Volunteers help make upgrades to the Greenport Skate Park on Moores Lane Tuesday afternoon. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

The final touches on a $45,000 project to rehab Greenport Village’s skate park are being made ahead of this weekend’s Skate Park Festival — the first-ever to be hosted by the village.

New blacktop was laid down Monday. Installation of new equipment and painting is expected to be completed by village employees by Thursday, Trustee George Hubbard said during the village board’s work session of Monday evening.

Existing equipment is also being repaired and cracked cement is being fixed, he said.

The park had fallen into neglect in recent years. Just last summer, obscene graffiti, including an anti- Semitic symbol, was found at the park, as were holes the size of volleyballs in ramps, with trash gathered on the ground underneath the holes.

Since May, the village board has been taking steps to fix the problems facing the skate park in hopes of creating a family-friendly environment that would encourage greater use of the facility.

On Sunday, the village is hosting the Skate Park Festival with free-style competitions, free food and drinks and skateboard lessons from veteran skaters who used the park.

Private organizers previously held the annual event to help raise funds and make repairs to the park.

The Skate Park Festival starts at noon.

• See photos from last year’s festival.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Greenport’s sewage treatment plant requires $18,000 worth of repairs. (Credit: Cyndi Murray, file)

Eliminating the foul odors exuding from Greenport’s sewage treatment plant will cost roughly $17,000 less than originally estimated, according to Greenport Village administrator Paul Pallas.

In May, the village board allocated $35,000 toward the purchase of an aerator for the plant’s tank, although the smell had mostly subsided by then. The “blower,” which would act like fans, would be installed in the tank and run year-round to eliminate the smell, according to Ray Dunbar, the Sewer Department supervisor.

Mr. Pallas said during Monday’s work session that the project would now cost about $18,000.

The installation of a floating aerator, which will act like a fan, can be done in-house, he said. Officials previously thought the work would need to be completed by an outside vendor for an additional $15,000 to $20,000, Mr. Pallas said.

Earlier this year, the village had received several complaints about sewage smells coming from the direction of the Moores Lane plant when the wind blew out of the northwest. Although there haven’t been any new reports of smells, Mr. Pallas said the stench has been intermittent for years and is worth the cost of fixing.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Darius Strickland of Greenport rising up for a shot in a wild game against Hampton Bays. (Credit: Garret Meade)

Depending on your vantage point, it was either the best of playground basketball or perhaps the worst it can offer.

Greenport’s game against Hampton Bays on Monday night had a little bit of everything, including a team that rallied from an 11-point deficit to take the lead, some nifty moves, over-the-top physical play, three technical fouls, a double ejection for fighting and a team forced to finish with only four players.

“It’s old school. That’s how we used to play in the park. Man that’s good,” Greenport coach Ev Corwin said with a laugh.

“It looked like a July 22 game,” Hampton Bays coach Pete Meehan said.

Despite playing with four players down the stretch, Hampton Bays pulled off a 44-42 victory in the Town of Brookhaven Summer League game at Eastport/South Manor High School.

“The perils of basketball in July,” Meehan said. “We’ve got an eight-man roster. We had two away today. You get an ejection and a foul out and there you are playing a two-two zone. You don’t have a lot in the playbook for a four-man offense.”

But the Baymen (3-4) had enough. Antonio Kull sank a layup with 1 minute 21 seconds remaining for a 41-39 lead. Matt Rinaldi canned three foul shots to hold off the Porters (1-6).

Those last-minute heroics were set up when referees ejected Hampton Bays’ Jeff Paz and Greenport’s Alex Perez with 10:44 left. The Baymen were left with no subs. Things went from bad to worse when Shane Courtenay fouled out with 1:51 remaining and the score at 39-39.

“We have to be more poised,” Meehan said. “We have to handle adversity better. We had three technical fouls and an ejection. Whether it’s July or January, that can’t happen. We put ourselves in a bad spot with our lack of discipline. We were fortunate to win.”

Corwin liked what he had seen.

“I’m proud of the way that we stepped up and didn’t back down from any of that nonsense,” he said of the physical play. “We stuck up for each other. Lord knows they had the size advantage. We were there until the end. We showed a lot of a lot fight today.”

Added Meehan: “Greenport played real, real hard. Their intensity frustrated us a little bit. We made it tough on ourselves.”

After hitting the opening basket, the Porters missed eight shots as Hampton Bays scored the next 11 points. The Baymen took a 15-4 advantage before Greenport rallied behind Darius Strickland (10 first-half points) for a 21-21 halftime tie.

“We come walking in here a minute before the game,” Corwin said. “You know what? Summer league. A lot of guys are getting a lot of minutes for the first time at this level and that’s the best part of this.”

Players such as Byron Rivas, who made two spectacular baskets down the stretch. His drive gave Greenport a 37-33 lead with 7:41 left and his one-hander a 39-39 tie with 2:16 remaining.

“Darius Strickland and Alex Perez, those are the two guys who played varsity last year,” Corwin said. “They both had experience and it showed. A couple of the guys stepped up. Byron Rivas stepped up really well.”

Corwin also praised Brendan Walker and Ryan Costello.

“A few underclassmen have showed me a lot of guts,” he said. “One of my main things this year is to try to bring us together. That’s so important. We’re starting to see it. All these guys who aren’t seniors, who aren’t returning starters, they’re here every game. They’re starting to get some confidence and they’re playing hard. I hate the record, of course, because I hate to lose but some guys are getting some real valuable experience in this league.”

The thin, cement post that once held a cast-iron Greenport mailbox was left behind after workers removed the historic box Tuesday. (Credit: Paul Squire)

Greenport business owners and residents wrote letters and called the U.S. Postal Service, demanding that the historic, deep blue cast-iron mailbox bolted to the cement pole in front of Claudio’s restaurant be kept where it is.

But their efforts weren’t enough. 

On Tuesday, two workers unhooked the mailbox from its post and took it to the Greenport Post Office, where the postmaster is now looking to donate the box.

Greenport Village or the Greenport Business Improvement District may be possible new homes for the mailbox, a postal worker said Wednesday.

Greenport BID president Peter Clarke, who had pushed for the Postal Service to leave the mailbox where it was, said he was “upset” when told the mailbox was removed.

“We really wanted to leave it there,” he said. “We thought it was a bit of Main Street history.”

He said he plans to reach out to the Postal Service to see what it plans to do with the box.

“It’s unfathomable,” said Janice Claudio, whose family owns the nearby restaurant. “Why would they take it away?”

Postal Service spokeswoman Christine Dugas said a manager from the postal service had found that the Main Street mailbox — which had rested on the pole for decades — was too small to hold packages or large envelopes, saying it “doesn’t fit today’s needs.”

A new mailbox was installed on Main Street near Capital One bank to replace the old box.

Ms. Claudio said that she thought opposition from business owners would be enough to keep the mailbox, noting that the mailbox was being used until the day it was taken down.

She said she doesn’t understand why the Postal Service would spend the time and effort to remove the mailbox.

“It just seems sad,” she said. “It’s negative energy spent without purpose.”

This small, antique mailbox on Main Street in Greenport — seen here last month — was removed and replaced with a more modern collection box up the road. (Credit: Paul Squire)

Word spread quickly that the mailbox had been removed.

Two Greenporters resting in the shade near the Book Scout on Main Street were chatting about the mailbox Wednesday afternoon, wondering aloud whether a letter writing campaign to the federal government might be enough to bring the mailbox back.

Longtime Greenporter John Burczyk said he can remember reaching up to tuck letters into the mailbox as a child. He said tourists used to stop at the mailbox to take pictures or send postcards.

“You could go walk around here, go to Claudio’s and then send something to the folks back home,” he said.

Ms. Claudio said she plans to ask the Greenport BID to accept the mailbox and turn it into a suggestion box or a place for kids to deposit letters to Santa Claus during the winter.

But others aren’t so confident that the mailbox won’t be shipped away to a museum, as postal workers had previously suggested.

Across the street from where the mailbox used to be, at Preston’s gift shop, longtime employee Marie Doroski seemed resigned to losing the mailbox after the letter-writing campaign failed.

“There’s no use in speaking up, because nobody listens,” she said.

psquire@timesreview.com

he Greenport High School class of 1964 (pictured) celebrated the 50-year anniversary of its graduation Friday night with dinner and dancing at Townsend Manor. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

What can you say about Greenport except that it’s, bar none, the best place to have grown up? That was proven this past Saturday at the second all-class reunion. Lori Corazzini-Peck aptly named the event the Porterpalooza! What a crowd! The best estimate so far is that more than a thousand Porters, spouses and their children attended. To use the old adage “A great time was had by all” is the understatement of the century. It was awesome!

The ELIH Auxiliary’s ‘Simply Beautiful’ sale of fun fashion accessories takes place Friday, July 25, in the hospital conference room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come on out, shop and support your community hospital.

Greenporter Leslie McDaniel is retiring from Eastern long Island Hospital after 25 years and a party will be held in her honor Thursday, July 31, at 6 p.m. at the Soundview. If you’d like to attend, RSVP by July 29 to Caprice (631-431-2241) or Yvette  (631-276-0095). Cost is $40 per person.

The annual Lobster Fest hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Greenport and Southold is the best ticket in town. The July 26 event starts at 5 p.m. at Founders Landing in Southold and admission is $40 in advance, $45 at the door and $7 for kids 12 and under. In Greenport, you can get tickets at Hampton Jitney, Capital One Bank or Bridgehampton National Bank. Treat yourself to lobster or steak, local corn and watermelon. Kids get a choice of hamburger or hot dog.

Don’t forget the village skate park festival this Sunday, July 27, from noon to 6 p.m. There will be music, food and fun for all ages. Admission is free.

In honor of the late Janet Brigham Arnott, whose parents owned Brigham’s Shipyard, a memorial will be held Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Afterward, a gala reception will be held at her summer home at Sandy Beach. The family invites all to this reception to celebrate Janet’s life and partake of her favorite foods.

Belated birthday wishes go out to Delores Angevine, who turned 85 on July 10. I hope it was a happy one. Belated wishes also go out to Zachary Riggins, who celebrated his 14th birthday July 18.

Who’s celebrating in the near future? Warren Jensen (the son, not the dad) and Betty Capon on the 24th; Melissa Simpson Martinkat, Sally Jacobs, Ali Lauber, Gabby Pope and Robin Walden on the 25th; Jane Ratsey Williams, Matthew Stepnoski, Pat Urban, Dawn Jacobs, the Crump brothers – Keith and Kevin — and Nancy Charland on the 26th; David Wilburn and Carl Volinski on the 28th; my cousins Kevin Heaney and Laura Pinter as well as Dr. Steve Chierchie on the 29th; Ann Woodhull and Scott Bradian on the 30th; Payge Corazzini, Bill Gorga and Lisa McElroy on the 31st; another cousin, Maria Heaney O’Callaghan, on Aug. 1; Joyce Lakowitz Leary, Claudia Sieverman, Ethel Quillin and Jack Sepenoski on the 2nd; Kaylee Hansen and Al Stretz on the 3rd; the Doucett girls – Ashley and Alicia — on the 4th; Traci Kannwischer, Donna Angevine, Sean Charters, Melanie Douglass and Mercedes Edwards on the 5th; and Karen Gomez, Chris Ramnarine and Jerry Martocchia on the 6th.

The happiest of anniversaries is wished to Linda and Greg Wallace, who celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss July 24; Linda and John Sabatino on the 25th; my sister-in-law and her husband, Joy and Ralph Navarro, whose 18th anniversary is the 27th; and Karen and Mike Sage, marking anniversary No. 41 on the 28th.

Contact Greenport columnist Joan Dinizio at Lucky1inNY@aol.com or 477-9411.

Northeast Stage rehearses William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Northeast Stage will present William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Greenport’s Mitchell Park Friday through Sunday, July 25-27, at 7 p.m. The rain location is Greenport High School. 

The comedy shares several interconnected plots surrounding the wedding celebration of Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta.

Robert Wilson directs the production, which features Dory Lieblein, Lena Trbojevic, John Higgins, José Coropuna, Erin Elizabeth, Sarah Rose Gogan, Jim Pearsall, Rich Gardini, Rebekah White, John Tramontana, Elizabeth Wilson, Suzette Reiss, Ed Weiss, Kevin Monsell, Dan Horton, Alan Stewart, James Pritchard and assistant director Cate Clifford. Costumes were designed by Joan Chambers.

The free performances are sponsored in part by the Greenport Business Improvement District. For more information, visit northeaststage.org or find Northeast Stage on Facebook.

See more photos from Katharine Schroeder by clicking below: 

The Greenport Village Board will meet tonight to host its annual public hearing  to discuss federal and state mandates, commonly known as MS4, which are aimed at improving water quality.

Under orders from both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Conservation, municipalities are required to record and report steps taken to meet federal clean water standards on a local level.

The hearing, which is required annually, is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Third Street fire station.

The village sponsored Dances in the Park is not impacted by the ban on events in Mitchell Park. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder, file)

There was no shortage of competing ideas during Monday night’s village board meeting on how, or if, mass assembly permits should issued for events at Mitchell Park.

The one point that could be agreed upon, however, is that it would take a while before a policy is enacted.  

At the start of the first public hearing on whether events other than those sponsored by the village should be allowed at the park, Mayor David Nyce said the board expected the conversation to take months before a law is adopted.

Until this summer, the board said it considered issuing mass assembly permits on a “case by case” basis. But, a growing interest in use of the park and after two religious groups threatened to take legal action against the village for denying their organizations use of the park, the board said it needed to develop a more definitive policy.

“Over the last seven years people have been saying there would be a time when there are events every weekend at Mitchell Park,” Mr. Nyce said. “That has come to pass.”

During the hearing, the public was split on how the park should be used. Some said the village should capitalize on the park’s potential to be an income generator.

Doug Roberts, who lives on Sixth Street, suggested the village close off the park five to 10 nights a year for large-scale events that could help pay down debt.

“This could be a revenue generator like any investment,” he said. “Let’s make it a way for our businesses to make money and our village to pay off its debt faster.”

Others said the park should benefit the public and a limited number of events should be permitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Doug Moore, chairman of the Greenport ZBA, said event approval could be based on merits like public interest and overall benefit to the community.

“I think the profit motive for events in the parks should not be a consideration,” Mr. Moore said. “The park should be about the benefit to the public.”

The conservation came to a standstill after about 25 minutes after residents said they wanted to know if state and federal grant money used to build Mitchell Park imposed restrictions on the property.

The village attorney was asked to look into the possible limitations and the public hearing was kept open to gather more public comment.

The moratorium on all events the board enacted in June will remain in effect until a law could be put on the books.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Christopher Thomas, 8, of Bay Shore skates at Sunday’s festival. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Sunday’s Greenport Village-sponsored Skate Park Festival was dubbed a success by village board members, who said Monday the event raised nearly $600 toward park maintenance and drew crowds from as far west as Queens. 

“It was very enjoyable for both young and old,” said Trustee George Hubbard, who cooked more than 150 hamburgers and 250 hot dogs during the event. “The kids wanted to do it every month.”

The festival at the Moores Lane skate park also featured music and free lessons for younger skaters from longtime Greenport skaters and friends Justin “Beau” Pollack and Andrew Semon, who teamed up with the village to help organize the event.

A raffle raised almost $600 toward park upkeep.

• Click here for more photos

One touching donation came from 10-year-old Jack Murray, who gave $100 he collected from his family’s yard sale to the park, Mr. Hubbard said.

Since May, the village board has been taking steps to repair the long-neglected skate park in hopes of creating a family-friendly environment that encourages greater use of the facility.

More than $45,000 went into the park ahead of the festival. Repairs included new blacktop, paint and equipment.

The village hopes to host the event, which had previously been hosted by private citizens, annually, Mr. Hubbard said.

cmurray@timesreview.com

KATHARINE SCHROEDER PHOTO | Suffolk County officials have given up control of the Railroad Dock.

The Railroad Dock on Third Street in Greenport is no longer under county control.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Suffolk County Legislature ended its lease with property owner Metropolitan Transit Authority. Greenport Village will now hold the lease directly with the MTA.

Legislator Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) called the move a win-win. He said managing the property was costly for the county but an amenity to the village.

“We took out a layer of bureaucracy,” Mr. Krupski said. “Instead of the county, MTA and Greenport being involved, we can let them handle their own issue, which they should. I’m a firm believer in local control. The county shouldn’t be involved there.”

Since the early 1980s, the county has acted as a middleman, leasing the property from the MTA and then subleasing it to the village for a token fee of $1 a year. The village handled the daily maintenance of the property while the county managed long-term capital projects.

Since last year, both Mr. Krupski and the Greenport Village Board had been hoping to rework the details of the arrangement after the county and the village butted heads about whether the floating nonprofit fireboat museum, Fire Fighter, could remain docked at Railroad Dock.

With the county out of the equation, the village, which has been leasing space to Fire Fighter without county permission, plans to offer the historic vessel a permanent port at the dock, said Village Trustee George Hubbard.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Joyce Culver and her Senegal parrot, LuLu.

Lulu, the beloved parrot of Joyce Culver of Greenport who went missing last Saturday, was spotted this past weekend in East Marion.

Ms. Culver said that Lulu was seen perched on a clothesline in the backyard of a resident of Pebble Beach Farms, a private community in East Marion. It was on Friday around 6 p.m.

Though she went to the location immediately, Ms. Culver couldn’t find the parrot. She also said she got a phone call from residents on Rocky Point Road in East Marion, a little further east of the first location, who said they heard a parrot calling from the woods.

Ms. Culver looked there for Lulu as well, but to no avail.

“I think the only way to get her is if she is tired and hungry and simply wants to come to you,” Ms. Culver said. “Birds can be very difficult and simply stay put when you continue to coax them.”

Lulu is a Senegal parrot, a type of parrot that is smaller than most at about nine inches in length.

Ms. Culver is asking people in the area to put out birdseed if they want to attract Lulu, her pet of 17 years.

She described Lulu as a “bright, emerald green” with an “American cheese” colored breast and gray head. She has full-flight feathers, meaning her wings are not clipped, and has a band around her ankle with a registered six-digit number.

If you see Lulu please call Ms. Culver at 212-316-1825 or email her at joyce.culver@verizon.net.

She is offering a $500 reward for her return.

Mattituck’s Chris Sledjeski goes airborne while Greenport’s Nick Droskoski tries to stop him. (Credit: Garret Meade)

With the exception of the summer league attire, this could have been mistaken for a basketball game one might see on the playground. It was run-and-gun ball played at a furious pace, a helter-skelter version employed by both teams. And the 3-point shots were flying, particularly on the Mattituck side.

Wait a minute. Where were the half-court sets? Where were the diagramed play calls from the bench?

“No. That’s not my system,” said Mattituck’s assistant coach, Tom Ascher, who has been running the team for coach Paul Ellwood this summer. “You get a couple of defensive changes, that’s about it.”

And a whole lot of action as Greenport and Mattituck players dashed up and down the court in a frenzy.

“I like that pace a lot,” Mattituck’s junior small forward, Dan Fedun, said. “It’s fun to play when everyone’s jelling together, the chemistry’s going and everything. You know, we just can’t be stopped when the chemistry’s there.”

Or the 3-point shot.

When all the commotion stopped, the scoreboards at Eastport/South Manor High School showed Mattituck to be a 52-35 winner in the final game of the Town of Brookhaven Summer League for both teams on Tuesday night. More than anything, the game served as a reminder of the impact of the 3-point shot.

Ascher knows 3-pointers can turn a game around. They made an impact in this one.

Most of Mattituck’s field-goal attempts were from beyond the arc. The Tuckers shot 8 for 26 from that long range. They took the lead for good on four straight 3-pointers by Will Gildersleeve, Fedun, Parker Tuthill and Tuthill again to turn a 1-point deficit into a 17-6 lead just like that.

Later in the half, the third of Tuthill’s four treys stretched that lead to 24-9. The Tuckers were off and running.

And then, as if to remove any doubt about the final outcome, Gildersleeve and Tuthill canned 3-pointers to open up the second half, making it 32-14.

“When we can shoot the 3-ball, we’re the best team in the league, I think,” said Fedun.

Yes, 3-pointers can be an effective weapon when a team has outside shooters like Gildersleeve, Tuthill and Auggie Knuth.

“We’ve really improved on 3-point shots,” said senior center Josh Conklin, who fouled out with a little under 3:00 left and his side up, 49-31. “It’s a game-changer.”

The Tuckers were particularly hot in the first half when they hit 10 of their 20 shots from the field (and 6 of 14 attempts from 3-point land). They cooled off a bit in the second half, shooting 10 of 30, but by then the damage had been done.

Gildersleeve (18 points), Tuthill (16) and Fedun (12) scored all but 6 of Mattituck’s points.

Greenport coach Ev Corwin said sophomore Darrius Bolling has played well this summer. Bolling may have been the Porters’ top player on Tuesday, putting up 9 points and 10 rebounds. Sam Strickland came down with 11 rebounds to go with his 7 points.

The Porters were better on the boards, outrebounding the Tuckers by 39-24. But the Porters had trouble getting their shots to fall, shooting 28.6 percent from the field and going 2 for 8 on 3-point attempts.

The win caps a 4-6 summer season for the Tuckers that looks better when one considers they won four of their last six games. The Porters ended up 2-8.

Conklin said the Tuckers found chemistry and learned how to play together.

“We’ve known each other since like seventh grade, just all playing basketball together since Day One,” he said. “It’s been a journey for all of us.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

The playing fields of Greenport High School were the site for more than 4,200 lacrosse players, coaches, parents, umpires and spectators for the 21st annual Greenport Lacrosse Shootout this past weekend. 

Despite the wet and windy weather, young lacrosse players from Nassau and Suffolk County community groups, PAL youth clubs, middle school and varsity high school players enjoyed the round-robin tournament that is sponsored by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation.

A record number of 82 youth teams (60 boys and 22 girls programs) participated this year. In addition, 11 post-high school men’s lacrosse teams participated in competition for the tournament championship trophy, which was won by Harvey’s Team in a thrilling overtime final.

“Each year this event gets bigger and better and more popular in terms of registration, sponsorship and spectators,” the foundation’s president, Angela Ritchie, said. “As a chapter of U.S. Lacrosse, the governing body of lacrosse in our country, our mission is to do as much as we can in fostering and promoting the game of lacrosse in the metropolitan New York and Long Island areas. With more teams registering, the continuing support of our commercial sponsors, Greenport Village officials and the Greenport schools Board of Education, we are able to provide scholarships to deserving athletes and programs in this large area. Of course, we also love coming here and the role we play in having so many parents and fans visit this great village.”

Proceeds from the Greenport Shootout and other events has enabled the LIMLF to fund scholarships for boys and girls high school programs, the Outreach Program, Special Needs Programs, and youth and community start-up programs. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Greenport High School for worthy students. In addition, six scholarship awards were presented this past season to outstanding lacrosse student-athletes from Nassau and Suffolk counties and New York City.

Summer, slow down! In just about three weeks August will be history and Labor Day weekend will be upon us. I’m not quite ready for summer to end. 

This is to let parents know that things will be a bit different this year. Instead of getting the school year start-up packet in the mail, this year it will be online. While it’s not up yet, it will be soon, at gufsd.org.

Congratulations to Jessica and Greg Dlhopolsky on the birth of their daughter, Harper Leigh. Harper entered our world on July 30 and tipped the scales at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Bragging rights belong to maternal grandparents Sue and Scott Klipp and paternal grandparents Patrice and Joseph Dlhopolsky.

Stand Up 2 Cancer — a benefit for MaryEllen “Buzz” Campbell -— is planned for Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at the park between the 5th and 6th street beaches. Fare will include chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs and salads. Donations are $20 for adults and $8 for children under 10. Come and support a good cause for a good person.

Recently, the Southold Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual fundraising luncheon at the Soundview Restaurant. Peter Clark of Clark’s Gardens on Main Street in Greenport spoke about container gardening.

A reminder to all JV and varsity athletes at Greenport High School: The first day of football practice will be Monday, Aug. 18, at 7 a.m. All other fall sports will begin Monday, Aug. 25. If you haven’t turned them in already, bring your completed sports contracts with you. No one will be allowed on the field without one.

This is something people need to be aware of. Stones with plaques stand on the Mitchell Park site. These are not seats to be sat upon; they are not jungle gyms for children to play on. They were erected in honor of people whom Greenporters wanted to be remembered in a special way. Please treat these stones respectfully. Thank you.

A memorial for Janet Brigham Arnott will be held Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, followed by a gala reception at her summer home at Sandy Beach. The family invites all to celebrate her life and enjoy some of Janet’s favorite foods.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Arlene Hubbard, Connor Stepnoski and Tom Crowley on the 7th; Lisa Dinizio Chapman, Valerie Paladino and Shayann Droege on the 8th; Richard Israel on the 9th; Kip Skrezec, Tara Sledjeski and Kirsten Droskoski on the 11th; Paige Confort on the 12th; Joann Tamin, Karen Rich and (the Hon.) Bill Price on the 13th; my cousin Donna Lessard Zaweski on the 14th; Kelly Sage Sawicki, Tim McElroy and Charla Leden Bova on the 15th; Chris Erickson Dinizio on the 16th; Stephanie Jensen and Mark Lieb on the 17th; Cheryl Rock, Lynsay Koehler and Simone Walsberg on the 18th; Rick Gibbs, Joan Jacobs and Christopher Manwaring on the 19th; and Danielle Walker, Karen Bondarchuk and Patti DeJesus on the 20th.

Celebrating wedding anniversaries will be Stephanie and Bill Gorga, their 12th on the 11th; Judy and Charley Kozora, their 38th on the 15th; Betty and George Capon, their 61st on the 16th; and Amy and Frank Wippert, their 21st on the 20th.

Contact Greenport columnist Joan Dinizio at Lucky1inNY@aol.com or 477-9411.

Marc LaMaina says he no longer wants to be mayor of Greenport Village. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Less than two months after announcing his intent to run for village mayor next year, Greenport business owner Marc LaMaina has put the kibosh on his campaign.

Mr. LaMaina, 33, the owner of Lucharitos on Main Street in Greenport, announced on Facebook Thursday morning that he would no longer be seeking election.

He later told a Suffolk Times reporter that his decision came down to achieving a “work-life balance.”

“It’s a demanding role and I can’t commit enough energy right now,” he said. “It’s not fair to my family.”

In June, Mr. LaMaina said he considered running for the position for three years, with transparency within Village Hall being one of his biggest concerns.

Mr. LaMaina is the first and only person to voice interest in running for the seat so far.

Mayor David Nyce, who is currently serving his second four-year term, has said he will not seek re-election.

The seats of trustees David Murray and George Hubbard, who also serves as deputy mayor, are up in 2015.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Layyah began operating a taxi service without receiving permission from the village. (Cyndi Murray photo)

Seven months after a Greenport convenience store began running a taxi service out of its parking lot without permission, the Planning Board on Thursday night approved its application to do so.

Members voted unanimously to allow Layyah, which is on Front Street, to run a single-taxi service from its existing business on the southeast corner of Front and Fourth streets, board member Pat Mundus said Friday.

Originally, the owner applied to operate a two-taxi operation.

“The Planning Board thought a taxi service was very much needed in Greenport,” Ms. Mundus said.

Since Layyah’s management already began operating the taxi service in February, the vote was — admittedly, by officials — a formality.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Enjoying cocktail hour under the trees. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Eastern Long Island Hospital held its annual summer gala at the former site of the House of the Seven Gables in Orient Saturday evening. 

Highlights of the event included a cocktail hour catered by Christopher Michael Catering followed by a farm-to-table dinner featuring cuisine from the Jamesport Manor Inn.

A capella group Ball in the House provided entertainment. The event also featured a luxury raffle and live auction.

Proceeds benefit the Emergency Department at ELIH in Greenport.

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An auction at White’s Hardware Wednesday attracted a few dozen bidders. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

More than 30 people, some traveling from as far away as Brooklyn, descended on White’s Hardware in Greenport Wednesday morning for an auction of the store’s products as the owners prepare to sell the business. 

Bidding began at the 1930s hardware shop at 11 a.m. with shelves of tools, paint and other supplies available for sale.

“I came here looking for a good deal,” said bidder Calvin George of Brooklyn, who braved the morning’s torrential rains and flooded roads to be at the auction. “It took me two and a half hours to get here, but I wanted to come and see. It is a good auction.”

After nearly two decades in business, Stuart Kogelschatz and his estranged wife, Therese, announced plans to sell their Main Street store and all its products in May.

The couple, which purchased the business from Bob White in 1990, initially hoped a buyer would purchase the business and keep it as is. However, an interest buyer never did come forward.

Mr. Kogelschatz, who could not be reached on Wednesday, previously told the Suffolk Times: “This store is my baby. It is an institution in Greenport. I’ll miss it, but I think right now is the best time to get some new blood in here.”

cmurray@timesreview.com

Fire Fighter docked in Greenport Village. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder, file)

The fireboat Fire Fighter museum is hoping to become the latest vendor at the annual East End Seaport Museum Maritime Festival in September.

The floating museum wants to hold a fundraiser as part of the three-day festival — serving beer and wine to help fund upkeep and maintenance, village clerk Sylvia Pirillo said Monday during the Greenport Village Board meeting.

The museum may need approval from the village first. The Seaport Museum is responsible for approving vendors, but unlike other vendors, the museum is moored on the Railroad Dock, which the village recently acquired control of from the county. Prior to Monday’s meeting, museum president Charlie Ritchie requested the village board grant permission for the fundraiser.

The Seaport Museum guidelines require proper insurance and permits. The board raised concerns about the village’s liability of having alcohol served aboard the vessel.

The board agreed to review the application with the village attorney and the Seaport Museum. A possible vote on the resolution to allow Fire Fighter to serve alcohol during the festival could happen at the next meeting, Aug. 25.

However, some members questioned if a vote was necessary.

“If the fireboat is a part of the Maritime Festival and going through their rules and regulations they really don’t need [board approval],” said Trustee George Hubbard. “I don’t want us to start giving permission to allow certain people to do certain things and taking that authority away from the Seaport Museum because they are the ones that run the whole thing.”

Trustee Julia Robins also raised concerns about people drinking aboard the boat.

“Boarding a vessel is different than walking in the street,” she said. “They could fall in the water.”

The village is currently trying to determine insurance requirements and whether a vote is needed for the application to move forward, Mr. Hubbard said Tuesday.

The 25th annual festival is Sept. 19-21.

cmurray@timesreview.com

LIRR riders board an eastbound train out of Riverhead last summer. (Credit: Steve Rossin, file)

Due to construction projects and track repairs, buses will be replacing Long Island Rail Road trains running between Ronkonkoma and Greenport beginning Sept. 2 and ending Nov. 16, the MTA announced.

The buses will replace four weekday trains — two eastbound and two westbound — between the two train stops while ties are replaced and grade crossings are restored. 

“Whenever Long Island Rail Road plans for service adjustments it always does so with the customer’s needs in mind,” said Meredith Daniels, an MTA spokeswoman.

She said fewer customers are impacted with the mid-day trains.

Heading east, the buses will depart five minutes later than normal train times for the 10:42 a.m. and 2:42 p.m. trains and will make all scheduled stops.

A 10:47 a.m. bus will replace the normal 10:42 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma, arriving in Greenport at 12:12 p.m. A 2:47 p.m. bus will replace the 2:42 p.m. train that travels from Ronkonkoma to Riverhead, arriving in Riverhead at 3:32 p.m.

While traveling west, the bus departures will be earlier than normal train times. A 9:14 a.m. bus will replace the 9:21 a.m. train from Riverhead, and will reach Ronkonkoma at 10:11 a.m. A 12:32 p.m. bus will replace the 12:42 p.m. train from Greenport and will arrive in Ronkonkoma at 2:01 p.m.

The Babylon branch will also have a schedule change during the two months. More information and new timetables can be viewed at www.mta.info/lirr.