Support us Fire destroyed a home on 19th Street in Wading River this morning.  Two firefighters from a department that responded on mutual aid to Wading River were injured in a partial collapse of the second floor Wading River Third Deputy Chief Denise Gluck said in a phone interview this afternoon They were transported to an area hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries The fire at 101 19th Street was reported just before 11:30 a.m about 60 firefighters responded to the scene from several departments to assist Wading River battle the blaze.  The homeowners and other occupants safely evacuated from the home The cause of the fire is not yet determined but is under investigation by the Riverhead Town fire marshal Riverhead Police Department detectives and the Suffolk County Police Department arson squad Riverhead Fire Department responded with a ladder truck Ridge and Rocky Point fire departments responded with engines Shoreham Fire Department stood by at Wading River’s headquarters Rocky Point and Ridge sent ambulances also responded.  Riverhead firefighters were not among the injured said Riverhead Fire Department Chief Pete Kurzyna The fire was declared under control within approximately half an hour The survival of local journalism depends on your support. 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Click here to download the iPhone app friends and colleagues will gather for funeral services this week to mourn and honor Adrian Weger Gilmore the longtime Shoreham-Wading River teacher and coach who died Wednesday after suffering a medical event at school the previous day at Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home in Center Moriches Gilmore taught and coached at Shoreham-Wading River for 20 years As head coach of the girls varsity soccer team she led the program to multiple Suffolk County and Long Island championships She was named the United Soccer Coaches East Region High School Coach of the Year in 2019 “More than her impressive achievements, she will be remembered as a mentor to fellow coaches, a guiding light to teachers, and a fierce advocate for children. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in others lifted everyone around her,” reads her obituary “Adrian was the light in every room—a selfless soul who always put others before herself whose smile could ease the heaviest burdens and whose heart was big enough to hold a whole community,” Gilmore’s obituary continues “Her legacy is woven into the fabric of every life she touched or in the community she loved so dearly.” The mother of three suffered a sudden medical event just before 3 p.m Gilmore’s family said she has helped continue helping others through organ donation “To know Adrian was to love her; to be loved by Adrian was to be profoundly blessed,” her obituary reads Gilmore graduated from William Floyd high School and played college soccer at Concordia College where they were raising three children: Kayla “Though Adrian’s time with us feels far too short the love she gave and the light she brought into this world will continue to shine brightly in all who were touched by her extraordinary life,” reads her obituary Top photo: Adrian Gilmore (Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home and Cremation Center) Tap here to see what’s happening in a portrait taken when she was named Newsday’s Long Island soccer Coach of the Year in 2019 Services will be held this week in Center Moriches for Adrian Gilmore the highly regarded Shoreham-Wading River coach and teacher who collapsed and died last week A visitation is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 203 Main St. A funeral Mass will be offered 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John The Evangelist Church Gilmore, 42, died last Wednesday, according to her online obituary. She had collapsed the day before at the district's middle school, Newsday previously reported. Those who knew the coach have described her as "passionate" and a "fierce" competitor who mentored many on and off the field Gilmore coached the district's varsity soccer teams to county and state championships and also earned multiple Coach of the Year awards Get the latest updates on how education is changing in your district By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy Poole said in a statement last week that Gilmore was "not only a dedicated and passionate educator mentor and source of inspiration to many generations of SWR colleagues most recently teaching sixth grade with unwavering commitment and care." Gilmore earned recognition as the United Soccer Coaches Regional High School Coach of the Year for the East Region She also previously coached lacrosse and other community programs attended schools in the William Floyd school district and graduated from Concordia College in 2004 and unwavering belief in others lifted everyone around her," the obituary says "Adrian was the light in every room — a selfless soul who always put others before herself whose smile could ease the heaviest burdens and whose heart was big enough to hold a whole community." Darwin Yanes is a native Long Islander and Stony Brook University graduate who covers education He previously covered the Town of North Hempstead The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Lax Out Cancer Corp.’s 16th annual “Lax Out Cancer” fundraiser is set to take place Saturday May 10 on Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field at the high school the event began in 2009 when the SWR lacrosse community raised money for the family of a local child who was battling cancer. This year five individuals and their families will benefit from the fundraiser: Ryan Pearl Jim Lauckhardt, a Lax Out Cancer committee member, said more than 75 local businesses have donated to the fundraiser so far. In the past, volunteers have raised more than $50,000 The committee donates 90% of all net proceeds directly to the families with 10% of the funds set aside to support SWR varsity lacrosse programs “The entire Shoreham-Wading River lacrosse program “And a lot of committee members also kind of reach out to businesses that they’re familiar with to try to get donations.” Prodell Middle School boys lacrosse team will participate in a scrimmage against the Rocky Point boys lacrosse team The high school’s junior varsity squads will then kick things off with the boys playing the Comsewogue Spartans at 10 a.m and the girls facing the West Islip Lions at 11:30 a.m The varsity lacrosse girls will go head to head with West Islip at 1:30 p.m with the boys varsity capping the day-long event with a match against Comsewogue at 4 p.m Gift baskets will be raffled off throughout the day and there will be lacrosse games for younger kids music and a host of vendors providing entertainment during the event including hair braiding and specialty stretching “We’re a conglomerate of small towns: We have Rocky Point and those towns on their own have been doing a wonderful job supporting these individuals and are now supporting the Lax Out Cancer event itself,” Mr “People just want to help during times like this and I think that this gives the opportunity to do so Ultimately it’s for those recipients and their families who are dealing with the unimaginable … to have at least a little bit of a weight lifted.” was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer called Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma in the fall of 2023 he has undergone major surgery and nearly 40 rounds of radiation to slow the spread of the cancer He continues to get scanned every three months to monitor the nodules cello and video games and spend time with his friends and his parents and four older siblings support him in any way they can of Rocky Point started experiencing constant nausea and frequent vomiting at school his family was repeatedly told he was simply experiencing nerves or just a common upset stomach In need of answers, his family took him to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens He immediately underwent six rounds of chemotherapy his family received the incredible news this past fall that Hunter was in remission Hunter’s battle is not over as he still experiences the tumor’s lingering impacts on his body affecting his pituitary gland and causing his kidneys to produce excessive electrolytes — disrupting important body functions like hydration he has undergone a series of spinal taps that left him extremely ill and weak Hunter is now under the care of an endocrinology specialist and with the support of his family continues to show great resilience as he navigates the complex road to recovery Flynn is known for her selflessness and as “an anchor” for those around her After over a year of feeling like something wasn’t right she was diagnosed with Stage 4B endometrial cancer in December 2024 that spread throughout her abdomen 8.5-hour surgery and aggressive chemotherapy treatments Flynn continues fight with resilience and a smile on her face After a routine mammogram during the COVID-19 pandemic She tested positive for the BRCA gene and underwent a 10-hour surgery to remove her breasts and ovaries She endured other surgeries as well and months of aggressive chemotherapy after a pathology report confirmed Stage 1 cancer These treatments have led to lasting side effects and she now faces two additional procedures due to the effects of chemotherapy who formerly worked as a corporate recruiter for MetLife shifted her focus to working with individuals with disabilities She continues to show strength through these challenges Hitz of Miller Place passed away earlier this month after a three-year battle with Urothelial Carcinoma Despite undergoing countless treatments — chemotherapy The fundraiser will benefit his daughters and wife who described him as “a devoted father “I think the reason it continues to be successful is because of the power of the community and the people who are willing to provide their support for such an important cause,” Mr “It’s meaningful for the participants to know that we’re here for them — you often have to deal with some of these things alone and I think coming to an event like this and realizing how many people are ready and waiting to support you in any way that you need is what keeps the committee going.” Editor’s Note: This story has been updated A kaleidoscope of spring colors — periwinkle foxglove Leon Maurice Creighton of Greenport Village died Monday With the birth of river otter pups at the Long Island Aquarium and possible sightings of otters at Marion Pond in.. was killed in a June 2023 crash in East Quogue The driver of the car that hit him at more than 100 mph was sentenced to 16 years in prison this week You've read 4 of your 7 free articles this month Please log in or create an account to continue reading A head-on collision on Middle Country Road in Wading River yesterday afternoon claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman Riverhead Police said in a press release late last night An eastbound 2015 Chevrolet struck a westbound 2010 Toyota at approximately 2:39 p.m The Wading River Fire Department assisted in the extrication of both drivers and transported each to area hospitals.  the operator and sole occupant of the Chevrolet was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead of Ridge,  was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries The Riverhead Police Department Detective Division responded to the scene to conduct an investigation with the assistance of the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit resulting in a road closure for several hours The investigation remains ongoing at this time police said.  Anyone that may have witnessed the accident or has information regarding the investigation are asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500.  All calls will be kept confidential A coach in the Shoreham-Wading River school district was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at the middle school Tuesday afternoon In a statement late Tuesday night to the school community Shoreham-Wading River schools Superintendent Gerard W Poole identified the coach only as "a valued member of our staff — who teaches at the middle school and coaches at the high school." He said the coach had "a medical emergency." Suffolk County police confirmed that Seventh Precinct officers responded to what they called "an aided case involving an adult" outside the Albert G in East Shoreham following a 911 call at 2:55 p.m Suffolk fire officials said a female patient was transported by Rocky Point Fire Department emergency medical service in unknown condition to Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson Poole wrote: "This incident occurred after school hours at the middle school and students were present and witnessed the event We understand that this may have been deeply upsetting for those involved and could impact students in different ways our thoughts are with our colleague and their loved ones during this difficult time Please join me in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers." The district said "guidance counselors psychologists and school social workers" were being made available to meet with students both at the middle school and high school and the libraries at both schools would be open as places "for students to gather for support at any time throughout the day" Wednesday Poole wrote: "If your child needs additional support please do not hesitate to contact your school's main office." Additional information was not available Wednesday The Shoreham-Wading River Central School District community is in mourning after announcing the sudden death of dedicated educator suffered a medical event on Tuesday afternoon at Albert G Prodell Middle School and sent a letter on Friday informing the school community of her tragic passing “Adrian was not only a dedicated and passionate educator and source of inspiration to many generations of SWR colleagues most recently teaching sixth grade with unwavering commitment and care.” In addition to being a respected educator, Ms. Gilmore led the SWR varsity soccer teams to county and state championships as a coach She was honored as the 2019 Regional High School Coach of the Year for the Fall East Region and earned multiple Coach of the Year awards That same year, Ms. Gilmore celebrated her 100th career win In an interview with the Riverhead News-Review in 2019 the late soccer coach expressed her love for coaching and how she didn’t “do it for the money.” “I’ve been asked to coach other places I have never wanted to leave,” she said “It’s always just been about the community and I’m proud to be a Wildcat and to represent Shoreham.” as well as for area youth programs and regularly involved her teams in community service efforts — “instilling values of giving back to countless individuals,” Mr “More than her impressive achievements Adrian will be remembered as a mentor for other coaches and teachers a passionate advocate for children and a trusted colleague whose impact reached far beyond school walls,” Mr “Her legacy lives on in the countless lives that she touched as a teacher She will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.” Mr. Poole said the school district will honor Ms. Gilmore’s legacy in the coming days and share information on any memorial services once those details are available. Students, parents and staff are encouraged to use the school district’s grieving support resources Ms. Gilmore was also a mother to three children and wife to her husband, Tim. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up in support of her family as they navigate healing funeral expenses and daily needs during this difficult time The community has surpassed the $50,000 fundraising goal with more than $117,200 raised so far Her mother Cathleen Weger confirmed on social media Ms Gilmore’s organs were donated on April 26 to those in need of life saving surgeries — the same day exactly 28 years ago her grandfather received a heart transplant from a donor A funeral service to honor and celebrate Ms Gilmore’s life will be held on Wednesday from 3 p.m at Moloney-Sinnicksons Moriches Funeral Home John The Evangelist RC Church in Center Moriches at 9:30 a.m Community members and peers on Friday mourned the death of a Shoreham-Wading River coach and teacher who they described as a "fierce" competitor that displayed class on and off the field a high school coach who led the district's varsity soccer teams to county and state championships and earned multiple Coach of the Year awards died after collapsing Tuesday at the district middle school In a statement late Thursday night to the school community Poole said Gilmore was "not only a dedicated and passionate educator For Bayport-Blue Point girls varsity soccer coach Katina Cokinos Gilmore was a competitor but also a friend and mentor but as somebody who could juggle the responsibilities of being a great educator and having a family and that inspired me to never give up anything you want," she said and "classy and fair" on the field She was a fearless advocate for her players and cared for them deeply "She never let anything get in the way of her being a class act," Cokinos said The coach recalled when the two teams clashed during the semifinals of a conference game Gilmore offered Cokinos words of encouragement she came jogging over to me and gave me the tightest hug and said that I was an incredible coach," she recalled "Something like that just says so much about who she is and I hope I can return the favor some day to another coach." president of the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcat Athletic Booster Club "She was like a super human being," Bettenhauser said Bettenhauser said Gilmore took personal interest in her players and gave "everything she had to her students" and the community "Each one of these kids was like her own child," Bettenhauser noted Islip girls varsity soccer coach Mike Reilly said Gilmore was one of Long Island’s finest coaches Their teams often met during county championship games and he recalled how passionate she was about the sport and her players "It was never about a legacy or anything like that," he said "It was always about helping student-athletes getting to the next level both as human beings and soccer players." Reilly said though he and Gilmore competed against each other He said they would often attend games to scout players and were recently discussing the upcoming summer league "My heart aches for her family's loss," Reilly said "She touched countless lives both in the classroom and on the pitch." coach of the Eastport-South Manor girls varsity soccer team "She definitely was somebody who built a culture of winning teams," Thorn said "Mentoring and developing future leaders; we don't definitely have a lot of that anymore and she definitely promoted that at Shoreham Newsday previously reported that Suffolk County police responded to Albert G Prodell/Shoreham-Wading River Middle School on Randall Road in East Shoreham following a 911 call at 2:55 p.m Tuesday for an individual with a medical emergency The emergency occurred after school hours while students were present and witnessed the event Suffolk fire officials said at the time that a female patient was transported by Rocky Point Fire Department emergency medical service to Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson Poole did not give a cause or time of death for Gilmore "More than her impressive achievements a passionate advocate for children and a trusted colleague whose impact reached far beyond school walls," the superintendent wrote "Her legacy lives on in the countless lives that she touched as a teacher She will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her." will be honoring Gilmore in the coming days "as we reflect and remember her legacy." A GoFundMe campaign created for her family had raised more than $115,000 as of Friday afternoon The Wading River Shoreham Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to join its annual Earth Day clean-up on Sunday nature enthusiasts and gyms are welcome to make up a team of volunteers to clean the local beaches It is great for team-building and exercise and your community spirit (we’ll supply bags and grabbers!)   So spread the word, get a team together and register here New Beginnings, a comprehensive center for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other disabilities will soon have a new home at Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York in Wading River a residential home for those dealing with disability This facility will be in addition to Brendan House a similar home on Sound Avenue in Riverhead knows the difficulty of finding adequate care for those with TBI Scerri moved her father into her home after he suffered TBI in a 2007 motorcycle accident. “My father was in a coma for seven weeks because when you experienced traumatic brain injury Scerri began looking for therapies that could help her father regain some of his life but we had to drive miles west and then go east for all these different therapies,” she said.  her husband suggested she establish her own center for TBI that could offer all these services in one place a hairdresser with no professional experience in the medical field She opened New Beginnings Community Center in Medford Amber House is named for a woman from the Bronx who died before New Beginnings was able to take her into its care I’m going to find a way to get set up that I can take people like Amber from now on.’ It really affected me,” said Ms Shortly after that experience, she and her husband went to look at the Little Flower property and Little Flower agreed to partner with New Beginnings.  Scerri wants to be able to make a difference for every person who reaches out “[The goal] is to help with each phone call in some way,” she said I want to take every level of injury and be able to help all the way around.”  For people whose lives are forever altered by TBI or some other debilitating experience this type of facility can provide a network of support they might not receive otherwise and they see their friends getting married and going off having their own lives sitting in a wheelchair most of the time,” said Ms “And it shouldn’t be a sad life,” she added “There has to be some kind of productive and quality of life within their injury The following incidents occurred between April 22 and April 24: Between April 20 and April 26 The Riverhead Planning Board last week approved the site plan application of an auto dealership on Route 58 and a two-lot subdivision of land on Fresh Pond Avenue in Calverton The board gave final approval of the site plan application of Riverhead Mazda granting permission to construct a 21,014-square-foot car dealership with service area on a 10.6-acre site at 1423 Old Country Road where Riverhead Ford and Riverhead GMC are already located The application received preliminary approval from the Planning Board on Dec The board also gave final approval to divide a vacant 111.4-acre parcel located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Middle Country Road and Fresh Pond Avenue in Calverton into two lots One lot is just shy of 14.6 acres and the second lot is 96.8 acres is the proposed future home of the Riverhead Charter School’s middle school and high school campus The Riverhead Charter School Board of Trustees last July authorized a contract to purchase the site for $4.11 million. Representatives of the charter school unveiled preliminary plans for the site at an October 2024 pre-submission conference with town planners The Planning Board on Thursday held a public hearing on a site plan application for a place of worship and graveyard on Route 25A in Wading River.  The “Cox Place of Worship” site plan application seeks approval to convert an existing single-family dwelling into a place of worship and add a 3,600-plot church yard, along with site improvements roughly five-acre site at 5284 Route 25A in Wading River, within the Residence B-80 (RB-80) zoning use district. See site plan “What you see now is all you will  see,” he said referring to a house and garage already existing on the site The graveyard will not be visible from the road,” he said.  Landscaping with 7-foot-tall evergreens will fully buffer the site from surrounding properties The potential impacts of the application were thoroughly assessed and the application received a determination of non-significance under the State Environmental Quality Review Act Sid Bail president of the Wading River Civic Association posed several questions about the application including whether the site development is being phased whether the renovation of the existing home will change the external appearance of the home and whether the burial plots will be owned by individuals or by the house of worship “This is basically a chapel,” Cuddy replied It will be used for prayers when a burial is taking place he said.  It’s not a place where there’s going to be a congregation for people to assemble on a regular basis.” The maximum occupancy  will be determined by the fire marshal but  “We understand there can’t be more than 20 people in there at any one time.” The site plan depicts 14 parking spaces The property will be donated to a nonprofit entity A separate nonprofit will have responsibility for a perpetual care fund providing for the care and maintenance of the graveyard Neighbor James Connolly of Route 25A in Calverton said his home is adjacent to the site “We didn’t expect a mosque to be built next door to us.” I have concerns about who’s going to be there,” he said “It’s one thing if that’s like a small community of people worshiping,” within the existing “small footprint” of the building.  it seems it’s something totally different We don’t even know who they are or when they’ll be there there’ll be a new group of people next door,” he said.  The house can be seen from his home “What kind of traffic is going to be there it’s going to be a bunch of people we don’t know coming in and out.” Connolly also expressed concerns about possible future expansion.  Will they be able to expand one section?”  he asked Connolly referred to the Planning Board’s action as a “rezoning,” prompting Planning Board Chairperson Edward Densieski to correct that characterization ”We’re not changing the use of the land We’re only approving a site plan,” Densieski said Planner Heather Trojanowski said the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Protection Act,  a federal law states that the town can’t “unreasonably restrict churches or houses of worship they’re permitted in every zone.” The church yard is an accessory use to the house of worship A house of worship is not exempt from site plan review it would have to seek a new site plan approval Connolly asked if a traffic study should be done to assess traffic impacts.  “The project is not big enough or doesn’t meet the level for a traffic study,” Densieski replied.  they’re providing enough parking on site and they also have the driveway that goes around the entire burial ground,” Trojanowski added The board voted unanimously to conclude the hearing.  Shoreham-Wading River competes in the state Class C cheerleading championship at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton the Shoreham-Wading River cheerleading team turned the pressure into prowess on the mat The Wildcats clinched the program’s first state title with a victory that capped a season of statement wins "This team didn’t flinch,” coach Brie Carlen said of how the team handled pressure “They stayed locked in all season and earned every bit of this.” Shoreham-Wading River had to defeat two of the most dominant programs in the state: six-time champion Mount Sinai and two-time defending champion Seaford the Wildcats hit their first flawless routine with zero deductions all season to edge Mount Sinai by just 0.85 points and advance to the state championship “Once we got that county title and hit zero on the competition mat they hit every single routine,” Carlen said the Wildcats faced Seaford in their first state appearance since 2023 when they finished second behind the Vikings in the Division II large team category but we all knew if we came together on the mat and hit again we could do it,” senior backspot Alexa Langenhahn said Shoreham-Wading River delivered a near-flawless performance to defeat the powerhouse and bring home the school’s first state cheer title with a score of 86.25 — a 1.05 point advantage “Our first 'hit zero' proved to us that we could do it again,” Langenhahn said “We knew we had to put our all into this final routine and we did it.” Shoreham-Wading River returned with a sharper cleaner routine that included high-to-high stretches The team’s consistency and execution proved the difference in a field stacked with top-tier competition so we’ve been pushing for this all season,” Carlen said “The girls have worked in and outside of school and we had full trust and faith in them.” Though Langenhahn said the team faced challenges that caused changes to the routine and forced the squad to adapt she said the Wildcats’ dedication grew stronger “This team has been through so many obstacles," she said "whether it was sicknesses or injuries but we all came together and we knew we had to come back in the final moments and we did.” As Shoreham-Wading River graduates six seniors two eighth-graders and a sophomore next season “They have the experience and will be prepared to chase this feeling next year,” Carlen said “I have no doubt they’ll continue to hit more flawless routines on their way here again.” A group of Wading River residents have filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the development of a communications tower at the Wading River Fire Department headquarters filed in the Eastern District of New York Dec 31 against cell tower developer Elite Towers Supervisor Tim Hubbard and individual town council members accuses the defendants of violating the residents’ First Amendment Rights The complaint argues the process undertaken by the Town Board to exempt the communications tower project from the zoning code was beyond its authority and illegal It says the town improperly bypassed the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board when it gave the project a special exemption to zoning rules using the “Monroe Balancing Test” — a standard spelled out in a 1988 court case that can be used to exempt certain projects on government land if the action is in the public interest.  The complaint accuses Town Board members of conspiring with the Wading River Fire District and Elite Towers to bypass the public hearing process necessary to allow the project to go forward and the overt acts taken in furtherance of it these defendants violated plaintiffs’ rights to petition government for the redress of grievances effectuating a complete and permanent prior restraint against the plaintiffs’ exercise of such rights,” the complaint says The complaint also accuses the defendants of violating the town’s zoning laws Certain requirements from which the project was granted exemptions are meant to protect residents from adverse impacts — including “unnecessary reductions” to the value of nearby homes and the dangers of structural failures or debris falling from the tower The 17 plaintiffs are asking for the court to prohibit the communication tower’s construction and to nullify the decision of the Town Board to exempt the project from the zoning code attorney’s fees and other relief from the court The lawsuit was filed on behalf of area residents by Andrew Campanelli of Merrick who specializes in civil lawsuits against cell tower companies Campanelli said the residents will likely be filing a separate notice of claim and lawsuit against the Wading River Fire District “for several million dollars the fire district taxes the homes in its district and they extract money from them their job is to protect those homes,” Campanelli said one would argue that if you’re trying to learn to protect their homes you can’t take an affirmative step or affirmative acts which would destroy the value of their homes which is exactly what the fire district did.” Verizon Wireless and the Wading River Fire District from local zoning laws and allow the construction of a 190-foot-tall pole with cellular and communications antennas behind the Wading River Fire Department’s headquarters whose height with antennas will reach 213 feet is not permitted under the zoning laws of the site which is right in the middle of a residential area MORE COVERAGE: Wading River comms tower gets Town Board OK, over protests of residents The vote came over the objections of around two dozen Wading River residents, who petitioned and argued their points at three separate Town Board meetings who is a volunteer firefighter and a member of the Wading River Fire Department supported the cell tower in public remarks arguing the benefits of the tower — including revenue for the Wading River Fire District and improvements to cell service and radio communications in the area — outweighed the negative impacts the cell tower might bring The fire district and the police department have long struggled with inadequate radio and cell phone communications in the area taller tower would vastly improve emergency communications as well as cell service in the area Supervisor Hubbard declined to comment on the matter because it involved litigation and referred the matter to the town attorney’s office Town Attorney Erik Howard also declined comment Wading River Fire Commissioner Chairperson Gregory Meyer Vice Chairperson Matthew Wallace and Gregory Alvarez did not respond to emails Thursday afternoon seeking comment Joseph Poveromo has been located and is in good health Riverhead Police said in a press release tonight Original post: The Riverhead Police Department is asking the public’s help in locating a missing man for Wading River left his family’s residence at 34 Dogwood Lane in Wading River today at approximately 12 midnight tan in color with New York license plates LSR-1399 Poveromo is described by police as a white male He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and a gray light hooded shirt No further clothing description was provided Poveromo ‘s  destination is unknown at this time but he is known to frequent the Wading River Poveromo is diagnosed with Aspberger’s Syndrome post-concussion syndrome and is possibly suicidal at this time Anyone who sees Poveromo or his vehicle and anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500 Main Street in Riverhead is about to get sweeter are opening a Ben & Jerry’s on East Main Street this summer Angela says they’re now gearing up for an opening at 87 East Main Street to get the whole season in,” said Angela on Wednesday Angela and Steven’s journey into the ice cream biz didn’t come from a lifelong dream — more like a perfect opportunity that found them at the right time “Steve comes from a family-owned business — they still own Siliato Liquors in Miller Place,” Angela said the couple started thinking seriously about launching something of their own “We decided we wanted to own something,” Angela said “We stumbled upon a Ben & Jerry’s and fell in love with it.” “Riverhead has been on my radar because it’s close to home,” she said the Suffolk Theater — a lot of family-orientated stuff out there.” “They were issued a grant and have this redevelopment plan that’s supposed to break ground this summer,” she added The new Ben & Jerry’s will take over the old Riverhead Grill location at 87 East Main Street — a “beautiful corner spot” with seating inside and plenty of room to scoop “It’s actually a pretty huge space for what we need,” Angela said “Oh my gosh — Dulce De-lish,” she said. “It has toffee bites in it. But I have to rave about Dirt Cake and they plan to offer ice cream cakes and event catering down the line Riverhead isn’t the only Long Island town getting a taste of Ben & Jerry’s. Back in October 2024 taking over the former Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery space The shop was opened by Abhishek and Nisha Sachdeva, a couple from Jericho who also own Taj Crown of India restaurant in East Setauket. The Sachdevas previously told GLI that they plan to open another Ben & Jerry’s location on Long Island at the Station Yards complex in Ronkonkoma Top: Angela and Steven Siliato with their children Mia and upcoming events right to your inbox with our daily newsletter Chrissy Pirnak stands in front of of her Wading River plant boutique “Plants are proven to purify the air and boost our mood,” says Chrissy Pirnak compact plant and gift shop in Wading River’s historic downtown Anyone looking to punctuate that point and add some seasonal blooms to their surroundings would do well to visit the cozy rustic brick-and-mortar with its Cottage Core aesthetic (a style idealizing a more natural rural life that blossomed during Covid when people largely spent their time at home) Pirnak describes the almost two-year-old business as a houseplant shop with a generous spirit offering unique gifts and home décor options “I try to carry a lot of locally made items to keep the small-business aesthetic,” she says “I get all my plants from small businesses—sourcing from eastern and western Long Island and a few from high-quality family-run companies from Florida and California pothos and succulents are well-represented at the shop along with a few rarer varieties of plants like the unusual pots and hand-crocheted plant hangers to choose from as well Pirnak is glad to make recommendations based on the customer’s needs and notes that prayer plants and snake plants are non-toxic and easy to take care of.   Hanging on the walls throughout the shop is a “library” of small cuttings of different types that are available for anyone to take for free; Pirnak also offers repotting services for all sizes of houseplants and rehab services if you have a plant that needs a little TLC.  who repurposes scrap wood into planters and rustic shelves “He’s a gardener and a very hands-on guy,” she says along with Pirnak’s volunteer firefighter husband and their two young children all pitched in to help remodel the store in advance of its opening in September of 2023 A member of the Wading River-Shoreham Chamber of Commerce Pirnak also works with differently abled children like in the upcoming Sensory Saturday at the Duck Pond Shops event on April 26th from 9 a.m where quiet activities and take-home goodies will be offered to kids with special needs “The support of the community and the customers has been really awesome,” Pirnak says Committed to both the greening and education of indoor plant enthusiasts stay tuned for Pirnak’s upcoming potting workshops a moss wall art Mother’s Day craft session when the Wading River shops will be open from 5-8 p.m Check Willow + Bloom’s Facebook page here for the shop’s hours and upcoming events.  It’s really refreshing to see people doing the right thing Stroll along with us as we explore the shore of Riverhead Town’s westernmost beach... the only name Stephanie DiSanto ever wrote down to call.. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Site made in collaboration with CMYK Stephanie DiSanto at Little Nook Bookstore at the Shoppes at East Wind A cozy new bookstore has arrived in the Shoppes at East Wind (5768 NY-25A the longtime dream of owner Stephanie DiSanto officially opened last week in Wading River The shelves of the small but welcoming shop are lined with a carefully curated selection of titles While the store was originally set for launch in 2023 DiSanto delayed her plans when she became pregnant with her second child she’s finally ready to share her love of reading with the community “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for so long,” DiSanto says “I love reading and I feel like that’s what people are looking for these days: a smaller bookstore that’s a small business DiSanto was previously a waitress at the Applebees in Shirley before becoming a stay-at-home mom and decided to embark on this passion project after being home for four years raising a family “I’d been home for the last four years,” she says and that’s what pushed me to start my adventure.” The selection of titles at Little Nook includes a variety of different genres as well as some works by local authors including Dayna Bush and Virginia Mary DiSanto plans to host readings with more local authors in the future DiSanto is particularly interested in books for young readers Lucas already has some favorites and loves going to his mom’s store “Lucas really loves the ‘Little Blue Truck’ books [by Alice Schertie] and the ‘No David!’ books [by David Shannon],” says DiSanto “He loves books and loves when I read with him He tells me all the time he wants to ‘go to work.’” Bibliophiles entering Little Nook can expect a cozy, relaxed browsing experience where they can find recent releases, beloved classics, a coffee and tea station and some comfy chairs to sit and read. Hours are currently evolving as DiSanto juggles caring for two young children and launching a new business, so check out @thelittlenookbookstore on Instagram for up-to-date hours 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 Wading River residents turned out at Thursday’s Riverhead Town Board meeting to object to a proposed new communications tower at Wading River Fire Department headquarters About a dozen Wading River residents showed up to voice concerns about or opposition to the proposed  190-foot-tall tower which will be topped with fire district communications antennas The antennas will bring the total height of the structure to 213 feet according to the application made jointly by Elite Towers and the Wading River Fire District will have 10 cellular antennas within its structure Wading River Fire District officials told the Town board the department needs a new communications antenna largely because of poor radio coverage with the existing antenna The fire department headquarters was built in a low-lying Wading River Fire District Commissioner Terry Cullane said.  The consequence of the department’s current communications equipment is  a real-life threat to the lives of residents and first responders The commissioner recalled firefighters battling a fire who were unable to  communicate with headquarters or Suffolk County dispatch He underscored a few other examples demonstrating the need for the new antenna Among them was a WRFD member who slipped and fell on an exterior stairway at the headquarters and suffered a substantial head injury came upon the injured firefighter but had no cell service and couldn’t leave the injured man to go inside the firehouse to use a land line said the company and the fire district are sharing costs and revenues associated with the tower which will replace the existing antenna at the fire department headquarters site The cellular antennas will improve cell phone service on the north shore Residents complained that they had no information about the application prior to receiving a mailed notice of the public hearing and that the notice did not provide them with sufficient time to learn about the application and the impacts of the new antenna Several residents asked the board to table the matter and schedule a sit-down with the community.  Some residents told the Town Board they are very worried about the health effects of radio frequency waves emanating from cellular antennas Many residents were concerned about the height of the new tower and some expressed worry that it would have a negative impact on nearby property values.  Joanne Romano of Wading River was one of the residents who spoke about health concerns.  She said there is a significant amount of information regarding health impacts of cell towers on humans on the website maintained by the International Association of Firefighters.  “The IAF opposes the use of fire stations as base stations for towers and or antennas for the conduction of cell phone transmissions until it is proven that such stings are not hazardous to the health of the members,” Romano said.  The FCC regulations pertaining to cell towers were put in place in 1996 and have not been updated despite a court order mandating the update “I am at least requesting that we wait for these findings to come back from the FCC,” she said “so we can understand how much radiation can we accept without getting cancer,” Romano said.  a 53-year resident of Wading River who said his home is directly behind the firehouse This is in the historic district of Wading River According to a Riverhead Planning Department staff report a visual impact analysis prepared for the applicants concludes that “visibility in the surrounding area would be limited as the area is dominated by significant and dense tree cover in the area in the areas in which it is visible the towers design with all wireless antennas located within the structure and that the pole will be painted a neutral color will aid in mitigating any adverse visual impacts.” The Town Board voted to close the hearing but kept the record open for written comment until Nov No vote on the application has yet been scheduled.  The Riverhead Town Board allowed the construction of a new commercial communications tower at the Wading River Fire Department headquarters to go forward on Tuesday but not after hearing protests from some Wading River residents who may sue to stop the project The Town Board voted unanimously to exempt the telecommunications company Elite Towers Verizon Wireless and the Wading River Fire District from local zoning laws and allow a 190-foot-tall pole with cellular and communications antennas behind the Wading River Fire Department’s headquarters to be built The company is building the tower at the location to cover an area with poor radio and cell service Hosting the tower would also bring in revenue for the fire department which its leadership has said it would use to upgrade equipment.  The Town Board’s resolution exempted the project from zoning and land use regulations and many approvals using a standard known as the “Monroe Balancing Test,” which can be used for projects on government land if it is in the public interest MORE COVERAGE: Town Board poised to rule on Wading River communications tower application Tuesday More than two dozen residents from Wading River have organized against the project and hired an attorney specializing in anti-cell tower lawsuits to try to stop the board from approving the communications tower who call themselves the Wading River Community Action Committee The residents said they are worried about the tower’s height and its aesthetic impact to the area; effects on their property values; and the potential health effects of radio frequency waves emanating from cellular antennas the residents discussed with Campanelli and each other the possibility of suing to stop the communication tower’s development who said he has been handling cell tower cases across the country “for decades,” told the board that allowing the tower “would be the most irresponsible action I’ve seen by any local government agency anywhere in the United States.”  Campanelli said there is “absolutely no evidence” of anyone benefiting from the project “It will inflict upon the nearby homes and surrounding community the precise types of adverse impacts that the Town of Riverhead adopted a zoning code to prevent in the first place,” he said He called the evidence the telecommunications company gave the board for assessing the aesthetic impact of the project “garbage” and disparaged other documents and data provided by the company in support of the tower Campanelli said other dangers can arise if the communications tower collapses; if ice or debris falls from the tower; or if the tower catches on fire.  said he’s “heard [Campanelli’s] story before In terms of data and in terms of supplying sufficient information as part of the record here But we’re just here to present the facts and we’ve done that.” vehemently defended the plan for the communications tower arguing the tower was necessary for the safety and wellbeing of the area’s residents The failure of emergency responders’ communication equipment could threaten the lives of residents and the responders according to town and fire officials; improved service in the area would also help residents trying to contact emergency personnel from their cell phone “The benefit is about protecting life and property and the safety of every resident in this town,” said Council Member Ken Rothwell who is a member of the Wading River Fire Department In addition to the fire department being able to communicate using the tower the town’s approval is conditioned on an agreement that allows it to locate “necessary” wireless communication equipment said radio service for police in the Wading River area is “pathetic.” There is a “dire need” for the communications tower “I understand the residents’ feeling because if this were built within 50 feet of my house I don’t want to see that,” Hubbard said “But when I look at the whole picture — and the whole picture is a matter of me [if] I call [and] I’m having a heart attack and I can’t get help to come there because I can’t get through to EMS — that far outweighs any concern I have about a tower that’s put up within 50 feet of my house.” spoke at the meeting in favor of the communications tower his neighborhood was against stop signs on a particular road; then waking the whole neighborhood up to the need for the stop signs “My question today to those who oppose this tower: If they individually fell down in front of the firehouse and they had a cell phone with them would they be able to reach 911 for help?” DiPirro said “Are they only thinking of their own parochial interest or are they thinking of the community as a whole I have to ask: Does someone have to die first?” the resident group opposed to the tower gathered outside the meeting room to discuss with Campanelli the possibility of litigation to stop the cell tower’s development Campanelli called the board’s decision “irresponsible” and said the residents have “several different options” available to them If I was getting a 21-story tower put 50 feet from my house I’d certainly consider [a lawsuit] — and I think they are considering it,” he said one of the Wading River residents who opposes the tower and retained Campanelli said in an interview after the meeting that he thinks it would be “wise” to sue “in light of the evidence of both the decrease in property value the potentiality of having this large cell tower right over our homes radiation issues or sicknesses that we might come across from being so close to the tower.” he said we’re going to definitely pursue legal action.” 2025 at 1:03 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The crash took place Thursday afternoon died in a head-on crash in Wading River Thursday afternoon on Middle Country Road near Kay Road; both drivers were injured head-on; no passengers were in either vehicle The Wading River Fire Department responded to assist in the extrication of both drivers and transport them to area hospitals was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries The Riverhead Police Department's detective division responded to the scene to conduct an investigation with the assistance of the New York State Police Department's forensic investigation unit The investigation remains ongoing.Anyone that may have witnessed the crash or has information regarding the investigation is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A Wading River woman was arrested last week after allegedly accepting bribes and falsifying paperwork for a license application while working at the Suffolk County Department of Labor of Wading River was working as an office assistant in the licensing unit of the county agency when she allegedly provided the questions and answers to the proficiency exam necessary to obtain a vocational home improvement license to an applicant and falsified insurance information on the license application according to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office “The allegations in this case represent a shocking violation of the public trust as this defendant is accused of placing her own greed ahead of her duty as a public servant,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement “My office will not tolerate corruption in any government agency or department.” Hassett engaged in those acts in concert with Esteban Bermudez Both Bermudez and Hassett were arrested on February 13 Hassett was arraigned and charged with two counts of third-degree bribe receiving class D felonies; one count of degree falsifying of business records in the first degree a class E felony; one count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree a Class E felony; and one count of official misconduct according to the district attorney’s office.  The district attorney’s office said Bermudez was issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned on March 5 Hassett was released and will be monitored by the Department of Probation’s Pre-Trial Supervision unit during the pendency of the case She is due back in court on March 12 and faces 3 1⁄2 to 7 years in prison if convicted on the top count according to the district attorney’s office did not immediately return a call seeking comment.  The district attorney’s office asked that anybody who believes they have been “victimized” by Hassett to call (631) 853-4626 Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law A group of Wading River residents filed a civil lawsuit in federal court late last month in an effort to block the construction of a recently approved communications tower at the Wading River Fire District headquarters The complaint alleges that contracting company Elite Towers “conspired” with town and fire district officials to illegally bypass necessary zoning and site plan approvals denying the plaintiffs’ rights to raise their concerns with the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals Facing ongoing communication challenges and a growing threat to the safety of first responders, the Wading River Fire District partnered with Elite Towers and Verizon Wireless to construct the communications facility which would be equipped with a 190-foot concealment pole to improve emergency correspondence capabilities.  The Riverhead Town Board approved a zoning exemption for the project on Dec which allowed the developers to bypass applying for variances from the ZBA securing a special permit from the Town Board and formal site plan approval from the Planning Board The 162-page complaint details the concerns of 17 residents who live near the proposed tower on North Country Road risks of falling debris from the structure and other long-term consequences for the historic district The lawsuit also alleges that officials failed to provide “sufficient evidence” for the need of the new tower prior to approval and requests that the Riverhead Town Board formally deny Elite Towers application in writing In seeking the zoning exemption, the developers undertook a nine-part process called the Monroe Balancing Test which is used to assess the nature of a proposed project its impact on the local community and how the public would benefit factors used in determining whether a project should be exempt from local zoning rules The complaint was submitted by Andew Campanelli a Merrick-based attorney representing the residents who alleges that Elite Towers was aware of the “dramatic adverse impacts” the communications pole would inflict on the surrounding residences and the possibility of the ZBA not granting the required variances he and the plaintiffs claim that Elite Towers “conspired” with Riverhead Town Board members who violated the town code to “deprive the plaintiffs of their rights to be heard before the ZBA” and the Planning Board The residents further claim this “coordinated scheme” to avoid the necessary zoning procedures violates their First Amendment rights to speak out against the communication tower’s construction The plaintiffs said the communications tower application does not meet the requirements of the Monroe Balancing Test and that there is “no evidence supporting the claim that there is a deficiency in the Fire District’s current communications services,” according the the filing or that adding a wireless facility to the firehouse property would address those concerns in any way Campanelli previously said at a Riverhead Town Board meeting that the applicant omitted the photographic perspective from the homes surrounding the proposed tower and noted the dangers of potential structural failures ice and debris falling from the tower as well as the risk of fire at the facility.  He also stated that a more accurate method for pinpointing service gaps in the area would have been through a “drive test,” where an engineer monitors the frequencies of wireless signals in various locations collects data through calls or other indicators and records where signal strength weakens.  injunctive relief as well as monetary damages and reimbursement for attorneys’ fees Fire district officials plan to allow at least two cellular service providers access to the tower for two reasons: to improve and enhance real-time correspondence during emergency situations and to provide better overall cellular coverage to the area.  the department’s volunteers responded to nearly 1,300 emergency calls — and reported multiple communication hiccups including an incident when firefighters at a scene could not reach the firehouse dispatcher to request backup and EMT support — despite being just a quarter-mile from headquarters At a Wading River Fire District fire commissioner’s meeting on Dec officials anticipated the communications tower would be up and running by March or April this year 2025 at 4:05 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The fire broke out Wednesday morning NY — Two residents escaped a house fire in Wading River Wednesday morning The two occupants of the residence had exited the house without injury before police arrived Two of the fire department's personnel sustained non-life threatening injuries and were treated at Stony Brook University Hospital The Riverhead Police Department's detective squad and the Riverhead Town fire marshal's office along with the Suffolk County Police Department's arson squad will further investigate the fire to determine its origin and cause The Riverhead Town Board is scheduled to decide tomorrow whether a new commercial communications tower at Wading River Fire Department headquarters is exempt from its local zoning laws a resolution on the tomorrow’s agenda would exempt the proposed tower from the town’s zoning laws conditioned on the approval of Riverhead’s building and fire safety officials as well as the execution of a co-location agreement that allows the town and its special districts to locate “necessary” wireless communication equipment The telecommunications company Elite Towers Verizon Wireless and the Wading River Fire District are seeking approval to locate a 190-foot-tall pole with cellular and fire district communications antennas behind the department’s headquarters The total height of the proposed structure The tower is not allowed under the current zoning at the site which is right in the middle of a residential area; the applicants are asking the Town Board to exempt the project from local zoning and land use regulations which is authorized by a 1988 ruling of the state’s highest court in County of Monroe v To decide whether the application is exempt the Town Board must apply the standard spelled out the 1988 court case known as the “Monroe Balancing Test,” which can be used to exempt certain projects on government land if the project is in the public interest.  Wading River Fire District officials said the fire department needs a new communications antenna because of poor radio connection Failure of the current communications equipment could threaten the lives of residents and fire responders according to Wading River Fire District Commissioner Terry Culhane Improved service in the area would also help residents trying to contact emergency personnel from their cell phone The project has the attention of more than two dozen Wading River residents who have petitioned the board to decline the requested zoning exemption Residents are worried about the tower’s height and aesthetic impact to the area; effects on their property values; and the potential health effects of radio frequency waves emanating from cellular antennas A petition signed by 24 Wading River residents said the location of the cell tower “poses unnecessary health We urge the local authorities and decision-makers to seek alternative sites that will not compromise the well-being and character of our neighborhood.” After some residents spoke against the project at a hearing on Nov The letter says that the maximum anticipated emissions from the communication tower at ground level is less than .5% of the permitted Federal Communications Commission standard; the standard is 50 times below recommended safety levels Federal regulators, including the Federal Communications Commission, have maintained that there is no causal link between wireless device use and illnesses such as cancer the FCC requires radiation emitted by cell phones and other electronic advice be below levels it has deemed as harmful to humans “there is no basis on which to establish a different safety threshold than our current requirements.” But the issue is more complicated than it seems, and the link between cell phone emissions and negative health effects is understudied, according to a report by the investigative news organization ProPublica published in January 2023 Determining wireless radiation’s health effects with certainty is difficult but a growing body of research has found evidence of health risks even when people are exposed to radiation below the FCC limits Alvarez’s letter said that articles and evidence submitted by residents concerning emissions from the communications tower — including a study cited by residents during the hearing that reported finding “brain abnormalities” in firefighters from firehouses hosting cell towers — did not support a causality between communication towers and negative health effects The FCC continually reviews studies involving emissions from cell towers and has not changed its standards even after an investigation Residents also recommended the communication tower be built at an alternative location Alvarez’s letter says that alternate locations would not provide the Wading River Fire Department with the efficient use of the cell tower nor allow the fire department to save on any costs pursuant to the developers agreement The fire department would not be able to use revenue received from the cell tower to maintain and upgrade its communications equipment Alternative sites were reviewed by the co-applicants the Rock Golf Club and The Shoppes at East Wind were never responded to including a nearby cemetery and the decommissioned Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant would present regulatory hurdles and create added time and cost who was responsible for locating locations for a cell tower in the area said “the absence of many commercially-utilized parcels in the area eliminates much of the land mass in the vicinity from consideration due to the varying topographical terrain with tall vegetation in the area this largely prevents the ability to propose a lower-height structure to provide communications to the surrounding area.” The fire department headquarters is “the ideal location” for the tower In reference to residents’ concerns on impacts to property values the applicants submitted a report from a licensed appraiser that shows that properties near communication towers would not have an adverse impact on property values Editor’s note: This article has been amended to correct an erroneous reference to the Riverhead Fire District rather than the Wading River Fire District in the text of the version originally published 2025 at 4:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Shoreham-Wading River school community is mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of a beloved wife (Courtesy Charisse Jamroz)SHOREHAM-WADING RIVER NY — The Shoreham-Wading River school community is mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of a beloved teacher and coach Superintendent of Schools at the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District sent a message to the school community Thursday "It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we share the sudden passing of Adrian Gilmore Adrian was not only a dedicated and passionate educator According to an earlier message sent out by district officials Tuesday a staff member had a "medical emergency" after school hours at the Albert G Suffolk County Police said Seventh Precinct police officers responded to an aided case involving an adult outside at 100 Randall Road in East Shoreham on April 22 at 2:55 p.m The person was transported by Rocky Point EMS to John T New 12 reported that students were present and witnessed the medical emergency most recently teaching sixth grade with unwavering commitment and care she led our varsity soccer teams to county and state championships and earned multiple Coach of the Year awards including recognition in 2019 as the United Soccer Coaches Regional High School Coach of the Year for the East Region Adrian also previously coached lacrosse with the same dedication and excellence She regularly coached community programs and involved her teams in community service instilling values of giving back to countless individuals." A GoFundMe page, "In Her Honor: Supporting a Devoted Mother, Teacher & Coach," has also been created by Charisse Jamroz "Our family has suffered an unimaginable loss," she wrote and she leaves behind her husband Tim Gilmore and their precious children Jamroz added: "Adrian’s life was a beautiful reflection — full of grace and a deep love for others She poured her heart into everything she did "Adrian wasn’t just a teacher in the classroom or a coach on the field; she was a mentor Her absence is deeply felt by all who knew and loved her her husband Tim is walking through an unimaginable season doing his best to care for their family while grieving this profound loss We are coming together to support him and the children with funeral expenses We believe in the power of community and the comfort that comes through Christ know that your gift will help ease this burden Poole added: "More than her impressive achievements a passionate advocate for children and a trusted colleague whose impact reached far beyond school walls." Poole said Gilmore was a bright light for her students "Her legacy lives on in the countless lives that she touched as a teacher She will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her." The district said they understand that the news may be especially difficult for students and staff and said school counselors and support staff will remain available to provide care and assistance to anyone in need throughout the grieving process "Please do not hesitate to reach out to the district directly for any additional support," Poole said the district will be honoring Gilmore in the coming days please keep Adrian’s family and friends in your thoughts we will continue to support one another with compassion as we navigate this loss as a school community and school family." To donate to the GoFundMe, click here. A Wading River man pleaded guilty in the middle of a jury trial on Tuesday to repeatedly sexually abusing his granddaughter over the course of years “Children should feel loved and protected while in the company of their grandparents,” Suffolk County District attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement released about the case on Wednesday perpetrated heinous acts of sexual abuse against his own granddaughter.” whose name is being withheld by the prosecutor’s office in order to protect the identity of the young victim pleaded guilty to two violent felonies in the first and second degree for the years of attacks as well as a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child Tierney said in a statement that as part of his guilty plea the Wading River man admitted that between the fall of 2017 and March 2021 he “subjected his granddaughter to repeated acts of sexual abuse whenever she stayed over at her grandparents’ home.” the victim told her mother about what her maternal grandfather was doing to her at which time he “again confessed to having sexually abused the victim,” according to Mr The perpetrator faces up to 25 years in prison followed by two decades of post-release supervision The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dana Castaldo and Katherine Flinchum of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau and the investigation was conducted by Detective Adolfo Berrios of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section Shoreham-Wading River celebrate after winning the Suffolk Class C cheerleading championship at Sachem East on Saturday the Shoreham-Wading River cheerleading team “hit zero.” In a sport that stresses 2 minutes and 30 seconds of perfection receiving no deduction points is a difficult feat where the cost of a mistake can prevent you from continuing your season at the next level Shoreham-Wading River chanted and posed its way to a score of 92.1 finishing ahead of six-time state champion Mount Sinai by 0.85 points to earn the Suffolk Class C title on Saturday at Sachem East “I’m not surprised that they got their first ‘hit zero’ today,” Shoreham-Wading River coach Brie Carlen said was changed weekly throughout the season due to injuries or illnesses within the squad “I think overcoming the many obstacles we faced throughout the season with our routine made us stronger in the end,” senior main base Jocelynn Besold said Sachem East cheerleaders celebrate after winning the Suffolk Class A cheerleading championship at Sachem East on Saturday After the squad won its first state title last March Sachem East curated and perfected its most difficult routine to edge Connetquot by two points and clinch its second consecutive county title with a score of 93.85 “We’ve been focusing more at practices and have been talking about what we could do better,” sophomore side base Cameron Buckstein said “It made a tremendous difference because we all had faith in each other going out there to hit our stunts.” Defending state champion Ward Melville also earned its second straight Suffolk title with a score of 91.90 in the coed division “We made a lot of adjustments in the beginning because we added so many people to the team this year,” senior main base Emma Clontz said “It helped us gain trust in each other and the process and we just went all-in.” Rocky Point used all the energy in the packed gym to close out the event and earn the class B title with a score of 92.60 “There was some amazing energy in here today and we fed off it,” senior side base Reese Rogers said which won last season’s competition over Rocky Point by one-tenth of a point placed third with a score of 89.10 behind Smithtown West (90.60) “We were really hungry coming in after losing by 0.1 last year,” Rocky Point senior back spot Caiden Palank said so we wanted to push ourselves as much as we could to prove ourselves.” Port Jefferson earned the class D title with a score of 70.15 reveled in the chance to represent its school and county in Binghamton next month The five cheer squads mentioned above will represent Suffolk at the state championship on March 8 at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena “This year being in class D is difficult because we’re such a small team,” senior flyer Nina Mercante said “But it was a really great experience to have ourselves as our competition and now have the chance to show what we worked so hard for at states.” Riverhead Police are seeking the public’s help to locate the niece of a Wading River woman reported missing by her aunt last night left her aunt’s home on March 4 and has since had no contact with her family according to a police report released this morning 4’10” tall with light brown hair and blue eyes She was last seen wearing a black leather jacket Cigna is reported to suffer from depression Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Riverhead Town Police Department at 631-727-4500 Ava Gengler of Shoreham-Wading River during the girls soccer state semifinal in Cortland on Saturday CORTLAND — Three straight county championships and back-to-back trips to the state semifinals are accomplishments not many programs can claim But the Shoreham-Wading River girls soccer program isn’t like many others Shoreham-Wading River has built a standard of excellence over the past decade with five Suffolk Class A championships over the last eight seasons Although the Wildcats’ season ended Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Pittsford Mendon in the girls soccer state Class A semifinals at Cortland High School that doesn’t dampen what the team accomplished this fall “I couldn’t be more proud,” senior goalkeeper Morgan Lesiewicz said “I’m so glad that I got to spend my last season ever playing this sport making history When do you ever hear a team do this so often Shoreham-Wading River ended its season at 13-3-2 after winning its third straight Suffolk Class A title and second consecutive Long Island Class A championship “It’s crazy to see how good we can be even after losing crucial players,” Lesiewicz said “There’s always someone coming ready to work to become who you need them to be on the field.” Pittsford Mendon (18-1-1) scored two goals in the second half after Stamatia Almiroudis scored off an assist from Shealyn Varbero with 17:30 left in the first half to give Shoreham-Wading River a 1-0 lead Almiroudis took a few dribbles following a through ball from Varbero and beat the goalie to the bottom-left corner from 10 yards out Pittsford Mendon scored one minute into the second half to tie the score at 1 before scoring the winner with 14:35 left in the second half “[The first goal] kind of broke us down a little bit and it’s unfortunate,” Lesiewicz said it was good on their part and I give them kudos it does sort of break our character and I think today it did break us a little bit But we put up a fight until the final seconds.” a senior who missed last season with a torn ACL “I’m so unbelievably grateful,” Gengler said so to come back as a senior after missing my junior year and to come to Cortland is an amazing thing Coach Adrian Gilmore was proud of the team’s season success and Saturday's performance creating chances and controlling possession the majority of the contest “I think in soccer sometimes the better team doesn’t always win and I think today we were the better team,” Gilmore said “We had two unlucky bounces and they capitalized on it Gengler hopes to see next year’s team continue the program’s legacy “In the locker room [Saturday] we said this isn’t our last game so it’s not the outcome we wanted,” Gengler said “But I wish the best for our team next year Owen O'Brien covers high school and college sports for Newsday He's also covered professional teams such as the Mets Jets and Giants since graduating from the University at Buffalo One person was killed and another injured in a two-vehicle crash on Route 25A in Wading River Thursday A Suffolk woman is dead and another person injured after two vehicles collided in Wading River on Thursday afternoon police responded to a two-car crash on Middle Country Road near Kay Road was driving a 2015 Chevrolet in the eastbound lane and struck a westbound 2010 Toyota The Wading River Fire Department extracted both drivers from their vehicles Cregg was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead The 63-year-old driver of the Toyota was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening politics and crime stories in Suffolk County Riverhead and state police closed Middle Country Road between Wading River Manor Road and Kay Road for several hours to conduct an investigation Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information regarding the investigation is asked to call the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500 Maureen Mullarkey is a breaking news reporter at Newsday She previously worked as a reporter for Patch where she covered a range of Long Island stories on topics such as the Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcy and the Babylon School District abuse scandals Updated 54 minutes ago Off-campus gunfire has H.S Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories 2024 at 6:25 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The incident took place early Monday NY — A 16-year-old was arrested early Monday after burglarizing a Wading River restaurant regarding an unknown male who had entered La Plage Restaurant on Creek Road; Riverhead police officers and K9 units responded to the scene Officers were able to locate the individual who'd broken into the restaurant shortly after the 911 call was received The teen was subsequently arrested and charged with third-degree burglary; he was transported to the Riverhead Police Department where he was processed and released on a desk appearance ticket Anyone that may have witnessed the incident or has information pertaining to the case is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500 tennis is just another outlet for competition Ray Hidaka has been a fixture in the Shoreham-Wading River boys varsity tennis team for five years wide-eyed seventh grader but still earned the first singles slot and has never let it go all these years he finally got some competition for that No Ray and Kai both finished ranked second and fourth respectively in the division for singles players worked his way into the second singles slot after playing varsity doubles with his brother the year before Ray only lost to three opponents all of last year in the first singles spot and all three of his losses were against seniors later named All-State he was one win away from making it to the states After being in the shadows of his brother early in his varsity years Kai decided to commit to tennis this offseason “I really spent a lot of time playing this year and wanted to get better,” Kai said “I’ve been playing club tennis since I was five something in me just wanted to take the next step and push myself to the limit.” Coach Matthew Epp saw it right away when he stepped foot on the court for the first practice “You could tell his improvement immediately making tough shots and putting the pressure on his opponents I knew we were going to see a new version of Kai this year.” Though Kai and Ray are only two years apart in age the siblings play with two different styles Ray is more methodical and cool-headed — other schools call him ‘The Terminator’ because of how ruthless and efficient he is They ended up playing head to head on the third day of practice.” we don’t actually play against each other a lot,” Ray said but we rarely play against each other in the offseason I’ve been busy studying for my six AP classes And before he would get a chance to face the best singles players in Suffolk County he had to prove that he was better than his brother “All I kept thinking about was all the times I lost to him over the years,” Kai said Kai won the first set 6-0 then proceeded to win the match and the spot I knew I was in trouble after that first set.” SWR opened their season March 25 against Bayport-Blue Point Both Hidakas won but Ray finished earlier after a two-set sweep He watched from the sidelines as his brother’s match went into the third and final set played with emotion and yelled in tight moments he was disappointed in his first performance in the No “I thought I was off my usual game,” Kai said “Playing outside after playing indoors all year is so much different That’s one thing I wish I had from my brother is his calmness no matter how many points he’s behind.” The competition continues as the siblings keep pushing one another to improve “Both of us want to make states this year,” Ray said with a smile. “But who knows, we might just have to play each other again in the county tournament.” are among the residents suing to stop the tower from being built Seventeen Wading River residents have filed a federal lawsuit to halt construction of a 213-foot cell tower planned near their homes challenges Riverhead Town’s approval of the tower claiming town officials "engaged in a coordinated scheme" with developer Elite Towers to bypass zoning rules and silenced public input in violation of the First Amendment Riverhead Town Board members voted 5-0 last month to approve the tower, to be located at the Wading River Fire Department headquarters on North Country Road, over objections of residents concerned about potential safety risks reduced property values and visual impacts the tower could pose Fire district officials previously estimated the tower would be completed in April Fire district officials have said the hilly wooded terrain in the hamlet interrupts cell signals in the area putting first responders at a “disadvantage” during emergencies The approval came after the town conducted a review known as the Monroe Balancing Test a process that considers potential public benefits in determining whether projects on government properties should be exempt from zoning laws alleges the town did not have the legal authority to waive the rules or approve the tower Residents seek a court order voiding approval of and blocking construction of the tower a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages Campanelli called the town’s actions an “abuse of power” in an interview last week and said the proposal doesn’t meet the standards for the Monroe test “It’s just the way that they tried to usurp authority that [the town board] doesn’t possess,” he said The tower wouldn’t have otherwise been allowed under town zoning rules since the firehouse is in a residential area Campanelli argues in the suit that circumventing the town Zoning Board of Appeals process deprived residents of the chance to speak out at a formal hearing Riverhead Town Attorney Erik Howard said he understands the residents' frustration but called the lawsuit “frivolous” in an email and said the Monroe process included a public hearing “To suggest that the Town Board deprived anyone of the right to be heard in connection with WRFD's application is simply false,” Howard said The town is expected to hire outside counsel to represent it in the case The complaint also cites concerns about impacts on property values visual aesthetics and risks of structural failure and ice and debris falling from the tower onto the plaintiffs’ properties lives next door to the firehouse and said the town board's decision was "upsetting," leaving her neighbors no choice but to sue "I felt like my voice was not heard and I was dismissed," Romano said The complaint says Romano's home is "well inside the danger zone" of the proposed tower Residents cited a lack of tangible data demonstrating the need for a tower and allege the developer agreed to provide the fire district with “money perks and gifts” in exchange for the approval a Garden City attorney representing Elite Towers Riverhead Supervisor Tim Hubbard said last month he wouldn't be in favor of a tower next to his home but he urged residents to consider the benefits for public safety "That far outweighs any concern I have," Hubbard said at the time Campanelli said last week that a second lawsuit will likely be filed against the fire district for at least $2 million over a “severe breach” of fiduciary duty they took affirmative steps [to] destroy the value of those homes,” he said chair of the Wading River Board of Fire Commissioners declined to comment last week on the pending litigation Neighbors in Wading River have filed a federal lawsuit to halt construction of a 213-foot cell tower planned near their homes Riverhead Town Board members voted 5-0 last month to approve the tower to be located at the Wading River Fire Department headquarters Updated 55 minutes ago Off-campus gunfire has H.S Riverhead Town Police are investigating three separate incidents of hydrant tampering in Wading River that have taken place this holiday weekend flooding roadways and surrounding areas and clogging storm drains in separate incidents early Thursday morning police said in a press release Saturday night.  located at the intersection of Hulse Avenue and 10th Street in Wading River was reported to police shortly after 6 a.m.  Thursday Responding officers found the roadway flooded and impassable The hydrant was closed and the Riverhead Highway Department responded to clear storm drains clogged by the flooding The second open hydrant was found on Friday night shortly before 11 p.m. a “makeshift fire hose” was attached to the hydrant and placed in a nearby wooded area The Wading River Fire Department also responded and closed the fire hydrant police responded to Bayberry Road in Wading River for another report of an opened fire hydrant storm drains and the yards of nearby residences the flooding overwhelmed a cesspool at a nearby residence which in turn caused flooding and considerable damage inside the residence The Riverhead Police Department Detective Division is assisting with the investigation police said in the press release.   “Residents are encouraged to be vigilant in observing any suspicious persons or vehicles near fire hydrants in their respective neighborhoods and if any suspicious activity is observed to please contact the Riverhead Police Department immediately,” police said Police are asking anyone with information about these incidents to contact the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500.  All calls will remain confidential Facing ongoing communication challenges and a growing threat to the safety of first responders the Wading River Fire Department is looking to build a communication tower at its headquarters to strengthen its emergency correspondence Co-sponsored by Elite Towers and Verizon Wireless the Wading River Fire District has proposed to build a wireless communications facility at its firehouse at 1503 North Country Road in Wading River The fire district’s communications antennas at the top of the structure would bring its total height to 213 feet and Verizon Wireless plans to install three of its own antennas at a centerline height of 185 feet as well. Seven antennas are reserved for future carriers All of the wireless antennas will be hidden within the concealment pole which is designed to create a stick-like effect to minimize visibility The plans feature additional site improvements such as an storage room in the building a 174-square-foot equipment area on the roof and a natural gas generator “It is essential that everyone understand that the primary function of this communication tower — not a cellular tower — is to address the safety of our first responders and subsequently the community that we serve,” fire commissioner Terrence Culhane said at the public hearing earlier this month an attorney from Amato Law Group which is representing the fire district said the application was initially filed in September 2023 Alvarez spoke about the fire district’s request for a zoning exemption through a nine-part process called the Monroe Balancing Test The current Riverhead Town code requires such applications be brought to the Town Board planning board and zoning board for various approvals Alvarez said the balancing test would allow the application to proceed past these “hurdles.” In situations where a public or government entity is seeking approval for a project to improve their property the Monroe Balancing Test can be used to evaluate the nature of the project All of these components then determine whether or not the project should be exempt from local zoning rules it’s something that has seriously impaired the fire district’s ability to communicate and do its job on a day-to-day basis.”  With low lying areas and heavy tree coverage surrounding its headquarters Culhane said the negative impact to radio communications puts the Wading River first responders at “an extreme disadvantage” and their lives “in jeopardy.”  the Wading River Fire Department has responded to nearly 1,300 emergency calls and there have been a few hiccups with its communications Culhane recalled a structure fire that occurred earlier this year on North Wading River Road Firefighters on the scene were roughly a quarter mile away from headquarters but could not get through to the firehouse dispatcher or the Suffolk County Fire Dispatch which impacted their ability to request additional units and provide medical updates to local hospitals prior to patient transport a member of the fire department suffered a head injury after slipping and falling in a stairwell When another member tried to call for help on his cellphone he could not leave that individual to use a landline in the fire headquarters to request help another member came while he was stabilizing the injured party,” Mr “These are just a few of the many incidents that highlight the immediate need for this communications tower.” The fire district is also allowing at least two cellular service providers access to the tower for two reasons: to allow emergency medical personnel to transmit medical data to hospitals prior so immediate care can be given once ambulances arrive at the scene and to provide better cellular coverage overall to the area Culhane said the fire district has offered the town an opportunity to put up a tower for the Riverhead Police which has also struggled with servicing the Wading River area due to limited communications Danielle Willsey said police radio transmissions around North Country Road by the Wading River Duck Pond are “very sporadic” and calls are often dropped “There are many residents who don’t own landlines anymore Cellphones have become much more predominant right now and with the inability of a cellphone to get through you’re not going to be able to get any help,” Ms “We still always send an officer to the last known location but without being able to get all their updated information it will be a delayed response in getting people help.”  The fire commissioner acknowledged a push made in 2010 to erect multiple cellular towers in the Wading River area sites at Little Flower Children and Family Services the East Wind complex and the grounds of St John the Baptist Church were all denied due to community opposition and lack of transparency in the process is to be as transparent as possible to explain the absolute need for communication enhancements,” Mr Several Wading River residents at the public hearing expressed concerns about the project specifically the possible health risks from exposure to the proposed tower A few criticized the lack of notification about the proposal and claimed they were only made aware of the project 10 days before the public hearing said she is not against the project itself and understands the need for better communication but felt that with “more time and effort,” alternative locations for the pole could be investigated She currently has around 25 petition signatures from other residents who feel the same.  She cited the International Association of Firefighters‘ opposition to the use of fire houses as base stations for towers and/or antennas that emit cell phone transmissions until better studies on the health effects of exposure to low intensity radio frequency or microwave radiation are conducted She said although she had limited time to research before the public hearing Romano said her findings showed instances of firefighters getting sick after exposure to these emissions The FCC changed its regulations regarding radio frequency radiation exposure in 1996 Romano said they have not been updated since then “I am at least requesting that we wait for these findings to come back from the FCC with the updated regulations to how much radiation we can accept without getting cancer,” Ms Tart green apple salad at La Plage in Wading River There’s hardly a more North Shore restaurant than La Plage. Since 1996 it has occupied a wind-swept spot with a commanding view of Long Island Sound in Wading River, and it has distinguished itself as one of the best eateries in the area South Shore diners will have a chance to see and taste what all the fuss is about Chef-owner Wayne Waddington plans to open La Plage Bistro in the former Bellport Brewing Company Initially conceived as a French restaurant La Plage (French for "the beach") has Waddington plans to lean into its Gallic roots "We’ll have some of our current signature dishes — the green apple salad with blue cheese and walnuts "have been approved by our guests over the last couple of years on our Friday night ‘Bistro Night’ prix fixe." He intends to give the old brewery "a nice face lift" with globe lighting