The Suffolk Times

The Mattituck High School boys basketball team might have known what it had in Luke Woods, but on Valentine’s Day 2019, the Tuckers and their fans fell in love with the precocious freshman.

Once again, Woods showed the moment wasn’t too big for him. A playoff game can be a nerve-racking experience for a veteran player, never mind a freshman, but there was Woods, thrust off the bench and facing Southampton’s high-pressure defense in a tight Suffolk County Class B semifinal on the road.

That’s pressure.

With the game hanging in the balance, Woods came through. The point guard shot 5-for-5 from the foul line in the fourth quarter when he scored nine of his 12 points to help rally Mattituck to a 70-66 come-from-behind triumph Thursday night. Third-seeded Mattituck (12-9) advances to a county final against No. 1 Center Moriches (15-5) on Saturday at William Floyd High School.

“I was really nervous but I knew I could do that,” Woods said. “When I [play] with confidence, I know I’m one of the best ones out there.”

On three occasions in the final 3 minutes, 47 seconds, Woods calmly sank free throws to tie the score at 55-55, 57-57 and 59-59.

Woods is a driver, too. The first of those trips to the foul line was preceded when Woods confidently drove the baseline for a basket while being fouled.

“You just felt the momentum swing on that,” said Mattituck coach Paul Ellwood.

Mattituck then went in front for good on a Ryan Seifert putback and two Xavier Allen free throws for a 63-59 edge with 1:15 left.

Marcus Trent (19 points) flipped in a layup before an Allen layup and an Allen free throw made it 65-61. Southampton’s Artemi Giavalas drilled a three-pointer from near the right sideline to pull the Mariners (14-6) within 66-64.

Then, Woods, the shortest player on the court (he said he’s about 5-8), came up huge again. He collected an offensive rebound off a missed Allen layup for a putback and a four-point lead with 11.2 seconds to go.

Southampton’s Dakota Smith (12 points, eight rebounds, four assists) made a layup with three seconds left, but Allen iced it with a pair of foul shots, giving him 30 points.

Ellwood took a deep breath when it was over. Woods executed a chest bump with Allen before another teammate triumphantly lifted Woods in the air.

“He’s great,” Allen said of Woods, who canned a three-pointer in the second quarter. “What can’t he do? He was shooting, driving, finishing.”

As hard as it is to do, Woods’ play almost overshadowed a tremendous game by Allen, who also had five assists, five rebounds, four assists and shot 15-for-16 from the foul line.

Southampton swept its two-game series with Mattituck during the regular season. The last time Mattituck played in Southampton, the Tuckers shot a miserable 4-for-22 from the foul line. This time, though, Mattituck netted 22 of 26 free throws to offset its 20 turnovers. Southampton went 13-for-22.

“I can tell you that’s the game right there,” said Southampton coach Herm Lamison.

The teams shot an identical 23-for-55 (41.8 percent) from the field.

Mattituck’s Trevor Poole put up 15 points and Seifert had nine. Seifert and Chris Nicholson came down with nine rebounds each.

Four Southampton players reached double figures, including Sincere Figgins (13 before he fouled out with 1:15 remaining) and Marquise Trent (11).

“This was a great win,” said Ellwood.

It helps to have a freshman like Woods, who has shown he belongs. Woods believed that before the season when he was asked what his preference was, to be a varsity reserve player or a junior varsity starter.

“I didn’t want him sitting on the bench, not getting minutes,” said Ellwood.

To Woods, there was only one answer to that question. He wanted to see varsity action.

In describing Woods’ season, Ellwood said: “He started out hot. He took some lumps during the middle of the season. Now he’s back.”

And how.

What makes Woods special?

“I would say his work ethic is almost unmatched,” Poole said. “He puts so much time into basketball. He always gives 100 percent. He assimilated really quickly.”

Ellwood said some of Woods’ teammates got a kick out of him being interviewed by reporters for the first time and teased him that he was more nervous during the interviews than he was shooting free throws with the Tuckers trailing by two.

Woods said, “No one believed in us, but this team has so much heart and I love these boys.”

The feeling is mutual.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Mattituck freshman Luke Woods drives past Southampton’s Dakota Smith for a basket. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

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After being destroyed in an electrical fire in 2015, First Universalist Church of Southold is in the process of being rebuilt.

The fire at the Main Road church started around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2015. More than 150 firefighters from a half-dozen departments responded to the scene. The church was a century and a half old when it was lost.

Attorney Patricia Moore, representing the church, came before the Southold Town Zoning Board of Appeals last Thursday to request a special exception permit. The application requested permission to construct a new house of worship building upon the parcel, where an existing single-family dwelling, currently used as a rental home, and the parish house are located.

If approved, the permit would give the “Church on the Bend” more flexibility for the final site plan, Ms. Moore said.

“I think it’s recognized that the church was here probably about the same time that some of the old houses were built on the Main Road, and certainly before most of the community was developed,” the attorney said.

Architect Peter Marren said the final details and materials in the project are still pending, but the town historic preservation commission has reviewed the site plan.

“They’ve been encouraging and even enthusiastic about the evolution of the design. We’re going to come back to them with the final details and the final material,” he said.

He said the current plan was also brought before the architectural review committee, which responded positively.

The special exception permit needs to go before the town Planning Board, chairperson Leslie Kanes Weisman said. Then the Planning Board can approve the final site plan.

Insurance money is providing most of the revenue for the rebuild, building team member Mark Sisson said. Some additional funding has come from local donors. The building team, appointed by the church’s board of trustees, has raised over $3,000 through a GoFundMe page for the rebuild.

Building team chair Irene Stewart posted an update to the church’s website Jan. 30, 2019, in which she said Mr. Marren estimates the builder, Eugene Burger, can construct the church within a budget of $2.2 million. In December, she said the only source of revenue for rebuilding is insurance money and fundraising.

Mr. Sisson said Mr. Marren and Mr. Burger are considering designs that are different from the original proposal due to budget concerns. The refined budget will include a sanctuary building and a pavilion that will function as a gathering and reception space, connecting administrative offices of the main level with the sanctuary. The level below the sanctuary, he said, will have a parish hall larger than the previous infrastructure.

“We were originally designing a building on what the community wanted,” he said. “This [design] satisfies a lot of the concerns the community has. It’ll be very good to get the church back on the bend.”

While the board will not have a decision for another week, chairperson Weisman remained positive toward the request during the meeting.

“It’s with great pleasure, that I can say welcome home First Universalist Church,” she said. “It’s been a long, difficult process, and I think all of us are happy to see this restoration.”

knalepinski@timesreview.com

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People and businesses in the Village of Greenport have once again been receiving phone calls, purported to be from PSEG, that state that they owe PSEG money on their electric account, according to village clerk Sylvia Pirillo.

The phone calls are a scam, she said.

The main thing that makes it obvious that it’s a scam? The incorporated Village of Greenport has its own electric utility and isn’t served by PSEG, she said.

“The Village Electric Utilities have not been ‘taken over’ by PSEG,” Village Clerk Sylvia Pirillo said in a press release. “Therefore, if you are a Village of Greenport electric customer, please do not pay any money for your electric utility to ‘PSEG’ or any person representing to be associated with PSEG,” she said in a press release.

The Village Office phone number is 631-477-0248, to report suspicious activity, and also to be noted as a call-back reference number.

“This has happened before,” Ms. Pirillo said in an interview. “So I want to make everyone aware that the scam is happening again.”

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The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, is brought to you by Lucas Ford:

Get the daily update delivered straight to your inbox each weekday morning by subscribing to our newsletter. Or listen through Apple Podcasts by subscribing to Closer Look.

Here are the headlines across the North Fork for Friday, Feb. 15:

NEWS

Mini golf course planned for Indian Island Country Club

First Universalist Church seeks special exception for rebuild

Elementary students create 500 Valentine’s Day cards for members of the 106th

Greenport residents warned of phone scam

WEATHER

There’s a 40 percent chance of rain today with highs near 52 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The clouds will hang around this evening with a low of 35 degree. A slight chance of snow and rain are in the forecast for Saturday. The sunshine returns Sunday with highs in the upper 30s.

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Steve Tenedios of Peconic died at home Thursday, Feb. 14. He was 87.

Visitors will be received Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Saints Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church in Greenport, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 11 a.m., officiated by Father Jerasimos Ballas. Interment will follow at Cutchogue Cemetery.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold assisted the family.

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Reckless abandon.

Those were the words Mattituck High School girls basketball coach Steve Van Dood chose to describe Jaden Thompson’s playing style.

“She throws herself on the floor,” he said. “She’s got that toughness.”

What Thompson did on Friday night was nothing less than “heroic,” said Van Dood. The senior guard/forward brought energy, made steals, dove for balls, fought for rebounds, drove to the hoop. She did whatever she had to do in order for Mattituck to claim its fourth successive Suffolk County Class B championship with a 51-42 victory over Port Jefferson at Centereach High School.

Thompson ended up with a career-high 22 points as well as six steals, five rebounds and four assists despite leaving the game briefly with leg cramps late in the fourth quarter.

“No one ever fights harder than Jaden,” said Mattituck senior forward Ashley Perkins, who had a big game herself, grabbing 14 rebounds to go with 11 points. “She’s great.”

Thompson and Perkins, who are better known as softball players, were arguably the best basketball players on the floor Friday night, with their determination, toughness and hustle.

Mattituck (17-4) persevered despite losing its starting point guard, Mackenzie Hoeg, early in the fourth quarter when she rolled an ankle. Alexis Burns filled in for her and knocked down a three-point shot that capped a 10-2 Mattituck run for a 47-38 lead.

With a layup by Jacqueline Lambe and a pair of free throws by Abigail Rolfe, Port Jefferson (12-9) pulled within 48-42.

Then Thompson went down with 1 minute, 39 seconds left and limped off the court. Not a good sight for the Tuckers.

But only 22 seconds elapsed off the game clock before Thompson made her return. Her contributions were not over. After coming down with an offensive rebound, the 5-5 Thompson banked in a shot off the glass while falling backward for a 50-42 advantage with 33.7 seconds left. Thompson also sank a foul shot with 18.9 seconds to go for the final score.

“She’s making tips, deflections,” Van Dood said. “It seems like she’s all over the court.”

Van Dood said he told Thompson, “You got to get to the rim tonight.”

Of Perkins, who seemed to collect every rebound that came her way, Van Dood said: “She’s getting better and better. I thought she did a very good job tonight.”

It was Mattituck’s third win over Port Jefferson this season, with the Tuckers posting 53-42 and 58-47 wins over the Royals in League VI play.

Mattituck earned a place in the Suffolk Class BCD game against Pierson/Bridgehampton/Shelter (18-3) Wednesday in Centereach. The Tuckers also advance to a sub-regional championship game against the Nassau County champion March 6 at Farmingdale State College.

Port Jefferson was striving for its fifth county crown. The Royals were county champions in 1924, 1926, 1927 and 2017.

Mattituck received 13 points from Julie Seifert.

Port Jefferson was led by Lola Idir (13 points) and Hailey Hearney (nine).

“This was big for us,” Thompson said, adding: “I think we played amazing. We learned from our mistakes.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Ashley Perkins, Julie Seifert and Jaden Thompson, from left, rejoice after Mattituck’s defeat of Port Jefferson for its fourth straight county championship. (Credit: Daniel De Mato)

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Last month, police officers from Riverhead and Southold were honored at an awards ceremony in Riverhead. For Southold, the Officer of the Year award went to Officer John Crosser for his role in a dramatic water rescue.

At the same ceremony, two Riverhead police officers, Richard Freeborn and state Trooper Michael Masino, were each named their department’s Officer of the Year due to their efforts to save the life of a man found floating face down in the waters off Grangebel Park.

The Riverhead PBA also honored Officer Kaley Castantine, who was first on the scene when a 911 caller reported a vehicle had driven down the beach access ramp at the end of Roanoke Avenue and crashed into Long Island Sound.

What these officers did in their roles as first responders and lifesavers was heroic and they deserved the honors bestowed on them. We are truly grateful for their service. Not many of us have careers in which we have the opportunity to save lives. These officers, and their colleagues, are in that very business. Pulling over a drunk driver is enforcing the law; it’s also a potentially lifesaving exercise.

So it was with very heavy hearts that Tuesday we heard of the death of New York City Police Detective Brian Simonsen, 42, who was shot and killed in a friendly fire incident as he responded to the scene of an armed robbery at a T-Mobile store in Queens.

Det. Simonsen grew up in Jamesport, graduated from Riverhead High School in 1995, and lived in Calverton. In so many ways, he is one of us — a local who grew up amidst the beauty and charms of the North Fork. But he separated himself from the rest of us by seeking a challenging career in law enforcement in New York City, where he knew his life could be in danger on a routine assignment on any given day. And there, he died in the line of duty.

In the coming days you will read more about Det. Simonsen, about the friends he kept from his youth, about attending Riverhead High School, and the way he conducted himself in his career in law enforcement. He was considered a leader among his peers.

His family has had their share of tragedy and wrenching sadness, and now they have his death to deal with. His sister Melissa Simonsen was struck and killed by a car while crossing Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead in July 1992. She was just 13 years old. Their father, Dr. Paul Simonsen, a dentist, died six months later.

Now, with Det. Simonsen’s death, this is all too much for many people to bear. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and to the men and women in uniform who keep us safe every day.

The family will receive friends on Monday, Feb. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. All services will be held at Saint Rosalie Roman Catholic Church, 31 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays.

Interment will be at the Jamesport Cemetery following the funeral mass. DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck is assisting the family.

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In 2014, in response to growing frustration with helicopters passing over the North Fork, Southold Town established its Helicopter Noise Steering Committee.

Coming up on five years later, helicopter noise has only gotten worse as the Federal Aviation Administration has been slow to change the North Shore Route.

“It’s going to become more of a permanent committee than we thought,” said Councilman Bob Ghosio at a work session Tuesday, suggesting the board set terms for members on the committee.

Mr. Ghosio serves as the Town Board liaison to the committee.

He said that some members appointed in 2014 now want to leave, and others in the community are energized to get involved. The proposed term length is two years for two members and four years for three members, which will allow for rotating membership.

The terms would begin in March, when the Town Board typically appoints people to its committees.

“It’s a good idea,” said Councilman Bill Ruland. “This is a discussion that, based on the landscape, is probably going to go on.”

Mr. Ghosio said that while the issue has worsened in some ways, the committee has allowed the town to try new initiatives to fight the use of the North Shore Route, including a regional partnership with other affected towns.

tsmith@timesreview.com

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Cutchogue Fire Department extinguished a chimney fire on Highland Road in Cutchogue Sunday around 7 a.m.

Officials said the fire was caused by uncombusted residue within the chimney flue. The homeowner, who was home at the time, was not injured, officials said.

• A Southold woman called police last Friday evening after a vehicle with unknown occupants drove by yelling, “You [expletive] suck,” around 8:20 p.m.

The incident was recorded on video but does not provide a clear description of the vehicle, according to a police report.

The woman told police she believes the occupants of the vehicle have an ongoing problem with her son at school, and also yelled obscenities at him while at a gas station earlier that evening.

• Southold police responded to Rite Aid in Mattituck Friday after an employee reported seeing a man and woman going in and out of the store and putting items into a shopping cart outside of the store.

Police found the suspects with three tubes of Pringles, a shirt, hair clip and deodorant that had not been paid for. They agreed to return the items, police said, and no charges were filed.

• Southold Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from a fireplace at an Oak Drive home last Tuesday around 5 a.m.

Officials extinguished active flames in the basement of the home, and no injuries were reported.

Detectives are investigating, officials said.

• A man called police last Monday after he observed graffiti written on a LIRR switch box on Pike Street in Mattituck.

A surveillance video shows a suspect around 2 a.m. walking eastbound down the tracks, stopping at the box and writing on the box.

Police reported that LIRR boxes at Sound Avenue, Westphalia Avenue and Wickham Avenue were also written on.

A clear description of the suspect was not given.

• Police responded to a Southold apartment complex last Monday after a resident kicked in a door after becoming upset that no one would take her to the store.

She told police she kicked the door to get attention, according to a police report.

No charges were filed against the woman.

• A Peconic woman called police last Monday after she observed a dirt bike riding on Carroll Avenue.

Police were unable to locate the dirt bike.

Photo caption: Firefighters worked on scene for over an hour to ensure that all fire was extinguished and the home was safe for the homeowners to re-enter. (Cutchogue Fire Department courtesy photo)

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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The colors are striking: Bridgehampton’s black and yellow against Greenport’s purple and gold. The Killer Bees and the Porters.

For years the boys basketball teams of the two high schools have been linked in an historic rivalry. Sometimes Bridgehampton has the stronger team; sometimes Greenport has the advantage.

In comparing the two teams, there is one glaring difference.

“We want what they have a lot of,” Greenport coach Ev Corwin said.

That would be state championships. Bridgehampton has nine of them, the last coming in 2015.

“There’s a lot of mutual respect,” Corwin said. “Again, their history of success is unparalleled over the years.”

Greenport has never won a state title, but the Porters hope to change that this year with their strong team.

“We’re coming from a long lineage of strong teams for both Greenport and Bridgehampton,” said Bridgehampton coach Ron White.

White knows about those Bridgehampton state championships. He played for three state champion Bridgehampton teams from 1996-98 before a two-point loss to Greenport ended his senior season.

The similarity the teams share is they both come from small schools on the eastern end of Long Island — Greenport in the North Fork and Bridgehampton in the South Fork.

“We’re always known as the Davids going against the Goliaths,” White said. “We’ve had to go through each other to get to the states … You don’t get a lot of respect coming out of the East End these days.”

This season the evidence suggests Greenport has the stronger team. The League VII champion Porters beat Bridgehampton twice during the regular season, 81-60 and 110-80.

On Saturday afternoon it was Bridgehampton and Greenport in the Suffolk County Class CD game. Surprise, surprise.

“It’s inevitable,” said Corwin.

What was surprising, however, was the final score. Bridgehampton upset Greenport, 87-85, in a thriller that came down to the wire at William Floyd High School’s John Pidgeon Gymnasium.

Greenport’s Jaxan Swann knocked down a three-point shot to tie the score at 85-85 with 17.4 seconds left. But Bridgehampton’s Nae’jon Ward had an answer for that, dropping in a game-winning runner with 1.3 seconds to go.

After a Greenport timeout, Swann inbounded the ball from his own endline to Ahkee Anderson, who heaved a last-ditch attempt from just inside the mid-court line wide right.

Bridgehampton (13-8) snapped Greenport’s 19-game win streak and will play Center Moriches or Mattituck in the Suffolk Class BCD game Tuesday at William Floyd. The Porters (20-2) have a regional final March 9 at Centereach High School to look forward to.

After scoring 50 points against Southold in the Suffolk Class C final, what does Anderson do for an encore?

Answer: He puts up 40 points against Bridgehampton.

“I just go out there and play,” Anderson told reporters. “Whatever happens happens.”

Jaxan Swann added 13 points and nine rebounds while his brother, Jude Swann, collected 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks before fouling out with 23.3 seconds left.

But the Killer Bees were boosted by 31 points from Ward and 28 from Elijah White. J.P. Harding added 16 rebounds and 13 rebounds.

“They came out and played harder than us,” Anderson said. “That’s what it came down to.”

Bridgehampton had Greenport chasing for much of the game. An Elijah White three-pointer in the second quarter put Bridgehampton ahead, 26-24. That was part of a 10-0 Bridgehampton spurt. The Killer Bees remained in front, stretching their lead to as many as 14 points when a White three made it 68-54 early in the fourth.

But Greenport fought its way back, thanks to 16 fourth-quarter points by Anderson.

“He’s percolating right now,” Corwin said. “He tried to put us on his back.”

Now Greenport will win three games and claim its first state title or its next loss will be its last for 2018-19.

Anderson said, “It’s win or go home now.”

Notes. Greenport came out for pregame warmups wearing green “TEAM DYLAN #5” T-shirts in support of Dylan Newman, a Southold cancer patient who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment this week, said Corwin.

bliepa@timesreview.com

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The Greenport Fire Department held its 174th annual Washington’s Birthday parade Saturday.

On lookers lined the village’s streets as fire departments from across Long Island marched by during the celebrated tradition.

See photos of the parade by Jeremy Garretson below:

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It could be said that Center Moriches stole the Suffolk County Class B boys basketball championship.

Not that the Red Devils didn’t earn every bit of their 88-66 defeat of Mattituck Saturday, from every single one of Micah Snowden’s 34 points to every one of the 19 steals Center Moriches made to every one of the 28 turnovers it forced Mattituck into committing.

It was pilfery at its best.

Center Moriches has a way of leading opponents into believing a player is open to receive a pass — only to see a Red Devils player sweep into the passing lane, pick off the ball and race to the other basket. It’s like a mirage.

“Guys look open,” Mattituck coach Paul Ellwood said after the game at William Floyd High School’s John Pidgeon Gymnasium.

But they’re really not.

Mattituck fell victim to it time and time again.

“That’s why they’re so good,” Mattituck senior Ryan Seifert said. “They’re quick, they’re big, they’re long. They deceive.”

Top-seeded Center Moriches (16-5) used its high-pressure, in-your-face defense to wear No. 3 Mattituck (12-10) down. Snowden scored 11 points in the third quarter when the relentless Red Devils outscored Mattituck, 29-14, for a 75-48 cushion entering the fourth quarter.

“We’re built off of defense and a simple recipe that these guys play off is they give all their energy on defense and I give them all the freedom on offense,” said Center Moriches coach Nick Thomas.

Halfway through the third quarter, the Tuckers had exhausted all of their timeouts.

Center Moriches has a way of sapping teams’ strength.

“It is exhausting,” said Ellwood, who called this Center Moriches team one of the best, if not the best, teams he has ever coached against. “They keep rolling out guys. You take away the inside, they bring out their shooters. You go out to their shooters, they bring in their big guys. They have depth at every position. I want to see a team that’s going to beat them in our class.”

Trevor Poole, who had 14 points for Mattituck, said: “It seemed like a game of stamina. I would say that was a big part of it.”

Center Moriches handled Mattituck in similar fashion during the regular season with 80-52 and 90-51 wins last month, so the Tuckers knew what they were in for.

But Mattituck could find encouragement in a first quarter in which it took the lead five times before trailing, 21-19, entering the second quarter.

“That start of that second quarter I was feeling pretty good,” Ellwood said. “I was like, ‘We might be able to go with these guys for a while.’ ”

From there, though, it started slipping away. Center Moriches led at halftime, 46-34, before turning up the heat in the second half.

“Snowden was too much for us,” Ellwood said. “Our guys were trying hard and he made it look like it was very easy.”

Center Moriches romped with one of its top players, 6-6 senior Sean Braithwaite Jr., picking up three fouls in the first quarter and seeing limited playing time because of foul trouble. He had five points.

But that was OK because Snowden, a 6-5 senior, and 6-4 senior David Falco Jr. (17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, one block) were extraordinarily productive. Edmond Frazier (seven points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals) helped, too.

“We’ve had some good teams over the years … but they’re certainly one of my strongest,” said Thomas, in his eighth year as Center Moriches’ coach. “Talent-wise, they’re certainly the most talented.”

Center Moriches is ranked 12th in the state in Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Xavier Allen supplied Mattituck with 23 points, Jayden Ford had 11 and Seifert had eight to go with five assists.

It was Center Moriches’ 17th county title. Mattituck was seeking its first county crown since 2011.

Center Moriches advances to play Bridgehampton (13-8) in the Suffolk Class BCD game Tuesday at William Floyd. The Red Devils will also play in the Long Island Class B final March 6 at Farmingdale State College.

It was around this time last year, after Mattituck’s playoff loss to Babylon, when Ellwood had his players write out goals for the 2018-19 season. One of those stated goals was to reach the county final, and they did. No one — not even Center Moriches — can steal that away from them.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Mattituck coach Paul Ellwood and his players try to figure out a way to solve Center Moriches’ high-pressure defense. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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Single-use plastics could become a thing of the past in Suffolk County.

Southampton Town officials Tuesday adopted a new code amendment that will ban plastic straws and polystyrene (Styrofoam) take-away containers at food establishments.

The new law goes into effect in May — and Suffolk County could follow suit.

The Suffolk County Single-Use Plastic Reduction Task Force, led by Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), outlined several new policy initiatives aimed at reducing plastic litter.

The proposed bills would impact restaurants and county facilities, she announced during a press conference Wednesday.

Under the proposal, restaurants would be barred from providing plastic straws, except to those with disabilities whose conditions necessitate the use of plastic straws. Restaurants would instead be required to provide biodegradable straws, such as paper straws.

Polystyrene products would also be restricted, unless used to store eggs, raw meat, pork, fish, seafood and poultry, according to a press release.

County facilities concession stands would also be ban from distributing single-use cups, utensils or beverage straws made from non-biodegradable substances. The proposal would require the county to install water fountains that allow for bottle filling at its facilities, such as parks.

If adopted by the legislature, the implementation of each phase would be staggered, with the polystyrene ban taking effect first and straws and plastic stirrers policy beginning in 2020. The ban on single-use plastics at county concessions would be included in future license agreements and existing water fountains would be replaced as they age, officials said.

Worldwide, concern about plastics and their impact on health and the environment are mounting.

“Now, with the backing of science and evolving public awareness, support for policies limiting and banning substances that threaten human health and our environment has reached a turning point. It’s time to take a stand against this growing threat,” Hahn said in a press release.

According to the Ocean Conservancy, 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean each year, adding to the existing estimated 150 million metric tons that currently circulate. In turn, plastics have been found in more than half of all seabirds and in every species of sea turtle.

“Minute micro-plastics and fibers, measuring the width of a human hair or far less, have been found in an extraordinary range of products, such as honey and sugar, shellfish, bottled and tap water, beer, processed foods, table salt and soft drinks, which means that just like the sea turtles and birds, we humans are ingesting plastic virtually every day,” Ms. Hahn said, warning of threats to human health.

This isn’t the first attempt the ban plastics in Suffolk County. A Styrofoam ban was floated in 1988, and in 2013 Ms. Hahn introduced similar legislation that never passed.

The latest initiative comes a year after county lawmakers imposed a five-cent fee on single-use plastic bags.

Southampton Town banned plastic bags in 2015.

“It’s been 30 years since Suffolk first sounded the alarm on the dangers of single use plastic,” Legislator Hahn said. “During those three decades, not a single piece of plastic has biodegraded. We must reduce use now or suffer the consequences for generations to come.”

tsmith@timesreview.com

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Veterans or current member of the U.S. military who are looking to marry the man or woman of their dreams can now enter the ninth annual “Veterans Day Wedding Giveback.”

Brecknock Hall at Peconic Landing is seeking applicants for the contest, which provides one lucky service couple with a free wedding in Greenport. The Veterans Day Wedding Giveback began in 2011 as an opportunity to thank Long Island’s military personnel and recognize them for their service.

Last year’s winning couple, U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Trenton Todd Zanow, of Batavia, NY and U.S. Air Force Airfield Management Operations Supervisor Jennifer Lynn (Lenzi) Zanow, of Ridge, NY were married at Brecknock Hall on Sunday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day. Both are active service members who met while serving at the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach. The couple, who currently serve full time at the 103rd Airlift Wing, a unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard, were notified during a surprise reveal in May.

This year’s winning couple will again be provided with a wedding free of change, taking place on Sunday, November 10, 2019 in celebration of Veterans Day, and will accommodate up to 82 guests.

This giveaway is made possible by sponsorship and contributions from local businesses and organizations that donate time and services to contribute to the wedding. According to a press release from Peconic Landing, an estimated $60,000 worth of services and in-kind donations are contributed each year. The contest is open to current and veteran service members. At least one partner must have served or be serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Applicants can visit http://www.brecknockhall.com/veterans-day-wedding-giveback/ to enter.

The deadline is March 31.

The winning couple will be chosen by a panel of Peconic Landing members with military ties, who judge the contest based on the number of years served, special military honors and each individual couple’s personal love story. Couples must be available for an interview in person or via Skype to be considered for the giveback.

Businesses that would like to contribute can contact Valerie Tirelli, Brecknock Hall sales & events coordinator at info@brecknockhall.com.

Photo caption: The 2018 winners, U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Trenton Todd Zanow and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Jennifer Lynn Lenzi celebrated their wedding on Veterans Day in Greenport. (Credit: Lisa Nicolosi Photography)

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Fifth- and sixth-grade students at Cutchogue East Elementary School in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District demonstrated their musical and theatrical talents during a special performance of “Seussical Jr.” on Jan. 25 and 26.

After several months of rehearsals, while the stage crew and technology team designed and built the sets and created the appropriate lighting and sound, the cast was ready to tell the story of how Horton the Elephant saved the town of Who.

See more photos below:
(Courtesy of Mattituck-Cutchogue School District)

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The Southold Planning Board granted DEIS adequacy, a mandatory environmental review report, to Tuthill Conservation Subdivision, a plan that would divide four parcels at 21505 Route 25 in Orient into 17 residential lots.

The adequacy approval pushes the plan to build a conjoined conservation subdivision forward.

The Tuthill family’s plan would preserve 94 of the 112 acres.

In April 2016, a similar DEIS determination of adequacy request was submitted to the board which was labeled inadequate due to environmental concerns of contaminated groundwater. The plan has since been revised and groundwater has been tested, assistant town planning director Mark Terry said.

In 2014, the Planning Board held a public hearing on the Tuthill proposal.

knalepinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: The view behind Latham’s farm stand in Orient. (Credit: Grant Parpan, file)

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The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, is brought to you by Riverhead Ford Lincoln.

NEWS

Riverhead’s top DWI-catching cop sues police department

Suffolk County seeks to ban single-use plastics

Town may establish term lengths for helicopter committee

Two suspects charged with murder for robbery that led to detective’s death

WEATHER

Overnight snow has turned to rain and sleet. It will be all rain after 7 a.m. with temps around 35, according to the National Weather Service. Expect partly cloudy skies tonight with a low around 20. Sun returns tomorrow and the next chance for snow is Wednesday.

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Officials in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District released a preliminary budget for the 2019-20 academic year, showing a spending plan on par to last year’s figures.

Superintendent Jill Gierasch unveiled the budget, estimated at $40.7 million, at a board meeting Thursday. It’s the first budget she’s overseen as superintendent in Mattituck after joining the district last June.

The expenditures are a 0.26 percent increase compared to last year.

“The proposal is a bit early this year,” she told board members. “But we’ve been hard at work since last July.”

The district reviewed prior year’s expenditures and considered areas of need to prepare this year’s budget, the superintendent said. This year’s budget proposes a “multi-year plan” for education programs and district initiatives, including post-graduate opportunities, technology enhancements, infrastructure changes, capital reserve funding and general district-wide improvements.

Slightly over half of the budget, about $21.2 million, will go toward salaries and related taxes, $6.7 million will go into health insurance and related needs. The other $12.8 million will go into utilities, facilities, textbooks, transportation, pupil personnel, debt services, technology, BOCES administrative costs, among other areas. The district tax levy, proposed at $36.8 million, is expected to increase by roughly $686,923 or 1.90 percent, compared to last year. The property tax cap, imposed by the state in 2012, limited the tax-levy increase to 2 percent with exceptions. The allowed statewide tax levy increase is calculated by the State Comptroller’s Office.

Business and Operations Administrator Kevin Coffey said the district has its own tax cap limit. The 2019-2020 statewide tax cap before exclusions is 2 percent.

Mr. Coffey said the district can no longer depend on state aid for a main source of revenue. The district is limited by the tax cap “formula,” he said, which places a limit on taxes, and by the Foundational Aid formula, a section of how aid is divided to each district. He feels the distribution of Foundation Aid provides little consideration to changing demographics and fluctuating enrollment.

The district’s enrollment is expected to decrease from last year, Ms. Gierasch said, with 61 fewer students expected in grades K-12 compared to last year.

Mr. Coffey said state aid does not cover the security and safety concerns the district plans to tackle in the future. For this reason, he said, some of the money in the Capital Reserve Fund will go into enhancing district security.

“To summarize, a key focus here is safety and security,” he said.

The Capital Reserve Fund is a separate account from the budget which operates for long-term investment projects and other anticipated expenses. The proposed numbers are based on continued discussions with architects and vendors, Mr. Coffey said.

Roughly $500,000 will be used to replace the 200 doors throughout the high school and elementary school.
The highly discussed turf field was a standout on the Capital Reserve. The district would pay roughly $1.6 million to fund the turf field and surrounding area. It would be placed north of the tennis courts, parallel to the track — which Ms. Gierasch said would require a fence.

“We’re asking the architect to break down the cost of each of these items,” she said. “Although it looks pretty high, that’s including more than just the turf itself.”

Mattituck athletic director Greggory Wormuth is working to establish a subcommittee regarding the turf field, Ms. Gierasch said, to discuss the pros and cons. At the last meeting, vice president Marylynn Hoeg voiced support for the turf field while trustee Douglas Cooper expressed frustrations with wasting taxpayer finances.

Other priorities in the Capital Reserve include replacing air conditioning units throughout the district, security film, and swipe and locks.

The district is expected to hold public meetings regarding the budget and make adjustments based on federal, state and local demands. In May, the district will hold its annual budget vote.
Ms. Gierasch said a condensed version of the budget will be made available to parents in Spanish this year prior to the vote, but the details have not been finalized.

knalepinski@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Superintendent Jill Gierasch outlined the proposal at last week’s meeting. (Kate Nalepinski photo)

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Longtime Peconic resident Steve Tenedios died at his home Thursday, Feb. 14. He was 87.

He was born Nov. 30, 1931, in Imbros, Turkey, to Irene (Hlepo) and Timotheos Tenedios.

On Oct. 27, 1957, he married the love of his life, Athena Anastaselli, and they came to the United States in 1961. Steve was a self-employed tailor for many years.

On the North Fork, Steve was a member of Sts. Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church in Greenport.

He was predeceased by his wife in December 2017. Steve is survived by daughters Helen Tenedios and Joanne Tenedios; son-in-law Samir Bennani; siblings Sultana Psaros, Elias Tenedios, Moska Bogiatzis and Peter Tenedios; three grandchildren, Guy Michael DeFazio and his wife, Susan, Hatim Bennani and Athena Bennani; great-grandchildren Steven Robert DeFazio and Lillian Marie DeFazio; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitors were received Feb. 16 at Sts. Anargyroi, Taxiarchis and Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church, where Father Jerasimos Ballas and Father James Bogiatzis also celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Interment followed at Cutchogue Cemetery.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold assisted the family.

This is a paid notice.

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