The bill passed earlier this moth by the U.S. Senate requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to reassess the unpopular North Shore Helicopter Route has Southold Town Board talking about its next steps.

The bill includes an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that would require the FAA to consider noise impacts on affected communities, improve altitude enforcement and consider alternative routes, such as an all-water route over the Atlantic Ocean.

Attorney James Harmon, who serves as legal counsel for Southold’s helicopter noise steering committee, told board members Tuesday that he’d partnered with the Town of East Hampton to study helicopter traffic on specific weekends this summer, and found that 80 percent of it traveled over the North Fork. The FAA also conducted a survey on six random days in 2016, during which 67 percent of the traffic passed over the North Fork.

A public hearing will be held in Riverhead in mid-November at which Southold residents will have the opportunity to speak about how helicopters affect their lives. There will also be a 60-day comment period after the hearing.

“I recommend that Southold, first of all, appear before the hearing, make a written submission,” Mr. Harmon said, adding that he could work on the statement pro bono. “And be prepared and ready to endorse what is being referred to as the Atlantic Ocean Route.”

Supervisor Scott Russell said it’s not enough for him and the rest of the Town Board members  to show up. The public needs to become engaged as well.

“A lot of people might not make the hearing in Riverhead to speak in opposition,” Mr. Russell said. “But at the very least, we can at least create a campaign for people to email my office, so we can attach hundreds of emails to any statement we want to submit during the comment period.”

Teresa McCaskie, a member of the town’s helicopter noise steering committee, said she will be reaching out to civic groups to try to gauge support and encourage attendance at the upcoming public hearing. The date has not yet been set. 

rsiford@timesreview.com

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Major party candidates in the First Congressional District and Second State Assembly district met for a set of debates at the Vineyard Caterers in Aquebogue Wednesday night.

Over 100 attended the dinner-debate hosted by the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce before the Nov. 6 election.

The audience consisted of members of local chambers of commerce, the Long Island Farm Bureau, Long Island Wine Council and local elected officials. The event was not open to the public.

As local business owners, farmers and elected officials across party lines broke bread, the Congressional-hopefuls engaged in a rapid-fire debate that clocked in at just under 45 minutes. Candidates Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Perry Gershon touched on national issues like healthcare and immigration and how they impact our local economy.

Candidates for NY State Assembly Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Rona Smith then faced off on local issues via questions delivered by moderator Jeff Strong of Strong’s Marina.

Here’s where they stand:

OPENING REMARKS

Perry Gershon is a first time candidate who says he’s running because he feels Americans are concerned about the direction of the government.

“We needed change. That’s part of why Donald Trump got elected,” he said.

He aligns with progressive ideas in terms of healthcare — he supports eventually moving to a single-payer system — and protecting the environment.

Overall, Mr. Gershon said government should be rid of the “poisoned dialogue” happening in Washington D.C. “What we have right now is not good, and we’ve seen the events of today come out of that. We shouldn’t be worrying about politicians having pipe bombs at their homes. That’s just not the American way.”

Congressman Lee Zeldin was first elected in 2014. He is seeking a third-term in the House of Representatives. “I actually think that there’s a lot going in the right direction right now,” he said, citing a strong economy with historically low unemployment and increasing wages.

Mr. Zeldin said that over his two terms in Congress, national security has improved and strides have been made for veterans and the opioid epidemic. He touted local initiatives, such as securing EPA funding for estuary programs, passing legislation to save Plum Island and mandating that the Federal Aviation Administration hold a public hearing on the North Shore Helicopter Route as “big” wins that he hopes to build upon in a third term.

“There are always going to be more challenges ahead, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “We should be excited by that.”

A NATION DIVIDED

Mr. Zeldin said partisanship can divide elected officials, but bipartisanship exists.  In Congress, he said, “You’ll see 435 members of the house talking to each other, cosponsoring bills together, writing joint op-eds, having press conferences… it happens every single day I’ve been in Washington,” he said, adding that “There is too much partisanship and we need to continue to work through it.”

Mr. Gershon agreed that there’s too much partisanship in Washington, but blamed President Donald Trump for leading that. “He is out dividing our nation – that’s a problem for us going forward,” he said. “We need to change the tone of the rhetoric.”

He said that voting on major bills — healthcare, tax reform — should not be decided on party lines. “We need to find a way to write major laws together.”

Mr. Gershon also called for new leadership in the Democratic Party and said he does not support Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. “She is too partisan. We need new, younger blood.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

Both candidates acknowledged that climate change is real.

Mr. Gershon referred to climate change as one of the “scariest” threats to Long Island and said pulling out of the Paris Agreement was a “terrible move that set the tone that the united states was becoming a rogue nation.”

Specifically, he said renewable energies should be promoted over burning coal and oil. “We’re going in the wrong direction,” he said.

Mr. Zeldin said it’s time to update outdated energy facilities on Long Island. “We tore down Shea Stadium and built Citi Field… There’s a better way to deliver energy here on Long Island,” he said.

He said initiatives like reauthorizing funding for the Peconic Estuary Program are helping water quality on the East End.

Mr. Zeldin stands by the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, referring to it as an “ambitious” and “unattainable” goal.

GUNS

“Absolutely not,” Mr. Zeldin said on a ban across-the-board on semi-automatic weapons.

He is also opposed to the NY SAFE Act, a gun regulation law signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013.

In the wake of Parkland, Mr. Gershon called for action on gun safety that would include mandatory background checks.

He does not support arming teachers and supports a ban on semi-automatic weapons. “It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

NATIONAL DEBT

Mr. Gershon does not support cuts to balance the deficit, which he blames on a “massive tax cut,” passed by Republicans.

“Our seniors have put in to the system. They’ve earned the benefits they’re going to get. We can’t be cutting that back,” Mr. Gershon said. “We must keep [Medicare] strong and solvent.”

Mr. Zeldin slammed Mr. Gershon’s Medicare-For-All proposal. “That proposal gives Medicare not only to everybody, it also gives it to people who are not in our country legally. That’s how you end up bankrupting Medicare,” he said.

He said the commitment made to seniors and those nearing retirement should be upheld. “You can’t just keep kicking the can down the road.”

IMMIGRATION

Mr. Zeldin supports a new H2C visa program to help employers find staff on the North Fork. He said the process should be expedited and simplified.

“I support ICE, I oppose sanctuary cities,” he said, adding that local law enforcement should cooperate with ICE to combat “MS-13, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and human trafficking.”

He said a long-term permanent solution to both border security and DACA is an opportunity for both Democrats and Republicans to compromise.

Mr. Gershon mostly agreed, adding that a “clean” DACA bill should have “no strings attached,” to people who see the U.S. as home.

He agreed that borders should be enforced and ICE should do their job. “But ICE should be working with communities and not antagonizing communities,” Mr. Gershon said, noting that immigrants who feel comfortable with local law enforcement could prevent MS-13 from increasing its ranks.

IN CLOSING

Mr. Gershon reiterated that politics are too polarized. “All politicians, regardless of party, should be working to lower the acrimony and the toxic discord between the two parties,” he said, condemning political violence.

Mr. Zeldin referenced the protests that ensued as President Trump took office. “The streets of Pennsylvania Avenue were lined up with people calling for his impeachment before he even took office,” he said. “When you come in second place in an election, you accept the results… settle your scores at the ballot box,” he said.

ASSEMBLY DEBATE

Incumbent Republican assemblyman Anthony Palumbo said he’s fiscal conservative who fights to preserve quality-of-life and the environment on the East End. Despite “vitriol” in federal elections, he said he routinely works with Democrats to pass bills, including the North Fork Mental Health Initiative and working to save 875 acres near the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant.

Democrat Rona Smith of Greenport said her top concern is creating affordable housing. “It’s a problem for local businesses. They are struggling to find staff because they can’t find any place to live,” she said.

The questions asked by the moderator focused on more hyperlocal issues.

What will you do to help farmers and support agriculture?

Mr. Palumbo said he does not support the unionization of farm laborers and voted against expanding minimum wage requirements. He said smaller businesses, including farms, should be exempt from a $15 minimum wage.

As for unionization, he says it wouldn’t work. “It’s not appropriate in that industry because when it’s harvest time, you work unbelievable hours,” he said, adding that the high costs could drive farmers out of business.

Ms. Smith said immigration reform plays a role in the issue. “If you don’t have workers, you cant run a successful business,” she said, adding that she hopes to see farmers prosper. “We want that land to stay in production.”

Should the government help fund advanced wastewater systems to combat nitrogen in our water?

Ms. Smith suggested filtering nitrogen at drinking water sources. “I think we need to explore things at all levels. Just because something is simple doesn’t mean its wrong,” she said.

Mr. Palumbo helped to earmark $2.5 billion for water quality improvements, largely on Long Island. He said nitrogen is plaguing larger bodies of water and threatens drinking water.  “There’s a lot more we can do but we’re certainly starting out on the right foot.”

Would you support gambling at EPCAL?

Mr. Palumbo voted against allowing casino gambling in New York. “I think that is such a short-sighted quick fix,” he said, adding that eventually, he foresees this leading the way to sports betting. “The jury’s still out with me. We’d have to really tightly regulate it,” he said.

Ms. Smith agreed, noting that this could be a short-term solution. “We should look for businesses to go into EPCAL that are going to bring permanent jobs and permanent tax income to Riverhead and the surrounding area,” she said.

What could be done to save lives from the opioid crisis?

Mr. Palumbo highlighted the state I-STOP legislation as a proactive measure to combat opioid addiction. He called for an increased focus on recovery efforts.

Ms. Smith agreed that it’s a serious problem nationwide. She addressed the crisis from a public health standpoint. “One of the ongoing problems is that without full health care coverage, opioid addicts are not eligible for rehabilitation,” she said, noting that health coverage could help address the issue.

How would you protect fishermen from restrictive regulations that make it difficult to compete and thrive?

Ms. Smith said that state borders should not be the “be all and end all” when considering regulating these industries. “[These] are people’s livelihoods. We don’t have nearly the amount of people working on the water fishing, shell fishing, that we once had,” she said.

She suggested coordinating EPA and state DEC guidelines that can often be contradictory.

Mr. Palumbo said the state DEC has hired a consultant from Maine who is working to address issues in the fishing industry. He said the regulations are unfair for Long Island fishermen but not as strict in neighboring states. “We’d stand on shore on the sound and see boats farming away making a nice living when we weren’t even allowed to fish,” he said, adding that much of the data the decisions are based on are outdated.

tsmith@timesreview.com

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Southold Town officials are expecting to receive $230,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to support local projects in 2019.

At a Town Board meeting Tuesday, officials asked the public to weigh in on what kinds of needs should be met with these funds.

Councilman Bob Ghosio said the money could be used for a variety of projects, from economic and housing development to public service.

“Eligible activities include acquisition and demolition of blighted property, housing rehabilitation, elimination of physical barriers for the handicapped, public facilities and improvements, street reconstruction, code enforcement, public water projects, economic development, and public services,” he said at the meeting.

There were three speakers during the public hearing.

Mattituck resident LeRoy Heyliger asked for Town Board help for traffic woes.

“We’ve been having a lot of problems on Factory Avenue,” he said, asking the board to use grant funds to study traffic and come up with a solution.

Mr. Heyliger said the problems stem from large tractor trailers arriving at the Mattituck Plaza In recent years, he said the trucks have caused damage to landscaping and utilities on the Unity Baptist Church property, where he is a deacon.

The church property is frequently used as a turning point, he said.

“Trying to maneuver these behemoths causes a backup of traffic on both the north and south ends of Factory Avenue,” Mr. Heyliger said. “Needless to say this presents a safety hazard for residents living on the north side of the railroad tracks.”

Two local community organizations also expressed interest in grant funds for the upcoming year.

Cathy Demeroto, executive director of Community Action Southold Town, said needs have increased locally over the past several years. The group has been providing services for Southold Town residents in need since 1965.

So far this year, Ms. Demeroto said the organization’s food pantry has served 281 households, including 27 seniors, 478 adults and 302 children.

Through the Feed-A-Kid program, 153 children have received meals, up from 138 last year. “That’s what we provide when school is out for vacation to kids who receive free and reduced price meals,” she said.

Recent data from the New York State Department of Education shows that there are 1,113 students in Southold Town considered to be economically disadvantaged. “So you can see the great need, and that’s only considering school-aged children,” Ms. Demeroto noted.

Grant funds would help the group expand their operations, which include educational programs, workshops and a recently-launched “Farm to Friend,” program that connects fresh produce to those in need.

“It’s our hope to launch a mobile food pantry in 2019 to help reach more people who don’t have access to transportation or are homebound,” she said.

Maureen’s Haven is also seeking funds to continue their outreach. According to Dan O’Shea, executive director, the group assisted over 350 homeless individuals on the East End last year.

Five churches in Southold will open their doors this winter to help approximately 120 homeless people in the area, Mr. O’Shea said. The winter shelter program begins Nov. 1.

“This year we’re continuing it through April. We typically ended it in March, but we do recognize that the last couple years April has been incredibly cold,” he said.

According to Mr. O’Shea, the homeless population tends to be transient among the five East End towns. “As of 2018, we’ve directly assisted at least 11 individuals in the Town of Southold that we at least know of,” he said.

tsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Cathy Demeroto, executive director of Community Action Southold Town, spoke at Tuesday’s hearing. (Tara Smith photo)

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“Living farm-to-table is important here. It’s what the North Fork is known for,” said Pat Arslanian, a middle school English teacher in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District.

Ms. Arslanian is finding new ways to bring farm-fresh ingredients into the classroom — with help from Mattituck High School alumni and local residents.

Since September, about 100 students in four Home and Careers classes have listened as eight North Forkers, some who have come back to Long Island, shared the highs and lows of their careers. Students have been guided on how to make a caramel apple dessert, prepare organic eggplant parmigiana and, on Tuesday, bake fresh bread.

Ms. Arslanian, who also served as the district’s junior high school dean for 13 years, decided to take on the seventh-grade Home and Careers course this year because she wanted a heavier workload. But the New York State curriculum for the mandatory Home and Careers course is demanding, she said. 

“It’s extensive,” she said. “It covers finance, cooking, sewing, laundry — too many different things. Then I started to get a little overwhelmed.” For that reason, she needed to brainstorm ways to reinvent the course content while still meeting the state requirements.

Ms. Arslanian said she decided to bring in local chefs who create farm-to-table cuisine because it’s part of the culture on the East End. To fulfill the “careers” portion, she chose to invite local entrepreneurs to the classroom.

“North Fork careers is what I want to focus on,” she said. “What can you do when you grow up here?”

From there, she said, she reached out to a handful of former Mattituck students and local business owners, including MHS alumna Erica Guja from Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, alumna Gabriella Macari of Macari Vineyards and Jennilee Morris of North Fork Roasting Company. Retired Suffolk County police officer Edward McDonald, who has become an at-home baker, also paid the class a visit. By the end of the 10-week course, students will have heard from 17 classroom guests. 

“I ask them to share their journey with the class,” Ms. Arslanian said. “And every single one of them has come.”

Some of the locals, like Nick Krupski of Krupski Farms, agreed to visit because Ms. Arslanian started chatting about the course outside school.

“I ran into him in the parking lot at King Kullen,” she said. “I said, ‘I’m really sorry, Nick, but could you do me a favor?’ ”

Ms. Arslanian said nothing compares to the knowledge the local guests can offer her students. “When you bring in experts in their field, and they’re younger, and they’re telling you, ‘Don’t be afraid to fail,’ it actually resonates with students,” she said.

Ms. Arslanian said that while the course has been going smoothly, she’s struggled with the short class period.

“I wish they were just a little older. Sometimes I don’t know if they all understand,” she said. “The 41-minute class kills me.”

Even if students can’t fully grasp the information from visitors, Ms. Arslanian said, she’s learned a lot from the visiting alumni.

“It’s really been an extraordinary experience as far as that community-school connection,” she said.

Ms. Arslanian attributes her success in bringing in guest speakers in part to the tight-knit culture in the Mattituck-Cutchogue community.

“What I tell them is that I want students to know they can come home,” she said. “The guests want this community to continue to grow. They have all brought up the importance of networking, and of knowing your roots.”

knalepinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Pat Arslanian and baker Edward McDonald prep the classroom before the lesson on Tuesday. (Kate Nalepinski photo)

Correction: A previous version of this article said Jennilee Morris was a Matittuck High School alum, and five North Forkers, not eight, have visited the class. 

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Carolyn Walters Cromwell Brown

Carolyn Walters Cromwell Brown departed this earth on Oct. 23, 2018.

Born Sept. 7, 1921, she was the youngest daughter of Arthur Vernon Walters and Marjorie Alicia Dollard Walters and beloved “sita” of Jeannette Winder.

Carolyn was a longtime native Long Islander. Her childhood years were spent in East Williston, Oyster Bay Cove and Hempstead. During the early days of World War II, she met and married Curtis W. Cromwell of Manhasset. Curt was stationed as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force in Georgia, where the couple spent their first years of married life together.

Following the war, Carolyn and Curt moved home to Long Island, settling in Port Washington, where their son, Timothy, was born. Several years later, the family moved to the newly formed area known as Levittown and welcomed their four daughters, Linda, Bonnie, Laurie and Melanie. Tragically, their life together was suddenly shortened by Curt’s death at the age of 46. Carolyn’s strength, perseverance, hard work and the love of her family helped them through this difficult time.

Although she held many jobs throughout the years that followed, she had a long career with General Motors of Bethpage, until her retirement.

In 1973, Carolyn married Robert Paul Brown and moved to Cutchogue to begin life on the North Fork. She made many new friends through her volunteer work and at church, and enjoyed boating on the Great South Bay. Robert died in 2008.

Carolyn was blessed with both artistic and musical talents which lasted into later life. Her amazing soprano voice was a highlight of the Levittown and Cutchogue Presbyterian churches. Her love of art was seen in the beautiful pastel portraits she created, as well as in the banners, sculptures and weavings she made.

Perhaps her greatest masterpiece in life was her immense circle of friends, together with loving nieces and nephews and her immediate family. She is survived by Timothy Cromwell (Elaine), Linda Clune (Bill), Bonnie Tate (Richard), Laurie Habermehl (George) and son-in-law Dennis Walsh, husband of the late Melanie.

Carolyn’s grandchildren are Heather Hess (Paul), Cody Drasser (Lindsay), Christian Drasser (Jennifer), Travis Tate, the late Luke Cromwell, Shea Amiruddin (Alex), Shannon Giordano (Dino), Ryan Habermehl (Kim), Garrett Tate, Joshua Tate (Dana), Jaclyn Habermehl, Eden Christie (John), James Habermehl, Sean Walsh (Allison), Justin Habermehl, Kristen Walsh and Tyler Walsh. She will be deeply missed by her adoring great-grandchildren, Lucas, Laurel, Hunter, Jadon, Jolie, Billy, Aidan, Johnnie, Owen, Declan, Conor, Hadley, Everly, Eva, Lachlan and the late Jackson.

A wake will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, at Robertaccio Funeral Home, 85 Medford Ave. (Route 112), Patchogue from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held in November; details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Melanie Walsh.

This is a paid notice.

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Elizabeth A. Donovan of Greenport, formerly of Cutchogue, died Oct. 25 at Peconic Landing in Greenport. She was 83.

Ms. Donovan was born Nov. 3, 1934, to John and Pauline Sculley. She attended the College of New Rochelle. A homemaker, she was a past member of North Fork Country Club  and enjoyed bridge, golf and travel.

Predeceased by a son, Tommy, in 2011, she is survived by her husband, Thomas F. Donovan; her children Ellen Kaplan (Stuart), Michael, Libby, Colin (Kate) and Barbara Mallon (John); her brother, Thomas J. Sculley (Alice); a grandson, Liam Donovan; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors Sunday, Oct. 28, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck, with interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cut-chogue.

Memorial donations may be made to AHRC of Nassau County.

This is a paid notice.

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Theresa E. Owen of Bridgewater, Pa., died Oct. 21. She was 89.

Born June 6, 1929, in Greenport, she was the daughter of William and Louise (Turner) Tillinghast.

The family will receive visitors from9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will follow at 11:30.

A complete obituary will follow at a later date.

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TIM GANNON PHOTO The Greenport Village Board discussed short term rentals at is Oct. 18 work session, above, and decided to adopt the new law Thursday, Oct. 25

It’s official.

After about six years of discussions and draft proposals, Greenport now has a law regulating short-term rentals.

The Village Board unanimously approved the version of the law that was the subject of the most recent public hearing on the measure.

Trustee Doug Roberts said the discussion was largely respectful, and he commended residents for their public participation and input in the process.

“If anyone feels like going to these meetings doesn’t do anything, it does,” he said.

“And I think the people that came to these hearings let us known that they needed us to do something.”

Prior to Thursday’s vote, Greenport was one of the only municipalities on the East End that didn’t have a law on the books regulating short-term rentals, which have become a controversial issue nationwide. Opponents say they often constitute a commercial use in resident neighborhoods while supporters say they allow people to make enough income to be able to afford to stay in a particular area.

The adopted law defines a short-term rental as less than 14 days and a long-term rental as a period of at least one year.

Short-term rentals of less than 14 days would be permitted only in one- or two-family homes that are either owner-occupied or occupied by a long-term tenant.

The board also voted unanimously to adopt a State Environmental Quality Review Act resolution defining the adoption of the new law as being a “type one” action, which means that it will not have a significant negative impact on the environment.

tgannon@timesreview.com

Photo Caption: The Greenport Village Board discussed short term rentals at is Oct. 18 work session, above, and decided to adopt the new law Thursday, Oct. 25. (Tim Gannon photo)

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Clinton Cameron, 33, of Mattituck was arrested for driving while intoxicated on Route 25 in Mattituck Saturday around 9:22 a.m. after leaving the scene of a dispute, according to Southold Town police.

• A Mattituck business owner reported unknown subjects breaking into her shed, breaking its rear window to gain access and damaging the front door lock upon exit, last Thursday around 9 a.m., police said. Nothing was taken from inside the shed, but damage was estimated at about $250, the report states.

• A New Suffolk woman reported that political signs were stolen from her front yard last Tuesday around 4:30 p.m., officials said.

• The Southold Fire Department responded when a Shelter Island man reported a dumpster fire at Bayview Apartments in Southold last Monday around 11:45 a.m., police said. Police said the cause of the fire was thought to have been a resident emptying the cigarette butt container into the dumpster.

• A Cutchogue man was selling furniture on the street on Crown Land Lane in Cutchogue without a permit Saturday around 1:30 p.m., according to Southold Town police. When confronted by police, he said he had a permit from a previous week that was rained out. He was advised that he must obtain a new permit in the future, police said.

• An Old Bethpage resident was issued a citation last Thursday for driving an 80,000-pound tractor trailer on Love Lane, where the vehicle weight limit is 10,000 pounds, police said. The driver said he was following the directions of the GPS, police said.

• A 28-by-32-foot sailboat sank behind a Southold home Friday in Long Island Sound, with its mast up and one sail raised, police said. Officers cannot identify the owner of the vessel, which appears to be completely destroyed, police said.

• On Sunday, a Cutchogue man reported a robbery at his farm stand in Southold, police said. Unknown people were able to pry open the cash register drawer and took approximately $30 in cash, 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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Hammers clacked and electric saws spun Sept. 26 as Alex Nyilas of Cutchogue and seven fellow PSEG Long Island employees left their local offices to join forces on constructing a handicapped-accessible ramp for a physically challenged Bay Shore woman. 

The day-long build was guided by Rebuilding Together Long Island, an organization that helps Long Islanders by providing needed home repairs at no cost. Mr. Nylias said members of the organization, including Stella Hendrickson, who directed the build, offered guidance on what to do on-site while they worked. 

“Specifically, the wheelchair ramp build that we did, in my own words, was an excellent example of the type of volunteer work this group does,” he said.

Ms. Henderickson said longtime RTLI members also helped on-site, including 89-year-old Joe Bodkin, who supervised the project.

“He made sure everyone had something to do,” she said. “The volunteers worked side by side with RTLI folks who have been doing this for many, many years,”

When Mr. Nyilas, who works in the Hicksville PSEG Long Island office, said he heard a co-worker discussing the build, he instantly wanted to get involved. 

“He asked for us to do the wheelchair build as part of our Community Partnership Program,” he said. “When I heard about it, I thought it’d be a great opportunity to help someone in need.”

PSEG Long Island’s Community Partnership Program encourages employees to pursue such projects, said Elizabeth Flagler, the utility’s head of external communications. Local organizations fill out a request through the program, and PSEG Long Island works with those organizations to help identify candidates in need.

“We receive thousands of requests each year,” she said in an email. “We do our best to try to support all areas of our service territory.” 

Ms. Henderickson said RTLI also receives many requests for project builds. These can come from rehab centers, hospitals or, as in this case, individuals. 

While they are not affiliated, PSEG Long Island has worked with RTLI on previous projects and has collaborated with more than 400 organizations in the past year, according to Ms. Flagler. “We’ve participated in 11,000 events in the last year, so community involvement is very important for us,” she said. 

Mr. Nyilas, a lifelong Long Islander, has worked in the electric utility industry for 27 years. He has been with PSEG Long Island, where he is an economic development specialist, for five years. 

“I work with small to medium commercial businesses and assist them with energy efficiency outreach,” he said. 

According to the PSEG website, RTLI is one of the leading organizations in Nassau and Suffolk counties providing home repairs at no cost to income-qualified clients. 

Mr. Nyilas said this was his first build with RTLI, but after this project, he’d be interested in pursuing another to help someone in need.

“If something comes up and it meets our goals, then I want to help the community,” he said. 

knalepinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Alex Nyilas of Cutchogue cuts a block of wood with assistance from a RTLI employee. (PSEG courtesy photo)

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On Nov. 6, voters who are inclined to cast their ballots will go to the polls. Many thousands, however, won’t bother to vote. People give many excuses for why they don’t — but they are just that, excuses. 

In our democracy, the right to vote is the starting point for everything else. It is the foundation. Failing to vote is self-censorship, saying you are a nobody and you don’t care who runs the machinery of government and how your hard-earned money is spent.

Efforts around the country to suppress the vote are an affront to the democracy and constitutional system hammered out in Philadelphia after the successful revolution against the British. Read about current tactics being used in the state of Georgia to potentially disqualify thousands of voters, or similar efforts in some Plains states to challenge the right of Native Americans — the very first Americans — to cast ballots. The side doing this obviously doesn’t trust these voters to support them; hence, they want them disqualified. 

The truth is that every single vote counts hugely. The presidential election of 2016 was decided by fewer than 80,000 votes cast in three key Electoral College states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. More people go to a game at an NFL football stadium on a typical Sunday.

At every election cycle, we at Times Review Media Group newspapers weigh whether— and when — to publish stories, letters to the editor and guest columns that strongly favor one side or the other. In the interest of fairness to both sides, we have cut off these kinds of stories as the election draws near.

This decision has bothered a number of people who want their opinions published now. We want their voices in our newspapers, too, but we want to be fair and balanced going about that task, especially with just days to go before Nov. 6. 

We are in the midst of an extraordinarily bitter time in our country’s history. Just a few weeks ago, at a far-right gathering in Georgia, a group of activists erected a giant Nazi swastika and set it ablaze. This is the America they want. Just 73 years have passed since the end of World War II, a war the Germans used as cover to exterminate the Jews in every country they controlled or overran. 

Americans who fought in that war, and survivors of that extermination effort, are still with us. There are no words to describe how obscene a swastika displayed in America is.

Swastikas? In America? Who is to blame for the conspiracy theories that now abound and are promoted on websites? Our politics are not tribal, as some say; tribal sounds far too innocent. It is something else entirely, something tinged with threats, lies, mockery and insults. 

Some politicians are denounced when they venture into a public space. Some are insulted and hounded out of restaurants and are subjected to death threats; journalists are labeled America’s true enemies. The tenor of the times is: I don’t simply disagree with you, I hate your guts.

Some have predicted that a second revolution will come in this country if the challengers succeed in “overthrowing” the side now in power. That kind of talk is un-American. This is not what our Revolution brought forth; this is not why the Civil War — meant to erase the stain of slavery on this big, clean land — was fought. This is not what tens of thousands of very young Americans who landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944, fought and died for.

They fought for something big, really big. We are just rolling in the mud now, ready to pounce on each other, unsure of who we are and what we represent. The idea of America and its place in the world seems lost in the name-calling and in the waves of public anger. 

So what is the answer? 

This is only a partial answer, but it’s an important one: Vote. Get to your polling place Nov. 6 and vote. Don’t sit it out. 

Civil discourse will not soon return to America. But, perhaps, long lines at the voting sites will show the world what we believe in.

The post Editorial: If you do nothing else on Tuesday, Nov. 6 — Vote! appeared first on Suffolk Times.

The first nor’easter of the season brought moderate flooding to coastal areas across the North Fork Saturday.

While local town and police officials  said the storm has led to only a few road closures and emergencies, it has interrupted some services and canceled events. The Cross Sound Ferry shut down service out of Orient Point due to the storm. The ferry schedule will resume Sunday morning.

PSEG Long Island also reported more than 400 outages in Orient Saturday afternoon.

In both the Greenport and Riverhead downtown areas, high tide brought with it flooding, as it tends to do in these types of storms.

Peter Rowsom inside Preston’s Chandlery Saturday. (Credit: Courtesy Photo)

Peter Rowsom of Preston’s Chandlery in Greenport, reported flooding in his store, which he described as “about what we expected.” With more than 100 years on the waterfront, the family is well versed in what to do when a nor’easter hits, so they got their products off the floor and even kayaked for a bit inside the store.

In Riverhead, businesses on the south side of East Main Street were keeping a close eye at high tide on the Peconic Riverfront. The riverfront parking lot was closed by police, but water reached as high as the doors on a few cars that hadn’t been moved.

A flooded Peconic Riverfront parking lot just before high tide Saturday. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Riverhead town officials got an early jump warning residents of the pending storm by Friday afternoon and urging them to take caution.

The National Weather Service is expected to lift its coastal flood warning at 3 p.m. Saturday.

If you have damage to report or photos from the storm, send them to editor@timesreview.com.

Top Caption: Poquatuck Park in Orient experienced flooding Saturday. (Credit: Troy Gustavson)

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will meet with village officials this week to explore the possibility of dredging Sterling Harbor, according to Mayor George Hubbard. 

Trustee Mary Bess Phillips raised the issue recently, saying the creek is getting shallower as storms keep coming through and that the breakwater at the entrance to the harbor is also in need of repair.

Mr. Hubbard said he’s been in contact with Congressman Lee Zeldin’s office about the dredging project. 

The Army Corps will meet with Greenport officials Tuesday and then with Shelter Island officials for a project there, Mr. Hubbard said. 

“We’re trying to streamline the process,” the mayor said.

Sterling Harbor was last dredged in 1986, according to officials. 

New pumpout boats

Greenport Village will have two pumpout boats on the water next summer.

The Village Board voted this week to purchase a used pumpout boat that Riverhead Town had declared surplus. 

For a period during the summer of 2017, when its only boat broke down, the village had no pumpout capability at all. 

“It’s in, as far as we can tell, very, very good shape,” village administrator Paul Pallas said of the Riverhead boat. “This one is significantly larger than the one we have. It’s twice the size of the current one.”

“It will be here for next season,” the mayor said. “We’ll have a bigger, better boat and we’ll have the other as a backup.” 

The village paid $20,000 for the boat, according to Riverhead Town. 

The pumpout boats help ensure that boaters aren’t discharging waste into the water. 

tgannon@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Sterling Harbor. (Tim Gannon file photo)

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The Suffolk County Historical Society museum in Riverhead is a treasure chest filled with artifacts from our county’s past. 

Its current exhibits include a nod to Long Island’s cinematic past and the Hurricane of 1938.

Learn about the historic artifacts kept on site with this video, which was made possible by Heidtmann & Sons, Inc. Builders.

The Suffolk County Historical Society is located at 300 W. Main St. in Riverhead.

Our monthly series will continue November 25. Here are past videos from the series:

Horton Point Lighthouse Museum

East End Seaport Museum

Sylvester Manor Educational Farm

Hallockville Museum Farm

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Jason Cruz couldn’t believe what had happened.

Only several minutes prior he had just drilled a 20-yard shot into the lower left corner to lift Greenport to its first Suffolk County boys soccer championship in a decade Sunday.

“Is this really happening? We’re county champs,” he said, “and I’m beyond happy.”

His 11th goal of the year propelled the Porters to a 1-0 sudden-victory overtime result against North Fork neighbor and rival Southold in the Suffolk Class C final at Diamond in the Pines in Coram. It’s their fourth county crown, having won a Class D championship in 2008 and two Class C titles as a combined team with Southold in 1987 and 1993.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said co-captain and senior William Chapeton.

Perhaps more so to coach Sean Charters, who grew up in Greenport and was a member of the 2008 team.

“I’m ecstatic for these guys,” he said. “This is something that I won in high school. The reason why I wanted this job was to help bring them back to this. Seeing moments like, seeing them pose with the trophy or a plaque that they worked countless hours for is great. They earned it. They bought into my system and they earned it.”

The Porters (11-6) earned the right to play Solomon Schechter (Section 1), a 2-1 upset winner over Hamilton, in the Southeast Region final in Coram on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The winner will qualify for the state semifinals in Middletown Nov. 8-9.

The Porters don’t have much time to bask in the glory of winning a rare county championship because they will have only one day of rest.

“Right now we’re going to celebrate,” said senior goalkeeper Miguel Torres, who finished with six saves. “When we get home tonight and tomorrow, we should just rest, ice, take care of any injuries we have. If we have a practice, get some touches in as well to get ready for Tuesday.”

Charters, who watched Schechter defeat Hamilton on Saturday night, admitted he expected the top-seeded team to win but Schechter threw a wrinkle at its foes, playing its top goal scorer at sweeper.

“It’s a treat to see how they’ll come to play on Tuesday,” he said. “I don’t know if they will take the same approach. I don’t think they’re really going to come into that game on Tuesday to do that same thing. You don’t win a county title by accident. They’re a tough team. They’ve been notorious. They have won five out of the last seven Class C titles in Section I. You can’t back away, even if they don’t have a bunch of seniors like we do. They have guys who are ready to play.”

As it turns out, so did Greenport against the First Settlers (8-8) on a cold, late October Sunday afternoon.

Cruz settled matters 4 minutes and 56 seconds into the first overtime. A throw-in started the game-winning sequence. The ball was deflected to Cruz, who powered a shot with his left foot past goalkeeper Cole Brigham, who was outstanding in the match.

“Right now I’m speechless with all the hard work we had this season,” Cruz said. “I’m really proud for my team and myself. I’m really glad to be part of this team.”

The first half wasn’t going to make many teams’ highlight reels. It was essentially a midfield duel with more throw-ins than one could count because the ball was kicked or traveled out of bounds so many times. As the game progressed, Greenport started to put its mark on the match with its passing game, controlling possession and taking quality shots.

Southold coach Andrew Sadowski, who completed his 25th year coaching the team, was disappointed.

Sadowski, whose teams have reached county Class C finals in 13 of the past 14 years, said that he was “beyond frustrated.”

“Eight years getting to the final and losing by one goal is very frustrating,” he added. “The boys played the whole season with a lot of heart so I’m very proud of them for that.”

He also was quite proud of Brigham, who finished with 11 saves and kept the Settlers in the game, and center back Devin Quinones.

“Outstanding game by Cole and Devin, without a doubt,” Sadowski said. “They stuck to every ball, whatever came their way. Everybody else on the team has to do it. You can’t watch the game happen and that’s unfortunately what we did too much today. We watched the game. Second year in a row we got punished for watching the game.”

Charters saw a double win for the program that its success could translate into more athletes trying out for the team.

“To be around these guys, it’s incredible, it’s fun to see,” he said. “These kids won it, they earned it. It opens the eyes of other kids in school. Maybe they’ll come out for soccer next year because soccer isn’t the biggest sport in our school. It’s basketball. We’re a basketball school.”

For the time being, Suffolk County and the rest of Long Island soccer sees Greenport as a soccer school.

Photo caption: Jason Cruz (far right) celebrates his golden goal in overtime for Greenport along with teammates in their 1-0 triumph over Southold in the Suffolk County Class C final. (Credit: Garret Meade)

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“If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.” — Abraham Lincoln, Jan. 27, 1838

This editorial is being written in the aftermath of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh during a child-naming ceremony. Another mass shooting in America, another act of extreme hatred. In this case, a brand of murderous hatred with deep roots in other countries going back centuries. 

And now one, based on recent history, that seems to have taken root in our country, circa fall 2018. Swastikas have been displayed at far-right gatherings; people have been photographed with their right arms sticking straight out trying to look like Nazi goons. The far right – and some political conservatives – have made financier George Soros, who was born Jewish, a symbol of the “globalist,” a member of the moneyed elite who finances progressive causes.

Some mouths on TV stations promoting such lies say Mr. Soros paid for the caravan of thousands that at week’s end was 1,000 miles south of the American-Mexico border, heading our way.

Some history: Mr. Soros was born in Hungary and was 13 when the Germans demanded the country deport its Jewish citizens in cattle cars to death camps in Poland. He evaded the deportation by hiding as a Christian and survived the war. “Globalist” is a thin disguise for anti-semitism – the wealthy, international Jew pulling the strings. Google Protocols of the Elders of Zion if you need some context.

Shouting anti-semitic slurs, Robert D. Bowers entered the synagogue armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and pistols. The AR-15 is a weapon favored by America’s mass killers. Even a Hitler lover like Bowers can walk into his corner gun shop and buy one. Some politicians have been known to raffle them off at fundraisers.

On Dec. 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, armed with a Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle and 10 magazines – each one holding 30 rounds – walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. and slaughtered 20 six and seven-year-old children. Lanza’s supportive mother, whom he also killed, bought him the Bushmaster, which is similar to the AR-15.

The murder of Jews in the synagogue in the historic Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh came a day after federal authorities arrested an alleged Donald Trump superfan in Florida on charges that he mailed 14 pipe bombs to Democrats and critics of the president, including two former presidents, a former CIA director, and a former director of National Intelligence. One of the 14 bombs was mailed to Mr. Soros.

Images were broadcast on television of the man’s truck. It was covered with stickers showing his enemies with a rifle’s cross hairs on their faces. He parked his truck where he worked and places where he slept. Many people saw it. We wonder just how far a Muslim man driving that same truck with those same stickers on them would have gotten. Not far. This goon, drowning in partisan hatred, drove all over with it.

Next Tuesday is Election Day in America, a day for us to show how democracy works. It is our day to pick the leaders we want representing us and our values and deciding how our hard-earned money should be spent. In light of recent events in our country, here is a rule of thumb: if a public official, or someone running for public office, thinks a person has the “right” – in a category with the right of free speech or freedom of religion — to own a military-style assault weapon with an oversized magazine, that person should be shown the door.

The Lincoln quote at the top of this piece comes from a speech he made in Illinois. His speech was about how slavery was ripping the country to pieces. He spoke in the aftermath of a free black man being burned to death by a mob in St. Louis and the murder of a newspaper editor by a pro-slavery mob.

We are awash in partisan horror right now. Bowers’ pro-Hitler, kill-the-Jews social media postings are straight out of the Nazi years in Germany. Grotesque conspiracy theories abound. Some politicians lie every time they open their mouths. In just recent days, some even said the flurry of bombs mailed to Trump’s critics was fakery by the Democrats trying to help them on Election Day next week.

Some of our fellow citizens talk like they want a revolution to enforce their vision of America. Based on recent events, that revolution is already underway. Its bombs have already been mailed, its shot have already been fired.

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The creator of the NoFo Tomato Sauce contest is continuing her endeavors to create more healthy options in schools.

Victoria Witczak, 13, was the only youth panelist at the East End Wellness Conference held in Southampton earlier this month.

She chose the Wellness Foundation, a Sag Harbor-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering children to live a healthy lifestyle, to be the benefactor of this year’s Sauce contest, at which she raised $500 in August. The NoFo Tomato Sauce competition encourages residents to submit their best red sauce, and Victoria announces the winner, or Sauce Boss, all while raising money for a cause of her choosing.

She hopes to see the Mattituck school district with its own garden to feed students some day in the future.

“Victoria learned a lot, because she learned what other school districts were doing,” Tanya Witczak, Victoria’s mother, said.

Victoria would love to implement similar things they have learned into Mattituck schools, like how Westhampton Beach only offers chocolate milk at lunch on Fridays.

“They realize she’s a true agent of change for food, for kids, youth and people her age and she speaks very well about it,” Ms. Witczak said.

Victoria spoke on a panel, answering questions about efforts for wellness at Mattituck schools as well as what she would like to see.

“At my own school, I definitely want to see a lot of more healthier foods, like foods you can get from a garden,” Victoria said. “But I also want to see lot more of a push on the students to be more active.”

Tricia Desiderio, director of Special Education, was in attendance last Thursday, along with Kathleen Devine, Cutchogue East Elementary School principal. She spoke on the same panel as Victoria.

“What we walked away with was a number of network partners that kind of branched out into an East End realm of similarly thinking colleagues who want to help bring social-emotional learning aspects into their school districts,” Ms. Desiderio said.

Michael Hynes, superintendent of Patchogue-Medford School District, was one of the keynote speakers, who has implemented health initiatives into his school district.

“If things can be happening on a level where the numbers are so large, in terms of number of schools and staff, and there’s a buy-in there, that really kind of makes us look at how we’re scheduling things for our students here,” Ms. Desiderio said.

Mattituck schools have gardens at the high school and elementary school, where students can learn how to grow their own food, but the crops are not allowed to be used in the school cafeterias yet.

Ms. Desiderio added there is already a health and wellness menu available to students.

“Our efforts are now focused on how we can establish a farm to table with all of the gardening that’s going on,” she said. “Especially in light of where we live.”

She added that this conference was especially helpful because there were about 200 people there, mostly from the North and South Forks, and it was very specific to East End needs.

“Victoria did an amazing job,” she said. “For a young lady like herself who was intimidated to get up on that panel and answer questions, you would never know it because she did such an incredible job.”

rsiford@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Barbara Kinnier, Michele Sacconaghi, Victoria Witczak and Douglas Mercer, founder of the wellness foundation. (Courtesy photo)

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Southold will serve as a stand-in for Gilgo Beach in an upcoming Netflix movie about the mother of one of the women whose bodies was discovered there, according to crew members on set Monday. 

“Lost Girls” stars Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan (“Gone Baby Gone,” “The Office”) as Mari Gilbert, mother of Gilgo Beach murder victim Shannan Gilbert. The film tells the story of Ms. Gilbert’s search for her missing daughter, according to members of the crew.

Filming in Southold began Monday and will continue for 10 days, producer Ann Carey told The Suffolk Times.

“It has the right look,” Ms. Carey said of Southold. “This community opened itself up to us to shoot here, so we came here.”

A house on Leeton Drive near Kenney’s Beach served as the set for a scene filmed Monday.  Ms. Carey described the scene as the meeting of two main characters and their arrival into the community where the film is set.

Star Amy Ryan arrives on the set of “Lost Girls” in Southold Monday afternoon. (Credit: Rachel Siford)

Actors Gabriel Byrne (“The Usual Suspects”) and Lola Kirke (“Mozart in the Jungle”) also star in the film, according to IMDB.

“Lost Girls,” which has an anticipated 2019 release, is based on the non-fiction book of the same name from author Robert Kolker. It is being directed by documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus, who also made the Nina Simone documentary “What Happened Miss Simone?” for Netflix as well as the four-part Showtime series “The Fourth Estate” about the New York Times’ coverage of the Trump administration.

Netflix has filmed on the North Fork in the past, including scenes for episodes of “Orange is the New Black,” “Jessica Jones” and “Friends from College.”

The 2010 search for Shannan Gilbert in the South Shore community where she was last seen alive led to the discovery of the remains of several women who like her worked as escorts and are believed to be victims of a serial killer. Mari Gilbert was killed by another of her daughters in 2016.

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The National Weather Service confirmed a weak tornado touched down on Fishers Island Monday morning.

The EF0 tornado sustained maximum winds of 65-85 mph when it hit the island. It started as a waterspout and became a tornado when it made landfall 7:35 a.m. before heading back out over the water, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service.

The tornado was confirmed as an EF0, the weakest on the Enhanced Fujita scale which ranges from 0-5. It was enough to knock down numerous trees and lift some small buildings off their foundations. Boats were tossed around near the water.

The power was still out across the island Monday afternoon. No fatalities or injuries were reported, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said.

“It ripped quite a few trees out, but there were no injuries,” Mr. Russell said. “Once the power is back on we can get the highway department out there to do an evaluation as to what trees are in public roads. We will be canvassing and repairing what we have to.”

[Confirmed Tornado] At 7:35 am, a tornado touched down on Fishers Island in Suffolk County. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. In addition, small buildings were removed off their foundation. More details will be released tomorrow after a team conducts an on-site survey. pic.twitter.com/39C6zbeL5D

— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) October 29, 2018

Meteorologist David Stark of the National Weather Service said this is the first tornado on record for Fishers Island. The National Weather Service started keeping records in 1950 and the last tornado to touchdown in Southold Town was in Mattituck in 2016.

Mr. Stark added that a survey team would visit Fishers Island Tuesday along with other officials to inspect the damage firsthand.

cmurray@timesreview.com

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My name is Tanya McDowell. I have been with CJ’s American Grill for just a little over two years now. I am here as the manager of the restaurant.

If you come in in the morning, you have to prep, cut your fruits and vegetables, make your iced tea. We order our linens. We have to set up the dining room, set up for dinner. We greet the customers. There’s scheduling, a lot of that I have to do. I have to take inventory too. If we’re running low on something you have to put it down to be ordered for the next day. We also sit down with the chef and find out what we’d like to have for that day. 

My favorite part is the customers. Seeing our regulars all the time, building a relationship with them. A lot of our customers at Christmas time, if they’re bar patrons, a lot of them have their own glasses here with their names engraved on it for them. We enjoy our locals and regulars. Most of them become family to us. We have a lovely couple who that comes in every Sunday and we have a plaque for them. It’s their table. 

I really like how we strive here to keep everything farm-to-table. We make all of our own homemade potato chips. We make our own soups on a daily basis.

Along with the restaurant, we do a lot of catering too. We do christenings, rehearsal dinners and a lot of weddings. That is a completely team effort on all levels to make sure that goes off without a hitch.

I have been in the restaurant industry for about 18 years now. I’ve definitely worked at a few of the local restaurants around here and I really like it. It’s something that I enjoy doing. I like the customer service part of it and I like to make people happy.

I like to see them when they leave with a smile and say “see you again soon,” and you know they’re coming back next week to hang out with you, have another cocktail or another bite to eat.

“The Work We Do” is a Suffolk Times multimedia project profiling workers on the North Fork. It is made possible by Peconic Landing in Greenport. See photos on Instagram @thesuffolktimes.

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