With the merger of the Mattituck and Southold/Greenport high school girls soccer programs, head coach Chris Golden realizes he is sitting on a bevy of riches in talent and depth. But he isn’t about to rest or sit on his laurels.

The team, which will be known as MSG — the first initial from each of the three schools, is primed for a successful season.

Last year, Southold/Greenport (14-5) qualified for the state Class C semifinals, its most successful season. Mattituck (13-5) reached the Suffolk County Class B final before losing to eventual state runner-up Babylon in the final.

The goals?

“Stay healthy — last year we had a lot of injuries — and compete in every single match from start to finish,” Golden said. “Obviously, we want to make the playoffs, play for the Suffolk County title. We have the pieces and depth that will allow us to do that.”

Golden liked the options that he will have to start and use off the bench.

“This is something I haven’t had,” he said. “We have numbers. The players are all similar. The determining factor is who’s working hard in practice. Who wants to be out there?”

Senior midfielder-forward Jillian Golden, who led all Long Island girls in goal scoring last season (33 goals, 16 assists), and junior midfielder Claire Gatz (14 goals, 11 assists) give MSG a devastating one-two attacking punch.

“Both of them are extremely talented offensively,” the coach said.

They should have help from senior forward Amber Rochon, who Golden hopes will join the dynamic duo as a scoring threat.

The midfield will be secured by juniors Kaitlin Tobin and Maggie Brewer in the middle and seniors San Dunn and Francesca Vasile-Cozzo on the flanks. Versatile Madison Schmidt and Halle Foster give the team depth.

Not surprisingly, the backline is solid with senior center backs Marie Mullen and Lauren Zuhoski and outside backs Sabrina Basel, Jillian Orr and Caitria Demeroto.

Junior goalkeeper Sarah Santacroce, whose heroics gave Mattituck a big lift in last year’s playoffs, holds the key to a successful season.

“She’s an important piece,” Golden said. “As good as, if not the best, goalkeeper I had in my coaching days. What I am finding out about her is that she’s an intelligent player. She has all the qualities you look for in a keeper.”

MSG, which has no nickname yet, will compete as a Class B team, but will essentially play against Class A teams during the regular season.

“The challenge like anything else is to develop a training mentality,” Golden said. “That really means intensity. If we’re going against an East Islip or a West Babylon or a Rocky Point or Miller Place, we bring that mentality and intensity. Then let the rest of the stuff take care of itself … I think we’ll do all right.”

Photo caption: Jillian Golden, a senior midfielder-forward, led all Long Island girls in goal scoring last season with 33. She also had 16 assists. (Credit: Garret Meade)

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Residents across New York will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on a regulated marijuana program over the next two months. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday a series of listening sessions that will be held across the state, including one on Long Island Sept. 27.

The state Department of Health released a report in July on the possible impact of regulating marijuana in New York and recommended recreational use be legalized. Gov. Cuomo had ordered the assessment in January. The state estimates up to $678 million in tax revenue could be generated if recreational use were legalized.

Input gathered from the listening sessions will assist the Regulated Marijuana Workshop in drafting legislation for a regulated marijuana program for the legislature to consider, according to the governor.

“Community input is critical as we work to draft balanced and comprehensive legislation on a regulated marijuana program in New York,” Gov. Cuomo said in a statement. “The multi-agency report identified the benefits of a regulated marijuana market, and with these listening sessions we are taking another important step to develop a model program for New York.

A venue for the Long Island session had yet to be identified, but pre-registration is available online.

• See also: Is marijuana the North Fork’s next big crop?

A total of 15 listening sessions will be held, starting Sept. 5 in Albany. The Long Island session will be the eighth.

The report released last month reviewed programs in other states where recreational marijuana is legal and it noted education as the key to public safety. Several neighboring states have legalized marijuana or will do so soon, such as Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, the report noted.

The Department of Health recommends that New York follow a model similar to Massachusetts, but acknowledges that the state would need to establish further requirements for each step of the supply chain.

“Further consideration is needed to determine who will review and issue licenses and how often they will be updated,” according the report.

joew@timesreview.com

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Family members and members of the Cutchogue Fire Department gathered Thursday evening to honor the memories of department members Jason Cooper and Andrew McCaffery, both of whom died last year. Mr. Cooper was 47, and Mr. McCaffery was 41.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 1474 constructed four memorial benches and two end tables in memory of the men. The benches, which include plaques in honor of the two men, will stay at the department. One of the presenters was Cassie Stevens, Mr. McCaffery’s niece.

Cassie and Maya Hamilton did the project as part of their Silver Award for the Girl Scouts. In a brief, emotional speech, Cassie said: “… we realized that we wanted to honor those in our community who have been role models to us. In particular, we wanted to honor Mr. Jason Cooper and my uncle, Drew McCaffery, for all the amazing contributions they made to our local community prior to their early deaths.”

Standing by a horseshoe pit named in honor of the two firefighters, Maya said: “We wanted to help improve the area and give something that would be of comfort to our firematic community. So we researched and planned for benches with plaques to honor both men. We thought it would be a nice way for the members of Cutchogue and other fire departments who visit to enjoy each other’s company, think about old times, and start making new memories.”

Photo caption: Family and friends of Jason Cooper and Drew McCaffery pose in front of the new benches outside the Cutchogue Fire Department Thursday night. (Credit: Steve Wick)

swick@timesreview.com

Cassie Stevens reads an emotional speech Thursday night. (Credit: Steve Wick)

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The large wooden sign that marked the entrance to Lavender by the Bay in East Marion was stolen overnight Thursday, according to its owners.

Owners Serge and Susan Rozenbaum arrived at the 17-acre lavender field before it opened at 9 a.m. Friday to discover the 6-by-3 foot solid wood sign missing. Their son, Lavender by the Bay vice president Chanan Rozenbaum, said security footage showed two people walking off with the sign around midnight. He said the people were heading east.

“They went as far as to unscrew the bolts,” Chanan said. “It is shocking.”

The Rozenbaums erected the sign 15 years ago when Lavender by the Bay established its Main Road farm stand. It served as a welcome to the thousands who the visit the family-run farm each summer when the purple flowers are in bloom.

“I hope it shows up,” Chanan said. “It is a large sign, you can’t just throw it in the garbage, someone has to have it.”

Southold Town Police were notified of the incident Friday morning. Detectives are looking into the possibility of this incident being connected to similar a crime committed in July when a sign was cut down and stolen. The sign, which welcomed visitors to Nassau Point, was stolen about 14 hours after it went up. Last October, a residential sign in Orient for the Orient by the Sea neighborhood was also stolen.

The Rozenbaums are the latest business owners to report criminal activity at their businesses this week. A couple of Greenport business owners took to social media to address break-ins at their storefronts.

Sharon Sailor, owner of Front Street Station in Greenport — located roughly three miles away from Lavender by the Bay — also reported her business was broken into and wrote in a Facebook post Thursday night: “Want to let everyone know that Front Street Station was robbed at approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday …”

“We work hard, put in long hours and sacrifice a lot of life’s little nuances to do what we love, and to be violated monetarily and emotionally in this way sucks,” Ms. Sailor wrote.

The Parapsychology Foundation on Front Street was also broken into, according to Lisette Coly, who maintains its library. Ms. Coly wrote in a Wednesday morning Facebook  post, “The Parapsychology Library I maintain on Front Street was broken into last night… Thankfully, 12,000 books held little interest…”

Ms. Sailor and The Parapsychology Foundation did not immediately return calls for comment.

Southold Town Police believe the two incidents are related and said no other break-ins have been reported in the area in recent days.

Photo caption: The Lavender by the Bay sign is missing. (Lavender by the Bay courtesy photo)

cmurray@timesreview.com

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The East End DWI Task Force will set up checkpoints at strategic locations in high-traffic areas on the East End this weekend, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini announced Friday.

“Labor Day weekend is a great time to celebrate the unofficial end of summer on the East End, but we ask that you do so responsibly,” Mr. Sini said in a statement. “If you’re going to be out drinking, make a plan to get home safely.”

Officers will be equipped with breathalyzers and will conduct field sobriety tests if they believe a motorist has been drinking or doing drugs, according to a press release.

The East End DWI Task Force includes officers from Riverhead, Southold, New York State Police, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and departments across the South Fork. Since its formation in 2012, it has made approximately 600 DWI arrests on holidays and peak tourism weekends throughout the year. In 2017, nine people were arrested by the Task Force over Labor Day weekend.

“The police departments on the East End do an outstanding job keeping residents and visitors safe year-round, particularly during the summer season when the population explodes,” Mr. Sini said. “Through the East End DWI Task Force, we are able to share and deploy resources in an even more effective, strategic way during holiday weekends and other times of high traffic.”

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• A Greenport woman called police when she noticed an unknown male in her bedroom on Saturday around 2:24 a.m., police said. She said he may have entered her home through an unlocked window.

She stated she left her bathroom and saw a male standing in her bedroom doorway with a shirt over his face, and that he appeared to be disoriented and confused and then exited through the front door, the report states. Police searched the area with no results.

• There was a burglary on Saturday around 1:40 a.m. at a gas station on Main Road in Mattituck, where an unknown person threw a large rock into a glass door to gain entry and stole 150 cartons of cigarettes, valued around $1,500, police said.

• A custodian at St. Agnes School in Greenport said that two televisions were stolen after hours at some point before last Monday, police said. The total value was $872.94, the report states.

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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Southold Town has received additional state funding for the Bay to Sound trail project. On Tuesday, the Town Board approved a resolution accepting $171,963.07 in state grant money, and two other project-related resolutions. 

“We received grants two years in a row for different parts of the project,” said John Sepenoski of the town’s geographic information systems.

Now that the town has received a formal contract from New York State, development of the trail can be set up as a capital project, Mr. Sepenoski said. 

Another resolution passed Tuesday allows Supervisor Scott Russell to execute a future contract with the state Department of State to accept a second grant, which will be used for Phase 3 of the project. A final resolution was passed authorizing the town clerk to advertise for a Request for Proposals for lumber and other materials for Phase 2. According to Mr. Sepenoski, both phases of the project are “moving forward concurrently.” He said the grant will help pay for hiring Group for the East End, an environmental advocacy organization, to coordinate cleanup days and develop educational materials for the trails. 

“Right now they’re working on the fall schedule,” Mr. Sepenoski said Tuesday. “Our focus is shifting from clearing trails and trash cleanup to getting wood chips down,” he said, noting that much of the proposed trail is already clear.

This fall, at least one cleanup of Silver Lake in Greenport is planned, he said. In addition to trail clearing and trash pickup, Phase 2 of the project will include creating a parking area and footbridge near Old Main Road in Southold, removing part of an abandoned section of roadway and taking down a home on the 24-acre Sill property, which was acquired by the town in 2011.

“We’re on schedule to have that done this year,” Mr. Sepenoski said.

Phase 3, he said, will involve a thorough cleanup at the former Sill dairy farm and structures, including dairy barns, sheds and silos. 

To date, crews have removed over 12,000 pounds of trash from proposed trail areas, Mr. Sepenoski said.

The project currently has no end date but he expects both phases to be complete by 2020.

Mr. Sepenoski, along with town officials and volunteers working on the project, are staying the course toward that goal. “We have a lot of public open space, but thought it would be nice to connect it into a bigger overall trail system,” Mr. Sepenoski said.

Mr. Russell agrees. “The goal of linking the bay to the Sound along a trail that runs through some of the nicest preserved land in town is well worth the effort,” he said.

tsmith@timesreview.com

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“He’s an Arab!” a woman said to Sen. John McCain at a nationally televised October 2008 presidential candidate forum. The senator’s opponent, Barack Obama, at whom her comment was directed, was on the same stage, just a few feet away.

“No, ma’am,” Sen. McCain responded before reaching out to remove the microphone from the woman’s hand. He then went on to explain how wrong her comment was.

Sen. McCain died last Saturday of a brain tumor, days after his family announced that he was discontinuing treatment. He was 81 years of age, a giant in America’s political landscape and a man who, like a relatively small number of iconic figures in our history, will be remembered for decades to come for the life he lived and his devotion to country and public service.

His biography is well known to that group of Americans who read and know some history of their country. He was shot down during a bombing run over Hanoi during the Vietnam War, suffered terrible injuries and was captured and held in prison for five and a half years.

During that time, confined to a bed, he was tortured by his captors — torture that produced lasting physical disabilities he carried with him for the rest of his life. You could see it every time he tried to raise his arm to make a point. It would not go very high.

He forged deep bonds with his fellow American prisoners — they would tap out messages to each other on the walls of their cells — and he famously turned down an early release by the North Vietnamese government because he saw it as deeply wrong to be spared while others were left behind. He wanted to remain with them until they could all be sent home.

Twice, Sen. McCain ran for the highest office in the land — a position for which, based on his remarkable biography, he was perfectly suited. And twice he lost, first to George W. Bush in a campaign remarkable for the ugly smears heaped on him by his opponent’s side, and again in 2008, when he lost to Mr. Obama.

Sen. McCain’s life has been hailed by historians and scores of public figures since his death. Tributes have come from leaders around the world, including a typical one from the president of France, who lauded him as a true American hero.

The Russian government is, at the time of this writing, an exception. Russian state media went out of its way Sunday to deny him any sort of honor, characterizing the senator as an “implacable opponent” of Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin.

Also failing to offer any words of praise through the weekend and into Monday morning was the current occupant of the White House, Donald Trump, for whom Sen. McCain had no regard at all. While flags at the White House flew at half-staff over the weekend, they were returned to full height Monday morning. Later that day, they were lowered again. It was reported that, after word came of Sen. McCain’s death, Mr. Trump did not want an announcement released that would have characterized him as a hero. Instead, he tweeted bland sympathies to the senator’s family.

It is clear that Mr. Trump did not see the senator as a hero. During the presidential campaign, in a comment that will resonate for years to come, Mr. Trump said Mr. McCain was no hero because he had been a prisoner of war. The president was also furious after Mr. McCain walked into the well of the Senate and gave a dramatic thumbs down on a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature legislative achievement.

Now, the president has been left off the list of those invited to the senator’s upcoming funeral. This is an epic and historic snub. Former presidents Bush and Obama will deliver eulogies. But the McCain family — and a number of Republicans nationwide — see the current president as a man whose actions and behavior are beneath the dignity of the office he holds. Mr. Trump has found it easier to praise Mr. Putin than Sen. McCain.

It seems now that the comment the woman made to Sen. McCain at that 2008 forum — “He’s an Arab” — was a glimpse into what lay ahead in American politics, a precursor, for example, of candidate Trump’s promotion of the racist conspiracy theory that President Obama’s birth certificate was a forgery and he had been born in Africa.

At this time in our history, America needs leaders like Sen. McCain, who put country first.

Photo caption: Flags hung at half staff outside homes near Goose Creek in Southold Wednesday in remembrance of John McCain. (Krysten Massa photo) 

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The artificial turf era in Southold has begun — just not the way the First Settlers would have liked.

The first interscholastic sporting event on Southold High School’s brand new field turf will surely not be fondly remembered by the school’s boys soccer team. Southold, facing a formidable foe in Sayville, absorbed a 5-0 shellacking Saturday, most of the damage being done in the opening 37 minutes of the non-league season opener for both sides.

Sayville struck for its first two goals within 33 seconds of each other, and just like that it was 2-0 before eight minutes had elapsed.

Tomas Moreira connected on a 30-yard free kick before then sending Connor Owenburg through for a shot that goalkeeper Cole Brigham got a hand to but couldn’t stop.

“I think we were a little excited. I think we were a little nervous, too, coming into our first game,” junior forward Joe Silvestro said. “We weren’t in the game at that point, really. It took us into the second half to really get acclimated.”

By then, though, Sayville, a Class A team that plays in League V, had tacked on two more goals against the Class C Settlers.

Jack Davis’ 40-yard free kick forced a save by Brigham, but Eric Famularo was in place to tuck the rebound in at 18:58.

Liam Berlingieri made it 4-0, cranking in a loose ball that bounced back to him at 36:39.

It was not an opening half Southold had envisioned for itself.

“We watched instead of played,” Southold coach Andrew Sadowski said. “We were, I think, nervous because it was the first game of the season. That was part of it. There’s quite a few players who played on JV [last year], so they had to adjust to the speed of the game and the physical nature of the game.”

And then there was Sayville. The Golden Flashes showed their quality with their ball control and movement, justifying their reputation as one of the top small school teams in Suffolk County.

“I thought we moved the ball very well,” Sayville coach Val Winter said. “I think we defended well and I thought we had good intensity in the first half. The second half, not so much.”

Southold turned in a better showing in the second half, but that is also when the goal of the day was scored. With less than nine minutes left to play, a ball off a corner kick bounced out to onrushing defender Kolby Maddy, who unleashed a fierce drive into the lower right corner. Maddy had come off the bench moments earlier.

It was an impressive exclamation mark.

Brigham made 10 saves and was one of the busiest players on the field. “I enjoy making the saves, but I also want to win as a team,” said the goalie, who made a few dazzling stops in the second half.

As bad as it was from Southold’s vantage point, it could have been worse. Sayville missed a couple of golden opportunities. A driven centering pass from Berlingieri was met by a lunging P.J. Kloska, whose first-timer flew over the crossbar with Brigham on the ground. Later, Jackson Von Eschen charged forward for a header and, with Brigham at his mercy, missed the mark.

Altogether, Sayville launched 27 shots, 15 of which were on goal. The Golden Flashes also earned 11 corner kicks to Southold’s three.

Southold managed only three shots, and the two that Tyler Woodhull and Freddy Palencia put on goal were saved by Christian Jones.

“We need to be ready to go into the game right from the start,” Brigham said. “I think we have a lot of chemistry, and that’s just something that is hard to get sometimes with certain teams even if they are individually really skilled. So, I feel like we can go far because we all want to work together as a team and get better.”

While Southold’s season opener play wasn’t what it would have liked, its new home field has received rave reviews.

“It’s beautiful. It really is,” said Winter, whose team is in its second year with home field turf. “Most schools have had turf fields for a long time. They’re all so used to playing on it. It’s not a novelty any more for them. It’s not a big deal.”

The bigger deal now for Southold is learning from its mistakes and improving.

“I think we have the building blocks to be a great team,” Silvestro said. “We just have to put it together.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Southold’s Eddy Nazario and one of Sayville’s five goal scorers, Sebastian Berlingieri. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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To the editor:

With the risk of seemingly defending sexual abuse by Catholic priests, I must write concerning Mr. Wick’s article, over the top at the very least, calling for the bankruptcy of the Rockville Centre Diocese.

One questions his depth of Catholic faith when he ignores the greater legions of dedicated men and women who serve in schools, colleges, hospitals, foreign missions, prisons, etc. which are partially funded and administered by the Diocese.

Mr. Wick’s cynical attitude relative to present-day church actions against predator priests reveals a personal bias by him. One wonders why?

Gerard Kearney, Southold

To the editor:

I thank you for reporting on the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. I am sick to death reading about the horrendous crimes by clergy abusing our children. However, if the continued reporting of their abuse is kept in national headlines, I want to believe, we will be able to successfully eradicate this crime from every church, religious sect and organization.

I speak as a Catholic; however, we know this crime is not unique to Catholics. There needs to be more reporting of sexual abuse that occurs in other religious and/or secular organizations.

The Catholic Church must come out of the dark ages and recognize the need for and value of women in ministry, openness, inclusion and simplicity in personal adornments identifying church hierarchy, to name so few of the changes needed.

These men in church hierarchy, the abusers, have been allowed to step down voluntarily, with no risk of penalty for crimes perpetrated on our children, and retain their glorified titles in the church.

We need to eliminate statute of limitations for crimes committed on the most vulnerable in our society by the most respected, revered by many in our society.

We need to continue to write/call our legislators to demand elimination of the statute of limitations in cases of child sexual abuse.

Thank you for continuing to keep this topic in the pubic eye, as I want to believe that, eventually, every “squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

Jean McQuaid, Cutchogue

To the editor:

Steve Wick’s indictment of the sexual predators within the Catholic clergy and the bishops who covered up their conduct is very compelling.

I would add that among the victims who have suffered from their hideous conduct are the many priests whose sacrifices and services to people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, who have had to endure the suspicions and lack of trust of Catholics and non-Catholics.

I have personally been witness to many acts of kindness and respect for members of the clergy by non-Catholics, and regret the disappointment they must feel.

I think that Mr. Wick’s expressions of outrage and suggestions for the Church moving forward should be welcomed.

John Viteritti, Laurel

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Motorists should expect lane closures beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4 on Route 25 in Riverhead and Southold.

The closures will take place between Doctors Path in Riverhead and the Orient Point Ferry on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the New York State Department of Transportation.

The closures are needed to perform preventative maintenance to the pavement by sealing cracks in the asphalt to extend the life of the road’s surface, the Department of Transportation said in a statement. This $2.6 million project covers work on 54 miles of East End roads.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall 2019, however, work may be cancelled, postponed or prolonged due to inclement weather.

The Department of Transportation is urging motorists to be careful when driving through work zones by obeying speed restrictions and the instructions of the flag persons.

The New York State Department of Transportation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee recently unveiled a new public service announcement and social media campaign focused on the importance of respecting flagging personnel.

This year’s work zone safety campaign, “Flaggers have families too,” is designed to remind drivers that flagging personnel are not attempting to disrupt traffic – they are doing their jobs and want to get home safely at the end of each work day.

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511NY.orgor the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.

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Southold Town will host a forum on deer management Wednesday, Sept. 12.

The meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, will address the excessive deer population on the North Fork.

According to town environmental analyst Craig Jobes, the dramatic increase in the white-tailed deer population has resulted in widespread landscape damage and crop losses, as well as an increase in Lyme disease and vehicular collisions.

In 2009, the town created a Deer Management Task Force to address both health and economic consequences of an unchecked deer population. According to a management plan created in 2016 to address the issue, deer populations have reached “emergency” levels.

To cull the herd, an emphasis was placed on the hunting season, which opens Oct. 1. According to the town’s deer management website, over 1,400 deer have been harvested from the 2008 hunting season through 2016, with over 40,000 pounds of venison donated to food pantries across Long Island.

Mr. Jobes said that managing the deer population comes with its own challenges, including New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations and land ownership. “A very large percentage of the town is privately owned, making it difficult to conduct deer management efforts,” he said.

He hopes that residents will attend the meeting to learn more about impacts on the local environment as well as what the community can do to help.

He will give a presentation on the town’s hunting program and up-to-date statistics on the program, and several guest speakers are scheduled from state and federal agencies.

Sue Booth-Binczik, a wildlife biologist with the NYSDEC Division of Fish and Wildlife, will present on the basic ecology of deer, impacts of overpopulation and management options. Allen Gosser, the state director for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, will discuss current USDA approaches to deer management statewide as well as current laws in place that can restrict those efforts.

Thomas Rawinski, a botanist with the U.S. Forest Service, will talk about negative effects deer have on their surrounding ecosystems and plant life. Mr. Rawinski has been presenting his findings across the Northeast and is currently working on a study in Southold Town, Mr. Jobes said.

tsmith@timesreview.com

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Oysterponds Historical Society has announced that its executive director, Dr. Elsbeth Linn Dowd, has resigned.

Ms. Dowd, a Huntington Station native, was hired by the historical society in 2016. Prior to that, she worked as a registrar at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman, Okla. after earning a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Oklahoma.

In 2016, Ms. Dowd told the Suffolk Times that she was looking forward to returning to Long Island with a fresh appreciation for the area’s history. In an emailed announcement, the board announced that Ms. Dowd would be resigning due to familial obligations. “Unsurprisingly, she has found that working at OHS while raising two children under 3 and commuting from Connecticut is not sustainable,” the email states.

As director, Ms. Dowd worked closely with the society’s board of trustees to continue scheduling exhibitions, programs for adults and children and preservation of the collections and buildings.

Ms. Dowd also oversaw the implementation of a new website for the historical society, funded through a grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

Board trustees indicated that Ms. Dowd plans to work part-time with the organization through December to oversee several projects that are already in motion.

During the transition, former OHS president John Holzapfel has agreed to serve as interim executive director while a national search for a new director is underway.

In the email, the board thanked Ms. Dowd for two years of service and wished her well. “She will be greatly missed,” they said.

tsmith@timesreview.com

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Traditional shingle-style homes are commonplace on the North Fork. The beach cottage aesthetic is befitting, but so, too, are homes built in the modernist style. A new exhibit at Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library, entitled “A New Wave of Modern Architecture on the North Fork,” explores that idiom, which is less commonly seen locally. 

Barry Bergdoll — an Orient resident who has also curated for the Museum of Modern Art — assembled the show, which will be on view at the library starting Friday, Sept. 7. The exhibit features works of modernism by seven architects and firms who have epitomized this new wave of modernism on the North Fork.

“This display is very exciting for our library because it is a very unique one,” said library director Rosemary Martilotta. 

The modernist style was first introduced to the North Fork in the post-war era, Mr. Bergdoll explained. It took him nearly a year to curate the homes in this exhibit, which are more recent interpretations of the aesthetic and are located from Orient to Laurel. 

“North Fork architectural history is very poorly researched after the Colonial period,” Mr. Bergdoll said. “I had to do a lot of digging around. What I hope will happen is people will come to the exhibition and tell me about examples that I did not find. I hope they discover things from me and I discover something from them.”  

The show features three-dimensional models of the homes as well as artfully reproduced renderings of the initial designs provided by New York graphic design firm 2 X 4. The show includes works by Studio A/B Architects and Resolution: 4 Architecture as well as William Ryall, Richard Gluckman, Allan Wexler and John Berg. 

An opening reception is planned for Friday, Sept. 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wine and cheese will be served. Mr. Bergdoll and several of the architects will be on hand to answer questions as well — an aspect of the experience he looks forward to. 

“I am used to really large exhibitions,” Mr. Bergdoll said. “This show is special because it is about my neighbors, for my neighbors.”

The exhibit will be on display through October. 

cmurray@timesreview.com 

Photo caption: This Orient home designed by William Ryall Architect is part of the exhibit. (Courtesy photo) 

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A Rocky Point man was arrested in connection with a series of burglaries at gas stations from Wading River to Mattituck, according to Suffolk County police.

Richard Ambrose, 41, was arrested along with Travis James, 37, of Riverhead for their roles in a string of burglaries throughout the county, police said. The duo were arrested early Monday morning after three burglaries at gas stations in Commack, Patchogue and Port Jeff Station that were committed between 1:23 a.m. and 3 a.m., police said. They were charged with third-degree burglary and Mr. Ambrose was then connected to multiple other burglaries that all occurred since Aug. 8.

Mr. Ambrose faces additional third-degree burglary charges from the Riverhead and Southold Police Departments for the following burglaries:

• Aug. 12 at the Valero gas station in Wading River.

• Aug. 25 at the Speedway gas station in Mattituck.

• Aug. 25 at the Empire gas station in Laurel.

The Quogue Police Department also charged him for his role in an Aug. 12 burglary at the Speedway gas station in Quogue.

He was charged with attempted third degree burglary for an incident Aug. 12 at the American gas station in Jamesport.

Suffolk County police also charged him for burglaries at 11 other establishments throughout the county.

Both suspects were to be held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Tuesday, police said.

Photo caption: Richard Ambrose. (Credit: Suffolk County police)

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New Suffolk

There will be no “major changes” for the 15 students enrolled at New Suffolk Common School this year, school board president Tony Dill said. Following the resignation of Martha Kennelly in April, the district is looking to put the focus back on the students. 

The school plans to do that by increasing opportunities for interaction between students and the community. 

The curriculum is expected to remain the same, but there will be some new faces in the classroom. A few part-time faculty members, including the music and physical education teachers, have left the district. Some have been replaced and interviews are ongoing for other positions, Mr. Dill said. 

Additionally, district principal/superintendent Christopher Gallagher is set to retire Sept. 30. Mr. Dill said the Board of Education is now in talks with a retired educator who lives locally and hopes to hire that person, who has not been named, during its Sept. 17 meeting. He added that Mr. Gallagher’s prospective successor is interested in reviving the school’s drama program.

Lastly, minor capital work was done at the school over the summer, including replacing window shades and repaving the asphalt outside. 

Southold

Southold will continue its focus on safety, security and mental health in the upcoming school year. To this end, there will be a security guard, who was added last year, and a front entrance greeter. The district is also awaiting state funding to further enhance security with surveillance cameras and a more secure front entrance, Superintendent David Gamberg said. 

Like the other North Fork districts, Southold is part of the newly formed North Fork Mental Health Initiative. The first of two therapists that will work with the districts was hired recently by the Family Service League, Mr. Gamberg said. 

Students at the secondary level will now participate in an advisory program, with a focus on grades seven and eight, meeting in groups of 10 to 15 with an assigned teacher for brief periods every day. This time is unrelated to academics, Mr. Gamberg said, but is meant to encourage small group contact and establish an additional support system for students. The secondary school will get a new principal this year in Terence Rusch. 

Finally, Mr. Gamberg said, many projects that are part of the overall capital bond work were completed this summer. They include a new TV studio/lab, library media center and tech shop at the high school and, at the elementary school, a new library media center and a tech café.

Greenport

The Greenport School District will also focus on security this year and will add a security guard for the first time, as well as hire a greeter for the school’s front entrance, Mr. Gamberg said. 

Greenport also joins the Southold, Oysterponds and Mattituck-Cutchogue districts in the North Fork Mental Health Initiative and will implement an advisory program similar to Southold’s for grades 7 to 12. 

An AP Capstone program, the first on the North Fork, will be introduced in the high school, Mr. Gamberg said. It will offer two courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — that promote college readiness through emphasis on skills such as research, presentation, collaboration, time management and critical thinking. 

The Greenport and Southold school gardens, Mr. Gamberg said, will both add hydroponic systems that allow fresh vegetables to be grown on site throughout the winter. Greenport technology teacher Mike Davies will work with his students to develop those systems, he said. 

Oysterponds

As part of its STEM program, the district will introduce a Spanish immersion program for first- and second-graders, which will be taught jointly by the classroom teacher and a teacher fluent in Spanish. Superintendent Richard Malone said the program is expected to move with the students through later grades. 

Additionally, Oysterponds faculty members will collaborate with educators across the globe through Eduplanet21.com to develop units of study for their students. 

The district is also expanding social-emotional learning through mindfulness activities, a character education program and participation in the townwide mental health initiative, which Mr. Malone said is designed to “improve access to mental health services for district families.” 

Finally, Mr. Malone said, the district will continue to offer its 101 enrolled students cultural and artistic enrichment experiences through the “Reach for the Stars” program. This year, for example, it will involve approximately 95 percent of the student body in a production of “The Pied Piper” set for April 2019. 

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Students learn how to code at Cutchogue East Elementary School last year. In the new year, the district will continue to offer these courses. (Nicole Smith file photo) 

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My name is Michael Affatato. I’m the owner of The Village Cheese Shop here on beautiful Love Lane.

We’re a very large cheese retail shop but we’re also a full cafe and a wine bar as well. We have a full-time chef cooking for us, and we do the retail as well which is the largest part of our activity. We have about 200 types of cheeses on a rotating basis. About 90 percent of them are imported and about 10 percent are domestic. We also ship nationwide, and do catering and baskets. Off season, we do educational series either here at the shop or elsewhere.

I grew up as a child on Long Island, in Suffolk County, and I moved to France as a young adult and I was there for 17 years. I moved back to America four years ago.

My background formally was not in cheese, it was in wine production. But wine and cheese go very, very closely together. I bought this shop in October of 2015, so I’m currently in my third year.

My main role is sales behind the counter. It’s to make certain that people are exposed to new items coming and to get them really excited about the items as much as we are.

Michael Affatato of The Village Cheese Shoppe in Mattituck. (Rachel Siford photo)

Everyday is wonderful. The dynamic between the clients and our staff here is fantastic.

My favorite part about being here is the interaction with the clients.

We have a lot of locals who are very loyal to us and even have become personal friends.

We socialize together. We also meet a lot of new clients coming in. This is an area with a lot secondary homes, so we’re meeting new people all the time. What’s interesting is that almost everybody who comes in is of the same ilk, meaning that they are epicureans.

They love cheese, they love food, they love to cook, they love to travel.

So we’re always meeting people are like-minded gourmets, if you will. It’s the interaction with them that gives us the daily charge, and the energy is just wonderful. It never gets tiring.

“The Work We Do” is a Suffolk Times multimedia project profiling workers on the North Fork. Read it first and see more photos every Monday on Instagram @thesuffolktimes and watch the video on facebook.com/thesuffolktimes.

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Wilbur Fisk Osler (Bill), 88, of Mattituck passed away on Aug. 30 in peace while overlooking his beloved Peconic Bay. 

Born in Englewood, N.J., he spent summers in Mattituck as a child, eventually making it his full time home in 1993.

He was a graduate of Lehigh University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a decorated veteran of the Korean War. An entrepreneur at heart, he started many businesses until he finally settled in the transit & railroad industry with his company Advanced Track Products. He managed his rail products business with his youngest son, Scott, and patented some of the products he designed.

A second-generation member of North Fork Country Club, Bill enjoyed a round of golf, but his first passion was the water. He was a lifelong boater and small craft sailor in his youth who shared his love and skill with his boys. Bill was never one to turn down the opportunity to go fishing or out for an impromptu cocktail cruise with friends or family. 

Longtime acquaintances knew Bill as a dedicated friend and ardent family man. He never failed to greet you with a warm embrace and a smile. He was a man of great character, proud but never boastful, kind and witty.  He was a great storyteller and generous with advice to those in need. He celebrated in your victories and supported you in your sorrows. He was full of laughter and love and will be greatly missed.

Predeceased by his wives, Judy (2010) and Ginny (2016), Bill was a devoted husband and father. He leaves behind his four loving sons, Mark, Darryl, Bruce and Scott; their wives; and nine adoring grandchildren. 

Afternoon and evening visitation services will be held Friday, Sept. 7,  from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue.

Church services will be held at Mattituck Presbyterian Church Saturday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making a donation to the North Fork Community Theatre at nfct.com/donate.  Please indicate that your donation is being made in memory of Bill Osler.

This is a paid notice.

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A heat advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service issued the alert as temperatures are expected to reach around 90 degrees with a heat index making it feel like the upper 90s.

A heat advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees.

“Extreme heat can cause illness and death among at-risk population who cannot stay cool,” the NWS advisory states. “The heat and humidity may cause heat stress during outdoor exertion or extended exposure.”

The oppressive heat is expected to break mid-week with temperatures in the low-to-mid-80s forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday.

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Theodore M. Sysol passed away at home in South Jamesport on Sept. 4, 2018 at the age of 94.

Theodore was born in Dunkirk, N.Y. to Antonia and Ludwig Sysol on April 28, 1924.  He moved to Brooklyn was he was eight years old.

In 1943 he joined the Army and landed at Normandy on June 10, 1944, day four of the invasion.

After the war, Theodore earned a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University.   After a 35 year career, which involved both international and domestic law, he retired as a senior partner with the New York city law firm of Haight, Gardner, Poor and Havens, now Holland and Knight. Theodore was a founding member and past president of AMPOLA.   

A longtime resident of Garden City and South Jamesport, Theodore married Janina Choinski in 1948.  She predeceased him in 2012. He is survived by his son Gregory and his wife Patricia; their son Paul; daughter Elizabeth and her daughter Ella; sons Gregory and Jonathan; daughter Cynthia, her husband Andrew and their daughters Katherine and Charlotte; daughter Sandra, her husband Jerry and their daughters Mary Anne and Amy, and her husband Chester.

The family will receive friends on Friday, Sept. 7, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m., at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.  The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery.

This is a paid notice.

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