Douglas J. Ely, 63, of North Andover, Mass., was arrested last Tuesday around 4:39 p.m. for driving while intoxicated. Officers responded to a report of a gray vehicle with Massachusetts plates driving all over the roadway, heading eastbound on Route 48 in Greenport. Mr. Ely was located near Queen Street by an officer who saw him driving in an unsafe manner, crossing lane markings on the road. He was then determined to be intoxicated.

• Police are investigating after a Greenport woman called last Tuesday around 3:34 p.m. to report multiple items missing from her backyard. She told police four brown wicker outdoor chairs, valued at $100, and one silver glass-top outdoor table, valued at $200, went missing last Monday around 3:30 p.m.

Editor’s Note: See related correction on the print version of this story.

• A Shelter Island Heights woman suffering from an unknown illness was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center after a motor vehicle accident last Thursday around 10:38 a.m. An officer who was following the woman westbound on Route 25 said she was driving approximately 10 mph and continued traveling straight at the intersection of Love Lane, where the road curves onto the property of Mattituck Presbyterian Church , striking a fence. The woman was confused and disoriented, according to police, and was unable to provide information about the accident.

• Kelvin Euceda, an undomiciled man, was arrested Monday around 11:49 p.m. for assaulting a Greenport Village man. Police responded to reports of an assault on Front Street in Greenport and said their investigation found that the Greenport Village man was walking along the sidewalk when he was attacked by Mr. Euceda.

The suspect apparently struck the Greenport Village man in the face and head several times, with a closed fist, leaving him with a swollen left eye and a partially dislodged front tooth. He refused medical attention. Police located Mr. Euceda in the Adams Street parking lot, where they arrested him. 

He was charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault.

• A Greenport man reported to police Tuesday around 2:11 a.m. that while he was sitting in his vehicle in the Adams Street parking lot, behind Noah’s restaurant, he witnessed a male wearing a tan trenchcoat smash the windows of a white 1999 Ford Econoline E250. The witness said he saw the suspect use a wooden board to smash the windows. Police canvassed the area, a detective sergeant was notified and K-9s responded. The investigation is ongoing.

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.

The post Southold Blotter: Man charged with assault after striking victim appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Five Southold students and eight Mattituck students are now being homeschooled after not meeting state immunization standards, district officials said last week.

Four months ago, New York State tightened requirements for school vaccinations and ended non-medical exemptions amid one of the worst measles outbreaks since 1992.

Children with non-medical exemptions must now be vaccinated to attend or remain in public schools and day care services. Students with a valid medical exemption from a physician are permitted to remain in school.

Before the mandate deadline, 15 students in the Southold School District had religious exemptions from vaccinations, Superintendent David Gamberg said. Now, two junior and senior high school students and three elementary school students will be homeschooled as per parental withdrawal.

Roughly 31 students in both Southold schools have received some vaccinations and are expected to receive necessary vaccines in the future, Mr. Gamberg said. It’s unclear how many students in Mattituck-Cutchogue have received only a portion of necessary vaccines.

In neighboring Greenport schools, all families were compliant with the mandate by the deadline, Mr. Gamberg said. While there are homeschooled students in Greenport, the reasons are not related to the recent immunization changes.

Three students in Greenport are “under-immunized,” but Mr. Gamberg said that “is due to extraordinary circumstances and the parents/guardians are working with the school to get them up to date.”

Discussions about immunization laws persist in Southold Town, as a bill recently proposed in Albany could also require that children be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus in order to attend public school or day care.

That bill, currently under review by the state Senate, would require all children born after Jan. 1, 2009, to obtain a dose of immunizing agents against HPV. If approved, the requirement could take effect Sept. 1, 2021.

The HPV vaccine, which prevents certain cancers, is typically given to children around the age of 11 or 12.

The bill states that HPV is “an incredibly common sexually transmitted infection that can be passed even when an infected person is asymptomatic, and can cause genital warts or cancer.”

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), who also sponsored legislation eliminating the religious exemption for vaccines for school children.

Routine vaccination could prevent 92% of cancers caused by HPV, saving thousands of lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia currently require the HPV vaccine for children to attend school.

In Riverhead town, approximately 31 Riverhead Central School District students are now being homeschooled after not meeting state immunization standards, district officials said last week.

Parents and community members in that district flooded a school board meeting last month and requested that the district support them in obtaining an emergency injunction to allow children to stay in school despite the state-imposed mandate.

Roughly five students in Riverhead schools have been excluded from attending school and extracurricular activities because they lack appropriate immunizations, district officials said. The other students being educated at home have been voluntarily withdrawn from school by parents.

However, district officials said that number is fluid, as students who have received their initial series of immunizations can continue to attend school as long as other required immunizations are scheduled.

knalepinski@timesreview.com

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Health care specialists, builders and architects alike have grown interested in an integrative concept known as “aging in place” and how North Fork residents can, through planning, design their homes to support independence at any stage of life.

Occupational therapist Sue McKenna, who works in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District, has dedicated 20 years to health care facilities on the East End. She previously worked in OT at Peconic Landing, helping residents there manage their activities of daily living. In the school district, she works with children of all ages who have multiple disabilities. She also does private contract and consulting work with aging seniors.

A few months ago, Ms. McKenna became a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, expanding her range of services to embrace the concept of “building a home for life.” The CAPS program, created by the National Association of Home Builders, “teaches the technical, business management and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place,” according to the site.

Noting that baby boomers have a vast array of choices when it comes to potential remodelers, builders, contractors and occupational therapists, the NAHB website said that, overwhelmingly, seniors prefer staying in their own homes rather than moving into nursing homes. From task lighting to grab bars, the CAPS program advocates for actionable modifications within the home that can better serve seniors and preserve their independence. The program is sponsored by Lowe’s Pro.

“I’ve been doing home modification for a long time,” Ms. McKenna said, “but this certification was kind of a newer layer to add to that. I’m thinking of larger-scale projects. I’ve done bathroom modifications, kitchen modifications for years woven throughout my career, but this is more of thinking bigger.”

In her expanded role, Ms. McKenna serves as a resource for people who are looking to make major accommodations, helps homeowners plan and measure what they need functionally and refers them to appropriate architects and builders.

Careful planning is critical in constructing a new home or making renovations to meet changing needs, she said. Such planning can be integrated to heighten adaptability, accessibility, visibility and livability, while still maintaining the home’s appeal. Rather than make adjustments reactively, she emphasized, people must learn to be proactive.

“Some of these homes that you would see, they’re gorgeous and you walk in and you don’t even realize that it’s accessible to all,” Ms. McKenna said. “Most people recognize the need to adapt an environment because of aging, decline and disability … This idea is not only for the currently disabled or elderly, but for those who plan to stay where they live as they age, to be ready for whatever new circumstances life can bring.”

When planning for a total home renovation or smaller-scale projects, like a remodeled kitchen, bathroom or patio, for example, homeowners can call on CAPS professionals to help them incorporate designs that might be needed later on.

Making a home accessible, Ms. McKenna said, could mean installing ramps for future wheelchair use.

“The goal is to keep the look of the home beautiful and to not make it look like it was adapted for any purpose, but just welcoming and available to all.” This, she said, helps with resale value, too. The expense of these projects is always a big concern, but depending on design and time spent planning, there are ways to reign in costs, Ms. McKenna said.

The town, she said, is “very aware of the need and I believe they are trying to offer incentives, to expedite permits. There are grants. I know Greenport just got a grant. They were deemed a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community.”

Above all, she stressed, partnerships, collaboration and teamwork are what make the concept effective in practice.

To deal with the health care aspects, Ms. McKenna will go into homes and help determine how much assistance people need overall, making sure they can get in and out of their bathrooms safely, for example, and consider whether they need modified dressing tools or an otherwise modified environment.

Dr. Jay Slotkin of East End Geriatric and Adult Medicine, who chairs the safety committee at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, encouraged Ms. McKenna to pursue the CAPS designation. He said that coupled with underutilization of hospice in the U.S. — and with New York being the state that uses hospice the least — additional elderly services and solutions are needed.

“The aging process, it’s happening really quickly now,” he said. “What’s happening is, a tremendous amount of money is being spent at the end of life. The fact of the matter is, if you look at the trajectory, given the aging population … by 2030, 2040, there [are] going to be more older people than younger people,” Dr. Slotkin said.

That, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is true and will require that additional services and solutions be offered for the elderly.

“It’s health care professionals, it’s architects, builders; it’s all disciplines that are working together,” Ms. McKenna said.

Photo caption: Occupational therapist Sue McKenna recently received certification as an aging in place specialist. She said it is critical to plan for the future, no matter the circumstances, and act proactively rather than reactively. (Credit: Mahreen Khan)

mkhan@timesreview.com

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Riverhead senior Christina Yakaboski ran the fastest time for a Suffolk County Class A girl in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships Saturday. Yakaboski, competing in her first state meet, clocked a time of 17 minutes, 44.2 seconds, bringing her 29th place on the less-than-three-mile course at cold SUNY/Plattsburgh. She qualified for next week’s federation meet at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, according to coach Justin Cobis.

North Rockland senior Katelyn Tuohy was first in 15:36.5, finishing 25 seconds ahead of the next runner, Fayetteville-Manlius senior Claire Walters.

In Class B, Shoreham-Wading River senior Nicole Garcia, another state meet first-timer, was 11th in 17:42.6. Mount Sinai senior Sarah Connelly charged in first in 16:47.1.

Class C Mattituck competed in the state meet as a team for the eighth year in a row. The Tuckers, led by junior Bella Masotti and senior Payton Maddaloni, were seventh in the team scoring with 185 points. Camden was the champion with 75. Camden senior Elizabeth Lucason won in 16:51.6.

Masotti (18:48.7) and Maddaloni (18:52.1.) were 42nd and 44th. Later crossing the finish line for the Tuckers were sophomore Emily Nicholson (64th in 19:30.4), sophomore Kate Schuch (76th in 19:51.2), junior Emma Reidy (115th in 21:31.0) and Abby Rosato (117th in 21:35.2).

Southold had three girls in the Class D race: senior Olivia Lynch (42nd in 19:55.4), her sister, freshman Francesca Lynch (51st in 20:35.2), and sophomore Evelyn Helinski (93rd in 24:01.6). Tully junior Brooke Rauber was the Class D champion in 16:01.2.

On the boys side, SWR’s Adam Zelin ran in his third state meet. The senior came in 46th in the Class B race in 15:47.9. Pittsford Mendon senior Sam Lawler (14:26.1) won that race.

In Class C, Mattituck freshman Trevor Zappulla, in his first cross-country season, came in 79th in 16:45.7. Also running for the Tuckers were junior Luke Altman (111th in 17:31.2) and senior Eric Palencia (127th in 18:12.7). Skaneateles junior Caleb Bender won the Class B race in 14:41.6.

In Class D, Southold sophomore Isaiah Mraz completed his second straight state meet in 16:34.7, bringing him 33rd place. Southold’s other participants were eighth-grader Flynn Klipstein (68th in 17:38.7), freshman Jack Goscinski (82nd in 18:02.4), senior James Hoyt (86th in 18:12.8) and freshman Robert Doering (91st in 18:28.2). Shelter Island senior Kal Lewis took first in 14:28.1.

Photo caption: Bella Masotti was the first Mattituck finisher in the Class C race, coming in 42nd place in the state meet at SUNY/Plattsburgh. (Credit: Justin Cobis courtesy photo)

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Approximately 50 feet in front of Southold American Legion Post 803 is a monument to the Southold men who served in the Civil War. For the history- and date-challenged among our readers, the Civil War was fought over the institution of slavery from 1861 to 1865. The monument, which sits proudly right where Main Road takes a sharp bend to the east, was erected by a group called the Ladies Monument Union in 1887, a time when veterans of that conflict still lived in town.

There are 84 names carved on that monument. It is worth a brief stopover, if you happen to be driving by on errands some day, to take the time to look over the names.

We were thinking about the men whose names appear on the monument Monday morning, Veterans Day, when post commander Charles Sanders played patriotic music and thanked the many veterans of more recent wars who came out on a blustery morning to be recognized for their service. Those veterans also still live in this town, as do others in Riverhead and on Shelter Island. They are here, among us. We can’t forget them. They didn’t ask why — they just signed up, or were drafted, and went.

A similar event was held Monday at Suffolk County Historical Society in Riverhead, also honoring the legacies of those who unselfishly served their country and remembering the fallen and why they died. Speaking at that ceremony, Riverhead Councilwoman Catherine Kent thanked “those who tirelessly watch over our veterans. Let us remember and honor all of our veterans for what they have done to build a more peaceful future for us and generations to come.”

We bring up the Civil War memorial because, with its close proximity to Monday’s ceremonies, it is important to look back and understand that our towns have sent thousands of young men and women to serve their country in times of conflict. Several hundred from Riverhead and Southold served in World War I, which ended in November 1918 and was celebrated as Armistice Day, which has now become Veterans Day.

Those vets who attended the Riverhead and Southold events sat or stood quietly, not calling attention to themselves. They were there to put their hands over their hearts and to do what must be done, always: remember the names of those who served and died. That includes remembering the names on the Civil War memorial in Southold, and on other memorials to that conflict in Southold and Riverhead towns.

One man who quietly stood off to the side at the Southold event was Joseph St. Pierre, who served in the Marines in Vietnam in 1965. When Mr. Sanders, in his talk, mentioned that so many Vietnam veterans were disrespected when they returned home from that war, Mr. St. Pierre wiped tears from his eyes. Yes, he said, it was true. He saw it himself.

Mr. St. Pierre was not there to talk about himself; he was there in solidarity with fellow veterans, to honor their sacrifice. That is what Veterans Day is about, and should always be.

If you have not seen it, visit this newspaper’s website and watch “The Work We Do” video on Robert Bissonnette. He is a caretaker at Calverton National Cemetery. He’s worked there since 2013, after serving in the Marine Corps for eight years, and is currently in the Navy Reserves. Here is what he says in the video that is so apropos to Veterans Day, particularly on that very hallowed ground in Calverton.

“We’re here, obviously, as people come in to grieve, but we make it nicer, or better, I would say. It’s a beautiful place and we put a lot of hard work into it so that it is that way. I don’t ever like to look at it in a negative way because coming to work every day, outside, in a gorgeous environment with shrines everywhere paying homage to veterans is gratifying.”

Say amen, somebody.

The post Editorial: A time and a place to honor those who served appeared first on Suffolk Times.

To the editor:

On Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the future of the policy that has protected young people brought illegally to the U.S. as children — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. More than 700,000 young people have relied on it to shield them from deportation and permit them to work and study. The Trump administration’s 2017 order to end the program has been put on hold by lower courts, but these injunctions are only temporary measures.

As they await the last word from the justices, DACA recipients and their families and friends are nervous. The fact that dozens of universities, more than 100 municipalities, and 80 law enforcement officials are supporting continuation of the program doesn’t alter the fact that if the court decides against it, thousands will find their lives in shambles — jobs lost, families uprooted and an end to any sense of membership in the country.

Our neighbors on the North Fork include many DACA residents and their families. Whether graduate students, workers on Wall Street or Washington, or parents, their fears and frustrations are legion. Mayra Gonzalez, a 2018 graduate of NYU whose Salvadoran family lives in Mattituck, speaks for many. “I‘m pulling myself into the middle class because of DACA and education,” she says. “I don’t know what to expect from the Supreme Court. If DACA is terminated I will feel less safe. My name and address is in the system.”

She also looks beyond her own situation to critique current policy. “Reform has to be comprehensive — not just DACA or solutions at the border. What’s happening now is such a waste of human resources.”

From Long Island to California, people came to demonstrate at the Supreme Court this week. Their slogan is “Home is here,” announcing their commitment to the country they have grown up in. They plan make it a better place if they are given the chance.

Diana Gordon, Greenport

The post Featured Letter: For DACA recipients, homes hang in the balance appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Southold Town extended a garbage hauling agreement with Babylon for an additional two years, which will allow the town to maintain costs as opposed to shipping the waste off Long Island, according to Jim Bunchuck, the town’s solid waste coordinator.

The agreement first took effect in July 2015 and the extension takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Southold was paying $87.50 per ton in 2014, which was the town’s last year trucking waste out of state, Mr. Bunchuck said. Under the Babylon agreement, Southold paid less the following year. In 2015 and 2016 the cost was $80 a ton. An increase in 2017 was tied to the Consumer Price Index, which increases at 1.5-2% intervals, Mr. Bunchuck said. The current cost is approximately $85.40 per ton.

Long Island has four waste to energy plants. The other three are located in Hempstead, Huntington and Islip. They are all managed by private operator, Covanta.

“Basically, they all produce electricity and feed into the PSE&G grid,” Mr. Bunchuck said. “I believe that’s been the case for a long time now, and so, in that sense, our waste is turned into energy for use on Long Island.”

Mr. Bunchuck said the agreement with Babylon keeps the garbage hauling costs predictable. Shipping off island can lead to greater unpredictability due to distance or fuel prices.

Stricter federal Department of Transportation regulations, like electronic monitoring on long-haul trucks — which would prevent drivers from exceeding allowable driving hours without a break — would also increase expenses for shipping off island, Mr. Bunchuck said.

”This is the first time we’ve kept Southold’s waste on the island … In the first year of the arrangement with Babylon, our price per ton dropped by $7.50 a ton and if you figure, at the time, there were more than 10,000 tons, so that’s more than $75,000 a year,” Mr. Bunchuck said.

Southold once operated its own facility. That ended in 1993. Mr. Bunchuck described it as a mom-and-pop type landfill that no longer exists.

“They are all multi-thousand-acre facilities [now],” he said.

Babylon and Covanta needed to negotiate an extension first before the extension with Southold could be completed, Mr. Bunchuck said.

“There’s no more option years at this point, so, in two years, the towns would need to renegotiate,” he said.

mkhan@timesreview.com

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Brought to you by:

My name is Stephen King Jr. I am a principal here at EESG Custom Apparel in Mattituck.

My dad started as East End Sporting Goods on Love Lane back in 1977. We used to offer traditional sporting goods. The market has changed throughout the years, so now we focus on custom apparel for businesses, organizations, athletic teams, we do fire departments, police departments.

There’s a wide range of customers, which is nice.

We embroider, silkscreen, print or engrave everything we do.

Our typical day is coming in and starting the machines and completing custom orders on a daily basis. A lot of people think we get the work and we just print it, but there’s a lot of organization that goes into ordering, processing the orders and then actually customizing the garments and getting them back out to the customer. There’s usually due dates — a lot of them.

When I was a young kid, I used to get a bottle of Windex and clean the racks and work for lunch. I thought that was great.

I actually lived in New York City for a while, I was a tax accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Eventually, I felt like the city wasn’t for me anymore. It was a great experience, but I decided to come back here. I’ve been back for going on six years now.

The best part of what we do here is actually being able to engage with our customers on a daily basis and really try to help them.

From start to finish, we help where we’re needed. We do have art services available. A lot of times, an organization already has a logo but sometimes the art needs to be changed based on how it’s going to be applied to whatever product it is.

We get to see some of the same faces on a regular basis, sometimes multiple times a year. People pop in and out and we develop relationships and get to know them, so it’s not like you’re sitting behind a machine all day long in a back room with nobody to talk to.

I really enjoy what I do here. It’s fun, it’s always changing. Every day is a challenge.

“The Work We Do” is a Suffolk Times multimedia project profiling workers on the North Fork. 

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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 Monday, Nov. 18:

NEWS

Future of proposed solar farm in Calverton stirs debate

Southold, Babylon towns extend trash hauling agreement for two years

Pulaski principal, music teacher both reassigned, district confirms

New vaccine mandate leads to more students being homeschooled

SPORTS

Girls Soccer: ‘Magical’ ride for SWR culminates with first state championship

Football: SWR will defend its county title

Cross Country: Mattituck girls seventh at state meet

Cross Country: Good showings by Yakaboski, Garcia at states

NORTHFORKER

North Fork foodies offer fresh ideas for leftover turkey

Take a video tour of Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Harborfront Inn in Greenport sold for $9.5M to Sound View owners

WEATHER

There’s a chance of rain throughout the day today with a high temperature of about 47 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The low tonight will be around 36.

The post Daily Update: Solar farm stirs debate, garbage contract extended appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Ernest “Toppy” Jones of Mattituck died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. He was 92 years old.

Toppy was born Feb. 26, 1927, in Greenport, N.Y., to Clara (Krause) and Harold Jones.

He attended Peconic School. After school he joined the U.S. Army during World War II from May of 1945 to November of 1946, where he attained the rank of sergeant.

On Oct. 9, 1948, he married the love of his life, Elsie Miska, at Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Together they made their home in Mattituck and had two children.

He was a member of the American Legion. As a profession, he was a self-employed builder and built many homes for the local community.

Toppy was predeceased by his beloved wife, Elsie Jones, on April 23, 2014, and predeceased by siblings Harold, Bud, Robert, Marion, Hope and Pearl. Toppy is survived by his children, James Jones of Westhampton and Cynthia Kronenberg of Riverhead; grandchildren, Douglas Kronenberg Jr., Jacqueline Kronenberg and Nicole Jones; great-grandson, Nathan Kronenberg; and sister Ellie Hawkins of Florida.

Visitors were received Thursday, Nov. 14, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where U.S. Army honors were rendered during the afternoon visitation. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday morning, Nov. 15, 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.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Mattituck Fire Department Rescue Squad or East End Hospice would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

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Kathleen M. Donlin, longtime Southold resident, died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. She was 90 years old.

Kathleen was born April 20, 1929, in New York City to Susan (Pelerine) and John O’Donnell.

She graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer High School in New York City.

Kathleen was a long-term manager of the Land Shark in Greenport. She was a member of St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport.

She loved her family and being a stay-at-home mom.

Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, Edwin John Donlin, on Dec. 4, 1997, and predeceased by her brother, Jack O’Donnell. She is survived by her children, Susan Donlin Flatley (Martin) of Southold, Dennis Donlin (Elisabeth) of Cutchogue and Richard Donlin of Calverton; eight grandchildren, Jena, Megan, Chelsea, Rory, Ryan, Ian, Hannah and Cooper; and two great-grandchildren, Maeve and McKenna Flatley.

Visitors will be received Friday, Nov. 22, from 3 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, officiated by Father Richard Hoerning. The Rite of Committal will be private.

This is a paid notice.

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August Francis Menchini, 72, of East Dennis, Mass., passed away suddenly Monday, Nov. 11, 2019.

He was the loving husband of Janet Weatherbe.

He was born and raised in Bergenfield, N.J., the son of the late August and Kathryn (Diana) Menchini.

After graduating from high school, August served honorably with the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, stationed in Europe.

After the war, he completed his undergraduate degree at Fordham University and master’s degree in employee labor relations at Rutgers University.

August worked in human resources with several hospitals in New Jersey, Vermont and Long Island, N.Y. He retired in 2012 as human resource director of Eastern Long Island Hospital.

August lived in Greenport, Long Island, before moving to the Cape 11 years ago and setting in East Dennis.

August was a selfless, kind and loving man. He was a good and faithful friend and saw the best in everyone, he generated warmth and positive relationships. He loved meeting people and getting to know them. August lovingly embraced his wife’s family. He never missed a holiday, birthday or graduation.

August was also very jovial and quick with a joke. He was known for his effortless style of dress and collection of fedora hats. His favorite pastimes were reading military history, politics, traveling, especially to Italy, and sports, especially the Red Sox. He was a two-time finisher of the New York Marathon.

August is predeceased by his twin brother, Stephen (2016), and his young sister, Patricia. In addition to his wife, Janet, August is survived by his son Ian (wife Paige) Menchini and their daughter, Nora, of Ipswich, Mass.; his son Zachary (wife Christina) Menchini and their son, Frederick, of Portland, Ore. He is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Family and friends will gather Saturday, Dec. 14, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Doane, Beal & Ames, 729 Route 134, S. Dennis, MA 02660, followed by a 4:30 p.m. celebration of life service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to MSPCA Cape Cod, 1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632. For online condolences, please visit doanebealamesdennis.com.

This is a paid notice.

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Robert Burns of Greenport died Nov. 12. He was 74.

He was born Oct. 30, 1945, to Grace (Carney) and Frederic Burns in Glen Cove.

Mr. Burns attended college and earned a bachelor of science degree.

He married his wife, Patricia A. Burns, on April 5, 1966, in Glen Cove.

Mr. Burns was retired and enjoyed boating and playing guitar for his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, who resides in Greenport; his children, John R. Burns of Port Jefferson Station and Kiersten A. Bartolotta of Sayville; his siblings, Elaine Schneider and Frederick Burns; and three grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will take place Friday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, officiate by Father Richard Hoerning. Cremation will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to the Long Island chapter of American Cancer Society.

Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport assisted the family.

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Caroline Ostrander Loschen, a longtime resident of Laurel, N.Y., passed away peacefully at home Nov. 7, 2019, at the age of 92.

Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., she attended Delhi University prior to moving to Long Island.

Here she met and married Walter Loschen (passed away in 1985), raised her family in Bellmore and worked many years at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre and Riverhead Free Library. Walter and Carol had three sons.

Carol is survived by her children, Robert, James and Stephen; daughters-in-law, Cynthia Loschen and Anne Loschen; as well as three grandchildren, Jessica, Matthew and Travis.

Visitors were received Nov. 16 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where funeral services took place officiated by Caren Heacock. Interment was private.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Meals on Wheels, c/o Town of Southold, P.O. Box 85, Mattituck, NY 11952.

This is a paid notice.

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Mary Louise Rabe of Greenport died Sunday, Nov. 17. She was 95.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at Calverton National Cemetery.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is serving the family.

The post Mary Louise Rabe appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Arnold H. Sims of Riverhead died at home Nov. 13, 2019. He was 96.

He was born May 2, 1923, to Louise Rose and John Sims in Lynn, Mass.

Mr. Sims graduated from high school and was employed as a service manager in the automotive industry for Wells Pontiac-Cadillac and Peter Glennon Buick-Cadillac in Southampton.

He was predeceased his wife, Ann, and his daughter Jean LePage. He is survived by his children Daniel (Dorothy), Ronald (Pamela), Dorre (Harry) Miles, Linda (Robert) Taplin and Jo-Ann (Thomas) Perry; his significant other, Jean Guydish; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitors were received Nov. 17 at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral Mass took place the following day at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church followed by burial at St. John’s Cemetery.

This is a paid notice.

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Palpable grief filled the air Monday morning as mourners gathered at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck to remember the life of 27-year-old Kelley Blanchard.

Kelley, a Southold High School graduate who lived in Riverhead, died in a tragic boating crash in Mattituck Nov. 10. Her sister Megan, 29, suffered serious injuries in the crash and has been recovering at Stony Brook University Hospital. She overcame her injuries to join over 100 family members and friends for the services Monday.

From the altar, Monsignor Joseph Staudt delivered a moving homily after reading a passage from the Bible.

He recalled a discussion he had nearly 40 years ago with an atheist.

“[He said] look at all the suffering that people go through. If there really was a God, would God let his children suffer? I said, ‘You know what, that’s a very understandable argument.’ I get asked at times, ‘Where is God?’ Very understandable questions with no specific answer…Faith involves somewhat of darkness,” he said.

“If we can believe in the resurrection, if we can believe that Kelley is more alive than you and I, that can help us in our grief and sorrow,” Msgr. Staudt said. “The bonds of love are not destroyed by death.”

Reading from statements submitted by family and friends as well as Kelley’s obituary, Msgr. Staudt spoke about her vibrant, larger-than-life personality.

“When it comes to describing a loved one’s personality, most everyone always describes that person as being full of life and passionate about their family,” he said.

“And that’s true. But that wouldn’t do justice to who Kelley was.”

Those seated in the pews nodded along as Msgr. Staudt spoke about how Kelley was full of “animation,” how her smile could light up a room, how dearly she loved her family, animals and the East End and how she became a role model to colleagues.

He urged those in attendance to live by her example.

“God put Kelley here for a reason…you have to figure out what’s your job. Do you make the world a better place? [Kelley] did in her own unique way.”

Though the circumstances of Kelley’s too-soon death are painful, he urged family and friends to remember and pray to Kelley for guidance when life inevitably gets tough. But he urged them to leave with a sense of peace.

“Kelley, from what I’ve heard of her, wouldn’t want us to be heavy with that grief and to be walking around as though life has to be coped with and endured,” he said. “She would probably say ‘live your life.’ Learn from her.”

Following the church service, family and friends gathered at the American Legion Hall in Southold before a private burial ceremony.

Memorial donations may be made to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Photo caption: The casket is brought out of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck Monday morning. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)

tsmith@timesreview.com

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Unless a wrestler has experienced it, there really is no way for him to truly appreciate what the New York State wrestling championships are like. The tournament is essentially a multi-ring circus involving the state’s best high school wrestlers, mostly sectional champions, laying it all on the line under the glare of thousands in a large, loud arena.

Ethan Schmidt and Colby Suglia have both been there and done that. Now they want to do it again.

The two Mattituck/Greenport/Southold seniors are stronger, and possibly more motivated, than ever before. Winning whets the appetite for more winning.

“Losing the last match of the season last year and knowing that my season [was] over just made me switch my mindset into wanting to go further this year,” Schmidt said before heading into Mattituck High School’s wrestling room for the team’s second preseason practice Wednesday.

Both wrestlers got a taste of winning in the state tournament in Division II last season. Suglia (39-9 last season) went 2-2 at 220 pounds and Schmidt (35-14) went 1-2 at 170. Neither advanced to the second day of the tournament at Times Union Center in Albany, but the experience they gained was valuable.

What was wrestling in the state tournament like?

“It was different,” Schmidt said. “There was a lot of competition. It’s a big arena, so it’s kind of scary getting on the floor in front of everyone.”

Suglia said: “Last season was exciting. I wish I placed at states, but I was definitely happy to get up there … Once I get back up there this year, I know what’s there, I know what’s coming.”

Not that Suglia was taking it for granted that he will return to Albany for the state tournament Feb. 28 and 29. That right will have to be earned once again, and there are no guarantees.

“Getting up there is no small task in itself, right?” Mattituck coach Cory Dolson said. “Just because you win last year doesn’t mean you win this year, but obviously that’s the goal.”

Schmidt and Suglia have been doing what they can to prepare themselves. “Me and Ethan haven been working out through half the summer and through the football season we’ve been lifting every single day, trying to just get as big and strong as we can to dominate at the state tournament,” said Suglia.

Asked if he had been eager for preseason practice to start, Suglia hedged, answering, “I mean, eager, yeah, but I know what’s coming.”

By that he meant an awful lot of hard work was headed his way. Dolson said the first two weeks of practice are the toughest part of the season, and that’s saying something for a sport as tough as wrestling.

“This is the hardest part because we’re beating each other up in the [wrestling] room,” Suglia said. “… You got to fight through it.”

Schmidt and Suglia look well-prepared for the rigors ahead in their fourth varsity season. “Ethan and Colby both look great,” said Dolson, who has known them both since they were 4 or 5. “Their bodies have changed. They matured a little bit. They’re lifting a lot of weights. They’re both bigger and stronger.”

And motivated.

They both took a big step last season in winning their first county championship and advancing to the state tournament. The next logical step would be onto a state podium.

The wrestlers haven’t gone through weight certifications yet, but Dolson said Schmidt could wrestle at 160, 170 or 182 pounds. Suglia’s options are 195 or 220.

Said Suglia, “I’m confident and I’m ready to rock and roll.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Ethan Schmidt, stretching out during a Mattituck/Greenport/Southold practice, wants to return to the state tournament, as does teammate Colby Suglia. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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In a three-way race, Lloyd Reisenberg of Mattituck has been elected to the Mattituck Park District Board of Commissioners.

According to unofficial results, Mr. Reisenberg was the top vote getter in last Thursday’s election with 237 votes.

Challengers Nick Deegan and Derek McLean received 181 and 95 votes, respectively.

Incumbent co-chair Doris McGreevy did not seek a third term in the position.

Mr. Reisenberg, who lives in Laurel, works for Southold Town’s Information Technology department and serves as a coordinator for the emergency management office. He holds a degree in accounting from Quinnipiac University and served as a commissioner of the Mattituck Fire District for 10 years.

“The years I spent with the fire district … you learn a lot,” Mr. Reisenberg said Monday afternoon, explaining his reasoning behind entering the race. “And my knowledge of business in general. If you put it together, I thought there was a lot of value I could add.”

In a letter to the Suffolk Times earlier this month, Mr. Reisenberg wrote that he was “troubled” by recent measures taken by park district officials that effectively restrict access to parks and beaches.

“I intend to work together with the other members of the board to ensure that our families may enjoy fishing the jetty in the evening or viewing the sunset without fear of being locked in at the parking lot of Breakwater Beach,” he wrote in the letter.

Mr. Reisenberg said Monday that his first mission is to learn as much as he can about decisions that have been made.

“I’d like to understand what they’re doing and why, and, if possible, see if we could make it more accessible to the public,” he said.

He will replace Ms. McGreevy in a three-year term starting in January, joining Gerard Goehringer and George Lomaga on the three-member board.

Ms. McGreevy served one term from 2009 to 2011, took a break when her second grandchild was born and returned for a second term in 2017.

She said she’s looking forward to spending more time for herself and with her family.

“It’s a very encompassing position,” she said in an interview Monday. “I found it was very rewarding.”

Ms. McGreevy pointed to several initiatives she helped accomplish during her most recent term, including the installation of security systems and conversion to LED lighting at several district-owned properties and helping to move a proposed solar project forward at Veterans Park.

She also said that as a board member, she helped bring new facilities to Veterans Park, including a renovated bathroom structure that is set to be installed this week.

Ms. McGreevy also said she plans on keeping a close eye on unfinished projects, including the remediation of Wolf Pit Pond.

“These are important decisions for taxpayers,” Ms. McGreevy said. “I felt very good about [the decisions] but at one point, you need a little relief. I’m passing the gauntlet and I know Lloyd will do a great job,” she said.

Established in 1941, the Mattituck Park District covers nine properties in Mattituck — approximately 73 acres of beaches, athletic fields, a boat ramp and nature preserves for the use of Mattituck and Laurel residents.

Mr. Reisenberg said he looks forward to serving the community as a parks district commissioner.

“[All the properties,] need attention. It’s a big effort, and I look forward to assisting and keeping the parks and beaches as beautiful as they are,” he said.

Photo caption: Lloyd Reisenberg pictured at a 2018 Town Board meeting. (Credit: Rachel Siford/file)

tsmith@timesreview.com

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The daily update, a podcast briefing on what’s happening across the North Fork, is brought to you by your local dealerships, Riverhead Ford Lincoln and Riverhead Buick GMC, not just a better deal, a better dealership.

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Here are the headlines across the North Fork for Tuesday, Nov. 19:

NEWS

Family, friends bid farewell as Kelley Blanchard laid to rest

Community forum on downtown Riverhead draws more than 100 people

Lloyd Reisenberg elected to Mattituck Park District Board of Commissioners

NORTHFORKER

Podcast: Northforker’s December issue hitting newsstands this week

WEATHER

Expect partly sunny skies most of the day today with a high temperature of about 49 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The low tonight will be around 37.

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