Support us A site plan that will bring a Chick-fil-A to Riverhead received final site plan approval Thursday from the Riverhead Planning Board on the northwest corner of the Route 58 and Mill Road intersection will include a 5,840-square-foot building with a drive-thru and patio seating for the Chick-fil-A and three other buildings — 1,427 square feet 2,600 square feet and 6,400 square feet in size — for use as medical offices Chick-fil-A is a fast-food chicken sandwich chain based in Georgia It is the third-largest quick-service restaurant company in the U.S. The company is influenced by the Christian religious beliefs of its founder and is famously closed on Sundays The Riverhead location would be the only Chick-fil-A on the East End; the nearest restaurants in the chain are in Port Jefferson Station The development of the site, owned by the Long Island Cauliflower Association, has been years in the making The project received preliminary site plan approval in April 2023 and several extensions since The medical office buildings were originally intended to be restaurants — two of them with drive-thrus — but their intended use has been changed in the new plan The owner and the applicant decided to make the change,” Riverhead Town Senior Planner Greg Bergman said during the Planning Board meeting “The site layout essentially remains the same.” Although the traffic for medical offices are “significantly less than a restaurant with a drive-thru,” Bergman said the Planning Board is still requiring the traffic mitigation measures associated with the environmental review completed for the project in 2022 The mitigation measures include the creation of a northbound left turn lane and modifications to the traffic signal timing at the intersection of Mill Road and Riverhead Centre at which there will be an entrance into the shopping center “We’ve essentially mitigated the more intense use of the [environmental] analysis and the mitigation will remain in place,” Bergman told the board if they decide to shift gears again and do another drive through restaurant it’s consistent with that analysis.” The Planning Board discussed in a closed-door executive session a Town Board referral to modify an open space easement previously imposed by the Planning Board on nine acres of an agricultural property on the south side of Route 25A in Wading River immediately east of the CVS Pharmacy.  Half of the 18-acre property was going to be developed into a commercial plaza known as Central Square before it was sold and preserved last year for agricultural use which coordinated the preservation of the property requested at a Town Board work session earlier this year that the town remove the open space easement so the whole property could be farmed The property will be farmed by the Condzella family which purchased it from brothers John and Bill Zoumas early last year.  Planning Board Chairperson Ed Densieski said “We don’t believe we have a legal mechanism to fix this” and asked the town attorney to draft a memo to the Town Board with the Planning Board’s findings Long Island Farm Bureau Executive Director Rob Carpenter voiced support for allowing the entire property to be used as a farm “I think this is an incredible opportunity that the largest town of agriculture on Long Island has the ability to actually put land back into farming with a family that’s been here for a number of generations…,” he said Densieski said the board is “absolutely in support” of allowing the property to be farmed but wasn’t sure about the legality of removing the easement The farmer “bought it with the easement in place… He was told that you cannot farm” that part of the land Even if it was legal for the board to change the easement the board would have to change easements for other farms in the same situation.  “It’s not that we want to hurt any farmer — we don’t — but in this situation I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow this when other properties in the Town of Riverhead have the exact same situation,” Zilnicki said Carpenter said he doesn’t believe this property is in the same situation as other properties within the town He implored the board to research the matter further The survival of local journalism depends on your support. 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Get fresh local news straight to your inbox every day A pot dispensary is being proposed for the property After two cannabis dispensaries opened in Riverhead last fall developers have pitched plans for even more shops But the town's zoning regulations are hindering plans for two — prompting a legal battle in one case and concerns over another site's proximity to a school is suing Riverhead in Suffolk State Supreme Court after the town's zoning board of appeals denied a variance for its store at 1201 Ostrander Ave is zoned to allow retail businesses but can't be accessed on Old Country Road A cannabis shop must front a main road under the town's code Attorneys for two other hopeful cannabis entrepreneurs filed affidavits in the lawsuit since the outcome could affect their clients' plans for separate dispensaries on Old Country Road State Supreme Court Justice Paul Hensley issued a temporary restraining order that barred the town from issuing permits to other dispensaries The town is dealing with widespread interest following the opening of two cannabis dispensaries Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard declined to address the lawsuit but said in an interview that the town's rules aim to strike a balance and prevent the proliferation of dispensaries "That's part of what our code was when we developed it as to how many we wanted in one particular area," he said in an interview The town is processing the applications as they come in "If you get all your approvals and you have all the licensing The fates of all three dispensary plans are unclear Riverhead Town laws prevent dispensaries from opening within 2,500 feet of one another Applicant Brian Stark is seeking a variance to open a dispensary in a former paint store at 1086 Old Country Rd Peter Moutafis is vying to open a dispensary at 840 Old Country Rd. Martha Reichert, an attorney for Stark from the Twomey Latham law firm in Riverhead, described a race-to-the-finish-line mentality as the dispensaries vie for town approvals. She said local zoning codes are at odds with state statutes including those regulating distances between each other and from schools "Riverhead is sort of pitting these dispensaries against each other in a way that I don’t think the state ever intended,” Reichert said in an interview said the zoning board's denial was “irrational.” That property is flanked by sites where the town's code outright allows cannabis retail Dispensaries in Riverhead can be within 1,000 feet of homes if they front a “commercial corridor” on a main road “Everybody around us is literally allowed to sell cannabis without a variance,” Andrew Schriever an attorney for McGrath at the firm Holland Schriever LLP “After being required to procure property in order to qualify for a dispensary and investing six figures into the process Schriever said the site has struggled to attract a tenant since the bank closed in 2017 and is “uniquely tailored” for a dispensary because it has safe storage for cash and products and plentiful parking which is a safer way to enter than through Old Country Road Riverhead Town Attorney Erik Howard did not return a phone call for a dispensary 1,600 feet west of the proposed Tink dispensary was met with contention from zoning board members during a hearing April 24 Stark needs a variance to open at the former paint store because it’s within 1,000 feet of Riverhead High School property “That’s at odds with what the state requires,” Reichert said referring to state guidelines that prohibit cannabis stores 500 feet from school grounds Reichert argued there is “no visual or physical connection” since the school is fenced off and separated by another shopping center and four-lane road But board member John Porchia III raised concern about the proximity of the dispensary to teenagers who may frequent the nearby shopping center “You’re going to have students … walking past a cannabis dispensary to go have lunch or enjoy their period off,” he said adding it amounted to a “bad combination.” A final decision on that dispensary is pending Moutafis' plans for a dispensary at 840 Old Country Rd could throw a wrench into the other two applications It’s on track for town approvals and doesn’t need a variance There is currently a car dealership at the site according to court documents filed by Moutafis' attorney Trimarco did not respond to a request for comment Riverhead’s zoning laws allow a dispensary at that property and a site plan review is underway a spokeswoman for the state Office of Cannabis Management confirmed in an email that all three proposed cannabis dispensaries are “approved retail licensees.” Neither proposal drew widespread public pushback at town meetings though one resident voiced concerns about Riverhead becoming a “pothead place” during a hearing in January Updated 48 minutes ago Off-campus gunfire has H.S Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months The following incidents occurred between April 22 and April 24: Riverhead police arrested the following individuals:  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 A kaleidoscope of spring colors — periwinkle foxglove Leon Maurice Creighton of Greenport Village died Monday With the birth of river otter pups at the Long Island Aquarium and possible sightings of otters at Marion Pond in.. TrendingCommercialTri-StateARiverhead zoning leaves cannabis dispensaries strung outOne proposed pot shop is suing the North Fork town Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard with 1201 Ostrander Avenue in Riverhead (Getty Listen to this article00:001xKey PointsAI Generated.✨ The dreams of prospective cannabis retailers in North Fork’s Riverhead are in danger of going up in smoke A number of disputes and controversies are lighting up discussion around marijuana distributors in the town, Newsday reported Zoning is at the heart of several of these disputes Co filed a lawsuit against the town in Suffolk State Supreme Court after the zoning board of appeals rejected a variance at 1201 Ostrander Avenue at which it was planning to open a cannabis shop The former bank base is zoned for retail use but isn’t accessible from Old Country Road violating a town rule that cannabis shops must front a main road if they are within 1,000 feet of homes An attorney for Tink said the site is perfect for the dispensary due to its ample parking and safe storage Two other potential cannabis retailers filed affidavits in the case showing how the lawsuit may ripple across the town’s burgeoning marijuana industry Cannabis sales have been a hot-button issue in the town for some time A temporary restraining order blocked the town from issuing more permits to dispensaries but that order was lifted when developers objected other businesses are clamoring to open in Riverhead but the sector’s growth is still in danger of being smoked out The town doesn’t allow dispensaries to open within 2,500 feet of one another leaving applicants jockeying to get in the door before being squeezed out of space An attorney for one dispensary applicant expressed frustration that local zoning codes and state statutes don’t seem to mix “Riverhead is sort of pitting these dispensaries against each other in a way that I don’t think the state ever intended,” the attorney told Newsday about 1,600 feet away from Tink’s proposed business has another issue: it’s within 1,000 feet of a high school The state prohibits dispensaries within 500 feet of schools is still being forced to obtain a variance due to concern from local officials about students walking by — Holden Walter-Warner The views expressed here are the author's own Buy Tickets Here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/3581... John Acosta as Barry Gibb has performed in Bee Gees tributes all over the world for over 14 years His portrayal of lead singer Barry Gibb is with a zest for detail like no other Bee Gees Gold is the ultimate salute to Bee Gees Gold recreating their look and unique falsetto sound from the 60’s to the late 70’s performing such early hit’s as “Massachusetts” and “I Started a Joke” to the later Disco classics like “Stayin’ Alive,” and “You Should Be Dancing” along with Andy Gibb hits and more For information call our box office: (631) 727-4343 Or email us with any questions: boxoffice@suffolktheater.com Wednesday, 6:00 pmCalverton, NY Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps paid tribute Saturday to two members who perished 20 years ago in a horrific ambulance crash on Route 25 in Aquebogue as the ambulance rushed a cardiac patient from Jamesport to Central Suffolk Hospital Members of the ambulance corps and local fire departments gathered around the friends and family of EMT Heidi Behr and paramedic William Stone outside the corps’ Osborn Avenue headquarters to mark the sad occasion The ceremony included prayers and personal remembrances the placement of a memorial wreath and concluded with a flyover by a Suffolk County Police helicopter responded to a call for an elderly Aquebogue man with chest pains They were treating him in the ambulance as it traveled west on Route 25 in Aquebogue when the ambulance swerved to avoid a dump truck that failed to yield the right of way and turned in front of the emergency vehicle who both succumbed to their injuries at area hospitals It’s hard to believe it’s been that long,” Kimberly Pokorny recalling in heartfelt remarks their commitment and compassion as first responders.   “Today we remember and celebrate two extraordinary individuals who gave everything in the service of others,” Pokorny said She was a symbol of what is best in all of us: selflessness courage and unwavering dedication to helping others,” Pokorny said “She showed us what true dedication looks like can leave a mark that lasts far beyond a single shift we also mark 20 years with her— because her spirit has never left the hearts of those she served or those left behind who serve in her honor,” Pokorny said.   he was a guide — someone who took the time to explain not just how to do the job but why it mattered,” she said.  “He showed young EMTs that technical skill meant nothing without heart that service without compassion was incomplete.  Bill was right where he had always wanted to be — answering the call He gave his life in service of others not because he had to but because that was who he was,” Pokorny said we don’t just remember Bill Stone for how he died for the colleagues he inspired,” said Pokorny you knew you were in steady hands,” she said “He lives on in every paramedic who pauses to explain something to a trainee in every first responder who puts their patient first — in every person who remembers that this job is not just about medicine Addressing the families of both fallen members Pokorny said: “We carry your grief with you and always will be heroes — not only because of how they died who was just 15 months old when his mother died and other family members attended the ceremony June Behr and Anne Ryan tearfully embraced and leaned on each other as they walked to the memorial outside the headquarters dedicated in 2013 for the 10-year anniversary of their children’s deaths June Behr said the outpouring of support in the local community and beyond has been moving and uplifting.  Riverhead Little League celebrated its delayed season opener Saturday evening at Stotzky Park Festivities began with a followed by a fundraising raffle followed by the traditional parade and opening day ceremonies high-fiving adults lined up along the third-base line and running around the perimeter of the infield Then North Shore Christian Church Pastor Jerry Halpin offered the opening prayer League president Allison Caserta welcomed the crowd which included Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark and Riverhead Town Board members Bob Kern Riverhead Fire Department held its annual memorial service roll call and inspection Sunday morning at department headquarters a reading of Psalm 23 by Riverhead Fire Department Chaplain Justin Winter and a reading of the Firefighter’s Memorial Hymn by Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain Kathleen Berezny followed by a candle-lighting ceremony members who died in the past year: longtime firefighters Ex-Captain Bruce Edwards and honorary Ex-Captain Conrad Dabrowski Sr. and Ladies Auxiliary honorary member Marlene Iberger ex-captain of the Washington Engine Company ex-captain of the Riverhead Ironmen and Fireman of the Year in 2003 He was also president of the Riverhead and Suffolk County Firemen’s Associations and the Suffolk County Parade and Drill Team ex-captain of the Red Bird Hook and Ladder Co which named him firefighter of the year in 2014 department members renewed their oath of service with refreshments for members and guests in the upstairs meeting roomafter the ceremony’s conclusion A person was stabbed Friday aboard a public bus in Riverhead and the accused stabber was later arrested nearby according to the Southampton Town Police Department The accused stabber was identified as 23-year-old Rene Alexander Elias Chaj of Mastic It's unclear whether he has a lawyer representing him Police were called about the stabbing just before 4 p.m after the Suffolk County Transit bus had just left the County Center and was going south on County Road 51 Suffolk County Transit couldn’t be reached for comment The release did not describe the extent of the victim's injuries what precipitated the stabbing or the name of the victim Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy The alleged perpetrator was believed to have fled on foot and was later found and arrested criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance Women’s suffrage came to the Riverhead Polish Independent Club this week Until a bylaws amendment was approved Tuesday nights full membership with voting rights in the 117-year-old Polish Town club had only been granted to its male members.  Women have been welcomed as associate members of the club for some time but associate members have no voting rights so they had no formal say in its operation a cornerstone of the Polish Town community in Riverhead Female members have been active in the club and have worked hard at events at fundraising and taking care of the facility Thomas Najdzion said in a phone interview yesterday “I’ve been trying to change the bylaws at Polish Hall referring to longtime club president Ziggy Wilinski “It’s been an uphill battle,” Najdzion acknowledged and we finally voted the new bylaws in,” he said and anybody married to and anybody adopted by a Polish-American Polish person is eligible for full membership,” he said Najdzion said he had called a special meeting in March to take a preliminary vote on allowing women to be full voting members A lot of lifetime members turned out and the majority present were opposed to it But the bylaws require that a vote to change the rules be taken only at a regular meeting And that meeting saw a better turnout of newer members “They kind of got upset with me because they think I pulled the fast one on them “I followed them to the letter.”  Najdzion is commander of the Riverhead VFW Post 2476 who’s said he’s been a member about 18 months was present at Tuesday night’s meeting and said it was contentious “Once they realized that we had a great membership drive and we’re going to overtake the vote Prohibiting women from being full members just wasn’t fair and they raise money to help the club exist,” Matuszewski said He said new members he recruited were incredulous It’s 2025 you can’t have women Being relegated to “second-rate status” as an associate member discouraged women from joining I can see that you need to have a little more control when you get involved in something and I will recruit other women who have the same like-minded interest in Riverhead and making it more community-oriented kind of rally around Polish Town and kind of bring it back a little bit more,” she said.  Sharon and Jim Matuszewski own More Storage a new self-storage facility on Marcy Avenue in Polish Town Membership dues don’t even come close to covering the cost of operating Polish Hall while dues bring in only about $3,000 annually Lifetime members — members of 25 years or more who are 65 and older —don’t pay dues The club needs more members and more sources of income to be sustainable “We’ve done a nice new thing with Ziggy’s place downstairs,” he said and we’re trying to attract younger people they’re bowling a couple games and they’re having a good time and it’s just becoming a good thing,” he said The recent membership drive brought in 24 new members “Now they’re going to just blossom and bring in more people after that The lower level features a bar, a bowling alley, pool table, dart board and the new “Ziggy’s Place,” named for Wilinski, offering live music and entertainment Thursdays-Saturdays. More information and news of upcoming events is available on the Ziggy’s Music Room at Polish Hall Facebook page A kaleidoscope of spring colors — periwinkle foxglove, purple velvety pansies, vibrant yellow begonias, and white- and salmon-hued impatiens, among others — greeted plant lovers at the 29th annual East End Garden Festival opening day on Sunday May 4, at the Tanger Outlets. Japanese maple trees flat upon flat of small marigolds and miscellaneous houseplants all beckoned to be in someone’s garden Organized by the Riverhead Rotary the festival runs all week until Mother’s Day marigolds and many more varieties available provide several charities on the North Fork with thousands of dollars in funding.  “This is the 29th year and it gets bigger every year,” said Dr a member of the Riverhead Rotary’s Garden festival committee and a private practice pulmonologist in Riverhead “Everything from flowers to flats are donated We start working months in advance — getting permits for the big tent coordinating the deliveries and setting up the entire project.”  “Operation International has been in existence for 27 years providing free medical missions in 29 countries to perform major surgery in all specialties: dental We were just in Laos in March and we performed 100 surgeries,” said Dr He said the Rotary will also use the proceeds to support East End community projects such as food pantries scholarships and Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets to the needy “For all the people who come and buy even a single plant it touches someone’s life and that’s a wonderful thing It changes someone’s life for the positive and their livelihoods,” Dr Pushing a cart with an oversized bright red geranium and two peonies Greg Brown came all the way from Sag Harbor as he’s done for five consecutive years “They’ve got good deals and I want to support the health facilities,” he said Gesturing to his plants he kidded that “the perennials look great now the plants might get eaten — but they’ll come back next year even stronger!” Gardening-lover Maureen Karpilovsky of Calverton was loading up her cart too so that gives me $300 in Rotary dollars to spend here,” she said Karpilovsky also said the red and dark pink mandevillas she bought are going to be gifts for her daughters-in-law come Mother’s Day Spending the day at the festival with his “nana and papa,” 12-year-old Avery Masem of East Northport had his eye on the rhododendrons “I like having my hands in the dirt,” he said The first woman president of the Riverhead Rotary in the 1980s and a current Rotary garden committee member Sherry Patterson said the festival is the first sign of spring for plant-lovers “We get people who come every year as we’re transitioning into the warmer weather everything is reasonably priced and I think people feel good knowing they are supporting the Rotary,” she said Pulling it all together is a major undertaking and the trucks start coming in the Friday before the opening loaded with donations from as far away as New Jersey “Joe Van de Wetering started it all with Central Suffolk Hospital 29 years ago Then his brother Jack asked the Riverhead Rotary to take it over when the hospital no longer had the manpower to run it actually flies to New Jersey to bring Snowflake ice cream and Briermere’s pies to the nurseries where the big truckloads come from as a thank you to the people who are loading the trucks,” said Ms She said that he also does that with many of the local nurseries.  One volunteer who has seen it all come together many times is Judy Barth It’s just what I do because I can!” she joked The former owner of a gardening business on what is now Wendy’s in Riverhead “this event gives me my yearly fix of retail gardening!” The following incidents occurred between April 22 and April 24: Between April 20 and April 26 The Roanoke Avenue Elementary School PTO hosted its first annual Community Day Saturday which organizers hope to grow in the coming years The aim of the event is to bring community members together outdoors on a spring day to have family-friendly fun and get to know each other organizer and Roanoke PTO President Karma Marshall said beforehand RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr Buy Tickets Here: AudienceView Professional The Long Island Comedy Festival Summer Tour is here celebrating 19 years Enjoy an evening of non-stop laughter and hilarious fun Featuring some of the Best and Funniest Comedians working today “To this day I don’t know what my draft number was,” Ronnie Smith of Riverhead says Smith and his buddy Johnny Crump signed up just before graduating from Riverhead High School in 1967 after a military recruitment day in the high school gym.  All the branches of the military were there “We knew when we graduated there wouldn’t be many openings for us to get a decent job or some time of training in Riverhead,” he said They thought the military could offer them that opportunity “Both of our fathers had been in the Army so we decided to go that way,” Smith recalled His father was a World War II vet who served as a mechanic/ truck driver “That’s what they allowed soldiers of color to do Smith and Crump signed up on the 120-day delayed enlistment program and didn’t have to report until Sept “We were supposed to be on the buddy plan and attend heavy equipment school but the army didn’t honor any of that,” Smith said “Once they got us to say our ‘Ido,’ we found out that like anything else make sure you get anything you’re promised in writing,” he said Smith was named a squad leader and then a platoon leader in basic training Right after that he was shipped off to advanced training That’s when he found out he wasn’t going to heavy equipment school as promised He was headed to administration school.  “I scored higher in administration than I did in technical,” he explained “Administration is the clerical end of what the Army does.” After going through that he was told he was scheduled to go to ranger school “But the Army really pissed me off,” he said he didn’t want to go to ranger school.  “That’s when they shipped me out,” Smith said he reported to Travis Air Force base in California on March 1,1968 Within a few days he was on a flight to Hawaii and 22 ½ hours later he landed at Long Bin airport in Vietnam “When they opened the doors of the jet in Nam the heat just hit you in the face,” Smith recalled “And the smell.” The smell — which he can still conjure — was from burning human wastes It was a practice that would cause bronchial problems for soldiers in later life It was just one of several things that caused many health problems for soldiers who spent time in Vietnam Some of the problems didn’t manifest for months “I never let my guard down the whole 11 months “Even to this day I always have to know where I’m at and what’s around me I don’t like being in the middle of crowds I don’t like to sit with my back to the door I like being able to see everybody and what they’re about It’s a trait that I picked up there,” he said He’s carried other “traits” with him in the nearly 60 years since his deployment Things trigger reactions ingrained in him as a matter of survival “I see things you might not notice when I’m driving walking meant trying to stay away from mines and trip wires Today when I’m out with friends and family I watch the trees and things like that.” He paused to consider other manifestations of those “11 months Certain sounds – When I’m outside and the birds stop chirping or the crickets go quiet “I don’t go to concerts or too many outings you see packages or you see kids with something in their hands and you have to tell yourself to relax you’re not in a situation where you have to be on guard 24/7,” he said is still working to shake off those feelings His sons and their friends “have helped me come back to the land of the living,” he said “I don’t think people realize…Most of us were 18 or 19 to 20 Those are the years when you’re supposed to be having a good time I had my 19th birthday in Nam,” Smith said.  “I just never really thought about — You know you’re sitting in history class one moment reading about the wars…” He lists them all “And now you’ve got your ass right in the middle of something that you never really thought about being in and you were just worrying about trying to get the family car to go on a date.” He said he realizes he’s one of the lucky ones Three guys he graduated with in the Riverhead High School Class of 1967 never came home.  “Frank Tinsley was the first one of our group that’s when Garfield [Langhorn] was killed “I don’t talk about anybody’s religion or whatever I just know there’s a higher power out there Smith has post-traumatic stress disorder from his “11 months 23 days and 7 hours.” He’s had lingering physical ailments related to his time in Vietnam He He ticks them off: An overactive thyroid that required radiation treatment because of Agent Orange An essential tremor that looks like Parkinson’s but doesn’t affect his brain Bronchial conditions from the burning of human waste Smith initially thought he came away unscathed but as time passed he realized that wasn’t so.  “I see a psychologist once or twice a month now because I have thought about ending my life,” he said quietly “And if it wasn’t for the strong family support I have we wouldn’t be talking right now,” he said “If it wasn’t for the guys in Iraq and Afghanistan we wouldn’t be getting anything [from the federal government] because nobody wanted to acknowledge we existed,” Smith said “They don’t honor the veterans like they should The government waits for you to all die off They want to crucify you if you don’t want to serve or go But then if you do…” Smith’s voice trails off and he doesn’t finish the thought “The recruiter said we could get into any school we qualified for.  a loan for a home…” Those were the benefits the recruits were promised But when I went to apply for a home loan I was told that I didn’t qualify because I hadn’t worked long enough to establish that I had a job.” Without the promised training as a heavy equipment operator he couldn’t get the kind of job he’d hoped for — the one path where he saw opportunities for a young Black man without a college degree.  Though the civil rights movement brought big changes to many parts of the country and despite Riverhead schools being integrated long ago at that point neighborhoods were still segregated and opportunities were not equal for Black and white residents — in housing employment or access to financial resources There was still a lot of racial prejudice in hiring then the only Black administrator in the Riverhead Central School District DeGrasse got on the phone and got him an interview with the director of the computing department at the State University at Stony Brook “When I retired I was assistant manager for data at the university hospital.” Race played a large role shaping his experience in the Army as well as in civilian life both before and after the service he was stationed in Georgia for basic training and after he returned from Indochina but didn’t want to spend his time in the South “It was easier being in Nam than in Georgia,” he said Smith said he lucked out with the noncommissioned officers he had in the Army His sergeant sent him to school for data processing He was made squad leader and then platoon leader “When our squad was assigned to mop the floors and I gave the order a white soldier told me ‘My people don’t take orders from your people.’ Then I showed him what my people could do I stuffed him in a foot locker and gave him an ass-whupping.”  “a reb” — a “rebel,” a guy from down South —was “upset when promotions came down and his name wasn’t on the list but a group of brothers were,” Smith said “The guy was trying to throw his weight around He got a butt stroke [with a rifle] to the chest and chin,” he said “I was the one that gave him the butt stroke… I’ve always had a bad temper but I learned how to control it at a young age.” His interactions with white soldiers weren’t all like that He was assigned to be the driver and body guard for a warrant officer when he had to go outside of the gate or to some meeting to make sure he got back safely,” Smith said.  “He was a man from Alabama but he was a good man I was his driver and he even made it possible for me to come back home a week earlier than I should have because he didn’t want to leave me in country after he left,” Smith recalled All he saw was another soldier.I enjoyed protecting him and working for him A lot of the other soldiers of color felt the same way about him he “learned that blood is red and when you’re in a do-or-die situation it just matters that you and that other guy are trying to survive,” Smith said “I also learned that sometimes I could be just as bigoted as some of the guys from the south you’re raised …I wasn’t raised to hate but sometimes you can develop a mistrust of people because of the way they want to treat you,” Smith said I wanted to make sure that people knew that this was my home town too And I deserved everything that anyone else had — Black or white or red or yellow We had people that served in all branches of the service.” Being in the military reinforced what his parents and grandparents tried to teach him “You don’t judge people by their looks.You judge them by the character they exhibit.” He bristles at the thought that the generation that fought World War II was “the greatest generation.”  He called the book by that title “bullshit.”  “They weren’t the greatest generation,” Smith said.  “We fought and fought as hard as anyone did “That generation came back and picked up where they left off with their bigotry and racism the lynchings and bombings and burnings and the chauvinistic attitude Even though everybody proved that women can lead and exist in a combat situation they still wanted to propagate that ol’ boy system.” That system was alive and well in his home town.  “For a long time I didn’t know the games that were played in this town I thought there were Black neighborhoods because that’s where they wanted to live I didn’t know about red-lining,” he said.  “I didn’t learn until I went out to get my own home It’s crushing when you know you’ve done everything you had to do by the book You fought for your country and then you find out you can’t live in a neighborhood because of the hue of your skin,” he said My parents and grandparents didn’t bring me up to be less than.” His feelings about the war changed after he got to Vietnam We weren’t really fighting to win,” he said “I think it’s a big factor with a lot of Vietnam vets It’s just you’re put in one area for a period of time Then you are put someplace else and then the Viet Cong come right back in And all these idiots in Washington are fighting over how big the table should be or how round it should be,” he said “I hold no animosity to people who protested  — even like Jane Fonda,” Smith said referring to the actress who became an outspoken antiwar activist and drew hostility for traveling to North Vietnam — and the derisive nickname “A lot of guys don’t understand how I feel about Jane Fonda,” he said “But it turned out that a lot of the people that didn’t go and people protesting — it turned out they were right,” Smith said  “The majority of those guys who went to Canada or someplace else they really believed what they believed in Smith said he was shocked to see disabled vets and other veterans marching against the war — shocked to learn he wasn’t the only vet who felt the way he did sometimes I wouldn’t stand for the national anthem because it didn’t relate to me as an American,” he said.  “But having those feelings I wouldn’t allow you to burn a flag in front of me even though we don’t always live up to it seaman — that’s what you look for,” he said His feelings about the war didn’t change how he felt about fulfilling his duty to serve I can say I fought for my country and did what I had to do,” Smith said “I’m a 76-year-old GI and it’s part of who I am I am proud to be a Black American just as I am proud to be an American,” Smith said Editor’s note: This article was amended May 4 to correct an error in the original version published May 2 He sees a psychologist once or twice a month not once or twice a week as previously reported With Special Guest Electric Duke – Tribute to David Bowe Los Angeles based STRANGELOVE-The Depeche Mode Experience delivers a career spanning pitch perfect “best of” concert that transports the listener through time and touches on several key points in Depeche Mode’s 40+ year career Songs from throughout the Depeche canon are lovingly recreated; from favorites on DM’s debut Speak and Spell to the newest fare from ‘Mode’s latest- 2017’s “Spirit” No detail of STRANGELOVE’s presentation has been overlooked The visual presentation with stage set pieces and in-show costume changes reflect different eras of Depeche Mode’s story Truly evocative of a Depeche Mode arena/stadium stage show; the scale of STRANGELOVE’s theatrical stage production is unparalleled Custom-produced multimedia projection visuals delight the concertgoer’s senses and enhance the illusion that they’re witnessing an actual Depeche Mode concert These accomplished musicians have a reverence and devotion to Depeche Mode’s body of work that’s driven them to recreate every possible detail and bring the “Music To The Masses” in a concert setting that transcends a mere tribute production; and feels more like a shared communal fan-club celebration of halcyon days of new wave/emerging electronica Accuracy and authenticity is a hallmark of the project with the band employing as many authentic vintage synthesizers and samplers as possible in recreating the classic and widely varied sounds of Depeche Mode’s discography ​With over 120 million records sold and a rabid international fan base Depeche Mode’s status as elder statesmen of electronica was recently cemented with their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame last year Their enormous fan base encompasses all ages and crosses every demographic Their last stadium/arena tour in 2018 set world box office records STRANGELOVE –The Depeche Mode Experience brings a thoroughly enjoyable and staggeringly authentic DM concert to concertgoers Doors - 7:00pmShowtime - 8:00pmTickets: $35-$59 NY 11901info@suffolktheater.com631-727-4343 All Your Favorite Hits From The Late 70’s To Early 80’s One of the most commercially successful musical genres of all time Yacht Rock has built a loyal and unwavering fan base Yacht Rock Gold Experience brings all your favorite hits from the late 1970’s-early 1980’s to new generations of music fans Celebrating the smooth sounds of the Doobie Brothers Yacht Rock Gold Experience engages fans with amazing harmonies and musicianship that brings audiences back to a time when music made you feel good and soothed the soul An evening with Yacht Rock Gold Experience satisfies your cravings hit after hit Yacht Rock Gold Experience is the Yacht Rock tribute you’ve been looking for and they are ready to bring the Yacht Party to YOU Put on your captain’s hat and let’s party “All Night Long.” Doors - 7:00pmShowtime - 8:00pmTickets: $39-$59 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Thank you for your overview of federal cuts to local libraries (“Our View,” April 24) I’d like to share my thoughts regarding the proposed expansion of Mattituck-Laurel Library As an avid supporter of libraries and their essential role in our community I deeply value their presence and contribution to our collective growth and education I am concerned about the timing and financial implications of spending $5.5 million on this expansion In light of the federal government no longer providing financial support to libraries coupled with the potential onset of a recession this investment may pose significant financial risks to our community the actual cost could exceed the initial estimate While I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of libraries I urge our community to carefully reconsider this upcoming vote given the current economic climate We must ensure the sustainability of our community’s resources while continuing to champion the value of libraries Mahoney is a former member of the Mattituck-Laurel Library board.  The expression “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” feels especially relevant as Southold Town considers extending its moratorium on hotels and resorts At a time when small businesses are fighting to survive — many down 40% to 60% in revenue compared to 2019 not even adjusting for inflation — our elected officials are opting to restrict one of the few tools proven to stimulate local economies: hospitality and services thrive during the influx of summer visitors This is not a debate about overdevelopment; it’s a question of responsible such as the former Capital One in Mattituck generating no tax revenue and offering no community value Transforming that site into a boutique hotel would inject life into the economy without burdening emergency services or schools the way residential development might We can’t afford to keep making decisions based on fear of change We need leadership that understands economics and is willing to partner with local entrepreneurs to preserve what we all love about the North Fork That means crafting policy that balances our rural identity with economic sustainability — not choking the very businesses that pay the bills We must hold our elected officials accountable and ensure decisions are made based on data the only thing we’ll preserve is the continued erosion of our small-town economy I brought some tax information to the Mattituck post office intending to Express Mail it to my accountant I had been busy and definitely I was late getting the tax information where it needed to be so I could pay my taxes on time The always friendly and always helpful post office employee said I could use the Express Mail envelope and pay the fee for express mail — but Express Mail service had been discontinued the week before I actually wasn’t sure where I could FedEx or UPS my papers so I sent them from the post office by means slower than I had intended I spent an inordinate amount of time looking online at various shades of white paint We are repainting the white walls of our living room but looking at various colors of white wasn’t working for me went online and selected the 8”x5” color swatches matching my choices and ordered them I was surprised when a red notice appeared on the screen It said: “Due to Postal Service delays it now will take 10 or more days for your order to be delivered.” The last time I ordered color swatches So our postal service is going the same way as assistance with Social Security food programs for poor children and … This is not OK As our birds return and the flowers begin to bloom it is time to think about spring and summer Expectations are that numerous illegal fireworks will be seen and heard What is a concern is the excessive and unauthorized displays that can become intolerable and hazardous With the numerous disastrous wildfires that have occurred it would be important for everyone for town officials to undertake announcements to control and cease and illegal fireworks displays Fireworks are dangerous and illegal; harmful for animals and residents having emotional experiences from war; and police officers need to address any calls — and there is the cost of the fireworks which can be used for beneficial community needs.  With the cooperation of community organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts Audubon societies and all peace-loving individuals we can improve and enjoy a safe and harmonious Fourth of July friends and the Southold Pharmacy in particular She was an amazing person with a shadow of an iron lady She was in action — giving directions and instructions — till her last breath Her devotion to her work in the business and community is an excellent example for us She made positive differences in so many lives in so many ways I am grateful and fortunate to know her personally and will always remember her smiley face at the pharmacy We always had a lively chat and gained rich professional knowledge of her life Her illustrious career was vast and stretch to various fields She was a dynamic business lady who flourished on the North Fork She was deeply involved in East End Health Plans as its trustee Also served on East End Financial Group advisory board She was a bridge between the Greenport and Southold school districts creating working understanding between the faculties of both academic institutions Her beauty in the shape of Southold Pharmacy will always remind us of her beautiful accomplishments and on behalf of Colonial Drugs and Surgicals in Greenport I express my deep condolences on her passing Her seasoned personality will be missed forever May God bless her soul and give strength to her family members to bear this great loss We are committed to making our community safer and more accessible for all — especially our children One of the most important steps we can take toward that goal is to ensure safer routes to school we believe the time has come to invest in expanding and improving sidewalks near our schools Every child deserves a safe path to walk or bike to school and every parent deserves peace of mind knowing their child can do so without risk Sidewalk infrastructure is not just a safety issue support local businesses and help build a stronger sense of community we’ve heard from countless residents who are concerned about speeding cars and the lack of sidewalks near our schools We share those concerns — and we are ready to take action we pledge to prioritize funding and planning for sidewalks around our school zones working in close partnership with school officials We will seek out funding sources from New York State and the federal government we will lead and we will deliver results that protect our children and strengthen our town’s character Southold can do more to protect its residents Talbot seek election to the Town Board in November; Mr Schlachter is running for highway superintendent giving a voice to those who needed one most giving our country great stability and reliability He liked to tell us that in rejecting monarchy for democracy He said the Constitution protected freedoms — speech assembly and due process — while limiting government power through the separation of legislative encouraged fairness in business and investment and gave everyday Americans a real shot at a better life more respected nation and the dollar become the world’s reserve currency which had helped his World War I veteran father for the dignity and security of all Americans We voted for Social Security and kept our part of the promise It sounds so warm and fuzzy and family-friendly: Have more children It would be if the Trump administration had any plan for these children it is cutting Head Start and its programs that promote school readiness for children ages 3 to 5 Infants and toddlers are served through Early Head Start programs It was begun in 1965 as part of LBJ’s War on Poverty That is only one program they plan to slash The list that targets children includes slashing Medicaid school lunches ( how corrupt are we to want to feed kids) and gutting the EPA So before we praise the administration for espousing bigger families how about we take care of the here and now children Donald Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of his inauguration He also promised to lower grocery prices on Day One of his presidency He promised to bring in trillions of dollars by imposing tariffs on every country with whom we had a trade deficit.  there was every reason to know that he couldn’t fulfill any of them Trump falsely blames Ukraine for starting the war Grocery prices haven’t dropped; they’re on their way up Trump’s tariff policies have done nothing but disrupt the stock market with wild swings likely giving the Trump crowd inside information that has enabled them to effectively steal hundreds of millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors with 401(k)s he has put America on track for the greatest economic failure of any country since the Great Depression while he personally sells $Trump meme coins to Kool-Aid drinkers as if they have value And now he declares that he was only kidding when he said he could end the Russian-Ukraine war in 24 hours He declares that he only said that “in jest.” Anyone with an IQ above room temperature should have known from the time Trump first started lying about his participation in Jan that he can neither tell the truth about virtually anything nor can he accomplish one single thing he promises to the American people his followers still treat him with kid gloves giving him every benefit of whatever doubt there might be while his Republican enablers in the Congress continue to protect him It’s time to wake up and acknowledge who and what Donald Trump is Here on the North Fork we should also wake up and realize that our congressman is one of those frightened rabbits who enable Trump to mislead America into the oncoming disaster Our contribution to American democracy would be to get rid of Mr Three teenagers were arrested on charges of criminal possession of stolen property in South Jamesport early this morning Riverhead Police said in a press release this afternoon Police said they received 911 calls from residents in the area just before 4 a.m today reporting that three people in a white SUV were going onto various properties and attempting to open vehicle doors Patrol officers and a Riverhead Police K9 unit responded and quickly located the unoccupied vehicle on 4th Street in South Jamesport Three male occupants of the vehicle fled from the area on foot but were apprehended a short time later with the assistance of Riverhead Police K9 “Loki,” police said All three were taken into custody and transported to the Riverhead Police Department The Riverhead Police Detective Division responded to the area to investigate and determined that the vehicle involved had been stolen from the Calverton area without the owner’s knowledge Police also determined that all three suspects had been going through unlocked vehicles in search of valuables in neighborhoods in the Mattituck Two suspects were identified as 15-year-old and 17-year-old juveniles from the Calverton area and were placed under arrest and processed on a charge of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third degree and were held for arraignment at Suffolk County Superior Court The third suspect was identified as 18-year-old Kyle Harris of Aquebogue according to the report Harris was also placed under arrest and charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third degree Harris was held for arraignment at Riverhead Justice Court Police remind residents to remove all valuables from their vehicles and to lock their doors.     Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law (Updated – 10:30 a.m.) The Riverhead Town Board intends to hire its outside auditing firm to conduct forensic audits of the Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association for 2023 and 2024 Supervisor Tim Hubbard announced in a press release Monday night The board will also hire an outside production agency to produce two Alive on 25 street festival events this summer and the Halloween Fest on Oct Resolutions taking both actions have been added to the Town Board’s agenda for tonight’s meeting The decision to conduct forensic audits of the BIDMA’s finances in the last two fiscal years came after the board reviewed “certain financial records provided by the Business Improvement District Management Association (BIDMA) for 2023 2024 and the proposed budget for 2025,” Hubbard said,  “and at the advice of our Financial Administrator and Town Attorney’s office.” The resolution on tonight’s agenda authorizes a retainer agreement with PKF O’Connor Davies to conduct the forensic audits.  A forensic audit is a detailed investigatory audit often undertaken in preparation for litigation according to the American Institute of CPAs “The BIDMA is a not-for-profit entity funded almost entirely with taxpayer monies the Town Board has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure all dollars are being spent appropriately,” Hubbard said in the press release “The BIDMA has offered full transparency throughout this budget approval process and has nothing to hide,” BIDMA vice president Gary Hygom said in a statement we consist of a volunteer board of directors comprised of business and nonprofit leaders dedicated to Downtown Riverhead Our focus is and has always been on helping to drive business to and restore our historic Main Street area,” Hygom wrote “We simply desire the Town’s cooperation and support starting with providing the 2025 budget and funding necessary to allow us to work toward our mission.” The Riverhead Business Improvement District is a special taxing district established by the Town of Riverhead in 1990 to benefit properties within the district an area that encompasses most of downtown Riverhead State law requires the town to adopt a district plan and requires a not-for-profit management association to be established for the purpose of carrying out the activities spelled out in the district plan The Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association was formed for that purpose.  The BIDMA issued a statement Friday night announcing that it would “no longer be producing the Alive on 25 street festival and Halloween Fest as the Town of Riverhead has assumed operations for these events.” MORE COVERAGE: BID Management Association announces it will no longer produce Alive on 25 and Halloween Fest That announcement followed a tense discussion at the BIDMA board of directors meeting March 19 between town officials and BIDMA board members regarding the group’s finances which is the governing body of the Business Improvement District has not yet approved a budget or event schedule for 2025 BIDMA officers told town officials at that meeting that without the approval the summer events were at risk of cancellation MORE COVERAGE: Downtown business group at odds with town over budget: Alive on 25 plans ‘frozen’  Also on tonight’s agenda is a resolution authorizing the supervisor to sign a professional services agreement with Main Street Agency/Main Street Productions to plan market and manage two Alive on 25 events (July 18 with fireworks provided by the town trick or treat and Halloween parade.) The draft agreement attached to the resolution states that the town will pay Main Street Agency/Main Street Productions a fee not to exceed $15,000 for all services.  Main Street Agency was founded in 2016 and is owned by Diane Tucci who is currently the Town Board coordinator She will sign the agreement on behalf of the company.  was hired as executive director in July 2019 Tucci was hired as Town Board coordinator in January 2024 The town’s code of ethics does not prohibit the town from doing business with a company owned by a town employee It requires disclosure of an employee’s business interests and prohibits conflicts of interest The disclosure and conflict of interest requirements of the ethics code are acknowledged in the agreement which states that the consultant has complied with its requirements and will seek the opinion of the town’s Board of Ethics if the consultant believes a conflict of interest arises Editor’s note: This story was updated post-publication to add a statement from the Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association received after it was first published 22-year-old Joseph Edler was given an ultimatum: if he wanted to get married he would need to serve his time in Vietnam went to Fort Hamilton and did what any young man in love would do: he pushed up his draft.  “I think two days later I was in the service,” he said.  a longtime Riverhead resident and past commander of the Riverhead VFW post served in Vietnam in 1967 and part of 1968 — the peak of the American involvement in the war the military award presented to service members who have been wounded or killed in action The war had been escalated by President Lyndon Johnson with massive bombing campaigns troop levels were soaring to their 1968 peak of more than half a million The number of American wounded was also sharply rising.  anti-war protests were gaining momentum across the country “They didn’t want me to go,” Edler said of his family.  I basically met friends from Brooklyn and stuff and we got together and went all together,” Edler said Edler went to basic combat training and advanced individual training “You didn’t know where you were going,” Edler said “They gave you a choice,” Edler said: Vietnam or Germany.  They switched them right around,” Elder said Edler was suddenly split from his friends from Brooklyn Edler served in the infantry in 1967 and part of 1968 The beginning of 1968 was the Tet Offensive — the major North Vietnamese military campaign that escalated the war Casualties of American soldiers in Vietnam peaked that year.  He was part of a team that flew in to help and rescue other soldiers.  Edler carried a heavy pack on his back filled with a week and a half’s worth of food and I used to trade one soda for two beers — so I ended up with a six pack.”  “But the only time you could drink it was early in the morning,” Edler said Mosquitoes and leeches were a constant problem and leeches would crawl right up and fall off.” “There were bamboo vipers… and we called them two-step choppers you take another step and you’re going down,” Edler said “There was no fast way of getting any medicine over it.” Edler gets choked up and sheds tears when he talks about the battles where he lost his friends.  Edler and his squad were in a small valley in the jungle “We were getting re-supplied by helicopter So they send up outposts to just make sure we don’t get overrun We went up on one side of a hill,” Edler recalled “I caught the shrapnel right across my middle,” he said he was on a helicopter and was flown to a medical camp Edler and his squad were set up on a hill when his squad was ambushed by the Viet Cong.  and a friend in a foxhole pulled me down,” Edler said Edler quickly returned fire as the mortars fell deafening him and killing the friend who had saved him.  Edler ran up to another hill and was reunited with his sergeant who was injured and had called in a gunship for cover fire and a medivac chopper Edler laid down cover fire and helped the sergeant get into the medivac chopper “I was going back to lay down [fire] — I didn’t know what else to do,” Edler said I can’t leave you out here; get on the chopper.” As the medivac chopper was ready to take off another unit’s sergeant jumped on the chopper and left his men on the battlefield Dozing off in a chair in the military hospital the captain of his company came and woke him They had you down for dead,” he recalled the captain telling him Edler told his superiors of the battle and the actions of the other squad’s sergeant — how he left his men in the battlefield The military police arrested the sergeant for his actions Edler was called upon to identify the bodies of his fallen friends His bravery in the battle earned him the Bronze Star with Valor “Specialist Four Edler’s personal bravery deep concern for the lives of his comrades and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army,” the letter issuing Edler’s Bronze Star said I was getting carried up the hill on the stretcher where he was treated for three months.  “I spent three months in Japan getting shots and medicine I went from 200 and something pounds down to 130 pounds I started feeling a little better,” he said He drank three or four milkshakes a day to get his energy back.  Edler is a religious man and his faith helped him get through the war “I would pray that the war would be over,” he recalled there was no talk about getting out of Vietnam.” He believes surviving his shrapnel injury and later pneumonia was the work of God “Somebody up there is watching over me,” he thought Edler’s remaining time in the service was short the military sent him back to the United States “It was good going home,” Edler said.  the Tet Offensive had damaged remaining public support for the war the first “television war.” The nightly news brought graphic images of burning villages wounded children and civilian suffering into American living rooms.   A growing number of Americans had begun to see the war as not only a strategic mistake Gallup polls at that time showed eroding support: only a slim majority still supported the U.S war effort and a growing number said they thought the U.S 1968 was also a presidential election year and Democratic candidates Robert F Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy both ran strong anti-war campaigns in an attempt to wrest their party’s nomination from incumbent President Lyndon Johnson Growing opposition to the war and evidence that the enemy was far from being defeated led Johnson to end his re-election bid that March there were massive anti-war protests in the streets of Chicago where the Democratic National Convention was being held Violent clashes between protesters and police were televised across the country his first stop on his way home to Brooklyn he and some fellow troops went to a bar to grab a few drinks When the soldiers started to leave the bar they were confronted by a group of people who “started yelling and screaming and spitting at us.” The hippies went back inside,” he said.  He’s a baby killer.’ That was the first one.” The press covering the war in Vietnam “weren’t telling the truth.” troop withdrawals began in June 1969; the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973 military and civilian personnel evacuated the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon on April 30 after North Vietnamese forces began an invasion “I got mad when they pulled us out without even winning the war or losing the war,” Edler said.  He believes the American people didn’t understand the harsh living conditions of the South Vietnamese people “They were good people who were threatened Edler became an assistant drill sergeant at Fort Dix “There was no way I was going back to Vietnam for a second tour,” Edler said “I got the Purple Heart already.” He wasn’t going to press his luck The reception American soldiers got back home was painful and remained that way for a long time.  because they were back here doing nothing.” “I really had no use for them [anti-war protesters] at all when I came back and found out what they were doing and burning the American flags that I fought for “And I think a lot of veterans from Vietnam didn’t like it We got treated like dirt when we came back.” “We didn’t get treated the way World War Two got treated I never wore a hat or anything for years.” He later became involved with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post a senior vice commander and then commander which raises money for state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs.  Edler said the treatment of Vietnam veterans has changed “Since I wore my hat… certain people will buy you breakfast Little kids will thank you for your service.” The death toll of more than 58,000 soldiers makes that clear which he said “should have come back a long time ago.” Military service “teaches you respect It teaches you a lot of different things,” he said Edler hadn’t talked much about his experience in Vietnam until recently The anti-war sentiment and how he was treated after the war kept him silent Even his family didn’t know the stories of his friends who died by his side.  He was quiet about it but he longed to find the family of his buddy Phil and visit his grave he finally got the paperwork with the information on Cirillo and the other three American soldiers who were killed at his side in two separate battles in the winter of 1968.  Then a random encounter at Star Confectionery in 2023 led to fulfilling his wish He ran into a woman who grew up in the same upstate town as Cirillo and a little over a month later he met his buddy’s family and visited his grave PRIOR STORY: Thanks to a chance meeting at iconic Main Street luncheonette, local Vietnam veteran connects with family of fallen Army buddy I don’t think I want to go back,” Edler said “I understand it’s golf courses and hotels and everything all over the place I don’t know if I would want to go back or not.” “I think my life has had enough of Vietnam.”  This is the first in a series of three profiles of local residents who fought in the Vietnam War and one resident who fought against the war MORE COVERAGE: Fifty years after the fall of Saigon: Riverhead and the Vietnam War the last surviving oval track on Long Island Riverhead Raceway is the last remaining oval track on Long Island It is part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series circuit and the only NASCAR stock car track in the New York metropolitan area The raceway opened as a dirt track in 1951 and operated as a dirt track through 1954 The quarter-mile oval track was first paved in 1955 Ed and Clara Hawkins of Coram owned the track in the 1960s and in the 1970s leased it to a few different operators “Tom Galan was perhaps the most successful,” Riverhead Raceway announcer Bob Finan said Finan became involved in the sport in 1971 who then leased and operated Islip Speedway leased the track from Hawkins in 1978 and ran Friday nights the Riverhead track went up for sale and the Cromartys bought it That was also about the time the landmark Indian came to Riverhead, Barbara Cromarty said in a September 2012 interview It was one of 12 giant Indians among the numerous larger-than-life plastic sculptures at the Danbury State Fair When the fair shut down and the fairgrounds were sold — the site is home to a shopping mall today — the statues were auctioned off The Indian has become a local landmark and even made an appearance in the hit HBO series “The Sopranos.” When a “for sale” sign went up at the track for the filming of the television show their phone was ringing off the hook with calls from people frantic that the track was being sold The iconic statue was toppled by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 and broke in two It was repaired and back at its post by the end of that year ready to greet racing fans for the 2013 season Riverhead Raceway was honored as Business of the Year by the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce in 2012 The Cromartys sold the raceway to Eddie and Connie Partridge in 2015 After Eddie Partridge’s sudden passing in Virginia in September 2021 — shortly after his #6 modified driven by Ryan Preece won a big event at Richmond Raceway —Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz continued to operate the track Riverhead Raceway remains a staple of family entertainment for racing enthusiasts not only in Riverhead but across all of Long Island The raceway’s 75th anniversary season opener takes place Saturday with the NASCAR “Pack the Track Night” for the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.  according to a Riverhead Raceway press release: The NASCAR Modifieds will headline the “Pack the Track” lid lifter running a 50-lap feature event Mina will be aiming for their third consecutive championship in 2025 Super Pro Trucks (20) and INEX Legend Race Cars (20) will all compliment the NASCAR Modifieds Saturday.  or at the conclusion of the opening night drivers meeting.  The season-long 75th Anniversary celebration continues Sunday afternoon with the annual May Meltdown program.  The NASCAR Street Stocks will take center stage of the matinee that gets underway with qualifying at 12:30 p.m The growing ranks of Street Stock competitors led by 2024 champion Max Handley of Medford will compete under a full NASCAR sanction for the 2025 campaign Also running under full NASCAR sanction for the new season are the Mini Stocks and their defending champion Joe Warren Jr The INEX Bandolero stars of tomorrow are in action in 15-lap feature events for both the Bandit & Outlaw classes.  Mariah Lawrence of Southampton returns to defend her 2024 Truck Enduro championship Kevin Feeney of East Quogue and John Palmeri of Lindenhurst Spectator gates open at 12 noon Sunday for the May Meltdown The complete 2025 75th Anniversary calendar of events can be viewed at  the Riverhead Raceway website Today marks 50 years since the end of a war so divisive that even half a century later it remains a source of controversy and pain for those who lived through it and the scars of that conflict still run deep The war in Vietnam escalated at a time of rising unrest in the United States amplified by growing casualties and the war’s conduct Of the 2.7 million Americans who served in Vietnam about 25% were drafted—many of them barely out of high school often viewed as a Cold War “proxy war” between the United States and the Soviet Union had its roots in Vietnam’s post-colonial history After the 1954 Geneva Accords divided the country at the 17th parallel pending national elections that never occurred an armed insurgency supported by North Vietnam and led by the Viet Cong was underway in the South claimed North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked a Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin Though damage was minimal and the second incident was later disputed President Lyndon Johnson used it to secure the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave him broad authority to escalate the war without a formal declaration marking the start of full-scale American combat involvement a prolonged bombing campaign targeting North Vietnamese infrastructure and supply lines more than 864,000 tons of bombs were dropped on North Vietnam dropped millions more tons on targets throughout Vietnam a vital supply network that wound through jungle terrain and linked North and South Vietnamese forces dropped an estimated 5.4 million tons of bombs in Indochina—more than the Allies used in all of World War II Yet the bombing failed to achieve its goals North Vietnam’s leadership and population were deeply committed to reunification and remained undeterred modeled on industrial warfare in Europe and Korea proved ill-suited to the guerrilla conflict unfolding in Southeast Asia The cost in civilian lives was staggering: Vietnamese government estimates released in 1995 cited more than 2 million civilian deaths and widespread devastation fueled international condemnation and helped ignite a powerful antiwar movement at home troops faced brutal and disorienting conditions and lack of clear front lines made every patrol perilous used hit-and-run tactics and elaborate tunnel systems to evade and strike inexperienced draftees unprepared for the psychological and physical demands of guerrilla warfare Rules of engagement limited their ability to pursue the enemy into Laos and Cambodia many veterans were not welcomed as heroes but instead encountered protest Their sacrifices and trauma were compounded by a public divided over the very legitimacy of the war they were sent to fight young men who enlisted in the military or were drafted at the height of the war were sent to Vietnam.  One article in The News-Review highlighted the work of George W an Army ammunition storage specialist who was “among the thousands of soldiers working 12-hour shifts seven days a week in a ‘hostile environment’ to build docks and warehouses for military and peacetime use that will make this the largest port in Vietnam.” Perkins was working in Cam Rahn Bay military created one of the most tactically significant military bases during the war Local groups sent packages to troops and charitable causes in Vietnam The Suffolk County Council of the Churches collected used clothing and garden and carpentry tools for the United Clothing Appeal of Church World Service an April 1966 article in the News-Review said Local Girl Scouts collected soap and toys for children living in the village of Hoa Phat The Riverhead VFW Post collected packages to send to Riverhead service members in Vietnam in time for Christmas 1966 The Suffolk Red Cross provided families to tape recorded messages and send them to servicemen overseas.  Columns in The News-Review announced when local men were shipped to Vietnam and when they returned from their military service; and announced promotions and commendations received by local soldiers the newspaper noted when local soldiers were involved in heavy combat.  Four of those soldiers died.  He was an aviation hydraulic mechanic on board the USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin He was one of 134 men killed in a fire and series of chain-reaction explosions after a rocket was discharged on the flight deck due to an electrical power surge “Richard was a very serious and hard working young man He often worked three part-time jobs while still in high school,” his half-brother Commander Charles Zuhoski of South Jamesport Zuhoski’s F8 Crusader was shot down in July 1967 and he parachuted from his plane He was captured by the North Vietnamese and held prisoner for almost six years Zuhoski was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14 His motorcade was greeted by thousands of people most waving flags and signs with welcome messages lining Route 25 from Calverton to Jamesport The following week he was honored with a ceremony and parade in his honor in downtown Riverhead The parade drew more than 2,000 people.  Zuhoski snuffed out the eternal flame on the World War I Memorial that stands on the corner of Court and West Main streets The flame had been lit a month after he was shot down and was to burn until every Riverhead member of the armed services returned home according to a Newsday article about the ceremony.  “The recent double tragedy has brought the home vicinity into closer rapport with the Vietnamese War in which so much American manhood Hopefully it may serve also to bring into sharper focus for local people the necessity for that involvement; the demand for a forceful and practical approach to its execution; and most particularly the need for total awareness of its aftermath.” He was an infantryman who was killed in action in the Hau Nghia Province by gun or small arms fire according to the Vietnam Veterans Virtual Wall “Frank Tinsley was just like a brother to me,” Thomas Gallo Sr “He was my friend and will remain my friend for the rest of my life 1969 during a rescue mission in search of two downed American pilots Langhorn was in the Pleiku Province when he threw himself on a live grenade to save the lives of wounded soldiers he was attempting to rescue from an enemy attack Langhorn was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor — the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S A fellow soldier reported that Langhorn’s last words before throwing his body on the grenade were: “Someone’s got to care.” including a bronze bust in front of the former Town Hall on Howell Avenue erected in 1993 Other honors in his name include the United States Post Office on West Main Street the veterans wall in Riverhead High School the road where Langhorn lived in Riverhead MORE COVERAGE: Lessons in heroism: the life—and death—of Riverhead’s Medal of Honor recipient Students at Pulaski Street Intermediate School in Riverhead — the same building Langhorn attended high school in — learn about Langhorn’s service every year during a memorial ceremony and essay contest.  of Riverhead was killed in action on May 13 1969 while on a medivac mission in the Thua Thien Province Walters was the crew chief of an Army rescue helicopter that evacuated downed fliers and wounded soldiers; his helicopter crashed during the medivac mission of Riverhead was killed in action on May 17 Meyer died from multiple fragment wounds trying to remove an explosive charge from a mortar launcher Meyer and Walters “brought the Vietnamese conflict closer” to home the Riverhead News Review wrote in a May 29 sorrow of this kind spills into the community and is felt by all,” the editorial said.  “Wayne Meyer and James Walters died heroically their families and their country,” the editorial added “Why our young men must die fighting in Vietnam is not important at this moment the fact that the entire community is drawn closer and offers solace to the Meyer and Walters families While the war brought demonstrations to college campuses and cities according to a review of articles printed in the News-Review from 1963 to 1970.  75 people attended the “Vigil for Peace in Vietnam” in front of Rep Pike’s office and stretched the length of the street to Main Street in Riverhead.” The protest would be repeated that Saturday and was not sponsored by a “particular established group,” the paper reported a Democrat from Riverhead who served in Congress from 1961 to 1979 and was a veteran of the World War II pacific theater was generally supportive of Johnson’s Vietnam policy but disagreed with certain military tactics One participant in the vigil in front of Pike’s office was Mrs who wrote a letter in The News-Review opposing the war a few weeks later She had attended the vigil in front of Pike’s office for “the past nine Saturdays” and promised to continue the vigil “indefinitely,” the letter said “I feel empathy for the young men here who must go out to Vietnam to kill or be killed I feel that the public expression of concern of many thousands of people in this country might help to change the policy of our country,” Parzen wrote “I do not believe that war and violence can solve the problems that face the peoples of the world.”  “I know that as long as this war in Vietnam continues the world will make little progress in its search for alternatives to violence in the solution of its problems,” the letter continues “I do not believe that we in this country will make much progress toward solving the problems of minority groups as long as this war goes on since the $30 billion a year spent in Vietnam is badly needed to tackle the problems here at home.” Riverhead students held an anti-war demonstration at the high school on Oct It was a part of a massive nationwide demonstration known as the National Vietnam Moratorium “Assisted by two adults from Stony Brook University marched on the school grounds and area close to the school,” the paper reported “Their ranks swelled gradually until approximately 400 students became involved Branching out into the street they asked watching merchants if their actions were approved and indicated another march later in the week.”  Principal N Shaffran informed the demonstrators that if they did not return to class they risked suspension and if they continued on the school grounds they were subject to arrest,” the paper reported.  “Stating ‘this is so new to us but we are deadly opposed to the war,’ the students peacefully withdrew,” The News-Review wrote Another insight into Riverhead resident’s opinions of the Vietnam War was The News-Review’s Quizzing Lensman column which asked people in public places questions submitted by readers A few of these man-on-the street-style interviews were about the Vietnam War five Riverhead men who were asked whether there should be an early pullout of U.S troops from Vietnam voiced support for the war or the Nixon administration’s position on it I don’t,” the column quotes Stark as saying we would leave South Vietnam at the mercy of the Communists.” the Quizzing Lensman would ask five different men whether they supported Nixon’s withdrawal of 25,000 U.S “I think if we have a withdrawal we should withdraw all the way As it became clear in April 1975 that South Vietnam was about to be overrun by the North President Gerald Ford said in a speech it was time “to unify to bind up the nation’s wounds…and begin a great national reconciliation.” As documentary filmmaker Ken Burns observed in the introduction to “The Vietnam War: An Intimate History,” (2017) which he co-authored with Geoffrey C we have been unable to put that war behind us The deep wounds it inflicted on our nation The book was based on a documentary series produced 10 years earlier “can make the tragedy of the Vietnam War all right those who died and those who participated in the war against the war.” In upcoming profiles of three local residents who fought in the war and one who fought against it heroism and sacrifice as we do our best to tell their stories Joe Edler: ‘Somebody up there is watching over me’: ex-Riverhead VFW commander recalls service in Vietnam An oxygen concentrator at a Riverhead nursing home caught fire early this morning prompting the evacuation of some residents from their rooms due to smoke conditions in part of the building Riverhead firefighters responded to a call for a structure fire at Acadia Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on Woodcrest Avenue shortly after 6 a.m Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire in the oxygen concentrator machine with extinguishers Riverhead Fire Department Chief Pete Kurzyna said.  though one resident and five staff members were transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment due to smoke inhalation Riverhead Town Fire Marshal Andrew Smith said in a phone interview this afternoon Most of the residents of the A wing of the building where the machine caught fire in a resident’s room had to be evacuated due to smoke conditions The fire department ventilated the wing to clear the smoke First Assistant Chief Sean Brennan was first on scene and commanded the fire department’s operations “The fire department had it controlled within minutes,” Smith said “They did a good job evacuating everyone and getting them to a safe area in another part of the building,” he said.  The fire was contained in the room where it started It did not do much damage to the room.  The TRUAIRE-5 oxygen concentrator that caught fire today was recalled by the manufacturer The unit in question had been involved in “seven incidents of melting and fire” during its use 26 recall notice provided to RiverheadLOCAL by the fire marshal The recall applies to units manufactured between Nov within serial number range: JA2311000001-JA2312000740 China voluntarily recalled the units within that serial number range.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the recall notice on Feb. 5 A representative of Acadia Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation could not be reached for comment today The Riverhead fire marshal said he checked all other oxygen concentrators at the nursing home to make sure no other units of the recalled machine were on site The only unit of the recalled model in the serial number range was the one that caught on fire this morning The fire marshal said he also reached out to Peconic Bay Medical Center to make sure the hospital was aware of the recall.  An oxygen concentrator is “intended to provide  supplemental oxygen to patients with respiratory disorders by separating nitrogen from room air by way of a molecular sieve,” according to the manufacturer The devices are commonly used in a patient’s home for this purpose Anyone with a TruAire-5 Oxygen Concentrator at home should check the serial number as illustrated in the recall notice below on page 3 The executive director of downtown Riverhead’s tax-funded business group has left the organization after its board determined it could no longer fund her full-time position the executive director of the Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association since 2019 according to a press release Tuesday from the BIDMA’s board.  The loss of town funding and “delays in this year’s tax fund distribution forces BIDMA to release its executive director the only full time employee of the district and mitigate any negative impact the restructuring may have on the organization’s progress,” the press release states Verity was a part-time employee from 2019-2022 and became a full-time employee in 2023 after the Town Board began supplementing the BIDMA’s budget with additional funds the town provided $42,000 — roughly a quarter of the nonprofit’s budget — in addition to the money collected in the special taxing district that funds the BIDMA and professionalism,” the press release said Verity’s vision rebranded Riverhead BID to Downtown Riverhead (downtownriverhead.org) Her leadership and dedication consistently strengthened downtown Riverhead’s visibility and impact through outreach volunteerism and cultivating vital business and civic relationships.” Verity thanked currently BIDMA board members for their support and the community for “allowing me to be a part of Riverhead’s journey.” “I’m grateful for the five years I’ve had the privilege of serving downtown Riverhead,” Verity wrote memories of our achievements and the relationships we’ve built will continue to inspire me.” Verity’s salary as full-time executive director was approximately $90,000 Her salary was $50,000 at the beginning of last year but was increased in April 2024 to retain her employment at the BIDMA after announced her intention to leave Verity was already on unpaid leave because the BIDMA lacked the money to pay her salary BIDMA board members said their top budget priority was to retain Verity as executive director the budget cuts made it impossible for the organization to keep Verity on the payroll BIDMA Vice President Gary Hygom said in a phone interview Tuesday morning The BIDMA board is still working on its 2025 budget and the executive director role is expected to revert to a part-time position The town has refused to approve the BIDMA’s 2025 budget citing the group’s lack of audits for 2023 and 2024 Waski said last month that obtaining financial information from the organization for past years was “like pulling teeth.” The Town Board approved a forensic audit into the group’s finances last month Verity and the nonprofit’s board members — composed of volunteers who own and manage downtown businesses and properties — have denied any wrongdoing and said they have complied with all the town’s requests for financial information.  Waski was critical of Verity during last month’s BIDMA meeting questioning her use of the nonprofit’s taxpayer funds for dining expenses and her employment outside of the BIDMA.  Waski did not immediately return a call requesting comment Tuesday Middle Country Road between Wading River Manor Road and Kay Road is closed due to a motor vehicle accident in the area earlier this afternoon Police will advise when the road is reopened A top administrator from the Longwood Central School District is expected to be appointed tonight by the Riverhead Board of Education as the next superintendent of the Riverhead Central School District the assistant superintendent for human resources at Longwood is the board’s choice for the district’s top administrative position according to a contract on tonight’s school board agenda.  The superintendent is the chief administrative officer of the school district and is responsible for its day-to-day operations making recommendations to trustees on employment actions Hagan will receive an annual salary of $260,000 The district will pay 80% towards the cost of Hagan’s health insurance premium provide full dental benefits and contribute $10,000 annually to Hagan’s retirement account Hagan will also be allowed to buy-back up to 10 unused vacation days per year and receive a $600 a month car allowance and $100 a month cell phone allowance The term of the contract is for three years In addition to his administrative role at Longwood Hagan is also an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University and Fordham University where he teaches courses related to education a firm that digitizes compliance-related documents Hagan became the assistant superintendent for human resources at Longwood in September 2020 Prior to that he was the director of technology learning and instruction at the East Hampton School District for seven years His previous roles include a district-level administrator an assistant principal and a social studies teacher according to his LinkedIn profile.   The district brought in two retired superintendents to lead the district in the interim while they searched for permanent replacements.  School board president James Scudder said in an interview Monday that the board had made its selection and that the individual would be present at Wednesday’s school board meeting The district received 13 applications for the superintendent position; there were four rounds of interviews The superintendent search was conducted with the assistance of Eastern Suffolk BOCES.  Scudder did not return a text message requesting comment for this article Hagan declined to comment through an email from Riverhead schools’ public relations firm which said he wanted to wait until after his appointment by the school board The school board will still need to find permanent hires for three top central administration posts currently held by interim employees: the assistant superintendent for business; the assistant superintendent for human resources and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction School board members have said they want the new superintendent to have input in the hiring of those posts Riverhead’s next superintendent of schools got a warm welcome from the Board of Education and school community last night The board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Robert Hagan to the post is currently the assistant superintendent for human resources in the Longwood Central School District working as a middle school and high school social studies teacher MORE COVERAGE: Top Longwood administrator is school board’s pick for Riverhead superintendent “I believe that the Riverhead school district is a magnificent place,” Hagan said in a phone interview this morning “There are so many positive aspects of the Riverhead community It’s large and diverse and has business opportunities,” he said referring to opportunities for students.  He explained: “Opportunities for not only internships but also experiences that bring together the educational piece and the environment He said he appreciated the close proximity of Harry B Ward Technical Center and the eastern campus of Suffolk County Community College.  The geographic size and location of the district present  “Because of the sheer size of the district you have everything from a rural community to a business district that provides those opportunities for students,” Hagan said Hagan said he realizes he’s coming into the district at a critical time taking the reins from Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich who came to Riverhead after it went through a period of turmoil he acknowledged.  “I think that’s exciting whether it’s to build on something or to work through things There are going to be challenges as we go forward,” he said.  His goal is to “listen and learn and see where people are at and just build on a great foundation that has been put in place,” Hagan said “The thing that’s very exciting is being able to work with not only the students and the faculty and administrators so that the Riverhead school district can flourish and will flourish “I want to make sure that we’re continuing to move in that direction Hagan commended Pedisich’s work as interim superintendent and Maryanne Cartisano’s work as interim assistant superintendent for business Board of Education President James Scudder announced last night He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Fordham University master of science in secondary education at Dowling College and a Ph.D in Educational Leadership and Administration at Fordham University He is married and the father of two daughters “The board has worked diligently throughout the superintendent selection process to ensure a smooth leadership transition,” Scudder said at last night’s meeting “During a comprehensive and far-reaching search we wanted to guarantee that our next superintendent would acclimate well to our district’s identity and structure and continue to build upon the great strides we have made in the past several years,” Scudder said.  Hagan and engaging with the remarkable expertise and enthusiasm he will bring as we further cultivate Riverhead’s outstanding culture of achievement,” Scudder said last night “We will continue to coordinate to ensure a seamless leadership transition.” Scudder thanked Pedisich “for all of her dedicated efforts to strengthen our district and enhance experiences for our students.” She was hired as interim superintendent in October 2023 after former superintendent August Tornatore resigned after a leave of absence.  Pedisich demonstrated exceptional leadership and devoted herself to ensuring the growth and success for all of our students schools and our community,” Scudder said.  Pedisich retired in 2022 from her position as superintendent in the Three Village Central School District She is paid $1,200 per day as interim superintendent “It has been an honor for all of us to work alongside her and we express our deepest gratitude to her,” Scudder said He has signed a three-year contract with the district 11: 13 a.m.) Voters approved the Riverhead Free Library budget April 8 by a vote of 200 to 193 according to library Director Kerrie McMullen-Smith in which three candidates sought election to three vacant seats on the board of trustees and incumbents William Sandback aand Carlos Alvarez were re-elected with 125 votes and 124 votes respectively “We are incredibly grateful to our residents for their continued support and trust in the work we do at RFL,” McMullen said in an email this morning Original post: Riverhead Free Library’s proposed $5.54 million operating budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is up for a vote today at the library Voters will also elect three members to the library’s board of trustees.  The proposed operating budget for 2025-2026 is a 6.76% increase over the current year’s operating budget an increase of 5.61% over the current year’s levy resulting in a tax rate of $6.84 per $1,000 of assessed value according to documents published by the library.  See the library’s message to the community and summary of the proposed budget The library is governed by a nine-member board of trustees each of whom is elected to a three-year term The board of trustees is responsible for proposing an annual budget and hiring a library director who is responsible for administration and operation of the library The trustee candidates in this year’s election are Carlos Alvarez Alvarez and Sandback are each seeking a second term.  The budget vote and trustee election takes place today from 10 a.m.to 8 p.m All residents of the Riverhead Central School District for at least 30 days who are U.S citizens and at least 18 years of age are eligible to vote.  The library last month acknowledged that it was negotiating the dissolution of its partnership with Friends of the Riverhead Free Library a nonprofit organization founded in 1958 to raise money for the library The friends group is governed by a separate board of directors The split resulted over differences concerning the allocation of funds raised by the nonprofit group The library and the group disagreed over whether all funds raised by the group must be spent on library needs The group has sponsored scholarships for graduating Riverhead High School seniors and has purchased school supplies for Riverhead students in need READ PRIOR STORY: Riverhead library and its Friends group split, so Yellow Barn won’t open as usual next month The funds raised by the group “were never a core part of RFL’S annual budget,” the library said in a statement posted to its website and sent to RiverheadLOCAL for publication as a letter to the editor. The group raised money by book sales at the Yellow Barn It sponsored certain concerts and programs at the library Library Director Kerrie McMullen-Smith said the library is hoping another support group can be established “that understands their role,” and that the Yellow Barn can be reopened this summer.  Correction: This story was amended to correct an error in the original The statement that the budget would require a supermajority vote for passage because it exceeded the state real property tax levy limit was incorrect Only a simple majority vote was required to approve the levy amount according to the Office of the State Comptroller A proposed cannabis dispensary on Route 58 met resistance from members of the Riverhead Zoning Board of Appeals during a hearing Thursday night at Town Hall a partner in the Riverhead law firm Twomey presented the application for a variance to a skeptical ZBA and was peppered with questions and counterpoints by two members of the board and the board’s counsel Deputy Town Attorney Annemarie Prudenti.  In the midst of one back-and-forth exchange during which she found herself repeatedly interrupted and was pressed by a board member to simply answer yes or no “May I please respond in more than just a simple yes or no because I don’t feel like this is a cross examination Brian Stark Enterprises LLC holds a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license and proposes to locate an adult-use dispensary at 1086 Old Country Road The company bought the property in January 2024 [Editor’s note: Brian Stark is not the same person nor any relation to the local business owner with the same name.] While the site is located within one of the designated commercial corridors in town where a cannabis dispensary is an allowed use it is located less than 1,000 feet of the property line of Riverhead High School.  Town code requires dispensaries to be located at least 1,000 feet from any school measured from property line to property line Since the school property is only 735 feet south of the proposed site The ZBA has authority to grant exceptions to zoning rules such as minimum distances and property sizes Reichert argued the dispensary would not impact the character of the community or the environment She emphasized that the applicant has a state license and that the property complies with all New York State regulations designed to minimize security risks and odors cannabis products cannot be sold to anyone under 21 years old State regulations also ban dispensaries from marketing to minors and prohibit locations on the same street and within 500 feet of a school There is “no visual or physical connection between the school property and the applicant’s property,” Reichert said.  She noted that between the two properties Walking on public property from the school to the site — along Harrison Avenue and Route 58 — would be a nearly three-quarters-of-a-mile walk ZBA member John Porchia III challenged that characterization Students often cut through private property to visit shopping centers “There’s a pathway by the baseball field — we’ve all seen it,” Porchia said Marijuana has “become a problem in schools,” he said They’re getting exposed to marijuana They’re bringing the marijuana to school,” Porchia said “It’s an ongoing problem… it’s not really good for the community [or] good for schools We’re trying to distance kids from using marijuana while they’re in school,” Porchia said Having them pass a dispensary on their way to lunch is exposing them to it ZBA member Ralph Gazzillo echoed Porchia’s concerns emphasizing the town’s intent to shield children from marijuana exposure by setting the 1,000-foot buffer “I think it’s a speculative harm here to say that allowing a dispensary 735 feet away will lead to illegal sales to minors,” she said Licensed dispensaries are strictly regulated Customers must show a valid government ID to enter and violations could result in the loss of a dispensary’s license “The opportunity for a minor to purchase marijuana is very slim,” she said Gazzillo pushed back: “If it’s so difficult for a child to go in and purchase marijuana why not put it next to the school?  You basically told me it’s bulletproof That’s why the 1,000-foot rule is there,” he said Reichert compared the cannabis rules to liquor regulations noting that New York bars liquor stores from opening on the same street within 500 feet of a school Reichert argued that only the state controls cannabis dispensary locations who drafted the town’s cannabis code for the Town Board saying the town has the right to set stricter local rules under its zoning powers Porchia also pointed out that the applicant was aware of the 1,000-foot rule before buying the property Reichert countered that seeking a variance is an established legal process and that the requested variance is “not substantial.” Reichert said cited supporting case law in her memo you don’t believe this,” Gazzillo said “When an applicant comes here to seek variance relief this board engages in an equitable balancing test just like any other applicant that’s here tonight is seeking a variance from the strict appliance application of one of the dimensional regulations or other aspects of the zoning code,” Reichert said The board reserved its decision for a later date Riverhead Town adopted its cannabis code in November 2022, by a 3-2 vote of the Town Board. Originally the code made very few sites in the town available for the new use. The board amended the code in March 2024 to relax some of its restrictions but retained requirements for 1,000-foot setbacks from schools and residential uses the historic carriage house converted into a funky and beloved used book store at the Riverhead library The Yellow Barn is owned and maintained by the library but the book store has been operated by the nonprofit Friends of the Riverhead Free Library and the library has decided to end its relationship with the Friends group.  The Friends have removed all the books from the Yellow Barn and put them in storage Friends of the Riverhead Free Library board president Linda Prizer said in a phone interview yesterday The organization will be donating the books to other nonprofits and veterans groups The books were donated to the Friends and sold by the group’s volunteers who staffed the Yellow Barn each spring through fall The group raised about $25,000 a year through book sales Riverhead Free Library Director Kerrie McMullen-Smith said yesterday “the library will be exploring opportunities to partner with another not-for-profit organization to assist with book sales,” which the library hopes will begin again by summer The Yellow Barn operation isn’t the only casualty of the less-than-amicable break-up The concerts and programs sponsored by the Friends group with funds raised by the group through book sales That includes the popular Piano Plus concert series which has been funded the past two years by a $10,000 grant from Suffolk County The Friends will return this year’s $10,000 grant to the county “The library decided to disassociate itself from us,” Prizer said “Why — when we give the library $25,000 to $30,000 a year and have all these programs that we sponsor McMullen-Smith said in a phone interview yesterday that the decision came “after years of effort to reconcile differences and encourage an alignment with them as far as the goals and priorities of the library.” “We’ve come to the necessary conclusion that we can’t reconcile our differences,” McMullen-Smith said “While the friends have supported the library in the past their focus has increasingly diverged from fully supporting our library programs in need and this divergence has made it necessary for the library to move forward with alternative plans to ensure that all community support directly benefits library patrons,” McMullen-Smith said And we want to work with a group that when the community gives support to our group we benefit from it.” The library wants to “ensure that every dollar that’s raised goes directly toward supporting the library and not other things.” McMullen-Smith said the library is hoping another support group can be established “that understands their role.”  Prizer said some funds raised by the Friends support scholarships for Riverhead High School students as well as purchasing school supplies for Riverhead students in need Those decisions are made by the group’s seven-member board The group has more than 100 members and they would like to continue to sponsor the scholarships and school supply donations but it won’t be as the Friends of the Riverhead Free Library The Friends of the Riverhead Free Library was established in 1958 It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and a New York State registered charity In response to a question about the recent fundraising campaign for the restoration of the Yellow Barn McMullen-Smith said that was undertaken by the library The money raised by that campaign went into a dedicated fund set aside for Yellow Barn restoration and maintenance The library and the Friends group are still “at the table” finalizing an agreement to formally dissolve their partnership She said she regrets that it’s come to this but believes it’s in the best interests of the library in the long run Fire did heavy damage to a home on Roanoke Avenue and sent one occupant to the hospital with lacerations to the head and burns to the face Other occupants were treated at the scene for minor injuries The Riverhead Fire Department responded to the call about a single-family home on fire at 1447 Roanoke Avenue Second Assistant Chief Sean Brennan said today There was “heavy fire on the front of the house The fire was already showing itself when we got there,” Brennan said All the occupants came out of the home as firefighters arrived “We knocked that out pretty quick,” Brennan said “The fire was extinguished and under control within 20 minutes.” Brennan said one person was transported to the hospital with lacerations to the head and burns on their face Other occupants of the home received treatment for minor injuries The Riverhead Fire Marshal is investigating the fire There were a lot of occupants in the home and the town’s code enforcement division is also involved Riverhead firefighters “did an outstanding job,” Brennan said “My crew always performs in a highly effective and professional manner It’s very easy to be chief when I have a crew and manpower behind me like that,” Brennan said The Riverhead Fire Department was assisted by the Jamesport Fire Department and Westhampton Beach Fire Department Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Riverhead Police were also on the scene Here’s a rundown of significant actions taken by the Riverhead Town Board at its last regular meeting on April 15 at Riverhead Town Hall See prior story: Split Town Board backs The Jazz Loft for potential sale of historic Vail-Leavitt Music Hall (April 17) See prior story: Riverhead to order forensic audits of BIDMA group, hire consultant to run 2025 downtown events (April 15) See related story: Promoter drops bid to extend EPCAL drag racing season (April 23) See prior story: Riverhead eyes program to recycle and reuse oyster shells in waterways (March 27) Approved the following special event applications: See the board’s full agenda for its April 15 meeting on the Town of Riverhead website. PSEG Long Island has announced upcoming storm hardening work in Aquebogue Jamesport and Riverhead intended to improve the reliability of the energy grid in the area The work will begin at the end of April and is expected to last approximately two months the utility said in a press release Thursday.  PSEG-LI said the storm-hardening improvements include: Stronger poles: PSEG-LI will replace some existing utility poles with stronger more durable poles that are capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph The new poles will be approximately the same height as the existing poles have a stronger base and will be placed no more than 5 feet from the current pole locations PSEG Long Island will actively coordinate the removal of old poles with other utilities and municipalities Narrow profiles: To help wires deflect falling limbs instead of catching them PSEG-LI will install shorter cross arms atop some poles Stronger wire: Current wire will be replaced with more resilient and durable wire Upgrading: PSEG-LI will upgrade or replace worn equipment as necessary Crews will be working on the following roads in Aquebogue The work is part of PSEG Long Island’s Power On program to prepare the grid for extreme weather in order to maintain reliable service for approximately 1.2 million customers “more than 420 miles of the most vulnerable distribution mainline and branch line circuits on Long Island and in the Rockaways have been storm hardened with stronger poles thicker wire and other modern equipment,” PSEG-LI said in the press release These investments have strengthened the system so that fewer customers experience outages and The main lines feed the many branch lines that power the homes and businesses in individual communities Riverhead Town has cut ties with the master developers tapped in 2022 to redevelop the blighted area near the Long Island Rail Road station with housing and shops The Town Board at its meeting Tuesday voted to rescind two resolutions related to transit-oriented development projects in the area on a resolution rescinding the previous actions But while the master developer agreement was approved by the Town Board “it was never fully executed and delivered and therefore is not a binding agreement on any part,” the resolution says 26 letter from RXR and Georgica Green Ventures that was the impetus for the town’s decision (RiverheadLOCAL has filed a Freedom of Information Law request seeking a copy of the letter.) Town officials offered no details about whether the agreement was signed by either party The developers had proposed the construction of a five-story mixed-use building with 243 apartments and commercial spaces on the town-owned two-acre parking lot opposite the train station and a condominium complex on a Suffolk County-owned parking lot on the corner of Griffing Avenue and Railroad Avenue Council Member Ken Rothwell said rescinding the resolutions gives the town a “clean slate.” It’s “been too long” since the Town Board originally designated the joint master developers and the letter was the straw that broke the camel’s back.     that’s basically saying that [the developers are] not responsible for the development,” Rothwell said “And if they’re not taking responsibility to get going and we don’t have agreement do we put out a new RFP [request for proposals] or do we base it off of the pre existing RFP that was done on it?” Rothwell said “I think that’s where we’re going but we’re anxious to get development So I know that Dawn Thomas has been great,” he said of the town’s top planning and economic development official She is “trying to put together a plan on how to go forward.” MORE COVERAGE: Riverhead’s transit-oriented development project being reworked three years after debut Rothwell said the town has seen “no movement from RXR Representatives of RXR and Georgica Green Ventures did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday “We really want to get these projects going because we need a better tax base,” Rothwell said “So we’re sad that we had to raise taxes this year So we have to start picking different economic development areas where we can raise a better tax base we really need to get something moving there.” The Town Board in 2021 adopted an overlay zoning district for the area around the train station to incentivize new development The overlay district allows increased density and greater variety of uses in the area just one building has received approval so far using that overlay district a five-story mixed-use apartment building still under construction on the corner of Osborn Avenue and Court Street ran into legal and financial difficulties resulting in numerous liens An investor in the project said he has taken it over and will complete it Developer of Riverhead apartment buildings mired in debt, records of lawsuits and liens show Investors taking over stalled Riverhead apartment project, without troubled original developer Riverhead Town’s Director of Economic Development & Planning Dawn Thomas said the 2022 resolutions were rescinded “to reconfigure the project in any way different than what we were originally discussing.”  She said the town has not yet decided whether it will designate a new master developer for the area We’ve worked very hard on these projects,” Thomas said “It’s just the developer’s analysis that something different would be better there.” She declined to elaborate further Rothwell said board members have been tasked with generating ideas for the project across from the train station “The Town Board is different now than it was in 2022 was asked to write up a vision of what they’d like to see there and then we’re going to have another collective discussion about that,” Rothwell said “And I think that’s a great way to move forward.” The board’s action “sends a message to developers that we are ready We’re not sitting idle,” Rothwell said Riverhead published a request for qualifications seeking proposals for the TOD redevelopment in March 2021 The Town Board in June 2021 established a committee to review and rate the proposals and a month later hired a consultant The committee and consultant reviewed six proposals received by the town and selected three finalists. The committee recommended RXR/Georgica Green Ventures “based on its proven record with joint ventures and extensive experience with large-scale transformative transit-oriented developments,” according to the Feb 2022 resolution designating RXR and GGV master developers Riverhead Fire Department installed new chiefs last night at the fire district’s monthly Board of Commissioners meeting Outgoing Chief William (JR) Renten passed the chief’s badge to First Assistant Chief Piotr (Pete) Kurzyna who was sworn in as the new chief of the department during a brief ceremony at RFD headquarters Two other assistant chiefs moved up the chiefs’ ladder: First Assistant Chief Sean Brennan and Second Assistant Chief Raymond Jacobs.  Fire Police Patrol Company Ex-Captain Baycan Fideli was sworn in as third assistant chief.  The chiefs collectively are responsible for answering all calls to the fire department which protects an area of approximately 48 square miles the department responded to 1,435 incidents.  Chiefs are elected to a one-year term and traditionally serve two terms in each position Riverhead Police on March 5 arrested 10 people on criminal trespass charges for allegedly trespassing on the LIRR tracks The arrests came after members of the Riverhead Police Department’s Cope Unit working with MTA Police officers in the Hybrid Threat Unit and MTA Right-of-Way Task Force conducted patrols of numerous tracks in Riverhead The patrols were part of an effort to reduce the incidence of train versus pedestrian accidents on railroad tracks in Riverhead There have been 61 train versus pedestrian accidents in Suffolk County since 2020 It is both dangerous and illegal to walk on the tracks Police reported the following arrests on charges of Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree Vasquez and Torres also had outstanding arrest warrants from Riverhead Justice Court The Riverhead Police and MTA Police will continue to conduct future operations on the Railroad Tracks one of the last remaining in the national restaurant chain operating on Long Island according to a sign posted on the restaurant’s doors.  The bar and grill restaurant, previously one of four surviving locations in Nassau and Suffolk, is the latest in the chain to close. Restaurants in Rockville Center and Westbury closed late last year, while other restaurants on Long Island closed earlier in the year, according to the Long Island Press The restaurant is an original tenant at Riverhead Centre While other stores and restaurants in the shopping center came and went which for a period was rebranded as just “Fridays,” remained open and survived economic crises like the Great Recession and the coronavirus shutdown The closure came months after the chain’s parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October to restructure the company The company struggled with financial challenges brought an executive at the company said in a statement at the time.  the entity that operated restaurants in Riverhead and others in New York was named as a debtor in the bankruptcy proceeding TGI Friday’s NY LLC reported a net loss of $213,745 from Nov according to a document filed in bankruptcy court on Monday TGI Fridays did not return an email or phone call requesting comment before this article was published A former Riverhead High School teacher who resigned earlier this month was arrested and charged yesterday in New Jersey after being accused of engaging in sexual acts through video chat with two children online and asking the victims for nude photos Prosecutors in Bergen County said Ryan McCaffrey, 37, posed as a minor and used the screen name “Asherkonlon2” to request nude photos and engage in sexual acts while video chatting separately with the two victims, both under 13 years old, according to the Daily Voice Law enforcement conducted a raid of McCaffrey’s home in Ridge on Jan 17 as a part of the investigation into the two incidents McCaffrey resigned from the Riverhead Central School District on Feb 5; the charges are unrelated to McCaffrey’s work as a teacher in the district or any interactions he had with students Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich said in a letter to the school district community on Saturday sent through ParentSquare McCaffrey surrendered himself to authorities and was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault two counts of third-degree child endangerment McCaffrey was taken to the Bergen County Jail and will remain there until future court proceedings McCaffrey was a high school social studies teacher in the Riverhead Central School District the head coach for the junior varsity boy’s soccer team and taught social studies in the evening school program according to Riverhead Board of Education records.  McCaffrey resigned from his position with the district earlier this month citing personal reasons She called McCaffrey’s alleged actions “deplorable” and wrote that the district will “be cooperating with law enforcement in any ongoing investigations.” based on conversations with law enforcement that none of these charges are related to Mr McCaffrey’s prior work as a teacher in the Riverhead School District or any interactions Mr McCaffrey may have had with any student in his classes or any other child enrolled in the Riverhead School District,” Pedisich wrote “We understand news of this sort is upsetting to parents our Riverhead School District faculty and staff and the greater Riverhead community,” Pedisich wrote “The safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority.” led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit Any parent or guardian who determines that their child received inappropriate communications from the online screen name “Asherkonlon2” should contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tip Line at (201) 226-5532 Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation The Riverhead Central School District has notified the community it will strictly adhere to New York State guidance that “immigration enforcement actions cannot occur on school grounds without proper legal documentation.”  The statement came two days after the Trump administration announced it was ending a ban in place since 2011 against federal immigration agencies making arrests at schools In a letter to the school community sent out through the district’s Parent Square communications app and posted on the district website this afternoon the district said it would adhere to the state guidance “in the strictest sense” and would call on its “legal counsel to affirm the validity of any supposed legal documentation brought to the District by any federal agency before we commit to compliance.” The letter was signed by Board of Education President James Scudder and Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich “To address the serious concerns raised by the new White House executive orders the Riverhead School District is taking pre-emptive steps to support our students and their families,” the letter said “We are providing resources to help families understand their rights We are bringing in our legal counsel on how to respond appropriately to the challenges that might arise relative to our immigrant student population including the potential of ICE officers appearing at our schools’ doorsteps,” Scudder and Pedisich wrote.   our policies to protect the privacy of student information Under no circumstances will personally identifiable student information be disclosed without proper legal justification and only then with the approval of our District’s legal counsel We are committed to remaining steadfast and vigilant in upholding these protections.” The district is “deeply committed” to ensuring that its schools “remain a safe and secure haven for all its students “regardless of their immigration status,” the letter said The district is a majority-Hispanic district according data provided to RiverheadLOCAL by district officials which show that 66% of its student body is Hispanic “We realize the new administration’s changes in federal immigration policies including the potential for immigration enforcement in our schools have understandably caused great concern within our Riverhead community,” the officials wrote.  Long Island Regional Coordinator at Rural and Migrant Ministry in Riverhead said President Donald Trump’s executive orders and the announcement that schools churches and hospitals would no longer be exempt from immigration enforcement actions has created an atmosphere of fear in the local community a lot of them,” Sanchez said in a phone interview tonight “Some parents are not sending their children to school “There are a lot of rumors of ICE being seen in the community We are telling people don’t share this information if not confirmed.” “As educators entrusted with the safety of your children while in our classrooms and on our school grounds we fully accept that our foremost responsibility is to create a secure and supportive environment where every child can learn and thrive without fear,” Scudder and Pedisich wrote.  “Our schools are not just centers for education; they should be trusted spaces where our students and their families feel protected We believe that any action that disrupts or interferes in any way with this sanctity undermines our educational mission and promise to our students their families and our community,” they wrote A Riverhead parent who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern for her family’s safety said her 11-year-old son is afraid for his friends She said hers is not an immigrant family but they live in an immigrant community He goes to school with them and plays with them in the neighborhood.  ‘They are going to come and take my friends now He heard schools are not safe anymore since this came down,” she said “This is a huge disruption to his education.” New York State law and federal protections guarantee the right to a free public education for all children regardless of citizenship or immigration status according to the district officials.  “These laws reaffirm that our schools must serve as places of inclusion and safety contrary to whatever executive orders may be issued from the White House,” Scudder and Pedisich wrote.  “We are also cooperating with our state leaders to ensure that our District policies and procedures align with best practices for safeguarding our immigrant students,” they wrote.  “The Riverhead School District will always stand in defiance of any initiative that threatens the safety and well-being of any of our students We will continue to advocate for our students and defend their absolute right to an education free from harassment It is our sacred vow to ensure that every child in our care feels safe The Riverhead Town Board is considering bringing live music and alcoholic beverages to South Jamesport Beach for a select few days this summer Board members said they want to run a pilot concert program at the beach a handful of times this year, and possibly continue or expand the program if it is successful. The idea is similar to a short-lived proposal in 2019, which was nixed shortly after the idea was raised when it ran into opposition from members of the Greater Jamesport Civic Association.  a resident of Jamesport who lives “a stone’s throw from South Jamesport Beach,” raised the idea at the Town Board work session Thursday why can’t we have some type of music a little entertainment down at the beach?” Waski said.  I’m talking about a person or two coming up with a guitar and being able to sing [six] times during the summer we can stop it at any time,” Supervisor Tim Hubbard said A lot of people do go to the beaches in the evening and we should offer something for the evening folks who go down there.” Council Member Bob Kern asked why the town would limit the proposal to only six events Waski said the town should also lift the ban on alcohol at the beach “during the time that the music is playing where people are able to have a glass of wine,” stressing that she meant a single glass of wine It’s very expensive for people to go out and… to go to a vineyard or a brewery,” Waski said and I think that we’re missing a great opportunity for the residents to be able to enjoy more of what we have here to offer.” said there was “complete approval” from the group to allow live music “Everybody loved the idea for South Jamesport,” he said “There was a little concern that we don’t want Woodstock Alhadeff said he isn’t against the idea of alcoholic beverages at the beach but has not discussed the idea with the Beach Advisory Committee said residents would welcome a small concert at the beach which shares property with the East Creek Marina The one concern from boaters is about the usage of bathrooms and I think we as a town have underutilized our beaches in that aspect,” Egan said “So I think that as long as we can control the parking Recreation Superintendent Ray Coyne warned the board of the possibility of blowback from community members alcoholic beverages and music at South Jamesport Beach in 2019 but the town ended up dropping the idea after opposition from the Greater Jamesport Civic Association The concession stand at South Jamesport Beach last year was “extremely successful and received very well” by beachgoers The perception was that kids are going to be down there drinking alcohol and driving drunk — things like that And our [idea] was an acoustic [guitar] with wine,” Coyne said Waski said the plan is “a little bit different because I believe that the suggestion was that there would be music every single weekend and the fear was that it was going to turn into Meschutt” Beach if that’s what you’re into over on the South Fork Assistant Recreation Program Coordinator Ashley Schandel said there have been no parking or bathroom issues for the movie night the department hosts at the beach every summer.  I don’t know if I would go with bring your own because then that’s where there’s no limit on anything,” Schandel said but to get a local vendor” and restrict sales Waski said she would discuss the idea with the town attorney “I just kind of wanted to bring it for discussion to the board and just see what the feel was in the room for it and take it from there,” she said The board also discussed keeping town beaches open longer They agreed to take up a resolution to set beach hours from 6 a.m Town beaches are currently open from sunrise until sunset.  it’s a lot easier to know a time rather than sunrise to sunset because that changes all the time,” said Supervisor Tim Hubbard “They can argue and say the sun is still up I think we’re better off going to a time period.”  Alhadeff said the Beach Advisory Committee was unanimous in the opinion that closing the beaches at sunset is “a terrible idea.” they really are sunset beaches,” Alhadeff said “So people stay for sunset; the vast majority of people stay an hour after sunset.”  Town officials discussed suspending enforcement of beach parking rules in special cases such as when the northern lights are visible in the middle of the night Lifeguards would remain on duty at town beaches during the season from 11 a.m Town beaches open next month and Coyne said he wants to ensure signs there are accurate Only town residents are allowed to purchase beach parking permits The Town Board eliminated beach parking permits for non-residents in 2022 Visitors staying in local hotels can visit town beaches using a special seasonal beach permit purchased by their hotel.  Residents can renew or purchase beach parking permits online and at the Recreation Department office at Town Hall volunteers in Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and volunteers in the Riverhead Wading River Jamesport and Manorville fire departments can receive beach parking permits for free Riverhead Town is moving forward with eminent domain proceedings to buy out the lease of the downtown bar Craft’d and acquire the East Main Street building owned by the Long Island Science Center according to resolutions on the Town Board’s agenda today would allow the town to convey the two buildings on either side of a new town square the centerpiece of Riverhead’s downtown revitalization initiative to private developers for demolition and redevelopment Plans for the town square project include a boutique hotel and condominiums The Long Island Science Center purchased the building at 111 East Main Street in April 2020 for $1.45 million. Then-Supervisor Yvette Aguiar at the time hailed the purchase as a “heart transplant” for downtown Riverhead The science center’s plans for the building unveiled at a press conference in February 2020 would provide space for interactive exhibits and activities Located west of three buildings the town was then negotiating to buy for the town square project the science center would “frame” the town square on the west facing a public space intended to open up the Peconic Riverfront to Main Street Riverhead Town in 2021 purchased the three buildings adjacent to the science center on the east creating a green space that would later be developed as a public plaza The two-story building with two ground-floor storefronts and offices above One of the storefronts was leased to Craft’d when the town bought the building The other storefront is now an office shared by the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce and the Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association which took occupancy after the town bought the building Riverhead authorizes purchase of Main Street buildings to create a town square Town takes title to Main Street buildings for development of town square The Town Board will vote at its meeting this afternoon on two resolutions to schedule public hearings on the eminent domain actions for May 21 at 6 p.m. “at which it will afford a reasonable opportunity for all interested persons to make objections and recommendations.” Eminent domain requires the government to provide “just compensation.” A third resolution on today’s agenda authorizes an agreement with real estate appraiser Goodman-Marks Associates to prepare appraisal reports for both properties Long Island Science Center President Larry Oxman has accused town officials of obstructing the nonprofit’s plan to build a new museum He said officials have blocked necessary permits and repairs to renovate the former Swezey’s Department Store building say the building is severely damaged and poses a “danger to the public.” The town has denied permits to restore the building It seeks to sell or lease the property to a developer with the condition that it be demolished and redeveloped consistent with the town’s downtown revitalization goals — such as a mixed-use condominium and hotel similar to what’s proposed across the town square MORE COVERAGE: L.I. Science Center: Town is obstructing museum plans, as Riverhead inches closer to taking Main Street building the science center’s board of directors said they were “extremely surprised” to learn of the resolutions advancing the eminent domain action “The supervisor instructed the board president to contact his office to set up a meeting Although the science center contacted the supervisor’s office the next day a meeting has yet to be scheduled [by] the town The board is hopeful the town will table the resolution to give us time to work together.” While the town already owns 127 East Main Street, it must acquire the leasehold interest from Craft’d’s operating entity, SNR Bar 25 Corp, in order to transfer the building to the town square’s master developer, J. Petrocelli Development Associates The developer and town plan to demolish the building and construct a hotel and condominiums on the site Craft’d co-owner Sean Kenna said there are several years remaining on the bar’s lease and that town officials have not contacted his lawyer about a potential buyout He learned about the resolutions from a reporter “We invested a lot of money into that building, being told that it was going to stay — and now it’s going,” said Kenna, who also co-owns Cucina 25, a downtown Italian restaurant. Kenna and his partner opened Craft’d in 2019 Kenna said officials previously discussed moving Craft’d to another downtown location Even if a new space is found with a reasonably priced lease Craft’d would still need to invest in remodeling Craft’d is the busiest bar downtown at night We’re the only place open.” The bar stays open until midnight on weekdays and Sundays who also serves as president of the Riverhead BID Management Association said Craft’d draws a wide crowd — from middle-aged patrons who stop in for a drink before attending a show at the Suffolk Theater to younger customers later at night “When you have a business that’s successful and you have to walk away from it In November, the town’s planning and economic development director, Dawn Thomas, said demolition of 127 East Main Street could begin as early as August 2025 with construction of the town square to follow in September several key benchmarks — including a public-private partnership agreement with J Petrocelli Development Associates — have not yet been met in the timeline Thomas outlined in November Thomas did not respond to a text message Monday requesting an interview about an update on the project’s timeline Further complicating the redevelopment effort the Town Board today is also expected to approve a staging agreement with the developer of a five-story apartment building at 203-213 East Main Street The agreement would allow the project’s construction crews to store equipment on the southernmost portion of the East End Arts property — where the town plans to build an amphitheater — for up to two years The agreement also gives the developer the option to use soils removed from the construction site as payment to the town for use of the staging area That soil would be stockpiled in the parking lot south of the town square for future use in the town square project The quick service Greek-American restaurant Hampton Gyro is now open in Riverhead Hampton Gyro serves a variety of Greek and Mediterranean foods It opened on Wednesday in the strip mall with Dunkin’ Moe’s Southwest Grill and Lobster Wok near the Route 58 traffic circle Owner Mike Dzanoucakis of Manorville said he “felt there was a big need for” a Hampton Gyro in Riverhead a restaurateur of Greek heritage who in 2018 opened the first Hampton Gyro in Hampton Bays said there’s something for everybody on the menu “There’s no other [restaurant] concept like it here serving this type of food — Greek favorites The most popular thing on the menu is the gyro shrimp and a whole bunch of other things,” Dzanoucakis said Hampton Gyro’s menu plays on its status as a fusion restaurant blending the cuisines together for some creative menu items It has American twists on Greek food — like a “gyro cheesesteak” and “BBQ chicken gyro” — and Greek twists on American food — like Greek burgers and fries topped with feta cheese and Greek dressing “My father and I started this concept six years ago and we’re just continuing it Riverhead is Hampton Gyro’s second location; the first location operates at a shopping center on West Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays.  Dzanoucakis’s favorite menu items are the chicken souvlaki Everyone seems to be receiving us very well and we’re happy to see everybody,” Dzanoucakis said.  Hampton Gyro is located at 1071b Old Country Road It offers delivery through DoorDash and UberEats The Riverhead Democratic Committee nominated Jerry Halpin this week to run for town Supervisor and Mark Woolley and Kevin Shea for two open council seats The committee announced in a news release that the three candidates are “ready to realign the Town Board by reducing taxes increasing our sense of security and looking more closely at development and preservation.” With his two-year term expiring, Supervisor Tim Hubbard is running for reelection Council members Kenneth Rothwell and Robert Kern are also running again for four-year terms All three incumbents were nominated at the Riverhead Republican Committee’s convention on Feb Kern said in a phone interview that he has dedicated himself to working for Riverhead Town and pointed to remaining work in as his reason for seeking reelection “I just want to keep the momentum going because I think we’re doing a lot of great things in Riverhead,” said Mr. Rothwell, who pointed to several accomplishments during his term, including getting clean drinking water to Manorville, securing grants for Downtown Riverhead revitalization and enhancing the police force Hubbard did not respond to a request for comment as of press time Mr. Halpin is lead minister at North Shore Christian Church in Riverhead and has worked professionally in nonprofit leadership as a pastor for over 30 years which he said has demanded “personal and fiscal accountability and transparency.” Since launching North Shore Christian Church he said he has gained experience running programs strategizing and formulating solutions with church stakeholders in mind I’ve learned to listen and to know that I don’t have all the answers “There’s a lot more strength in community than there is in an individual.” The current town administration’s decision to pierce the statewide tax cap with a 7.89% hike — the town’s largest increase since the cap was enacted in 2012 — is what motivated Mr He claimed in an emailed statement that there is a “clear shuffling” of residents’ tax dollars that are intended to pay for infrastructure and preservation but have been used for “pet projects of the current administration.” Additionally even though he is running on the Democratic line Halpin deems himself more of an independent.  “They’re taxing people out of their houses … off the island; there are so many things that our town loses,” Mr “It’s not personal — people have asked me continually why the Democratic Party specifically and [it’s because] they were open … they’re willing I’ve been communicating with people to make a difference in their community is a retired New York City firefighter and 9/11 first responder as well as the creator of the world’s largest geodesic dome home He is the founder of O Corporation International the nonprofit OneMust (also known as E.A.R.T.H.) and Long Island Dome Gardens. He is also involved in the Cornell Master Gardeners ReWild and WildOnes and has participated in community theater he said he has developed a strong understanding of local needs and priorities His experiences as a first responder and leader in farm The politics newcomer said maintaining Riverhead’s rural character enhancing public safety and mitigating community economic and housing issues would be his main priorities if elected to the Town Board He said he hopes his campaign encourages higher voter turnout and inspires others — especially younger and disenfranchised voters — to be more civically involved.  Shea said he remains a champion for the environment and would push for more renewable energy projects green infrastructure and flood resilience measures to prepare Riverhead Town for potential environmental threats in the future It calls on our courage to be resilient as a local community,” he said in an emailed statement highway and agriculture infrastructure to adapt to and mitigate climate change.” Woolley recently retired from 30 years of public service working with six different members of Congress including Congressman Tom Suozzi and former representatives Lee Zeldin and George Santos Through his experiences at the state and federal level he aims to bring a “more sensible approach to public service,” he wrote He also has experience working with farmers and the Long Island Farm Bureau and would like to continue to help sustain Riverhead’s agriculture but said in a phone interview that he is solely running for a seat on the Town Board “I run because our town is threatened by overdevelopment poor planning and a zeal to grab onto whatever is presented without research without considerable discussion [and] without public input that is not first ridiculed but instead to oppose the policies and the procedures under which they are carried out by the current Town Board … it has become obvious over recent years that the future of our town is at risk.” In response to serious concerns over new White House executive orders the Riverhead Central School District administration and Board of Education outlined preventative steps they plan to take to protect students from the potential threat of immigration enforcement actions In a Thursday letter to the school community superintendent Cheryl Pedisich and school board president James Scudder emphasized the district’s commitment to remaining “a safe and secure haven for all our students regardless of their immigration status.” The Riverhead school district stressed in its letter that New York State law and federal protections guarantee that all children The state has also reiterated that “immigration enforcement actions cannot occur on school grounds with legal documentation,” and Riverhead school officials said they plan to follow the guidance of legal council to affirm the validity of any “supposed legal documentation” before complying with any action from a federal immigration agency the school district plans to provide educational resources to help families understand their rights and tap its legal counsel to better understand how to properly respond to any challenges the immigrant student population may face which could potentially be “ICE officers appearing at [the] schools’ doorsteps,” Thursday’s letter stated The school board is considering revisions to its policies to further strengthen privacy protections of student information “The Riverhead School District will always stand in defiance of any initiative that threatens the safety and well-being of any of our students,” the letter read “We will continue to advocate for our students and defend their absolute right to an education free from harassment or fear-mongering — it is our sacred vow to ensure that every child in our care feels safe Read the full letter from the Riverhead Central School District below This is a developing story and will be updated Riverhead Town Police reported 144 criminal offenses and arrested 91 people on 105 criminal charges in March according to a monthly crime report released by Police Chief Ed Frost this month Criminal offenses reported this month were: The criminal offense data reported by the Riverhead Police Department complies with the National Incident-Based Reporting System (IBRS) implemented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and in use by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services The department completed its transition to reporting in compliance with IBRS in July 2024 Riverhead Police reported filing 105 criminal charges Riverhead Police arrested 88 adults (83 males 19 females) and three juveniles (two males and one female) on the above-listed charges Riverhead Police reported 60 domestic incidents in March The town issued 1,076 summonses in March: 49 for town code violations 860 traffic tickets and 167 parking tickets There were 2,278 non-criminal incidents reported by Riverhead Police in March Police reported 123 motor vehicle accidents in Riverhead Town in March; 24 were classified as minor and upcoming events right to your inbox with our daily newsletter Robert Pollifrone of Buoy One (Photo credit: Amanda Olsen) Riverhead’s Buoy One (40 Peconic Ave 631-208-9737) seafood restaurant and fish market has a new home on the Peconic waterfront in the old Riverwalk Café The new space is situated near the planned redevelopment of downtown something owner Robert Pollifrone believes will be quite a draw for patrons.  Buoy One’s original Riverhead location on West Main Street opened in 2003 while the Westhampton Beach spot closed in 2024 “I think Main Street is really coming into its own And it was time for me to move from the space that I was in,” says Pollifrone. “Riverhead right now is trying to pop off and I want to be here for it.” The new location will bring 140 seats — a jump from West Main Street’s previous 86 seats 56 of which were outside— with a covered patio that allows for all-weather outdoor seating “We don’t have to worry about rain anymore I think it’s still going to have that outdoor ‘Buoy’ feel to it,” says Pollifrone delivered daily. All the bestsellers from the current menu with the addition of some new offerings.  you get your almond flounder with sweet potatoes and you’re good to go,” says Pollifrone One of the new lunch items Pollifrone is excited about is a grilled cheese filled with crab meat The new space will also continue to offer fish for sale to the public in a case at the end of the counter The housemade sauces and seasoning blends are also available for sale I still like working from the fish case,” says Pollifrone “When someone orders a piece of tuna I don’t want it to be a cut piece sitting in a drawer somewhere.” Pollifrone is confident that the soft open will be a success “Our fish people will find us,” says Pollifrone FRIDAY Love Lane First Fridays / Mattituck Chamber of Commerce A cup of tea made from herbs you grew yourself is a simple What’s for supper?Grace & Grit (55750 Main Road Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Site made in collaboration with CMYK Executive Circle Awards On Our Island: Riverhead HS students learn about legal careers Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions The Riverhead Democratic Committee has nominated local pastor Jerry Halpin of Riverhead to run for supervisor and lead its slate in this year’s town elections.  Democrats also tapped Mark Woolley of Riverhead and Kevin Shea of Baiting Hollow for town council The ticket will challenge Supervisor Tim Hubbard Council Member Bob Kern and Council Member Ken Rothwell for their seats in a town that has traditionally elected candidates on the Republican ticket Shea is the only registered Democrat in the group Halpin and Woolley are not registered with any political party All three were nominated during the Riverhead Democratic Committee convention held via Zoom Tuesday night “This dedicated team of leaders is committed to strengthening our community through responsible governance and a deep commitment to the values that matter most to our residents,” Jens-Smith said in a statement is currently the lead minister at the nondenominational North Shore Christian Church in Riverhead He holds a bachelor of arts in communication and religious studies from Excelsior College and has served on the board of East End Disability Associates and other nonprofit organizations beaches — everything that makes our town awesome,” Halpin said in a phone interview “There are a million reasons I could speak about that I’ve chosen to run for supervisor but the thrust of my platform is keeping money in the residents’ pockets.” The town supervisor is a voting member of the five-member Town Board and its chairperson and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the town It is a full-time position with a term of two years and an annual salary of $115,148 Halpin cited this year’s budget and the tax levy increase of 7.89% as his motivation for running Halpin said the current administration is increasing the burden on the taxpayers while “big businesses are receiving” Riverhead Industrial Development Agency tax breaks The town supervisor is responsible for creating a budget proposal to present to the whole Town Board for amendment and adoption did not make substantial cuts to the budget and said the tax increase was necessary to keep up with rising costs and for necessary services Halpin also cited the slow progress of downtown Riverhead’s revitalization as motivation for running and I’ve seen how businesses have come and gone in that area with empty promises and empty handshakes,” he said “And it’s time that we demand fiscal accountability and transparency which is what my professional life has demanded from me every day.” is a former journalist and retired aide to state and federal elected officials He has worked for six Long Island congressmen for whom he worked as district director from 2013-2023 while Zeldin served both as a state senator and congressman.  He also worked for former Republican Rep. George Santos, who reportedly lied about his past and was expelled from the House in 2023 after being embattled with a slew of criminal charges Woolley stayed on after Santos was expelled to work for his replacement Tom Suozzi; Woolley retired from that position in January Woolley said in a statement that he isn’t running “to oppose any one man but instead to oppose the policies and the procedures under which they are carried out by the current town board.” He said his experience offers “a more sensible approach to public service.” “I run to ensure that policies – both State and Federal – that have already been sanctioned are policies that apply to everyone who wishes to live work and do business in the Town of Riverhead,” he said in a statement “That no special treatment is applied to those who believe they can just because of their connection to those in town government.” Woolley said the town “is threatened by overdevelopment and a zeal to grab onto whatever is presented without research without public input that is not first ridiculed There is no ‘win-win’ in such an approach by elected officials only mistrust by the public they are elected to serve,” he said Woolley is also Supervisor Tim Hubbard’s brother-in-law.  “I’m not running against him,” Woolley said of Hubbard in an interview “When I’m looking at things in this race I’m running with an issues perspective.”  Shea, 57, is a former New York City firefighter who responded to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center He splits his time between Baiting Hollow — where he lives in a geodesic dome — and El Ostional where he is reforesting a 46-acre property he purchased 17 years ago Shea said he wants to prioritize public safety prioritize the efficient use of public funds and promote accountability and transparency.  He said he is nervous that national changes brought on by the Trump administration might “trickle down” to the local level “I was motivated by the idea that I felt that a lot of change is going to happen that I would never want to see happen to a neighbor,” he said.  He was asked by his fellow Democrats to run Shea said there is a good chance he won’t get elected — there are far more registered Republicans than Democrats in the town he noted — but felt like it was his obligation to run because no one else in his party came forward “I feel like I will be qualified if I get someone who helps mentor me if I can get to know the people a lot better the Riverhead Democratic Committee and the Long Island chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America He has a master of science degree in technological survey in society from Stony Brook University and a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from St Council members are voting members of the Town Board and work with the supervisor to adopt the town’s annual budget and change and create local laws Town council member is a part-time position with a four-year term and an annual salary of $50,558 Earlier this month the Riverhead Republican Committee nominated Hubbard, Rothwell and Kern for re-election to their seats The committee also nominated Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski and Assessor Chair Laverne Tennenberg for re-election; those positions have four-year terms Jens-Smith said the committee did not nominate candidates for the highway superintendent and assessor seats because it wanted to “concentrate our energies on the Town board candidates.”