As legal marijuana gets closer to becoming a reality in New York, state officials are asking the public: How can we get it right?

In September, the Department of Health launched a statewide listening tour bringing community organizers, physicians and pro-cannabis activists together to share their input as the state’s Regulated Marijuana Workgroup begins crafting language for an adult-use recreational marijuana law.

“We are not here to build consensus, but rather gather input,” from a variety of viewpoints, said Sandra Houston, a Department of Health official who moderated a session held in Ronkonkoma Tuesday evening.

Over 100 people packed a ballroom at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center to voice their opinion for or against marijuana legislation.

“The cat’s out of the bag,” said Suffolk County resident Larry Lodi. “People are using cannabis.” Mr. Lodi said that a regulated program would allow for proper testing of the product and generate much-needed tax revenue for the state.

The Department of Health report estimated that tax revenue in the first year alone could generate up to $678 million.

Another middle-aged resident, who asked to be identified by only his first name, said he has been regularly using marijuana since his youth, but it hasn’t negatively impacted his life: he’s married, has children, runs a business.

“I don’t want to feel like a criminal anymore,” Dave said. “I get away with it because I’m white, but people are getting racially profiled for this and that’s not fair either.”

Racial disparity plagues the criminal justice system, some activists said. Despite a 2014 decision by New York City not to make arrests for low-level marijuana possession, data from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for the first three months of 2018 show that many people — mainly black and Latinos — are still being arrested for minor offenses. According to their report, 93 percent of people arrested by the NYPD from January-March of 2018 were New Yorkers of color.

Nicole Nunez, a student at Farmingdale State University and youth organizer with Make the Road New York, a nonprofit that works with immigrant communities, spoke out against biased marijuana policing.

“We cannot continue to criminalize only young and communities of color for the use of marijuana,” Ms. Nunez said. “The collateral damage can be crippling for the same behavior that is ignored in wealthier, white communities,” she said, adding that tax revenue should be reinvested into communities “most harmed by past policies,” like the War on Drugs.

Under the proposed Marijuana Regulation And Taxation Act in New York, marijuana would be legalized for adults over 21 and seal the criminal records of those previously convicted for low-level charges.

Some speakers said 21 is still too young, citing studies that show brain development continues into the mid-twenties.

“It will send the wrong message to our youth,” said Ruthanne McCormack, project coordinator with the Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth. She said that in her community, teens already see a “highly low perception of risk,” related to alcohol and marijuana. She also expressed concern that legal products could be marketed toward children, like discreet vaping devices and edible marijuana products.

Several physicians stood on both sides of the issue.

Dr. Charles Rothberg of Patchogue said legalization poses public health concerns. “Twenty years ago, there was a rush to urge our health community to treat pain aggressively. We were sure that new opioids were safe. If only we could turn back the clock,” he said.

Dr. Tanya Adams, a physician from Setauket, disagreed, adding that the drug has been used safely for thousands of years.

“The relative risk of cannabis is exceedingly low,” she said, compared to other regularly prescribed drugs including opiates.

A Hempstead man said he was prescribed opioids for pain management, but didn’t like the side effects. “Opioid based medicines had me on the couch feeling like a zombie. I smoke marijuana and I’m able to function in society as a normal person,” said Will Avalos, an Army veteran.

Current medical marijuana patients also expressed dissatisfaction with the current system. Ashley Hunt-Martorano of Medford said she was thrilled when she qualified for the program two years ago due to a rare neurological condition. “I quickly found it was very expensive,” she said, and not covered by insurance.

Increased competition by legalization, she said, could bring prices down.

“Right now, the medical marijuana program is only available for people of a certain socioeconomic status,” Ms. Hunt-Martorano said. “Recreational marijuana could bring the cost down for those of us who need it for medical purposes.”

New York is one of 29 states that have welcomed medical marijuana. In 2016, Riverhead become home to the county’s first medical marijuana dispensary on West Main Street.

Beverage distributors are also hoping to tap into the legal market.

Kevin McKillop, who owns Riverhead Beverage, spoke with Mike Boufis, owner of Bullseye Beverage in Smithtown.

“When it does become legal, we would like to be considered to be able to sell [marijuana] in New York State,” Mr. McKillop said.

Mr. Boufis added that beverage distributors could help safely regulate the product.

“We are already well equipped for all age detection We have license scanners and are highly trained,” he said.

Those on both sides of the issue agreed that the state should proceed with caution.

Suffolk County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken said that while this will “very likely” become policy, the public should consider long-term consequences. “It’s not a done deal in terms of knowing that it’s safe,” he said.

Christine Casiano, chief administrative officer at Outreach, a substance abuse treatment organization, said as a parent of two, she’s “deeply worried” about legalization. “I do feel a bit like this is an express train that has already left the station,” she admitted. So instead of railing against marijuana, Ms. Casiano said the state should slow the process and ensure safeguards are put in place “so the train doesn’t go out of control.”

She suggested increase drug prevention programming, strict control of marijuana products, ensuring products aren’t marketed toward children, preparing for how use will be regulated in public settings, and how impairment will be dealt with on the roads and in workplaces.

Feedback will be brought back to the work group as they draft potential legislation. Gov. Andrew Cuomo established the multi-agency workgroup in August after a New York State Department of Health report released in July concluded that the positive effects of a regulated marijuana program in the state outweigh potential negative impacts. The group is tasked with considering economic impacts, public health and criminal justice.

Gov. Cuomo ordered the assessment in his budget address in January.

Nine other states and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults over 21. 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.

Comments made during the listening session reflect the results of a recent poll conducted by South Nassau Communities Hospital in September. Residents of Suffolk and Nassau counties and the five boroughs were polled and the hospital found that 50 percent of respondents support legalizing recreational marijuana, 40 percent do not, and 10 percent are unsure.

Written comments on the proposed regulated marijuana program can also be emailed to rmls@health.ny.gov.

tsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Dozens spoke at the Tuesday night Regulated Marijuana Workgroup. (Tara Smith photo)

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Listings prepared for Times Review Media Group by Suffolk Research Service, dated Aug. 20-26, 2018.

Brought to you by:

AQUEBOGUE (11931)

• Grothmann, G to Lopez Flores & Perez, Manuel & Gerber, 33 Ida Ln (600-46-1-33.23), (R), $461,600

BAITING HOLLOW (11933)

• Fata, V to Thornton, James, 208 Fox Hill Dr (600-11.1-1-26), (R), $379,500

CALVERTON (11933)

• Governali, M to Geraci, Christopher & Joseph, 46 Sunny Line Dr (600-97-1-58), (R), $320,000

CUTCHOGUE (11935)

• Nanninga, C to Colgan, Deborah, 430 Skunk Ln (1000-97-3-8), (R), $690,000

• Jacobs, A to 550 Depot Road NY LLC, 550 Depot Ln (1000-102-2-8), (R), $375,000

• Harris, B & D to NFVS Holdings LLC, 854 Bridle Ln (1000-102-4-5.5), (R), $1,475,000

• DePetris, A by Executor to Travers, Thomas, 100 Old Pasture Rd (1000-103-11-18), (R), $470,000

GREENPORT (11944)

• Chinnici, M to Corritore, Christa, 1175 Sandy Beach Rd (1000-43-4-39), (R), $315,000

JAMESPORT (11947)

• Van Allen, R to Zouroudis, Michael, 37 Fox Ln (600-68-2-23.4), (R), $449,000

• Montefusco Trust to Seelig, William, 9 White Birch Ct (600-68-4-55.5), (R), $545,000

LAUREL (11948)

• Tristate Capital Hldgs to County of Suffolk, 2550 N Oakwood Dr (1000-127-3-8), (V), $175,000

• Hallock, J to County of Suffolk, 430 Diachun Rd (1000-127-3-10.2), (V), $375,000

• Hallock Holding Corp to County of Suffolk, Diachun Rd (1000-127-3-10.3), (V), $340,000

• Capital Asset Retir Fnd to County of Suffolk, 560 & 2295 Great Peconic Bay (1000-127-8-17.2), (V), $343,578

• Capital Asset Retir Fnd to County of Suffolk, 2445 Great Peconic Bay Bl (1000-127-8-17.3), (V), $900,000

MATTITUCK (11952)

• Gemes, V to Rauseo, Panayioti, 565 Dogwood Ln (1000-106-8-21), (R), $350,000

RIVERHEAD (11901)

• Baney, D to Donnelly, Christopher, 668 Sound Shore Rd (600-7-3-3), (R), $625,000

• Coniglio, J to DiBenedetto, Joseph, 106 Louise Ct (600-17-1-8.6), (V), $249,000

• Dugan, C to Variello, Denise, 3401 Willow Pond Dr (600-18.1-4-213), (R), $399,000

• Zheng, T & Guo, Y to Xue, Mei, 25 Peacock Path (600-46-3-16), (R), $420,000

• Wiegand, E by Executor to Blessinger, Maryann, 5 Kennsington Ct, #2502 (600-82.5-2-2), (R), $460,000

• Minsky, J & A to Radenberg, Eugeme, 74 Fox Chaser Pl (600-86-2-7.7), (R), $442,000

• Barget, R & M to MacArthur, Gina, 142 Merritts Pond Rd (600-107-1-6), (R), $305,000

• Rudzinska, J to Garcia Garcia, Mario, 919 Roanoke Ave (600-107-2-20), (R), $350,000

SHELTER ISLAND (11964)

• Plastaras, L Trust to O’Reilly, Matthew, 44 Country Club Dr (700-1-2-24), (R), $850,000

• Three Gazon LLC to King, Rachel, 3 Gazon Rd & lot 028.003 (700-18-2-31), (R), $1,050,000

• Hunt, N & F to Whiskey Tango Shelter Island, 6 Lord’s Ln (700-18-2-80.2), (V), $1,100,000

SOUTHOLD (11971)

• Hughes, P to Asip, Alice, 1290 W Hill Rd (1000-63-7-17.3), (R), $749,000

WADING RIVER (11792)

• Gendot Homes Inc to Trent, Martin, 56 High Hill Rd (600-50-3-9.1), (R), $569,268

(Key: Tax map numbers = District-Section-Block-Lot; (A) = agriculture; (R) = residential; (V) = vacant property; (C) = commercial; (R&E) = recreation & entertainment; (CS) = community services; (I) = industrial; (PS) = public service; (P) = park land; as determined from assessed values in the current tax rolls.)

The post Real Estate Transfers: Oct. 18, 2018 appeared first on Suffolk Times.

The proposal to build a group of residential homes in Mattituck, known as the Koehler Family Limited Partnership, was brought before the Planning Board again.

At a public hearing in 2015, dozens of residents rejected the proposal, saying that this would disrupt their community and harm the environment.

The 15-acre property, located on New Suffolk Avenue and Marratooka Road, is currently the site of a single-family home. The owner, represented by Thomas McCarthy, wishes to subdivide the land into seven lots with a road constructed at about half an acre.

In August 2017, the Planning Board granted conditional preliminary plat approval, according to staff reports.

The applicant has provided a schematic drawing of potential locations for agricultural structures and retail farm stands.

“We’d like to have the provision that whoever’s going to be using this land, if they look to retail something off of it, have a spot to do that and we’re planning for it now,” Mr. McCarthy said.

Assistant Town Planning Director Mark Terry said that the farm stands are speculative at this point because they don’t know what kind of goods would be produced on the farm.

Southold Town code requires the applicant to provide one affordable housing unit. A previous version of the plan indicated that the affordable home would be located elsewhere in town, but that is considered ineligible.

The applicant has told the board that a donation of property will be offered to the Town of Southold Housing Fund, North Fork Housing Alliance, Community Land Trust or a similar organization for the sole purpose of developing affordable housing; however, sufficient details were not provided regarding the location so the Planning Board cannot determine if the property is acceptable.

The final plat application was found incomplete, pending information on the affordable housing requirement, along with several other outstanding items.

rsiford@timesreview.com

Photo caption: The Southold Planning Board discussed the application on Monday evening. (Rachel Siford photo)

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This year, for the first time, sisters Nancy Chandler of Southold and Judy Cronin of Shirley wore purple ribbons during Sunday’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Yaphank. The ribbons indicated that they’d lost someone to the disease. Having watched their mother deteriorate over five long years, they were inspired to try and make a difference. 

And make a difference they did, raising a total of $14,000 for research toward finding a cure for the relentless memory-loss disease.

Their once lively mother, Carol Legrow of South Setauket, died last November, at age 77, from complications related to Alzheimer’s. The sisters had started participating in the annual walk three years earlier, founding a team called “Mom’s Daughters.”

“We thought it was a good way for us to channel all of the negative and sad things related to someone suffering from dementia into something positive,” Ms. Chandler said. “It’s become a really important and great way for us to try to help and find a cure.”

Ms. Legrow was diagnosed with dementia in September 2013, but had most likely been experiencing symptoms for a while before that, the sisters said.

Over 600 people registered for Sunday’s walk, organized by Alzheimer’s Association. 

“It’s a very emotional day, but also a hopeful day because a lot of money is being raised and hopefully they’ll find a cure so others don’t have to suffer,” Ms. Chandler said.

Ms. Cronin is the captain and founder of “Mom’s Daughters,” which raised the most money of any team this year. In second place was the team from Peconic Landing, which raised a little over $8,000. 

In its first year, “Mom’s Daughters” raised about $4,000.

“I feel like I’m really giving back for my mom,” Ms. Cronin said. “It’s a huge accomplishment and I’m going to try that much harder to beat that $14,000 next year.”

She added that she knew her mom would be proud that her daughters are actively pursuing a cure.

“It’s sad to see someone you love disappear. My mom loved to dance and was super-friendly and she literally got to a point where she wasn’t able speak, walk or care for herself,” Ms. Chandler said. “She just disappeared.”

Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Yaphank Walk to End Alzheimer’s surpassed its goal, with more than $156,000 raised from Sunday’s event. Donations will still be accepted through the end of December. (Robert Heppenheimer photo)

Both sisters said they want to raise awareness for this cause to encourage others to seek support. Ms. Cronin added that a strong support system is necessary when dealing with Alzheimer’s since it can be all-consuming. 

“You can’t deal with this disease by itself. You just can’t,” she said. 

Another message they are determined to get out is not to ignore signs of dementia or just attribute them to getting older.

“When someone talks to me about how their mom is repeating themselves, I’m like, don’t ignore it,” Ms. Cronin said.

“I became the mom,” Ms. Chandler said. “I had to take care of her and comfort her, and be her advocate. And that’s a big piece of someone who has Alzheimer’s because they can’t speak for themselves.”

Ms. Chandler and her husband moved to California and lived there for about 15 years. They moved back to Southold about five months before her mother was diagnosed.

“That’s something that gives me comfort, that I was able to be her advocate and do the best I could to ensure she was cared for in the way she deserved to the very end,” Ms. Chandler said.

The sisters began fundraising in April, gathering donations from friends, through events and on Facebook. The entire event raised over $157,000 to benefit Alzheimer’s research.

rsiford@timesreview.com

Photo Caption:  Judy Cronin (left) and Nancy Chandler helped their team raise nearly $14,000 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Their mother died in late 2017 after suffering from Alzheimer’s. (Courtesy photo)

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John Michael Rooney of Southold died at home Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. He was 69.

The family will receive friends Friday, Oct. 19, from 2 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold, with Father John Barrett officiating.

Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery in Southold.

Memorial donations may be made to East End Hospice or Southold Historical Society.

The post John Michael Rooney appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Lindsay Malone

Lindsay Malone, 24, died June 8, 2018, after a struggle with opioid addiction. She was born Jan. 1, 1994, to Lynn and Patrick Malone. Lindsay was the oldest of four siblings. She grew up in Wading River and attended Shoreham-Wading River High School, where she was a student athlete, an artist and an honor student. After high school, she attended SUNY/Fredonia.

Lindsay was a beautiful girl with a fearless personality, a great sense of humor and a magnetic spirit. She fought her addiction bravely over the past several years with the support of her family, and she always wanted to get well. Sadly, in the end, she lost her battle with addiction.

Lindsay was a free spirit who had a passion for life. She was an artist, photographer and poet. She loved music, food, fashion and traveling. She lived with an open heart and an acceptance for all cultures and people who came into her life.

She is survived by her parents; her sister, Erin; and brothers, Brendan and Kyle; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who loved her dearly.

We hope Lindsay can now find the peace she could not find here on earth. If you have a loved one who is fighting addiction, do everything possible to support them and guide them to rehabilitation. Addiction takes far too many young lives today.

This is a paid notice.

The post Lindsay Malone appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Past and present members of the Mattituck baseball program and residents in the district are expected to attend Thursday’s Board of Education meeting in support of Steve DeCaro, the varsity coach and high school physics teacher who was removed from the classroom last week for an undisclosed reason.

Board president Charles Anderson confirmed that Mr. DeCaro, who teaches the school’s AP physics class, was not currently in the classroom. He declined to provide further details citing a personnel decision. He said the 6:30 p.m. board meeting Thursday would be held in the high school auditorium instead of the library to accommodate the larger than normal crowd.

“For us not being able to tell the entire situation creates a lot of frustration for parents, which I can understand, but legally I cannot talk about it,” Mr. Anderson said.

He said he couldn’t comment on what the process would be going forward to determine whether Mr. DeCaro returns to his teaching duties. Mr. Anderson plans to read a statement at the board meeting about the situation where he’ll also explain how board members cannot comment further on the decision. Residents will be granted the opportunity to speak.

“As long as people are respectful, they can speak to us,” he said. “We’re going to respectfully listen to their comments.”

In an Oct. 12 email sent to parents, high school principal Shawn Petretti said Mr. DeCaro had not been in the class “for the past few days.”

“At this time, we are unable to determine a possible return date, nor are we able to share details about his absence as this is a matter of personnel,” Mr. Petretti wrote.

Mr. Petretti added that he and superintendent Jill Gierasch are reaching out to qualified teachers across Long Island to find a replacement to take over Mr. DeCaro’s classes during his absence. Ms. Gierasch began a five-year contract as superintendent on Aug. 1.

In a statement to The Suffolk Times, Ms. Gierasch said she understands parents and the community have questions regarding Mr. DeCaro.

“Mr. DeCaro is entitled to his right to privacy so I am unable to share the details regarding this decision,” she said. “Our top priority is to always ensure that our students are educated in a safe and secure environment that promotes success. I want to share with our parents that we are progressing in securing a physics teacher who can fulfill our instructional needs and will support our goals for all students. In addition, we will be providing some after-hours instruction for those students who may feel they need extra support over the next two weeks. I will be keeping parents and the community informed as we move forward and I am hopeful that a replacement can be approved very soon.”

Mr. DeCaro said Monday afternoon he could not comment “since I know little myself.”

Mr. DeCaro has been a teacher in the district for 17 years. His future as varsity baseball coach also remains unclear. The Board of Education approved him as the varsity coach for the upcoming spring season at the July 9 meeting, according to minutes from the meeting.

He’s coached the baseball team since 2003 and has tallied a record of 238-139-1. He led the team to a state championship in 2015 and was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year by Newsday that season. He earned that honor again in 2017 after leading the Tuckers to the Long Island championship.

Marcos Perivolaris, an all-Long Island shortstop on the 2015 state championship team, wrote an impassioned defense of his former coach to The Suffolk Times in advance of Thursday’s board meeting.

“He pushed me to new limits and treated me, as well as the other 100 students, like we were his children,” said Mr. Perivolaris, who’s a junior at SUNY/Cortland where he plays baseball. “He brought life, energy and a unique personality into the classroom for which I am forever grateful.”

WITH BOB LIEPA

Photo caption: Mattituck baseball coach Steve DeCaro coaches third base during a playoff game in 2017. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)

joew@timesreview.com

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The surprise team didn’t have one final surprise left, but it sure took its best shot.

It was hard to know what to expect of the Mattituck High School girls tennis team entering this season. The Tuckers, under a new coach, had lost their entire singles lineup to graduation. Players, untested at the varsity level, had yet to prove themselves.

So, what do the Tuckers do? They go on to win the Suffolk County League VIII championship.

Surprise!

“I definitely did not expect this because I know most of the team moved up from JV this year, so I wasn’t expecting much, but it honestly blew my mind that we won [the] league [championship], but it’s great,” said third singles player Julie Kosmynka.

Mattituck (10-2) went 10-0 in league play and 10-1 in the regular season, but reached the end of the road Thursday with a 4-3 loss at William Floyd in the first round of the Suffolk County Team Tournament. It was Mattituck’s seventh straight appearance in the playoffs. Tenth-seeded Floyd (11-6) advances to a Round of 16 match at No. 7 East Hampton/Bridgehampton/Pierson (10-2) Friday.

It was the end of quite a season for Mattituck and Cory Dolson, the team’s third coach in 38 years.

“The few girls that we had left over from last year with varsity experience, they really stepped up and won a lot of matches for us,” he said. “And then I think a lot of girls that came up from JV, even though a lot of them are seniors this year, they had a lot of match experience. A lot of them just really battled and we got a lot of points on doubles. So, really, that’s what carried us through the season.”

Ironically, doubles is Floyd’s strength, too. Floyd swept all three doubles matches and Saskia DaSilva secured the decisive fourth team point with her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Ashley Perkins in second singles.

Floyd, which had reached the county semifinals the past six years (twice making it to the county final and winning the title in 2014), represented a stiff challenge for No. 23 Mattituck. Earlier this year the Colonials put an end to Half Hollow Hills East’s 63-match win streak.

“It’s a credit to them,” Floyd coach Dave Pia said of his players. “They work hard these kids.”

The three doubles matches were tidy affairs. The first doubles pairing of Hailey Loughlin and Chandni Patel beat Sarah Bihm and Mia Slovak, 6-1, 6-0. Lindsey Boorock and Sophia Johnson were 6-3, 6-3 winners over their second doubles opponents, Annie Finnegan and Claudia Hoeg. In third doubles, Amanda Junel and Isabella Saladin won, 6-4, 6-1, over Anna Burns and Katie Parks.

Mattituck has been helped this year by the addition of Kelsey Bundrick, a junior first singles player from Bishop McGann-Mercy. Bundrick showed the type of player she is by bouncing back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to win that set and her match against Alyssa Drell in a tiebreaker. The scores were 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Bundrick, an All-County player, exhibited some wonderful shot-making ability as well as mental toughness.

“She gets to a lot of balls, she really does, and she’s really athletic,” Dolson said. “She really is. She runs a lot of balls down. She’s got a very good first serve and if she plays a little bit in the offseason, she’s going to come back next year better than ever.”

Drell made some tremendous shots herself in a match — played in chilly 49-degree weather — that saw some long, entertaining rallies. The Floyd junior put away 27 winners, but also made 37 unforced errors. Bundrick had 17 winners and 14 unforced errors.

Asked how she pulled out the win, Bundrick said, “I think really just keeping the ball on the court and staying focused.”

Kosmynka defeated Samantha Komnick, 6-0, 7-5, and Mattituck’s other team point came from fourth singles player Jessica Scheer. She prevailed over Alice Li, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

“We came in here, we battled,” Dolson said. “We lost 4-3, so we can leave with our heads held high.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Mattituck third singles player Julie Kosmynka won her match in the Tuckers’ 4-3 loss at William Floyd. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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Emily Anne McDonald, MD earned a medical degree from SUNY/Downstate College of Medicine three years ago. Before she could complete her first year of residency, however, she decided to quit.

That may sound crazy to some, but to her, it made complete sense.

Instead, Ms. McDonald plans to open Chrysalis Holistic Healing in Cutchogue next week, a space focused on connecting the physical aspects of the body with the mind, heart and spirit.

“It was very clear. I’m doing exactly what I went to school to do,” she said. “It’s harder for other people [to understand]. But not for me.”

She said medical school provided exactly what she needs for this venture. She will use that formal training even though she chose not to go the traditional route.

“I was challenged by the actual industry and from the inside of being a researcher, there were things that didn’t seem to be in patients’ best interest,” said Ms. McDonald, 31. She added that she had to listen to her intuition and decided to look into different ways to take care of people beyond drugs.

She began her medical career as an OB/GYN, wanting to help women make decisions about their bodies, but she found it difficult to think critically about the type of care she was giving while being a practicing physician.

“It didn’t feel right. There was something different for me that I was supposed to be pursuing,” she said. 

The Mattituck native graduated from Mattituck High School in 2005 and studied biology at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. During medical school, she had plans to become a cancer researcher.

But after leaving her residency at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Hospital, she began her new journey with yoga teacher training. 

“My biggest issue with health care in its current form is that it’s really focused on the body and from having a strong practice in yoga, I knew that was not true,” Ms. McDonald said. 

Chrysalis Holistic Healing will have a staff that includes energy healers, herbalists, a flower essence practitioner and a crystal healer. It will also host meditation and yoga teachers and an astrologer, along with an organic farmer.

These approaches may sound unorthodox to many, but Ms. McDonald explained they are just alternative modalities that use different tools to transform a person’s energy. Chrysalis may, for example, incorporate acupuncture or meditation, or even use flower vibrations as a form of balancing energy.

Chrysalis is not a place to go for a diagnosis, she said. The ideal customer might be someone with chronic disease looking to manage their symptoms, or someone newly diagnosed with an illness who is seeking treatment options other than pharmaceuticals.

“There are people who are looking to take their health into their own hands,” she said, adding that people also come to her who want to get off medications.

“I am someone who can help them process what is wrong,” Ms. McDonald said. “I take a holistic framework and help them organize their life.“

In addition to opening Chrysalis, Ms. McDonald is currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical bioethics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. 

She is also starting a local nonprofit called Ethos Rising that will offer more affordable holistic care at the Cutchogue facility. It will also host a free clinic on select Wednesdays that will provide more short-term consultations.

Ann opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday,Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. at 28080 Main Road in Cutchogue.

rsiford@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Emily Anne McDonald will open Chyrsalis Holistic Healing in Cutchogue next week. (Kate Nalepinski photo)

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“Can I have a show of hands of who is here tonight in support of the high school teacher currently under suspension?”

A sea of about 200 students, parents, alumni, and members of the Mattituck baseball program raised their hands after Lauren Gilbert, the mother of two boys at Cutchogue East Elementary School, asked the question at the Mattituck-Cutchogue Board of Education meeting Thursday night. A total of 26 other people approached the microphone during the more than two-hour meeting to address concerns with the absence of longtime physics teacher and Mattituck baseball coach, Steve DeCaro, and describe what they feel is a changing culture in the district.

“I recognize why many of you are here — it regards Mr. DeCaro,” Board president Charles Anderson said at the beginning of the meeting.

Mr. Anderson announced that the administration is currently investigating the situation and solely the board will determine the future of Mr. DeCaro, who was removed from the classroom last week, according to an Oct. 12 email sent to parents by high school principal Shawn Petretti. Mr. Anderson did not announce the status of Mr. DeCaro’s absence, saying it’s a “confidential matter.”

Superintendent Jill Gierasch emphasized that a replacement teacher, set to begin Oct. 29, is qualified, and another teacher will be available for extra help on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

“This individual has taught physics and AP physics for over nine years,” Ms. Gierasch said. “We are confident he has personal and instructional skills needed to support success.”

Board president Charles Anderson and superintendent Jill Gierasch at Thursday’s board meeting. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)

But some parents said waiting nearly a month for a full-time replacement teacher wouldn’t cut it.

“To go without one month of properly learning about AP Physics is unacceptable,” said Katie Thomas, who has two sons, one of whom is a current senior. “I don’t know how a new teacher will be perceived by the students, but if it’s like the way it’s working right now, it’ll be a while before the kids can actually learn in that class.”

Ms. Gilbert added: “I have lost faith in this administration.”

Six current members of the Mattituck varsity baseball team spoke during the meeting. They said Mr. DeCaro has not only led the team to success, but they excel academically because of him.

“He pushes us to be the best … Whether it’s in the weight room, whether it’s at practice when we’re going over fundamentals,” said Tyler C. Olsen, a varsity player and AP physics student.

The audience gave the boys a standing ovation after they had all finished speaking.

Sean McDonald, a current AP physics student and member of the varsity baseball team, said he started an internal petition to support his teacher. He received 200 signatures in four days, representing a large percentage of the current high school enrollment.

“With their signature, these students would depict that they support my physics teacher, and that they disagree with your choice to remove him,” he said. “You represent us, as a community — don’t let us down.”

The crowd gave a standing ovation to the six current baseball players who spoke on behalf of Mr. DeCaro. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)

Jon Lisowy, a current varsity baseball player and student, said he and a classmate compiled a video of 37 alumni and current students defending Mr. DeCaro. He asked the board to present it at the board meeting, but they respectfully declined. Mr. Anderson answered him directly and reassured Jon that all board members would view his video individually.

Kathy Perivolaris, whose son Marcos was a captain on the 2015 state championship team, read a letter her son had written, where he asked that if Mr. DeCaro doesn’t return, the championship banners from their year be removed out of respect for the coach that led them to victory.

Some parents in attendance described the board’s decision as an attack on teachers. Bridget Marine, who has four kids in the district, said the choice to stand up for Mr. DeCaro represents a fight for all teachers.

“We are fighting for all teachers, not just our favorite,” Ms. Marine said. “But he deserves the best.”

Kathleen Delaney, a grandmother of two boys at Cutchogue East, said: “Many of us do not know the facts. We as parents have a right to know.”

Other students spoke about having Mr. DeCaro as a teacher, and said a lot of his “wacky” and “memorable” quirks would be lost if they don’t bring him back to the district.

“He made me look forward to school,” said 2018 graduate Cassidy Bertolas. “Seniors need him to make memories.”

Another student described Mr. DeCaro as “a Mattituck tradition.”

Marguerite Kitz, a longtime teacher at Wading River Elementary School, said removing Mr. DeCaro has jeopardized the quality of the community. Her son, Jack, who was a student at Mattituck, she said, loved Mr. DeCaro.

“He has this sense of community that we moved here for,” she said. “It would be so sad to lose our incredible sense of community. … I am proud to say that I live in Mattituck. I don’t want that to change.”

Top photo caption: From left, Christopher Nicholson, Bridget Marine and Lauren Gilbert were among the speakers at Thursday’s meeting. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)

knalepinski@timesreview.com

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An emotional Senior Day is nothing new. What was unusual about the senior ceremony before the Greenport/Southold girls volleyball team’s final home match Friday, though, was the source of much of that emotion.

Greenport coach Mike Gunther has a hard outer shell, but he unexpectedly showed his softer side.

After Greenport junior varsity coach Nick Fioretti addressed the spectators at Greenport High School in his pregame presentation of his senior, outside hitter Anna Coria, it was Gunther’s turn to introduce the two seniors who play for his varsity team. Just seconds after introducing middle hitter Emily Russell and outside hitter Lupita Perez, Gunther had to cut short his remarks to compose himself.

“I got to tell you, it’s an honor and a privilege to coach both of them,” he said before tears welled in his eyes, his face reddened and he choked up.

“We haven’t seen him that emotional in a while,” said junior setter Liz Jernick.

What Gunther didn’t say spoke volumes about how he feels about the players. Following the match — a 25-17, 22-25, 25-9, 25-12 loss to Center Moriches — Gunther explained what was going through his head during the ceremony. “I was going to talk about how I have known these kids since they were in seventh grade,” he said. He continued: “It’s more than sport; it’s watching them grow up. They were little high school girls and now they’re young women ready to take on the world, and I’ve been thinking about all these nice things I was going to say about them and then — bang! — it just hit me that I’m saying goodbye to them. Sometimes it’s difficult to say goodbye to your kids. It’s not see you later; it’s goodbye.”

Is this a kinder, gentler Mike Gunther we’re seeing here?

Gunther indicated that is a question best answered by his players.

“I’ve coached over a hundred different teams,” he said. “I said goodbye to so many kids. Maybe it’s a culmination of that, but 10 years ago I didn’t cry.”

Now the Porters (4-8, 4-7 Suffolk County League VIII) are hoping they don’t have to shed tears about failing to reach the playoffs. To gain entry into the postseason, they will need to beat second-place Pierson/Bridgehampton Monday. Pierson entered its match Friday at Shelter Island with a 10-2 record, 7-2 in the league.

“Monday is a playoff game for us,” Gunther said. “It’s a playoff to get in the playoffs.”

In the first match between the teams on Sept. 28, Pierson won in three sets.

Greenport has shown itself to be its own worst enemy at times, though. After the Porters won the second set against Center Moriches (11-4, 8-3), they collapsed in the third. The Red Devils ran off 16 straight points for a commanding 21-8 lead.

Gunther said, “We started to believe in ourselves, and I told the girls, ‘The next game they’re going to come out and try and smack us in the face,’ and they did.”

Jernick, who had four service aces and 11 assists, said: “I think that we just lost our motivation and our heart to win the game at that point, which we have to learn not to because we can’t expect to win the rest of the game after doing really well in one set. We have to keep it going.”

Center Moriches was led by Samantha Kremer (seven kills, two aces, one block), Alexandra Coyle (19 assists, five aces) and Elizabeth Strebel (five kills, two aces, two blocks).

Now, the heat is on the Porters.

“We have to win our very last game,” Jernick said. “I think if we work hard enough, we can definitely do it.”

Russell (eight kills, two blocks, one assist) said the showdown with Pierson is “a big game for us.”

What if Greenport found itself in the playoffs?

“That would be so amazing,” Russell said. “I would jump up and down.”

It is, after all, an emotional game.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Greenport/Southold coach Mike Gunther hugs one of his two seniors, middle hitter Emily Russell, in an emotional Senior Day ceremony. (Credit: Garret Meade)

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Mattituck resident Barry Miller, a petty officer second class in the U.S. Navy, has a new place to call home: the open seas. 

A 2010 graduate of Mattituck High School, he has been deployed as a fire controlman aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, according to a Sept. 28 press release from American Connections Media Outreach. 

A fire controlman provides key support for combat operations overseas and is responsible for maintenance of digital computer equipment and systems and systems used for weapons direction and combat; as well as for testing, troubleshooting and repair of most weapons systems.

Mr. Miller works with the ship’s Aegis Combat System, an electronic sensor system that defends against missile threats.

“The most important aspect of our job on deployment is keeping the radar operating with other ships in the strike group,” he said in the release. 

Mr. Miller credits his success in the Navy to many of the lessons he learned in Mattituck.

“I learned that having a good work ethic and giving it your all has its rewards,” he said.

Based in Mayport, Fla., the Philippine Sea is one of more than 60 ships stationed on the East Coast of the U.S. that are part of the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The ship can fire Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and other weapons in combat operations against targets on and below the sea and can reach targets hundreds of miles over land.

Mr. Miller said he understands his role in the Navy means he’s representing the U.S.

“Serving in the Navy means that I am committed to something bigger than myself — and defending our country,” Mr. Miller said.

knalepinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry Miller, a 2010 Mattituck graduate, is a Navy fire controlman aboard a guided-missile cruiser. (Courtesy photo)

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A Huntington Station man was arrested Sunday after he was stopped on Route 48 in Cutchogue for failing to maintain his lane of travel, police said.

John Vanderschuyt, 24, was determined to be driving while impaired by drugs and in possession of quantities of marijuana and concentrated cannabis, according to officials. 

• Wayne Brathwaite, 44, of East Quogue was found to be in possession of marijuana, a violation, and then attempted to flee officers, police said.

He was charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, on Monday around 8:38 p.m. on Center Street in Greenport, a press release stated.

• A verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation in Mattituck last Sunday at 11:20 p.m., police said.

A 39-year-old Wantagh man was arrested and charged with second-degree harassment after he and another man got into a physical altercation in the Magic Fountain parking lot. The victim received minor injuries to the and refused medical attention, according to a press release. He was charged with harassment in the second degree, a violation, police said.

• A Greenport man reported that $4,300 worth of fraudulent charges were made to his bank account last Tuesday, police said. 

• A Mattituck woman reported youths having a large party at Breakwater Beach with a bonfire on Saturday around 11 p.m., police said. After officers responded to the scene, the kids cleaned up and left the area, according to the police report.

• A Mattituck woman reported a small electrical fire at her residence Saturday around 11:45 a.m., police said. Mattituck Fire Department volunteers responded and extinguished the fire, officials said.

• A Riverhead woman called police last Thursday around 5:30 a.m. when she realized someone had stolen her 2005 Chevrolet work truck from the Mattituck business where she is employed, police said. 

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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Last Friday morning, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck, the recent history of our country and our state were on full display when hundreds of mourners gathered to honor the life of Sgt. Dennis Reichardt, a retired Suffolk County police officer.

Sgt. Reichardt was the sort of man who was devoted to his job and to public service. He believed in his work. He believed in duty. He believed in things far bigger than himself. 

Like thousands of others, he had rushed to the scene of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in lower Manhattan to help in any way he could. The collapse of the Twin Towers had sent tons of toxic pollutants into the air. Sgt. Reichardt and others who responded to this epic American tragedy spent days and weeks looking — first for any possible survivors in the rubble, and then for remains so that families could bury their loved ones.

Sgt. Reichardt’s death from pancreatic cancer on Oct. 4, and the scores of police officers and others who came to his funeral, are reminders that even 17 years later, we are not over 9/11. It has not receded into history. And it should never recede into history. It continues to claim lives from cancers related to the air quality that resulted at ground zero.

Sgt. Reichardt was just 64. At his funeral, he was described as a “cop’s cop,” a believer in his role as a public servant and, throughout his career, as a man who put his family ahead of himself.

He joined the police department in 1982, was elevated to sergeant in 1993 and spent a good part of his career in the Emergency Services Unit. There, he learned the really hard stuff: heavy rescue, extrications, the handling of explosives and the danger that high-risk search warrants pose for officers carrying them out.

Because of his training, he was a natural fit to work at ground zero as a bomb technician. He spent days at the site, and weeks at the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, where debris and rubble were taken.

He retired from the department in 2011 and, in April 2017, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. All the research done since 9/11 shows that this type of cancer, as well as many others, can be directly attributed to the terror attacks. These deaths, and the scores of first responders who have been diagnosed with other 9/11-related diseases, represent a second wave of tragedy connected directly to the attacks.

In a statement after Sgt. Reichardt’s death, Suffolk County Police Chief Stuart Cameron said: “In his passing we are unfortunately reminded of the dangers that still surround 9/11 for first responders. I have no doubt, even if Reichardt knew of the risks involved, he would still have responded to serve his country.”

Two years ago, we profiled retired FDNY firefighter Steve Brickman of Jamesport, who had been diagnosed with Stage 4 head and neck cancer and Stage 4 lung cancer. Doctors attributed these cancers to toxins he’d inhaled at ground zero, where he spent nearly two weeks, often with little sleep, assisting in bucket brigades. His treatments began more than five years ago and, thankfully, he’s still with us today. 

The death in 2006 of New York City police detective James Zadroga, age 34, started the process of examining the impact of air quality on the responders. An autopsy revealed that Det. Zadroga’s lungs were full of ground glass, among other things.

Several studies undertaken since 9/11, including the federal World Trade Center Health Program, show that an estimated 9,795 people have been diagnosed with cancers related to the attack and more than 400 have died. 

Sgt. Reichardt’s wife, Jean, said her husband “loved being a police officer.” The large crowd that came to Mattituck for his funeral — officers in formation, bagpipers, K-9 units and a police helicopter flyover — are a testament to that, and to what President Lincoln, after the battle at Gettysburg, called “the last full measure of devotion.”

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After witnessing a first half in which it became apparent that things weren’t going to be nearly as easy for his Greenport/Southold/Mattituck football team as they might be, coach Jack Martilotta turned to a sideline observer and shook his head. With each week, he said, he ages 10 years.

Such is the stressful life of a coach.

One can only imagine how many years Martilotta aged over the course of Saturday’s thriller against Bayport-Blue Point.

Take two Suffolk County Division IV teams desperately trying to carve a path for themselves into the playoffs and what do you get?

Answer: The high drama that played out at Bob Sullivan Field in Bayport.

Consider the craziness of this game:

Greenport looked on for most of the first half, forging a 20-0 lead. But Bayport wasn’t done. The Phantoms scored the next 24 points to leapfrog ahead.

On what appeared to be the play to decide the game, Greenport’s Tyrus Smiley took a direct snap from center on fourth-and-goal from the Bayport 1-yard line up the middle and over the goal line for a go-ahead touchdown with 40 seconds left. Ahkee Anderson ran in the two-point conversion, making it 28-24.

Game over, right?

Wrong!

An unlikely ending unfolded. Bayport’s Logan Souto returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Greenport 35. With no timeouts left for either side, Luke Schartner threw incomplete passes on the first two downs. Then, he pulled off some magic. Logan Jones gained a step on a slant and go toward the right corner of the end zone and Schartner hit him for the game-winning TD with nine seconds left.

Greenport had only one offensive play after that, an incomplete pass that was followed by Bayport players happily charging onto the field in an extended Senior Day celebration.

Bayport won, 31-28.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Martilotta.

The Porters (3-4), who face a must-win game at home in their regular-season finale Friday night against Port Jefferson (3-4) in order to have any chance of a playoff place, looked devastated as they sat or stood on the field in silence, trying to digest what had just happened.

Martilotta called it the toughest loss he has experienced in a long time. “Had it and lost it,” he said.

Bayport coach Mike Zafonte said he had never experienced as thrilling a win as this in his 20 years coaching the Phantoms.

“It was definitely an emotional roller coaster,” he said in his office afterward. “I’m almost in shock right now.”

As were the Porters.

It could be said that Greenport fumbled this game away. The Porters lost four fumbles, including one which cost them an almost certain TD on the final play of the second quarter. On that play, Anderson found Jadyn Ford for a 44-yard completion up the middle. Ford was headed for the end zone when Bayport’s Zach Silver stripped him of the ball around the Bayport 5 and Souto scooped the ball up before returning it to midfield as time expired. Bayport had no turnovers.

“It’s a game with a funny-shaped ball,” Martilotta said. “Nothing’s ever going to go your way all the time, and today fumbles were our challenge.”

It also didn’t help Greenport that it was whistled 14 times for 118 yards worth of penalties and one of its leading tacklers, Rob Lechner, was ejected 4:28 into the second quarter for a personal foul.

With exceptional performances by Anderson (25 carries, 171 yards, one TD) and Smiley (24 carries, 153 yards, two TDs), Greenport outgained Bayport (3-4) in total offensive yardage, 444-267.

Anderson also threw a 39-yard TD pass to Sean McElroy, who leaped over a defender and showed good hands holding onto the ball for a 20-0 lead 2:00 into the second quarter.

Francesco Geraci (14 carries, 78 yards) ran for Bayport’s first two TDs to close the gap by halftime.

Bayport, wearing pink jerseys in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, whittled away at that lead in the third quarter, with a 28-yard field goal by Connor Nilan. Schartner (8-for-15, 118 yards, two TDs) darted an 8-yard pass to Silver that helped Bayport to a 24-20 lead with 7:36 left in the fourth quarter.

“There were a lot of emotional swings,” Zafonte said. “We were down and they were up; when we were up, they were down. Really, neither team gave up and it was just a matter of when the clock was going to go out.”

And when the clock finally reached 0:00, Bayport had received a big boost to its playoff chances. “Hopefully, the way the power points work, it’s our ticket into the playoffs,” said Jones (four catches, 91 yards).

Martilotta called it “the finest performance we’ve had from a football team in Greenport in many years.” He said: “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us. I feel sick about how it ended, but that’s how it ended.”

Smiles abounded on the Bayport side, though.

“This is one I’m going to remember,” said Jones.

And one the Porters will try hard to forget.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Ahkee Anderson broke free for Greenport/Southold/Mattituck’s first touchdown, a 31-yarder in the first quarter. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

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This is in response to the Guest Spot that appeared in the Oct. 11 edition (“Silence in Congress is not leadership we need,” Oct. 11). If you’re expecting a rebuttal of the “facts” go to the sports section now: there is no way anyone could have a discussion of any substance after reading the first two paragraphs of that childish screed.

“A tick embedding itself in a deer’s ear,” “faithful sycophant,” “philanderer in chief,” “hallmark of cowardice,” “proponents of racial and religious bias.” These are all phrases meant to stifle discussion, not encourage it. They take away, completely, the points the writers were attempting to make and seek to demean anyone that attempts to have a discussion on the direction our country should be going. It’s a tactic called the politics of personal destruction and it has got to stop if reasonable people are ever going to engage again in the important matters that face the people of our nation.

With respect to the candidates currently campaigning for Congress, I think we missed an opportunity to discuss the matters that are important to us locally. For instance, the recent interview in this paper with the Democrat challenger failed to address the issues that are important to us here on the North Fork, such as the helicopter noise problem. I would like to know how dedicated Mr. Gershon is to the plight of North Forkers considering he has a home in the Hamptons. Has he used the service? Is he going to continue the fight for the mandatory use of the South Shore route? Congressman Zeldin fought for and won a public hearing with federal government officials that will allow North Forkers to express their opinion on this matter. A public hearing that was denied us by Sen. Chuck Schumer, the most powerful Democrat in the nation.

Will Mr. Gershon continue to request important studies looking for solutions to such problems as Hashamomuck Cove or is he in favor of abandoning those people and letting the rising tide sweep their homes away?

Mr. Gershon recently wrote a letter to the editor complaining about the lack of progress in our current effort to save Plum Island. It is my opinion that Mr. Zeldin’s efforts on behalf of his constituents, here on the North Fork, have been heroic when you consider that most people believe our federal government became dysfunctional a long time ago. That letter also contained Mr. Gershon’s own personal version of the politics of personal destruction, making vague references and unsubstantiated claims. Sound familiar?

Lastly, who is Mr. Gershon? I can’t recall him ever being involved in any of the discussions about the problems that affect our region or even his own adopted town. Has he ever even participated in a local First District school budget vote?

The 1st Congressional District deserves someone that has been an active participant in our community, someone that understands the problems that face our district because he has grown up and worked here all his life. Mr. Zeldin is that person.

See that! I did that all without calling anyone a tick!

The author is a member of the Southold Town Board.

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The Oysterponds Historical Society was awarded a grant for $53,330 from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to develop a comprehensive collections care plan.

The society will receive the money in December but work has already started. Three consultants were hired to evaluate all seven buildings on the OHS campus.

“The Gardiner Foundation has been unbelievably generous,” said Elsbeth Dowd, special projects manager for OHS.

“We don’t have the best storage facility, yet we’ve got some wonderful resources out in Orient and East Marion,” she added. “We want to make the best of those resources.”

The consultants will be looking into a fire suppression system for the buildings and collections. Michael Devonshire and Kurt Hirschberg from Jan Hird Pokorny Associates and Rainey Tisdale, co-founder of the Active Collections movement, will be the main consultants on this project.

OHS holds significant collections representing Orient and East Marion. Collections range from the 17th century through the present day, including archival documents and photographs, fine art, textiles, baskets, furniture, carriages, sleighs and an iceboat, according to a press release.

“We want to respect our existing buildings and the layout of the campus that currently exists,” Ms. Dowd said, adding that they consider the buildings themselves exhibits.

“We want to respect the resources of our donors of our community and try to come up with the most cost-effective solution possible for caring for our collections,” she said.

The consultants will also show OHS how to prioritize their collections and help them ensure there is an appropriate HVAC system in place. OHS hopes to create a comprehensive plan for the entire campus that provides a more welcoming experience for visitors, better storage for its collections, and a programming and exhibition space.

Work should be finished by February, Ms. Dowd said.

“Thank you to the Gardiner Foundation board and to Gardiner Foundation executive director Kathryn Curran for this grant,” said Ed Caufield and Leslie Koch, co-presidents of the OHS board, in a press release. “With their support, OHS will be able to develop the right plan to protect and preserve our collections.”

rsiford@timesreview.com

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As we approach Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, it seems like an opportune time to revisit FDR’s “Four Freedoms.” For those who have forgotten, or are unfamiliar with the term, it comes from a State of the Union address President Roosevelt made in 1941, 11 months before Pearl Harbor. It dealt with changing our non-intervention policy and addressed the threat to democracies around the world. It is as applicable today as it was then.

Freedom of Speech and Expression

To me, this freedom is about expressing one’s opinions without threat of retaliation. Our country‘s bedrock is based on this. As I hear hate speech, I frequently need to remind myself that this is exactly why the First Amendment is first: All good things begin with freedom. It is like a body blow when I hear the president malign the press. Some are biased, both left and right, but the vast majority of the press does their due diligence and provides us with facts that we need to make thoughtful, informed decisions. Hearing President Trump at his rallies say that the press is “fake” and “Lock her up!” and seeing and hearing his audience chant it and smile broadly chills me to my bones, but I defend it to the ends of the republic.

Freedom of Worship

The freedom of each person in the world to worship their God is as appropriate today as when the Founding Fathers began this great country. We have seen the hate between humans based on the God they worship. It is so sad and, yes, pathetic that people can feed on this hate. Call me naïve, but we are all humans first! Worshipping something that is bigger than us should be the tie that binds us.

Freedom from Want

This is actually a very simple freedom. Economic stability in the world, not just here, is just plain common sense. One does not have to be a “globalist” (not a dirty word, by the way) to see the wisdom in this. Many wars have been fought based on inequality (see Germany in the 1930s). A country that has a healthy economy and prosperous people are much less likely to seek war as a way to level the playing field.

Freedom from Fear

World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars. At the start of the 1940s, FDR saw that was not a fact, and that the planet was rapidly heading toward another global conflict. He sought a planet where one nation would not attack a neighbor, hence the theory behind the United Nations, where people (do not forget that countries are just made up of people) could come together to work out differences peacefully. Today, the UN is under siege from factions in our country that have lost sight of the intention in its founding and have let egos (read: politics) rule reason.

Maybe we should all take some time and look at a view of planet Earth as photographed from space: our beautiful big blue marble. The lines between countries do not exist; they are man-made demarcations. I am not advocating becoming one country, but rather becoming more thoughtful about our fellow humans and how we interact.

The author lives in Southold.

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Strong’s Yacht Center has submitted a site plan application for the construction of two buildings for boat storage, one at 52,500 square feet and the other at 49,000 square feet.

The proposed buildings would be in addition to 69,245 square feet of existing buildings on 32.6 acres of split Marine II and R-80 zones on West Mill Road in Mattituck.

“It would be an extension of what we’re currently doing,” applicant Jeff Strong said during a Planning Board work session last Monday afternoon. “There’s seven buildings along the waterfront now, and thankfully those will be full this winter. So it’s really just for increased capacity for winter storage.”

About 6.1 acres of wooded area will remain on the Marine II zoned land and 16.4 acres will remain on the R-80 zone land.

Planning board member Mary Eisenstein asked the applicants how many jobs this may create.

Mr. Strong said service work won’t be done in those buildings specifically, but holding more boats could potentially increase their staff.

“It will definitely enhance the need for painters, fiberglass people, technicians and those types of things,” Mr. Strong said.

He added that right now, there are about a dozen full-time employees. With the addition of these two storage buildings, that number could increase to 25 to 30 on a full-time basis.

The board also needs Strong’s to provide parking information. Town code requires 53 spots for the larger building and 49 spots for the smaller; however, the board said if they don’t believe that many parking stalls are necessary, they can submit a letter explaining why.

“For the purpose that it’s for storage, from our perspective, the increased parking is almost nothing,” Mr. Strong said.

The planning board decided to find the application incomplete to allow the applicants time to provide parking information, a more detailed key map, and exterior signage information, if needed.

rsiford@timesreview.com

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Beverly Brannin Oltmanns passed away Saturday Aug. 25, 2018, in Richmond, Va., at the age of 93. A native New Yorker, Beverly was the only child born to Roy H. and Eleanor W. Brannin on April 10, 1925. She is predeceased by her best friend and husband of 70 years, Warren J. Oltmanns.Beverly is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law: Robyn (Bob) Turrill of Boulder, Colo., Wendy (Tom) Watkins of Richmond, Va., Kim (Alan) Maxwell of Charlotte, N.C.; six grandchildren: Scott and Reid (Lawren) Hutchinson, Dana (TJ) Watkins Wiles and Thomas L. (Virginia) Watkins IV, Paige and Leigh Maxwell; and five great-grandchildren, Evans, Jackson and William Hutchinson and Quinn and Bauer Wiles.

Beverly was raised in Manhasset, N.Y., where she graduated from Manhasset High School in 1942. She graduated from Syracuse University with a BA in psychology and minor in journalism, was a Psi Chi Psych Honorary and Kappa Delta sorority member. She married her high school sweetheart, Warren, after his return from active duty in the Pacific during World War II in 1945.

Beverly and Warren raised their three girls in Garden City, N.Y., where she was the ultimate volunteer as PTA chair, Girl Scout leader and Sunday School teacher. In the mid ’70s she returned to work as the business manager of the Adelphi University Performing Arts Theater. Beverly and Warren retired to Southold, N.Y., where she was a member of the Shakespeare Club, the Homemakers Craft Guild and the Southold Historical Society. They later moved to Richmond.

Beverly had a great artistic talent, painting watercolors, sewing, knitting, needlepoint, decorating and gardening. She was a firm believer in doing things right but always possessed the ability to laugh at herself. She was an engaging storyteller, sharing her imagination, love and advice with family. She will be greatly missed.

Her remains will be interred in the cemetery of First Presbyterian Church in Southold, where she was a member for many years.

This is a paid notice.

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