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Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach in Riverhead has a new garden for its guests to enjoy, full of vegetables, flowers, picnic tables and lounge chairs.

Last month, volunteers from the Grace Youth Program of Grace Presbyterian Church in Water Mill cleaned up and replanted the garden beds in the yard at Maureen’s Haven on Lincoln Street.

“They’re a wonderful group,” said Daniel O’Shea, executive director of Maureen’s Haven.

Youth group members also experienced what it was like to be homeless for a day. After spending hours putting together garden beds at the shelter, they showered at Indian Island County Park. Then they ate dinner and spent the night at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Aquebogue, sleeping on the floor on inflatable mattresses. The church houses Maureen’s Haven guests in the winter. The group of around one dozen volunteers returned to the garden the next day to finish tilling and planting.

The project was headed by Lesley Middlekauff of Grace Presbyterian Church and the students ranged from seventh to 10th grade. Last summer, she took a group of students to a service trip in Belize, and was looking for a service project locally this summer.

“I wanted to do something locally in our area, because you don’t just serve when you go overseas,” Ms. Middlekauff said. “There are things to do here in our community.”

She said she wanted to open their eyes and get them out of their comfort zone of their own homes.

“They got to experience what a homeless person in this area might go through,” Mr. O’Shea said. “It’s also a way for them to demonstrate their willingness to give back to the community.”

Maureen’s Haven received a donation from the Riverhead Rotary Club to buy cushions for chairs, seeds and a canopy. Other organizations also made donations, including Fowler’s Garden Center in Southampton, Halsey Farm & Nursery in Water Mill, Eastlands Nursery & Farms in Water Mill, Agway Country Gardens in Bridgehampton and East Hampton High School.

Mr. O’Shea said that in the fall, some guests of Maureen’s Haven will work on pruning, watering and harvesting in the garden.

“They can go outside and get some sunshine and be outdoors,” he said. “I know they’re outdoors a lot, but this is a place where there are some nice chairs and a canopy. Most importantly, it’s a safe space, where no one is going to tell them to move along.”

The center will also use the garden to hold meetings with guests when necessary, including social worker visits.

“We can go back there to the garden and they’re a little bit more relaxed,” Mr. O’Shea said.

“It a place for them to be welcome and comfortable, which is always a challenge for the homeless population out here — to find a place to be comfortable,” he added. “If they’re sleeping, they’re sleeping with one eye open, and always have to watch their backs for other people or law enforcement. For them, to even get rest is a challenge in and of itself.”

The goal will be to have a harvest toward the end of the season and hold some type of fall meal made from the crops grown in the garden. Extra produce will be donated to other charities.

“The thing that is so striking to me is the willingness and generosity of everyone that’s involved,” Mr. O’Shea said. 

Maureen’s Haven also partnered with Slow Food East End, which helped develop an agricultural plan for the garden, including crop selection and plant placement for optimal growth.

rsiford@timesreview.com

Photo caption:The gift of a new community garden was given to Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach at the end of last month. (Rachel Siford photo) 

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Several speakers urged the Town Board not to give the eastern portion of Riverside Drive over to Suffolk County, which wants to tear up the pavement and reseed the road, which cuts through the county’s Indian Island Golf Course. 

The board held a public informational meeting on the plan, which Suffolk County has asked the town to do.

“Don’t do it,” said resident Steve Jackson. “It’s a town road.”

He said the highway department hardly spends any money on it, and people use it for fishing and crabbing. 

“This road is not hurting anyone,” said resident Larry Kaiser, who also opposes giving the road to the county. He too said he uses it for fishing and crabbing. 

“I’m against giving away any waterfront access,” said Robert Skinner of Jamesport. 

‘MAKE BUILDER FIX IT’

Ken Zahler, who owns a business on Maple Avenue, urged the Town Board to require the developer of the 116-unit Riverside Lofts apartments on the south side of East Main Street to fix any damage to resident Arlene Doroszka’s home before it gives a certificate of occupancy to the apartments. 

Ms. Doraska, along with members of the adjacent Riverhead United Methodist Church, say that the pounding from pile driving taking place at the construction site for the apartments is damaging their century-old buldings, which are across the street from the construction site. 

Mr. Zahler said he’s seen water bouncing in glasses and windows shaking when the pile driving takes place. 

“She has extensive damage,” he said. 

Mr. Zahler urged the board to pass a resolution withholding the certificate of occupancy until the developer fixes the damage. 

The developer, Georgica Green Ventures, maintains that it is not causing the damage to Ms.Doraska’s and the church. 

tgannon@timesreview.com

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You gotta believe.

At least that’s what they say. Sometimes it’s tough for a baseball team to believe, especially when hits have been tough to come by against a tough pitcher like Andrew Lenski.

So, when the Riverhead Little League All Stars 11-12-year-old team entered the sixth and final inning facing a 2-0 deficit and only one hit to their credit, it couldn’t have been easy to be optimistic.

“We needed a miracle to win, and then we got that miracle,” said Riverhead catcher David Raynor.

Raynor was the supplier of said miracle. It was Raynor’s walk-off hit — a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth — that toppled Plainview, 3-2, in dramatic fashion Wednesday night, sending Riverhead to the state tournament of the Little League World Series Tournament for the first time.

“There’s no words,” Riverhead coach Mike Mowdy said after the triumph at Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park gave his team the Section 4 East championship. “It’s incredible. This is what this team does. They find a way.”

The pressure was on.

Lenski was tough on the mound, allowing Riverhead (10-0) only three hits before being pulled with two outs in the sixth. After pinch hitter Daniel Buday led off by working a full-count walk, Mike Mowdy, the coach’s son, bounced a single through the middle. Runners were on first and second after a fielder’s choice, and Dufour legged out an infield single to score Mowdy. That was when Lenski reached the 85-pitch limit and was removed for James D’Alessandro, who found himself in a pressure situation with runners at the corners.

It was Raynor’s turn at bat. What was he thinking?

“If I choke, then I’m going to be really mad, but then if I don’t choke, then it’s going to be really good,” he said.

It was really good for Raynor, who took a 2-and-0 fastball to rightfield, bringing home pinch runner Mark Gajowski and Dufour.

Game over.

“David Raynor is the best,” Coach Mowdy said. “He battles. I think he’s one of the best catchers I’ve seen in this tournament, if not the best catcher. He’s batting fifth for a reason. He always has quality at-bats for us. He grinds them out. He’s tremendous.”

Riverhead’s bench stormed the field in celebration.

“I don’t think my foot hit the dirt the whole time,” Coach Mowdy said. “What can you say about it? It was pure joy.”

Riverhead advances to the state tournament that will be held July 24-30 in the Bronx.

“It means a lot,” Dufour said. “We’re the first Riverhead team to go to the states, and it’s just cool.”

Riverhead was designated the home team by a coin flip.

Plainview (6-2) put up a run in each of the first two innings, with James D’Alessandro banging an RBI single and Seth Popkin smashing a bad-hop single off third baseman Forest Kaplan for the second run.

What Riverhead has accomplished so far is unprecedented, first winning a District 36 championship and now a Section 4 East title. The team has never advanced this far before, said Riverhead Little League president Jeremy Savio.

“The kids feel they belong here, and they do belong here,” said Coach Mowdy.

The younger Mowdy pitched the entire game, allowing five hits and a walk against five strikeouts.

Coach Ari Wind’s Plainview team presented quite a challenge. Riverhead had handed Plainview its first loss in the double-elimination tournament as well, 5-2.

“That’s the best-hitting team I’ve ever seen,” Coach Mowdy said. “To keep them down to two runs in two consecutive games is really remarkable.”

The season after the season has been almost as long as the regular season itself. Following a 12-game regular season, Riverhead played its 10th game of the Little League World Series Tournament, which ultimately ends in Williamsport, Pa. With each baseball game, the pressure mounts.

“When I look back at it,” Coach Mowdy said, “I’m going to say it was a great time, but it is nerve-wracking to say the least. It is a lot of fun.

“It’s obviously something that they’ll remember for the rest of their life.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Riverhead players and coaches celebrate the team’s Section 4 East championship following David Raynor’s two-out, two-run, walk-off single. (Credit: Daniel De Mato)

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A new law passed by state lawmakers could bring radical change to how alcohol tastings are served on the North Fork.

In a bill passed by both the State Assembly and Senate on their last day of session June 20, changes would be made to the tax law as it relates to wine, beer, cider and liquor products. 

Aiming to define what constitutes a tasting for tax purposes, the law would set the following standards for samples: No more than six samples of wine, not exceeding three ounces each, may be provided to a person in one day, according to the legislation. It would also regulate cider and beer — no more than five samples of beer at five ounces each and liquor —no more than three samples of liquor, not exceeding one-quarter fluid ounce each.

“Because wineries make more than six wines, we view this as overly restrictive,” said Steve Bate, acting director of the Long Island Wine Council, in an email. “We believe wineries should be able to sample their full range of products.”

Currently, the state provides wineries, breweries and distilleries with a state sales tax exemption for on-site tastings, which state lawmakers extended in 2017. Using tourism to justify the new legislation, the bill reads: “Increasingly, destination craft breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries have become an essential part of [the tourism] industry. In recognition of this growing tourism sector, the legislature last year amended New York’s Tax law to exempt from sales tax tastings held by the aforementioned craft alcoholic beverage makers, thereby encouraging continued growth in such businesses, which contribute substantially to their local communities. This bill provides the necessary clarity and uniformity for effectuating the provisions of said law.”

As written, the legislation also includes a provision that restricts those under 21 from serving a sample or handling any open container of beer, cider, liquor or wine. Though it remains illegal to consume alcohol in New York for anyone under 21, employees can serve it at bars, restaurants and tasting rooms at 18.

The restriction puzzled Mr. Bate, who said that should have been addressed in the state’s consolidated alcoholic beverage control (ABC) laws. 

“Either way, it would be a significant change from what we’ve always understood the policy to be from the [State Liquor Authority], which is that it’s acceptable for staff between 18 and 21 to work in tasting rooms as long as there’s an adult owner or authorized agent supervising. This flexibility has been very important for small, family-owned wineries that need to rely on 18+ aged children or young adults during busy periods,” Mr. Bate said.

Sponsors of the bill have indicated that they would remove that restriction before sending the bill to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signature or veto.

tsmith@timesreview.com

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What amounted to a play-in game for a play-in game has left the North Fork Ospreys out.

Much like the game of musical chairs that was played by youngsters in between innings at Jean W. Cochran Park in Peconic Friday night, the Ospreys have been left without a place in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League playoffs. For the first time in 10 years, they will not be in the postseason.

Try as they have, the Ospreys have been unable to overcome their shortcomings. That was the case Friday.

Not even an early 5-0 lead was enough for the Ospreys in a must-win game against the Shelter Island Bucks. The Bucks scored 16 unanswered runs to win, 16-5, and clinch their first playoff berth since 2015 and fourth since 2012. In the process, they eliminated the Ospreys from playoff contention.

It has been that kind of a season for the Ospreys (14-21-4). They opened the season with six straight losses and are 2-8-1 in their last 11 games.

Asked before the game if he had words of advice for his players, Ospreys coach Bill Ianniciello answered: “We’re past the advice stage. We should have been competing sooner than tonight, but unfortunately, we haven’t. We haven’t hit all season. We haven’t played good defense lately. We don’t run the bases well.”

“We’ve been undermanned, we’ve lost some guys,” he said. “The guys have worked hard. We just haven’t executed enough.

“It’s too late to feel pressure. Ten games ago we controlled our own destiny. We could have won some games, but we haven’t done that, so to me it has been very disappointing.”

This is the first year the HCBL has expanded the playoffs from four to five teams with the introduction of a wild-card team. Both the Bucks and Ospreys entered Friday’s game tied for fifth place with 32 points. But the Bucks (16-18-2) took the season series, 4-3, and have three games remaining. The Ospreys will play their final game Sunday night at home against the Riverhead Tomcats.

Much of Friday’s blowout was hard for the Ospreys to watch. It must have been hard for them to watch the Bucks’ big slugger, Alex Volpi, break the league’s single-season record with his 14th home run. It must have been hard for them to watch Bucks shortstop Jake MacKenzie become only the second player in league history to have a six-hit game. (MacKenzie went 6-for-6, scored four runs, drove in four runs and recorded his league-leading 32nd stolen base of the season, a Bucks record). It must have been hard for them to watch themselves commit seven errors.

And things had started so promisingly for the Ospreys. Ben Terwilliger produced a grand slam, his sixth homer of the summer, in the first inning and Joe Mercadante made it 5-0 the following inning by hammering his second homer of the season.

But that lead wasn’t safe. Things went south from there for the Ospreys as the Bucks went on to produce 16 hits against three Ospreys pitchers and the defense self-destructed.

The Bucks bounced back in a big way with a six-run third that featured an RBI infield single by Mike Casaleggio and a two-run double roped by MacKenzie.

With the sun setting over the field, it appeared to be setting on the Osprey’ season, too. Volpi set the HCBL record for most homers in a season in the fifth when he slammed a two-run shot. He had tied the mark Aaron Ping of the Westhampton Aviators set in 2016.

David Brehm went 3-for-4 for the Bucks.

The Long Island Road Warriors and Tomcats will hold the top two seeds for the playoffs. The Aviators and Sag Harbor Whalers have also clinched playoff berths.

What was the mindset the Ospreys needed to take into Friday’s game?

“We definitely have to win this game,” outfielder Tyler Shedler-McAvoy said after batting practice. “I think we can’t tense up. We just got to stay loose and play our game, and there’s nothing more you can do. You can’t force things. You just got to play baseball and hope for the best.”

The best evaded the Ospreys — along with the playoffs.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Ben Terwilliger makes contact for his first-inning grand slam that helped North Fork out to an early lead before collapsing against Shelter Island and seeing its playoff hopes extinguished. (Credit: Garret Meade)

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Riverhead Town police are seeking the public’s help to locate two teenagers who were reported missing from the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch.

Staff members reported Justin Knight, 15, and Angel Vasquez-Rivera, 15, missing Thursday, according to a police press release.

Both of the teens are frequent runaways and no foul play is suspected, police said. Knight was also reported missing from the facility on July 10.

The teenagers have been entered in the New York State Police Information Network as missing persons, police said.

If located please contact the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500 ext. 312.

Photo caption: Justin Knight (left) and Angel Vasquez-Rivera. (Riverhead Town police courtesy photos)

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When historians look back at the period we’re living in, they will write that the president of the United States groveled before Vladimir Putin at the summit in Helsinki, Finland.

We don’t use the word “groveled” lightly: retired U.S. Army Col. Ralph Peters, a former Fox News commentator, used it in describing the news conference President Donald Trump and Mr. Putin held Monday.

He also used the word “despicable” to describe Mr. Trump’s trashing of the American intelligence community for concluding that the Russians hacked American emails in a bid to help Mr. Trump get elected. And he went even further, saying Mr. Trump was “licking” Mr. Putin’s boots by saying the Russian president had assured him his country had done no such thing.

Sen. John McCain, one of the few prominent Republicans to sharply criticize Mr. Trump’s comments, said his conduct was “the most despicable thing” he could imagine an American president doing. Former CIA director John Brennan called his behavior “treasonous.”

One reason our president’s fawning praise of Mr. Putin has continued since he was elected may be that the Russians have something on him — a point several commentators made this week. How, they asked, can you explain Mr. Trump’s criticism of the European Union and NATO, his denunciation of Britain’s prime minister and his sitting on Mr. Putin’s lap unless something is being held over his head?

What could that something be? After leaving the White House, former aide Steve Bannon hinted that the scandal-in-waiting involved money laundering by Mr. Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

To Mr. Trump, of course, all of this is “fake news.” And the special prosecutor’s investigation of Russia’s involvement in the election is a “witch hunt.” His labeling of the American press corps as the country’s true enemies is music to the ears of Mr. Putin, whose government has murdered journalists and poisoned critics. The Russians have participated in the slaughter of thousands in Syria and pro-Putin militia shot down a passenger jet over eastern Ukraine with a Russian-made missile, killing 298 passengers.

Clearly, Mr. Trump doesn’t have a problem with any of this. Nor does he have a problem labeling NATO and the EU as outdated and treating Great Britain as an enemy power — again, music to Mr. Putin’s ears.

The president’s America First banner has taken on the sheen of something anti-American and pro-Russian — and we, as Americans, need to fully understand why. The Mueller probe into Russia’s role in the 2016 election could not be more vital to our democracy.

In his recent New York Times column, Bret Stephens began: “Some near-forgotten anniversaries are worth commemorating. One hundred years ago — Bastille Day, 1918 — Theodore Roosevelt’s youngest son, Quentin, was killed in aerial combat at the Second Battle of the Marne. Twenty-six years later, Quentin’s oldest brother, Ted, also died in France, after landing at Utah Beach on D-Day.”

Mr. Stephens wrote that the brothers fought and died for the “possibility and preservation of a free world, anchored and inspired by America but not subservient to it.” He wrote that Mr. Trump had “undisguised contempt” for European democracy, and characterized his presidency as “a historical disaster” for America.

The now-infamous press conference — with Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin standing side by side, exchanging pleasantries and a soccer ball — may one day be seen as the watershed moment in this presidency. There was Mr. Trump before Monday, and Mr. Trump after Monday. What comes next will likely be a product of the Mueller probe. And at this point, there’s no turning back.

While Democrats are united in their contempt for Mr. Trump, all but a handful of Republicans seem unable to find their voices. They need to begin standing up for our country and put aside obsequious loyalty to their president.

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Police arrested a Riverhead woman for felony driving while intoxicated in Baiting Hollow Saturday.

Lisa Geremita, 48, refused to submit to a breath test and had open alcohol in her car when she was pulled over on Sound Avenue around 11:35 p.m., officials said.

She faces a felony charge due to a prior conviction.

• Daniel Tamburo, 22, was charged with felony second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument stemming from an incident that occurred on Jan. 11, officials said. He was charged at police headquarters around 9:25 a.m. Monday, officials said.

• Police arrested a 19-year-old man for DWI in Wading River last Wednesday. Jared Burkart of Wading River was involved in a car crash around 11:50 p.m. where the passenger side of his car was pinned against a tree off the roadway near the corner of Wading River Manor Road and North Country Road, officials said.

He was charged with DWI, third-degree possession of a forged instrument, both misdemeanors, and a violation.

• Daniel Hughes, 37, was charged with misdemeanor DWI while operating a motorized bicycle near Gala Fresh Farms on Route 58 around 7 p.m. Friday, officials said.

• John Waggoner, 36, was charged with misdemeanor DWI near the Hyatt Place on East Main Street around midnight Saturday, officials said.

• A 35-year-old woman was arrested for drug possession in Jamesport last Tuesday.

Christina Schlachter of Jamesport was found in possession of two pills and three bags containing a powdery substance on Sixth Street around 12:20 p.m., officials said.

She was charged with misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and also had an active warrant for her arrest.

• A Greenport woman was arrested for stealing from Walmart last Wednesday.

Christina Kamaiko, 41, allegedly stole $362 worth of merchandise from the Route 58 store around 12:55 p.m., officials said. She was charged with misdemeanor petit larceny.

• Police charged Melinda Garvey with misdemeanor petit larceny around 9:55 p.m. at Walmart on Route 58 Friday, officials said.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

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Dennis Jackson, 39, of Mastic was arrested Friday in Flanders after he was pulled over for a violation on Flanders Road, according to Southampton Town police. 

Police found that Mr. Jackson was driving with a revoked license.

He was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and three violations, police said. 

• A Paraco Gas employee reported last Thursday that when he went to a Riverside home to pick up two propane tanks that had been locked off due to an outstanding bill, the homeowner tried to keep the tanks, police said.

The woman pulled the hand truck the tanks were on into her home and refused to return them, the employee told police. 

An officer arrived at the scene and retrieved the tanks, police said. The woman was advised to call the gas company regarding her situation and no charges were pursued, police said.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

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Our nation is in troubling times and we are seeing daily attacks on our fundamental rights and values. Our daughters and granddaughters are now faced with the threat of having rights we have had protected for over 40 years stripped away from them. Women’s rights are under attack and the state Senate Republicans have refused to protect New York women from these assaults. The fight for women’s health care impacts millions of New Yorkers and it is one that we must win.

Women’s rights are human rights. The same extremism that is coming out of Washington is also threatening women’s rights here in New York. The state Senate Republicans are unanimously anti-choice and have refused to take any action to protect women’s health care rights, despite the fact that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support these critical issues. The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court means that New York State must do everything in its power to protect women’s rights. As state Senate Republicans refuse to protect women’s rights, we must elect more Democratic state senators this November.

It is shocking that in 2018, in a progressive state like New York, we are still arguing that women’s reproductive health care is a right that should be protected and respected. What makes this even more absurd is that in 1970, when New York helped lead the nation by decriminalizing abortion, it was done through a Republican-controlled Senate, with the support of 12 Senate Republicans, and signed into law by a Republican governor. And now, nearly 50 years later, not a single Senate Republican will stand up to codify Roe v. Wade into state law. Clearly, the only way to protect women’s rights in New York is to elect Democrats to the state Senate and finally achieve a Democratic majority there.

The Reproductive Health Act, supported by Senate Democrats and our Long Island candidates, will ensure that New York State law treats abortion as health care, not a criminal act, by simply bringing New York’s law up to date with Roe v. Wade. Senate Democrats have fought long and hard to bring RHA to the floor for a vote but Senate Republicans have continually blocked RHA from becoming law. The fact that all Senate Republicans and their candidates for office — even those in more moderate and progressive parts of New York, like Long Island — oppose this bill should be shocking and alarming to New York voters.

If the Supreme Court repeals Roe v. Wade, the burden will be on each state to set up laws regarding women’s health care rights and protections. This puts New York in a dangerous situation because we decriminalized abortion before the Roe v. Wade decision. As New York’s nearly 50-year-old law is inadequate and out-of-date, our residents will actually lose protections if Roe is overturned. This is why the Senate Democrats have been so focused on pushing for passage of the Reproductive Health Act, which has overwhelming support among New York voters.

New York is in a position to make major strides in protecting women’s health care rights but it is clear that this critical legislation will pass only if we elect a strong Democratic majority to the state Senate. Our message to anti-choice Republicans in the state Senate is that we will no longer allow them to hold back progress or stifle women’s rights. New York women deserve Senate leadership that will stand up for their rights, not hold them back.

Mr. Bellone is the Suffolk County executive and Ms. Stewart-Cousins is a state senator representing part of Westchester County. Both are Democrats.

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Members of the Riverhead Town Police Department recently completed a five-week diversity training course meant to dispel myths that exist among Latino residents about law enforcement on the East End — and vice versa. 

The training was offered by OLA of Eastern Long Island, a nonprofit that aims to empower and inform local Latinos. The goal was to build trust between police and Latino community members so they do not hesitate to call for help as victims of crime or come forward as witnesses

Reporting of crimes has been decreasing recently among Latino families and individuals, said OLA executive director Minerva Perez. That’s due partly to myths that need to be broken, she said. 

“Some of those myths might exist around the willingness or the interest in hearing and communicating with Latino members of the community who are victims or witnesses to crime and this I do believe is a myth,” Ms. Perez said. “I know that law enforcement wants people to come forward to report crime as victims and witnesses. It gets tricky when the language barrier exists.”

People might hesitate to report crimes for a number of reasons, Ms. Perez said. For example, someone may be scared to jeopardize an undocumented family member, even if they weren’t involved in a crime.

During the training, Ms. Perez said, OLA was thrilled to learn how often Riverhead police use the resources they have to communicate with the Latino population in the community on calls, such as a live translation service. Seeing how Riverhead police employ the technology offers a learning opportunity for all East End law enforcement, she said. 

Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said the live translation service has helped a lot to communicate in Spanish when necessary. He noted that some officers have been working on their own to build their proficiency in Spanish.

This type of training is ongoing, Chief Hegermiller said, “so we always have to be aware and make sure that we’re covering all the bases. 

“We have a diverse community,” he said. 

A major goal of the training was to find ways to establish trust, and communication is a key to that so that people are comfortable reporting crimes. 

“That’s what it’s all about, no matter what,” Chief Hegermiller said. 

The training took place from 9:45 to 11:15 p.m. over five weeks, at the end of police personnel shifts. The sessions were meant to establish an open dialogue with the trainees, who included police officers, sergeants and dispatch members, Ms. Perez said. 

Topics covered included early migration trends, how immigration channels have changed and what challenges exist in communication, Ms. Perez said. 

Trainees offered a “wish list” of potentially life-saving information they said is important to be relayed among Latino community, which included marine safety tips and making sure that people are aware of their address in case of an emergency. 

OLA conducted similar training with the Southampton Town Police Department last year, and Ms. Perez said the organization appreciated being able to bring it to Riverhead.

“We are fortunate to have so many caring members of law enforcement in Riverhead,” she said.

kzegers@timesreview.com

Photo caption: The training was offered by OLA of Eastern Long Island, a nonprofit that aims to empower and inform local Latinos. (Courtesy photo) 

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The developer of 1.5 acre site on the southwest corner of Kroemer Avenue and Route 58 is having second thoughts about giving 10 feet of land on Kroemer Avenue to Riverhead Town in case Suffolk County ever decides to do improvements on that intersection.

Developer Barclay Erhler received site plan approval from the Riverhead Planning Board in 2016 for a 14,400-square foot retail building on that corner, and one requirement was to dedicate part of the land to the town. Mr. Erhler had previously dedicated land on Route 58 to Suffolk County and officials say the town land is also need for the county work to proceed.

Currently, traffic on Kroemer Avenue traffic is prohibited from making a left turn onto Route 58 at the intersection, which  also aligns with the entrance to a shopping center on the north side of Route 58.

Although the building has been constructed, Mr. Erhler submitted amendments to his site plan, which include more parking space, less landscaping and the elimination of the offer to dedicate the land to the county.

Karin Gluth, a town planner, said the application cannot be considered complete without the land commitment, and she can’t review the application until it is considered complete.

Mr. Erhler has been trying to develop the property for many years and first received site plan approval from the town in 2008. He then asked for and received several extension to that approval before finally getting approval in 2016.

He said if the county wants the land, they can buy it off him. He asked if any other applicants on Route 58 where required to give land to the town for road improvements.

“All of them,” Planning Board member George Nunnaro said. “If not, they don’t get built.”

Mr. Erhler said he can’t even make a left onto Route 58 from his property. Ms. Gluth said the dedication of the ten feet  may make it possible to make a left from Kroemer. Planners said the dedication is necessary for him to get approval.

Mr. Erhler said when he sees approval for the rest of the development, he’ll make a decision in 48 hours as to whether he will agree to give the 10 feet.

“If this was a big lot, I could see it,” he said. “This just blows my mind.”

Ms. Gluth reminded him that she can’t review the application until the dedication is proposed.

tgannon@timesreview.com 

Photo caption: The development on the southwest corner of the Kroemer Ave and Route 58 intersection. (Cyndi Murray photo) 

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The former Howard Johnson’s/Riverboat Diner building — depending on how old you are — is coming down.

Developer Paul Pawlowski of Mattituck received site plan approval in June to demolish the vacant structure on the south side of the Riverside traffic circle in June, and to replace it with an 8,000-square-foot building containing medical offices and two apartments.

That work began Tuesday morning.

The project had received support from members of the Flanders Riverside and Northampton Community Association and from representatives of Riverside Rediscovered at a public hearing in May. They said it was the first new project to be built under the new zoning adopted by the town as part of its Riverside revitalization plans.

A group called 20 Riverleigh LLC, headed by Mr. Pawlowski, acquired the property in November from the Scheinberg Family Trust, which had owned it for many years, although it’s been vacant for about 15 years.

The project had received a $500,000 grant from the state’s Restore New York Community Initiatives program to offset demolition costs.

Photo caption: Demolition crews at work Tuesday morning. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

tgannon@timesreview.com

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A Veterans Wall of Honor planned for Riverhead High School will acknowledge graduates who have served in the military.

The Wall of Honor will be dedicated to two Riverhead veterans: Tech. Sgt. Dashan Briggs, who died in Iraq earlier this year as a member of the 106th Rescue Wing, and Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Garfield Langhorn, who gave his life to save others during the Vietnam War. 

The display, to be placed outside the high school’s ROTC office, will feature a photo of each service member and their years of service against the background of an American flag, according to a proposal from the Riverhead Town veterans advisory committee. It’s one of several projects the committee is planning to recognize local veterans.

“We have nothing in place at the school to honor graduates who have been in the service,” Liz Stokes, who co-chairs the committee with Kimberley Judd Burns, said at last Thursday’s Riverhead Town Board work session, where they discussed many of the committee’s plans.

The group aims not only to honor, but also to assist the many local residents who have served in the military.

“Kim and I will raise funds for whatever it costs separately, and the high school shop classes will make the flag,” Ms. Stokes said. “It will be no cost to the town. And once that flag is up, the ROTC students will be responsible for putting new names up each year. It’s a legacy we can leave within that school.”

The committee is now asking local veterans who want to participate to email a photograph and bio of themselves to lizzypistol@gmail.com. Mattituck High School completed a similar project last year.

“We’re hoping to have this complete by Veterans Day,” Ms. Stokes said.

An online Dog Tag Project at Riverhead Town Hall is another planned effort that will acknowledge local residents who served in the military.

Former councilman John Dunleavy suggested the project in 2016, Ms. Stokes said. He sent a letter to anyone receiving a veteran’s tax exemption asking them to send a picture and short biography describing their military service.

The goal is to build a database of local veterans not only for the town website but also for display on a monitor at Town Hall, Ms. Stokes said. Each veteran’s picture would be presented on a dog tag that users could click to learn more about that individual, she said.

“I don’t think that should be a problem,” Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith said. “It’s just a matter of displaying it on a TV screen.”

The veterans advisory committee was formed in 2014, after Ms. Stokes and others scheduled “Operation Forever Grateful” in 2012, where more than 300 people packed Polish Hall in Riverhead to pay tribute to about 55 Gulf War veterans in attendance.

Ms. Stokes said at the time that a primary goal of forming the committee would be to eventually document the bravery of the town’s veterans to share with future generations.

After Operation Forever Grateful, she said, “We saw the big picture of the hurt that was in this town. Veterans were made promises across this country and this town that were broken.”

The committee began working to connect local veterans with medical, legal and housing services and help them apply for tax deductions available to veterans.

“We talked to veterans and asked them, ‘What can we do?’ ” Ms. Stokes said.

One project they launched in 2014 was a discount card that qualifying veterans can present at participating local stores for discounts on various items. To date, more than 2,000 cards have been distributed to eligible veterans, who can receive discounts ranging from 10 to 50 percent at 22 businesses.

Other projects include helping homeless veterans find housing and naming the town’s recreation trail in Calverton the Vietnam Veterans Recreation Trail.

Although the current projects will include women who have served, Ms. Stokes said a future goal of the committee is to separately and specifically honor the town’s female veterans.

tgannon@timesreview.com

Photo caption: U.S. Chief Master Sgt. Harold L. Hutchison, command chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, coins Airmen at New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, New York on October 3, 2017. Chief Hutchison thanked the members of the 106th for their hard work and dedication to saving lives during the Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel H. Farrell)

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After eight seasons and 11 teams while toiling in the minor leagues, Dave Kubiak still has the drive, desire and determination to reach his ultimate goal:

The Show.

The former Southold High School standout who lives in Riverhead has demonstrated much perseverance during his career in his quest to pitch in the major leagues. When he was asked what kept him going, Kubiak responded, “Not wanting to get a job.”

He laughed just a bit and then became serious.

“I love this game,” he said. “It’s been fun. I’m having success. So I think that’s a big part of it. Sticking around and being able to say I come out here and compete at a high level every time, just keeping it rolling.”

Kubiak kept it rolling on Friday night at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip, starting, hurling five innings and picking up the win for the Somerset Patriots in an 8-3 victory over the Long Island Ducks.

Kubiak, who turns 29 on Aug. 3, has been trying to reach the top since he was taken as a 36th-round draft pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays out of the University of Albany.

That Kubiak is still able to pursue his dream of playing in the majors that many young boys have is precious to him.

“I wouldn’t be playing this long if that wasn’t the biggest thing to me,” he said. “That’s obviously dream No. 1.”

The 6-7, 230-pound right-hander has been buoyed by the fact several thirtysomething players have reached the majors in recent seasons.

“It’s nice to see some of the older guys now — they’re guys 30, 31, 32 — making their debuts,” he said. “That kind of keeps you going a little bit. I think [the] majority of it is having success. I’m just trying to build off every start. Obviously getting to the big leagues is a goal.”

And then there’s the love of the game.

“It is a very team-oriented game,” he said. “You saw it tonight. We battled as a team, we got a win tonight. I do like the kind of one-on-one of pitching against the hitter. You’re your own worst enemy out there.”

On Friday his only enemy were the Ducks. He estimated it probably was the fifth or sixth time he had pitched on the island.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I always love being on the schedule for this one. It’s nice.”

Kubiak admitted he might have gotten just a bit more pumped up more for this game than others for obvious reasons.

“I guess nervous,” he said. “I don’t want to stink in front of them. I’ve gotten lucky out here. I’ve pitched pretty well on Long Island.

“They’re always really supportive. I’ve got a great unit back in Southold whenever I am on the island. They’re, ‘Great job.’ ”

To which Kubiak responded, “Ah, too many pitches.”

He added to a reporter: “It’s great they’re here. I love ’em.”

Kubiak threw well enough to earn his sixth win of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball season against one loss. It was far from a gem, but most importantly, he gave the Patriots innings. Kubiak allowed one run on eight hits during his stint, striking out eight and walking one.

Despite the win, Kubiak was critical of his performance.

“I battled,” he said. “Too many pitches, really. I got deep into counts for the first three or four innings. It kind of hurt me a bit. Gave up some knocks and some long counts, but I battled. We battled. The bullpen did a great job, shut down everything. So it was good.”

After Kubiak left with a 4-1 lead and four Patriots pitchers allowed two runs over the final four innings. He and the bullpen combined for 15 strikeouts.

Leftfielder Ramon Flores clubbed two home runs, four hits and drove in three runs to lead the assault. Designated hitter Endy Chavez had three hits and two RBIs and catcher Yovan Gonzalez added two RBIs.

“These guys usually in the first three innings give me three, four runs when I’m out there,” Kubiak said. “So that’s a big weight off your back when you’ve got a three-run lead in the second inning.”

In this modern age of baseball in which a 100-pitch count can be king, Kubiak would have liked to have stayed in longer. He threw 96 pitches, of which 61 were strikes, a pretty decent ratio. However, he totaled 42 pitches in the first two innings, which spoiled any attempts of going further.

Still, managed Brett Jodie appreciated the effort and Kubiak’s fortitude and competitiveness.

“What I like about him is that he always works fast, throws a lot of strikes,” Jodie said. “He uses his defense behind him. Very much a competitor. I really think he wants the ball, and he wants the whole ballgame. Tonight he only threw five innings. He wants to stay out there. He wants to throw how many pitches as he has to, throw eight or nine innings. There’s something to be said for that. He kind of wants to put the team on his back and say, ‘This is my start day and I want to carry us today. That is the kind of attitude I get from him and I love it. It’s not arrogant. He looks confident … We love having him pitch for us.”

Kubiak’s pro baseball career has been a combination of persistence and patience. It has taken him to Venezuela for winter ball, Mexico for Triple-A baseball and even to Taiwan.

“It’s been nice to travel,” he said. “I love traveling.”

His stint with Pericos de Puebla in Mexico was short and bittersweet.

“My first two starts were a little rough,” he said. “My third start was great. Pitched against Yucatan, probably the best hitting team in the league. I went six strong. I think I gave up one on a sac fly, a couple of hits. There is a little of a hierarchy down there. Our owner had the same [players] as another team and they brought some guys over and it just didn’t work out.”

Kubiak, who pitched for Somerset last season, found his way back to the New Jersey ball club in May.

“I came back for about two weeks, but really didn’t have a spot because these guys were full and everybody was pitching well,” he said. “But luckily we had a guy picked up and [it] opened up a spot right when I needed it.”

Kubiak hasn’t disappointed. In 10 games, he has made nine quality starts, going at least five innings but once (his lone loss of the season), recording a 2.28 ERA while striking out 68 and walking 19 in 59 1/3 innings. He had lasted at least seven innings in his last three starts, so Kubiak fell short of the mark this time around.

“We feel good about his starts,” Jodie said. “We feel like we’re going to have a good chance when he’s out there.”

While he dreams of bigger things, Kubiak is focused on Somerset. No one has to remind him and his teammates that he is only as good as his last game. The Patriots, who were 43-30 after Friday’s game, finished as first-half Liberty Division champions.

“Everybody’s goal is to get out of here,” he said. “For the time being when we’re all here, we’re trying to win a championship. It’s trying to go out every night and win.”

Photo caption: David Kubiak turned in another quality start for the Somerset Patriots Friday night against the Long Island Ducks at Bethpage Ballpark. (Credit: Bill Landon)

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Like the other seven teams in the New York State Little League All-Star Tournament, Riverhead had high hopes when play began for the 11-12-year-old baseball players. And then a curveball was thrown their way.

Or, make that a bunch of curveballs.

The person throwing most of those curveballs, Massapequa Coast’s Frank Kelly, perplexed Riverhead batters with his off-speed stuff. As if that wasn’t enough, he changed the outlook of the game with a three-run home run, sending Riverhead to a 4-0 defeat Tuesday at the Anthony Amarosa Baseball Complex in the Bronx.

“The better the pitchers get, the more pitches they have, so you’re going to have to expect it when you get this far,” said Riverhead shortstop K.J. Duff.

Kelly and reliever Michael Vilardi held Riverhead to only three hits. Kelly exited after throwing 70 pitches in 4 2/3 innings. The righthander struck out nine, gave up two hits and walked one. Altogether, Riverhead struck out 12 times.

A prime example of how effective his curveball was came when he struck out David Raynor on three straight curveballs — all on corners of the plate. Nasty stuff.

“What set him apart was he was throwing the curveball for strikes,” said Riverhead coach Mike Mowdy, whose team is 10-1. “He was a good pitcher.”

And not a bad hitter, either.

It was Kelly’s blast to leftfield in the fifth inning that turned a 1-0 game into a 4-0 game. A pinch-hit single by George Adams and a two-out walk by Nick Le-Vien put runners on the corners for Kelly, who changed the game with one swing at a fastball.

Kelly had grounded out and popped up to the pitcher in his first two at-bats, so when Kelly stepped into the batter’s box a third time, Mowdy contemplated walking him intentionally.

“Now I’m kicking myself because I was thinking there were men on second and third, two outs,” Mowdy said. “I knew that was the best hitter on the team and I was thinking about walking him to load the bases with two outs, but hindsight is 20-20.”

Mike Mowdy, the coach’s son, went the distance for Riverhead. The only run he allowed to that point came from back-to-back singles by Paul Dulanto and Vilardi in the second. Mowdy allowed six hits and one walk, striking out four over his 80-pitch performance.

Riverhead’s three hits came on singles from the first three batters in the order: Duff, Mowdy and Connor Saville.

“We didn’t hit,” said Saville.

Riverhead relies heavily on pitching, defense and timely hitting. Putting up runs in bunches isn’t the team’s modus operandi.

“That’s our formula: keep it close then win it late,” Coach Mowdy said. “I thought Mike pitched a great game. He had us in the game the whole time, but we’re not going to win many games with three hits.”

With the loss in the double-elimination tournament, Riverhead drops into the loser’s bracket, and is to play New City Wednesday afternoon.

“I think we all want to keep playing,” Saville said, “and if we win, we get to keep playing.”

Coach Mowdy smiled at the notion that this is all gravy, being one of eight teams in the state still playing.

“I’m so proud of them,” he said. “We’re so happy to be here, playing in the state tournament with eight teams left. We came so much further than what we were expected to.”

If some curveballs are thrown along the way, so be it.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Riverhead players pump themselves up during the pregame introductions. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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In the months following the death of Riverhead native Tech Sgt. Dashan Briggs, the community rushed to the side of his wife, Rebecca, and their two young children, Jayden and Ava.

Over four months, the community raised $45,000 for his family via a GoFundMe page, Lewis Street in Riverhead was renamed “Tech Sgt. Dashan J. Briggs Way,” and hundreds, from the Westhampton Beach Volunteer Fire Department to Briggs’ alma mater, Riverhead High School, lined the streets to pay their respects during his funeral in March.

Earlier this week his family received another round of support, this time through collaboration from the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Caliber Home Loans.

During a ceremony Tuesday at Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone’s Hauppauge office, Tech Sgt. Briggs’ family received news that their mortgage has been paid off in full.

At a most difficult moment in life, Ms. Briggs expressed her gratitude to both entities. “It’s just very comforting to know that there’s people out there helping all the military families, Gold Star families.”

Following Tech Sgt. Briggs’ death in a helicopter crash in Iraq in March, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation pledged to pay off the mortgage on the family’s Port Jefferson Station home to provide a sense of security and quell any housing concerns. Tunnel to Towers provides assistance to families of firefighters, police officers and other first responders lost in the line of duty and is named for Stephen Siller, an FDNY firefighter who perished in 9/11.

To pay off the Briggs mortgage, the foundation donated an initial $100,000 and began a fundraising campaign that garnered support nationwide.

The family was presented a check for $33,000 on behalf of Joseph P. Ferraro, branch manager of Caliber Home Loans in Melville. It was the final contribution to satisfy the mortgage payment entirely.

“We know that through the work we have done through fallen first responders that taking the pressure off of having a mortgage makes a significant difference in the lives of the families of these fallen heroes,” said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers.

It means the world to Ms. Briggs, who can now face the future with peace of mind. “It’s nice to know that we can be able to stay in our home forever, where our memories were made,” she said. “I won’t have to work multiple jobs and I can be there for my kids. I’m forever grateful.”

Mr. Bellone issued a proclamation to Tunnel to Towers for their support of military and first responders. “Today we honored the family of a man, a husband, a father, a soldier and a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to his country,” Mr. Bellone said. “Technical Sergeant Briggs served us all and now it is we who must honor his service.” A 2007 graduate of Riverhead High School, where he was a standout football player and member of the lacrosse team, Tech.Sgt. Briggs was a full-time member of the Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach.

Tech Sgt. Briggs was among seven military personnel who perished in the crash of the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter in western Iraq near the Syrian border. He and three others aboard the aircraft — Capt. Andreas B. O’Keeffe, 37, of Center Moriches, Capt. Christopher T. Zanetis, 37, of Long Island City and Master Sgt. Christopher J. Raguso, 39, of Commack were members of the 106th Air National Guard Rescue Wing.

tsmith@timesreview.com

(Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation courtesy photo) 

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The Department of Environmental Conservation will seek public input as it seeks to reform the current commercial fishing licensing system, state lawmakers announced Monday.

In a news release, Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) and State Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) announced a series of meetings across Long Island starting Monday, July 30.

“The current regulations related to the transfer of permits and licenses have thwarted the proper operation of this industry,” Mr. Thiele said in the release.

The meetings will allow stakeholders in the industry to provide key insights on the current licensing protocol to DEC officials and George LaPointe, a marine fisheries consultant hired to oversee the revisions.

Mr. LaPointe, a former commissioner of Maine’s Department of Natural Resources, will analyze and make recommendations on how to best modernize and improve the program.

According to the DEC, the current licensing system scheme has evolved over the last three decades to respond to changes in fish populations and the needs of interstate fishery management strategies.

Local commercial fishermen have been outspoken about enforced quotas that disproportionately affect New York fishermen.

Mr. LaValle highlighted the importance of seeking insight from industry experts, calling the economic success of commercial fishermen an “ultimate priority.”

“We must resolve these issues with our fishing community at the table in full participation,” Mr. LaValle said in a statement.

State lawmakers brought the issue into focus last year, when they blocked the DEC from continuing the commercial fishing licensing system for three years. As a compromise, the system was limited to one year and DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos met with members of the industry on Long Island last fall.

In July, commercial fishermen were hit with a two-week fluke closure. When fluke fishing reopens on Aug. 1, there will be a 50-pound daily limit, which drew criticism from local fishermen.

“It’s putting a hardship on all fishermen,” said Phil Karlin of Riverhead. “We’ve had it tough as it is. To close it in the middle of the summer like this is not good.”

There are several meetings scheduled throughout Long Island, including two on the East End:

Thursday, Aug. 2, 6 p.m.

Southampton Town Hall (first floor)

116 Hampton Road

Southampton, New York 11968

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.

Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center

3690 Cedar Beach Road

Southold, New York 11971

For a full list of meeting notices, visit DEC’s website at dec.ny.gov. The DEC will also accept comments on the commercial licensing system until September 15, 2018 via email to FW.Marine@dec.ny.gov with the subject line “GLP Permits,” or by mail to Maureen Davidson, NYSDEC, 205 Belle Mead Road, Suite #1, East Setauket, NY 11733.

tsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: A fisherman catches scallops in the bay. (File photo) 

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Riverhead CAP and Riverhead Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth are asking for the community’s help in evaluating its prescription drug abuse prevention initiatives through an online survey.

Residents of Riverhead Town and the Riverhead Central School District are being asked to take a five-minute survey to help the organization better its drug prevention programs, according to a press release from the organization.

“Through our community partnerships we have successfully collected over 5,000 pounds of unused medication over the past 5 years by increasing disposal opportunities,” CAP executive director Felicia Scocozza said in statement. “But we still need input from the public to see [if] people are aware of these opportunities, if they need more or different options for medication safety and disposal, and if they need more information and resources about preventing prescription drug abuse and its relationship to the opioid crisis.”

In 2013, the Riverhead Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth was awarded a five year Drug-Free Communities Support Grant through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to prevent and reduce underage drinking and prescription drug abuse.

The coalition began expanding medication take back opportunities by installing a 24/7 medication drop box in the lobby of the Riverhead Police Department and increasing community Medication Take Back events. Currently, the coalition partners with the Riverhead Police Department, PBMC – Northwell Health and the Riverhead Highway Department to hold at least five drive-up take back events per year, which are open to the pubic.

Last year, the coalition and police department began conducting Mobile Medication Take Back Days in the town’s senior citizen communities. These initiatives were supported through a Town of Riverhead recycling grant as well.

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, especially among teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that nearly half of young people who inject heroin reported abusing prescription painkillers before starting to use heroin. The CDC also reports that one in five teens say they have taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription and each day more than 2,000 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time.

The survey is now available at riverheadcap.org as well as Facebook and Twitter pages (@RiverheadCAP), and through the following link: https://conta.cc/2uKg52Z. 

The community can submit answers until Aug. 20.

“We hope members of the community will take advantage of this opportunity, which will significantly assist with evaluating past efforts and planning future strategies and initiatives,” Ms. Scocozza said.

Photo courtesy of Riverhead CAP

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Sunny’s Riverhead Diner & Grill served up more than just burgers this week.

After its regular hours Monday and Tuesday afternoon, the vintage diner transformed into a movie set.

The film, called “T11 Incomplete,” is about a nurse’s aid who falls in love with her paraplegic patient, writer and director Suzanne Guacci said.

“The film is about disabilities, it’s about paraplegia,” Guacci said. “I’m disabled. And the beauty of this project is we hired, in front of the camera and behind the camera, disabled people.”

Guacci, an amputee who lost her right leg, said she chose the name because T11 is the vertebrae that, once injured, can cause paraplegia. The word “incomplete” in the title refers to the medical term where someone still has some feeling — a message of the movie through the emotional connections formed.

Guacci of Sayville said the movie is being filmed over three weeks. Two weeks were filmed in New Jersey and the last week will be spent in towns across Long Island from Riverhead to Blue Point and Sayville.

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Shoreham-Wading River graduate Karen Sillas with director Suzanne Guacci and Sunny’s Diner and Grill owner Jim Liszanckie. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

The cast includes Kristen Renton, who played Ima Tite in Sons of Anarchy, and Karen Sillas, a 1981 graduate of Shoreham-Wading River High School. Ms. Sillas, who received critical acclaim for her starring role in the short-lived television series “Under Suspicion” in 1994, worked with Guacci on an earlier film “Stuff.”

She said she was excited to film near where she grew up.

“It brings back a lot of memories of being on Main Street here in Riverhead,” she said. “I remember Sweezy’s and Sears and of course now you’ve got Splish Splash and the Aquarium and I remember taking my mom, just before she died, and my kids know it … I left to go to college but I’ve always had a connection, because of my mom. It’s nice to come back.”

Those who want to see exactly what scenes Sillas was filming at the local staple will have to wait until the movie’s spring 2019 festival release. They can also catch Jim Liszanckie, the owner of Sunny’s Diner and Grill, in the film as well.

“It’s very timely,” said Guacci, owner of the independent Aspire Film Productions. “Having such diversity and disability casting is such a huge thing. It’s probably going to be the most diverse film that actually is true of handicapped people playing roles. It’s really not anything we’ve seen.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

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