage Control law referrals by Southold Town. The complaints, which date back to 2012 in some cases, ranged from loud music to overcrowding to people urinating on neighboring properties, and even cases of people having sex outside the establishment or on neighboring properties.

Police Chief Martin Flatley said Vineyard 48 was closed for 21 days and reopened about two weekends ago.

“So they received only a very small suspension,” he said. “They were opened prior to April 5, but at that time of year, there’s not a lot of vineyard traffic and I don’t think they do much until the weather gets nice.”

The SLA had previously revoked Vineyard 48’s license in late 2013, but the revocation was overturned by a temporary restraining order issued by state Supreme Court Judge Martin Shulman after Vineyard 48 appealed that ruling.

Vineyard 48, which is owned by Joseph Rose Winery LLC, had contended in court that the revocation was “arbitrary and capricious” and even “draconian,” and was an abuse of power by the SLA.

It said in court documents that there was no “law, rule or regulation prohibiting such alleged improper activities (dance parties with disc jockey music) or defining ‘what is a farm winery’ and ‘what is a wine tasting.”

Vineyard 48 argued that because there was no strict definition of a farm winery license, the SLA couldn’t legally charge them with such violations.

A November 2014 state Supreme Court ruling overturned the revocation altogether.

Three charges were discussed in the latest legal proceeding against Vineyard 48 in March: that the winery failed to notify the SLA of a change in its hours of operation; that it had become “a focal point for police attention due to noise, disturbance, misconduct or disorder;” and that the winery was “creating or permitting conditions which adversely affected the health, welfare and safety of the community.”

The SLA board issued the three-week suspension and the $10,000 fine at its March 1 meeting any public discussion, according to the video of the March 1 meeting in Manhattan.

“We are pleased to be able to resolve this matter with the SLA and go back to operating one of the most successful and professionally operated Vineyards on The North Fork,” said Peter Sullivan, who represented Vineyard 48 in the legal proceedings.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the fine was “not sufficient given all the incidents there,” but said progress had been made to tone down Vineyard 48’s activities.

“I am sure some people will be as disappointed as I am,” he said. “However, we need to consider the larger picture. It was never the town’s goal to shut the business down. Our effort was to force the owner’s to run a responsible business. We succeeded. The operation, as it is run now, does not produce the noise, the bad behavior or the complaints that it once did.”

Chief Flatley agrees that there’s been some improvement at Vineyard 48.

“It seems like it’s improved a little bit depending on who you ask,” he said. “Some of the neighbors will never be happy to long as they’re operating there. But … we did not get that many complaints this past summer.”

The police chief thinks the better business practices may also be due in part to the repercussions of last summer’s fatal limo crash. That July crash — which involved a limousine leaving Vineyard 48 and making a U-turn at the intersection of Depot Lane — killed four of the limo’s passengers.

“I think everybody stayed away from there for a while after that,” Mr. Flatley said. Vineyard 48 did not face any charges resulting from that accident.

Mr. Flatley said that with the SLA ruling, Vineyard 48 is not facing any further legal or disciplinary actions and is starting over with a clean slate. But a clean slate isn’t what Ms. Shipman is looking for.

“I want to see change with the traffic conditions that are going on,” Ms. Shipman said, adding that she and her husband had complained to town officials about limousines making U-turns around Vineyard 48 long before the fatal July accident.

Mr. Sullivan said the vineyard will employ “probably … the best traffic safety people in the North Fork,” though he said the winery was being “held to standards higher than other wineries because of the publicity.”

tgannon@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Vineyard 48 in a 2013 file photo.

One team is preparing for next week, while the other is planning for next year.

It showed in the Suffolk County League VIII finale for both teams, as Southold High School recorded a 12-2 victory over Bishop McGann-Mercy in Riverhead Saturday afternoon.

The First Settlers (16-4, 16-4) combined an early barrage of runs and some outstanding relief pitching to snap a four-game losing streak just as they are to enter the Class C playoffs. They last won against Port Jefferson, 6-2, on April 29. Barring a major surprise, they are expected to face Pierson/Bridgehampton (11-7, 11-7) in a best-of-three series beginning in Southold Thursday at 4 p.m. The official brackets will be posted on Monday.

The Monarchs (3-15, 3-15) will have to wait until next year to turn their postseason dreams into reality.

Left fielder Doug Fieldler led the Settlers with three hits, including a double and a home run and three runs batted in. Third baseman Greg Gehring contributed a double and two RBI and Luke Hansen added two RBI.

Three starting pitchers combined to shutdown the Monarchs. Pat McFarland, who hurled back-to-back one-hitters earlier this season, gave up two runs and four hits in his two-inning stint. Hansen allowed only one base runner — via a walk — while striking out three in his two innings and Dylan Clausen was perfect over the final three innings, recording three strikeouts. Noah Mina and McFarland each scored three runs.

Southold took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Gehring’s one-run double to left another run scoring on a wild pitch.

Mercy came back with two of its own in the bottom of the inning on center fielder Sean Tuthill’s single to center — one of three consecutive hits for the Monarchs.

The Settlers erupted for five runs in the second as they chased starting pitcher Matt Gambino. Gehring singled in one run, bases-loaded walks by reliever Mike Chilicki to Shane Zimmer and Fieldler forced in two and a dropped ball by right fielder Andrew Waski brought home two more.

Southold added four runs in the top of the third and another in the seventh on Fieldler’s second homer of the season, to right field.

Mercy freshman Matt Chilicki was outstanding in his 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two hits.

Photo caption: Southold starting pitcher Pat McFarland winds up. (Credit: Garrett Meade)

In 2011, the year before the New York State property tax levy cap took effect, 2,694 Southold Town residents showed up at the polls to vote on the proposed Mattituck-Cutchogue, Southold and Greenport school budgets.

Last year, the fourth budget vote with the tax cap in place, saw just 1,506 residents cast ballots in those same three districts.

That 44 percent drop in voter turnout is one of the more disappointing unintended consequences of the cap. It hasn’t just limited spending in local districts, it’s created ambivalence among voters.

The drop in the number of votes cast each year is staggering across nearly every district on the North Fork.

In Southold and Greenport, the number of people voting both for and against the school budget has decreased each year since 2013. In Mattituck-Cutchogue, a district that used to be able to count on more than 1,200 voters turning out for a budget vote, only 664 cast ballots in 2015.

Of course, the tax cap isn’t the only factor in the shrinking turnout. A shift in our town’s demographics, including an aging population and more second-home owners, has led to a drop in the number of children being educated in our schools.

Another result of this apparent indifference is a decline in the number of residents expressing interest in running for local boards of education.

Mattituck-Cutchogue is the only Southold Town district with a contested school board race this year. Last year, for the first time since 1990, there were no contests. In the past six years, only 21 newcomers have challenged incumbents for board seats in the area’s five districts — and six of those candidates are running this year in Mattituck-Cutchogue.

Even with a tax cap in place, school districts continue to account for about two-thirds of our tax bill. The expectation should still be that we want to have a say in how that money is spent. Voting on school budgets and school board elections is still our best opportunity to have our voices heard.

The residents of Mattituck-Cutchogue have a choice of seven candidates for three open school board seats Tuesday. In Greenport, the district is proposing to pierce the tax cap for the second time in five years. Even in the other three districts, where incumbents are running unopposed and modest spending increases are proposed, voters should still find the time to cast a vote.

We encourage each eligible resident to head to their local polling place Tuesday. It’s time to reverse this unfortunate downward trend.

Almost exactly a year ago, a former colleague of mine, Michael White, penned a column titled “Seven years in community newspapers.” After seven years with Times Review Media Group, Mike was writing his farewell column. He has since gone on to launch his own website, GreaterPatchogue.com.

And after almost exactly seven years of living on Long Island, it’s now time for me to move on.

While I had never heard of the “East End” of Long Island before I came down from Boston for a job interview in May 2009, it truly has become a place my wife and I had hoped to call home for a long time. Ashley and I were married on Long Island. We purchased a house here three years ago. Our daughter was born here and is currently in a day care that we couldn’t be happier with (Kiddie Academy in Wading River, by the way).

But sometimes, life throws you curveballs. The question is: Can you hit them?

With much help from friends, family, coworkers and — most of all — my wife, so far we’ve been able to manage hitting a major curveball thrown my way recently when I started having occasional seizures. I haven’t driven in months and we need to find a place with public transit that will allow me to live independently as an adult.

So, in order to keep hitting that curveball, up to Boston it is.

I grew up in the Greater Boston area and unfortunately my family had never ventured down here before I arrived for my first interview seven years ago. It still sounds funny saying that, too: seven years ago.

I still remember crashing at my friend’s apartment in Brooklyn the night before my first interview out here (and thinking on the way home: Wait, Flanders and Riverside are part of “The Hamptons”?). I remember the brief time my wife and I lived in two different apartments in Greenport — and how damn quiet it was out there in the winter (which was awesome, by the way). I remember jogging in Stotzky Park after we moved to Riverhead, hunting in the woods of Calverton and fishing in Peconic Lake (and how unsuccessful I was at all of them). How, in 25 years, nobody in New England had told me how beautiful this area is, I’ll never know.

Personally and professionally, I’ve certainly been challenged while on Long Island and would like to think I’ve grown a little bit.

We’ve hosted debates that have covered serious issues facing Riverhead and Southold towns. We’ve challenged fiscal policies in Riverhead, Southold’s handling of its own justice court funds and Suffolk County’s frequent treatment of the East End as its unwanted stepchild. I’d like to think we’ve helped make some progress in some of those places.

And the pendulum swings both ways.

To say the least, more than one op-ed and letter to the editor writer has disagreed with our coverage — which I’ve always tried to take into account. While writing this column, I even received a call saying that we should have put an article about helicopter noise in the News-Review a couple weeks ago (we just ran it in The Suffolk Times). I hadn’t considered that — but, looking back, that was at least worth a conversation.

Of course, there were plenty of late-night school board meetings and Town Board work sessions I’ll never forget. Tim Gannon Day will remain etched into my memory, hearing a politician recognize the dedication one of our hardest-working staffers has put in day in, day out since looonnnng before I came here. And don’t get me started on the Tim Bishop/Randy Altschuler recount coverage.

And then there were the people I spoke to and met, who — for some reason — shared their personal stories with an absolute stranger. Just last week a man started crying on the phone — a man I had never met, a man I actually cold-called — telling me the heartbreaking story about the death of his son. And the loss of his daughter two years ago. This week, I also happened to write about a family struggling with infertility who was able to have two children of their own through the generosity of their coworkers. I pass the house of another man almost every day and keep an eye out for his truck. When I wrote a column about him last year — he’s a veteran who received a chair lift — he thought his cancer was coming back. His truck is still there.

As for personal challenges, I’ll leave them as that: personal. But unquestionably, I’ll look back and say that the two best moments of my life happened here — my wedding and the birth of my first child.

Someone at my church was telling me last weekend about how envious she is every time someone she knows leaves Long Island. The grass is always greener, I suppose. And while I wouldn’t call it easy by any stretch trying to make it here as a young family, the grass is pretty damn green here. Keep watering it.

Music fans filled Greenport’s Mitchell Park Saturday afternoon to enjoy the village’s first ever A Capella Festival.

Greenport Village Trustee Doug Roberts organized the event, which featured singing groups from all over Long Island, including one from Riverhead High School and one from Greenport High School (shown above). 

Spectators enjoy the concert in Mitchell Park. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The Multi-Colored Ties from Northport High School. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Riverhead High School’s a capella group. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Greenport High School’s a capella group. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The Rolling Tones from JFK High School in Plainview. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Greenport Village Trustee Doug Roberts. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The Northport High School Multi-Colored Tights. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Riverhead High School’s a capella group. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

The crowd in Mitchell Park. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

In their last chance for a win, the North Fork Knights, a club rugby team for high-school age players, made it count.

The Knights have taken their lumps this spring. Their first four games were against more experienced teams and the scores weren’t close.

“It was really tough physically and even worse mentally, just getting beat down,” said Eshi Baldano, who plays the number-eight position for North Fork. “It didn’t make us really feel that great, but after every game we thought about what we did wrong and what we could do better and we improved on it.”

In the process, the Knights may have become even more determined, too. So, when they played their fifth and final game in Rugby New York’s Metropolitan Division II East on Sunday, they made it count. Tristin Ireland ran for three tries and 15 points in North Fork’s 40-30 defeat of Dwight Boys Rugby Club on a cold, windy afternoon at Mattituck High School.

Chalk one up in the win column.

“We got beat pretty bad a couple of times, but it was a nice day to win,” said Chris Jester, who plays as a lock for North Fork.

Jester, the team captain, ran for two tries. Also scoring for North Fork were Mike Goodale, Baldano and Robbie Lechner.

All the team members attend Mattituck High School, including Ireland, a senior flanker who also plays football and lacrosse. Like many of his teammates, Ireland is a newbie to the sport, playing in only his second rugby match.

“Tristin, he does a great job,” coach Mike Jablonski said. “He runs hard. He knows where to be. He picks up the ball. His tackling is great.”

Jablonski also liked what he saw from others. He saw hard running from Goodale, Jester and Lechner, a freshman. He liked the way Kasper Michilak, a 120-pound freshman who plays on the wing, made tackles. He liked the way the Knights supported each other on tackles and rucks, which create an orderly struggle for possession after the ball has hit the ground.

“All of them really impressed me today,” said Jablonski.

Chris Schroeder, a junior fly half who had been the team’s captain before breaking his right thumb in a game against the Long Island Colts this season, did not play.

Most of the teams North Fork has faced have been together for several years, compared to the two months the Knights have been together, said Jablonski. Experience counts for a lot in this sport, along with teamwork.

“When we first started out, we weren’t playing as one,” said Jester, a senior who will enter the United States Marine Corps.

Ireland said he has seen “insane” improvement from the team since its first game. Teamwork has been critical.

“It is a lot of having your team back you up and keeping position,” he said. “It’s a nonstop game, so you just have to have the drive to keep going. You got to work together and you got to be on the same page. You all have to have the same mindset.”

Rugby is an exhausting game in which the action rarely stops. It takes strength, endurance and a lot of running.

“Seventy minutes of hitting, tackling, running, rucking,” Jablonski said. “It’s really an endurance game.”

After enduring a series of defeats, the Knights could finally enjoy the sweet taste of victory, along with pizza afterward.

“The guys have been working really hard since the beginning of March and it feels good to get that win under the belt,” said Jablonski, who is assisted by New Zealander Jeff Cochrane. “We’ve been beaten by some pretty good teams, so now to come out and win one, it’s a great feeling for them.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Tristin Ireland ran for three tries and 15 points in North Fork’s first win of the season on Sunday. (Credit: Garret Meade)