A public hearing has been set for Tuesday, Sept. 24, on an amendment that would give volunteer firefighters priority status on the town’s affordable housing registry.
Volunteers in emergency medical or ambulance service positions would also be eligible for priority. The proposal was first discussed at a work session in May, when Supervisor Scott Russell said he wants to see local volunteer firefighters get priority on the town’s affordable housing registry. He estimated at that time that there were approximately 150 people on the registry, noting an uptick in applications since the 50-unit Vineyard View project in Greenport was introduced.
An East End DWI Task Force operation in Southold Town Saturday night into Sunday on Labor Day weekend resulted in five arrests, according to Southold Town police.
Those arrested were:
Casey Luther, 35, of Moriches was charged with DWI and operating a motor vehicle for operating with .08% or more blood alcohol content.
Kit Lepre, 25, of Cutchogue was charged with DWI.
Jessica Jackson, 28, of Greenport Villa was charged with DWI and operating a motor vehicle with .08% or more blood alcohol content.
Alex Arce, 29, of Port Jefferson was charged with aggravated DWI.
Angel Perez, 32, of Greenport was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol and operating without a license.
The DWI Task Force involved members of the Southold, Riverhead, Suffolk County and New York State police departments.
Maureen Anne McCarthy of Southold, N.Y., and San Francisco, Cal., passed away unexpectedly in Mexico Aug. 26.
She was born to Mona Rose and Robert J. McCarthy July 16, 1949.
Maureen was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Daniel T. McCarthy. She is survived by Sheila McCarthy-Edson of California, Mona McCarthy-Klucinec of Florida, Joe McCarthy of Southold, Bob McCarthy of New Jersey, Pat McCarthy of Australia, Tom McCarthy of Southold; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitors will be received Monday, Sept. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Defriest-Gratten funeral home in Mattituck. A service will take place Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. at the funeral home
These words have been written countless times to Nick Coutts and Keri Stromski — two strangers facing separate battles in life.
They do share some commonalities: an unwavering positive outlook and small army of supporters cheering them on.
In September, they will both benefit from an annual community yard sale hosted by local nonprofit Kait’s Angels, which was founded to honor the late Kaitlyn Doorhy of Mattituck.
Kaitlyn’s mantra was “God gave you two hands; one to do for yourself and one to do for others,” her mother, Darla Doorhy, explained.
“Our board, we always keep our eyes open for someone deserving,” she said.
In June, Nick, 25, suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, following a motorcycle crash in Wading River.
“He’s a local kid, he’s a well-known kid,” Ms. Doorhy said. “He’s doing well, but he’s got a long road ahead of him.”
After the accident, friends and family created a Facebook page entitled “Coutts’ Corner” to share prayers and well wishes and his mother, Tess Bannon, shared updates on Nick’s progress.
In the weeks since Nick’s accident, the community has rallied to show support and raise funds for medical bills, selling bracelets and decals and hosting a poker run event that drew over 200 motorcyclists.
“Nick considered Kait to be his angel, along with his grandmother,” who passed away in March, Ms. Bannon said.
The two had been classmates at Mattituck High School, both members of the Class of 2012.
His mother said Nick’s helmet saved his life, along with the quick response from first responders.
Earlier this month, he was able to meet with the EMS crew from the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps to say thank you. He’s now hoping to spread awareness to drivers to use caution with the slogan: “Give riders the right of way! It may save a life today!”
Ms. Bannon said she never imagined or expected the support they have received over the last three months.
“The outpouring of community support is overwhelming, though not surprising,” Ms. Bannon said. “We all come together when a family is down.”
Proceeds from the yard sale will also be donated to Keri Stromski, a kindergarten teacher at Aquebogue Elementary School who has been battling Stage 4 breast cancer for nearly three years.
She got to know Ms. Doorhy, who works in her dentist’s office, several years ago and the two became friends.
By December 2016, Ms. Stromski learned her prognosis was Stage 4.
“It was just a whirlwind,” she recalled. But Kait’s Angels quickly stepped in to help, delivering gifts and a meal to the family around the holidays.
“It was a beautiful, magical moment in the middle of a really hard time in our life,” Ms. Stromski said.
The 46-year-old mother of three has continued to teach while undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy — and publicly shares her journey on her Facebook page and personal blog.
She credits her oncologist, Dr. Alison Stopeck, who encourages her to pursue innovative treatment methods, as well as two herbalists, for helping her keep up the fight.
Soon after her diagnosis, Ms. Stromski changed her diet and began taking herbs and supplements, which can cost up to $2,000 per month, but keep her immune system healthy.
“My kids’ college tuition has gone to saving my life,” she said, noting that funds from the yard sale will likely be put toward those medical costs.
Ms. Doorhy said she’s inspired by Ms. Stromski’s positivity.
“She just has such a big heart,” Ms. Doorhy said. “She doesn’t let [cancer] define her.”
And Ms. Stromski is equally moved by the Doorhy family.
“It’s beautiful how they’ve been able to take their tragedy and show people: This is how you keep going,” she said.
During the annual community yard sale, the Doorhy family’s front lawn is transformed into a treasure trove of items donated and purchased by community members.
Since its inception in 2015, it has raised thousands of dollars for neighbors including Ben Pileski, William Esposito, Johanna Benthal, Morgan West, Dylan Newman and Matthew Rolle.
Ms. Doorhy said it has become one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers, something that everyone can get involved with.
“A lot of people don’t have a lot of money to spend on a fundraiser, tickets for a family of four,” she said. “I thought the yard sale was something we could do to bring the whole community together.”
This year’s yard sale is slated for Saturday, Sept. 14, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a $20 “all you can carry” special starting at noon, Ms. Doorhy said.
Anyone wishing to donate items can drop them off at the Doorhy house, 1125 Ole Jule Lane in Mattituck, on Friday, Sept. 13, between 4 and 6 p.m.
No large furniture can be accepted, Ms. Doorhy said.
Volunteers for the yard sale are also needed and Ms. Doorhy encourages high school students interested in community service hours to contact Kait’s Angels through their website.
As they family remember Kaitlyn on the fifth anniversary of her death, her mother said it’s been tough for the family, but her faith — and the organization — keep her going.
“It’s been a long haul,” Ms. Doorhy said. “But we’re keeping her memory alive.”
A proposed resolution that would strike a requirement that accessory apartments in private one-family dwellings be located only in primary residences generated mixed reaction at a public hearing Tuesday night.
The amendment would instead require that one of the units be reserved for “exclusive” use by the property owner — even if it is not their primary residence. Requirements for square footage and bathrooms would also be slightly altered under the proposal. Accessory apartments, currently allowed only in one-family dwellings with at least 1,600 square feet of livable space, would be permitted in houses with as little at 1,200 square feet. The accessory apartment itself, according to the proposal, must be at least 350 square feet but no larger than 750 square feet and may have only one bathroom.
Some residents took issue with the latter requirement.
Southold attorney Pat Moore, speaking on her own behalf, generally expressed support for the updated legislation, but did recommend some changes.
“The insistence on one bathroom, that never made any sense to me,” she said. “I had a client [who] had a handicapped spouse. The reality was that every time his wife would go to the bathroom as a handicapped individual, it takes a while; we want to give that person privacy.”
She argued that when the same client requested a second bathroom from the Zoning Board of Appeals, his request was denied due to town code limitations. She recommended allowing a half-bath, with just a toilet and a sink, in addition to a full bath.
Greg Doroski of Mattituck, the Democratic candidate for supervisor, questioned why the Town Board hadn’t gone to the code committee before drafting the amended legislation, arguing that town civic associations and committees tasked with specific roles such as oversight should continue to be a fundamental part of the process.
Anne Murray of the East Marion Community Association also supported the change but worried about short-term rentals.
“I think you leave loopholes here when you’re taking out ‘as the owner’s principal residence’ … It does leave a loophole for [speculators] to buy multiple homes, make them accessory apartments and rent them on Airbnb. How would you know?”
Supervisor Scott Russell said, “There’s no reason to think that requiring a principal residence would stop … Airbnb. In fact, I can think of several that have been doing that for some time.”
Reading a statement that echoed his op-ed published in the Aug. 22 Suffolk Times, Democratic Town Board candidate Bob Hanlon of Orient said he agreed that Southold needs more housing opportunities, but that the changes proposed in the current resolution are not the answer and may cause more harm than good.
“One problem is speculation,” he said Tuesday night. “An increasing number of house purchases are by people who are not interested in living here, even part time. They buy up multiple properties for high-rent, seasonal use, and for short-term rental, even though it is not allowed.”
He, like Mr. Doroski and Ms. Murray, also took issue with the Town Board’s process in proposing the changes.
“The new code was raised for the first time two weeks ago,” Mr. Hanlon said . “It was never … referred for input from the Zoning Board of Appeals, the housing advisory committee, the economic development committee, or any of the civic or community groups that have a high stake in the shape of our housing.”
The Housing Advisory Commission, did, however, provide the board with written recommendations Tuesday, generally supporting the amendment.
Mr. Russell responded to many of the comments made at the public hearing, saying there is no evidence speculation will occur. He said it’s unlikely someone would spend upwards of $700,000 for a home now simply because of the change to accessory apartments. He said he agreed with Mr. Hanlon that locals aren’t buying the homes in many instances.
“That’s the problem,” he said. “At least if they want an accessory apartment, even if they don’t live here year round and they build an accessory apartment, it has to be to a principled primary resident, giving that family at least an option of possibly staying and not moving.”
He also said that the board has been gathering input for years and taking it all into account.
“Every single week we have people that are struggling,” he said. “How much more input do I need after getting that input day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year? I sat in at almost every single meeting of the housing chapter, so I’m familiar with the challenges. I’ve worked with the groups that try to create affordable housing and other types of housing … We have been getting input all of the time. I have been wrestling with this all of the time, but we need the housing.”
The affordable housing crisis, Mr. Russell said, is now.
“Not six months from now, not one year from now. Now.”
The public hearing was held open for two weeks for written comment.
A front-page article in last week’s Suffolk Times described a petition that spreads misinformation and insinuations about the recent listing of the East Marion Main Road Historic District on the State and National Registers of Historic Places and about the East Marion Community Association.
Let me correct the record.
First, it appears that only a handful of the anti-EMCA petitioners cited in the Suffolk Times article own property in the historic district. The others appear to live outside the district, and in many cases, outside East Marion. Second, only a few attended any of the information meetings or engaged in a conversation with EMCA. Instead, after-the-fact, they chose to challenge the integrity of EMCA with accusations and false information. This is unfortunate.
The idea for an historic district originated within the community. Since its founding in 2007, EMCA has sponsored numerous meetings on East Marion history. In a community survey circulated in October 2016 as part of Southold’s comprehensive planning process, 89% of respondents from East Marion ranked historic significance of the community as very important, and 95% ranked historic preservation as critical, very important, or important to East Marion’s future. In February 2017, EMCA created a committee to research the issue, prepare a feasibility study and report the results.
The focus of an historic district is on identifying and honoring significant American architecture that tells the American story. Being listed on the National Register benefits everyone because it provides recognition of our local heritage and assistance in preserving it. This includes a measure of protection from the effects of state or federally projects, such as a road widening, that would threaten our historic architecture as well as our entire community. In addition, it can provide tax credits to help owners maintain their historic properties. The process for applying for a National Historic District is dictated by the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Park Service. Applications in each of the 50 states are processed through the State Historic Preservation Office or SHPO. A representative from New York’s SHPO guided us through the process.
East Marion’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places is honorary and imposes no restrictions on property owners. Owners are free to do whatever they wish with their property. In April 2018, after reviewing the study, the EMCA board voted to pursue the district under the guidance of the SHPO and community outreach began. We scheduled living room visits with about two-thirds of the private property owners in the proposed district. A total of five separate mailings were sent to the legal address of each property owner, and three community meetings were held to inform property owners, answer questions, and hear input into the historic district process. This went far beyond the one mailing and one meeting required by SHPO.
The East Marion Main Road Historic District encompasses about 115 property owners in East Marion. The district runs from Gillette Drive to Dam Pond and takes in five properties on Bay Avenue. We were required to follow federal and state rules in order to establish an historic district. Owners of private properties proposed for listing in the National Register were given the opportunity to concur or object to the listing. Federal and state regulations required a notarized statement from an objecting property owner. Non-responses were counted as a “yes.” It was the property owners who decide whether to establish an historic district. If a majority of property owners oppose the historic district, the project does not go forward. Approximately 80 property owners attended one or more of three information meetings or participated in individual meetings with EMCA members.
Most historic district nominations are prepared by consultants, but EMCA did not have the funds to go that route. All the research and writing was done by volunteers and took about two and a half years to complete. As a result of this project East Marion now has its first-ever documented history and a catalog of its architectural treasures.
An East Marion Main Road Historic District is a win-win for everyone who loves East Marion. We are proud to be listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Ms. Bramson chaired the EMCA Historic District Committee. Her family has lived on the same property in East Marion for six generations.
Tall, lean and not mean (but a true competitor, nonetheless), Chris Nicholson looks the part of a central defender. What’s also part of the package — though not as obvious until one sees him in action on the soccer field — is his speed. He can sure run.
Fast!
That point was underlined by Mattituck coach Will Hayes following the team’s first practice Monday morning. Hayes referenced a non-league game last year against Wheatley when Nicholson tangled, and hung, with All-State player Nick Tagios, a genuine speedster.
“[Tagios] was one of the fastest players I’ve ever seen him play,” Hayes said. “Him and Chris [were] neck and neck, chasing balls behind our back line in that game. And the kid [Tagios] after the game, he was like, ‘You’re really fast. Nobody usually catches me.’ But he has that kind of elite speed and elite size that you look for in a center back.”
And Nicholson has something else: a burning desire for a championship.
Ever since being pulled onto the varsity team for the playoffs as a freshman, Nicholson has never played for a championship Tuckers soccer team. That’s something the All-League senior would like to see change.
Nicholson returns as one of the team’s captains along with senior forward Jack Burkhardt (16 goals, 15 assists last season), but what makes this season different is it’s his senior year and his last go-around with the Tuckers. Being a senior brings a pressure, an urgency, of its own.
“There’s definitely a lot more pressure,” he said. “I feel like it’s my last shot. I don’t have much more time, so I want to make the best [of] it.”
With the graduation of Bryce Grathwohl, who made 56 starts over four years, Nicholson is Mattituck’s undisputed defensive leader. “He has gotten more reps in the back line than anybody we have,” said Hayes.
Other center backs in the mix are Bryan Soto and Oswald Cuellar, who will also see time in center midfield. On the outside are left back Luke Couch and right back Billy Hickox. Danny Puluc, who played left back for the junior varsity team last year, is also in the picture.
But Nicholson is the foundation of the defense.
“He’s going to be our rock in the center of defense and we’ve got some great players around him,” said Hayes. He added: “You can’t talk about Chris Nicholson without [talking about] his supreme athleticism. He would be a top cross-country runner if he wasn’t a top soccer player. Yeah, he could do anything. He’s a freakishly good athlete.”
Nicholson looked in great shape on the first day of practice, not that that’s a surprise. He has a reputation for being committed to his training regimen.
“He’s definitely more motivated and that sense of urgency kicks in when you’re a senior, but in terms of actual talent on the field, he’s playing with the most talented group of players that he’s played with in four years, so in theory he should have to do less, which for Chris is extremely difficult,” Hayes said. “When you tell Chris, ‘You know, we have a couple of weeks off. You should probably think about just like laying on the beach.’ That’s not going to happen. He goes on vacation in New Hampshire and runs up and down hills. He can’t stop.”
That might have worked to Nicholson’s detriment when he picked up an injury that cost him half his sophomore season. “That was just through overplaying,” said Hayes.
Asked if anything is noticeably different from last year, when Mattituck went 10-7 and lost to rival Center Moriches in a Suffolk County Class B semifinal, Nicholson answered: “Honestly, the hard work. Everyone’s working hard, so far, at least. We have a lot of competition for a bunch of positions everywhere. We have a pretty old team this year, lots of seniors, and it should be good.”
Hayes said Nicholson’s touch was on the mark during six-a-side play Monday morning. “His ballplaying ability has come so far from when he was a freshman,” the coach said. “He’s been working a lot on that over the summer in summer league.”
But the thing Nicholson says he enjoys most about soccer is tracking down speedy forwards. He can do that. Just ask Tagios.
Photo caption: Chris Nicholson participating in sprinting drills during Monday morning’s practice. (Credit: Bob Liepa)
The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, brought to you by San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, award-winning care when and where you need it most.
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Here are the headlines across the North Fork for Tuesday, Sept. 3:
I’m Jen Lew. I’m the owner of North Fork Marketing & Design in Mattituck.
I am a web designer, marketer, advertising, graphic designer and branding company.
I work with a lot of local companies, also companies throughout the world, from startups to 100-year-old brands.
I got started as a designer for my own company.
I went to F.I.T. and then after working in the film business, I started manufacturing and making a handmade product. I fell in love with the marketing of that product.
I moved here in 2007 and was the communications director for a nonprofit that was on Love Lane.
Sadly, the nonprofit was bought by a state-funded nonprofit. During that time, Love Lane Kitchen opened and had a website, but no one was updating it.
They became my first client. From there, I got other clients through word of mouth.
My typical day is me sitting at the computer, fielding texts from clients with pictures that they want me to post, working on websites for various clients.
Other days I’m running around and taking pictures or in meetings.
My goal is always what the client wants combined with what I feel is best, and then back to what the client wants. It’s a give and take.
We work collaboratively to figure out what is the best route, whether that’s print advertising, paid advertising online, building up their website, changing their brand or logo.
I was working on multi-million-dollar big budget films and we would be in meetings talking about websites and 98% of people in the room would be like, ‘What is the point? Why? No one’s going to see it.’
Now, you cannot have a business without having a website.
It takes a huge chunk of time to manage social media and when you’re looking at a business from inside of it, you forget to look at it from the customer’s point of view.
The favorite part of what I do that I get to live on the North Fork.
I get to work with and meet some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met in my life.
I have the opportunity to speak directly with business owners and transform what they need and create ads, websites, graphics and social media content that tells the story of their brand and business.
“The Work We Do” is a Suffolk Times multimedia project profiling workers on the North Fork. It is made possible by Peconic Landing in Greenport. See photos on Instagram @thesuffolktimes.
The East End may receive a glancing blow later this week from the outer edge of the deadly hurricane that has been stalled over the Bahamas and threatening the east coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook, warning of tropical storm conditions possible Friday into Friday night. The center of Hurricane Dorian is on track to pass “well south and east.” However, wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and locally heavy rain are still possible.
The slow-moving storm is expected to gain speed early Thursday morning once it’s off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center of the storm should stay over water as it tracks up the East Coast.
The storm is currently a Category 3, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next few days. It had reached the maximum Category 5 status as it pummeled the Bahamas.
Longtime Mattituck resident Patricia E. Kren, formerly of Orient, died at home Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. She was 72 years old.
Patricia was born Jan. 15, 1947, in Queens, N.Y., to Marion E. (Englehart) and Albert P. Kren.
She attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy High School. After high school she attained a bachelor’s degree from SUNY/Oneonta and a master’s degree from Stony Brook University.
She worked as a kindergarten teacher from 1968 to 2002 in the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District. She was also a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church and New York State United Teachers.
Predeceased by her sister, Sheila Kren, in 1957, she is survived by her brother, Peter W. Kren, and his wife, Ellen, of Mattituck; a nephew, Peter R. Kren; as well as many cousins from Nassau County, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.
The family received friends Friday, Aug. 30, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday morning, Aug. 31, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck, officiated by Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt. Interment followed at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.
Hanna M. Lovett of Mattituck died at home Aug. 30. She was 109.
Ms. Lovett was born May 22, 1910, to Hannah (Moynihan) and Daniel Riordan in Ireland.
She made a career as an infant nurse in New York City and was a member of Sacred Heart Parish. Her family said she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading and her family.
She was predeceased by her husband, Michael, in 1996 and by her children Michael Patrick Lovett and Agnes Healy. She is survived by her children Eileen Browne of Florida, Mary Regan of Southold, Ann Lovett of Massachusetts and Daniel Lovett of Mattituck; her daughter-in-law, Beth Lovett, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.
Visitors will be received Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Siena House, 85 W. 168th St., Bronx, NY 10452, attn: Sr. Mary Doris; or Tolentine Zeiser Community Life Center, 2345 University Ave., Bronx, NY 10468, attn: Sr. Margaret McDermott.
Grace Elizabeth McDonough, age 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Mattituck, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2019.
She was born to the late Grace and Thomas McDonough May 15, 1938, in Brentwood, N.Y.
She graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1956 and Central Islip School of Nursing in 1959. Grace worked at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, where she worked as a nurse, caring for patients with dignity and respect.
She was the beloved mother of Kevin Craig, Michael Craig, Kathleen Kelsch and John Craig III.
Grace was immensely proud of her family and leaves behind beautiful memories and Irish blessings.
Grace had a passion for family, a love of cooking that flourished while living in Naples, Italy for three and a half years, as well as a passion for gardening and animals. Her stunning rock gardens, nurtured by hard work while living in Port Jefferson, N.Y., provided great joy to family and friends. Many people are grateful for the beautiful flowers that they still have in their gardens to this day.
Grace is survived by her brother, Terry McDonough; her sister, Anne Hayden; her children, Kevin, Michael, Katie and John; 13 grandchildren, Ryan, Danielle, Sean, Brendan, Christina, Caitlin, Kyle, Taylor, Corinne, Kristin, Elizabeth, Justin, Jarrett; father of her children and grandfather to her grandchildren, John Craig Jr.; family in the New Hampshire area; and friends.
Robert Mayer Ringold of Peconic died Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Camden, N.J., Feb. 9, 1943, to Mollie and Charles Ringold.
After graduation from high school he enlisted in the Air Force, where he served as an operating room specialist from 1960 to 1964. In 1965 he enrolled in an R.N. program at Philadelphia General Hospital, graduating In 1968. He continued his education in the Nazareth Hospital Anesthesia Program and became a certified registered nurse anesthetist. He worked as a CRNA in Philadelphia and Trenton, N.J., before joining the staff of Eastern Long Island Hospital in 1978. After over 30 years of dedicated, compassionate service to the patients he cared for, he retired in 2009.
Bob was an active member and delegate of 1199 SEIU. He also served two terms as president of Southold Kiwanis Club. In recent years he was on the fundraising committee of the American Heart Association, helping to organize and participating in 5K runs. He enjoyed boating, fishing and the beach.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maureen; daughters Deborah and Donna (partner John) and son, Brian (partner Tracy); and grandchildren Nicholas, Charlie, Mollie and Hadden. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Cate and brother Gerry·
Visitors were received Aug. 29 at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. Following services, interment was Aug. 30 at Calverton National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or American Cancer Society.
A 40-foot boat sank in Noyack Bay southwest of Shelter Island Tuesday afternoon, according to Southold Town police and a witness. Four people were aboard and no injuries were reported, police said.
Police Chief Martin Flatley said the department’s marine unit heard the call on marine radio and responded to assist. The water where the boat sank is Southampton Town’s jurisdiction, the chief said.
A small portion of the bow was sticking out of the water at about 3:15 p.m.
Sea Tow responded to the scene to salvage the boat. Additional details were not immediately available.
Photo caption: The sunken boat pictured around 3:15 Tuesday. (Credit: Donna Pradas/Courtesy)
A young Greenport girl was killed Tuesday night in a T-bone crash at the intersection of Route 48 and Chapel Lane, Southold Town police said.
Amber Stulsky, 11, was a passenger in the rear seat of her mother’s 2003 Mercury Sable when it was struck while heading eastbound on Route 48 in Greenport shortly before 8:30 p.m., police said. Paul Greenfield, 71, of Port Jefferson was attempting to make a left-hand turn from Chapel Lane in a 2004 Infinity when his vehicle struck the Sable being driven by Amber’s mother, 32-year-old Rachael Smith of Greenport, as it passed the intersection.
Amber was transported to Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport, where she succumbed to her injuries soon after the crash, police said. A Suffolk police medevac had been en route to Greenport High School, but was canceled as first responders opted to transport her via ambulance to the nearby hospital instead.
Route 48 was closed between Albertson and Moores lanes as first responders continued to work the scene. While the crash is still being investigated, no criminality is suspected, according to police.
The extent of any other injuries were not immediately clear. Mr. Greenfield was driving alone, police said.
Amber would have started fifth grade at Southold Elementary School Wednesday.
Southold Superintendent David Gamberg said the school’s faculty and staff met first thing Wednesday morning and are providing support to students and staff.
“As you can imagine a tragedy like this is never easy to cope with, but is even more pronounced on what is typically a day filled with joy, the first day of school,” he said in an email.
Mr. Gamberg sent a letter to elementary school families. He described Amber as a “lovely little girl.”
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to Amber’s family and friends,” he wrote. “Our staff is heartbroken.”
He said in the letter that neighboring school districts have offered their support and anyone who needs to reach out and contact anyone at Southold, whether the elementary school or district office.
The Mattituck School District issued a statement expressing condolences to Amber’s family and the Southold school community.
“On behalf of the MC Board of Education and your friends and staff in our district, we extend our sincerest sympathy, trusting that remembrance by so many friends will bring Amber’s family and the Southold School District comfort,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.”
Electric car operators, fear no more: Greenport Village will soon have its first electric vehicle charging station.
Installation is underway for a charging station in the municipal parking lot on Adams Street between First and Main streets, village administrator Paul Pallas said Friday.
Village officials approved an agreement with the Power Authority of the State of New York in March to install the station on village-owned property.
According to the agreements, the station is one fast-charging unit that can service two vehicles at a time with two parking spaces.
In July, the board determined the price each car will pay for charging at the station. The station will provide electricity at a rate of $0.20 per kilowatt hour, plus a surcharge of $10 per hour, effective after the first two hours of charging, according to the agreement.
Mayor George Hubbard Jr. said NYPA supplied the equipment for the project through a grant. The station is expected to be operational by the end of September.
“We’re going to try to use less fossil fuels and … keep up with the times,” Mr. Hubbard said. “I think this is the future, and we wanted to jump on board in the beginning of it.”
The station is the third of its kind in Southold Town: According to an article published in the Suffolk Times in 2015, dual-port charging stations are also located at Southold Town Hall and the Peconic Community Center.
Caption: The station will be located in the municipal lot at Adams Street. (Credit: Kate Nalepinski)
The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, brought to you by San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, award-winning care when and where you need it most.
Brought to you by:
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 Wednesday, Sept. 4:
Expect sunny skies with a high near 79 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The low tonight will be around 62. There’s a chance of a late afternoon thunderstorm and evening showers.
As Jack Martilotta sees it, his Greenport/Southold/Mattituck football team missed reaching the playoffs last year by a measly nine seconds.
Nine seconds!
That’s how much time was left to play when Greenport saw its 28-24 lead over Bayport-Blue Point suddenly dissolve into thin air. Logan Jones gained a step on his defender on a slant and darted toward the right corner of the end zone, catching Luke Schartner’s pass for a game-winning 35-yard touchdown with nine seconds to go. The game ended 31-28 in Bayport’s favor.
Had the Porters won, Martilotta said, they would have made it into the playoffs. Instead, they finished out of the postseason with a 3-5 record.
“The ball bounces just a little different in two of those games and we’re 5 and 3 instead of 3 and 5,” Martilotta said. “I feel like a lot of these kids learned a lot from last year, what it takes to win.”
The Porters last reached the playoffs in 2013, when they lost to Mount Sinai in a Suffolk County Division IV qualifying-round game. That year the Porters went 6-3, their first six-win season since 1977, when they went 6-1-1, according to records maintained by Newsday’s Andy Slawson.
So, what are Greenport’s playoff chances this year?
“I think we got a good shot,” Martilotta said. “We got to play the game. We got to win. It’s kind of early to talk about playoffs, but that’s what we’ve been preaching to the kids. That’s our goal.”
Greenport is seeded 11th among Division IV’s 12 teams. What that seeding probably doesn’t take into account, however, is attitude. Martilotta has been raving about the attitude of his players.
“From top to bottom, we got very coachable kids,” he said. “Everybody is working harder than we have the last few years. When we look at the progress we made from [the first day of practice] to today, it’s nothing less than incredible.”
With the transfer of senior Ahkee Anderson to Center Moriches, where he’s not expected to play football, the Porters lost a starting quarterback and defensive back in one fell swoop. The new QB is junior Nick DeNicola. He played for the junior varsity team last season, but did get some varsity snaps.
DeNicola can hand off to speedy senior running back Jorge Torrento, who is also an accomplished track sprinter in the spring.
“He’s scary fast. He really is,” Martilotta said. “The kid’s lighting.
“We’re going to try to get him the ball often and with some space. He’s going to be tough to catch.”
Greenport lost 12 players to graduation. That places greater importance on the contributions of veterans like senior lineman Tyler Marlborough, senior running back/wide receiver/cornerback Matt Warns, junior center Ronald Gonzalez and sophomore kicker/punter/linebacker Danny Breen. Marlborough is the only third-year player on the team.
Sophomore offensive lineman/linebacker Diego Giron and bruising junior fullback/defensive lineman Devin Toman should also make an impact along with senior lineman Nick Smith. Martilotta likes what he sees from seniors James Asip and Josh Starzee, both of whom have never played before. Martilotta is not sure what position Asip will play yet. Starzee is a wide receiver and the backup quarterback.
Greenport has a new offensive coordinator in Dawhite Hines. “We’re going to have a couple of looks,” Martilotta said of the offense. “We’re going to have an open spread, and we’re going to do some double-wing this year. We think that it fits the kids well.”
“As it stands now … it looks like we’re going to be able to run the ball well and our line seems to be solid right now,” he continued. “That and our special teams should be strong.”
It’s a shorter preseason this year, meaning the Porters will play their first game only 19 days after practice started. That could affect the defense overseen by defensive coordinator Tim McArdle.
“The offense takes more time, so we spent a lot of time making sure the offense is prepared,” Martilotta said. “The defense, we have some question marks. Defense is a different animal.”
The first true test for that defense will come in the season opener Friday night at home against Southampton/Bridgehampton/Pierson.
“We say it every year, pal, this is the time for optimism,” Martilotta said. “Everything’s good right now. I just can’t wait to get playing games.”
Photo caption: Greenport/Southold/Mattituck kicker Danny Breen attempts an extra point against Center Moriches last season while Brandon Clark holds the ball in place. (Credit: Daniel De Mato, file)
