The memory of the Greenport High School boys basketball team’s painful loss to Lake George in last year’s New York State Class C semifinal has stuck with the Porters. The finality of it all smacked them in the face. From time to time, coach Ev Corwin reminds his players to recall how they felt after that stinging 73-58 defeat.

“I was already thinking about getting back [to the state final four], even like minutes after the loss,” Corwin said. “And I said, ‘Man, it’s a year.’ And now it’s here. All those months thinking about it and now we’re back to it again, finally.”

Well, almost. First Greenport (20-2) has the little matter of a Southeast Region final before them and a capable opponent, Tuckahoe (17-6). The teams will play Saturday at Centereach High School for the right to enter the state semifinals. The state final four will be played March 15-17 at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, site of Greenport’s heartbreaking ending last year.

Tuckahoe earned its place in the regional final with a 67-57 overtime win over Millbrook Monday night at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. Malik Moore-Crooks scored 28 points and Mekhi Clark added 18 for the Tigers.

Corwin and other Greenport coaches watched the game. “They have a couple of good guards,” Corwin said before Tuesday night’s practice. “They run in a lot of guys and they’re pretty deep. They have a couple of big-time players that take a lot of their shots, so we just have to make sure to keep them under control. I just feel like we just have to play our game, play at our pace. That’s the main thing. We don’t want anyone to try to slow us down.

“We want to try to keep that pace, we really do. We’re really going to try to just keep it going, keep it to a track meet, if possible. The key factor for us is just to really focus on doing what we do.”

Doing what they do has worked out well for the Porters this season. In fact, following a season-opening loss to St. Anthony’s, the Porters had racked up 19 straight wins before losing to rival Bridgehampton, 87-85, in the Suffolk County Class CD game on Feb. 16.

Tuckahoe is ranked 13th in Class C by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Greenport is ranked ninth.

The Porters have had a couple of scrimmages to try to keep their sharpness, but they’re eager to play a game again. It will have been 21 days since its last game when Greenport takes the court against Tuckahoe. In fact, it has been so long that senior center Jude Swann said it almost feels as if they are embarking on the start of a new season. “I can’t wait,” he said. “It’s been so long.”

Corwin said, “I expect us to come out flying.”

League VII champion Greenport ran through its regular-season schedule, romping over virtually every team it played. The Porters then beat Southold, 82-52, for their 12th county title as junior guard Ahkee Anderson rang up a career-high 50 points.

And then Greenport stumbled in the CD game against Bridgehampton, a team it had beaten twice in league play. The Killer Bees led by as many as 14 points when an Elijah White three-pointer made it 68-54 early in the fourth quarter. Anderson netted 16 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter to help Greenport close the gap.

Greenport’s Jaxan Swann knocked down a three that knotted the score, 85-85, with 17.4 seconds remaining. But Bridgehampton’s Nae’jon Ward responded with a game-winning runner with 1.3 seconds left to win it.

“I think after the Bridgehampton loss, we want to just kind of hit the reset button,” said Corwin.

Driven and motivated, the Porters have maintained a single-minded approach. Nothing short of what would be the first state championship in team history will suffice.

Of course to win a state title, they will need to make their fifth appearance in the state final four, and to do that, they need to get past Tuckahoe first.

Said Corwin, “There’s only one result that will make a successful season for us.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Greenport’s Ahkee Anderson drives for a layup while Southold’s Cole Brigham watches during the Suffolk County Class C final. (Credit: Daniel De Mato, file)

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The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, is brought to you by San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, award-winning care, when and where you need it most.

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 Thursday, March 7:

NEWS

Residents favor sale of recreational marijuana in Suffolk County

When it comes to plastic, residents say habits can change

Cops: Woman used stolen credit card at Target

NORTHFORKER

Little Creek Oyster Farm to open second location at Southold marina

Meet Ami Opisso, the creative leader of two major Long Island wine labels

SPORTS

Girls Basketball: Carle Place blows away Tuckers

WEATHER

Expect partly sunny skies today but it will feel mighty cold. The high will reach 30 degrees and an overnight low of 15 is in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service. But the wind chill will have it feel as low a zero degrees throughout much of the day. There’s a chance of scattered snow showers late this morning and into the afternoon.

The post Daily Update: Residents support legalization, restaurant opening second location appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell delivered his 10th annual “State of the Town” address Wednesday night at Town Hall.

During the hour-long address, the supervisor touched on many issues, re-issuing the cry for affordable housing and addressing the impacts of tourism on quality of life.

After highlighting the town’s accomplishments in 2018, he outlined goals for 2019. Here’s a glimpse at what was discussed:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Three years ago, Mr. Russell set a goal to address the housing crisis on the East End by creating at least 50 units of affordable housing.

Construction on Vineyard View is expected to break ground later this spring, the supervisor said, but initiatives to bring more affordable housing opportunities to the area must continue.

The supervisor re-issued his 2016 goal of creating 50 more affordable units within the next three years.

“We should have no illusions. Fifty apartments is not a lot,” he said. Fifty more units combined with the Vineyard View project will only address a “small portion of the critical need” for housing, he added.

The supervisor also expressed support for proposed state legislation that would allow a 0.5 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax, which currently funds the Community Preservation Fund, to create an affordable housing fund.

Though the measure has not yet been passed in Albany, the supervisor said he plans on discussing specifics with state lawmakers.

TOURISM, TRAFFIC AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Mr. Russell touted securing $160,000 in fines against Vineyard 48 as a win for residents, whose quality of life had been impacted for years.

He said that while the town supports tourism, there needs to be a shift from “promoting” to “accommodating” visitors to the area.

The town will continue adding traffic control officers to mitigate traffic, in addition to meeting with Riverhead town officials and other agencies to address the seemingly unsolvable problem.

The supervisor again proposed weight limits for Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck.

“Traffic there is just as bad as it is on the Main Road and on the North Road. It’s a residential street, and we need to do something,” he said.

In addition, to mitigate the crowds, the supervisor said officials are working with businesses in an effort to discourage party buses and limos, which he said impact local roads and quality of life.

“We don’t have the infrastructure to support the numbers we’re seeing,” he said, noting that several wineries have already adopted the policy. “It’s worked well for them. I’m asking all other venues to use them as a model and duplicate what they’ve done.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

To stimulate small business development, town officials met recently with the Empire State Development group to discuss programs that could fund grants to small businesses for expansion, start-up costs and other needs.

“The council has difficulty administering small grants,” the supervisor said, noting that the town’s own Economic Development Committee could help administer grant money.

He hopes to streamline the permitting process by initiating a full review of the site plan process and promote the development of existing structures through potential changes to the “bulk schedule” for existing buildings.

“It’s in our best interest to promote investment in that inventory,” he said.

AGRICULTURE

The Agricultural Advisory Committee is working with town officials to modernize the town code’s allowed uses for agricultural properties.

“People might not be aware of the fact that on farms, you can’t produce or process what you sell. That’s a new market, that’s a new trend, that’s a new necessity,” Mr. Russell said.

The town will also review lot size requirements for structures on farms. “We want to see if we can ease those restrictions for farmers who, in many instances, need more structures on less land, particularly if we’re trying to keep the farmland farmed,” he said.

LAND USE, PLANNING

The town purchased a 10-acre property on Carroll Avenue in Peconic, just west of Cochran Park that the supervisor hopes can be developed to fill a void in community recreation, such as an indoor swimming facility.

“We need to be candid. The town doesn’t have the resources to build and we just don’t have the management staff to maintain,” such a facility, Mr. Russell said.

He plans to issue a Request for Proposals in the coming months to seek a developer for the site.

The Town Board also recently approved a six-month moratorium on issuing approvals and new permits for parcels along Main Road in Mattituck between Bay Avenue and Pike Street as they await the completion of the comprehensive plan later this year and the results of a traffic study of the Love Lane intersection.

ENVIRONMENT

Mr. Russell called on the state to declare the overpopulation of deer as a public health crisis.

“This dialogue in Albany has to change,” he said, adding that culling has to be a part of the solution. The town’s deer management program has now surpassed 2,224 deer harvested, the supervisor announced during the address.

A project to bring a solar array to the town’s animal shelter is also moving forward and the town board approved a law to prohibit the clearing of woodlands for solar arrays.

In recent months, the town had to transition from single-stream recycling to a three-stream approach. “We had to act quickly,” in response to a changing market, the supervisor said. “It went very smoothly.”

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Last year, Southold Town purchased the former Capital One bank building located at the corner of Youngs Avenue and Main Road for $3.1 million. Renovations to transform the former bank into the new town Justice Court are estimated at $1.5 million, the supervisor said. “That had been an issue for some years, to separate Justice Court from the rest of the functions of town government,” he said, also pointing to other benefits, such as the 93 parking spaces at the site that will now stay in the public’s hands.

Photo caption: Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell delivers his State of the Town address Wednesday night. (Credit: Tara Smith)

tsmith@timesreview.com

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More than 70 community members attended the first “Times Review Talks,” a two-hour panel discussion on the North Fork’s affordable housing crisis, at Vineyard Caterers in Aquebogue Feb. 27. 

The discussion among business owners, builders, real estate professionals, local government officials and other community members covered a range of topics, from the housing market and wages to sewage and zoning issues.

“We will not solve the issue of affordable housing on the North Fork today. That is far too lofty of a goal,” said Times Review Media Group content director Grant Parpan in his opening remarks. “But through a thoughtful, respectful dialogue on this very serious problem, we will hopefully each come to a better understanding of the issue and perhaps some folks will leave here today with a germ of an idea that could make some sort of a difference for someone.”

Much of the discussion last Wednesday centered around a lack of sewers on the North Fork.

Audience member Nancy Messer of Bridgehampton National Bank asked the Southold Town representatives on the panel if there’s been any consideration given to creating a sewage treatment plant, similar to Greenport and Riverhead.

Southold Town government liaison officer Denis Noncarrow said most government officials would say a potential sewage treatment plant is too “cost-prohibitive.”

“That’s just what you’re going to hear,” he said. “It’s going to open the floodgates of development.”

Who was on the panel?

George Giannaris, Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant
Thomas McCarthy, Thomas J. McCarthy Real Estate, Inc.
Paul Pawlowski, Pawlowski Construction
Allen Handelman, Conifer Realty
Rona Smith, Southold Housing Advisory Commission
Denis Noncarrow, Southold government liaison officer
Moderator: Grant Parpan, Times Review Media Group

Suffolk County has been looking at alternative septic systems, or cluster systems, which would remove nitrogen, Mr. Noncarrow added. But the Suffolk County Department of Health Services hasn’t come forth with a plan for septic requirements, thus delaying the process.

Fellow panelist Thomas McCarthy of Thomas J. McCarthy Real Estate said a plan by the town to allow for affordable rental apartments on private property has also been restricted by the health department.

“The town has been doing its job; it’s a health department, it’s a density issue,” he said. “I think there’s plenty of folks that want to give property … But the backstop is really the health department.”

More than 70 people attended the event at The Vineyards at Aquebogue. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)

Mr. Noncarrow said an affordable housing unit built on a homeowner’s property would require a $1.2 million septic system.

“The septic issue is really something around our neck — we’re having a tough time,” he said.

Mr. McCarthy said the affordable housing inventory across the North Fork is almost non-existent and there’s little to show potential home buyers with moderate income. The median price for a non-waterfront home increased by nearly $55,000 to about $580,000 in the past two years, he said.

Even in Riverhead, where home costs are lower than in Southold, taxes are higher, Mr. McCarthy said. So while interest rates remain low, there isn’t much opportunity for first-time home buyers.

“When [interest rates] go up it’s going to exacerbate the problem on the North Fork,” he said.

Future of wineries on the North Fork

The next Times Review Talks will be held at noon on Wednesday, March 27, again at Vineyard Caterers. The topic will be the future of Wineries on the North Fork. Panelists will include town supervisors Scott Russell and Laura Jens-Smith along with wine industry professionals. The $30 price ($25 for subscribers) includes a four-course meal. Be the first to get tickets here.

In recent years, rentals have been one of the few solutions offered on affordable housing. Panelist Allen Handelman of Conifer Realty spoke about his company’s proposed Vineyard View in Greenport, which aims to bring 50 affordable rental units to a complex that would hook into the Greenport Village sewage system.

Conifer Realty also partnered on Peconic Crossing in Riverhead, which features 45 rental units. More than 900 applicants entered the lottery for that complex.

Sarah Nappa, small-business owner and candidate for Southold Town Board, asked Mr. Handelman what systems are in place to keep Vineyard View affordable over the long haul, pointing to a prior affordable housing project in Greenport that allowed for the units to be resold at market rate.

Mr. Handelman said Vineyard View is being funded by New York State and the units must remain at the affordable rates for 50 years. Southold Town’s Housing Advisory Commission keeps track of the units.

Panelist Rona Smith, chairwoman of the commission, said it’s important to note that while the units are being kept affordable, it’s being built not in an affordable housing district but rather through Hamlet Density zoning. Ten acres of the property are being preserved as open space.

“You need to balance density and land preservation,” Mr. Handelman said. “The more you can create smaller but dense communities, you’re preserving land, and you’re also creating a situation where a small, private sewage treatment plant can start to be viable.”

Southold Housing Commission chair Rona Smith was among the panelists at the event. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)

Ms. Smith said Southold Town’s affordable housing zoning caps the number of units in a particular project at 24, which she said is simply not enough.

“We really feel that it’s something we’re addressing with the Town Board to change,” Ms. Smith said. “It makes it impossible to make the numbers work.”

Fellow panelist Paul Pawlowski, who several years ago proposed 75 affordable rental units on a property he owns in Mattituck, said he felt that project was stopped after town officials withdrew support following backlash from the community.

“Nobody wants it in their backyard,” Mr. Pawlowski said of attitudes about affordable housing.

He said if the community was serious about solving the affordable housing crisis, the option of developing preserved land for this purpose would be on the table, an idea that was met with some pushback from the audience.

“You could do 500 units on 2 percent of what we have preserved,” he said.

Southold Town Councilman Jim Dinizio later commented that Southold has preserved more than 500 acres of land and about 20 percent of that land could have a house built on it under the town’s current regulations.

“There is no more land to preserve in Southold Town,” he declared.

A current proposal by Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) to allow the five East End towns to levy a .5 percent real estate transfer tax for the purpose of funding affordable housing was also discussed. That plan is in addition to the existing 2 percent transfer tax known as the Community Preservation Fund, which is used for open space purchases.

Mr. McCarthy said that while he believes it’s “great” that Southold Town has been able to preserve so much land, it hasn’t helped the housing crisis.

“It’s causing a problem on inventory and affordable housing,” he said. “Affordable housing should not be borne onto the purchaser who is coming into the community.”

Builder Paul Pawloski was also on the panel. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)

And then there’s the issue of what jobs are available to East End residents.

Audience member Joe Corso of Cutchogue, who recently closed his small business after 25 years, said he was able to maintain a dedicated staff by keeping their pay rates high, but that’s not always the case here. He said he believes most of the jobs here are low-paying.

“[Mostly] you get them trained and then they leave for 50 cents more somewhere else,” he said.

Paul Romanelli of Suffolk Security, which sponsored the event along with Acadia Center, North Fork Chamber of Commerce and Riverhead Ford Lincoln/Riverhead Buick GMC, said his company struggles to keep employees beyond five years.

Panelist George Giannaris of Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant in East Marion echoed that sentiment.

“It used to be easy,” he said. “You hired college grads, and that was the end of it. Last year I had just two [local] people working. Finding employment out here is very difficult.”

Mr. Pawlowski said the employment problem cannot be resolved until potential employees find housing.

“Every business on the North Fork is struggling to find employees,” he said. “The number one reason is because employees have no place to live.”

Mr. Noncarrow said local government’s role in tackling affordable housing issues needs to be shaped by the will of the public. He suggested creating a separate committee on affordable housing that might include some of the people taking part in the panel discussion.

“I think our biggest role, really, is to research and to communicate with the folks in the community,” he said of the town. “To research all options that are available within affordable housing and see what the best possible options are and then put them out to the community to see their thoughts on them.”

knalepinski@timesreview.com

The post Times Review Talks: Addressing affordable housing on the North Fork appeared first on Suffolk Times.

William W Schriever of Peconic Landing, formerly of Orient, died March 1. He was 92.

He was born Aug. 19, 1926, to Lucille (Weisenbach) and William Schriever in Norman, Okla.

In 1944, at the age of 17, Mr. Schriever was accepted into the Navy V-12 program at the University of Oklahoma. In 1946, he received his commission as a Navy ensign through the NROTC program. He earned a B.S. in engineering physics in 1947 from the University of Oklahoma, where his father taught physics from 1919 until 1958 and served as chairman of the department of physics for much of his tenure. Mr. Schriever then pursued graduate work in physics at the University of Illinois before continuing in a Ph.D. program at Harvard University.

He married Barbara Dwight in 1953, after which they lived in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and became residents of Orient in 1957 until his retirement to Peconic Landing in 2004.

Mr. Schriever owned and managed Schriever Construction Company in Orient in the 1970s and was a successful private investor throughout most of his life, his family said.

He was an active member of the Democratic Party in Southold Town and served as a local Boy Scout leader and with the Suffolk County scouting organization. He was an organizing member, board member and volunteer at Community Action for Southold Town, was active in the Orient Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of Orient Congregational Church. He was interested in many aspects of community affairs and charitable endeavors.

He was predeceased by his wife in 2006 and by his sister, Elinor Scott.

Services will take place at Orient Congregational Church Friday, March 8, at 11 a.m., followed by interment at Orient Central Cemetery. A reception will follow at Peconic Landing, 1500 Brecknock Road, Greenport.

Memorial donations may be made to CAST, P.O. Box 159, Greenport, N.Y. 11944, or delivered to the CAST office at 316 Front St., Greenport.

The post William W Schriever appeared first on Suffolk Times.

After spending a semester studying and researching in Madagascar in 2017, Southold native Mary Bertschi couldn’t shake what she saw there.

While based at the Centre ValBio, a research center near Ranomafana National Park, Ms. Bertschi, 22, spent time living in several nearby villages. “I got to see firsthand the effects of not having clean water,” she said during an interview in between classes at Stony Brook University Monday.

While researching illnesses associated with lack of access to clean water, a classmate found that more than 80 percent of children under 18 had been exposed to water-based parasites such as Schistosoma, a parasitic worm, and Ascariasis, a type of worm that can be transmitted through fecal matter.

By speaking with women in the various villages, Ms. Bertschi learned that many spend their days walking to collect water — an average of two hours each way.

The necessary task, she said, disproportionately affects women and young children. 

“It impacts their ability to go to school, to hold jobs. It becomes their primary responsibility,” she said, adding, “It was just mind-boggling to me. That was another thing that opened my eyes.”

Fast-forward nearly two years, and the SBU senior is plotting a return to Africa — this time, on a humanitarian mission to bring clean, safe water to millions living without access to it.

At the end of May, Ms. Bertschi and 14 classmates will trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, elevation 19,341 feet, to raise money for WaterAid, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing clean water and toilets to the most marginalized communities in over 30 countries.

According to the organization, one in nine people worldwide has no access to clean water and one in three is living without a decent toilet. Since it formed in 1981, WaterAid has brought clean water to 25 million people. Its website says the group’s ultimate goal is to end the water crisis in the regions it targets by 2030. 

To do this, they dig wells and install the appropriate infrastructure while working with and educating local residents on how to maintain and expand the systems. “Once they enact these structures and leave, it can be a self-sustaining thing,” Ms. Bertschi said, noting that sustainability was a key factor in her decision to partner with WaterAid.

The trek itself will take six days, during which hikers will experience five distinct climate zones, ranging from rainforest at the base to Arctic conditions at the summit.

 “I’ve never done anything this intense before. I’m a little nervous,” Ms. Bertschi said, hoping that her dedication to training and hours on the Stairmaster will pay off. Though scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, is no easy feat, it’s more attainable than you might think. “It’s not like Everest, where you need technical climbing skills,” she said.

To participate, each team member must raise $6,000 by April 3, with half paying for their trip and half going to WaterAid. In all, the 15-member team hopes to raise $90,000 for the cause. 

Ms. Bertschi is well on her way toward the goal, with nearly $4,000 raised so far. Apart from fundraising as a group with cash calendars, open bar and music events near campus, she is also fundraising independently through WaterAid and will host a fundraiser at The Greenporter Hotel, where she works.

Called Wine for WaterAid, her event will be held Saturday, March 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets, which cost $30, include a two-hour open bar and house appetizers — and 100 percent of the proceeds will support the project.

She is also running a Guess My Steps challenge. For $5 per guess, participants can Venmo Ms. Bertschi (@Mary-Bertschi) with their estimate of how many steps it will take her to reach the summit of the mountain. The winner will receive handpicked souvenirs from Tanzania and Zanzibar, she said.

Ms. Bertschi, who is double majoring in marine vertebrate biology and ecosystems and human impact, said this program, run by Choose a Challenge, is ideal for students because it combines a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity with fundraising for a charity. “As college students, we all feel the struggle of not being able to travel,” she said.

After she graduates in December, she hopes to use her degrees to work on water sustainability with the Peace Corps.

“I’ve already started filling out my application,” she said.

For more information or to donate, visit us.wateraid.org/fundraiser/1639697.

For tickets to the Wine for WaterAid fundraiser, call The Greenporter at 631-477-0066.

tsmith@timesreview.com 

Photo caption: Mary Bertschi, a 2015 Southold High School graduate, plans to end her senior year at SUNY/Stony Brook by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for WaterAid, a charity that brings clean water to communities in over 30 countries. (Courtesy photo)

The post Southold native to trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for clean water appeared first on Suffolk Times.

The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, is brought to you by San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, award-winning care, when and where you need it most.

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, March 8:

NEWS

Farmhouse on Main Road in Aquebogue demolished

Supervisor Russell delivers 2019 State of the Town

No reprieve for Chicken Kidz after missed application deadline

Times Review Talks: Addressing affordable housing on the North Fork

NORTHFORKER

Northforker Weekend: What’s happening the week of March 8

SPORTS

Boys Basketball: For Porters, it’s all or nothing

WEATHER

Expect partly sunny skies today with a high near 36, according to the National Weather Service. It will be mostly cloudy tonight with a low around 26.

Rain is in the forecast for Saturday night into Sunday when temperatures creep back into the 40s.

The post Daily Update: 19th century farmhouse demolished, state of town delivered, event denied appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Frank F. Licari of Southold died Thursday, March 7. He was 102.

Visitors will be received Sunday, March 10, from 3 to 6 p.m., at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 11, at 10 a.m., at St. Patrick’s R. C. Church in Southold, officiated by Father John Barrett.

Interment with U.S. Naval honors will follow at St. John R. C. Cemetery in Middle Village, N.Y.

The post Frank F. Licari appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Over two decades, Rodney Shelby has become a familiar face around the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District. Regardless of temperature or season, he can be spotted painting and prepping athletic fields, shoveling snow, trimming hedges — always with a smile on his face and an easygoing demeanor.

Keeping the school’s grounds in tip-top shape? That’s just part of his job, he assured during a recent interview at Mattituck High School.

But after work, he heads to Greenport, where he volunteers as an assistant varsity basketball coach. And seven months out of the year, he volunteers his time coaching the Boulevard Boyz, an Amateur Athletic Union youth basketball program that has swept up three consecutive national titles. 

“He’s donated hours and hours and hours of his time not just to one town, but all of the North Fork,” said Ev Corwin, who coaches varsity basketball in Greenport.

“[Rodney] teaches them commitment, sportsmanship. The kids look up to him, they respect him,” said Robert Bopp, a Southold Town police officer and friend of Rodney’s.

For his dedication to Mattituck schools and basketball on the North Fork, Rodney Shelby is The Suffolk Times’ Public Servant of the Year for 2018.

In October, Mr. Shelby began his 20th year working for the district. “I didn’t know if I really wanted to do custodial work, but when I came, it was a good place to work. I got along with everybody, so it made it easier for me to work and stick with it,” he said. “It seems like just yesterday I started. Twenty years went by real quick.”

Colleagues see Mr. Shelby as someone who not only does the job well, but is fun to be around for 40 hours every week. “He’s joyful, he’s fun to be around, he’s charismatic. Rod definitely goes the extra mile,” said Greggory Wormuth, director of health, physical education and athletics and supervisor of security and grounds at Mattituck-Cutchogue schools.

Mr. Shelby’s favorite part of the job is interacting with students, whether he’s just saying hello or chatting about the latest game. “I wouldn’t say that Rod just comes here and does the job of groundsman,” Mr. Wormuth said. “He’s engaged in the school and has an interest in the kids, and the school at large.”

Even students have noticed Mr. Shelby’s dedication. In 2010, the class dedicated the yearbook to him — an honor usually reserved for faculty and administrators. “It was a shock. It was a nice surprise,” Mr. Shelby said.

“I believe he is the only person from buildings and grounds that was ever nominated for that,” said school maintenance and crew leader Thomas Kelly. Though new to the district, both he and Superintendent Jill Gierasch have seen in a short amount of time how Mr. Shelby goes the extra mile.

On a cold, windy December day, Ms. Gierasch observed Mr. Shelby at work at the Cutchogue West administrative offices. “He could have rushed, but saw the cleanup through until every leaf was picked up” and ready for new plantings in the spring, Ms. Gierasch said. “It makes me proud that we have someone so dedicated as part of our facilities team.”

Under Mr. Shelby’s leadership, the Boulevard Boyz have helped transform small-town ball. 

He started the team over a decade ago, drawing players from across the North Fork and beyond.

“To have kids from different backgrounds come together on the same team — it’s a good thing,” Mr. Shelby said. “Parents that would never interact with each other, because of basketball and traveling. You’ve got to be responsible for all the kids; it’s not just your kid that you have to worry about. It brings everybody together.”

As a coach, Mr. Shelby instills sportsmanship, competition, work ethic and commitment in each of his players. “It’s so much more than just being there to coach,” Mr. Corwin said. “He’s been a mentor to kids that really need one.”

“It turned our program into something bigger,” Mr. Corwin said of giving kids the opportunity to play in the offseason. “I lean on him a lot, I trust his judgment” as an assistant coach.

Mr. Corwin first met Mr. Shelby, 50, while they were students at Greenport High School. Mr. Shelby played point guard and was close to “legendary” coach Richard “Dude” Manwaring, he recalled.

“He always had a coaching mind, even when he played,” he said, adding that Mr. Shelby is a “calming influence” during high-stress games.

As a police officer, Mr. Bopp said his job requires him to be attentive to and observant of the people around him. “Youth have the utmost respect for Rodney. He obviously leaves a deep impact on their lives,” he said.

Mr. Shelby isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, and is already looking ahead to the next season for the Boulevard Boyz. 

“Hopefully, God willing, I’m gonna keep on coaching. I love coaching,” he said.

tsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Rodney Shelby serves as an assistant coach for the Greenport boys basketball team. (Joe Werkmeister, file photo)

Previous Winners

2017: William Price
2016: Jim Grathwohl
2015: Jack Martilotta
2014: Ted Webb
2013: Heather Lanza
2012: Ed Romaine
2011: Greenport and Southold Highway Department Crews
2010: Leslie Weisman
2009: Betty Neville
2008: Thomas Crowley
2007: Philip Beltz
2006: Jesse Wilson
2005: Martin Flatley
2004: Mattituck-Cutchogue School Board
2003: Ben Orlowski Jr.
2002: Jack Sherwood
2001: Dave Abatelli
2000: Melissa Spiro
1999: Valerie Scopaz
1998: Jamie Mills
1997: Karen McLaughlin
1996: Lisa Israel
1995: John Costello
1994: Ray Jacobs
1993: Judy Terry
1992: William Pell
1991: Beth Wilson
1990: Antonia Booth
1989: Frank Murphy
1988: Venetia McKeighan
1987: Paul Stoutenburgh

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A construction worker had to be airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital Friday afternoon after seriously cutting his hand on the job, according to Cutchogue Fire Chief Tom Shalvey.

A Suffolk Police medevac helicopter landed near fire department headquarters in Cutchogue where the man was then loaded onto the helicopter.

The incident took place just after noon, Chief Shalvey said.

First responders were called for a report of a “traumatic injury” on Schoolhouse Road near Griffing Street in Cutchogue.

Additional details were not immediately available.

Photo caption: The Suffolk Police helicopter lands in Cutchogue Friday afternoon. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

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Michael Maroni, the chef of a popular Italian eatery in Northport who was planning to open a second location in Southold, died unexpectedly Friday, according to Suffolk County police. He was 57.

Mr. Maroni suffered an apparent medical event while swimming in an indoor pool at his Northport home, police said. Northport Village police responded to the home at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday and he was transported to Huntington Hospital where he was pronounced dead Friday, police said.

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad is investigating the death, police said.

Mr. Maroni and his wife Maria were planning to open a new location at the former Jeni’s Main Street Grill this spring. Jeni’s had moved earlier this year to the former Six Three One space in Southold.

In an interview with northforker in December, Ms. Maroni said: “We really want to serve the year-round community and we see a need for it here.”

The couple had purchased the Main Road building about five years ago.

“We live out here and this has been a dream of ours to bring what we do to the place that we love,” Ms. Maroni had said. “We are here to serve the community.”

The couple also owns a Southold home and their plan to was transition full-time to the North Fork when the new restaurant opened, Ms. Maroni had said.

They also had purchased a building from the Southold Historical Society at 54127 Main Road that was formally known as the Reichert Family Center. The sale was completed last September. The historical society had owned it since 2011.

Maroni Cuisine in Northport is famous for its Hot Pots and gourmet meatballs. A description on the restaurant’s website says “Michael Maroni is a self taught chef who is passionate, down to earth and spirited. … Maronis is more than a meal: it is an adventure that you will want to partake in again and again.”

The front window of the Northport restaurant describes it as, “Northport’s smallest restaurant.” The couple opened it in 2001.

Mr. Maroni received recognition in 2007 when he appeared on “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” a show that appeared on Food Network. During the episode, Mr. Maroni credits his famous meatballs to his grandmother. In the show, Mr. Flay tries to replicate the meatball recipe to match Mr. Maroni. In the end, Mr. Maroni emerged victorious.

A Newsday review of Maroni Cuisine published in 2016 described the restaurant as “a rabbit hole of a restaurant, unlike any on Long Island.”

WITH CYNDI ZAWESKI

Photo caption: Michael Maroni. (Credit: Instagram)

joew@timesreview.com

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The four candidates for Greenport Village Trustee are scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer forum at the Floyd Memorial Library on Monday, March 11, from 6-8 p.m.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, and is the only candidate forum scheduled thus far.

The incumbent Mayor, George Hubbard Jr., is seeking re-election but will be unopposed.

Monday’s forum will feature the four candidates running for Trustee seats, according to Rena Casey-Wilhelm, the moderator for the event.

Incumbent Trustee Jack Martilotta is seeking re-election to another four-year term, but Doug Roberts, the other incumbent, is not seeking re-election.

The other trustee candidates are Devin McMahon, a former planning board chair; Lily Dougherty-Johnson, who is a volunteer at the Greenport Farmers Market; and Peter Clarke, who owns Clarke’s Gardens in the village.

A fifth candidate, Cynthia Roe, who goes by Cyndy Pease Roe professionally, announced this week that she no longer seeks to run for a Trustee seat. Her name will still remain on the ballot, according to Greenport Village Clerk Sylvia Pirillo.

Ms. Casey-Wilhelm said some questions will come from the public, both on cards and in person, while others will come from a “Greenport Village 2019 Election” Facebook page she created to get more input.

tgannon@timesreview.com

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The editors of our newspaper have issued a correction on a story about affordable housing that ran online Thursday and in page 3 of that day’s paper.

The correction relates to comments made by Councilman Jim Dinizio, whose remarks were misrepresented in our story.

We would like to say we’re sorry to both the councilman and our readers for the errors we made.

We greatly appreciated Mr. Dinzio’s attendance at the event, which we hosted, and are grateful for his willingness to be a participant in the discussion, something we strongly encouraged of all audience members. The inaccuracies in our reporting of his comments are regrettable and so we have corrected them online and will do so again in next week’s print edition. The three paragraphs below have been added to the story to more accurately convey Mr. Dinizio’s remarks:

Southold Town Councilman Jim Dinizio later commented that Southold has preserved more than 5,000 acres of land by purchasing open space and another 3,000 acres through rezoning.

“We have preserved 5,000 acres of our land and we have another 5,000 acres to go and [then] there is no more land to preserve in Southold Town,” Mr. Dinizio said.

The councilman added that only 20 percent of the additional land could be built on.

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Taking a national brand and turning it into a trustworthy, household name known for personal touches and services is no easy task, but Allstate agent Chris Manfredi has done just that.

For his years of dedication to Southold Town, along with his avid involvement in the local schools and community, Mr. Manfredi has received The Suffolk Times’ 2018 Businessperson of the Year award.

“Having been here on the North Fork since 1987, I have come to know many of my customers not only on a business but also a personal level,” he said.

In 2019, Mr. Manfredi will celebrate three decades in business as an insurance agent on the North Fork. Throughout his career in Southold, he’s also taken the time to give back to his community.

Mr. Manfredi is a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Southold. He visits the Southold, Greenport and Mattituck school districts to teach students about saving money on car insurance. He also goes gives texting and driving awareness seminars in local schools, and teaches defensive driving classes.

In addition, he is known for sponsoring local sports team and events.

“You’ll see my name in a lot of places,” he said. “And my pens are very famous, all around town,” he added, laughing.

Mr. Manfredi pioneered Greenport and Southold schools’ involvement in the “Hands-Only CPR” training during physical education class.

“He’s always looking out for the students in the community to ensure their safety when possible,” said the districts’ shared superintendent, David Gamberg. “We’re just very grateful. He’s very community-minded. And it’s not just once; he does it consistently.”

Mr. Manfredi has been teaching CPR in high schools for four years. Providing CPR training to students has led to higher cardiac arrest survival rates, according to the American Heart Association.

“It’s a valuable skill or ability to have at any age,” Mr. Gamberg said. “God forbid, in an emergency situation, whether it’s at home or at school or anywhere, it’s helpful.”

A former high school science teacher, Mr. Manfredi said that experience helps him tremendously in his job today.

“I think that my teaching background helped me to expand my business, in the sense that I really enjoy getting out there and educating the public,” he said. “Especially the children at the high schools, because insurance is something that is intangible. I really teach them to get to know what it is you’re buying and be educated so that they can make the best choices.”

One year, while he was teaching at Buffalo Avenue High School in Patchogue, he met some insurance agents during the summer break. They got to talking, and his life trajectory shifted overnight.

He prides himself on getting to know clients personally.

“Though nowadays we do a lot of business via phones, fax and internet, we still do many of our appointments via good old-fashioned face to face interactions either in home or office,” Mr. Manfredi said.

His job can be challenging, he said, because although he gets to serve his friends, he experiences many bittersweet moments, such as when a customer is injured or passes and he’s able to help the family by delivering an insurance check.

“The most rewarding thing of all my 30 years is that I get to live and work in my community and to help the people that I’m most close to,” he said. 

rsiford@timesreview.com

Photo caption: This year will be Allstate agent Chris Manfredi’s 30th year in the insurance business on the North Fork. (Rachel Siford photo) 

Previous Winners

2017: George Giannaris
2016: Lucy Senesac
2015: Wendy Zuhoski
2014: Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.
2013: Charlie Manwaring
2012: Jill Schroeder
2011: Shelley Scoggin
2010: Peconic Landing
2009: Rocky DiVello
2008: John Romanelli
2007: North Fork Press/Academy Printing
2006: Soundview Restaurant and Inn
2005: Joe Frohnhiefer
2004: Dan Damianos
2003: The Arcade
2002: Kate McDowell
2001: Mattituck Chamber of Commerce
2000: The Harbes Family
1999: Sue Rempe
1998: Bob Scott
1997: Jackie Copas
1996: Richard Mullen
1995: The Claudios
1994: Jeff Strong
1993: The Hargraves
1992: The Rowsoms
1991: Mark Middleton
1990: John Wickham
1989: Ray Terry
1988: Dave LeFreniere
1987: Linda Livni

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Lemus Bran of Greenport was arrested last Monday afternoon for driving with fake identification, police reports said.

Mr. Bran was pulled over at the intersection of First and North streets in Greenport around 2 p.m. for driving without brake lights, reports said. After police requested his identification, the driver presented the officer with a fraudulent permanent resident card containing a false name and date of birth.

Mr. Bran was arrested for criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor, and the faulty brake lights, a traffic violation. He was then transported to headquarters for processing.

• Police are investigating two similar reports of larceny that occurred in Greenport Friday, reports said.

A homeowner on Central Avenue reported that an unknown individual stole $140 from the center console and glove compartment of her tan 2007 Toyota sedan.

Another report came in from a homeowner two blocks away on Sterling Avenue around 8 a.m. He stated that an unknown individual entered his vehicle, stole an unknown amount of change and a pair of brown Wahl overalls.

No surveillance cameras were on either of the properties, and a suspect has not been found. The individual could be charged with petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor.

• A car accident that occurred last Wednesday evening on Route 25 in Southold between a bicyclist and car left both parties unharmed, reports said.

The driver of a 2013 Ford sedan, carrying two passengers, was exiting a driveway waiting to merge onto Route 25 when a male cyclist turned onto the shoulder of the roadway, pedalled onto the sidewalk to avoid a vehicle on the road and then struck the side of the sedan. The cyclist stated he was not injured and no further action was taken by police, reports said.

• Last Wednesday, police received a report of larceny in Greenport, reports said.

Around 10 p.m., a caller reported that $1,920 was removed from a victim’s home at 540 First St. The caller, the owner of the property, said several families live in the residence and at least one tenant regularly has guests over. Both the caller and the victim told police they had no suspects in mind. Police are still investigating the report.

• A Southold business owner on Route 25 reported that an unknown person stole $42,000 of his company’s money from ADP Payroll Services, reports said.

The man called police at 10:57 a.m. last Thursday, when he was still in the process of collecting information. It’s unclear how the individual accessed the account. Police reports said ADP Security has been notified and is investigating the case, as are police.

• Police are investigating an incident of identity theft that was reported last Monday, reports said.

A Greenport man arrived at the Southold Town Police Department to report a theft of $10,600. The man told police $10,600 was transferred from his business bank account without his knowledge. A suspect has not been found and the investigation is ongoing, reports said.

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

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Last week, delegates from the United Methodist Church, one of the largest Protestant denominations in the country, gathered at the General Conference in St. Louis, Mo., and voted against the One Church Plan. The measure would have given individual churches the flexibility to decide how to handle issues of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. 

The church has a book of laws, the Book of Discipline, that works as a moral compass for UMC members and clergy, North Fork United Methodist Church Pastor Tom MacLeod said by e-mail Wednesday. Under current regulations, United Methodist clergy are prohibited from performing same-sex marriage ceremonies and members of the LGBTQ community cannot be ordained as clergyman.

“The current language stipulates that while we commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons … there are prohibitions against any conference that ordains a person who is of the LGBTQIA community and prohibits any clergy from performing a same-sex marriage,” Pastor MacLeod wrote.

Former Southold Methodist Church minister Ben Burns said the decision has yet to be reviewed by the Judicial Council, the highest judicial body of the church, which determines the constitutionality of acts or proposed acts at the General Conference, according to the UMC website. 

Under current standards, Pastor MacLeod said, if a member of the Methodist clergy were to marry two people of the same sex within the church, it could result in a trial and possible suspension. It could also result in defrocking, Mr. Burns added, meaning the officiant would be removed from the position. 

A recent decision made by delegates from the United Methodist Church, one of the largest Protestant church organizations in the country, could impact the diversity at North Fork UMC, which includes congregants from Southold, Cutchogue, Orient and Greenport. (Kate Nalespinski photo)

Some North Fork clergy have deemed the decision the first step in a complex conversation about sexuality and the church’s guiding rules. 

“It’s really not a done deal, and it may not be for some years,” Mr. Burns said. 

The Rev. Enrique LeBron of Riverhead United Methodist Church, who has been a pastor for 34 years, said because the decision was discussed and voted upon only recently, it’s unclear how individual churches will proceed.

“We cannot work independently from the United Methodist,” he said. “We’re going through this process together. We’re only beginning to receive information now, and we’re educating ourselves.” 

In coming months, the Rev. LeBron said Methodist clergy ministers will meet with the bishops and delegates who made the decision at the conference. He said the Riverhead church cannot make a statement regarding the decision until then.

Pastor MacLeod, who has been a UMC minister for 16 years, said he’s never married a homosexual couple or been asked to do so. 

“As a personal rule over the past five years I will only consider performing a wedding for those who belong to the church,” he wrote.

Looking ahead, Mr. Burns said, some local Methodist churches may want to separate from the denomination if the decision is finalized. But the financial repercussions of such a separation would be significant, he added.

“The national churches are dependent on the local churches for contributions,” he explained. “There are financial ties … the buildings, the resources, all belong to the Methodist church. The Catholic churches work the same way. The local church contributes to the diocese.” 

In June 2014, church officials closed Southold United Methodist Church and put it up for sale, citing declining membership and ever-increasing maintenance costs. More recently, Methodist churches in Greenport and Orient were also closed were also dissolved. In the years since, the three formerly independent congregations  have been worshiping together in Cut-chogue under the name North Fork United Methodist Church. 

Pastor MacLeod said he is concerned about the future of North Fork UMC if the plan that emerged from the General Conference proceeds.

“We don’t want to be perceived as judgmental and unwelcoming,” he wrote.

One of the benchmarks of the denomination is diversity, he said. He fears the decision may remove the diversity of people in the church.

“If any plan is passed, there is a danger that we will lose some of that diversity,” he wrote. 

Kenneth Carter Jr., president of UMC’s national Council of Bishops, asked pastors to read a letter he wrote regarding the issue during Sunday services on March 3.

“I pray in this moment for mature spiritual leadership among the clergy and laity of our global church,” he wrote. “I pray that we will move toward the pain and grief, and especially among our members in the LGBTQ community.”

UMC serves the community without discrimination, the Rev. LeBron said, and it will continue to do so regardless of the decision. 

“The Methodist church is for everybody in the community — we don’t make exceptions,” he said. “We’ve always been this way and we don’t exclude. We just invite everybody to come closer to God.”

knalepinski@timesreview.com

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As America continues to struggle with the opioid epidemic, Suffolk County has taken a major step forward in trying to cope with the crisis more effectively — and closer to home.

On Monday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Hauppauge for the opening of a unique crisis center for individuals and their families struggling with opioid and mental health issues.

The Diagnostic Assessment Stabilization Hub, or DASH, is operated by the Family Service League of Suffolk County and will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The $4 million, 7,000-square-foot facility was paid for with local, state and federal funds and its staff will also work with police and other first responders who encounter addiction and mental health issues that require immediate attention.

In a statement, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “This first-of-its-kind hub serves as a model for how to ensure families are afforded the mental health and substance abuse services they need to get well.”

Ann Marie Csorny, director of the Division of Community Mental Hygiene in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, said DASH has the ability to respond with mobile units that can be quickly dispatched to, say, a school or a home.

“Family members or police would not have to diagnose someone but can get help” through the 24-hour hotline, she said, adding that the mobile response units will be able to travel anywhere in the county where assistance is needed. “We will have teams on throughout the day, and we can work with the county police department, the sheriff’s, and we can be available to town and village police.

“This is definitely an expansion of our efforts and is much more coordinated,” Ms. Csorny added. “Some people will still need to get to an ER, but others can get assistance through the center and a clinician can come out to engage that person.”

Inside the center, at the industrial park on Adams Avenue, is a separate family room, which will offer services for individuals and their families. There is an observation area, and a living room as well. “I think there is one like this in Dutchess County, and maybe a few others upstate, but this is the first one in our area,” Ms. Csorny said.

In recent weeks, the Bellone administration has announced a training program for first responders who may be affected by repeated exposure to drug crises — a reaction often referred to as “compassion fatigue.” On the North Fork, police and others have sometimes responded to an overdose, only to discover they have treated the same person multiple times before.

In the Suffolk police department, a group of 30 officers recently took part in a training program to help officers who encounter individuals suffering from mental illness. “The skills that are developed will better assist those dealing with a mental health emergency and enhance public safety,” Mr. Bellone said.

The new DASH center in Hauppauge is a huge boost in the region’s ongoing effort to deal with the opioid crisis.

Photo caption: Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone cuts the ribbon on the new center. (Credit: Family Service League)

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What better way to celebrate going to high school boys basketball’s big dance than by, well, dancing?

Much like his team, Ev Corwin was feeling it. After raising the Southeast Region Class C championship plaque above his head, the Greenport coach, surrounded by a circle of his players, broke out into an impromptu dance. Call it a dance for joy.

“That’s funny,” Greenport guard Ahkee Anderson told reporters. “He’s pumped up.”

For good reason, too. After battling Tuckahoe through the first half, Greenport’s quality shined through. The Porters turned it on, gained separation and claimed their fifth regional championship Saturday, and with it, an invitation to the state semifinals.

Greenport’s Big Three lived up to their shared nickname. They came up big in a big game.

Ahkee Anderson and brothers Jaxan and Jude Swann accounted for 72 points as Greenport rolled, 91-77, at Centereach High School.

“They showed up to the party tonight ready to dance,” said Corwin.

With the victory, the Porters earned a shot at redemption — a return trip to Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, where they lost in the state semifinals last year to Lake George. Greenport will play Cooperstown or Unadilla Valley March 16.

“We’re going upstate,” said Anderson.

Advancing past this stage is no small relief.

“If we lose today, it’s a disaster for us,” Corwin said. “Every person will tell you that. It’s such a big load off our mind. Now we’re back in the final four.”

Playing its first game in 21 days, Greenport (21-2) didn’t show signs of rust, but the Porters found themselves in a first-half fight with determined Tuckahoe (17-7). The Tigers led for a good deal of the opening half before Greenport went on a 16-3 run (Zach Riggins netted six of his 12 points during the spurt) for a 54-41 lead. “Zach Riggins gave us a big shot in the arm today,” said Corwin.

It was a lead the Porters never relinquished. They stretched their advantage to as many as 18 points late in the fourth quarter.

“The score kept running up,” said Jaxan Swann, who had 27 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, six steals and two turnovers.

As a team, Greenport shot 59.3 percent from the field. “The more good shots we get, the more confident we are,” said Jude Swann.

Anderson was on his game, hitting for 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting (4 of 7 from three-point distance). The junior also had seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

Jude Swann put together 17 points and eight rebounds.

“Everyone just came out today prepared and ready to go,” Anderson said. “Everyone had the hot hand tonight. Everyone was making their shots. It worked in our favor.”

The Big Three are the givens, though.

“I expect those three to have those games,” Corwin said. “They come out there and they’re guns ablazing. They’re just a special group. They really help the other guys.

“Ev [Corwin Jr., the coach’s son] has one of the best mentors” in Anderson. “He’s got a mentor like Ahkee, who’s on his butt during the game. You can’t buy that. Julian [works with] Zach and Reese [Costello], helps them out.”

Malik Moore turned in a tremendous game for Tuckahoe, totaling 32 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Ivan Hernandez added 16 points.

A Jaxan Swann three-point shot from the right corner appeared to be the final dagger, making the score 77-61. Tuckahoe cut the deficit to 10 points when a pair of Moore free throws made it 86-76, but there were only 37.5 seconds left. Moore had been sent to the line on Jude Swann’s fifth personal foul, sending him to the bench. Tuckahoe’s Mekhi Clark and Roger Burwell also fouled out in the final minute.

Tuckahoe has something Greenport doesn’t: two state championships. The Porters don’t have one. That’s something they want to rectify next weekend in Binghamton.

“We’re trying to make history in Greenport, the first team to ever win a state championship,” Jaxan Swann said. “We have no state championships in Greenport for any sport. I feel like this is the time when we can do it.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Greenport players celebrate after winning their fifth regional championship, and with it a return to the New York State Class C semifinals. (Credit: Daniel De Mato)

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An approved federal spending bill will give $14 million to the Environmental Protection Agency, intended to help protect Long Island Sound, officials said.

The money will go to EPA’s Long Island Sound Study, a group of federal and state agencies, user groups, organizations and individuals who work to advance the efforts to restore the Sound, officials said. LISS was founded in 1985.

The bill, announced by United States Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand Thursday, is the highest level of funding the LI Sound program has received in 26 years. The $14 million is an increase of $2 million in funding compared to last year.

“The Long Island Sound is a natural treasure and an economic engine for the whole region that draws families, boaters, tourists and anglers to our shores,” Mr. Schumer said in a press release Thursday. “[This] will allow us to keep a focus on restoring and protecting the beaches and waters in and around the Sound.”

Ms. Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environmental Public Works Committee, said she’s pleased with the passing of the bill.

“This investment will … help ensure that Long Island residents and tourists can enjoy this natural resource for generations to come,” she said in a press release.

Over 23 million people live within 50 miles of the Sound and it’s home to more than 120 species of fish, officials said.

The Long Island Sound Study aims to restore the Sound by addressing low oxygen and nitrogen levels in the water, which have depleted the fish and shellfish population and damaged shoreline wetlands.

According to the Long Island Sound Study, the annual economic value of the Sound is approximately $8.9 billion.

In 1990, the Long Island Sound Improvement Act passed providing federal dollars to advance Sound cleanup projects, including wastewater treatment improvements.

Sixteen years later, Congress passed the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act which provided federal dollars for projects to restore the coastal habitat to help revitalize the wildlife population and coastal wetlands and plant life.

knalepinski@timesreview.com

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Early Sunday morning I texted a map showing projected snow totals across Long Island to my colleague Bob Liepa, our paper’s sports editor.

“Has there ever been a year where it didn’t snow right as spring sports starts?” I asked.

He responded: “I can’t remember one.”

It seems as if every year, just as the annual tradition of St. Patrick’s Day parades begins and the end of winter appears tantalizingly close, a snowstorm brings a dose of reality. Winter rarely goes quietly.

You could imagine my surprise Monday morning when I awoke to find the streets still visible. Weather reports the previous night warned of as much as seven inches of snow. A mix of rain overnight helped limit the accumulations, leaving behind slushy sidewalks, but otherwise fine driving conditions. Local schools began the day on a two-hour delay and by Tuesday morning the grass began to emerge again.

Who’s ready for baseball?

I miss the days of rooting for heavy snow to fall overnight. As a kid, there was no greater sight than peeking out the window early in the morning, seeing the ground covered in white and then crawling back into bed to enjoy a snow day.

The realities of adulthood are less fun, especially in the news business where snowstorm equals story.

So now I’ve come to root against snow. And this winter has proved to be cooperative — so far.

As we approach mid-March, Mother Nature has spared us any major snowstorms. So thank you to all the people who bought snowblowers in advance of this winter season. The reverse jinx has worked beautifully. Maybe next year you’ll get to put it to use.

If it seems like it’s been several years since we had this little snow, you’d be right. In four of the past six winters, our area has seen more than 50 inches of snow, boosted in large part by at least one blizzard. In fact, 2011-12 was the last time we saw less snow locally. Remarkably, only 5 1/2 inches of snow fell then, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Over the last 10 years, the average snow total has been 48 1/2 inches. 

This year? We’re currently at just over 15, nearly half of which fell Saturday through Monday in two separate storms. The most disruptive snow of the season came in November when, much to everyone’s surprise, about 4 1/2 inches fell in the afternoon hours. It was an eventful drive home for me that night, navigating dark, snow-covered roads and wondering why I had no idea so much snow would fall so quickly. 

Who would have thought the snow total that night would equal what we would see over the next three months combined.

For most of us, snow simply represents a nuisance (back-breaking shoveling) or leisure (skiing). But on a global scale, it actually represents much more.

According to a post on NASA’s Earth Observatory website, snow plays an important role in regulating climate. The reflective white that covers so many square miles reflects sunlight back into space, which in turn helps cool the planet. Many areas also rely on snowmelt for drinking water and water for crops, according to NASA.

Global warming has altered the landscape of snow totals throughout the world. Reports have suggested that some cities that have hosted the Winter Olympics in the past may soon be too warm to ever host again. Artificial snowmaking can only do so much for all the events that require the white stuff.

The skiing industry as a whole is threatened. A New York Times report last month on the endangered industry said “only about half of the 103 ski resorts in the Northeast will be able to maintain an economically viable ski season by midcentury.” The opinion story written by the author of “Deep: The Story of Skiing and the Future of Snow” questioned why those in the skiing industry aren’t pushing harder for climate change initiatives.

“So now the question is whether the ski and winter sport industry will back up its talk with action,” the author, Porter Fox, wrote.

I’ve never gone skiing or snowboarding before, as fun as it looks. I should find some time soon to give it a try before the closest location is somewhere in Canada. 

Photo caption: About 3 inches of snow fell last Saturday morning across the North Fork. Spring, though, is around the corner and soon kids will be back on the courts in South Jamesport. (Joe Werkmeister photo)

The author is the editor of the Riverhead News-Review and The Suffolk Times. He can be reached at 631-354-8049 or joe@timesreview.com

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