Russell Howard Pentz Jr.

Russell Howard Pentz Jr., 87, of Atascocita, Texas, passed away at his home Jan. 12, 2018, from natural causes.

Russ was born in Greenport, N.Y., July 7, 1930, to Velda and Russell Howard Pentz Sr., who both preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Hunter.

Russ joined the U.S. Air Force at a very early age and, while stationed in California, he met the love of his life, Bettye Lou (Alloway) Pentz. They were married for 65 years until her death in 2015.

Russell is survived by his four children and two sons-in-law, Peggy and Brad Tait, Gloria Barrah, Russell H. Pentz III and Robin and Jimmy Adkins. He is also survived by his bother in-law, William Hunter. Russ, known as “Papa” is also survived by five grandchildren and their spouses, Chad and Melissa Tait, Jaime and John Burtoft, Amy and Patrick Ferrigno, Brant and Sarah Barrah and Russell H. Pentz IV and Allison Clarke-Pentz; 10 great-grandchildren; and his two best dog buds, Paco and Buddy.

Russ was the family’s anchor, the one that everyone looked up to and the one they sought out for advice and help when needed. “Papa” never faltered and was always there for us.

Russ’ Air Force career kept the family moving and always on great adventures. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of colonel. He went on to a second career as chief of maintenance for both Baltimore Transit and Houston Metro Transit.

In retirement, Russ and Bettye loved to travel in their RV with their two dogs and cat. Russ always worked out religiously to keep in shape; in fact, the day he was taken from us he was getting ready to go to the gym. Russ loved to work on his home. He always had a project going and nothing made him happier than when his gardens were in full bloom. He enjoyed watching sports and it was rare that he missed watching one of his teams. He loved all animals and was always on the lookout for any he could help.

All of our love is yours forever!

At Russ’ request, a family-only memorial service will take place.

This is a paid notice.

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A once-in-a-lifetime astronomical phenomenon will occur Wednesday, though those of us on Long Island won’t get to see the full effect. 

A blue moon, a super moon and a lunar eclipse will take place in North America Wednesday morning, though the East Coast will only be able to see a partial eclipse.

Individually, the lunar events are commonplace. However, they haven’t happened at the same time in the United States in 150 years. (It did occur on Dec. 30, 1982, but only those in the Eastern Hemisphere could see it).

The celestial event begins when the full moon rises on Tuesday night, looking a little larger and a little brighter than a typical full moon, according to Brian Lada, a meteorologist with AccuWeather. This is what’s known as a super moon.

Those of us on the East Coast will only see a partial lunar eclipse. Credit: AccuWeather

Since this is the second full moon in the calendar month, the moon is also referred to as a blue moon — which has nothing to do with color, by the way. This happens once every two and a half years, Mr. Lada said.

Around 5:50 a.m. on Wednesday, the color of the moon will begin to change. By 6:50 a.m., the partial eclipse will begin.

“There will be some shading on the moon as the moon begins to move into the shadow of the Earth,” Mr. Lada explained.

The moon will still appear white, but part of it will be darker than usual, he said.

“It’s not going to be turning red for you guys on Long Island,” he said, referring to the rusty, orange or dark, red color that gives a full lunar eclipse the name, blood moon.

Those in central and western portions of the country will see the full lunar eclipse.

However, East Enders can also view the eclipse online for free on NASA TV or NASA.tv/live.

Photo caption: We won’t quite get this on the East Coast, but the perigee full moon, or supermoon appears red on the autumn sky from the vicinity of Salgotarjan, located northeast of Budapest, Hungary, early on Sept. 28, 2015. (MTI via AP/Peter Komka)

tkv@timesreview.com

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After years and years of giving signs to his baseball players, Mike Carver recognized a sign when it came his way.

Carver said for the past few years he had been mulling over whether to hang up his cleats as Southold High School’s baseball coach. When a doctor told him he needed both of his kneecaps replaced, that ultimately made the decision for him.

Carver, 45, has ended his decades-long association with the Southold baseball program and will not return this spring as the varsity team’s head coach. Greg Tulley, 30, who had coached the Southold junior varsity team the past two years, will take over the top job from Carver.

“I was just wondering how many more years I had in me and, you know, mentally and physically it’s time,” Carver told The Suffolk Times. “It was definitely time for me to pass the torch.”

Southold has been a perennial power under Carver’s reign. In his 17 varsity seasons, the team has gone 221-127 (.635), winning a regional championship and a place in the state semifinals in 2015, two Long Island crowns, four Suffolk County titles and six league championships. He was named a league coach of the year five times. Last season Southold went 23-2, losing in the Southeast Region Class C final to North Salem.

“It was bittersweet,” Southold athletic director Steve Flanagan said of the news of Carver stepping down. “It’s good for him, making a decision that he’s going to be happy with, but losing somebody like that, with all the institutional knowledge that they have, losing that is a big loss for the program.”

Carver said he has arthritis in both knees, a result of genetic hip dysplasia. He said he underwent major reconstructive surgery in both knees when he was 16. “That’s when I went from being a catcher to a second baseman,” he said. “At that point they said it very well may be premature arthritis, and it’s been getting worse and worse and worse.”

Now Carver said he needs patellofemoral replacement for both kneecaps. He is scheduled for a Feb. 23 operation on his left kneecap.

Health concerns aside, Carver said the decision to walk away from baseball wasn’t an easy one.

“It was a family decision,” he said. “My wife, basically, was supportive. She knows what a big part of our life, our family life, it’s been for the last 22 years. Baseball has been in my life since I was 3.”

“It was the right time,” he continued. “I can be home with the family more, see my family in the spring. I don’t know what springtime with my family is like, I really don’t.”

Carver takes away fond memories from his Southold baseball experience.

“I’d never give any of that back,” he said. “It was an experience. It was great. We had a lot of success. I am going to miss the relationships formed, of course. I’m going to miss playoffs.”

And Carver said he will never forget one game, in particular: the 2015 state Class C semifinal against Hoosic Valley. Southold lost that thriller, 2-0, but for Carver it was a game for the ages.

“Even though we lost, the best game I have ever been involved in,” he said. “I will never forget that game as long as I live.”

With Southold’s coaching reshuffle, Craig Jobes is the new JV coach and Joe Corrado the new junior high school coach. And Tulley plays a larger role in a program he is familiar with, surrounded by players he knows.

“Mike has left an indelible mark on the program and all the athletes that he’s had,” Flanagan said. “We’re really looking forward to and confident that Coach Tulley is going to pick up the torch and really lead us.”

“Greg’s been a longtime JV coach here for years who has a good idea of what’s going on with the program,” Flanagan added. “So, we’re really excited for Greg to get this opportunity at a varsity level. He’s been working under Mike Carver for a long time, so all that knowledge Mike has been sharing with him throughout the years, we’re hoping that Greg will be able to kind of hit the ground running and kind of pick up where Mike left off.”

Tulley, who coached Southold’s junior high team for one year before moving on to the JV team, had played for Smithtown High School and C.W. Post.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Tulley said. “Playoffs are always the goal.”

Southold will have a lot of new faces this coming season. The team graduated 11 players and only three are returning, said Tulley.

The team’s first official preseason practice will be on March 5. Of course, one person not expected to be there is Carver.

“I’m going to miss the sound of the bat,” he said. “I’m going to miss the pop of the glove inside the gym. It was always a sign that warmer weather was coming.”

Carver isn’t done coaching, though. He said he will return in the fall to coach the Southold/Greenport girls tennis team for a third year.

Does he see himself ever returning to baseball?

“Who knows?” he said. “I’m never going to close the door.”

Carver, who had coached Southold JV or junior high teams for four years before becoming the varsity coach, said: “It’s going to be a different spring this year. It was a big part of my life.”

Photo caption: Mike Carver had a 221-127 (.635) record in his 17 years as Southold’s coach. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)

bliepa@timesreview.com

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Congressman Lee Zeldin paid tribute to Lyle Wells, who died in an apparent farming accident last Thursday, while on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. 

Addressing the Speaker of the House, Mr. Zeldin noted how the Wells family had farmed for over 350 years and how Mr. Wells had been a leader in the farming community and was the former president of the Long Island Farm Bureau.

“Lyle was taken from our community too soon,” he said in a prepared speech. 

Mr. Wells died in a workplace accident on his farm last Thursday. He was 62.

“He positively led and left a great impact and legacy on the next generation of farmers who really do need to be better cultivated and given that opportunity to be able to thrive.”

A memorial service will be held for Mr. Wells on Thursday at 11 a.m. Though it was originally going to be held at the Wells Homestead Acres in Aquebogue, it is now going to be held at Martha Clara Vineyard on Sound Avenue.

His children have created the Lyle C. Wells Passion for Agriculture Fund to support aspiring farmers who are studying or beginning their careers in agriculture. 

“We will pray for Lyle’s family. We are thinking about Lyle, and he will certainly be looking over what hopefully will be 350 more years of great farming on that family farm,” Mr. Zeldin said.

tkv@timesreview.com

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Former Peconic resident Dorothy Munafo of Greenport died Jan. 26 at The Shores at Peconic Landing. She was 91. 

The family will receive visitors Monday, Feb. 5, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

A complete obituary will follow.

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Former Cutchogue resident George Verity of Calverton died Jan. 31 at his home. He was 87. 

The family will receive visitors Friday, Feb. 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will follow at Sterling Cemetery in Greenport.

A complete obituary will follow.

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Congressman Lee Zeldin was among those on an Amtrak train that hit a large truck that was on the tracks, killing the truck driver, on Wednesday morning. 

Mr. Zeldin and other Republican lawmakers were on the train headed to a retreat in Virginia when the accident occurred in Crozet, Va., about 110 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., at about 11:20 a.m., according to a statement from Amtrak.

Mr. Zeldin, a Shirley resident who represents Suffolk County, was not hurt.  His office confirmed that his family wasn’t with him on the train. 

No other lawmakers were seriously injured.

In an phone interview with CNN, Mr. Zeldin said he was not injured. “It certainly shocked everybody … It was a pretty hard collision. I’m really thankful the train was able to stay on the tracks …,” he said.

In a Tweet and on his Facebook page, Mr. Zeldin praised the first responders who assisted after the crash.

I’m ok. TY to all checking in. Was on Amtrak train that just had the accident. Praying for those hurt. Great doctors & 1st responders stepping up quick & expertly.

— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) January 31, 2018

Mr. Zeldin told CNN that almost all GOP members of the House and Senate were on the train, headed for the Greenbrier Resort Hotel in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, for an annual three-day policy retreat. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were supposed to make appearances.

The congressman’s office said it was unclear at this time if the retreat will continue. 

UPDATE: Train back on the move. Grateful for our amazing first responders, police, and doctors. Praying for everyone injured in today's Amtrak crash pic.twitter.com/sk5h1fGX6R

— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) January 31, 2018

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Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Wednesday that the town is in a contract to acquire a possible property for Sports East, an indoor-outdoor athletic facility that was first proposed more than two years ago.

“The board is in a process of acquiring a property,” Mr. Russell said. “The board believes that this site may be a good fit for a facility like Sports East.”

He said the town has not yet closed on the sale so he cannot disclose the specific location.

The developers behind the project spent about two years seeking approvals for the project on Main Road in Mattituck. In September 2017, the Zoning Board of Appeals upheld a notice of disapproval from December 2016 stating the proposed sports facility did not meet the definition of a membership club, which effectively killed the project at that location. Just before that decision, Mr. Russell expressed his support for the project and said he would help the developers find a new location if the Main Road plans did not work out.

In October, owner Paul Pawlowski put the original property in Mattituck up for sale for $1.65 million.

“The supervisor mentioned he had some property of interest and we’re all ears, but they still have to go through the motions,” Mr. Pawlowski said. “Basically, the supervisor did let me know that he has a property that the town is looking at, that’s of interest to put Sports East on, and I said that’s great. We’ll pursue it when the time comes if it’s viable.”

During multiple public hearings over the years, there was widespread support for the facility but also serious concerns of traffic and disruption from neighbors.

The supervisor said he met with Mr. Pawlowski about the new potential property, which is centrally located in town, he said.

“It’s a nice attractive piece of property for the town, so if we can’t make the Sports East concept work, it’s still a nice addition to the town’s inventory,” Mr. Russell said Wednesday night at the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce’s “State of Mattituck.” “But we’re buying it with our first priority to find a site for Sports East.

When an audience member asked how the town benefits by acquiring the property for Sports East, the supervisor reiterated that the land would still be useful to the town, such as for recreational needs. If the Sports East project doesn’t come to fruition, the town would get a “commercial recreational facility that’s desperately needed” and “addresses a very large public need,” the supervisor said.

Mr. Russell was also asked if the town would buy land for other projects, such as affordable housing. He said the town has an affordable housing fund that gives the town options to pursue. He was also asked further if the town would buy land for other commercial development and what are the criteria for the town to buy land for other projects down the line. 

“That would be our challenge to develop and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Mr. Russell said.

Editor’s Note: This post was updated Thursday with additional comments from Supervisor Scott Russell.

Photo caption: Supervisor Scott Russell. (file photo)

kzegers@timesreview.com

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After months of deliberating, the New Suffolk Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to stop educating pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students in the New Suffolk schoolhouse and instead pay to send all it students to other local school districts come September 2018.

However, New Suffolk residents will get a say on whether to ratify the school board’s decision. The board will float the proposition to close in a special vote scheduled for Tuesday, March 27.

“I have, with great reluctance and profound sadness, come to believe the best course for our students and our taxpayers would be to move forward with full implementation of [tuitioning out the students,]” board president Tony Dill said.

The decision comes after the State Education Department ordered the school district to reinstate, with $300,000 in backpay, former teacher Martha Kennelly, whose job had been cut in 2015. Her salary is $119,485 annually.

Taxes will decrease by nine percent should this decision pass muster with the voters in March, the board said. The cost in tuition to send students to other schools is approximately $30,000 per pupil. 

“I know this is a very difficult decision, but we have to do what’s best for the children and their education and what we can provide for them here,” board member Jeanette Cooper said. “It’s a sad time for our community and staff and the children, but we have to move forward and do what’s best for the children.”

With the district facing financial woes, the school board discussed three options.

The first was to keep all three teachers the district employs, including Martha Kennelly, who has been working offsite developing curriculum this school year, and get rid of the district’s two teaching assistants.

Mr. Dill said enrollment in the school was expected to decrease in the 2018-19 school year if the board went forward with the first option. 

“Several meetings with the parents of our present students have indicated that under this plan the degree of change in the educational program would be sufficient to motivate them to withdraw their children from the school,” Mr. Dill said. “Between graduation and voluntary withdrawals, it now seems certain the current year enrollment of 15 would drop to between seven and nine students next year.”

With this, the cost per pupil would be approximately $48,000 per year and taxes would increase 15 percent.

The second decision was to keep the two teachers with the most seniority and excess the remaining teacher, as well as the district’s teaching assistants.

Enrollment would be expected to decrease even further, to approximately five or six students, and the cost to educate each student would be approximately $46,000. Additionally, taxes would be expected to increase nine percent.

The final decision, which the board ultimately chose, was to send the elementary students — from pre-kindergarteners to sixth graders — to either Mattituck or Southold schools. Currently, New Suffolk School District pays tuition for students in 7th to 12th grades to attend Southold High School.

In this case all teachers and teaching assistants would be excessed. The school building will remain open for administrative and community purposes and non-teaching staff would be kept on part-time, Mr. Dill said.

Ms. Kennelly, who was reinstated to work in the district this August following a decision from the New York State Commissioner of Education, did not immediately wish to comment on the board’s decision.

The packed room included teacher Martha Kennelly (with the white scarf) in the front row, listened to the Board of Education announce its decision about the future of the school at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Credit: Nicole Smith

The board’s decision came three weeks after the Long Range Planning Committee — a group of four residents tasked with coming up with a recommendation for the district regarding the future of the school — recommended the school remain open and reinstate Ms. Kennelly in the classroom if it was financially possible. If not, they suggested the district tuition all students to nearby schools.

“I’m saddened to see it come to this but I truly understand the feelings of the parents,” Lauren Grant, chairperson of the committee, said. “The bottom line has to be what’s best for the children.”

Residents had mixed reactions following the meeting, in which no public comment was taken.

“I don’t want to see the school close,” New Suffolk resident Barbara Solo said. “I had gone to school here, my dad went to school here. The kids have freedom. I believe [Ms. Kennelly] is just being greedy … the school is wonderful without her here.”

However, parents of elementary students felt the school board made the best decision for their children.

“It’s mixed emotions, but I think it’s a good decision for the children,” Libby Fannon said. “That has been the concern for the most part.”

Ms. Fannon and fellow parent Brooke Dailey said they weren’t surprised by the board’s decision on Wednesday.

“I came to school here,” Ms. Dailey said. “It’s hard, but I do agree with the board that we need to put the children in front of the nostalgia.”

Photo caption: School board members said they reluctantly came to the decision to shutter classrooms at the end of the school year. (Credit: Nicole Smith) 

nsmith@timesreview.com

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It was almost as if the five Southold/Greenport seniors didn’t want the final home basketball game of their high school careers to come to an end. For a while there, it seemed as if it never would.

The First Settlers battled through four overtimes in a war of attrition against Port Jefferson before finally succumbing, 68-66, after 48 minutes of basketball Wednesday night at Southold High School. The marathon was finally decided at the free-throw line, where Port Jefferson freshman Evelyn Walker sank all three foul shots after being fouled while attempting a three-pointer with 0.9 seconds to go in the fourth extra session. Following a timeout, Southold was unable to get off a last-ditch shot.

The loss put a damper on Southold’s Senior Night. Southold’s five seniors — Ale Cardi, Liz Clark, Madison Hilton, Annie Lincoln and Grace Syron — all started and took part in possibly the craziest game of their careers.

A bunny by Syron with a little over a minute left in the fourth quarter tied the score at 36-36, eventually sending the game to overtime.

Southold looked on the verge of taking the game in the first overtime when a Syron free throw made it 45-42. But Port Jefferson’s Jocelyn Lebron dropped in a three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left, forcing a second OT.

In the second OT, a pair of Hailey Hearney free throws gave Port Jefferson (4-10, 3-9 Suffolk County League VII) a 52-51 edge. Southold’s Brittany Walker sank the first of two foul shots with 16 seconds left to even it at 52-52. A shot at the buzzer by Brittany Walker struck the front rim and it was on to OT No. 3.

Southold (4-10, 3-9) took a 60-58 lead with 12.5 seconds remaining in that period when Lincoln pulled down and offensive rebound and made a nice interior pass for a Julia Jaklevic layup. But that lead didn’t last long. Port Jefferson’s Brooke Zamek hit a pair of free throws with 3.3 seconds to go, tying the score again. A chuck by Southold’s Kaitlin Tobin from two-thirds down the court fell short of the mark as the period ended.

In the fourth OT, Southold went in front, 66-65, on two free throws by Cardi and another by Tobin with 24.2 seconds left. But then Southold made the critical mistake of fouling Evelyn Walker on her attempt from beyond the arc.

Both sides had players foul out in overtime. Port Jefferson lost the services of Samantha Ayotte, Lebron and Zamek. Syron, Clark and Samantha Dunne fouled out for Southold.

Hearney led Port Jefferson with 22 points to go with six assists, six rebounds and six steals. Lebron added 11 points. Ayotte, Zamek and Evelyn Walker had 10 each.

In her final game in the Southold gym, Syron put up 24 points, 17 rebounds, five steals, three assists and three blocks before picking up her fifth personal foul 21 seconds into the second OT. Clark produced 15 points. Cardi had 10 rebounds to go with her 10 points and six assists. Lincoln grabbed 12 rebounds to go with four points.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Southold/Greenport coach Skip Gehring with his five seniors, from left: Annie Lincoln, Ale Cardi, Madison Hilton, Liz Clark and Grace Syron. (Credit: Krysten Massa)

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Here are the classifieds and Service Directory for Feb. 1, 2018. 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: Feb. 1, 2018

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The scene at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan this past weekend was all-nautical as the Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show was in full swing. First held in 1905, it is the nation’s longest-running boat show, bringing together hundreds of businesses that represent dozens of manufacturers. 

For East End marine businesses, the event is a time for staff to gear up and bring their A-game for five days of nothing but boat talk.

Dealers come from all over the country but mainly from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. More than half of the marine businesses that come from New York are based on Long Island, and out of those, over a quarter of them are from the East End.

Some of these businesses include Strong’s Marine, Port of Egypt Marine, Hampton Watercraft and Marine, Spellmans Marine and Albertson Marine.

“I love coming to this show, seeing what’s out there, our competition, seeing our customers that own boats and hearing stories about what they’ve been doing out on the water with their families and then helping others get into new boats,” said Rachel Pena, a sales consultant from Strong’s Marine, last Wednesday, the first day of the show.

The large showroom was divided into sections by boat brands like Grady-White, MasterCraft and Regal.

Ms. Pena was in the Cobalt boats section, one of the manufacturers Strong’s represents. One of the newer models she was showing off was the Cobalt R7 Surf Boat, designed for wakesurfing and other watersports.

Ms. Pena said the show is a great opportunity to see a lot of different products all at one venue.

Salesmen from Port of Egypt Marine aboard the Grady-White Freedom 375 model Wednesday morning at the New York Boat Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. Credit: Krysten Massa

A few feet away at the Regal boats station, Strong’s Marine salesman David Russell was showing off a more luxurious boat. He was taking guests on a tour of a Regal 42 Grande Coupe, which evoked oohs and aahs from people who walked by it.

The 42-foot boat offers plenty of seating for guests, an aft cabin with a king-sized bed, a forward stateroom with a queen-sized bed and a kitchen area with a refrigerator, freezer, microwave and stove.

“This would be ideal for anybody who wants to go for a nice cruise out to Block Island or Connecticut,” he said.

The boat show is the one-stop shop for anything a boat lover could ever want, from engines to jet skis, luxury boats to more sporty boats.

Bill Witzke from Albertson Marine in Southold does not bring boats with him to the show, but can be found by the Mercury Marine boat engines. He said he’s been participating in the show for close to 30 years.

“It’s nice; we meet a lot of our customers here,” he said, adding that it’s cool to represent the North Fork at the show. “It’s always nice to meet people who I didn’t even know lived in Southold.”

Some of the Grady-White models on display at the show. Credit: Krysten Massa

Mike Kelley, sales manager at Port of Egypt Marine, said the same thing about being a business from the East End of Long Island.

“It’s always neat to represent our home area,” he said. Mr. Kelley and the rest of the Port of Egypt team could be found at the Grady-White section of the showroom. He said Port of Egypt is the longest-standing Grady-White dealer in the world.

One of the most impressive models he was showing was the Grady-White Freedom 375, a 37-footer with the largest hull the manufacturer makes. The boat features a large seating area in the bow, a sleeping/lounging area, and a refrigerator and electric grill.

He said that, while the goal is always to sell boats, many people come to the show just to look around, see what’s new and then later on follow up with a dealer to purchase a boat. He said during the long weekend, his main focus is to make sure he can answer any questions a potential buyer may have and to give smart buying tips. He said a sale will typically be made in the days or weeks following.

“It’s a good economy, people are into boating and it’s usually the kickoff to the season,” he said. “The manufacturers have great incentives. It’s a perfect time to buy a boat.”

Photo caption: Rachel Pena, a sales consultant at Strong’s Marine, on the Cobalt R7 Surf Boat Wednesday afternoon at the New York Boat Show. (Credit: Krysten Massa)

kmassa@timesreview.com

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Angela Klavas of Southold and Beechhurst, Queens, died Jan. 31. She was 90.

The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at noon, Friday, Feb.  2, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing. Viewing will take place beginning at 11:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery in East Elmhurst.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is assisting the family.

A complete obituary will follow.

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A standing room only crowd packed into a barn at Martha Clara Vineyards Thursday morning to celebrate the life of Lyle Wells, the iconic and enterprising Riverhead farmer and family man who died last week in a farming accident.

The Rev. Anton DeWet of Aquebogue’s Old Steeple Community Church hailed Mr. Wells, 62, as a farmer from a historic North Fork family who felt privileged to live on and farm the same land his ancestors came to in the 17th century. Referring to Mr. Wells’ devotion to the land, the Rev. DeWet said, “It’s hard to explain the connection between your land and your feelings.”

He quoted Mr. Wells as saying, “Our blood runs with this dirt.”

“Thank God for the life of Lyle Wells,” he said.

Frank Beyrodt, a past president of the Long Island Farm Bureau, spoke eloquently and emotionally about a man he described as a loyal friend. He described his friend as a natural leader who, after working at the Long Island Horticultural Research Center on Sound Avenue in Riverhead, decided to farm the family land full-time.

“He tried everything to make money,” Mr. Beyrodt said. “Chickens, pigs, a dairy cow. He was a bus driver for the school district and a baker at Dunkin’ Donuts.”

He recounted how a fire destroyed a barn and equipment and Mr. Wells and his wife had to start all over again. Mr. Beyrodt told of how their children — Jessica, Matthew and Logan — worked on the farm from a young age, as their father wanted them to love the land, too. He said Matthew was 11 days old when his dad first sat him up on a tractor.

An emotional Joe Gergela, former director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, said, simply, “Lyle was the best buddy anyone could ever have.”

Among the many who attended what was billed as a celebration and not a memorial was Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and county Legislator Al Krupski, whose family has farmed in Peconic for four generations.

“He personified the history of this place and the love of the land,” Mr. Krupki said.

After the celebration, Mr. Bellone said in an interview that he first met Mr. Wells in 2011, when he was running for county executive. “Joe and Frank set it up and we met at Lyle’s farm,” Mr. Bellone said. “He described me as an ‘up islander’ because I am from Babylon. It was the first time I heard that.

“I asked him, ‘How long have you been farming?’ He said, ‘Well, a long time.’ I was thinking of my grandparents. I am second generation in this country. So I said, ‘Fifty years?’ He said, ‘1661.’ I was knocked to the floor. They are on the same tract of land! Lyle, Frank and Joe gave me an education on how important this land is. They showed how special this place is and the need to protect it.”

swick@timesreview.com

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This year’s harsh flu season, with a significant increase in reported cases nationwide over previous years, has not spared the North Fork.

“It’s probably been the worst flu season that I can remember. I’ve been here almost 10 years now — certainly the worst one since I’ve been here,” Dr. Michael Catapano of STAT Health in Cutchogue said this week.

Last year was considered to be a mild flu season, but now, he said, it’s not unusual for him to see five to 10 flu patients every day.

During the week ending Jan. 20, there were 7,779 laboratory-confirmed cases of flu statewide — a 28 percent increase over the week before, according to the New York State Department of Health.

Suffolk County has seen a jump in positive flu lab reports every week since mid-November. In the week ending Jan. 20, the county recorded 395 positive flu lab reports for two strains of flu. Since Oct. 7, a total 1,308 positive flu lab reports were made in the county.

It’s important to keep in mind with these numbers that not everyone experiencing the flu visits a clinician and not every clinician tests for flu, said Grace Kelly-McGovern, public relations director for the county’s Department of Health Services.

Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport has seen a 60 percent increase in flu cases this month over the same time last year, said Patricia McArdle, a registered nurse and director of infection prevention and control at ELIH.

At Peconic Bay Medical Center, Dr. Alexandre Andrianov said a significant volume of flu patients has come through the emergency room or been admitted to the hospital so far this season. He said it’s been at least as high a volume as in any of the past three or four years.

So what make this flu season so bad?

“I think it’s just the nature of the influenza bug,” Dr. Catapano said. “They change every year and they have different virulence and different ability to be passed on and this one happens to be one that’s hitting us just right and the vaccine isn’t working as well as we’d like.”

Three flu strains are circulating in the 2017-18 season. This year, they include type H3N2, which is “notoriously more severe” than other types, Dr. Andrianov said.

While this year’s flu vaccine is not as effective as it those created in past years, doctors emphasize that it’s still important to get the flu shot to prevent less severe strains of the virus and mitigate the severity of the illness.

Nationally, the highest rates of hospitalization for flu are occurring in the over-65 population, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that these individuals get higher-dose flu shots for this season. Seven flu-related pediatric deaths nationwide were reported to the CDC in the third week of January, out of a total 37 pediatric deaths reported so far this season.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer called on the federal government to send a special CDC flu surveillance team to New York to bolster “inundated hospitals and budget-strained localities across the state.”

The team would help collect and analyze data on how to best target the flu and coordinate with state officials on necessary resources, Mr. Schumer wrote in a letter to CDC director Brenda Fitzgerald.

Common flu symptoms include fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, runny nose and body aches — especially headaches and muscle aches, Ms. McArdle said.

Dr. James Tomarken, commissioner of health services for Suffolk County, issued a press release Jan. 19 reminding clinicians and the public that influenza is “prevalent” here. He offered three steps to reduce the flu’s spread and effects of flu: obtain a flu shot, prevent the spread of germs, and use antiviral medication as prescribed by a clinician.

“Hand hygiene cannot be stressed enough,” Ms. McArdle said.

“Wash your hands after touching surfaces or use an alcohol-based disinfectant, like Purell,” she said. “And put disinfectant on highly touched areas, such as door knobs, phone receivers, remote controls and your keyboard if it’s used by other people.”

Beyond standard hygiene, Dr. Catapano noted, it’s important that people who have a family member with the flu know they also have the option of taking a preventive dose of Tamiflu — even if they’ve had the vaccine.

“It’s two weeks of fever and aches and feeling horrible. It’s not a cold,” Dr. Catapano said.

kzegers@timesreview.com

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Most of us on the East End have the luxury of enjoying all that local farms have to offer from a distance — a safe distance, if you will. We stop at the farm stands and gather up fresh, seasonal vegetables for our plates. We watch for the cornstalks to grow tall as we eagerly await sweet corn in midsummer and we admire the open farmland as we drive along our daily routes.

The news of Lyle Wells’ passing last week came as a profound shock to more than just those of us who knew him as a leader in the Long Island farming community, or as the “Asparagus King.” While the details of his death are still being investigated, we know that it was an accident involving farm equipment — and that serves as a horrific reminder that farming can be dangerous.

Nearly every farmer we spoke with on the North and South forks after Mr. Wells’ death echoed the same sentiment: “It could have been any one of us.”

Agricultural machinery is big and heavy, and many of us with office jobs can’t fathom the skill level required to run it. Tractors, potato harvesters, manure spreaders — they get the job done, but they come with great risk. Those with the necessary skill and long years of experience, like Mr. Wells, are not immune from accidents.

Workplace accidents can happen anywhere. There is certainly a human toll we often don’t consider when it comes to farming on the East End.

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics proves that farming is one of the most dangerous industries in the country. Crop production is among the industries with the highest fatality rates. In 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, 550 people who worked as farmers or ranchers or had some other type of agricultural job lost their lives. They had a higher death rate than most other occupations.

New York is not without examples. In 2016, there were nine fatal farming-related accidents.

Many here could not recall a recent fatal agriculture-related accident, but our South Fork neighbors remember well the death of a young farmer crushed by a tractor a little more than seven years ago.

Joshua Levine was working at Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett when he was pinned under a tractor tire. At just 35, he left behind a wife and young children. The Josh Levine Memorial Foundation carries on his legacy with its annual Moveable Feast, coming up next month, working again with Slow Food East End to help in its effort to support school gardening programs and young farmers.

Look past the bucolic countryside scenes and the novelty of farm-to-table meals, and you’ll understand that farming is not only hard work, but treacherous. We need to be cognizant that all this good food we enjoy is not only thanks to the back-breaking work of farmers and laborers, but that it also comes to us at their expense.

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Senior nights are known for emotions and tears, but the only visible emotion on Mattituck’s side Friday night was joy. And there were no tears, just smiles.

For good reason, too. In the final regular-season home game for Liz Dwyer and the rest of Mattituck’s seniors, they won and in the process clinched a share of the Suffolk County League VII girls basketball championship.

“I’m not sad,” Dwyer said after Mattituck ran off its ninth straight win, 50-40 over Bishop McGann-Mercy. “It’s kind of exciting for our future. It’s Senior Night, but it’s not the end.”

Indeed, the future looks bright for the Tuckers (16-2, 13-0).

Prior to the game, Mattituck recognized five of its seniors — Alex Beebe, Mackenzie Daly, Jordyn Maichin, Chelsea Marlborough and Dwyer — and their parents. (The team’s sixth senior, Jane DiGregorio, was away on a college visit).

During the pregame ceremony, coach Steve Van Dood read out to the crowd the achievements of his seniors over the past three seasons. It’s an impressive list: a 56-9 record, a 27-2 home record and two Long Island championships. Add to that the most recent addition: a seventh league title and third in a row.

“It’s unbelievable to say that we did that,” said Marlborough.

The most senior member of the team, Dwyer, added to her legacy as Mattituck’s all-time leading scorer. Despite dealing with foul trouble, the forward put up 17 points on 5-for-16 shooting to raise her career total to 1,742 points. She also had five rebounds, five blocks, two assists and one steal.

“She’s a very smart player,” Mercy coach Meaghan Smith said. “She’s very persistent. She knows her abilities. She knows when to shoot and when to drive.”

Mattituck made a strong start, shot out to a 15-3 lead and never trailed. Mercy (12-5, 10-2) trailed by as many 14 points twice in the third quarter before clawing its way to within three points at 40-37 with an 8-0 burst.

But Dwyer showed her leadership in the final couple of minutes, making a layup and going 4-for-4 from the foul line during that time. A pair of Beebe free throws iced it with 9.1 seconds left.

“I want to leave my best good impression here and feel good about the time I spent here in this gym,” said Marlborough (seven points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals).

Daly finished with 10 points and six assists.

Mercy senior Melina Santacroce pulled down 19 rebounds to go with 14 points. Sarah Penny added 10 points for the Monarchs, who had won six in a row since their previous loss, which was also to Mattituck.

Because of illness and other commitments, Mercy had only seven players available, including Cailin Duffy, who was brought up from the junior varsity team but didn’t play. In addition, Mercy played its first game in 11 days.

“We knew that we had to keep it tight,” said Mercy’s Karina Ellis.

Smith said: “We didn’t do what we needed to do. We didn’t take care of the ball, but we’re moving past that.”

Although Mercy can still earn a share of first place, Smith said the Monarchs have their sights set primarily on the Suffolk Class C title. “We’re looking forward to playing [Mattituck] again in that small school championship,” she said.

Mattituck believes it has bigger things ahead, too, namely a third successive Long Island crown.

“We like spending time with each other so we’re going to keep going at it,” Van Dood said. “The more we keep winning, we stay together.”

Dwyer, who has committed to play tennis for Southern New Hampshire, said she has recently decided she wants to pursue basketball at the NCAA Division II school as well. In the meantime, she has some unfinished business with a special group of seniors.

Dwyer said, “We’ve been together so long, our bond, we’ll be friends together for life.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Mattituck senior Liz Dwyer (17 points) looks for shooting room under the long arms of Bishop McGann-Mercy senior Melina Santacroce (14 points, 19 rebounds) while Gianna Santacroce watches. (Credit: Garret Meade)

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Illegal dumping was reported at 67 Steps Beach in Greenport last Wednesday, Southold Town police said. An officer found a piece of mail with an address for a Greenport man, and when he was questioned he verbally admitted to being responsible for dumping garbage there, the report states. He was issued a Southold Town summons, officials said. 

• A Mattituck man reported his dirt bike stolen from his front porch overnight last Monday, police said. It was valued around $1,100, the report states.

• Thomas Hamlin, 61, was arrested for driving while intoxicated on Kenney Road in Southold on Friday, police said. He was originally stopped for having a defective headlight around 2 a.m., officials said.

• A Greenport man said an unknown person cracked and damaged a piece of vinyl siding on the corner of his garage last Tuesday. Damages totaled around $100, police said.

• A Cutchogue woman was arrested on a drug charge Tuesday morning after police found her in possession of cocaine. Grace Holdsworth, 34, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Police were executing a probation warrant at about 8:30 a.m. when officers found Ms. Holdsworth in her car on County Road 48 in Southold while in possession of cocaine, police said.

• A Greenport man called police last Sunday when his license plate was taken off his vehicle overnight, police said. There are no suspects.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

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Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library has a new director, and she has deep roots in the community. Rosemary Martilotta will officially take over Feb. 5.

Ms. Martilotta, a Cutchogue native, started working as a library page at just 14 years old. Her responsibilities included sorting through returned books and helping with programming. She later became head of tweens and teens services, was project coordinator and, most recently, served as assistant director.

“My parents told me to get a job and I came here and there wasn’t a job, but I came back every couple days until I got hired,” she said. “It was one of the best things that had happened to me because it certainly guided me into my career.”

Ms. Martilotta, 26, has been working toward this goal her entire life.

“It’s been my goal to be the director of this library as long as I can remember, and given my age it’s humbling to be seen as a leader, and to receive such an opportunity,” she said.

She feels fortunate to be able to stay in the town she was born and raised in. After graduating from SUNY/Geneseo, she started working at the library again while she was pursuing her master’s in library science at CUNY/Queens College.

“I was always a very avid reader and that was what initially led me to come here,” she said. “I was using this library my whole life.”

In her new role at the library, Ms. Martilotta plans to expand its outreach and tap into different segments of the community.

“As seasonal visitors extend our patron base, immigration diversifies our demands, and the imminent growth in our retiree sector approaches, it is more important now than ever that we focus on outreach service,” she said.

She mentioned how Darlene Brush, head of adult services, partnered with BOCES to organize English as a second language classes at the library. Ms. Brush even received the countywide Excellence in Library Service Award for 2017.

“When that started to happen, it just widened my scope and I realized that there are a lot of untapped communities within our own community,” Ms. Martilotta said.

Patrons should expect new programming, with a focus on technology, and more as she learns about residents’ needs.

“As a library, we are at the forefront of change — enhancing our status as a community center, meeting or exceeding patrons’ needs — and increasing awareness of our services will help us stay relevant,” she said. “Our focus is to bring all of our community together and show them all the wonderful resources we have to offer.”

Ms. Martilotta recognizes that the space has become more of a community center than just a library and will focus on that moving forward.

“I’m very excited. I’m a very driven person and I’m energized to be in this role,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of changes in the past and had many directors, but I’m here to stay. I want to give the community everything I think it deserves. I love this library and I want to see it excel.”

rsiford@timesreview.com

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It was a sad day last week when Pete Stevens walked out the door of The Book Scout for the last time. It was another link cut from the chain connecting us to the past, back to a time when rents were reasonable and used book stores, like The Book Scout, could survive, if not prosper.

Still, a more than three-decade run for a shop that didn’t sell food or clothing is pretty impressive. Actually, given the incredible turnover rate among businesses in Greenport, it is downright amazing. The Chamber of Commerce should give him an award.

The Book Scout was an institution that defied description. In this age of homogenized decor, where every shopper is an expert on Yelp, full of his or her own personal “shopping experiences,” The Book Scout existed in a parallel universe. The shop was not neat; far from it. Nor was it dusted. Pete did sweep on a regular basis, though where those sweepings went, no one seemed to know. Its stock of books, up to 6,000 at any time, were displayed on irregular and mismatching bookshelves of various sizes and materials.

Due to some wiring quirk, not all the overhead fluorescent lights would work if the humidity was above 50 percent. It was not unusual for Pete to turn the heat on in July so he could get his lights to work. Sometimes even that didn’t help and, over the years, there were times when the lights didn’t go on at all. What a perfect metaphor.

Most of the customers didn’t seem to notice, using ambient light from the windows to browse. The store more resembled a rummage sale, the day after, than a smartly run, well-oiled business. Yet Pete was no slouch. Beneath his elfin appearance and somewhat distracted manner, Pete is a smart cookie with wide reaching tastes who knew what his customers wanted. At least most of the time.

And it wasn’t just books that Pete displayed and sold. Anything that caught his interest — and his interest is pretty inclusive — he would buy, if the price was right, and resell, if he could. This included guitars, mandolins, violins, violin cases, violin bows, guitar amplifiers (I got an Ampeg Jet, 100 bucks, about 15 years ago and use it professionally) Leica and Nikon cameras, record turntables, hand-carved folk art, Victorian-era “Ordinary Bicycles,” ship models, antique scallop dredges, clam rakes, eel forks, postcards and more.

He even once sold (to me, I might add) a brick of pressed Chinese tea that I have no idea what to do with. Pete never worked a customer. Never talked fast or tried to make a sale. People found what they wanted, tried to bargain a bit and either bought or didn’t.

To the uninitiated, the shop seemed to have no order at all. It was not uncommon to see folks come to the front door, look in and then beat a hasty retreat, thinking they were looking into a scene from the life of the Collier brothers. Most others, though, understood immediately and waded in like confident swimmers. The store was deceptively organized: art and photography books along with the paperbacks (half-off cover price) at the entrance, then nature, arts and crafts, fishing, philosophy, drama, world literature.

The other side of the room held the drama section, then sailing, maritime history and sports, leading to American history and military history. The spine of the store was a path so narrow that two people could not pass each other without a polite “excuse me.”

In the back, where the cooking section was, all the cookbooks were in the old sliding-glass-door cooler that had been used to hold soft drinks from the time when the place had been a restaurant. When visitors inquired as to the location of cookbooks, Pete would say, “In the back. In the refrigerator.” In the back, too, was the store’s one upholstered chair, a mid-century modern design with aluminum and wood frame covered in black vinyl. Very comfortable. It was not uncommon to have a person come into the store looking for someone only to find them snoozing in that chair, an open book on his or her lap.

The Book Scout will be missed, especially among the legion of visitors who stop by every year to resume conversations with Pete that they began the previous season. Visiting sailors will be disappointed that they can’t find a used Bowditch or an old nautical chart. Others will miss having a place to sell their books. I will miss the place as well. One of the reasons I moved to Greenport a quarter of a century ago was partially due to Pete’s store. I figured, and correctly so, that any small village that supports such a place can’t be half bad.

David Berson is an inveterate reader and fan of Pete Stevens.

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