Thomas of Southold passed away at home Monday after a year-long battle with glioblastoma to Scott Thomas and Elisa (Lieblein) Ruroede she earned a degree from SUNY/Stony Brook in 2002 and then worked in sales at Port of Egypt Marine alongside her mother for many years Marta became a stay-at-home mom while also helping to manage Cornell Oysters Marta was president of the Southold Mothers’ Club fostering dogs and most especially spending time with family and friends while enjoying a glass of red wine and Lisl Reuschle of Mattituck; her father Sandy Martocchia of Greenport; and six nieces at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold Donations to a 529 college savings fund being set up for her children (visit Ugift529.com and enter 1 code per transaction or to Dylan Newman Forever 5 Foundation (dylannewmanforever5.org) would be appreciated who has turned around his tennis game with.. 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.. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Site made in collaboration with CMYK Infant to sixth grade Southold Town children are welcome The Beacon is able to provide all of our content online free of charge thanks to support from our readers Be a vital part of keeping our community informed Donate president of the Southold Board of Education and member of the Rotary Club of Southold Paulette was a tireless advocate for everything she loved in life: her family educational champion and committed volunteer for many local civic organizations She was a proud “Left Over.” Following in her father’s footsteps Paulette worked at and owned the Southold Pharmacy for over 40 years she was honored by the North Fork Chamber of Commerce with the Business of the Year Award on behalf of the Scott Family Pharmacy the Southold Pharmacy was named The Suffolk Times’ Businesspeople of the Year A member of the Southold Board of Education for over 22 years — serving as president for the past 13 — Paulette was instrumental in creating greater opportunities for Southold students to succeed laying the groundwork for a shared service model for the rest of the state Paulette was responsible for establishing Southold High School’s track and athletic complex she was the recipient of SCOPE’s School Board Service Award which recognizes individuals for having provided outstanding service to the district Paulette was also active in the school’s Athletic Association the building and grounds committee and was a member of the Southold School Educational Foundation Paulette was a proud member of the Southold Rotary Patrick’s Church CCD religious education and CYO basketball programs Pius Award from the Diocese of Rockville Centre Paulette was a trustee of the East End Health Plan and served on the East End Financial Group advisory board she was named a Women of Distinction for her impact on the Southold community and legacy she established for future generations and Patrick James “PJ” (Abigail) of Chichester Tatum and Kollyns Poppy; her siblings: Michelle (William) Metz and Suzanne “Choo” (David) Fujita; several nieces and nephews; and her stepmother The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday donations to LUNGevity would be appreciated Envelopes will be available at the funeral home One week after announcing two of its town board candidates this year — Christopher Talbot and Nicholas Planamento — the Southold Town GOP has announced its slate to run for three seats on the Southold Town Trustees The Trustees are charged with overseeing public access to waterways and provide regulatory review of construction near shorelines Town Republicans are backing Terri Boyle Romanelli who ran a charter fishing business in Montauk and has long been a volunteer for environmental and community organizations on the North Fork; Southold Baymen’s Association President Nathan Andruski and Pindar Damianos general manager of his family’s Pindar Vineyards and a First Assistant Chief of the Southold Fire Department The seats are currently held by Democrats Eric Sepenoski, Liz Gillooly and Elizabeth Peeples. Mr. Sepenoski and Ms. Gillooly are seeking re-election, while Ms. Peeples is stepping down and Joe Finora is running on the Democratic ticket for her seat. Southold Democrats announced their full slate on March 7 “Our Republican Trustee team has been invested in our community for their entire lives They will make incredible additions to Southold Town Government under the leadership of our trustee President Glen Goldsmith,” said Southold Town Republican Chairman Peter Ganley in the party’s announcement of the trustee candidates. “Terri and vision needed to preserve Southold’s Future.” Terri Boyle Romanelli has served on the board of the Long Island Farm Bureau and the North Fork Environmental Council was a charter fishing business owner in Montauk and is a real estate salesperson She has also served as a scoutmaster for Boy Scouts She currently works as a Sales Manager at DocuSign and holds degrees from Stanford University “Southold’s environment and coastal resources are its most valuable assets,” said Ms Romanelli in a statement from the party announcing the slate. “As Trustee I will work to ensure that our waters remain clean who has seen firsthand the decline of shellfish beds in the Peconic Estuary.  he pledges to investigate and mitigate water quality issues affecting shellfish lands work with Cornell Cooperative Extension on shellfish restoration projects and advance marine conservation at CCE’s Cedar Beach research station in Southold “We must take immediate action to address water quality issues and advocate for the latest technology to reduce nitrogen and protect our waterways,” he said in a statement provided by the Southold GOP to protect Southold’s shorelines from overdevelopment preserve the town’s agricultural and maritime heritage ensure responsible growth that benefits both residents and the environment and advocate for policies that respect property rights while maintaining the character of Southold “Our town needs leadership that respects our environment while protecting residents’ rights,” he said in a statement provided by the GOP. “I will work to maintain Southold’s character and ensure that we make decisions that benefit future generations.” Southold Republicans plan to release more information on their candidates for the Fishers Island Town Board Seat tax assessors and town clerk ahead of their March 27 campaign kick-off at Touch of Venice restaurant Southold Town released public review drafts of its zoning code and map Tuesday marking the first comprehensive zoning update for the town since 1989 Here is the breakdown of notable changes and how residents can share their feedback with the town and there are four new zoning districts in the draft code.  The Hamlet Business zone would be separated into two zones: Hamlet Mixed Use I for smaller hamlet centers with less infrastructure for larger hamlet centers that can support more intense uses.  The Limited Business zone would become Rural Business I (RB I) and Rural Business II (RB II) requires a unique zoning district to accommodate contractors’ businesses in appropriate locations RB II is a “less intense version of Corridor Business” district located farther from hamlet centers than Corridor Business It would allow residential uses and a longer list of uses than RB I.  The Residential Office district would become the Transitional district It is meant to provide a transition and act as a buffer between residential zones and more intense commercial uses.  The Resort Residential district would become the Resort Lodging district It would move to the “non-residential” zoning district to focus on the district’s hotel and related businesses.   An interactive map that compares the existing zoning map and proposed zoning map is available on the site with a toggle tool that shows what districts have changed A search bar is available on the map for residents to find a specific address and identify what changes would affect it in the draft code Town Supervisor Al Krupski invited community members to comment on the changes to say what works and what doesn’t in the existing code and new code that’s a good idea — we’d like to support those changes,’ ” Mr “non-residential parcels may now include multiple permitted uses and buildings in the zone district parking and landscaping requirements.” The change would replace the existing rule that limited parcels to one use per minimum lot area to improve flexibility and efficiency in design in business zones Buildings that are “100% residential” would be permitted in certain zones They would be required to include a mix of market-rate and rent-controlled apartments.  Several zoning districts revised in the draft would affect permitted uses. To see if your district has been revised, visit southoldzoningupdate.com Accessory dwellings in non-residential buildings would have a maximum size of 1,000 square feet gross floor area and “shall not comprise more than 50% of the principal building’s gross floor area 50% of the gross floor area of all buildings on site,” according to the draft Remodeling of an existing structure to create ADUs would not require site plan approval unless such construction would increase the structure’s foundation size.  Accessory apartments in non-residential buildings would be able to include a 50/50 mix of market-rate and “affordable” units cannabis medical dispensaries would be allowed by special exception Plum Island Research and Plum Island Conservation zoning districts commercial solar energy production systems would be allowed with permits.  Retail businesses and restaurants would have new limitations on uses to hamlet center areas under the draft code. The reason for this change is to comply with the Southold Town Comprehensive Plan “This aims to support vibrant hamlet centers by discouraging foot traffic-generating uses outside these areas,” the draft states Existing retail and restaurants outside these areas would be protected by the new rules for nonconforming uses in business zones.  Existing businesses that would be rendered “nonconforming” by zoning changes would be protected under Section 280-65 “They [would be able to] continue indefinitely expand or be sold,” according to the draft.  hotel use is replaced by “Country Inns.” These have more restrictive limits on the number of rooms permitted — 10 rented guest rooms for a maximum of 20 occupants — and require the reuse of existing buildings fronting Route 25 or County Route 48 a 30-room cap has been added on the number of allowed hotel rooms “to limit impacts to the environmentally sensitive shoreline.”  hotels are still allowed in the draft code but with a higher restriction on the number of rooms The maximum number of rooms in a hotel would be one room for every 8,000 square feet of net lot area This would mean for a net lot area of 40,000 square feet the hotel would be able to have five rooms.  The Special Exception review process will be streamlined requiring review only by the Planning Board and eliminating the existing extra Zoning Board of Appeals review process This would reduce the number of public hearings shorten the review timeline and minimize “uncertainty by consolidating discretionary approvals.” Residential homeowners would be able to use existing detached accessory buildings or create their own small accessory building without a three-year waiting period to be used as accessory dwelling units.  their minimum size would be 220 square feet and their maximum size would be 750 square feet The accessory dwelling would be no more than two bedrooms and one bathroom.  Homeowners must occupy the house as their primary residence or the accessory apartment must be owner-occupied One unit must be leased for year-round occupancy and would no longer require a special exception from the Zoning Board of Appeals.  Retaining walls and other walls for a property must be set back from property lines Existing restrictions on maximum house sizes remain unchanged.  Outdoor lighting regulations can be found in Section 280-57 of the draft code and were included to support “improved compliance” with town code located and lamped to prevent excessive lighting Penalties for noncompliance with the regulations would be punishable by a maximum fine of $250 for residential violations or $750 for nonresidential violations Lot coverage limits include other constructed surfaces like pavement gravel driveways and sidewalks in the draft code The existing code only includes buildings in the lot coverage limits Regulations pertaining to wireless communication facilities and a historical preservation overlay district are not included in the proposed code update Regulations for these issues are being developed by the town for possible inclusion in the code The “process” timeline on the website says that revisions from public input will be implemented sometime in the summer and fall of 2025 It also states that the target timeframe for finalization and adoption of the code would be in winter 2025 or 2026.  “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape how Southold grows and protects what makes it special,” Mr get involved and help guide this important process.” Residents are welcome to provide feedback on the proposed zoning updates through a Survey Monkey link on the zoning code update website after pressing the “add your feedback” button Community members can also attend a number of upcoming public forums to learn more about the draft code. The current posted schedule runs from May 12 through June 28 at a variety of locations throughout the town or on Zoom. For more information about the schedule, visit southoldzoningupdate.com/get-involved “Whether you’ve lived in Southold for decades or are just starting to build your life here your voice matters,” the draft code site states All events are free through public funding provided by Suffolk County The Southold Democratic and Republican committees have announced their candidates who will vie for the three open Town Board seats in November Councilman Brian Mealy is running for a second four-year term on the board and the Southold Town Democratic Committee has nominated two political newcomers — Alexa Suess and Kate Stevens — to run for the two other contested seats currently held by Louisa Evans and Greg Doroski Doroski recently announced he is running for the Suffolk County Legislature 1st District seat in November and Ms Evans confirmed she plans to retire at the end of the year Republican committee chairman Peter Ganley said former Southold Town councilmember Christopher Talbot and North Fork real estate broker Nicholas Planamento have been nominated to run for the two soon to be open Town Board seats At its 2025 Nominating Convention Friday night the Southold Democrats announced several other candidates and newcomer Joe Finora for Town Trustees; Dana Forlenza and Leah Tillman Sullivan for Town Tax Assessor; incumbent Dan Goodwin for Town Highway Superintendent; incumbent Eileen Powers for Town Justice and Abigail Field for Town Clerk Ganley said the Southold GOP plans to announce additional candidates on the Republican slate in the coming weeks Making history as the first Black elected official in Southold Town he was twice elected to the Mattituck-Cutchogue school board and served as a three-time elected member of the Eastern Suffolk BOCES board He was formerly a member of both the Suffolk County Sheriff Department Citizen’s Advisory Board and the Southold Justice Review & Reform Task Force he was honored with the Helen Wright Prince Award for community service from the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force Mealy is the liaison for several town committees His involvement on these committees include initiatives that focus on maintaining civility offer job training and spark conversations surrounding mental health environmental protection and other quality of life matters Mealy hopes to continue to strengthen the collaboration between town government and local civics “It’s just been a blessing to serve our community and that’s really what’s at the center of my elected service,” Mr there’s no issue coming down the road that we can’t handle — making sure that we maintain that Southold togetherness a community organizer and business owner since 2012 She is a co-owner of the jewelry store and studio Common Ground and has been a member of the Greenport BID the North Fork Chamber of Commerce and a local business group for Southold women entrepreneurs The focus of her Town Board campaign is affordable and workforce housing which is an issue she has personally struggled with living on the North Fork she was working four jobs to pay rent for her second-floor apartment she has become passionate about the need for more varied housing stock starter homes for families and supportive housing for retirees “There needs to be options for everybody in the community no matter where they are in their journey of life,” Ms we lose our small business owners and employees we lose our younger population who want to sort of settle down and we lose the diversity that makes our children so vibrant and strong.” she hopes to “drag Southold into the 21st century” by promoting the health and wellness of small businesses encouraging entrepreneurship for young people focusing on technological improvements that aid in accessibility and revisiting previous board decisions such as the decision to opt out of allowing retail cannabis sales in Southold Stevens is running for the Fishers Island Town Council and Justice Candidate seat Commission Chair of the Fishers Island Water Management District and a member of Fishers Island and Southold Town civic and community groups She said she was drawn to helping the Fishers Island community starting with earning a spot on the Waste Management Commission where she gained experience handling land use issues She mentioned her role in pushing for the lease of the Fishers Island Waste Management District’s Pickett Landfill for solar development She has also had experience serving on a zoning committee which she called “incredibly enlightening” when it comes to making a positive impact on the future of housing open space and other issues on Fishers Island Her main priorities if elected are housing coastal resiliency and healthcare coverage — which has become a jurisdictional struggle for Fisher Island residents “I think this role is completely about communication and about being a channel and a bridge between Fishers Island and the North Fork,” Ms “I’m really just thrilled to be getting to know the community out there it’s already been such a warm welcome that I’ve received there’s such a strong sense of place here on the North Fork and it’s one of the things I really admire.” A lifelong resident of Southold Town and graduate of Mattituck High School Talbot of Cutchogue currently serves as the Senior Building and Zoning Inspector for the Village of Southampton and is a state certified code enforcement official He previously served for one term on the Southold Town Board from 2009 to 2013 and attempted to secure a nomination to run against then-Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell in 2015 Talbot is a former Mattituck Park District Commissioner current Cutchogue Fire Commissioner and active member of the Cutchogue Fire Department as well as an 18-year member of the Mattituck Fire Department With his extensive experience in municipal operations Talbot hopes to provide efficient and effective governance if elected “One of the main things is preserving common sense “I will continue with the land preservation but part of that is also preserving the community; as far as housing goes looking at the Community Preservation Fund have we done enough on that — I’ve got some ideas that I will be bringing up during the campaign.” Planamento is an associate real estate broker for Town and Country Real Estate in Mattituck and has family ties to the Southold community that date back to the 1920s He has been involved in a variety of town government roles for over 20 years including serving on the Southold Zoning Board Architectural Review Board and Board of Assessment Review Committee and as the town liaison to the Suffolk County Planning Commission Planamento said he believes residents who have made an investment in Southold need to have their voices heard He hopes to bring balance to town government and would find consensus with his colleagues “across the political divide.” and keeping young people in Southold are also important issues Mr he would investigate ways to create more housing units for young people He also believes it would be a benefit for Southold to tap more into tourism and how it drives the North Fork economy Planamento said preserving Southold’s unique heritage is an important issue but I have family history in town — not that that is the end all whether they’re here from the original settlers or a more modern transplant I want to keep things as similar to what we know Editor’s Note: This story has been updated  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 An 28-year veteran of the Southold Police Department Scott Latham was promoted to captain of the force April 15 Ever since he became a patrol officer in 1997, Capt. Latham had his “eye on the front door” to move up the department ranks. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010, where he led a squad of police officers, including then-police officer Chief Steven Grattan.  “He was very motivating for me as a young officer,” Chief Grattan said crediting some of his success in the department to his time with Capt Latham was promoted to lieutenant and served as administrative lieutenant from then on Latham has worked diligently towards accreditation and played an “instrumental” part in the creation of the department’s policy and procedural manuals.  Latham expressed his pride in his ability to affect change through department policy decisions once “you come inside.”  “You’re now affecting how the department is going to run hopefully 50 [with] policies that you created,” he said “Or even by mistakes that you make … That’s the other edge of the sword since going “inside” in his administrative roles public forums or anywhere he can answer questions from community members about the department and the role it plays in Southold Town Latham said that this “is an exciting time for the department,” as it looks to hire someone to fill the vacancy for an administrative lieutenant on the force This would shore up the command staff for the department.  Chief Grattan said the new captain will help manage the department staff and the evidence collected by body-worn cameras pursue accreditation for the force and seek out grant opportunities.  “I’m looking forward to our working relationship together and moving this agency forward,” the chief said “I think we complement each other very well and I think we’re going to make a good team.” Chief Grattan recently issued a department directive regarding its objectives for 2025 They included improving community policing by getting more officers bike certified and increasing outreach efforts like Coffee with a Cop The captain described working with the chief as a “one brain” relationship in which they share the same view of the department’s future.  “We both have the same love of the agency itself … the ethos and the mission of the agency,” Capt “We both hold that very dear to hearts and want to make it the best that we can.” “We just love serving the people of Southold Town,” he added.  Sweeping executive orders government worker layoffs and widespread dismantling of long-standing federal regulatory practices since President Donald Trump took office have put several local projects in limbo as town officials scramble to determine which initiatives will remain funded Projects in Southold currently supported by federal grants include programs for the aging law enforcement and commercial district revitalization efforts These grants are administered through a variety of federal agencies ranging from the Office of Economic Development to the Department of Transportation Department of Housing and Urban Development’s COVID-19 relief program town engineer Michael Collins said at a Town Board work session on Tuesday.  there is no guarantee that these federal funds will be disbursed if we finish the project,” Mr “There is a possibility — and I cannot assign a percentage to it — that three months from now The Town Board subsequently voted to allocate $199,000 from that grant to instead install a generator at the Southold Town Annex building. A public hearing regarding that change is set for Tuesday Supervisor Al Krupski said the need for a generator at the annex was underscored Feb. 20 when power was knocked out across the North and South forks after a box truck crashed into a transmission pole on County Road 48 “It was a disruption in work flow and also a disruption to the public that was in the building,” Mr also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation identifies Goose Creek as an “impaired waterbody” under the Clean Water Act of 1972 The act outlines the protocols for regulating discharges of pollutants into U.S The framework for the program was established in 1948 under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act according to the Environmental Protection Agency “But we don’t know if the funding will be there [for Goose Creek] because of the changes going on at the federal level,” Mr. Collins said Tuesday, noting that the outfalls would eventually be eliminated, as the Town Board recently approved a $250,000 bond to finance stormwater mitigation improvements townwide Collins said he will begin focusing on projects backed by local county and state grants that don’t rely on pass-through funding from the federal government “The chaos and uncertainty promoted by the federal government has real negative impacts for our Southold Town community,” Town Board member Greg Doroski said in a statement to The Suffolk Times Doroski also pointed to other projects that could be at risk due to the potential loss of more than $700,000 in additional federal funds economy and community depend on it,” he said The Southold Town Board is taking steps to lower speed limits on County Road 48 in Southold.  During its work session earlier this month the board discussed a memo from the Southold Transportation Commission supporting reducing speed limits on Middle Road the county-owned thoroughfare commonly known as North Road speed limits in the area range between 40 and 50 miles per hour — often varying from block to block The recommendations from the Suffolk County Public Works Department suggest reducing the speed limit to 45 across most of the thoroughfare Officials also said there should be a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour between Leon Road and Chapel Lane “It’s a matter of both safety and enforcement,” Supervisor Al Krupski said in an interview with The Suffolk Times said during an October Town Board meeting that the recommendations would help improve consistency in speed limits on the well traveled causeway “We removed some of what we might call ‘yo-yo’ — some of the up and down,” he said at the October meeting. “None of it is going to be raised and a good portion of it is going to be lowered.” County Public Works commissioner Charles Bartha recommended the board adopt a resolution to revise speed limits in a report sent to Mr Traffic engineers with the county did a comprehensive study to evaluate whether speed limits on the road were appropriate or if they needed to be lowered.  the Town Board will have to adopt a resolution making the recommended changes a TE-9 form must be filled out and submitted to the county which will then execute and submit the request to the state.  Community members are invited to speak on this matter during a public information hearing at the Jan 21 board meeting at Southold Town Hall.  “One [benefit] is we’ll see how people feel about this and the second is it reminds the public that … it’s safer to drive at a lower speed or at least the posted speed limit,” Town Board member Anne Smith Officials said the meeting will offer residents a chance to learn more about the speed limit change “We’d appreciate comments on that because it’s important,” Mr If all goes according to plan, Southold’s zoning code updates will be voted on by the end of the year. To get the ball rolling, proposed zoning code changes will be available for public review and comment online at southoldzoningupdate.com starting Friday Changes to some zoning categories and definitions are the two main updates the definitions in the code were amended here and there and sometimes they weren’t consistent,” he said “So this is an attempt to make all of the definitions consistent throughout the whole code.” An interactive map on the town website will show proposed changes in zoning for various tax parcels A host of informational meetings with business groups civic associations and the public will be scheduled throughout May and June.  “This is something that we would like to be done with by the end of the year,” Mr “So we need to hear your comments now.”  There will be a four-month timeline for public comment on the plan “So you will have plenty of time to sit and absorb it and give us your comments.” Doherty said residents can also view the maps and ask questions in person at the Town Hall Annex.  Suder will also provide an outline to explain the changes in the 208-page document for a more concise understanding of the new codes which will also be available online April 1 will “give everyone some sense of certainty that nothing is being snuck in.”  “We hope that will move the process along and really allow us to focus on the changes and any other changes we might need to make,” Mr A proposal for the construction of a 24-foot by 220-foot, one-story building with six rental apartments — half earmarked as affordable — cleared another hurdle Tuesday night when the Town Board voted to approve the sewage treatment plan for the complex The bid has been making its way through the Southold Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board since October 2023 The 2.78 sanitary flow credits required for the building were passed by the Town Board following a public hearing on Feb wastewater will be disposed of on-site in two separate Hyrdoaction AN 800 Treatment Systems with two leaching pools each 2 Southold Planning Board State Environmental Quality Review notice Three units will be clustered to each system Per Tuesday’s Town Board resolution, “2.25 of the sanitary flow credits will be provided at no cost to the applicant for the portion of the project that is to remain affordable and 0.53 of the credits will be provided at a cost … of $6,360 for the portion … that will be market-rate.” The 7,061-square-foot building is proposed for a 68,901-square-foot lot at 56025 Main Road which lies within the Business Zoning District 28 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program memorandum since it will be erected behind an existing two-story mixed-use building with a barber shop and thrift shop on the first floor and apartments on the second floor That building is located on Main Road across from Mullen Motors.  The apartments will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms with a minimum size of 850 square feet each per a March 11 planning department staff report “Safe and affordable housing is vital to a community’s stability and growth,” a town Planning Board SEQRA notice of determination stated “increasing the amount of affordable housing to help sustain year-round residents of the town.” Two residents spoke in favor of the development during Tuesday’s public hearing Tom McCarthy owns an adjacent property and commended the apartment complex developer for their efforts to get the project off the ground.  “One thing I’d just like to add in addition to these sanitary flow credits is that we’d love to see some changes come in the zoning district in some permissible uses to create buildings like Mark is doing here,” Mr He asked that the board consider reworking the zoning code to allow for more multiple-family dwellings with units of less than 850 square feet “The code is very difficult to navigate based on conversion of existing buildings versus creating new structures,” Mr “And right now I think we’re handcuffed at a new structure to be deemed to be a multifamily building if it has to be 850 square feet or more [per unit] and it has to have at least three units I think that may hamper development within the hamlet.”  The project received a negative declaration from the Southold Town Board on Dec meaning that it “will not have a significant effect on the environment” pursuant to SEQRA.  The town’s Architectural Review Committee recommended on Nov 7 that the rear yard of the complex have a fence at least four feet high at the back of each unit.  Town Supervisor Al Krupski noted there will be upcoming updates to the town’s zoning code that will be open for public comment for a period of no less than three months. Mr. Krupski said he expects those draft changes will be available for review on the town website by the end of next week a number of resolutions passed to increase fees for residents yard sale and shellfish permit fees all went up the largest price increase was the garbage pay-per-bag program The cost of the bags will go from 75 cents to $1 for 13-gallon bags $1.50 to $2 for 33-gallon bags; and $2.25 to $3 for 44-gallon bags Bags are available at the town disposal facility and locations around town Residents can buy single bags or rolls of four Are there metal cans and anything that can be pulled out now?” said Nick Krupski “By paying attention to what you’re doing you’re not filling that bag very quickly because you should be trying to limit how much actual trash goes in there.” According to Southold Town, the program is estimated to have saved the town over $8 million since its launch in 1993 The town does not provide curbside pick-up of trash Residents either bring their own waste and recyclables to the transfer station themselves or hire a private carter for curbside pick-up This system limits the tax burden on residents and allows people to determine for themselves how best to handle their waste Southampton Town also utilizes a pay-per-bag program and does not provide garbage pick up Residents can bring their garbage and recyclables to any of the town’s four recycling centers does not have a “pay-as-you-throw” program they have garbage pickup that is managed by the town Representatives of the Waste Management department stated that this is for the convenience of the residents and is funded through tax revenue The fees for disposal have not kept pace with inflation, and this increase is meant to help the town cover the shortfall of transporting the waste for incineration at the Babylon waste energy plant, said Mr. Krupski. It also encourages people to recycle and make use of the food waste composting pilot program “Compared to the other towns on the island I think the residents care about recycling and sending those things for reuse,” said Mr Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski said the meeting was scheduled after the Town Board received numerous questions from concerned community members about Southold’s immigration and policing policies “It was decided that this meeting would be helpful for our community to provide exactly what the town’s role is in public safety,” Mr President Donald Trump signed 10 executive orders in the first week of his second term pertaining to immigration policy including effectively ending the 2011 protections restricting federal immigration agencies — such as ICE — from making arrests in schools 20 prohibiting the issuance of citizenship documentation to U.S.-born infants whose parents lack legal status putting an end to the centuries-old policy of birth-right citizenship A federal judge temporary blocked that order on Jan U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement reported roughly 1,000 daily arrests in the country between Jan. 26 and Jan. 29 on its X account.  Being present in the United States in violation of immigration laws is considered a civil violation, but is not a federal crime unless a previous removal order has been disobeyed or followed by unauthorized reentry, Southold Police Chief Steven Grattan said.  “Entering the United States without being inspected and admitted, i.e., ‘illegal entry,’ is a misdemeanor or can be a felony, depending on the circumstances,” a 2010 ACLU brief noted “But many undocumented immigrants do not enter the United States illegally drop out of school or violate the conditions of their visas in some other way.”  The enforcement of federal immigration laws remains a function of federal agencies — not local police departments we cooperate with other law enforcement agencies,” he said we communicate and we provide assistance if needed.”  The chief noted that the Southold Police will not interfere with nor participate in the enforcement of immigration laws but would provide assistance in peacekeeping and traffic control upon request “We will not actively participate in immigration enforcement,” Chief Grattan said.  He said Southold police officers will not inquire about anyone’s immigration status if they are a victim witness or seeking general assistance unless the person is arrested or required to provide identification during a criminal proceeding.  “Immigration status should not discourage anyone from reaching out for help,” Chief Grattan said.  He added that local police will not detain anyone solely for a civil violation of immigration laws without a judicial warrant.  “If an officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause that someone has committed a criminal immigration violation they may temporarily detain the individual and contact federal immigration authorities to verify their status,” Chief Grattan said A police supervisor would review any detention for a potential criminal immigration violation.  ICE does not have to give local law enforcement any forewarning about immigration raids “They have come out here in the past and not said anything to us and performed a raid and left without ever exchanging any information with the local police department,” he said Informing the community about any potential immigration raids should the Southold Police Department receive that information is something Chief Grattan said the department would refrain from to prevent “hysteria.” If ICE agents were to enter the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District they would need to identify themselves to security and explain the reason for the visit Petretti would then be notified and determine if entry is warranted after consulting legal counsel.  In keeping with New York State law and current federal protections all children regardless of immigration status have a legal right to a free public education “At no point in time during our registration process are there any questions about their immigration status [or] the immigration status of their families,” Mr The district does not share student information with any outside organizations Attendees were invited to submit written questions during Thursday’s meeting but officials did not provide an opportunity for comments from the audience. Community members with questions about Southold’s immigration and policing polices were advised by Mr. Krupski to reach out to his office at 631-765-1889 or [email protected] Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation For juniors Hailey Alfano and Connie Benson, Monday could not have come soon enough. They had the opportunity to play varsity softball after an almost two-year hiatus “I was really excited to get back into it,” Alfano said “I was more excited just making new friends and playing because it’s always firstgame jitters,” she said “But I’m really proud of these girls the way they showed up today.” The result might not have been what the team wanted as MSG dropped a 13-1 season-opening loss to Babylon in the Suffolk County League VII game in Southold Southold/Greenport did not field a varsity squad last year due to low turnout The squad returned this season rebranded as MSG The team wore Southold uniforms and the school’s diamond will serve as the home field “It was really exciting and so important to the girls,” head coach Courtney Kane said “It’s just so awesome to have the varsity team back This is the first time in a while they’ve had varsity We’re just really working hard to keep the program strong for the next couple of years no matter what the score.” The game was called after five innings due to a mercy rule when a team holds a 12-run lead you couldn’t tell that MSG was the losing side given the enthusiasm as players chanted the names of their teammates throughout the game when Benson made two fine catches in center field in the fifth inning “It’s really cool to hear how enthusiastic these girls are It gives them the confidence that they can hit and get on base.” Kane led the way with encouragement and instructions to her players just positive vibes from all the girls,” the coach said Things like that are going to really help us.” Among the encouraging signs: Eighth-grader and left fielder Sophia Vescovi had MSG’s first hit a single to left field in the second inning reached third on sophomore second baseman Natalia Fabiszewski’s infield single and slid home after a wild pitch “I felt like it could give us an advantage and more confidence,” Alfano said of scoring “I thought Emily did a great job today,” Kane said She really stepped it up and went out there and did a job that most people don’t want to do.” who was injured and watched the game on crutches The game had a unique start as Andie Michaelis Catcher Eliana Romero and center fielder Sophie Thayer each went 3-for-4 Second baseman Addy Janawsky went 2-for-3 with two RBIs Right-hander Sophia Hagerty-Cori surrendered two hits and struck out seven batters MSG’s goals for the season are straightforward “We want to keep getting better and keep growing this team,” Benson said Kane realizes that the team needs to take small steps in its first few games “We’re taking it one step at a time,” she said next time it’s going to be a couple of hits I really see big things from this team next year We’re going to have a lot of the same girls back as our starters For the last century, the Southold Sunshine Society has been meeting needs for their neighbors from Laurel to Orient. Comprised entirely of volunteers the group’s primary mission is lending gently used medical equipment to area residents they moved their cache to Stonewall Storage in Cutchogue the society is accepting donations of medical equipment such as crutches it was mostly focused on helping blind children,” said Chris Wruck it’s to bring sunshine to the older community maybe somebody who has lost their husband or occasionally their wife.” the society delivered plants to residents 80 and older who they affectionately call their “four scorers.”  “Our mission is to bring little plants to our client list “The looks on the recipients’ faces when I come to their door with flowers is unbelievable You would think we were bringing lottery winnings to them They’re incredibly grateful,” said Ms They also deliver fruit plates and mail birthday and get-well cards to members While they do not accept donations of electronic equipment the Sunshine Society does connect people with a need to those who have these items when possible The organization is always looking for volunteers and is open to adults of all ages but then they had life changes and moved out of state But it was delightful to have 30-year-olds with all that energy to come and volunteer,” said Ms contact Barbara at 631-298-3258 or Sue at 631-765-2757 A public hearing to extend Southold Town’s moratorium on the construction of Battery Energy Storage System facilities lithium-ion battery storage system and a new Long Island Power Authority substation on a 27-acre parcel It was reported that a full discharge of the system would provide enough energy to power roughly 16,000 homes a day At a public hearing for the project in December 2022 then Cutchogue Fire Department chief Amos Meringer said area residents had significant concerns about the proposal.  Community members also circulated a Change.org petition — signed by 1,138 residents — detailing the potential negative impact to the rural character and natural beauty of the Oregon Road area and warning of the possibility of a “runaway thermal event that could burn for days unleash toxic fumes and contaminate groundwater,” which local volunteer firefighters would be ill-equipped to contain North Fork Environmental Council representative Anne Murray said that while the not-for-profit group supported battery storage facilities the town would need to implement “a well-considered plan … to ensure that [the] facilities have environmental standards and Key Capture’s plans for the Oregon Road facility were tabled as a result of the moratorium.  An extension of the initial BESS moratorium was approved by the Town Board March 26 and is still intended to provide sufficient time for the Town to undertake a thorough examination of these systems to identify any possible threats to public health safety and welfare as well as evaluate the potential for environmental degradation,” the resolution announcing the April 15 public hearing stated.  Board members added that the latest extension is necessary safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Southold.” As part of the initial moratorium resolution board members recognized that BESS facilities are a key component to the viability of renewable energy implementation and promotion The Town Board also acknowledged the storage systems play an important role in reducing demand and costs associated with infrastructure and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.  significant public health and safety concerns relative to the potentially volatile nature of lithium-ion batteries and battery storage operations remain,” the local law states.  Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group issued new draft recommendations in February 2024 to guide the planning of battery storage projects and outline fire code updates after consulting experts and stakeholders Recommendations include requiring monitored 24/7 video surveillance ensuring qualified emergency responders can be on the scene within 15 minutes enhanced security barriers around the facilities and providing annual training to local fire department personnel “Battery storage is a key element to building a green economy here in New York, and we have taken comprehensive efforts to ensure the proper safety standards are in place,” Gov. Hochul said in a July 2024 press release we’re ensuring that New York’s clean energy transition is done safely and responsibly.” Ongoing updates to Southold’s zoning code were also cited as a reason for extending the moratorium “The Town Board does not find it prudent to adopt a BESS code where the zoning update is still being formulated,” officials noted Become a member of WLIW ($5 monthly or $60 annually) and get access to WLIW Passport as our thanks for your support Members get extended access to PBS video on demand and more As Long Island Catholics looked ahead to Pope Francis’ funeral and wondered who the next pope will be they remember him for his welcoming spirit and his willingness to push the boundaries of what was acceptable to the traditional faithful who leads 1.2 million Catholics on Long Island stated yesterday that “Pope Francis’ passionate love for the Church and the world … will continue to inspire us as the Holy Spirit leads us further into the 21st century.” Kathy Hochul directed flags to be lowered to half-staff Francis’ “leadership transcended religious boundaries,” Hochul said in a statement “He embodied the values Christ taught us every day: helping the less fortunate and ensuring every person is treated as a child of God I join billions across the globe as we mourn the passing of a true spiritual leader.” was his ministry,” said Richard Koubek who previously served as public policy administrator for Catholic Charities of Long Island and now coordinates faith-based justice advocacy for Long Island Jobs with Justice he suffered more criticism from within his church than any pope in memory He was unwavering in carrying out Christ’s original message: ‘love one another as I have loved you,’ especially the ‘least of my brothers and sisters.'” Southold’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) is holding a “Synergy Summit” this morning the first of quarterly meetings it’s expecting to hold in the future Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Synergy Summit is a leadership-focused event designed to bring together organizations that support the vitality of the community and collaboration for efficiency and effectiveness Southold’s Economic Development Committee plans to spur the group to develop and implement an Action Plan which is open to leaders of organizations that make an impact in the Town of Southold The meeting will begin with introductions from organizations followed by a Roundtable Discussion and the creation of an Action Plan and there are numerous local events celebrating the occasion including this evening’s panel discussion at the Unitarian Universalists of Southold…where they will explore Gardening for Change…from 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that April’s social action event at the UU Meeting House is all about nature and practical things we can do (or advocate for) to help improve our environment air – and potentially calm our nerves along the way Several North Fork environmental groups will give an elevator pitch Expect practical advice on how homeowners can transform their piece of earth into a home for birds and pollinators Panelists will discuss why each environmental choice we make creates a ripple effect This evening’s theme revolves around gardening That’s today at 6:15 pm (starting with a demo outside) at the UU Meeting House The Trump administration renewed its threats against New York over congestion pricing yesterday demanding that the state halt the tolling plan or risk the loss of federal funding and approval for other transportation projects Stefanos Chen and Winnie Hu report in THE NY TIMES that Sean Duffy Kathy Hochul of New York that she had until May 21 to explain why his department should not make good on its threats Penalties for not ending the tolls would begin May 28 “The federal government sends billions to New York — but we won’t foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New York’s failing transit system,” Mr “We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal.” Federal transportation officials have said that congestion pricing exceeded the scope of the federal program that authorized it and that a toll on motorists should not subsidize mass transit improvements instead of roads But the federal judge presiding over a number of lawsuits challenging the toll has already rejected key arguments in those cases the state agency that operates congestion pricing filed its own suit to prevent the Trump administration from interfering with the program almost immediately after Mr The case is expected to wend through the courts until the fall which means the tolls could stay active for at least several more months The heightened threats come after Governor Hochul and the authority twice defied demands earlier this year to stop the tolls was approved by the Biden administration in November after years of planning and review and some legal experts have argued that the Trump administration does not have the authority to unilaterally revoke its authorization Congestion pricing — designed to reduce gridlock cut pollution and fund critical transit projects…some including the Long Island Rail Road…charges most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street during peak traffic times Governor Hochul reiterated her support for the program and said the tolls would continue “I repeat: congestion pricing is legal — and it’s working,” she said President Donald Trump vowed yesterday to fight for a Nassau County school district to keep its team name and logo after New York State demanded their removal because of a ban on Native American imagery The Massapequa school board called on Trump after losing a battle in court for nearly two years to keep “Chiefs,” a nod to the area’s Native American ancestors as the school’s logo who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School,” Trump posted on Truth Social The president added that he is asking Secretary of Education Linda McMahon “to fight” on behalf of the Massapequa School District an affront to our great Indian population.” Trump said “virtually everyone in the area” is demanding the name be saved New York’s Department of Education ordered all schools with Native American team connections to rebrand It remains unclear what the Trump administration can do to change New York’s policy other than threatening to pull federal funding unless officials rescind the ban State Department of Education spokesperson JP O’Hare stood by the ban saying the Board of Regents adopted the policy because “certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes “Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context where all students should feel welcome and supported,” O’Hare said The spokesperson said the regulations permit the use of Native American names if approved by tribal leaders and blasted the community’s education leaders for not engaging indigenous leaders and a department “Mascot Advisory Committee” before suing over the matter The return of a potentially toxic red algae bloom to the waters of western Shinnecock Bay has once again closed the western half of Shinnecock Bay to shellfish and conch harvesting Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that blooms of the red algae known as Alexandrium have been occurring intermittently in western Shinnecock Bay since 2012 and have periodically forced closures of shellfish harvesting there — though the much more bountiful harvests of shellfish in the eastern section of Shinnecock Bay have not been affected The Alexandrium blooms typically dissipate by mid-May as waters warm and the shellfish harvest bans are lifted Water conditions are monitored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Alexandrium naturally omits a neurotoxin known as saxitoxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning and has been known to be harmful or even fatal to humans who consume shellfish from waters where the algae is present In his 12 years as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics including an estimated 1.2 million on Long Island Pope Francis regularly eschewed the trappings and luxuries of the papacy instead using his perch to advocate for the underserved and marginalized from migrants and the poor to the LGBTQ community Robert Brodsky reports in NEWSDAY that the more liberal path of Pope Francis would earn him praise from those seeking a break from the church’s conservative orthodoxy but scorn from traditionalists particularly on issues of immigration and homosexuality director of the Long Island Immigration Clinic at the congregation of the Sisters of St said Francis transformed the papacy into one of inclusion “Pope Francis was a champion of the marginalized with an unwavering commitment to social justice environmental stewardship and care for the poor,” Kinney said “Up until his very last moments on this Earth he spoke out against the unjust treatment of the migrant and for all those who suffer in our world.” said caring for those on the margins of society has long been central to Catholic teaching “But I think Pope Francis saw a special need to keep it front and center throughout his papacy in the minds and hearts of the Catholic faithful and in the considerations of political cultural and religious leaders and influencers throughout the world,” Hinshaw said he wanted everyone to consider what we could do personally to help alleviate human suffering.” Listen to more episodes of The Long Island Daily. ©2025 WNET WLIW and WLIW-FM are part of The WNET Group and are operated by WNET a non-profit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 2025 at 10:20 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The vehicle also had extensive front-end damage NY — A 25-year-old Laurel man was injured in Southold Sunday night when he drove off the road and hit a tree The Southold Fire Department responded and transported the man to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of injuries he sustained in the crash The vehicle had extensive front-end damage The crash is still under investigation by the Southold Town Police Department Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Following the unveiling of their town board and town trustee candidates over the past several weeks the Southold Town GOP has announced their complete slate of candidates for this fall’s election The party announced earlier in March that it is backing former Southold Town Board member and Southampton Village Building Inspector Christopher Talbot and real estate agent Nick Planamento for the Town Board Pictured Above: (l-r): Terri Boyle Romanelli Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow and Stephanie Hall at the March 27 campaign kick-off Republicans have also tapped Stephanie Hall a clinical research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry with decades of experience volunteering on Fishers Island for the Fishers Island Town Justice and Town Board seat currently held by Louisa Evans the party announced just ahead of its campaign kick-off at Touch of Venice restaurant in Cutchogue March 27 who took four ferries in order to get to and from Fishers Island for the campaign kick-off said she has spent 35 years as a human geneticist and most of her career “conducting studies in Alzheimer’s oncology and auto-immune disease for Pfizer.” co-chair of the island’s Seagrass Management Coalition and mentors youth with the Fishers Island Conservancy “I want to create positive change for a community I care deeply about,” she said adding that she also wants to build stronger ties between Fishers Island and Southold We’ve seen some alarming demographics changed in this town over the last several years and because of that we now see a Town Board and a Town Hall that a lot of us do not recognize but that gives us the opportunity of a lifetime this year,” said Republican Committee Chairman Peter Ganley at the kickoff celebration there’s not even a town supervisor on the ballot this year We have an opportunity to flip this town and put in place conservative leaders that we trust to serve Southold Town in the coming years.” Southold Town had long been a Republican stronghold but the balance of power in town hall has shifted to the Democrats over the past two election cycles while Democratic Town Supervisor Al Krupski was elected in 2023 after long-time Republican Supervisor Scott Russell declined to run again tipping the balance of power on the six-person board in favor of the Democrats Evans are currently the only Republicans on the Town Board The GOP also announced in the lead-up to the kick-off that it is backing incumbent Southold Town Tax Assessor Charles Sanders Kevin Webster is stepping down as Assessor and his spot on the GOP ticket will be filled by real estate broker Ken Poliwoda a real estate agent with William Raveis in Greenport Colonel in the New York Army National Guard will be deployed to the Middle East beginning in June of this year and he urged the party to work hard on its get-out-the-vote efforts in his absence “The demographics have changed dramatically out here,” he said “If we loose this election and they sweep again Local politics is incredibly important.” “There are two people running for Tax Assessor on the other team and none of them have a real estate background,” he added “It’s incredibly important to have some sort of background in real estate.” “Working hard always does pay off,” said Mr who has also served in the past as a Southold Town Trustee “If you show up early and stay in late that’s what a successful candidate exemplifies.” Republicans are also backing Southold Town Highway Department mechanic Greg Schlachter for Highway Superintendent who was recovering from surgery and unable to attend the kick-off wrote a letter telling those gathered that he believes the Highway Superintendent is “one of most important jobs in this town Keeping roads and sidewalks safe for the public and first responders is my top priority.” Schlachter is a member of the Southold Fire Department and is well-known among local children as “Southold Santa” during the Christmas season with more than 40 years experience as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic the incumbent Town Clerk and a former town GOP chairman Town Republicans also announced their Town Trustee candidates earlier this month — Terri Boyle Romanelli ran a charter fishing business in Montauk and has been a volunteer for environmental and community organizations on the North Fork; Southold Baymen’s Association President Nathan Andruski and Pindar Damianos before attending Stanford University and beginning a career on the west coast with Oracle where she worked downtown a couple blocks from the World Trade Center until her “whole sales territory was blown up” on September 11 She decided to move back home to Long Island but was shocked to see how much Miller Place had been developed and chose Mattituck to raise her family because it reminded her of the rural place she had left “I’ve seen what can happen when you’re not careful about how you manage your building and enforce your codes and protect the environment and protect your waterways,” she said at the kick-off “My daughter is frightened by what’s going on with climate change and overdevelopment… It is really important for us to do this for them.” “I know the importance of balancing property rights with the environment,” said Mr “I like to say government is good with oversight but not overreach I know the importance of keeping the North Fork as it is I bring the Republican values I hold into my heart and now we’re going to take back our backyard.” Andruski said over the past 30 years he has had”firsthand experienced the decline of a livelihood where you used to be able to make a damn good living I have to work multiple jobs to support my two kids because that livelihood is no longer available in Southold Town.” He added that water quality issues have led to many shellfish bed closures and areas where there were 60 people making a living clamming when he was young now only have one or two baymen working on the water “We live on a peninsula — everything we do affects this water and it all has an adverse effect over time,” he said had served on the Southold Town Board from 1010 to 2013 “We run an efficient and effective building department,” he said of his work in Southampton Village we want to get them in and open as quickly as possible we have short window out here to make money We make it as easy as possible for people to do the right thing.” He said he believes Southold needs more code enforcement officers and the town can pay for them by raising building permit fees He added that he believes code enforcement shouldn’t be overseen by the Town Attorney’s office He urged attendees to pay attention to the town’s Zoning Code Update — a public review draft of the new code is expected to be released in early April “Everybody has to pay attention to that,” he said “If you’ve got a particular parcel the uses allowed in that district might change… You have to pay attention because we are going to be facing some changes and it could affect your business.” “I will run a clean and respectable campaign and remain open to everyone,” he said who was unable to attend the kick-off due to a prior commitment submitted a letter of introduction read to the crowd by Mr He said he moved in the year 2000 to the North Fork after losing an eminent domain battle in his hometown in Westchester opening a shop on Love Lane for several years before becoming a real estate agent He also serves as Vice Chair of the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals “I’m a serious and committed resident of Southold with strong local knowledge and relationships and friends that are bipartisan in nature,” he wrote “I’m preservationist and I love our rich “We are currently unrecognized by the present town board as being a tourism-based economy and we need intelligent elected officials to create guidelines to achieve appropriate housing preservation and open space for our natural resources,” he added The North Fork’s Suffolk County Legislator who is facing a challenge this year from Mr She highlighted her work to create a land preservation program for the working waterfront which she hopes will be before the County Legislature for public hearings this summer “The county will buy the underlying fee but it will always have to remain working waterfront,” she said “If baymen don’t have a secure places to bring their boats in and offload then we’re going to loose them.” praising the “incredible group of people who put service above self every day” who have stepped up to run for office before leading a prayer for those running for office we can tell your hand is in this group,” he said “You’ve put together a team of the right people that will serve this community and put themselves behind making this community the great community that it is Shellfish harvesting is temporarily closed in Town and Jockey Creeks in the town of Southold effective April 16 a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) these closures are not unheard of this time of year “When water temperatures warm, marine biotoxin-producing plankton may accumulate in such numbers so as to cause a harmful algae bloom (HAB). This closure was enacted when regular monitoring and testing as part of the Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program determined that saxitoxin exceeded levels that required a closure,” said Matt Richards  A similar closure was enacted in April 2023 when mussels collected from a monitoring site in Jockey Creek also tested positive for saxitoxin.  The issue was discovered during routine monitoring for HABs that produce marine biotoxins Suffolk County and SUNY Stony Brook’s Gobler Lab have a network of HAB monitoring stations at key locations around Long Island These monitor for HABs that can produce marine biotoxins This closure will not affect the fishing season for striped bass and scallops — can accumulate marine biotoxins which can cause illness in shellfish consumers,” said Mr moon snails — feed on shellfish and can accumulate biotoxins at levels that are hazardous to human health.”  The DEC will re-open these areas as soon as possible based on the results of laboratory analyses that will be conducted over the next few weeks A recorded message advising harvesters of the status of temporarily closed shellfishing areas may be heard by calling 631-444-0480 Maps of the affected areas and information about these temporary closures are available at Temporary Shellfish Closures. Information about marine biotoxins and paralytic shellfish poisoning is also available at HABs and Marine Biotoxins Southold Town Board will hold a public hearing regarding an extension of the hotel moratorium May 28 at 4:30 p.m The moratorium, which halted the application process for new development of resorts, hotels and motels in the township, was originally approved by the Town Board in June 2024 It was unanimously adopted after the Suffolk County Planning Commission recommended a six-month development pause “The town has noted that they are in the process of a comprehensive zoning update that should be complete by March 2025,” its June 5, 2024 report stated “The commission believes it is important that the town update the commission on its progress within the first three months and after the six months to discuss the need for an extension so that the town can end this moratorium at the appropriate time that allows suitable development to continue.” The town’s comprehensive zoning update is now said to be available by April 18 at southoldzoningupdate.com “Given the complexity of zoning regulations and the need for public review and deliberation the Town Board finds it necessary to extend the moratorium to ensure thoughtful policymaking,” the proposed law states.  The current moratorium is set to expire June 18 The proposed extension would make the moratorium effective for an additional 12 months after its enactment.  The moratorium extension law description states that the Town Board believes more time is needed to finalize the zoning updates to ensure “proper alignment with the Southold Town Comprehensive Plan environmental constraints and density regulations.” It also states that “without an extension of the moratorium new large-scale development may proceed before necessary amendments to Southold’s zoning legislation are completed potentially undermining the town’s long-term planning objectives.” A cumulative impact analysis of recent and proposed developments is another issue the Town Board intends to analyze during the moratorium.  A separate public hearing for a waiver from the original moratorium for 9025 Main St LLC which proposed a two-story Mattituck Hotel at the former Capitol One building on Main Road in 2021 a 100,821-square-foot restaurant and catering facility and three 1,200-square-foot workforce housing and maintenance buildings The ink was barely dry on the first copy of Southold Town’s new zoning code update when Town Supervisor Al Krupski walked into a meeting of business leaders at Raphael Vineyards Tuesday morning and proudly placed it on the bar as attendees were walking in “It’s still warm,” he said of the 190-page document By the end of the day, the town’s zoning update website, southoldzoningupdate.com and the Public Review Draft of the new code along with a new interactive map showing how the zoning would change Krupski opened the meeting — convened by the Southold Town Economic Development Committee to explore synergies between business organizations — by promising wryly that “I am from the government and I AM here to help you.” The last time Southold did a major overhaul of its zoning code was in 1971 before planners had begun to understand the isolation of suburban sprawl before walkable hamlet centers and smart growth principals were part of planners’ toolkits co-working and even doggy day care had entered the planning lexicon After finishing an update of its Comprehensive Plan in 2020, Southold’s Planning Department and its consultants, ZoneCo., have been working since 2022 to craft the new code, backed up by the community’s desires and needs that were articulated in the Comprehensive Plan “The zoning update started a couple years ago and it’s something we’re committed to working with the community on,” said Mr “If you look at the old code and the old zoning map and the proposed code and map You’re not going to pick one or the other You’re going to look at the old one and say ‘what works in that?’ You’re going to look at the new one and say ‘Are these suggestions helpful or not?” And if they’re helpful we’d like to hear ‘hey We’d like to support those changes.’ If they’re not helpful Tell us if this would be a better definition for that use or this would be a better use in that zone and we need the community’s help.” A rough draft of the new code was released in early March but it has since undergone revisions to become this new “Public Review Draft” released this week The new draft will be the subject of 11 informational forums this spring followed by formal public hearings later this summer and into the fall with the hopes of being adopted in the winter of 2025-2026 The new code streamlines the usability of planning regulations that had before been added piecemeal over the last 54 years and adds several “overlay districts” for things like groundwater protection historic preservation and coastal resilience formerly called “hamlet density,” would “allow for compact walkable developments that support local business while preserving the town’s small-town and rural character” and a new transitional district would “transition between commercial and residential areas in a context-sensitive manner that provides for commercial uses in residential-scale structures,” according to ZoneCo The code also includes new regulations requiring large stores and retail centers to put most of their parking to the side and rear of the buildings defying the eastward march of the strip malls that define western Long Island Southold Town Planning Director Heather Lanza, who has been overseeing this process since its inception, said at a town board work session in April that ZoneCo is working on a handbook to accompany the draft “We asked the consultant to take the existing uses and explain what’s different in each zone “A summary document I’m working on is also pointing out the big differences.” Eleven public forums to discuss the code are being scheduled for the upcoming weeks including meetings focused on each of the hamlets in town that has a civic association (Southold and Peconic have a combined civic association Meetings to give a general overview of the Zoning Update will be held on Monday May 12 at the Southold Town Recreation Center at 970 Peconic Lane in Peconic from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Southold-Peconic meeting will be held at the Southold Town Recreation Center on Tuesday The Orient meeting will be held on Saturday 1160 Skippers Lane in Orient from 9 to 11 a.m The New Suffolk meeting will be held on Saturday 27685 Main Road in Cutchogue from 9 to 11 a.m The Cutchogue meeting will be held on Thursday the East Marion meeting will be held on Saturday The Mattituck-Laurel meeting will be held on Monday at the Veterans Beach community room at 11280 Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck The Greenport Hamlet meeting will be held on Wednesday at the Peconic Landing Auditorium at 1500 Brecknock Road in Orient Southold Town’s zoning applies to all areas of Greenport outside of the incorporated village The Fishers Island meeting will be held on Saturday June 28 at the Fishers Island Community Center from 9 to 11 a.m A business-focused forum will be held on May 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m at the Southold Town Recreation Center at 970 Peconic Lane The full meeting schedule is online here The downstairs area of the Town Hall Annex the former Southold Savings Bank lobby on the corner of the Main Road and Youngs Avenue in downtown Southold throughout the upcoming months with informational displays and planning staff on hand to answer questions We will update this post with the hours of operation when that information becomes available “I think that will be helpful too,” said Mr “Feel free to go to the bank building in the hours that they’re open and someone will be there to answer your questions.” Southold Town Democrats unveiled candidates for all 11 town positions up for election this fall at their nominating convention Friday evening including a candidate for the Fishers Island town board seat long held by Louisa Evans and a town justice who is switching party affiliations Excited party members packed into Touch of Venice restaurant in Cutchogue Friday evening to hear from the candidates at an event that party chair Kathryn Casey Quigley said “reached its maximum capacity within days” of being announced Pictured Above: Southold Democratic Town Board Candidates (l-r) Kate Stephens “It is the first time we’re running someone for every open seat,” said Ms adding that the party is also proud to be backing seven women this cycle “Democrats have lately been accused of not having a vision but we do not have that problem here in Southold Town… We can make government work for each other Government can be the infrastructure of care for each other This is going to be a hopeful time for Southold.” Town Trustees Liz Gillooly and Eric Sepenoski and Highway Superintendent Dan Goodwin are the four Democratic incumbents seeking re-election who is finishing her second four-year terms as a Republican has switched party affiliation to run as a Democrat the head of circulation at Greenport’s Floyd Memorial Library a Mattituck High School graduate and former Mattituck-Cutchogue School Board member made history four years ago as the first African American elected to the Southold Town Board He gave the capstone remarks at Friday’s nominating convention beginning by singing a snippet from the Jesus Jones song “Right here right now… watching the world wake up from history.” where we are literally making history in town by breaking barriers,” he said “That’s what the Democratic party is about but I said yes the first time because the Democratic Party really encapsulates my personal values — we live in dignity but don’t destroy somebody because they disagree with you “I’m proud to be a little cog in that process,” he said a lifelong Greenport resident and owner of a small business an architect and educator who serves as chair of the Fishers Island Waste Management District which also includes service as the Town Justice for Fishers Island Incumbent Republican Lousia Evans has held that seat since 1994 and her retirement this year could shape the partisan balance on the board The Southold Town Board is unique for having six members instead of the customary five which can lead to a deadlock without a tie-breaking vote Southold Republican Party Chairman Peter Ganley confirmed this week that town Republican are also fielding a Fishers Island candidate who will be announced along with other candidates ahead of the party’s March 27 campaign kick-off also to be held at Touch of Venice restaurant Southold Republican also announced earlier this week that they have chosen Christopher Talbot a former Town Board member and current Southampton Village Building Inspector and real estate agent and Southold Zoning Board of Appeals member Nicholas Planamento to run for the two town board seats currently held by Mr Suess said she has been a small business owner since 2012 the Greenport Business Improvement District which helped erase $700,000 of outstanding medical debt for local people She pledged first and foremost to tackle affordable housing I was working four jobs to afford my second floor apartment,” she said “But the housing elephant in the room is not the only thing — technological improvements let’s drag Southold Town into the 21st Century please — and let’s protect our waterways and foster entrepreneurship and small businesses.” “I’m an advocate for data-driven decisions and for working together across party lines to ensure this town is as resilient and prosperous and united as it can be,” she said said she had visited family on Fishers Island since the 1970s “Living there full time is an utterly different experience,” she said “There’s a surprisingly enormous amount to do on this little island She said she’s proud to have worked on the circular economy as chair of the waste management district including a food scrap composting program and a lease to top the capped landfill with a solar farm and has worked on projects for the local museum and land trust and on a coastal walking path that will connect the ferry terminal area to Race Point on the west end of the island “A lot of that translates out here [to the rest of Southold],” she said water infrastructure and coastal resiliency are the same This is an exciting time — we can make a difference working on projects.” and she will be replaced on the ticket by Shelter Island Town Engineer Joe Finora a lifelong North Fork resident who currently lives in Southold Finora is also the founder of an oyster farm who has a master’s degree in marine engineering spent the first 10 years of his career “as an engineer diver inspecting waterfront structures in New York and around the world and am well-versed in the technical issues facing the trustees,” he said “What you’re going to get is someone in this office who is pragmatic logical and going to make science-based decisions that are best for our community and our shorelines,” he added “thousands of residents have joined the trustees to have difficult important and necessary conversations that shape our shorelines and our shared future I am proud to serve on a board with talented thoughtful people every month to have those conversations to ensure our simple pleasures — our ability to move freely along the waterfront to watch our children chase killifish and crabs in the shallows and the simple pease of gathering with family at town beaches Gillooly was giving birth the night of the convention and was not able to be present a Cutchogue attorney who has long been involved in local Democratic campaigns and activist work facing incumbent Republican Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow who is a former Southold GOP chairman and is well-known for his community engagement and work to provide a safety net for North Forkers as a board member at CAST “I believe government should be efficient and effective and it should be transparent so it can be accountable to local citizens,” said Ms “The town clerk has a really important public-facing role to play to make government accessible and transparent so voters know what the government is doing and can hold them accountable at the ballot box.” The Democrats have also chosen two tax assessor candidates — Mattituck-based insurance agent Dana Forlenza who touted her experience in valuing property while calculating replacement costs for homes daughter of former Southold Democratic Party Chairman Art Tillman and the marketing director of the Village Cheese Shop who also served as a Senior Congressional Aide for former Congressman Timothy Bishop for 12 years “We have something to be hopeful and excited about “I know people are feeling a lot of feelings There is so much to consider and think about and for the next many months until November we have some place to focus our energy and our power and our mission and we can do it with love and we can do it with joy That’s what we’re going to do.” Southold Town Republicans have chosen Christopher Talbot a former Town Board member and Southampton Village Building Inspector and real estate agent and Southold Zoning Board of Appeals member Nicholas Planamento to run for two seats on the Southold Town Board this fall “This year we have the most dynamic and exciting slate of candidates we have seen in a long time,” said Southold GOP Chairman Peter Ganley “We are very proud that in nominating Chris and Nick we are presenting the voters with the most qualified team that will put Town Hall back on track.” Pictured Above: Left: Nick Planamento; Right: Chris Talbot The seats are currently held by Democrats Brian Mealy and Greg Doroski. Mr. Doroski announced Monday that he will seek a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature this fall confirmed Wednesday that he is running for re-election Town Democrats will officially unveil their candidates this Friday March 7 at Touch of Venice restaurant in Cutchogue Talbot served on the Southold Town Board from 2010 to 2013 and is currently the Senior Building and Zoning Inspector for the Village of Southampton He was an 18-year member of the Mattituck Fire Department and is now an active member and elected Commissioner at the Cutchogue Fire Department He’s a lifelong Southold Town resident and graduate of Mattituck High School who had owned a shop on Love Lane in the early 2000s affiliated with Town & Country Real Estate which recently joined the Connecticut-based real estate firm William Raveis In addition to serving on the Zoning Board Planamento has served as the town’s liaison to the Suffolk County Planning Commission as Vice Chair of the Southold Board of Assessment Review a member of the town’s Architectural Review Board and 375th Anniversary Committee Republican Fishers Island Councilwoman and Town Justice Louisa Evans the longest-serving member of the Town Board Evans’ seat is an unusual one — the Southold Town Board has six members and one seat must be held by a resident of Fishers Island though the candidate is elected by town voters at large Ganley said town Republicans have a candidate to fill the Fishers Island seat who will be announced along with the party’s other candidates in the upcoming weeks ahead of their March 27 campaign kickoff party which will also be held at Touch of Venice Southold Democratic Party Chair Emeritus and Communications Director Sandra Benedetto said Wednesday that the Democrats are also fielding a candidate for the Fishers Island seat along with “an outstanding slate that we can’t wait to announce Friday,” with candidates for all 11 seats up for election this year “It’s an honor to be selected by the Southold Democratic Committee for another opportunity to represent the great people of Southold,” said Mr the Democratic incumbent Town Board member seeking re-election adding that he’s blessed to be working with the current town board “on the important issues affecting our residents like safeguarding our Peconic Estuary safe affordable housing and evolving quality of life issues.” Both Republican candidates pledged to do more to address affordable housing in Southold and touted their professional experience with zoning codes as Southold is undergoing a major overhaul of its zoning code this year “We really need to take a hard look at affordable housing,” said Mr but we haven’t had a lot of success in moving too many projects forward Cutchogue is one of the only communities that hasn’t had any projects and we probably have some good parcels in the HALO zones [around the center of the hamlet].” adding that “one of the most defeating thins for me was when Southold did not approve that project in Mattituck,” referring to a proposal about a decade ago for a sports complex on the Main Road just west of the Mattituck shopping plaza “I think it’s a priority for the East End to keep young people here,” agreed Mr “People are very much excited about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) The code allows any full-time resident to develop an accessory structure with an ADU in it but that structure needs to have a certificate of occupancy that’s three years old.That’s a hot button topic that’s very easily resolved.” He added that he would also be supportive of allowing second homeowners to convert space on their property to accessory dwelling units and that he would “like to see more follow-up” to ensure the units are being used for affordable housing The Southold Town Board is currently in the process of interviewing candidates for a housing administrator position — that person would be charged with the day-to-day operations of the town’s new Community Housing Fund Southold Town is also currently in the midst of drafting a much-anticipated update to its zoning code with public input sessions expected later this spring “The zoning update has been a very long process,” said Mr and I would argue this is a long time coming.” as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals he is charged with protecting the existing zoning code and is “obligated to grant the minimum relief possible.” and I would help determine the code issues that need to be addressed,” he said “I’d have a better seat at the table.” “Zoning updates are a good thing,” said Mr Some particular uses have been in place for 50 years I always thought it would be good to get a group of people together and talk about new uses in town — what new things need to be put in the code so they’ll be allowable and people don’t have to work too hard and spend a lot of money to get a project approved.” Talbot said he’s winding down his career as a building department official and now that his kids are grown he feels he has the time to return to a role in government in the town where he’s lived all his life “There’s been a change of demographics in town but everyone that’s out here wants the same thing — a safe community and I think I’d be in a good position to continue to push that forward,” he said who grew up in Yorktown Heights in Westchester County remembers how his small town became “really heavily developed That left a big mark on me as far as how I view development.” He had family in Southold when he was a kid and decided after college that “sleepy little quiet Southold was the right place to be.” “I miss the farm fields of cauliflower and potatoes,” he said of the Southold he remembers from his youth and we need to reflect on where we are today… It’s a changed community The full slate of candidates running for the Southold Town Trustees in November has been announced.  Southold Town Trustees administer all activity within 100 feet of the town’s wetlands as well as the underwater lands owned by the Trustees for Southold’s citizens Trustee jurisdiction encompasses more than 2,000 acres of underwater lands They are essentially responsible for safeguarding and managing Southold’s diverse ecosystems Each trustee serves a four-year term.  including the seats of current trustees Liz Gillooly Peeples is not seeking another term.  the Southold Town Democratic Committee has also selected Shelter Island town engineer Joe Finora to run for Ms The Southold Town Republican Committee has nominated Terri Boyle Romanelli Nathan Andruski and Pindar Damianos to run on the GOP line Gillooly said she has worked to improve transparency accessibility and environmental responsibility among the trustees She has taken a proactive role in updating codes improving relationships between the Conservation Advisory Council  She said the most rewarding part of being a trustee is continuing to broaden the Trustees’ relationship with local community groups and leaning into their expertise when making decisions In addition to being a trustee, Ms. Gillooly serves as operations director for the North Fork Arts Center, is a USCG-licensed sailboat captain and runs the women-led boat charter business Layla Sailing in Greenport.  “I believe my record shows that I’m committed to fairness transparency and environmental responsibility,” Ms “I’ve worked hard to make our [trustee] board more accessible and effective and I’d be honored to continue working for another term for the people of Southold and to ensure that our community and environment are protected for generations to come.” As a fourth-generation owner of Sep’s Farm in East Marion Sepenoski grew up as a firsthand witness to the changes in Southold’s lands His agricultural roots have aided him in making decisions with his fellow trustees to continue to protect the town’s waters He has used his position as an educator to teach North Fork youth about the importance of Southold’s ecosystems The product of the work he and the other trustees have accomplished — including keeping the shorelines open to all working with neighbors to protect natural buffers along the waters and ensuring that fees serve the public good not private interests — has allowed for a recognizable shoreline for Southold’s oldest and youngest generations “at the same moment.”  “It’s both personal and a sense of civic duty to stewarding the land and the underwater lands of our town have been really central to our colonial history “[It’s] just really about teaching people and inviting them in to partnership with the town that says government can be a force of good.”  FInora said his Shelter Island role cultivated his understanding of local municipal procedures and processes including passing resolutions and holding public hearings He also has experience engaging with community groups and civic associations through this position.  Finora’s “direct connection to the water,” he said His farm relies on clean water quality to function and gives back to the Peconic Bay in terms of the environmental benefits of raising shellfish He believes his professional expertise would serve as an advantage to the town Trustees.  “I want the community to know that that’s the kind of apolitical logic technical-based strategy that I would bring toward this local governing structure,” Mr “I want to be clear about the advantages of having somebody with the professional know-how on these environmental matters because they do impact many parts of our community.”  Boyle Romanelli has always been drawn to the water: Growing up in Miller Place she said she has fond memories of crabbing with her grandfather as a child and swimming in Long Island Sound When looking for a place to raise a family she chose Southold because of its rural character appreciation for clean water and its rich agricultural ties — a “unique” environment for her kids to grow up in She became real estate professional in 2006 served on the board of The Long Island Farm Bureau and got involved with the North Fork Environmental Council she owned a charter fishing business in Montauk She currently works as a sales manager at DocuSign and has an extensive background in technology Her professional and personal experiences have allowed her to understand the complexities of waterfront regulations and challenges faced by local homeowners actively seeking solutions to better protect the environment and finding ways to make sure that we are not doing anything to further damage what’s gone on,” Ms “I think it’s also being a responsible community member educating the community so they understand why we’re trying to protect the water lands — there’s an educational component to it [and] a diligence to really understanding the code.” Andruski is a lifelong bayman who has witnessed firsthand the critical environmental challenges facing Southold’s waters He said he felt compelled to run for Trustee after seeing the decline in shellfish beds and hundreds of acres downgraded to uncertified status in the last decade “I’ve made my living off the water the last 30 years and I’ve seen the decline in everything out here as far as the marine waters are concerned,” Mr eel grass … all the thicker grasses and algae it’s all just disappearing and over the last few years Andruski said he would be committed to investigating and mitigating water quality issues affecting shellfish lands as well as working with the Cornell Cooperative Extension to implement shellfish restoration projects.  He is also interested in utilizing the Cornell Cooperative facility at Cedar Beach to advance marine conservation Andruski would advocate for and require cesspools to reduce nitrogen and protect Southold’s waterways “I don’t care what your political affiliation is these issues are not political issues … these are true grassroots environmental issues and they should not have any sort of political issue to them “We just keep losing habitat — we keep losing this we keep losing that — instead of having real conversations about what the real issues are in actual environmental conservation.”  In his early days out of college studying agriculture, Mr. Damianos said he helped grow grapes for his family’s business, Pindar Vineyard the longtime Southold resident and first assistant chief with the Southold Fire Department said he understands the importance of conservation as a small business owner and farmer his vision for Southold includes protecting the town’s shorelines from overdevelopment preserving the town’s agricultural and maritime heritage ensuring responsible growth that benefits both residents and the environment and advocating for polices that respect property rights while maintaining the town’s rural character “I know the importance of balancing property rights with conservation and environmental protections [and] I believe there is a place for government oversight and not government overreach,” Mr “I will bring a common sense approach while protecting our shorelines and wetlands from overdevelopment.” some of Greenport’s finest young basketball players will be facing off in a charity showdown against members of the Southold Police Department at Greenport High School The First Annual Cops and Community Basketball Game starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. Tickets — $12 for adults; $6 for children — can be purchased here This month’s game is an outgrowth of a village tradition: a summer basketball tournament whose roots stretch back to the early 1990s when it was known as  Joanne “JoJo” Jackson’s tournament and was the highlight of the summer for many local kids the old tournament featured cheerleaders in outfits hand-sewn by local seamstresses and for a while there was even a fashion show The revived summer tournament now known as the North Fork Kid Connect basketball tournament Last summer’s tournament for the first time featured a cops versus community players as the day’s finale a grill master and a half-time show performed by the North Fork Dance Company Next week’s event is a fundraiser for NOFO Kids Connnect Inc. a non-profit created last year to fund the annual summer tournament The Southold PBA is also a sponsor of Friday night’s game “I was just talking with some of the basketball players from the community team last night and they are so excited,” said Candace Hall one of the organizers of the summer tournament and next week’s game Hall said the ball court showdown last summer between local teens and police was a hit with everyone involved and prompted organizers — including herself Destiny Salter and Southold Police Officer Ryan Creighton — to break out the police game into its own event Ms. Hall, whose family has lived in Greenport for generations said the game is a fun and valuable way to strengthen bonds between the community and the police force She said that there is a strong connection between longtime Greenport residents and Southold police — and that events like this reinforce that bond “I think we’re blessed to be a model for relationships [between] the police deptartment and the community and that’s been going on for a long time here,” she said We know these people because they grew up here She said it’s also an important opportunity for local police they are not always seeing an ideal moment in someone’s life,” Ms “Good people don’t always make good choices and they are seeing people in a very vulnerable place And I think it’s really beautiful if they know these people and can see that this is a bad moment saying he likes the games because of “the fact that you get to see a different side of people.” He said it’s important for residents to know that “we’re involved in the community in different ways other than just patrolling and policing.” Creighton hadn’t finalized his lineup by late last week his team will include two young players he coaches: Julian and Jaxan Swann Officers Steve Ficner and Dan Fedun played for the police in July In 2014, the Third St. court was renovated and renamed the “Third St. Memorial Basketball Court,” in honor of four village residents who had died young in separate incidents but shared a love for the court which sits between Center Street and and North Street.  Lt. George Robert Sullivan is remembered by his community as a decorated Marine, beloved Mets fan and avid public servant. Although Mr. Sullivan died Jan. 10, 2020, he will be remembered every time locals visit Southold Town Beach — recently renamed in his honor The decision was approved through a resolution passed by the Southold Town Board Tuesday “The Town Board of the Town of Southold unanimously supports this effort town and country,” Councilwoman Jill Doherty read from the resolution Sullivan served six terms as the town’s tax receiver Mr. Sullivan was awarded the Navy Cross as a Marine during the Vietnam War when his left leg was amputated after being hit by enemy fire, as previously reported by The Suffolk Times The award is the country’s second-highest military decoration.  He was stationed in Dông Hà as a member of Lima Company when he took part in a mission to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter He was wounded during a long firefight and struck by enemy fire at least seven times Doctors were ultimately forced to amputate his left leg after several operations.  A quote from Mr. Sullivan is featured on one of the glass panels engraved with “Voices of Veterans” — quotes from veterans detailing their experiences — as part of The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington I wished things would have worked out a little better for me but I did come home alive and had a fairly successful life.” In 2017, he served as grand marshal of the 13th annual St He was voted commander in 2014 until later that year when he suffered a heart attack.  “We owe a great debt of gratitude to the people who serve in our American Legion and to the veterans in our community,” Councilman Brian Mealy said “We have one of the highest rates of veterans on all of Long Island and it’s an honor to put forward an effort to honor George R Sullivan also opened his own accounting practice on the North Fork He then worked on a smaller basis until 2014 2025 at 8:40 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The temporary moratorium was initially adopted in June NY — The Southold Town board has scheduled a public hearing on a proposed 12-month extension of the temporary moratorium on the issuance of permits for new development of resorts The public hearing has been scheduled for May 28 at 4:30 p.m The temporary moratorium was initially adopted in June The reason for the proposed extension is that the town board "finds that additional time is necessary to finalize comprehensive zoning updates pertaining to resort ensuring proper alignment with the Southold Town Comprehensive Plan and density regulations," according to the resolution regarding the proposed extension is continuing its evaluation of zoning classifications and municipal infrastructure capacity related to resort "The town board has determined that without an extension of the moratorium potentially undermining the town's long-term planning objectives," the resolution stated "The extension of the temporary moratorium will allow the town to complete its zoning studies and finalize appropriate legislative amendments in a deliberate and structured manner." Last year, the board adopted the local law, meant to impose "an interim or temporary suspension on the review and/or issuance of all permits for or relating to new development of resorts hotels and motels," according to the resolution The resolution states that the goal was to "preserve the status quo" in Southold temporarily while the town conducts studies to review and consider amendment to those parts of the town's zoning legislation and comprehensive plan pertaining to hotels Southold Town has been in the midst of a complete zoning update being performed under the auspices of the planning department by ZoneCo The town is under "considerable pressure" for the development of new resorts with five proposed over the past several years "A limited moratorium would be helpful on new hotel construction," Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski told Patch last year "We've got a limited amount of resources in town to review all of these applications." He added that the town board was initially committed to completing the zoning update in March of 2025 and the aim was to have the moratorium wrap up at that time "The community is so engaged in this whole process that it's really been helpful because you want to have that kind of input while you are going through the zoning update while the consultant is still actively working." Last year, residents turned out in force at a special Southold town board meeting meant to discuss the possible moratorium on hotel development — and also to plead for the board to consider a wider and broader moratorium on all development in town Support us Southold Town Council Member Greg Doroski has announced his candidacy for county legislator in the First Legislative District.  of Mattituck is a Democrat looking to unseat first-term incumbent Republican Legislator Catherine Stark He was first elected to the Southold Town Board in 2021 after mounting an unsuccessful challenge to then-incumbent Southold Supervisor Scott Russell Doroski said his campaign will focus on promoting public safety preserving agricultural land and open space protecting and improving local waterways and our aquifer addressing housing affordability and improving infrastructure to support both residents and small businesses.  Doroski has small business experience as a beer brewer He was a managing partner in Threes Brewing in Brooklyn before moving back to the North Fork He is now the brewer at Riverhead Brew House in downtown Riverhead.  Working in town government gives him “a special understanding of the challenges facing local municipalities and the solutions that work on the local level,” Doroski said He said he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in and to stand up with the community on issues of concerns He cited as an example Riverhead’s proposed agritourism resort zoning for land north of Sound Avenue.  “There’s no mystery to what I’m thinking on an issue,” Doroski said in a phone interview Monday Doroski said the county legislator representing the district must work to ensure the local towns are getting their fair share of tax revenue from Suffolk County where the town is not getting a fair share of the tourism tax dollars generated in the town Doroski’s term on the Southold Town Board is expiring at the end of this year He decided to seek the Democratic nomination for county legislator instead of running for re-election to the Town Board He said he has the endorsement of Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski as “the best person to continue the work I was doing in the Legislature for the people of our district,” according to Doroski’s press release Stark worked as Krupski’s aide in the legislature for 10 years When told of Krupski’s endorsement in the race noting that she sat next to him at State Sen Anthony Palumbo’s environmental roundtable for more than two hours last week in Riverhead and he didn’t mention anything said she intends to run on her record and her three decades of experience working in county government.  The survival of local journalism depends on your support. We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Support RiverheadLOCAL today. Get fresh local news straight to your inbox every day Replenishment efforts are underway at Southold Town Beach on North Road following the completion of a dredging project at Goldsmith Inlet in Peconic and the New York State [Department of Environmental Conservation] was very helpful in opening that inlet up,” Southold Supervisor Al Krupski said The inlet is not navigable so typically is only dredged when it becomes completely closed off Krupski said has not happened for at least the last six years Goldsmith Inlet is part of a drainage system for a nearby pond and affects salinity for fish and crustaceans that breed in the area Southold Department of Public Works building maintenance supervisor “Some of that sand got moved down to Town Beach because of the rough condition of that beach the way it’s disappeared over the years,” Mr He described the replenishment project as “basic maintenance” for both the beach and the inlet Krupski hopes the 500 cubic yards of sand that were moved to Town Beach will last through 2025 Krupski said.“We have good water quality so people want to go to the beach and take advantage of the water So it’s just important to try to keep that beach accessible for as long as possible.” which had the potential to create a hazard for commercial and recreational boats according to waterfront advisory committee chair Patrick Brennan A $3 million dredge project in Mattituck Inlet was completed in November by West Sayville-based marine contractor Seacoast Construction Crews removed nearly 10,000 cubic yards of sediment and transported it to the Beneficial Dredge Facility in Staten Island to be used as landfill cover Southold High School senior and Life Scout Luca Sirico will install suicide prevention awareness signs, in partnership with local charity Ryan’s Team and the Southold Town Police Benevolent Association throughout Southold Town as part of his Eagle Scout project.  “Hope has a new number,” the dark blue metal signs read, directing those in need to call the national suicide and crisis hotline number, 988 The signs will also have the Boy Scout logo The 988 Lifeline offers free one-on-one call, text, chat and deaf or hard of hearing resources for those in crisis. The 988 line transitioned from the previous 10-digit suicide prevention hotline in July 2022. That number, 800-273-8255, will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, according to the 988 website The signs will be installed at select locations from Mattituck to Orient Point Luca will coordinate sign placement with the Department of Public Works and the Southold Town Highway Department “We would like them all to be very uniform out there,” Luca said “so that if anyone is having any mental crisis or suicidal thoughts they can see this sign and know we want them to be okay and they have someone they can contact.” Luca will install the signs with the help of his wrestling teammates police officers and community members who have expressed interest in the project Luca said local businesses have offered to supply concrete bolts and any other materials needed to complete the installations Southold Town councilwoman Anne Smith asked that Luca assess any existing signs in potential locations so that they could possibly be consolidated to maximize visibility and I don’t want people to kind of see it as another sign,” Ms and partnering particularly with Ryan’s Team and the groups mentioned — I really want it to grab people’s attention so that they tell other people about it.”  Councilman Brian Mealy agreed it is important for people to be knowledgeable about resources such as 988.  Ryan’s Team was formed by Katie Oliver after her brother, 16-year-old Ryan Oliver The organization promotes awareness around mental health issues.  said he thought the project was “fantastic” when he first heard about it through fellow Mattituck Fire Department member Andrew Garcia.  “It’s refreshing and reassuring that kids out there are starting to talk about it and it’s becoming more commonplace to talk about positive mental health,” Mr “Our goal is to save as many people as possible.” and upcoming events right to your inbox with our daily newsletter Jireh Flowers and Boutique in Southold (Photo credit: Stephanie Villani Claudia Campos’ brand-new store in Southold, Jireh Flowers and Boutique (56475 Main Road 7 with a pretty-in-pink sign visible from Main Road The store is located in the former Ivy League Flowers and has been renovated and refreshed by Campos has an extensive background in floral design After a 25-year stint working in Stop & Shop’s floral department Campos decided to open her own business from home during the pandemic “My house was filled with flowers,” she recalls a cheerful space that combines her floral workspace with a colorful boutique in an effort to generate business throughout the year including Campos’ own line of hand-poured candles “I make new candles for every season,” she says including off a “magic” chai candle that smells like cardamom and vanilla a bumblebee candle with a sweet floral fragrance and a cherry blossom candle inspired by the Greenport Cherry Blossom Festival that occurs each April The shop also carries a selection of clothes including robes and summery dresses from Turkey as well as crocheted bikinis and halter tops Campos plans to bring in a line of Colombian handbags some made of leather and some of woven textile Campos will create custom gift baskets for customers Jireh aims to work with customers to provide exactly what they are looking for no matter the occasion “One customer brought me Pinterest pictures showing the arrangement he wanted,” she says The end result was a trendy bouquet of 25 white roses 75 red roses and a sprinkling of faux butterflies Campos asks about the gift recipient’s likes and dislikes or what colors or flowers she should use in creating personalized arrangements A recent walk-in customer had her create a spur-of-the-moment bouquet of baby’s breath and pink roses for her daughter who just found out she is having a baby girl Campos also creates surprise boxes for occasions like birthdays These may consist of a lunch box with a sandwich and drink as she plans to offer workshops on flower arrangement and candle-making on Saturday mornings and also translates to “the Lord will provide.” Campos says that she used the name for her business because “I want to recognize His presence in my life Jireh is my provider and will be there for me and for everybody Flowers can be ordered online, by phone, or in person. Delivery is available for most East End addresses, including local hospitals and funeral homes. Jireh Flowers and Boutique is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and is closed on Sunday. For more information, check Jireh’s website If you like your meal with a water view (and who doesn’t?) Family Fun at Harbes Farm Harbes Family Farm (715 Sound Ave. Southold Town Board unanimously approved a 12-month extension of the temporary moratorium on Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities April 16 for a third year The Town Board’s decision overrode an April 8 Suffolk County Planning Commission report that “conditionally approved” the moratorium extension but required the town return every three months to provide status updates on the code provisions and request extensions for the moratorium at those intervals.  Rationale for the commission’s decision was that the New York Fire Code Kathy Hochul’s working group to examine fire safety and the security of BESS systems would be adopted in the first three months of the moratorium extension.  Councilman Greg Doroski said the Town Board believes the commission’s conditions of approval would have “no practical value” for several reasons The fluid state of BESS facility regulations in New York — as final fire code recommendations have not yet been determined and the town’s comprehensive zoning update not being finalized were chief reasons for the board cited for its decision “The twelve month extension of this moratorium is a reasonable and necessary exercise of te town’s authority to preserve the status quo while the town reviews all of the above issues and can craft code necessary to address them,” Mr He added that the moratorium’s language is specific and only restricts BESS facilities — affecting no other energy use development plans.  a project developer for Key Capture Energy — the New York-based company that proposed a 60-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage system and a new Long Island Power Authority substation on a 27-acre parcel on Oregon Road in Cutchogue — expressed opposition to the moratorium at the hearing She urged the Town Board to limit the moratorium extension to a three-month period.  “All BESS facilities in New York state are being designed to incorporate these new [state fire] codes and KCE is ready and willing to meet any final standards that are required,” Ms Six community members supported the decision during the public hearing before the board voted Roughly 20 people attended the meeting in person and on Zoom.  a member of the Friends of Oregon Road group strongly supported the moratorium extension “It would make no sense to end the moratorium prior to the town finalizing the new zoning code that protects Oregon Road,” Ms is the fact that the draft code prepared by the town’s task force is woefully deficient and therefore does a disservice to the Town Board and to the residents of Southold.” said the group had not yet received feedback about the draft recommendations and welcomes public comment on the matter.  “If you can submit any feedback to the town it would be helpful for us to have that on file and then be able to proceed with filling in any gaps we may have missed,” he said.  O’Mara noted that the proposed Key Capture facility would be built next to farm land in Cutchogue and a fire at the facility would “render that land unsafe for farming.”  She referenced a BESS facility fire in Moss Landing and the environmental and public health crisis it caused in that community The California facility had roughly 100,000 lithium ion battery modules Tests conducted by a state agency and San Jose State University both detected cobalt nickel and manganese in topsoil in the area that allegedly exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s risk level for residential soil “These chilling facts are enough to prove that our community should be protected from these developments that don’t have enough potential benefit to justify exposing us to the environmental hazards,” Ms schools and environmentally sensitive areas Mattituck resident Chris Shashkin echoed Ms referencing Moss Landing residents’ fear of toxic plumes from the January fire.  North Fork Environmental Council member Anne Murray also supported the moratorium extension She said the organization thought it was “wise and prudent” for the Town Board to hold off on BESS applications until the code issues are resolved and finalized Southold Town Police Department members began training to use body-worn cameras The police department received $980,225 in May 2024 as part of $127 million in funding awarded by the state to more than 300 New York police departments for technology upgrades to improve public safety.  Police Chief Steven Grattan said the department used $359,000 to purchase 50 BWCs from Axon of Scottsdale formerly known as TASER International Inc. which unveiled its first body cameras in 2008 The purchase is part of a five-year contract that was paid in full and includes the issuance of new cameras after two and a half years These cameras have back-end storage capabilities and the ability to redact video. Former police chief Martin Flatley said the cameras provided beneficial opportunities to capture video in houses or around yards that would not be possible with in-car video cameras The March 12 training session gave the police department’s command staff a general overview of the camera’s functionality and a detailed look at the digital evidence management system which is the platform where all videos will be uploaded with all training sessions to be completed by the first week of April.  Beyond the BWCs, $222,000 was used to purchase 17 Fleet 3 in-car cameras and license plate readers Chief Grattan said the LPRs will be stationed throughout town.  Seven computer tablets for department use were purchased for $35,000 The tablets enable officers to collect statements from victims and witnesses and prepare reports themselves while on the move “The drone has been and will continue to be used for various purposes including searching for missing persons and suspects water rescues — it has a device that can drop a flotation device to someone in the water — and photographing accident and crime scenes,” Chief Grattan said.  Remaining grant funding has been used to purchase an alcohol measuring Intoxilyzer device for Fishers Island portable radios and to upgrade cameras at department headquarters The Southold Town Board — who serve as police department commissioners — codified rules for the use of BWCs and similar portable recording devices on Feb The policy was made available to the public March 12 and specifies that permission to use such devices “does not apply to undercover operations,” including wiretaps or eavesdropping “It is the policy of the Southold Town Police Department to use BWCs and BWC media for evidence collection and to accurately document events in a way that promotes member safety department accountability and transparency while also protecting the privacy of members of the public,” the policy states BWCs should be activated during all calls for services and the performance of all law enforcement-related functions Officers are not required to activate their BWC during casual or informal contact with the public that is unrelated to law enforcement officers should activate their BWC any time an interaction “becomes hostile or adversarial.” “When responding to a place where individuals have an expectation of privacy (e.g. restrooms) or to a sensitive situation (e.g. members are permitted to mute or deactivate their BWC if it reasonably appears that the privacy concern outweighs any legitimate department interest in recording the event,” the policy states.  Officers may also mute or deactivate their BWC to protect the privacy of a victim or witness when someone wishes to provide information anonymously to avoid recording a confidential informant or undercover officer when discussing case tactics or strategy or during private conversations with other officers or emergency responders officers should verbally state the reason on the recording Officers should reactivate their BWC and verbally note the recording has been resumed once the privacy concern is no longer an issue or “when circumstances change so that the privacy concern no longer outweighs the department’s interest in recording the event.” The cameras also have a live-streaming capability for remote viewing in real time but the policy states that “only supervisors and dispatchers approved by the Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall have access” to the livestream BWC recordings will not replace written reports and should not be referred to in a written report in place of detailing the event and the use or deactivation of the devices should also be included in each report All media collected will remain the “sole property of the department.”  “BWCs should not be used for the purpose of embarrassment or ridicule of any individual or group,” the policy states.  BWCs should not be used to record routine administrative department activities that do not involve interactions with the public “Care should be taken to avoid incidentally recording confidential documents that the department has a duty to keep secure (i.e. criminal justice information),” the policy states.  A BWC coordinator will serve as a liaison between the police department Axon — the BWC manufacturer — and any third-party media storage vendor Chief Grattan said he has not appointed a BWC coordinator yet but it will either be an administrative lieutenant or a sergeant The coordinator will also retain audit logs and develop inventory procedures for issuance as well as maintenance or repair of BWC equipment Want to grow your network and support the local economy Sponsoring Patch connects your name to the trusted stories your neighbors love every day Learn more by contacting Lisa Finn at lisa.finn@patch.com or 917-224-2809 NY — A winter wonderland is set to unfold on the North Fork as the Southold Town economic development committee presents the 4th Annual WinterFest an event that brings the community together in the heart of the hamlet The event is scheduled to take place on Main Road in Southold on Saturday The annual "Norman Rockwellesque" event celebrates the community of Southold and promotes its many local businesses and organizations out-of-towners and interested Southold businesses are invited Scores of local businesses and organizations and more than 1,500 visitors are expected to participate The event is free to all residents and visitors the event will feature 50 exhibits celebrating local businesses and organizations WinterFest 2025 will also include live entertainment Southold Town's economic development committee was created by the Southold town board to advance initiatives that support economic growth for residents and businesses The volunteer committee is charged with promoting economic vitality as outlined in the town’s comprehensive plan The Public Review Draft of Southold Town’s Zoning Code Update is now expected to be released around April 18 Town Planning Director Heather Lanza had said in March as the Planning Department released an earlier draft of the document that she was hoping the Public Review Draft would be available April 1 Pictured Above: Southold Town Planning Director Heather Lanza at the town board’s April 1 work session At the Southold Town Board’s April 1 work session, Ms. Lanza urged members of the public who are interested in the document to sign up for email updates at southoldzoningupdate.com to receive an email notification when the Public Review Draft is available The Public Review Draft will be “redlined” to show the changes from the earlier draft on which the Town Board has already received quite a bit of public concern The first draft, known as the “Town Board Review Draft,” along with a map showing the current and proposed zoning districts and a summary from the town’s consultants, is also available on the Southold Zoning Update website “I’ve already gotten some comments on things that are being taken out,” said Councilwoman Jill Doherty “My concern is people are going to comment on something that has already been dismissed by the Committee and the Town Board,” agreed Town Supervisor Al Krupski He added that he’s also heard from people who have questions about the new proposed zoning maps and urged the planners to make clear how the allowed uses will change from one draft to the next is also preparing a handbook to accompany the draft Lanza said she doesn’t think that document will be ready by April 18 “We asked the consultant to take the existing uses and explain what’s different in each zone because that’s important,” said Ms “A summary document I’m working on is also pointing out the big differences.” The town’s Zoning Update Advisory Committee made up of community members and stakeholders which met throughout much of the past two years before being put on hiatus last fall reconvened the last week in March and is expected to meet monthly throughout this process Lanza said she now expects public outreach including meetings with the business community individual civic groups and a general Zoom meeting would review and make changes based on the public feedback over the summer with a final draft available in September for a formal public hearing process to begin after that She added that the Planning Department will also need time to review the Zoning Update for its environmental impact under the State Environmental Quality Review Acct The Planning Department is also planning to host a Zoning Update Resource Center in the downstairs section of the Town Hall Annex formerly the lobby of the Southold Savings Bank which would be open on some week nights and weekends with planning staff available to answer questions Some board members were concerned that extended timeline will push the process out past this fall’s election when three seats on the Town Board are on the ballot “The reality is that the makeup of this board is going to change,” said Councilman Greg Doroski, who is leaving the board at the end of this year as he is running for a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature “The idea that we’re going to be putting something out for public hearing October or November… Is there a realistic possibility of us voting this into law by Dec which is what we’ve been promising?” “Should we proactively bring those folks in?” he asked of people who are running for office this fall “The concern I’ve heard in the public is that we’re getting to the finish line and things might be a little rushed At what point do we level with the public and say ‘this isn’t going to be done this year?'” I think they’re going to be active in it,” said Ms “They have every right to participate in any phase of it and be fully engaged,” agreed Mr Lanza said the town’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan “did survive several changes in administration The process is what’s most important I don’t want to promise the end of the year.” “We’ve been honest with the public and we’ve been apologizing,” said Councilwoman Anne Smith “I don’t want to get distracted by dates elections and whoever is sitting at this table Whoever is sitting at this table was elected to represent this community.” We will provide more information on the dates and times of the public forums and on the release date of the Public Review Draft Maybe Planning Director Healther Lanza could explain why the website she advises we access is documented by Whois as a site registered in Ukraine in 2023 by a Richard Ross Richard Ross is the registered agent for a Florida-based web design company called Jetimpex It would not be surprising to me if they were the web designers contracted by Hardesty & Hanover to build the site for the town It is not at all uncommon for these companies to register in eastern Europe Our host’s operations are based in Bulgaria (Photos courtesy Connie Lynch Photography) Feather Hill in Southold is now home to Party Animal North Fork a brand-new business celebrating its grand opening on today Southold residents Amanda Giuliano and Katherine Laureano-Cilio teamed up to open the shop after hearing talk about a need for a party supply store on the North Fork The pair, both interior designers, work together at Nicolette’s for the Home in Southold a kitchen and bath showroom where Giuliano is principal designer Laureano-Cilio splits her time working at Nicolette’s and her husband’s Southold chiropractic office The two are excited to welcome customers into their colorful new venture “From 2020 through 2022 it was just nonstop work in construction and design,” says Giuliano “One thing that resonated with both of us was that the pandemic and the isolation really made us realize how precious all our moments together are People lost out on some really important celebrations — I did not get to have a first birthday party for my son [Ralphie].” The compact shop is full of whimsical decorations a variety of shaped balloons ready to be filled a creative take featuring a balloon animal displayed in neon inside the shop ‘let us help you bring out your party animal,’” she says also intend to offer personalized services to their clients “We are really hands-on with customers,” says Giuliano we will work with what you have.” Themed packages for those who are celebrating milestone birthdays Giuliano and Laureano-Cilio have a plethora of vendor references from the work at Nicolette’s as well as local business owners they met through Women Entrepreneurial Business North Fork Party Animal discourages the intentional release of balloons and intends to educate their customers about the issue “All of our latex balloons are 100% biodegradable,” says Giuliano while mylar balloons should be recycled or otherwise disposed of properly Most of the brands in the store are eco-friendly The solid-color balloons are recycled and non-toxic from Jollity and Co “We also have several exclusively women-owned lines It’s important to us to support other women-owned businesses,” says Giuliano Laureano-Cilio notes that “we carry quality goods; they are higher-end and more modern-looking items than the dollar store.” Ralphie was the catalyst,” says Giuliano and I’ve been hired in the past to do friends’ weddings and baby showers The joy I feel watching my son when a party is decorated just for him is different and special.” Several kid-focused events are in the planning stages; details will be announced on the shop’s website which should be up and running in February Party Animal North Fork’s grand opening kicks off today at 11 a.m. Check them out on Instagram @partyanimalnorthfork 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 After two recent public hearings, a local law regarding how the Southold Town Board adjusts shellfish permits was passed Feb. 25. Then on March 4 a separate law was passed regarding changing yard sale permits The changes to the Shellfish and Other Marine Resources law and zoning laws regarding personal property sales now allow fees to be “set from time to time” by Town Board resolution the fee for a noncommercial permanent resident or taxpayer shellfish permit was $5 and expired Dec Permanent residents older than 62 are not required to pay a fee according to the Shellfish and Other Marine Resources law.  A license application fee was previously $200 per year or $50 per day or fraction thereof according to the former Transient Retail Merchants law The recent change made the fee subject to change by Town Board resolution and be nonrefundable for each license The public hearing for both aforementioned local law changes was held at Southold Town Hall Feb They both passed unanimously without comment auction sales or similar types of personal property was previously $15 The approved amendment will now allow the Town Board to set new fees by resolution The public hearing for the zoning law was held at Town Hall March 4 and received no public comment Town Supervisor Al Krupski said these local law amendments will help streamline the fee-change process when necessary “All that does is it allows us to set [the fees] by resolution,” Mr “So it makes it easier for us to set the fee He said the Town Board is not changing the fees yet but it will make the process to change the fees easier than amending the law each time it needs to be changed The Southold Town Board unanimously approved adding “loitering” to an existing town law banning peddlers solicitors and transient retail merchants from local streets at its Dec The updated law defines loitering as “obstructing molesting or interfering with any person lawfully upon the street park or other public place” or “remaining in a public place for the purpose of annoying or harassing any person,” in the same areas.  Public places are described as any location where the public is welcome including in front of or adjacent to businesses or parking lots “not owned by … the person charged” with violating the new statute.  The amended law also prohibits public urination and defecation other than within restroom facilities in the town which wasn’t specifically illegal under the previous law although public lewdness and exposure are long-standing violations of the New York State Penal Code.  Penalties for violating the loitering law include fines ranging from $250 to $2,500 for first offenses and $500 to $5,000 for subsequent violations Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski said the amendment was made to establish code consistency between Southold Town and Greenport Village and  help the police department address public concerns “It’s just another tool in the tool box for the police in case there is a problem that they can address it in this fashion,” Mr The Greenport Village Board passed its own anti-loitering law in August after reports of intimidation and harassment of residents became commonplace particularly in the commercial district near Adams Street.  A documented spike in emergency calls in Greenport overwhelmed local first responders, as previously reported in The Suffolk Times The narrow passageway that runs between Front and Adams streets was sometimes referred to by community members as “overdose alley.” During a public hearing about the village law on Aug including Blue Duck Bakery Cafe owner Nancy Kouris public urination and slumbering vagrants in the alley behind her store Southold Police Chief Steve Grattan told the Village Board that the law would give the police department “an added tool to address this issue.” Greenport Fire Department assistant chief David Nyce encouraged the board to adopt the legislation to “give the police department something to work with to dissuade the behavior.”