Joan P. Reese of Southold died Oct. 29. She was 88.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Nov. 2, from 2 to 4 and  to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Saint Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre R.C. Cemetery in Coram. Memorial donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.

A complete obituary will follow.

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Longtime Orient resident Joan Contento died Oct. 30 at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. She was 88.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Nov. 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greeport. A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Burial will take place at Orient Central Cemetery.

A complete obituary will follow.

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WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
April 27, 1955
To: Thomas O’Brien
Connecticut State Teacher’s College, New Britain, Connecticut
Subject: Scholarship

Mr. O’Brien,
Because of failure of yourself and the New York Yankees to make known the scholarship agreement entered into February 16, 1950 your contract with the Binghamton baseball club has been canceled by this office and you are now a free agent and can sign with any club except the New York Yankees.
—Ford Frick, Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Thomas “Tuck” O’Brien was born during the Great Depression into an Irish-American family in Fall River, Mass.

His father, Francis, a gifted athlete, was a draftsman for Con Edison. O’Brien’s mother, Winifred, when not tending to her five children, worked as a nurse.

Growing up in Cambria Heights, Queens, O’Brien always had someone to play ball with; whether playing a pickup game on the playground or in organized leagues. Attending Andrew Jackson High School in St. Albans, O’Brien played all four of his high school years on the varsity squad as a catcher and outfielder.

During the summer of 1948, O’Brien attended a baseball camp in Massachusetts run by the former Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez and was awarded a trophy for being the most outstanding player at the camp. This drew the interest of the Yankees. When the Yankees were on the road, select players were able to work out at Yankee Stadium, something O’Brien did on many occasions. Recalling his Stadium highlights, O’Brien said, “One day when I was in the batting cage, Joe DiMaggio and his son were watching me.” O’Brien remembers DiMaggio’s son telling the Yankee great, “He hits just like you, Dad.”

O’Brien, who has lived in Southold for more than 60 of his 86 years, said, “I remember the day my father was watching and I hit a 295-foot homer into the rightfield seats.”

The Yankees had been courting O’Brien and had hoped to eventually sign him to a contract, as were the Pittsburgh Pirates. “There was a scout from the Yankees who would come over to our house on Friday nights and watch boxing with my father,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien had hoped to attend George Washington University on a baseball scholarship, but his grades were just below the standard for admission. The Yankee scout had a connection at Connecticut State Teachers College in New Britain, and the Yankees offered to pay O’Brien’s tuition. Assuming everything was on the up and up, and with the encouragement of his parents, O’Brien accepted the offer.

Midway through his college studies, O’Brien was drafted into the Army and served for almost two years as a recreational NCO. His job: play baseball. He also wrote a weekly newsletter for the troops, letting them know what was going on in the world of sports.

Taking a short leave from the Army, O’Brien married Cathy Chessa, who he had met at college. “Cathy was the only girl I ever dated,” he said. “I was very shy then.”

After a brief honeymoon, Cathy returned to college and O’Brien returned to his barracks.

Following his discharge from the service in the spring of 1955, O’Brien returned home and reported to spring training in Binghamton after receiving a signing bonus of $1,250. Branch Rickey of the Pirates had learned of the “scholarship” O’Brien had received from the Yankees and blew the whistle. A thorough investigation followed with MLB commissioner Ford Frick ruling in favor of the Pirates. O’Brien was notified by a telegram from Frick that his contract with the Yankees was canceled, allowing him to become a free agent and sign with any team, except for the Yankees.

The Pirates were still interested in his services along with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. O’Brien chose to sign with the Tigers and received a $3,000 signing bonus.

For the next three seasons O’Brien played for a number of minor league teams. The Witchita Falls Record News reported on April 13, 1957: “Tom O’Brien a scholarly baseball player is ticketed for duty this season with the Witchita Falls Spudders and is starting his third season in organized baseball and is looking forward to his first full-time baseball campaign.”

O’Brien had continued to pursue his degree in elementary education between the baseball seasons and graduated in January, 1957. Realizing that his age was working against a future in baseball, he began applying for teaching positions. He had heard about a semi-pro baseball team on Long Island in Riverhead that had lights on the field. He applied to the Riverhead School District where he was hired and taught for the next two years.

O’Brien scouted for the Tigers for a few years and had been told about some kid named Yastrzemski, but never got around to seeing him. “I blew that one,” O’Brien admitted.

O’Brien had also been doing some umpiring with Southold legend Dick Osmer. Osmer told him that an elementary school position would soon be opening up in Southold and that they also needed a baseball coach. He was hired by Southold and spent the next 35 years as an elementary school science teacher.

In the early 1970s, O’Brien was instrumental in developing the St. Patrick’s CYO basketball program and the North Fork American Legion Baseball League. “He knew the game of baseball and got the most out of you,” said Rich Mullen, a former player for O’Brien. “As a player you loved playing for him.”

O’Brien and his wife raised five boys, all exceptional athletes. “As parents our goal was to teach our boys to work hard and to get them through college so they could get a good job,” he said.

O’Brien has stayed busy in “retirement,” continuing to work in different capacities for Southold’s school system, and to date has spent 58 years working for the district. The spry octogenarian also mows lawns (push mower), and with his five children, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, he has much to keep tabs on.

How did O’Brien get the nickname “Tuck”? With a big smile he said, “When I was little I liked the nursery rhyme, ‘Little Tommy Tucker Sang For His Supper.’ ”

Asked what three words best describe him, a contemplative O’Brien replied, “Lucky, industrious, happy.”

Photo caption: Tuck O’Brien of Southold holding the trophy he won for being the most outstanding player at a baseball camp he attended in 1948. (Credit: Jean Dempsey)

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In part two of our promotional campaign for Apple Honda, we get to know salesman Keenan Stephenson, a Riverhead resident in his first year selling cars. 

Keenan, who started at the dealership this past winter after a career in retail, joined us on a test drive of a 2017 Honda Civic Coupe.

Along the way, we stopped at Stotsky Park and talked about work, family and hometown pride.

Cars & Conversation is brought to you by Apple Honda in Riverhead and created by Times Review Partners, a division of Times Review Media Group creating content for our advertising partners.

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Suffolk Times editors Steve Wick and Grant Parpan will be featured on Wednesday night’s episode of “North Fork Works” on WPKN 89.5 FM. 

The interview, which airs at 7:30 p.m., can also be streamed at any time on host Hazel Kahan’s website hazelkahan.com.

“North Fork Works” is a monthly interview show featuring guests from across the North Fork.

“Gone” was a Suffolk Times multimedia investigation into the 1966 disappearance of Cutchogue’s Louise Pietrewicz published last week. You can read the full special report and watch the three-part documentary here.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ON ‘NORTH FORK WORKS’

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Here are the classifieds and Service Directory for March. 2, 2017. If you are interested in placing an ad, please call Karen, 631-354-8029 or email kcullen@timesreview.com.

Suffolk Times classifieds and Service Directory: Nov. 2, 2017

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The Butterfly Effect Project is now able to spread its wings even further in its mission to empower girls thanks to a donation from JABS fitness studio.

JABS owner Jill Schroeder donated office space at the back of her business’s new Riverhead location to The Butterfly Effect Project after she was tagged in a Facebook post asking for help in finding a location for the growing nonprofit.

“To have a mentor or someone to look up to or someone to give that added strength in their lives, I think is just so important,” she said of The Butterfly Effect Project.

Ms. Schroeder, who also has a fitness center in Cutchogue and was named Business Person of the Year by The Suffolk Times in 2012, said she’s happy to help the group because its founder, Tijuana Fulford, created a program for preteens to build confidence.

Ms. Fulford, who was named the Riverhead News-Review’s 2016 Person of the Year, praised Ms. Schroeder for her kindness and hopes to collaborate with her to teach her “butterflies” about exercise and healthy eating.

The new office will allow The Butterfly Effect Project to apply for grants and provide a space to meet with the girls and their parents.

“It brings more viability and awareness to the organization,” Ms. Fulford said. The organization is also looking to expand into Southold Town, she added.

The office will also allow Ms. Fulford to have a “normal life,” she jokingly said since her cellphone has been the organization’s main phone number.

Given the current climate surrounding racism, Ms. Fulford added: “It’s nice to see the synergy between so many different backgrounds coming together.”

Siris Barrios, Riverside Rediscovered’s community liaison, said it’s exciting to see Ms. Fulford taking a volunteer-based group into a full-fledged operation. Riverside Rediscovered allowed The Butterfly Effect Project to use its meeting space and the two groups have worked on initiatives together.

This new step will help push the community and local officials to support The Butterfly Effect Project further, Ms. Barrios said.

“We’re able to do all of this now because of the space and we’re able to make a program into an actual organization,” Ms. Fulford said. “The space definitely changes the playing field for us.”

kzegers@timesreview.com

Photo: From left, JABS owner Jill Schroeder, Norm Gopen, Tijuana Fulford, Ebony Street, Siris Barrios and Angela Huneault outside The Butterfly Effect Project’s new office Wednesday morning. (Credit: Kelly Zegers)

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Whenever Marissa Russo thinks of Tom Brennan, she pictures him in his classroom, leaning back in a chair with his feet on the desk and a cup of gas-station coffee in his hand.

The 2011 Mattituck graduate always envisions her former teacher laughing his signature “silent but deep” booming belly laugh, too.

“I can’t believe how lucky Mattituck got to score Tom Brennan,” she said of the English and theater teacher, who retired in 2014. “He was such a renaissance man who did so many things. He was the most amazing and deepest blessing we could have ever gotten.”

Mr. Brennan, who died Oct. 25 at age 76, was respected just as highly by his colleagues, many of whom referred to him as a mentor in their own teaching careers.

While still a college student, Mattituck High School social studies teacher Gary Buckner was told to find the teacher students spoke of in a good light and sit in that person’s classroom to learn good teaching practices. At Mattituck, the teacher he shadowed was Mr. Brennan.

“He was as much of a teacher to us as he was to all his other students,” Mr. Buckner said. “I’m forever grateful for that.”

Before he retired, Mr. Brennan told Mattituck English teacher Jacqui Portocarrero that she’d be taking over teaching the theater classes for him.

“I looked at him like he was crazy,” she said, “but he made me believe I could do it.”

He instilled that same confidence in his students, especially Katy Berry.

A 2005 Mattituck graduate who was in Mr. Brennan’s AP English class her senior year, Ms. Berry said school wasn’t her strong suit. Seeing her struggle and wanting to help, Mr. Brennan asked her to write the school’s play that year.

“He saw potential in me,” she said. “He encouraged me to write a play, which ended up being our senior play. And he introduced me to comedy and now I’m traveling around the world performing and writing. He saw that in me and put me on that path.”

During Mr. Brennan’s tenure at Mattituck High School, which began in 1987 according a 1999 Suffolk Times article naming him Educator of the Year, he created the theater elective. He installed theater lights and a small stage in his classroom in the old portable structures, and would ask students to perform on the stage, often inviting other classes to watch.

This eventually evolved into Mr. Brennan directing the school’s plays, often picking challenging shows for the students to perform. He also created the tradition of casting faculty members in school productions as well, English teacher Tom Farrell said.

In addition to being a guiding force in many people’s lives, he was also a source of comedy and joy.

Former student Leigh Digons often spent her free time in Mr. Brennan’s office. While chatting with him one day, she mentioned that a classmate had given her a novel to read.

“Mr. Brennan laughed his laugh and, with a twinkle in his eye, said, ‘You know what that means? He is trying to seduce you!’” the 2000 graduate recalled fondly.

Mattituck security staff member Gary Spath remembered a school conference day when faculty members were asked to share a fact about themselves that no one else knew. Many people at the time felt uncomfortable, Mr. Spath said, but Mr. Brennan’s fact — that he cheats at golf — “broke everybody up” because he was usually such a stickler when playing sports.

He wasn’t just a presence in the classroom, though. Even after students graduated, he often met them for breakfast at his favorite places — Erik’s or Jeni’s Main Street Grill, both in Southold — and kept in touch by email.

And when Liz Casey Searl’s brother died at only 21 years of age, Mr. Brennan showed up at the 1995 Mattituck graduate’s home to ask how he could help.

“He sat with me and my other siblings and held us close in his profound, loving embrace,” she said. “For this, and for sharing his quest of life’s meaning, I am eternally grateful.”

It is for all of these traits, and more, that the large number of people he touched and inspired in his life will remember him.

“He became a mentor, a colleague and a friend,” Anne Gilvarry said. A Mattituck graduate, she is now an English teacher at her alma mater. “In every role, he was someone who believed in me when I didn’t and helped me believe it, too. He was also just hilarious and great to be around.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Courtesy photo: Tom Brennan with former student Brette Rosen at Mattituck High School.

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Susan J. Corazzini of Greenport died Nov. 1. She was 70.

The family will receive visitors Monday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, where a funeral service will follow at noon, Father Richard Hoerning, officiating. Burial will follow at St. Agnes R.C. Church Cemetery in Greenport.

Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society @ PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK  73123.

A complete obituary will follow.

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The newly located Capital One Bank on Main Road in Mattituck requested a variance from the Southold Zoning Board of Appeals Thursday to place a freestanding sign on the property.

Arlene Meli, account manager of Ultimate Signs & Designs Corp based in Hempstead, said that the building is not noticeable enough for passersby.

There is already a directory sign with an eight-inch Capital One sign on top, including the other businesses on the parcel. There are two wall signs up on the physical building; the larger sign on the front needed a permit while the side-wall sign was allowed by code.

“I almost passed the spot where the bank was located,” Ms. Meli said. “The directory sign is pretty negligible. The wall sign blends in with the background of the building and it doesn’t give it a lot of visibility.”

The ZBA was hesitant to grant permission for an extra ground sign because the members said the Capital One has done a sufficient job of notifying customers of the location change and because locals know that the bank is there.

“The old bank on Love Lane really had not much signage,” ZBA member Patricia Acampora said. “Locally, most people do know that the bank has relocated and you do have a very large sign on the building. You can’t miss that.”

Ms. Meli argued that there are not only locals who may wish to use the bank and the bank had switched locations feeling that this was a better visibility location, so the extra sign would ensure that people could see clearly where to turn in.

ZBA member Nicholas Planamento said that it may not be necessary since most people use a GPS system.

“There is a directory sign there and I think most people will understand that this is a bank building,” Mr. Planamento said.

Paul Pawlowski bought the property in 2015, which included a 9,500-square-foot two-story building west of the bank.

Chairperson Leslie Kanes Weisman asked if the bank would be willing to remove the sign from the front of the building, because she said three signs on the property plus a directory sign wasn’t necessary, and Ms. Meli said she would ask.

The hearing was adjourned and a decision will be made at a later date.

Photo: Capital One Bank is requesting a variance from the ZBA because it does not feel this sign is visible enough for drivers. (Credit: Rachel Siford)

rsiford@timesreview.com

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For Town Justice, we endorse Eileen Powers to fill the seat of retiring judge William Price. Her experience as the town attorney in Southampton and current village attorney in Belle Terre, prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and defense attorney supports her bid for the job. She has a future in Southold Town government; we should be glad for that.

Ms. Powers’ opponent is Robert Meguin, a Southold attorney and the vice chairman of the town Democratic Party. The Democrats this year did not challenge the seats for town clerk or Fishers Island justice. Mr. Meguin stepped in when the party needed a candidate for Southold Town justice.

Mr. Meguin ran unsuccessfully for town justice as a Democrat in the mid-1990s. In 2011, he ran unsuccessfully against Scott Russell for Southold supervisor. In that race, too, he stepped in when no one else sought the Democratic nomination. Even after the party selected Mr. Meguin to run, party chairman Art Tillman said he would continue to interview other candidates for the position.

The choice here is simple: Ms. Powers for town justice.

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While there is no supervisor’s race in Southold next week, the local elections are still very important for the direction the town will follow in the coming years. There are three big issues Southold must always keep front and center: farmland preservation, the health and vitality of our salt creeks and the Peconic Bay estuary system.

This is not to say there are no other issues worth addressing in this election cycle. There are, of course, many others — from traffic problems to determining the limits of “agritainment” to, as always, the efficient running of town government and transparency to taxpayers about how their money is spent.`

Slowing nitrogen pollution by installing a higher grade of septic system is also vital if we are to save our creeks and ultimately the bay itself. These new systems are expensive, no question. But the town must begin to discuss whether such systems should be required for new home construction above a certain price tag.

And beyond that, for houses of a certain size and scale, should geothermal systems be required, or at least strongly suggested? A residential geothermal system installed in a home of 1,800 to 2,000 square feet is the equivalent of taking six to eight cars off the road.

The Big Three define us. They are our past, our present, our future. They are Southold. The creeping loss of farmland — some of the best in North America — would be the end of everything good and unique about the North Fork.

With this in mind, there are no dramatic differences among the Town Board candidates of the two major parties. No candidate is opposed to spending public money on preservation. Everyone running — including incumbents Robert Ghosio and James Dinizio and challengers Mary Eisenstein and Debbie O’Kane — says they favor keeping Southold the remarkable town that it is. The differences between the political parties seem to be in name only.

That said, there are standouts in the Southold races this year, and candidates who rise above the ordinary — and above those already in office, who seem to be just mailing it in rather than going all out for the public’s benefit.

In endorsement interviews at The Suffolk Times, Ms. Eisenstein, a Democratic Party candidate for Town Board, said Southold was at a “crossroads” in terms of dealing with critical issues. She has used that word in some of her advertisements.

She is right, and it is because of her clear-eyed view of where we are now, and her enthusiasm and all-around smarts, that we enthusiastically endorse her for Town Board. She knows what is important in Southold, how to keep the town’s priorities in order and how to find solutions working with others on the board.

Serving on the Town Board is more than mindlessly seconding resolutions. The board has to be an idea factory. Put party registration and loyalty aside — who has the best ideas moving forward? That should be the fundamental question for anyone from any party who is running for public office in Southold.

Ms. Eisenstein is one of the sharpest candidates to walk onto Southold’s public stage and, if elected, will add a great deal of integrity to the government.

We also endorse Mr. Ghosio, who has been a solid member of the Town Board and, before that, the Board of Trustees. Mr. Ghosio has earned the privilege of another term on the board. The Democrats did not make a case on why he should be denied another term.

As we explained in an editorial at the beginning of the year, we are not endorsing in some races this year. For this cycle, we will not endorse in either the assessor race or the Trustees race.

But a word on the Trustees is in order. It is true that the people who sit on this board occupy the town’s most important seats. Why? Because their decisions directly impact the Big Three. They are the first line of defense.

Our recommendation this year is for voters to go back and read our recent coverage of this year’s Trustee candidates and, beyond that, to closely study their credentials. Nostalgia is not a reason to run for elected office. “I can do a better job” is a cliché. There are candidates in this year’s Trustees race with serious credentials for the job. Study them. Make a smart pick.

Surely, there are big issues in our future the Trustees must begin to consider now. Climate change is not, at the time of this writing, an issue in the Trustees election. It should be. It is the monster that is inexorably creeping up on the world, and on the North Fork. We must be prepared to deal with it and elect candidates who recognize its threats.

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Highway Superintendent
Four-year term; one open seat
Salary: $106,506

Vincent Orlando

Occupation: Superintendent of Highways

Hamlet: Southold

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About him: Mr. Orlando, 56, has been highway superintendent since 2014 and has been responsible for the daily oversight and duties of 35 employees.

His pitch: Mr. Orlando said that to him, the superintendent of highways is the most rewarding public servant position to have in a small town like Southold. He is motivated by the instant gratification the position provides. “Seeing results by solving a drainage issue when installing a drain today, and tomorrow it rains and the system installed works perfectly — that’s satisfaction,” he said. The feeling is the same when a winter storm is about to hit and citizens wake up to a plowed and sanded road for them to safely travel to work, school or home, he said.

In his words: “When you leave for the day then return and see your road has been resurfaced, it’s highway working hard for you.”

Gene Wesnofske

Occupation: Farmer

Hamlet: Cutchogue

Party lines: Democratic

About him: Mr. Wesnofske, 70, has been a vegetable farmer in Peconic for the last 50 years. He lives in Cutchogue with his wife of 38 years, Cheryl, and has five children and six grandchildren. He runs two farm stands and sells produce at 10 different farmers markets.

His pitch: Mr. Wesnofske has farmed in Southold Town for 50 years and his name is well-known throughout the town, he said. He said he is an honest, hardworking person who has worked long hours on his farm to succeed and that he will do the same for the people of Southold Town as their highway superintendent. He described himself as a person who gets along with people. He has employed a large number of people on his farm, so he knows how to manage employees. He said he has kept his farm going on a tight budget and will do the same with the highway department’s budget.

In his words: “I am a dedicated person and will get the job done right. I have a motto: Actions speak louder than words.”

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Click on the links below for this year’s The Suffolk Times endorsements for Southold Town Board, town justice, highway superintendent and county legislator.

Town Board: Mary Eisenstein and Robert Ghosio

Town Justice: Eileen Powers

Highway Superintendent: Vincent Orlando

County Legislator: Albert Krupski

File photo: This year’s Southold Town Board candidates attended a community forum Oct. 14 in Orient. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

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Town Board
Four-year term, two open seats
Salary: $35,078

James Dinizio

Occupation: Self-employed

Hamlet: Greenport

Party lines: Conservative, Republican, Independence

About him: Mr Dinizio, 63, was born and raised in Greenport. He is married with two children. He worked in the cable TV industry for 17 years and is the owner of a local business that installs alarm and phone systems. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees. A member of the Southold Town ZBA for 25 years, he has served on the Town Board for five years.

His pitch: Mr. Dinizio said that as a lifelong resident of Southold Town he has participated in many of the committees and organizations that have helped to preserve it. He said he believes that his 30 years of experience in land use issues in the town make him qualified to help solve the growing problems the community faces today with traffic and “special events.” During his tenure on Town Board, he has supported upgrading the police radio system and dispatch room, increasing police force manpower to the recommended standard and increasing code enforcement on weekends. He said he believes this had a positive effect on the closing of a “rogue tasting room” in town.

In his words: “If I am re-elected some of my goals are: Insure that our police department becomes accredited, work toward a solution to the ‘pumpkin’ traffic, finally define what a ‘farm’ is with respect to zoning. I would greatly appreciate your vote on Nov. 7.”

Mary Eisenstein

Occupation: Certified mediator; professional trainer, facilitator and coach

Hamlet: Mattituck

Party lines: Democratic, Independence

About her: Ms. Eisenstein, 68, and her husband of 34 years, Mel Morris, have lived in Mattituck for over 25 years. She has over 30 years of professional experience in facilitating training programs. She introduced mediation to the Southold Town Justice Court and volunteered her services  for five years. She founded the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association.

Her pitch: As president of the civic association, Ms. Eisenstein developed forums with over 20 community leaders and experts in town government, affordable housing, land use, planning, zoning, water management, agriculture, code enforcement and transportation. Ms. Eisenstein said she is running for Town Board to “protect and preserve our way of life and the rural character of Southold Town.” She said she created the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association because she saw a need for the community to have a voice in its changing landscape, with increased traffic, new building and proposals that change the landscape, water quality, agritainment and nowhere for young people to work or affordable workforce housing to stay local.

In her words: “I will continue to be a proactive and collaborative leader that helps manage change and facilitate communication with the community as we plan for strategic growth and the community feels like they are being heard.”

Bob Ghosio Jr.

Occupation: Managing partner, Jarzombek Energy Fuel Oil; service/sales manager,Flanders Heating and Air Conditioning

Hamlet: Greenport

Party lines: Republican, Conservative

About him: Mr. Ghosio, 54, lives in Greenport with wife, Gail, and their son Zachary. His oldest son, Bo, lives in Houston. Mr. Ghosio has a degree in zoology from Oswego State; he did graduate studies in theology at Drew University. He was a Town Trustee from 2006 to 2013 and has been a town councilman since 2014 to present. He has been a manager at Burt’s Reliable in Southold for 16 years. He is a member and former vice-president of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Aquebogue.

His pitch: Mr. Ghosio said that since he was first elected in 2006, he’s always tried to be fair and thoughtful in anything he’s done as Town Trustee and Town Councilman. He pointed to his focus on environmental protection, land preservation and supporting local agriculture — all things he said he believes are critical to honoring the heritage of the town. He said he is proud that since joining the Town Board in 2013, 228 acres of farmland and open space have been preserved. Recently, he urged the town to sue the EPA for allowing dumping of potentially hazardous dredge spoils in Long Island Sound. He’s also advocated for additional police and code enforcement, served on the helicopter noise committee, hired a wildlife manager to help with the deer and tick problems, advocated for a new short-term rental code and established a water conservation committee.

In his words: “I believe I bring years of experience, critical thinking and the management skills to continue to effectively represent all people in our town. I would be truly honored to be re-elected.”

Debbie O’Kane

Occupation: Office administrator, North Fork House Calls program director, North Fork Environmental Council

Hamlet: Orient

Party lines: Democratic, Women’s Equality

About her: Ms. O’Kane, 61, is a 25-year resident of Southold Town. She has managed several not-for-profit organizations and been employed at a number of local businesses — from retirement counselor and marketing coordinator to office and retail manager. She is a member of Southold Rotary, president of North Fork Audubon Society and a member of Southold Town’s Housing Advisory Commission.

Her pitch: Ms. O’Kane said she believes the skills, knowledge and experience she’s gained as a community leader over the past 22 years make her an ideal candidate for Town Board. She said some of her most important work has been at the North Fork Environmental Council, where she’s served as educator and advocate, operated on a shoestring budget, organized major fundraising efforts, written grants, drafted public policy and represented åresidents at the town, county, state and federal levels. She helped spearhead the Community Preservation Fund campaign, protecting thousands of acres in the town. She was also chosen and funded by Bridgehampton National Bank to attend Columbia Business School’s Institute for Not-for-Profit Management Leadership Development Program.

In her words: “As Town Board member, I will focus on innovative solutions to our traffic crisis [and] our lack of housing for young people while balancing environmental protection with economic growth and job creation. I’m confident that my passion, education and experience will serve you well.”

The post Election 2017: Southold Town Board candidates appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Town Trustee
Four-year term; three open seats
Salary: $19,371

Derek Bossen

Occupation: Landscape designer, horticulturist

Hamlet: Southold

Party lines: Democratic

About him: Mr. Bossen, 47, lives in Southold with his wife and two sons. He is an Eagle Scout and serves as a Cubmaster and Little League coach. He is a 13-year volunteer member of the Southold Town tree committee and a past member of the town Conservation Advisory Committee. He also runs a small home-based business.

His pitch: Mr. Bossen said he is running because it’s time for new faces. We “can’t sustain a one-party rule system; it’s time for new blood,” he said. He is a lifelong environmentalist, and spent  summers on the bays and beaches of Long Island, working for the LI State Park Commission, for a decade before moving to the North Fork 17 years ago.  He said his practical experience with tree care, invasive plant species management and methods of re-vegetation prepare him to evaluate proposals to the board. He has made multiple presentations to the Southold Town Trustees over the last 13-plus years for clients throughout the North Fork, he said.

In his words: “My continued dedication to protecting the coastal environmental with proven scientific methods and results will bring about a renewed energy to the Trustee board.”

John Bredemeyer

Occupation: Retired from Suffolk County Health Department Division of Environmental Quality; adjunct science faculty member, Suffolk County Community College.

Hamlet: Orient

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About him: Mr. Bredemeyer, 66, is a Cornell University-educated scientist. He has been a Southold Trustee for 18 years and a member of the Peconic Estuary Program for 25 years. He is chairman of Southold Town’s shellfish advisory committee.

His pitch: A “science baby,” Mr. Bredemeyer said he has been blessed by the support of family, community, scientist-educators, colleagues and medical professionals who have enabled him to continue a life of public service as a scientist, educator and elected official. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil, he assisted in public health and agriculture programs, while seeing the destruction of the Amazon region first-hand. He later served 35 years in the Suffolk County Department of Health where he was a member of the Peconic Estuary Program team, and performed more than 15,000 hours of technical microscopy on harmful algal blooms, receiving training from some of the best marine scientists in the world. The PEP database is one of the most complete surface water quality records ever created, enabling sound science-based policy decisions on such problems as nitrogen reduction.

In his words: “If you appreciate science in the public interest and experience working for you, I ask for your vote.”

Michael J. Domino

Occupation: Retired earth science teacher, real estate property manager

Hamlet: Southold

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About him: Mr. Domino, 73, has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Adelphi University, a master’s in education, also from Adelphi, and a master’s in applied science, from the School of Engineering at Stony Brook University. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1968. He has served on the Southold Town tree committee, the town Anti-Bias Task Force and  the North Fork Environmental Council, and taught earth science at Rocky Point High School for 31 years. He has been married to his wife, Joy Elizabeth, for 51 years. They have four children and six grandchildren.

His pitch: This past January, the Trustees asked Mr. Domino to become their president. They recognized his work in developing a local emergency response to superstorm Sandy, his 100 percent attendance record at all Trustee field inspections, work sessions and public hearings and his commitment to working across party lines to balance town goals with environmental preservation, he said. He has been the chief advocate for the Coastal Contractor Registry, designed to protect constituents from unscrupulous contractors. Repeat offenders will no longer find it easy to pay a small fine and ask for forgiveness. As a NYSDEC certified water sampler, he works closely with the Trustees’ vice-president, John Bredemeyer, the town engineer and members of the shellfish advisory committee to improve water quality to allow the reopening of creeks to shellfishing. He said he will continue to advocate for advanced wastewater treatment systems that help lower nitrates and contaminants in our surface water and groundwater without increasing housing density in order to protect our quality of life.

In his words: “I will continue to work with other organizations — Peconic Estuary Program, Save Our Sound, etc. — and other elected officials committed to improving water quality.”

Elizabeth C. Smith

Occupation: Environmental economist

Hamlet: Greenport

Party lines: Democratic

About her: Ms. Smith, 43, is an environmental economist with a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island. She has worked on conservation issues, water quality policies and resource management. She is a member of the Conservation Advisory Council.  Liz and her partner, Noah, put down roots in Greenport, buying their first home in the village. They can often be found on or near the water with their two dogs in tow.

Her pitch: The Southold Town Board of Trustees is a team and every team needs a diversity of skill sets to execute most effectively, Ms. Smith said. She said the current Board of Trustees makes decisions without expertise in considering the short- and long-term costs and benefits of their decisions – without the economic analysis background that she said she brings to the table. “I am uniquely qualified to provide this perspective to the permitting issues the Trustees face,” Ms. Smith said. She added that protecting our waters is not a “political stepping stone” for her.

In her words: “This is the work I do every day and I ask for your support so I can use my years of experience for Southold. Vote for me because I am experienced and passionate – I will represent you and fight to protect one of Southold’s main assets, our waters.”

Greg Williams

Occupation: Owner, Country Time Cycle, Mattituck

Hamlet: Cutchogue

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About him: Mr. Williams, 45, grew up on New Suffolk Avenue in Mattituck. As a kid, he spent most of his free time on or in Deep Hole Creek developing both a knowledge and love of the creek and bay.  With an interest in the outdoors, he purchased Country Time Cycle in 1997. He and his wife, Karen, married in 1997 and are raising their children, Connor and Ainsley, in Cutchogue.  The family spends their free time boating, fishing and enjoying the local beaches. Mr. Williams is involved with many local organizations, including Southold Town CAC, CYO basketball, Knights of Columbus, Scouts, CAST and others.

His pitch: Having been a lifelong resident of Southold Town, Mr. Williams points to a hands-on knowledge of the town, its residents and unique way of life. Through his work at the bicycle shop, his involvement with many local organizations and his family’s local roots, he said, “I know the people of our town and they know me.”  The North Fork is going through tremendous change, he said, and it is vital that the right people are in the local government guiding this change to protect the quality of life, waters and lands. He said that being on the Conservation Advisory Council and hands-on experience working with the current Trustees has positioned him to serve in that capacity.

In his words: “Owning a business in the outdoor recreation business, I am fully invested in the future of the North Fork.”

The post Election 2017: Southold Town Trustee candidates appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Southold Town Justice
Four-year term, one open seat
Salary: $71,755

Eileen A. Powers

Occupation: Attorney

Hamlet: Southold

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About her: Ms. Powers, 50, a mother of three, is a 1992 graduate of St. John’s School of Law. She served as an assistant district attorney and deputy bureau chief in the Major Crimes Unit of the Suffolk DA’s Office. She has served as an assistant, deputy and town attorney in Southampton Town, as well as attorney for the Village of Belle Terre. She has been in private practice since 2005.

Her pitch: Ms. Powers said her experience, background and commitment to the town make her the right choice. As the deputy bureau chief for Major Crimes and a leading trial attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, she prosecuted hundreds of criminals for crimes including robbery, vehicular manslaughter and homicide.

In her words: “I will use my experience and work hard at being a fair judge to all who come before the court.”

Robert R. Meguin

Occupation: Attorney and counselor at law

Hamlet: Southold

Party lines: Democratic

About him: Mr. Meguin, 69, is the chairman of the Southold Board of Ethics and is a former Village Justice for the Village of Lindenhurst. He was the principal legal adviser to five Superior Court judges and has been an attorney at law since 1975. He graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1974 and Boston University in 1970. He is married to Kathie Meguin, and they have two children, Christopher and Kacey.

His pitch: Mr. Meguin said he has the necessary qualities and skills to be the next Town Justice: broad legal experience, fairness, integrity, intelligence, community awareness and extensive knowledge in criminal law as a trial lawyer, author of numerous opinions and decisions and arguing appeals successfully in the appellate courts. He is admitted to practice law in the Federal and State Court.

In his words: “Electing a judge is an important choice. Real judicial experience matters.”

The post Election 2017: Southold Town Justice candidates appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Southold Town Assessor
Four-year term, two open seats
Salary: $76,707

Damon Peter Rallis

Occupation: Civil servant, Southold Town building department

Hamlet: Southold

Party lines: Democratic

About him: Mr. Rallis, 43, is a North Fork native and a 16-year employee of Southold Town. He lives in Southold with his wife, Joanna, and their two sons, Luca, 13, and Destin, 9. He is a Boy Scout Leader for Pack 51 and Troop 51 and a member of Peconic Lodge No. 349 of Free & Accepted Masons.

His pitch: Mr. Rallis said that as code enforcement officer and building plans examiner in the town building department he is the “only candidate who not only meets but exceeds the qualifications necessary to successfully perform the duties of Assessor and will be ready to hit the ground running on day one.” He said he is running with no special interests and no conflicts of interest. He points to his experience and “a verifiable record of a fair and balanced approach” to work with the people of Southold and enhance the Board of Assessors.

In his words: “A vote for me ensures success and stability in the Assessor’s office during this time of transition. I have always been there for the people of Southold and will continue to be if elected. I am proud to be endorsed by the LI Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, based on my commitment to the working families of Southold.”

Kevin Webster

Occupation: Southold Town Assessor

Hamlet: East Marion

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About him: Mr. Webster, 47, is in his 12th year as a member of the town’s Board of Assessors and currently serves as its chairman. He is a NYS certified assessor with more than 25 years’ experience in the appraisal and assessment industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ithaca College and is a former licensed NYS real estate salesperson and, since 2001, licensed NYS residential appraiser. He is also a state-licensed Notary and belongs to the NYS Assessors’ Association and Suffolk County Assessors’ Association.

His pitch: After graduating from Ithaca College, Mr. Webster moved back to Orient and started working in the fall of 1992 in the assessment, appraisal and real estate field.  He said it was a natural fit for him based on his education and knowledge of the area. The town assessors’ job is administrative, he said. They keep the inventory of more than 18,000 parcels up to date based on changes either through additions to the property or demolitions. In the position, he’s handled changes in ownership, processing new and recurring STAR, firefighter, veterans and agricultural property tax exemptions. Assessors process the town assessment roll, which is used to compute the tax rates that are then applied to a bill for your school, library and fire district taxes, for example.

In his words: “When I was asked to run for my current position in 2005 it seemed like a natural fit based on my 13 years’ experience in this field.”

Charles J. Sanders

Occupation: Town Trustee, associate broker at Town & Country Realty; captain, 42nd Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard

Hamlet: Greenport

Party lines: Republican, Conservative, Independence

About him: Mr. Sanders, 49, has a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University, a Master of Arts degree from Stony Brook University and a Master of Arts degree in history from Norwich University.  He earned his real estate salesperson license in 1999 and his broker’s license in 2005. He has evaluated and sold properties from Laurel to Orient. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2012 and to  Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2015.

His pitch: The job of assessor is a local government official who estimates the value of real property, Mr. Sanders said. He said he has estimated the value of real property from Laurel to Orient and has translated these estimates into concrete sales throughout the town. He also said he has extensive experience examining building plans and surveys as a Town Trustee for the past four years. “I have exceptional organizational skills as a result of over 18 years serving in the military,” he said.

In his words: “I look forward to hanging up my hat as a real estate professional while shifting these diverse skill-sets to the job of your next Southold Town Assessor. I ask for your vote this Nov. 7.”

The post Election 2017: Southold Town Assessor candidates appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Tuesday is Election Day nationwide and voters in Southold Town will be asked to choose two council members, three trustees, two assessors, a town justice and a highway superintendent.

Below are profiles for each of the candidates running for office.

• Town Board

• Trustees

• Highway Superintendent

• Assessor

• Town Justice

The post Election 2017: Meet your Southold Town candidates appeared first on Suffolk Times.

In addition to the town elections, the Nov. 7 ballot will feature countywide contests for district attorney, sheriff, county legislators, state Supreme Court judges, a county court judge and a family court judge.

County Legislator

The 1st District of the county Legislature covers all of Southold and Riverhead towns and a section of Brookhaven Town that stretches as far south as Center Moriches.

The ballot pits incumbent Legislator Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) against challenger Remy Bell (R-Riverhead).

Mr. Krupski has held the seat since January 2013, when he defeated Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter (R-Wading River) in a special election to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Ed Romaine.

Before that, Mr. Krupski had spent more than 30 years in Southold Town government.

He was a town Trustee for 20 years, including the last 14 as its president, and then was elected to the Town Board in 2005, where he served for seven years.

Born and raised in Peconic, he now lives in Cutchogue ad owns Krupski’s Pumpkin Farm in Peconic. He and his wife, Mary, have three children.

Mr. Krupski also will be on the ballot on the Conservative and Independence party lines.

Mr. Bell also challenged Mr. Krupski for the legislative seat in 2015. He works as an election clerk at the Suffolk County Board of Elections and also has worked as a part-time traffic control specialist for Riverhead Town.

Mr. Bell, a longtime member of the Polish Town Civic Association, also had been the Riverhead Republican committee chairman for two years but stepped down earlier this year for health reasons.

District Attorney

The race for Suffolk County District Attorney has drawn attention this fall, with Democrat Tim Sini of Babylon, 37, running Republican Raymond Perini of Huntington, 70. Both are seeking the post  recently vacated by Tom Spota, who had been endorsed by both Republicans and Democrats for the past 12 years, and was indicted this past week, leading to his resignation.

Mr. Sini is currently the Suffolk County Police commissioner, having been appointed in January, and has said he will keep that job and would not do any campaigning for the DA job, although he has held a number of press conferences on police issues.

He is a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, and says he prosecuted more than 100 gang members while in that post. He says his mission is to eradicate gangs and combat the opioid epidemic.

“In the end, there are four components to attacking gangs: intelligence, coordination, execution and prevention,” he said in a release. “All four come together to build a comprehensive plan that is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s how we beat these thugs.”

Mr. Perini was an assistant district attorney in Kings County beginning in 1973 and says he tried numerous cases involving high level narcotics prosecutions. In 1976, he came to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, where he became chief narcotics prosecutor until 1989. While in the Suffolk DA’s office, he says he founded the East End Drug Task Force.

When he was nominated by the Republicans to run for DA, he was critical of Mr. Sini’s decision to not step down as commissioner.

So far, Mr. Sini has a large lead in campaign fundraising.

According to the latest Board of Elections campaign finance reports, Mr. Sini has raised $1,033,716 in campaign funds in 2017, while Mr. Perini has raised $366,797.

Mr. Sini has the Democratic, Conservative, Working Families, and Independence lines. Mr. Perini has the Republican and Reform party lines. There is also a Libertarian Party candidate, Christopher Garvey, 67, of Amityville, who says on his website that the DA’s “first task is to NOT prosecute the innocent,” and that he will “not enforce a law that violates the U.S. Constitution.”

Sheriff

With the incumbent — who was cross-endorsed by Republicans and Democrats — not seeking re-election, the race for county sheriff ended up as a contest between candidates who weren’t their party’s first choice.

Republican Larry Zacarese, 42, of Kings Park, defeated party nominee Phil Boyle in a primary in September, while Democrat Errol Toulan Jr., 55, of Lake Grove, was the third choice of his party after the first two dropped out.

Both have extensive law enforcement experience.

Mr. Zacarese is a former New York City police officer and paramedic who is currently assistant chief of the Stony Brook University police department.

He also works as a deputy chief fire Instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy and an advanced life support paramedic for the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Mr. Toulan is retired after spending 22 years with the New York City Department of Correction, where he served as a supervisor and instructor at the Correction Academy, the firearms and tactics unit, the emergency service unit and the Office of Compliance Consultants.

In July 2014, Mr. Toulan was named deputy commissioner of operations for the correction department.

He also was assistant deputy county executive for public safety in Suffolk County under County Executive Steve Bellone.

Mr. Toulan also is a two-time cancer survivor, according to his website.

Also on the ballot for sheriff is Libertarian candidate Peter Krauss, 46, of West Islip.

He is a retired NYPD sergeant.

Southold Town

Two incumbents in Southold Town have no challengers this election cycle: longtime Town Clerk Elizabeth Neville and Fishers Island Justice Louisa Evans.

Both are running on the Republican and Conservative tickets.

Ms. Neville, 70, of Southold, was first elected to the position in 1997 and is currently serving her fifth four-year term.

She pointed to her institutional knowledge and experience, as well as the introduction of new technologies to the clerk’s office, as reasons to vote for her.

“The reason why people should vote for me is to enable to me to continue my efforts to maximize the efficiency and communication between all departments to provide the best services possible to the public,” Ms. Neville said.

Ms. Evans, 61, a 29-year resident of Fishers Island, has served as a town justice since 1994.

“I have carried out the duties of the position in a professional and fair manner and would like to continue to do so,” Ms. Evans said.

Judges

Ten candidates are competing for four state Supreme Court justice positions on the Nov. 7 ballot. They serve 14-year-terms.

Incumbents seeking re-election, and their party affiliations, are William Rebolini (D, C, WF, I), Arthur Diamond (D, R) and Thomas Feinman (D, R).

Their challengers are Linda Kevins (D, C ,I), Richard Hoffmann (R), Robert Lifson (R),Thomas Rademaker (C), Philip Boyle (I), Daniel McLane (C) and Stuart Besen (I).

There is only one candidate for County Court Judge: David Morris of Sayville, who is endorsed by eight different political parties.

The Family Court Judge race has two candidates: incumbent Theresa Whelan, 55, of Wading River, who is running on seven lines, and Steven Weissbard, 53, of Stony Brook, running only on the Republican line.

WITH KELLY ZEGERS

tgannon@timesreview.com

The post Who else is on the ballot? County legislator, DA, sheriff and more appeared first on Suffolk Times.