(Stringer News photo)

An early morning shooting Saturday outside a Riverhead bar left two people seriously injured, according to Riverhead Town police.

A 32-year-old man and 34-year-old woman both sustained serious injuries and are currently hospitalized, police said, following a shooting in the parking lot of The Caboose Pub on Railroad Avenue. No arrests have been made and no description of a suspect was immediately released. The identities of the victims were not released.

Police said the shooting stemmed from a verbal argument in the parking lot and it escalated into the shooting. Police responded at 1:42 a.m. after receiving reports of shots fired. The male victim was found in his vehicle with gunshot wounds. He was transported by members of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Peconic Bay Medical Center and then transferred to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore.

(Stringer News photo)

The female victim had already been driven to PBMC by the time police arrived.

The New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit responded to assist with the crime scene investigation, police said. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police at 631-727-4500.

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Two men in a silver sedan were reportedly taking cell phone photos of students as they were dropped off at a bus stop in Wading River Friday, according to a message from Shoreham-Wading River Superintendent Gerard Poole.

A suspicious vehicle was parked on Hidden Pond Path and the students were being dropped off a nearby bus stop.

“We have been in contact with the Riverhead Police Department on this matter and have been advised additional patrol vehicles will be in the area to monitor the section firsthand,” Mr. Poole wrote in a message posted on the district website Saturday.

Mr. Poole wrote that the district takes student safety and security “very seriously” and he encouraged parents to discuss with their children to be aware of their surroundings when traveling to and from school.

“This latest incident serves as an important reminder that if you see something, say something,” Mr. Poole wrote. “I will be sure to provide any updates on this matter when they become available.”

(Credit: Google Maps)

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As far as the Riverhead High School football team was concerned, this was homecoming heaven.

The Blue Waves had so many things to feel good about Saturday on sun-splashed Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field. Their offense seemed to move the ball at will, compiling 337 yards. Cristian Pace passed for two touchdowns and Albert Daniels ran for two more. Their defense turned around their play from a dismal showing a week earlier and posted a shutout, holding Deer Park to minus-seven yards in the first half and only 73 for the game (all on the ground). Contributions came from across the board, including substitutes who played in the second half.

And they did all this in front of a large crowd that packed the stands.

When all was said and done, Riverhead walked away a 41-0 winner in the Suffolk County Division II game, with a 2-2 record. The Blue Waves happily trotted to the adjacent Pulaski Street Elementary School and rang the victory bell.

Not bad for a day’s work.

“It was a great team win,” Pace said. “Everyone was playing their part. We had energy from the jump and everybody was making plays, having fun out there, and that’s what it’s all about. Not too bad.”

No, not bad at all.

Coming off a dismal 35-19 loss to Smithtown East in their home opener a week earlier, the Blue Waves turned things around in a big way. In that game, Riverhead’s defensive secondary looked confused and exposed, and its free safety and backup quarterback, David Squires, broke a fibula.

To help shore up the secondary, Pace, the first-string quarterback, volunteered to play free safety for the first time since he played in PAL. “Whatever the team needs, I don’t care,” he said. “I’ll do anything for us to win.”

Riverhead coach Leif Shay prefers not to play his quarterbacks on defense, “but sometimes necessity calls and we have to answer the call.” So Pace started on both sides of the ball.

Shay said Pace played a “phenomenal game.” The coach added: “He brought a lot of intelligence to the position. He settles everybody down and gives us that leadership that we need back there.”

Pace made one tackle. What was Pace’s take on his defensive play?

“I hadn’t played defense since like ninth grade,” he said. “I did alright. I didn’t really get much action. I missed my first tackle, but I had another tackle.”

On Riverhead’s final offensive play of the first half, Pace’s right hand jammed into a faceguard as he threw a 25-yard TD pass that Isaiah Barbieri came down with. That brought an end to Pace’s day. The right index and middle fingers on his right hand were taped together and he watched the second half from the sideline while sophomore quarterback C.J. Dorr, brought up from the junior varsity team, ran the offense.

Both Pace (6-for-10, 91 yards) and Shay didn’t think the injury was too serious.

But Riverhead’s play sure was.

The Blue Waves capped their first offensive series with Albert Daniels (15 carries, 79 yards — all in the first half) running 13 yards untouched into the end zone on his first touch of the game.

On the next series, Deer Park (0-4) was forced to punt. Derrick Parker blocked Jase McDermott’s punt and fell on the ball in the end zone.

Moments later, Barbieri recovered his own onside kick. That led to Daniels banging the ball in from a yard out, helping make the score 21-0 before the first quarter was over.

Riverhead was looking good and looked even better when a 31-yard run by Daniels set up Pace’s play-action pass to Anthony Marcello for a 19-yard TD.

Liam Egan’s fumble recovery preceded Pace’s second TD pass of the day, the play in which he hurt his throwing hand.

Riverhead converted its first five third-down plays into first downs or TDs. By halftime the score was 35-0, with Recep Kocan kicking all five extra points.

Deer Park didn’t manage a first down in the first half.

“If we play like we did today, then I feel like we’ll go far,” said Barbieri.

With 5 minutes and 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Dorr (5-for-8, 93 yards) threw his first career TD pass, a 44-yarder to Rayvon Moore on a slant. Dorr took a knee on the extra-point play.

“Today was definitely our best game,” said Riverhead wide receiver/defensive end Tyreek Parker, who made a game-high eight tackles, including a sack. “I think it sets the tempo for the rest of the season.”

After his players headed off to ring the victory bell, Shay said: “Ringing that bell is a memory that they’re going to cherish forever … That’s something that they really wanted, and we’re really happy for them.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Riverhead’s Tyreek Parker (31) and his cousin, Derrick Parker (34), pressured Deer Park punter Jase McDermott. Derrick Parker blocked the punt and recovered the ball in the end zone. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

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The renowned physicist Wolfgang Pauli once reviewed a paper that failed to reflect even a basic understanding of the physics involved. His remark has become one of the greatest put-downs of all time: “This isn’t right. It’s not even wrong.” 

That comment summarizes President Trump’s position on global warming and climate change. His views go far beyond ignorance; they’re just dumb. To believe Mr. Trump’s assertion that global warming is a hoax requires us to disbelieve NOAA, NASA, the thousands and thousands of climate scientists who work for the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change — and to assume that virtually every organization of professional scientists in the world that support the findings of the IPCC somehow got the science wrong. Worse, to believe Trump we must dismiss all of the evidence these groups have accumulated to support their assertion that global warming is real, that it causes climate change and that it poses a threat to humankind.

We are supposed to simplemindedly accept the president’s view on this critically important topic despite the fact that his public comments on the matter amount to gibberish — total nonsense. What credible evidence do President Trump and the Republican Party offer to support their anti-science position? None! Zip! Nada! The president and the party have abdicated our leadership position in the world of rational men and women, removed the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change and pursued a legislative agenda that will make global warming and climate change much worse.

In contrast, the position of the scientific community on climate change is crystal clear. Virtually (perhaps literally) every organization of professional scientists in the world agrees with this statement from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which was cosigned by 31 American science organizations: “Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research concludes that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver. This conclusion is based on multiple independent lines of evidence and the vast body of peer-reviewed science.” 

I suspect our own congressman, Lee Zeldin, knows the truth about climate change but lacks the moral courage to oppose his party’s inane position. Mr. Zeldin seems to want it both ways; he has joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus but he failed to sign its letter to President Trump asking that the U.S. remain committed to the Paris Agreement. Mr. Zeldin brags about his environmental work for our district, for which he should be applauded, yet he has voted the party line on virtually all environmental issues, earning a grade of 9 percent from the League of Conservation Voters. More importantly, Mr. Zeldin has utterly failed to speak out against his party’s mindless assault on our warming planet.

Let me help put this in perspective for you, Mr. Congressman. Write a letter to your grandchildren stating that as a member of Congress you were in a position of power but you chose not to take a strong stand against global warming and climate change. Instead, you supported the Republican Party’s anti-science, anti-environment agenda. You can fill in the reasons you think justify your inaction. Then sign the letter. 

Remember that the dinosaurs ruled the Earth for almost 200 million years. The majority (birds survived) were wiped out by climate change likely caused by an asteroid impact. Today, human-caused climate change is like an untreated cancer. Its progress may be slow, but the end is inevitable. We must send to Congress someone with the moral courage to advocate strongly for the mitigation of anthropogenic global warming/climate change.

So, I’ll be looking to vote for someone other than Mr. Zeldin; someone who knows that uninhibited climate change will result in horrific human suffering on a scale the world has never before experienced. Experts predict refugees from rising sea levels, droughts, famine and increased desertification will number in the hundreds of millions — most of them from underdeveloped countries that have contributed the least to global warming. Given the current attitudes here and around the globe, I can’t imagine they will be warmly welcomed. 

Mr. Gibbons is a former U.S. Navy officer and Vietnam veteran. He taught social studies at Mattituck High School for 35 years and is currently an assistant professor of education at Long Island University.

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The puck has dropped on a new hockey team that brings together students from Riverhead and Shoreham-Wading River high schools. The Seacats — a mix of Blue Waves and Wildcats — played their first games this month in the Suffolk County High School Hockey League.

The freshman-level team includes students from grades seven through nine, and marks the first time Riverhead has participated in a high school hockey league. Coach Bernie Bobinski, who founded the team, said Shoreham had a team in the ’80s that combined with Rocky Point. The new team provides another way for local hockey players to compete in a sport that’s not part of either school’s regular athletic lineup. The goal, Bobinski said, is to grow the program to include a JV team and then a varsity.

“I would love to see this evolve into a three-team organization with a varsity, JV and a freshman,” he said. “But we’re just doing it one step at a time.”

The team operates as a club sport with no direct affiliation to the schools the players represent. The team jerseys feature the royal blue of Riverhead and the navy and gold of Shoreham.

The team has 21 players who earned spots on the roster at tryouts in May. They began picking up practices in August to prepare for a 20-game schedule that will be played over several months. The schedule allows students to participate in other regular school teams in the fall and winter, if they wish.

Courtney Reynolds fires a shot past goalie Griffen Riggens for a goal. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

Bobinski, who lives in Baiting Hollow, said the idea for this team dates back about five years when his son, Connor, who was in second grade, began playing in a youth hockey league in Greenport. The coaches had been talking about establishing a North Fork high school team. Without a home team, high school students who want to play in the county league are drafted by established teams, which are mostly in western Suffolk.

At the time, however, interest in Mattituck and Southold didn’t seem quite strong enough to warrant jump-starting the program. Bobinski, whose son Colson, 9, also plays hockey, said he found interest in Riverhead and Shoreham-Wading River was higher.

“I have almost 40 kids that have come to practice clinics that I held for the past two years,” he said.

After tryouts, the team ended up with 11 players from Shoreham and nine from Riverhead. There was only one goaltender among all those who tried out for the team, so the Seacats were able to draft a player from Smithtown who could also play the position.

“It was a good four years of slow, methodical preparation getting to this point and a good two years of practice to get to this point for the kids,” Bobinski said.

Bobinski estimated about half the kids on the team play on additional travel teams, which is how most hockey players gain experience since opportunities through individual high schools is limited. In addition, there aren’t many hockey rinks on Long Island, which makes it an expensive sport to stick with.

Nolan Fritscher skates toward the Conectquot goal. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

The Seacats practice and play mostly at the Rinx in Hauppauge. On Saturday, the Seacats won their first league game with a 6-0 victory over the Connetquot/Sayville Thunderbirds.

The Seacats’ top line features a trio of freshmen from Riverhead: Ryken Kutner, Dominic Cederna and Nolan Fritscher. Eric Zurawski anchors the defense. Bobinski has nicknamed them the “four horsemen.”

He said that top line will likely produce the majority of the team’s goals this season. Zurawski is a “wrecking ball on defense,” he added.

Ryan Hobbes, Luke Butler and Ryan Lohrius are all travel players who will play big roles on the team, Bobinski said.

The team includes one girl: Riverhead’s Courtney Reynolds. The eighth-grade forward wasted no time making her presence felt, scoring a goal in the first period of Saturday’s game to put the Seacats ahead 2-0.

During a timeout, the team listens to instructions from the coaching staff. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

Bobinski said it’s not unusual for girls to play at the freshman level in the league. Reynolds also plays for the Junior Lady Islanders based in Dix Hills.

In Saturday’s win, Kutner tipped in a blue line slapshot from Dominic Cerbone at 13:51 in the first period to start the scoring. Fritscher scored twice and forward Thomas Boucher made it 5-0 in the second period. Zurawski capped the scoring with a slapshot. Goaltenders Grady Roppelt and Patrick Ryan combined for the shutout.

The Seacats will play next Oct. 6 against the Eastport-South Manor Sharks at the Rinx in Hauppauge.

Top photo caption: Dominic Cederna, right, duals with a Connetquot skater in the Sept. 22 game in Hauppauge. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

CORRECTION: The article misidentified Dominic Cederna in the story and photo caption. 

joew@timesreview.com

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My name is Will Loughlin. I am the cider maker at the Riverhead Ciderhouse. My normal day starts around 9:30. I come in and my first step is to make sure that my room is clean. To have a good product, we have to have everything clean. I scrub the floor and then, to clean up the excess water, I drive a Zamboni around, which brushes the floor while vacuuming up the water.

So there’s a lot of cleaning in cider making that people don’t realize. It’s mostly cleaning tanks, cleaning floors, cleaning everything, cleaning kegs. The way to clean the tanks is to start with water, then we use a chemical called Caustic, which will break down any solids on the tank. We then use water again followed by a sanitizer and water once again. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. So I’m the only one back here making the cider.

There’s a lot of little things that I have to do and there’s a lot of things all together. So I’m here a lot of the time. The process of cider making has steps, and step one is, of course, receiving the juice. We then add yeast and ferment the mixture. We let it chill and settle, then filter the now-fermented juice.

Will Loughlin, the cider maker at the Riverhead Ciderhouse. (Credit: Kaylyn Ahrenstein)

Once that completes, we sweeten it up and flavor it and then add the carbonation. We then package it in kegs and bottles. I’ll also come back here and help out with people behind the bar throughout the day if anyone needs help, because we do get a little busy on the weekends.

We also have our own orchard on the side of the cider house, which contains about 220 trees with 15 different varieties. We will not be making all of our ciders with this but we will definitely be making some special reserves. Also, we will be receiving two bee hives next season. The bees will pollinate the trees and they will help the community because bees are at a shortage right now. We will be making our own honey in the future as well. The most rewarding part of my job would be actually creating something that other people like.

“The Work We Do” is a News-Review multimedia project profiling workers around Riverhead Town. It is made possible by Peconic Landing in Greenport. See more photos on Instagram @riverheadnewsreview. 

The post The Work We Do: Will Loughlin, Riverhead Ciderhouse appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The Flanders Fire Department celebrated its 70th anniversary with a parade down Flanders Road on a beautiful afternoon Saturday.

The celebration continued at the Flanders Men’s Club where everyone was treated to free hot dogs and beverages.

The parades have become a tradition for the department. Five years ago, the department marked its 65th anniversary with a similar parade and an even bigger parade is in the works for the 75th anniversary.

See more photos from the parade below:

Photos by Joe Werkmeister

The post Celebrating 70 years of the Flanders Fire Department: Photos appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Southampton Town police arrested a Riverhead man Sunday on felony driving while intoxicated charges.

Fredy Ruano-Juarez, 46, was stopped near Speonk-Riverhead Road around 3 a.m. and told an officer he had been drinking alcohol, police said.

Further investigation revealed he had a prior DWI conviction in the last 10 years and was operating a vehicle without a court-ordered interlock device, officials said.

He was arrested and charged with circumventing an interlock device, a misdemeanor, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and DWI, both felonies.

• A Northampton woman was arrested Sunday for driving without a license.

Southampton police stopped Brittany Hughes, 31, on County Route 94 in Riverhead around 10:20 p.m. and found she was driving with a suspended license. She was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.

• Police arrested Stephen Warren, 55, of Ronkonkoma for driving with a revoked license in Flanders last week.

After he was pulled over last Wednesday around 1:19 p.m. near Quogue-Riverhead Road, an officer found that his license had previously been revoked due to a DWI charge. Mr. Warren was charged with misdemeanor second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

• A Central Islip man was arrested and issued a Southampton Town code violation for open consumption of an alcoholic beverage last Tuesday.

According to a police report, Troy Liddell, 35, was observed drinking a can of Michelob Ultra beer on Long Neck Boulevard in Flanders around 12:46 p.m.

He was released on a field appearance ticket.

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

The post Southampton Blotter: Riverhead man arrested for driving while intoxicated appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Is Riverhead the solar capital of Long Island?

It may be, as plans for the latest solar project, Riverhead Solar 2, a proposed 36-megawatt photovoltaic solar field on 290 acres of leased private land on Edwards Avenue, progress. The developer, sPower, already operates a solar facility — Riverhead Solar 1 — adjacent to the proposed facility.

It would bring the total solar energy production in Riverhead to 65.3 megawatts, according to town environmental planner Jeffrey Seeman. 

When the Riverhead Solar 2 project is complete, Riverhead facilities will account for 85 percent of all solar power generated on Long Island, where, according to a recent Bloomberg report, solar power is worth more than anywhere else in the country. The report found that solar sells for an average of $45 per megawatt-hour compared to $15 per megawatt-hour in California.

As the state review of the proposal gets underway, Riverhead Town officials are left wondering: what’s in it for us?

“There’s huge money to be made here,” said Councilman Tim Hubbard during a work session meeting with sPower representatives Thursday. “We just seem to be the nesting place for solar and not reaping any of the benefits and that bothers me,” he said.

Equally bothersome to the town board is what was referred to as a “loss of local control” in the approval process.

Under state legislation from 2011, new “major electric generating facilities,” that would generate more than 25 megawatts of electricity must be reviewed and ultimately decided upon by state officials.

A seven-member siting review board consists of five state officials from the Public Service Commission, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the chair of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Department of Health and the commissioner of Economic Development as well as two ad-hoc members nominated by the town and county.

Board members expressed concern that state officials may not duly consider comments from the town, which must be gathered by Oct. 5.

A preliminary scope statement filed with the NYS Department of Public Service Sept. 14 is “triggering those timetables,” according to town attorney Robert Kozakiewicz.

A 60-day public comment period will follow, once a formal application is filed.

“I feel we’re under the gun for something that seemed to come out of the blue,” Councilman Jim Wooten said. 

Mr. Kozakiewicz pointed out that the developers held a public informational meeting in Riverhead in March.

Still, the timeline feels rushed for board members who have lingering concerns. “It’s a lot to absorb,” said Councilwoman Jodi Giglio.

Her top concern is whether the existing substation on Edwards Avenue could handle the additional energy once these solar projects are complete, what changes to that structure would look like, and potential health hazards associated with the solar field. “I want to make sure we’re addressing everything,” she said.

According to James Muscato, an attorney representing sPower, the preliminary scope statement addresses environmental and health impacts and all state mandated public hearings on the project would be held in Riverhead.

Mr. Muscato, who said he has worked on over a dozen similar projects across the state, said local municipalities are involved. “Your voices are certainly heard at every opportunity,” he reassured board members.

Derek Kremser, a project manager for sPower, noted that the Riverhead Solar 2 project would not require further expansion of the Edwards Avenue substation.

“This project wouldn’t trigger an expansion. What about other projects?” asked town building and planning administrator Jefferson Murphree, referencing several other projects that are moving through the process, including Nextera.

“[Nextera] is a separate developer, I can’t speak to that project,” Mr. Kremser said.

According to the preliminary scope statement, the field would consist of single-axis tracking structures no more than eight feet high that would follow the sun throughout the day.

Responding to an inquiry by Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith, Mr. Kremser said that any noise associated with the structures is “negligible” and would require some additional maintenance. The panels would move to stay directed at the sun for optimal energy production, he noted.

The developers claim the project would generate enough power for upwards of 6,500 homes. The board raised the question of whether local homeowners would see that reflected in their electric bills. 

“People want to hear that their rates are gonna go down,” Mr. Hubbard said.

Mr. Kremser said that’s a common question that arises, and difficult to answer since rates are set by the area’s utilities.

Since the state announced an aggressive goal to use 50 percent renewable energy by 2030, solar projects have made inroads, especially on agriculturally and industrially-zoned properties in Riverhead.

The influx of projects is enough to give town board members pause.

Ms. Giglio said the projects should be considered from a land-use standpoint. “I think [there] needs to be more of a comprehensive view for the area,” she said. “We’re going to have one big block and chunk of land that’ll be solar farms.”

tsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: The developers, sPower, already operate a solar facility — Riverhead Solar 1 — adjacent to the proposed facility. (Riverhead News-Review file photo)

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A seventh-grade Shoreham-Wading River Middle School student was killed and four others were injured after a drunken driver crashed into a group of friends out on a hike in Manorville Sunday afternoon, according to officials. 

The five youths, all members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 161 of Shoreham, were walking on the southbound shoulder of David Terry Road, when they were struck by a 2016 Mercedes driven by a Holbrook man, who police said had been drinking. The scouts, all ranging in age from 12 to 16 years old, were headed northbound shortly before 2 p.m., facing the vehicle as it exited the southbound lane of travel and headed toward them, according to a Suffolk County Police Department account of the incident.

The five youths were all rushed to area hospitals with two of them suffering serious injuries, according to police. Shoreham-Wading River school officials later announced that one of the youths had died.

Police identified the deceased boy as 12-year-old Andrew McMorris of Wading River.

“It is with heavy hearts that I share with you that one of our seventh grade students passed away as a result of the injuries he sustained in this horrific accident,” Superintendent Gerard Poole announced in a statement send to parents and shared on social media Monday morning. “We have also been informed that a high school student is recovering from several broken bones.”

Mr. Poole said the other students suffered less serious injuries. The district has informed parents that counseling will be available to students this week.

Suffolk police said Thomas Lane, 15, of Shoreham was the boy airlifted to Stony Brook and being treated for serious injuries. Denis Lane, 16, of Shoreham, Kaden Lynch, 15, of Calverton and Matthew Yakaboski, 15, of Calverton sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Kaden and Matt are sophomores at Riverhead High School.

“Our thoughts are with all those involved in this accident and our hearts and deepest condolences with the family and friends of the student who tragically lost his life,” Mr. Poole wrote.

The students had been hiking as part of an organized scout outing on the Greenbelt Trail through Manorville, according to a calendar listing on the Troop 161 website.

Suffolk County police were outside the home of the McMorris family Monday.

Thomas Murphy

Judge James Matthews set cash bail at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond at the arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip. He pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Murphy is a father of three who’s had multiple heart operations, according to his attorney, Stephen Flynn of Melville. The attorney said Mr. Murphy’s family is “prepared to post a significant bond.”

The assistant district attorney, who declined further comment after the arraignment, asked that Mr. Murphy’s license be suspended for gross negligence.

“It was a clear, sunny afternoon and the road was dry,” the ADA said in court.

Mr. Murphy, who admitted to drinking alcohol, refused to take a breath test at the scene and also refused a chemical test at the police station, the ADA said. A total of 18 people were walking in the group, some of whom were wearing bright red clothes.

The ADA added that Mr. Murphy has had “limited contact with the criminal justice system” prior to Sunday’s crash.

Mr. Flynn expressed condolences to the families in a brief statement to reporters following the arraignment.

“This is a tragedy for everyone,” he said. “Beyond that we have no further comment.”

Mr. Murphy is due back in court Oct. 11.

Ryan DiBernado, the scout executive and CEO of the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts of America, posted a message Monday morning also confirming the death of one boy.

“As part of the Suffolk County Council, our scouting family is going through a terribly painful time,” he wrote. “We offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, and we will support them in any way that we can. Our thoughts remain with the scouts still recovering from this incident.

“Please join us in keeping all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.”

The Riverhead Central School District also released a statement saying the district is offering grief counseling and support “to those affected within our school community.”

“We are deeply saddened to learn that two members of our student body were injured in yesterday’s accident in Manorville,” the statement said.

Margaret Rebholz, whose 16-year-old son was killed by a drunk driver in 1996, attended the arraignment Monday as a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

“Don’t drink and drive,” she said to reporters. “Don’t do drugs and drive. It’s so easy today with Uber and so many things … Scouts out on a Sunday afternoon. None of us are safe.”

Top caption: The scene of Sunday’s crash. (Credit: Stringer News)

gparpan@timesreview.com

Check back for updates throughout the day.

The post Shoreham-Wading River student killed, others hurt in ‘horrific accident’ appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Vika Stapon’s previous shootout experience amounted to the number she wore on the back of her uniform: 00.

The senior goalkeeper for the Riverhead High School field hockey team not only had never played in a shootout before, but had not had much practice handling one v. one situations in practice.

So Stapon found herself in unfamiliar territory Monday after Commack and Riverhead remained tied at 1-1 through 60 minutes of regulation time and 10 minutes of seven-on-seven overtime. At that point, the outcome of the game fell on the opposing goalies and five shooters from each side. Starting with the ball 25 yards away from goal, each shooter has 10 seconds to try and score.

That’s real pressure.

“It was very” nerve-racking, said Stapon.

Not that her nerves showed. Stapon managed to deny all five Commack shooters as Riverhead prevailed, 1-0, in the Suffolk County Division I game at the Pulaski Sports Complex. Then, Stapon, who appeared emotional immediately afterward, was swarmed by happy teammates.

“I was so happy,” she said. “I said, ‘We did it!’ ”

Goals are hard to come by in field hockey, and that includes shootouts. It has been several years since field hockey switched from strokes to shootouts to settle ties after overtime. In that time, it appears as if goalies have figured out how to handle them.

“The game has evolved,” Riverhead coach Cheryl Walsh-Edwards said. “The goalies are now stronger at defending … The longer that we do them, I just think that goalies get better at them.”

Commack (5-5, 4-2) sent shooters Ava Amato, Amy Pasquale, Taylor Weber, Ally Forman and Jenna Giardina out for the shootout. Riverhead (6-3, 6-3) countered with Kayla Kielbasa, Katie Goodale, Angie Graziano, Christy Falisi and Kristy Troyan. Goodale, Riverhead’s second shooter, was the only one to find the net, using a reverse sweep to put the ball past goalie Shannon Smith (eight saves).

What’s the secret to handling shootouts as a goalie?

“Just stay on your toes and just be aggressive,” answered Stapon.

Goodale is not particularly a fan of shootouts. “I don’t like them really much,” she said. “We’d rather just win during the regulation … I don’t think anyone likes going that far, but when we do have to get that far, I just get more energy and mental toughness, I guess.”

Commack gave Riverhead all it could handle. The game was only 97 seconds old when the Cougars went in front as Pasquale slammed a shot beyond Stapon’s left pad.

But Troyan came through with an equalizer 4:54 into the second half.

Stapon (five saves) came through some big stops in the second half and the biggest of all, perhaps, in overtime when she made a pad save on Pasquale.

“She played amazing,” Goodale said. “Since she shut everyone out [in the shootout], that just shows how phenomenal of a player she is and how strong she is as a goalie. She’s a huge part of our team.”

As for Goodale, she’s a transformed forward moved to center midfield where she acts as the hub of the wheel.

“She stepped into that center mid role and that’s been a lot of pressure for her,” Walsh-Edwards said. “She’s really stepping up. It’s a big change going from being a forward who was all about scoring goals, and she did it well.”

Prevailing in a dramatic shootout is rewarding, if somewhat draining.

“It’s just like more relief that we got what we needed to do done,” said Goodale.

For her part, Walsh-Edwards could do without shootouts, though.

“It makes my heart race,” she said. “I don’t like a game to come down to that.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Riverhead goalkeeper Vika Stapon is congratulated by happy teammates after the Blue Waves prevail, 1-0, over Commack in a shootout. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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Riverhead Town police are seeking the public’s help to identify the person responsible for damaging a Riverhead volunteer firefighter’s personal vehicle, which was parked at the department’s headquarters while the firefighter was on duty during the overnight hours Sunday into Monday.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, the suspect shown in the surveillance video struck the side of the 2010 Dodge Ram with a bat, causing extensive damage. The suspect then fled the area.

Anyone with information can contact Riverhead detectives at 631-727-4500, ext. 327. All calls will remain confidential.

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Click to enlarge.

The Navy is encouraging anyone using a private well within a designated area around the former Grumman property in Calverton to contact them to get their water sampled at no cost.

The Calverton site was previously owned by the Navy and operated by the Grumman Corporation as a Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, where fighter jets were built and tested.

Grumman occupied the site from 1956 to 1996 and merged with the Northrop Corporation in 1994 before moving its Calverton operations off Long Island.

The specific target of the testing is a firefighting foam that was used in crash responses, equipment testing and firefighting training at the site, according to the Navy. The Navy said it has developed a policy to address past releases of compounds known as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances) into groundwater and/or soil at Navy sites with a history of firefighting activities.

PFAS are man-made compounds, not found in nature, that were used in, among other things, firefighting foam, stain-resistant carpeting and nonstick cookware.

The potential health effects of PFAS include increased cholesterol, decreased fertility, immune system changes and increased risk of certain types of cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These findings were based on studies of people who experienced high levels of exposure to the PFAS, the EPA said.

Because PFAS have been detected in groundwater in two locations within the industrial core at EPCAL, the Navy feels they might also be present in private drinking water wells in the designated areas because of their proximity to the former Grumman site.

The areas where the Navy seeks to sample drinking water sources are downgradient from areas already known or suspected as PFAS sites.

The Navy has released a map showing residential Calverton neighborhoods north of Route 25, such as Timber Drive, Penny Drive and South Path, and residences along River Road south and east of EPCAL as the areas in question.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said its monitoring shows that most people in the U.S. have PFAS in their bodies, and the levels of have been decreasing over time following their phase-out from use.

The CDC says some types of PFAS stay in the body for a long time and there is no recommended medical treatment to eliminate it. People are exposed to PFAS primarily through the ingestion of contaminated food, officials say.

The Navy recommends that people in the target area who get their water from private wells have those wells tested at least once a year.

The businesses inside the industrial park at EPCAL and many residents living near the site are connected to the Riverhead Water District, and officials said that water is not contaminated.

About 230 residents were notified and the Navy says there are about 53 additional where it’s unclear if private wells are in use.

Anyone wishing to make an appointment with the Navy to have their well tested for free should call 1-833-737-7267. Appointments are available until Oct. 5.

Officials say well testing normally takes less than an hour. As of Friday, the second day of testing, 10 homes had signed up for testing and seven tests had been completed, according to Navy spokesperson JC Kreidel. The Navy sent out a second mailer this week.

tgannon@timesreview.com

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Kyle Soper of Manorville secured his first career NASCAR Modified championship with a fourth-place finish in a 40-lap race at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night. Soper, 22, beat out Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead by six points for the Whelen All American Series title. Earlier in the night he won his second consecutive Late Model championship.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Soper.

Rogers won the Modified race, however, his fourth victory of the season and 52nd of his career. Dave Brigati of Calverton was second and John Fortin of Holtsville third. John Baker of Brookhaven followed Soper, coming in fifth.

In the 25-lap Late Model race, Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead picked up his second win of the year and ninth of his career. Kevin Metzger of Massapequa was the runner-up. Chris Turbush of Riverhead recovered from a spin to finish third.

The tightest championship fight on the final night of racing came in the Crate Modified class, with Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck and Justin Brown of Manorville separated by a mere three points entering the competition. When the 25-lap race was over, Rutkoski had his seventh win of the season as well as the title. Brown was second in the race and Artie Pedersen III of Center Moriches was third. The championship is the first for the 24-year-old Rutkoski.

In Figure Eight action, Tom Ferrara of Patchogue scored his second win of the season in a 15-lapper. While Ferrara drove off to his 13th career triumph, Tom Rogers Jr. earned his fifth career championship in the class by crossing the finish line second. Eric Zeh of Selden was third.

Jack Handley Jr. of Medford iced the cake on his second career Blunderbust championship by winning a 20-lap main event for his eighth win of the season and 29th of his career. Jim Laird Jr. of Riverhead was second and Tommy Walkowiak third in the final race of his career.

The Super Pro Truck champion, Mark Stewart of Riverhead, wrapped up his championship season with a win as well. It was the 20-year-old Stewart’s seventh win of the season, a milestone 20th career victory. Eddie Schutze of Oyster Bay and Jimmy Rennick Jr. of Howard Beach were the next two finishers after Stewart.

Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches became the all-time leading Legend Race Car winner at the track when he won his 20th career race in a 20-lap event. Brad Van Houten of Wading River took second while Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches was third. Jim Sylvester of Massapequa came into the race having already clinched the championship, his first.

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Police have been notified of reports that two men were caught videotaping young girls in their driveway in the Manorville area, Riverhead Central School District Superintendent Dr. Aurelia Henriquez wrote in a message Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Henriquez said the district administration learned this morning about the incident that involved two white males believed to be in their 30s videotaping the girls from a white SUV.

The office of the superintendent said in an email to the Riverhead News-Review that  the incident happened on Sept. 22, but the district was not notified until Tuesday morning.

Dr. Henriquez cautioned parents to discuss necessary stranger safety protocols with their children and to report any suspicious behavior immediately.

Tuesday’s Riverhead Central School District message comes days after Shoreham-Wading River Superintendent Gerard Poole released a message regarding two men in a silver sedan who were reportedly taking cell phone photos of students as they were dropped off at a bus stop in Wading River.

“We have been in contact with the Riverhead Police Department on this matter and have been advised additional patrol vehicles will be in the area to monitor the section firsthand,” Mr. Poole wrote in a message posted on the district website Saturday.

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John and Alisa McMorris, the parents of Andrew McMorris, the Wading River boy tragically killed after being struck by a drunk driver while out on a hike with fellow scouts Sunday afternoon, released a statement this morning remembering their son. They also wanted to share a brief statement thanking the community for its support. The above photo was taken of Andrew, by his mother, moments before Sunday’s hike. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Branch Funeral Homes in Miller Place. Below is the McMorris’ comments, as sent to the News-Review through a family friend and spokesperson.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for all your love, prayers, thoughts and deeds. They all mean so much to us. Thank you is not enough. Give all your children and loved ones an extra-long hug today and don’t wait for the right time to express love to one another. Peace and love to you all.”

Andrew McMorris was no ordinary boy.

Andrew was born with a sense of wonder and amazement of the world around him, and he never lost the ability to be awed by and delighted with all it had to offer.

Andrew was an artful child, and he channeled his abundant creativity through painting, acting, singing, and playing his piano, guitar, mandolin and ukulele. Always up for a costume, Andrew was Tin Man in his 5th grade production of The Wizard of Oz and, of course, Michael Jackson.

Andrew was an active kid, and was often on the rosters of community soccer and basketball teams. This year, Andrew joined his middle school cross country team and had looked forward to running with his team in his first meet this week. He loved to ski, and looked forward to long weekends and fresh powder. He loved being outdoors, especially hiking and camping trips with his friends in Troop 161.

Andrew was a dedicated community member, providing years of service through his participation with his Boy Scout Troop, Cub Scouts, and various school organizations. Serving in Boy Scouts was an honor Andrew was proud of. He dedicated to obtaining the highest honor of Eagle Scout. He participated in countless fundraisers, community clean-ups, and other projects such as tree planting and gardening.

He loved to travel, and was always up for trips, visits and excursions. Together with his family, Andrew toured parts of Hawaii and Alaska, explored Paris, France, London, England and sailed Disney cruises.

Bright and hardworking, Andrew was an honor roll student. Classmates, teachers and friends found him sometimes silly, always funny and, occasionally, a bit cheeky. He was a friend to everyone and showed kindness to all.

Andrew was a loving son to Alisa and John, and a dedicated brother to Arianna. And to our larger SWR community of parents and children, Andrew was our “son from another mother” and our “other brother”.

But more than any other characteristic, what stands out about Andrew is his desire to fly and his passion for aviation.

Andrew wanted to fly before he could walk. Airplanes, helicopters and rockets were the obsession of his life, and he achieved his first piloting goal this past summer during AeroCamp. Andrew was occasionally chided by parents, coaches and teachers for “having his head in the clouds”, but for Andrew, that only made sense. He wanted his whole self in the clouds, broken free of the bonds of this earth, borne up into an endless sky, with nothing but blue around him and horizon ahead, aloft and away.

Fly high, Andrew.

How to help: 

The McMorris Family asks that no items be placed at the scene of the accident.

“We ask that remember Andrew in your hearts, and not at the scene. It would be an unspeakable tragedy for another person to be injured on the roadside. In Andrew’s memory we ask for prayer, and if you feel the need to do something that tie a red ribbon on your property, and that you treat others with kindness in has name,” the family wrote in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to honor the loving memory of Andrew to support Troop 161, SWR’s Wildcats Helping the Arts & Music (WHAM) and/or Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York.

Links & Addresses:

Troop 161 Memorial & Support Fund 

Wildcats Helping the Arts & Music. Payable to: PO Box 458 Shoreham, NY 11786

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Payable to: 33 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 210W Huntington Station, NY 11746 

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Sitting on bar stools at the former Galley Ho restaurant in New Suffolk on a fall evening in 1994, a small group of skippers planned a way to cap off the sailing season. 

Instead of just another of their usual weeknight excursions around Robins Island, the sailors would navigate their boats on an even longer trip around Shelter Island, starting and ending in Cutchogue Harbor.

The race would be called The Whitebread, a play on the Whitbread, a venerable round-the-world race now known as the Volvo Ocean Race.

“The decision was made over a couple of beers,” recalled Mike Drobet of Mattituck, a founding participant and early champion of the race. “We thought it would be a great way to end the year.”

They had little reason to believe the event would ever become the institution it now is.

The boats sail out of Cutchogue Harbor. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

This past Saturday, 72 boats sailed in Whitebread 25, a regatta many have come to count as their favorite event of the year.

“It’s more challenging than most any races in the area,” said Tom Wacker of Cutchogue, who has sailed around Shelter Island in the Whitebread annually since 1997. “We went to a Newport race week earlier in the summer and most of the races you’ll find, you don’t get the kind of currents you get going around Shelter Island.”

It’s that unique geology, with only narrow channels separating the island from Greenport and North Haven, that creates a heightened experience during the race. Mr. Wacker describes it as the “cork in the bottle of the Peconics,” creating fast currents and wind that fellow sailor Dave Kilbride of Nassau Point says “whips off land masses in different directions.”

“Then you blow past Shelter Island and suddenly you’re in Gardiners Bay and much bigger waves, much rougher, stronger winds,” Mr. Kilbride added. “So there’s a lot of contrast as we do this Whitebread Race from the shelter of Cutchogue Harbor, on the one extreme, and Gardiners Bay on the other.”

Aida Kuehn, who sailed along with her husband, Chris, and 5-year-old son Dan in the very first Whitebread, said they learned the hard way just how tricky the race could be. Of course, she had the added distinction of being five months pregnant with their son Stefan for that inaugural event.

She recalls that the weather was really bad that first year and the three-person crew felt the effects of it once they hit Gardiners Bay.

“My 5-year-old was trying to steer,” she recalled. “My husband was doing the sails and I needed to go to the bathroom every five minutes. So it was a really trying and exciting and crazy day.”

On Saturday, Ms. Kuehn was one of about a half-dozen spectators gathered at Cedar Beach in Southold to witness the starting leg of the race. They carried cameras with them to document friends and loved ones as they participate in what’s become an East End staple. Similar small gatherings occur each year on Shelter Island and other spots on the North and South forks. The sight of dozens of sailboats breezing by is something to behold, the spectators will tell you.

At its height, the Whitebread, which is organized each year by volunteers from the Peconic Bay Sailing Association, attracted about 125 boats from across the region. While that number has been cut in half in recent years — a trend consistent with sailing all over — there are still more boats entering the race than originally envisioned. Mr. Drobet said word of mouth and advertising efforts grew the number of participants from nine in 1994 to about 30 boats the following year. It took off from there.

Race chairman Bill Coster of Laurel said he first sailed on a friend’s boat for Whitebread 3 and has skippered his own vessel each year since.

“I didn’t finish the race,” he said of his performance in Whitebread 4. “I actually got hit in the head with the boom and I retired, as they say.”

The view from onboard “Trading Places.” (Credit: Michael Versandi)

But Mr. Coster continued, becoming one of the events more successful sailors, with three first-place finishes, an achievement he attributes to upgrading to a better boat, surrounding himself with a strong crew and gaining more knowledge himself. Among the crew members on his boat this year was Willie Fisher, another of the Whitebread’s founding members.

“I usually sail with extremely good people,” Mr. Coster said. “They’re smarter than I am and the boat’s faster than I am, so it’s a good combination. I make very good sandwiches.”

Asked if the Whitebread is more about competition or camaraderie, race participants say it’s a combination of both. They enjoy the social aspect of the event, which includes a post-race party at which they all share the stories of the day, but most of them are also out for victory.

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t really want to win,” Mr. Wacker said. “But I think it’s a real good group of people out there. Good sports. I think most of us try like hell to win.”

Asked if that’s true for him, too, Mr. Coster answered with one word: “Yes.”

Mr. Kilbride, a longtime weekender on the North Fork and relative newbie to the competition, connects more to the social side of things.

“The group of people with whom we sail is varied. It is all sorts of backgrounds; weekenders, locals, men, women,” he said. “It defies stereotyping. And we are all great friends. That’s the one thing you can say that we have in common.”

Attracting newcomers will be the challenge of the Whitebread moving forward. The decline in participation is related to a growing interest in power boats, Mr. Kilbride estimated, adding that on his casual sailing excursions in the Peconics, he’s observed a shift in the types of boats he sees out on the water.

One way new sailors are getting involved in the Whitebread is through East End Youth Sailing, which had a crew of area high-schoolers compete this year. At the helm was skipper Dan Kuehn, the former 5-year-old who steered through rough conditions in the very first Whitebread.

As his mother walked Cedar Beach in Southold Saturday to get a closer look at the boats, she had a chance encounter with another mom whose son is on this year’s team.

“It’s very exciting,” said Jordi Krupnick, whose son Matthew, a Mattituck High School student, was sailing in his first Whitebread. “He was up this morning raring to go at 6 a.m., all ready to jump out on the boat.”

The crew of “Trading Places.” (Credit: Michael Versandi)

Even for established Whitebread veterans, the race day excitement is still there.

“I don’t sleep that well [the night before],” Mr. Coster said. “I spend a lot of time on preparation. I’m nervous until after the start and we’re on our way and you kind of feel settled on the boat. The start is the most trying, intense part of the race.”

It isn’t until the race is over, when you see the other boats coming in around you, that you truly get to enjoy the experience, the sailors agreed.

“That’s when you go into the beer cooler, which has been sealed shut to that point,” Mr. Kilbride added.

While stormy weather has made for quicker speeds and challenging times on the course in past years — even sinking a boat in 2014 — the 25th installment of the Whitebread was plagued by dull winds. That dominated the conversation at the post-race party, where the honorary chair, Captain Pat Mundus of Greenport, was recognized along with the original sailors from 1994.

The start of the race from Cedar Beach. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Ultimately, the finish line was moved up Saturday to account for the poor conditions. Skipper Lee Oldak, sailing his boat Purple Haze out of the Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor, finished with the top adjusted time of 4 hours, 21 minutes, 47 seconds. August Sky, skippered out of the Lloyd Harbor and Centerport yacht clubs by Philip Walters, finished first among all non-spinnaker boats.

While a lack of wind might have dampened this year’s race, there’s little doubt the Whitebread will continue for years to come. To hear the participants tell it, there’s simply nothing like it.

“I have done some longer distance races, but I find this one satisfying, if not the most satisfying,” Mr. Coster said. “You’re racing in your home waters. … The conditions here are as good as anywhere up and down the East Coast.

“This is a gem that people are really unaware of.”

gparpan@timesreview.com

With reporting from Michael Versandi and Krysten Massa

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Riverhead Town police are seeking the public’s help to identify the person responsible for damaging a Riverhead volunteer firefighter’s personal vehicle, which was parked at the department’s headquarters while the firefighter was on duty during the overnight hours Sunday into Monday.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, the suspect shown in the surveillance video struck the side of the 2010 Dodge Ram with a bat, causing extensive damage. The suspect then fled the area.

Anyone with information can contact Riverhead detectives at 631-727-4500, ext. 327. All calls will remain confidential.

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Harbor Freight Tools, a West Coast-based chain that sells discount tools and equipment, plans to take over the Route 58 storefront vacated by Home Goods when it moved west on Route 58 into The Shops at Riverhead shopping center. 

Harbor Freight Tools, a family-owned company, was started in 1977 and now has more than 900 stores nationwide, includes locations in Centereach, Commack, Bay Shore, Amityville and Melville, according to its website. 

The company is based in Calabasas, Calif. 

Home Goods left its previous 17,250-square-foot storefront, adjacent to Staples, for a combined location with Marshalls. Both brands are owned by TJX company. 

The former Home Goods site is one of several storefronts on Route 58 that recently closed or have announced plans to close. 

Edwards Sporting Goods, which has been at the corner of East Main Street and Route 58 since 1954, announced last week that it was closing, according to owners Ron and Diane McGee. 

The store is still open and has not set a closing date, although the McGees told the News-Review they have a buyer, whom they did not identify. 

Martin Sendlewski, architect for that buyer, said the building will be divided into separate retail stores, although it has not been decided how many stores will be created or what businesses will occupy them.  

tgannon@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Harbor Freight in Commack (Courtesy photo)

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The potential impact on the Riverhead School District and on some historic neighboring properties were two of the issues speakers said should be studied in an environmental impact study on a 170-unit apartment complex proposed on the former Sears site in Riverhead.

The suggestions came during a scoping session on the project Tuesday.

Speakers pointed out that pile driving work done in connection to an apartment project adjacent to the Sears site allegedly caused vibrations in three 100-year-old buildings across the street and caused damage within those buildings.

The Riverhead United Methodist Church, its adjacent Parsonage, and the home of Arlene Doroszka next door all sustained damages from the pile driving, according to their owners.

David Gallo, the developer of the adjacent property, called Riverview Lofts, has maintained that the pile driving is not what caused the damage.

Riverhead Town Historian Georgette Case, who is a member of the Riverhead United Methodist Church, raised concerns that pile driving on the new apartment project could not only cause further damage to the church properties and to Ms. Doroszka’s house, it also could damage some historic buildings on the nearby East End Arts Council property.

“As the town historian, I want you to be aware that these buildings are precious to the town, and I want the builders to be aware that we need to preserve the precious things we have in this town,” Ms. Case said.

Janine Zeltmann, a Trustee at Riverhead United Methodist Church, said the town should require the developer to identify what type of pile driving they plan to use and should request a different type than what Riverview Lofts used.

“We don’t want our church buildings or those of our neighbor to sustain more damage due to another project coming to town,” she said.

Councilwoman Jodi Giglio said the pile driving issues is a “grave concern.”

An engineering firm had originally recommended that Riverview Lofts use a “helical” system for pilings, which essentially screws them into the ground, rather than pounds them in.

But that was later switched because the developer discovered that longer piles were needed, according to Mr. Gallo.

The new application, listed under the name 203-213 East Main Street, calls for the construction of a 186,422 square-foot, five-story, mixed use building with 170 apartments, three retail stores and a mostly underground parking garage on 1.42 vacant acres that once housed Sears and several other stores.

The land is owned by Riverhead Enterprises, which is in contract to sell it to the Metro Group Properties, headed by Robert Muchnick.

The project calls for 32-studio apartments, 85 one-bedroom apartments and 53 two-bedroom apartments, along with 88 parking spaces.

The project is directly next door to Riverview Lofts, which is being built by Georgica Green Ventures. That project calls for 116-units of “workforce” rentals along with retail and two restaurants on the ground floor.

Since Riverview Lofts was being built in a flood plane, it was required to be built on about 550 pile-ons to stabilize the ground. The Metro Group project is also in a flood plain.

“There are many concerns in the community of buildings of this size,” said Councilman Tim Hubbard. “There’s things that need to be addressed, like number of school children that may be living there that will increase the enrollment of our already overburdened school district.”

He also said the number of parking spaces proposed is far less that what’s needed.

Mr. Muchnick said he is aware the town is considering a change to the zoning code that would require new developments in the downtown public parking district to provide their own parking. Currently, businesses in the parking district can use the public parking lots downtown as their parking.

He said they have a proposed alternative plan that would redesign the project at great expense and would provide one parking space per unit.

“We want to be proactive,” he said.

Ann Cotten DeGrasse, a former Riverhead School Board president, said an $80 million bond issue was “supposed to put the school district in good stead for 80 years”, but instead, the district is already “bursting at the seems.”

“Every time you add one of these apartment complexes, it’s going to exacerbate the problem,” she said.

Other issues brought up include the visual impact of the buildings, the potential for flooding and the cumulative impact of having so many large apartment complexes downtown.

Charles Voorhis, a consultant for the applicant, said there will be detailed fiscal and economic work and analysis that will look into the issues brought up at the hearing.

Photo caption: Developer Robert Muchnick at Tuesday’s scoping session. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

tgannon@timesreview.com

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