The sailboat Optimistic, seen here on the left with sail number 148 behind a fellow racer Buccaneer, jockeys for position before Saturday’s Whitebread race. The boat would later sink off Shelter Island in rough seas.

A 28-foot sailboat participating in Saturday’s 21st annual Whitebread race sank off the coast of Shelter Island during rough seas this morning, the U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed. 

All four crew aboard the boat Optimistic — including owner and skipper Bill Archer — were pulled from the water unharmed by other sailing vessels that quit the race to rescue them, race officials said.

Optimistic began taking on water near the MOA buoy off Ram’s Head in Gardiner’s Bay and sent out a distress call about 11:15 a.m. that was picked up by a Douglass Marine employee, the company confirmed.

When the employee attempted to contact Optimistic again, there was no reply.

Douglass Marine contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, which had not heard the distress call, and sent boats out to the scene to rescue anyone in the rough seas.

About that time, Mahlon Russell and his crew aboard Sea Breeze were rounding Shelter Island and were about 1,000 yards away when they saw Optimistic in distress.

“They were flooding and sinking,” he said. “The people were scampering to the front of the boat. It was going down stern first.”

The crew aboard Sea Breeze dumped the wind from its sails, dropping out of the race.

“We were actually doing pretty well in the race,” he joked. “But so what? C’est la vie.”

They turned back around to help Optimistic and were first on the scene.

“We threw some life flings out,” Mr. Russell said. “By then the boat was sunk and they were in the water floating and [we] dragged them over to our boat.”

Tidelines, another boat from the race helmed by Bob McIlvain, also stopped to help and pulled Mr. Archer from the water. 

The three remaining crew — two men and one woman — were rescued by Sea Breeze.

Race officials received second-hand notification of the sinking by witnesses after the distress calls never reached their radios due to low signal strength, said Dave Bergen, who was stationed near Cedar Point on the auxiliary racing committee boat.

A Suffolk Times reporter who was aboard that auxiliary committee boat Sol Searcher, anchored a few miles southeast of the sinking, also didn’t hear any distress call over the radio.

Optimistic apparently sank quickly, having been completely below the water by the time the Coast Guard arrived from Montauk with a 47-footer and the Cutter Ridley, said Petty Officer Jason Rodocker.

Mr. Russell said the boat went down in a matter of minutes.

He says the boat appears to have taken on water after a wave crashed over the bow, flooding the cockpit of the sailboat. Optimistic began taking on more water as each passing wave on the deck weighed down the ship more, Mr. Russell said.

The four crew members were placed aboard Sea Breeze and taken back to land at Greenport. Tidelines headed back to New Suffolk where the race began.

Optimistic was one of 92 boats competing in the race that began at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. The racers followed the course north around the west side of Shelter Island and then back to Cutchogue Harbor.

Race officials said the Whitebread has never been cancelled due to poor weather, adding that wind conditions were worse during last year’s run.

Though vessels have previously been de-masted and had their rudders torn off by high winds, no ship has sunk before, Mr. Bergen said.

This also wasn’t the first time Optimistic has issues during a Whitebread race. Last year, the boat did not finish the race, according to results. Mr. Bergen said the boat had begun taking on water near Greenport and turned back to port.

Mr. Russell said he’s never had to rescue another boater in more than nearly 30 years of sailing.

“I’ve never seen a boat sink in a race,” he said. “And I’ve raced a lot. I’ve seen boats have collisions and that kind of stuff and lent a hand … but never anything like this.”

psquire@timesreview.com

‘Family Tree In Winter’ by Daniel Jones.

• Work by photographers Daniel Jones and Jim Sabiston will be on view Oct. 4 to Nov. 3 at South Street Gallery in Greenport. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. 

In his large-format landscape photography, Mr. Jones “strives to capture the atmosphere as well as the majestic beauty of his subjects,” according to a press release. Mr. Sabiston, whose style is “rooted in a zen-influenced photographic realism,” has recently been merging photography and painting.

• East End Arts will present an ‘Arts Mean Business’ seminar and networking party Thursday, Oct. 9, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. The event’s theme is “Arts and Downtown.” Keynote speaker Michelle Isabelle-Stark, program coordinator in the office of film and cultural affairs, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, will give a presentation on “Destination Downtown,” an initiative focused on creative ways to collaborate on downtown revitalization efforts. There will also be a panel discussion for artists and business owners about partnering on projects to strengthen a town’s economic vitality.

The public is welcome. Tickets are $15 in advance or $10 for members of EEA, Eastern Long Island Executives and the Riverhead and Westhampton Beach chambers of commerce. Tickets at the door are $20. For information and registration, go to eastendarts.org under Events.

• The 10 winners of East End Arts’ fire hydrant design project, “All Fired Up on Main!,” have been announced. They are Tana Lee Alves of Water Mill; Suffolk Theater owner Bob Castaldi; Michele Czwartacki of Mount Sinai; Peter Levine of Patchogue; Drew Lockwood and Emily Lockwood, both of Greenlawn; Arlene McLoughlin of Massapequa; Caitlyn Shea of Melville; Joanne Touch of Setauket; and Barbara Wooten of Riverhead.

Painting of the hydrants, all in downtown Riverhead, will be completed by Oct. 10. An awards ceremony will be held Sunday, Oct. 12, during the Riverhead Country Fair. An artists’ reception will be held Oct. 31, during the Riverhead Edgar Allan Poe Festival.

To send arts news, email lsisson@timesreview.com, fax to 298-3287, or mail to Times/Review Newspapers, P.O. Box 1500, Mattituck, NY 11952. Copy deadline: Wednesday at 5 p.m. to appear the following week.

Gordon Haas is led into Southold Town Justice Court Sunday morning. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

The Greenport High School math teacher who was arrested on a grand larceny charge Saturday afternoon after stealing cash from the wallet of another patron at a restaurant in Southold was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment Sunday morning. 

Gordon Haas, 54, of East Marion appeared wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes and a hooded purple and gold Greenport mathematics sweatshirt at his arraignment before Judge William Price, who ordered him released on his own recognizance. He is expected to return to court Friday before Judge Rudolph Bruer.

Gordon Haas

Mr. Haas, who has at least two prior arrests, admitted to the owner of Founders Tavern on Main Road in Southold that he stole the cash after another patron reported it missing, according to a source familiar with the incident.

The other patron had accidentally left his iPhone and the wallet, which has $570 cash in it, behind in the bathroom around 1 p.m., the source said. Mr. Haas found the items in the bathroom, removed the cash from the wallet and hid the wallet and iPhone in the tank of the toilet, the source said.

After the other patron realized the items were missing he searched the bathroom and later found them inside the tank. The iPhone was broken and the cash had been removed from the wallet, the source said.

The owner of the bar asked his patrons who took the money and Mr. Haas, who was seated at the bar, confessed after the owner said security cameras set up outside the bathroom would indicate who took the money, the source said.

He was charged with fourth degree grand larceny, police said.

Mr. Haas was previously arrested in December 2007 on an aggravated DWI charge following an early evening incident in which he attempted to flee the scene on foot, according to a prior Suffolk Times report. He was also arrested on a DWI charge in January 1990 and later that month pleaded guilty to a driving while ability impaired charge, we reported at the time.

He told Judge Price he had one prior DWI conviction during his arraignment Sunday.

A 27-year teacher at Greenport High School, Mr. Haas is the chairman of the mathematics department and a past president of the teachers union.

gparpan@timesreview.com

The 1961 American film “Paris Blues” directed by Martin Ritt is playing Thursday night at Floyd Memorial Library in Greenport.

The movie is part of the library’s Fall Film Festival. The free event starts at 6 p.m.

For more information, call 631-477-0660.

A 20-year-old from Greenport was arrested after he allegedly stole a bicycle on Main Street Thursday evening, Southold Town police said in a press release issued Sunday morning. 

Gregory Vankesteren was arrested after a police officer recognized him while observing footage from a surveillance camera that captured the bike’s removal, police said.

Mr. Vankesteren was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and held for arraignment, police said.

Artist Andrea Cote is planning a project of video portraits to be exhibited in December and January at Floyd Memorial Library in Greenport. 

For “A Port of Views,” Ms. Cote seeks individuals whose families have lived in Greenport for at least four generations, up to the present. Ms. Cote will interview participants and take photographs of the eyes of family members, in some cases from old pictures.

To volunteer or suggest families that might participate, contact Ms. Cote at andrea@andreaspace.net.

From left, Smithtown Christian’s Timothy Voisich and Greenport’s Robert Nickolas and Angel Colon in action during Friday night’s game. {Credit: Garret Meade)

KNIGHTS 2, PORTERS 1

Greenport forward Bayron Rivas was on the doorstep of the Smithtown Christian goal, with a prime scoring opportunity, only to see it snuffed out by goalkeeper George Flores. Later in the first half of the high school boys soccer game, Greenport defender Alex Perez cleared a ball off the goal line, only to see it sail just beyond the top of the penalty area, where Smithtown Christian midfielder Nikita Grob picked it out of the air with a spectacular left-footed volley that he drilled into the net for a 1-0 lead.

That dramatic contrast between a seemingly sure goal denied and a goal out of nowhere, Greenport coach Chris Golden said, tells the story of the Porters’ season.

The final home game of the Porters’ difficult season on Friday night featured three brilliant goals worthy of a highlight reel. Unfortunately for the Porters, two of them belonged to Smithtown Christian.

An expertly taken free kick by Timothy Voisich found the left side of the net in the 62nd minute, giving Smithtown Christian a 2-0 lead on the way to a 2-1 triumph at Greenport High School’s Dorrie Jackson Memorial Field. It was the fourth straight loss for the Porters (2-13, 2-9 in Suffolk County League VIII).

A little over two minutes after that goal, Omar Machado cranked in a beauty himself, nailing a shot in off the far right goal post.

Machado, a senior midfielder, twice came close to equalizing. He tipped a shot that the onrushing Flores got a piece of, forcing a corner kick in the 68th minute. Then, with an open goal facing him in the 72nd minute, Machado shot high.

Smithtown Christian (7-3-1, 7-2-1) outshot Greenport, 17-8, but the Porters had good scoring chances. One of the best came when Rivas charged in on goal, with only Flores to beat in the 52nd minute. Flores, however, managed to make enough contact with the ball to deflect it off the crossbar before collecting the rebound in his arms.

The Porters lost one of their players when Eduardo Sanchez landed hard on his back after challenging for a head ball four minutes into the match. The sophomore midfielder was kept out of the remainder of the game as a precautionary measure.

Greenport defender Justin Bracken was assigned the task of marking arguably Smithtown Christian’s most dangerous player, Charles Bellini, and did a commendable job. Bellini took four shots, all of which went wide of the mark.

It was Senior Night, and before the game, the Porters’ five seniors — Angel Colon, Niklas Droskoski, Robert Nickolas, Alex Perez and Machado — were honored. After each of them was announced, they walked to the middle of the field, where the Greenport athletic director, Jim Caliendo, handed them flowers.

bliepa@timesreview.com

Southold Town Police announced three drunken driving arrests in press releases issued Sunday morning. 

• A 67-year-old Southold woman with a prior DWI conviction was arrested after a police received a phone call saying she was swerving into oncoming traffic nearly causing several head-on collisions, police said.

Ruth Mushcamp was arrested at 8:38 p.m. Saturday on Silver Colt Road in Cutchogue, police said. (Editor’s Note: It was not clear from the press release which road Ms. Mushcamp was traveling on when police were notified, though it was stated that she was headed east and crossed into westbound traffic. Silver Colt Road connects to Route 48. A duty officer could not clarify Sunday morning.)

Ms. Mushcamp was charged with a felony DWI after failing several roadside sobriety tests and she was transported to police headquarters where she was held for arraignment, police said. Her vehicle was seized due to the prior conviction.

• A 42-year-old Mattituck man was arrested after he was observed crossing the double yellow lines on Westphalia Road in Mattituck late Saturday night.

Andrzej Wojtas was traveling northbound on Westphalia Road near Youngs Avenue when he was stopped, police said. The odor of alcohol was detected on his breath, police said.

He was charged with a felony DWI after failing several roadside sobriety tests and was transported to police headquarters where he was held overnight for arraignment, police said

• A 25-year-old Greenport man who was stopped for speeding along Route 48 near Albertson Lane was arrested after he was found to be driving drunk shortly after midnight Sunday morning, police said.

Mynor Gomez was charged with misdemeanor DWI and transported to police headquarters.

Bethzy Lopez in 2012. (Credit: Courtesy of Fe Fuerza Vida, Spanish language newspaper of the Diocese of Rockville Centre)

Bethzy Lopez lived life to the fullest, those who knew her said.

The 7-year-old loved dressing up and painting her fingernails: pink and purple were her favorite colors to splash on the end of her fingers.

The Greenport girl also loved attending birthday parties, going to church and playing with her two younger siblings.

“No matter what her obstacles were she just charged right through them,” said Sister Margaret Smyth of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, who was close with Bethzy and her family. “She was bright, funny, and bilingual.”

Bethzy died Sunday after living with a genetic disorder that affected her heart and lungs, and prevented her body from getting enough oxygen. She was tethered to an oxygen tank by a tube inserted in her throat and she was the size of a 1 1/2-year-old child, Sister Margaret said. 

“All her life she reacted like every other child,” Sister Margaret said. “She loved to tease and she liked being the center of attention.”

Greenport elementary principal Joseph Tsaveras informed the district of the young student’s death today in an email.

“It is with deep regret, that I inform you that we have lost one of our young Porters,” he wrote. “She was truly an inspiration to all. She was just 7 years young. She fought a tough battle with the will to never give up.”

She was in the presence of family at Stony Brook University Medical Center when she died.  Services are being handled by Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, where details are still being worked out.

cmiller@timesreview.com

Mitchell Park. (File photo)

Greenport Village officials appear to be leaning toward placing a permanent ban on issuing mass assembly permits for the use of Mitchell Park. 

Conversation about handling the influx of events at the park picked up again during Monday’s Village Board work session, four months after members unanimously voted in favor of a temporary moratorium on park events. During the meeting, members said they wanted to see a ban on park events that aren’t sponsored by the village.

“I think we need to stop permits altogether, with the exemption of village run events,” Trustee Dave Murray said. “If we don’t we are going to have events there every Saturday and Sunday. I don’t think that is what the public wants.”

“When [Mitchell Park] was created I though it was intended to be the public’s park … but there has been a proliferation of events,” said Trustee Julia Robins. “I have to agree with Trustee Murray.”

Until this summer, the board said it considered issuing mass assembly permits on a case-by-case basis. However, 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.

Since enacting the temporary ban, members said they have considered several options to limit events, including raising the application fee for mass assembly permits.  During a July’s regular board meeting, residents said they wanted to know if state and federal grant money used to build Mitchell Park imposed restrictions on the property. On Monday, village attorney Joe Prokop said that according to the state and federal government the fee can’t be the mechanism to prohibit use of the park by people who can’t pay. The fee, he said, would have to correlate with what it costs the village to maintain the park following the event.

Mayor David Nyce and the village attorney said raising the fee could potentially open up the village to a discrimination lawsuit filed by groups that can’t afford to pay.  Also, raising the fee may not reduce the number of events in the park, the mayor said.

“We would have to accept any and all that can pay,” Mr. Nyce said.

Members are now working on compiling a list of restrictions for park events. The board is expected have a draft law prepared for next month’s work session. Public comment on the proposed law is still being accepted at the village clerk’s office.

cmurray@timesreview.com

Tuesday night’s Greenport Board of Education meeting. (Credit: Paul Squire)

Several concerned parents spoke at Tuesday night’s Greenport school board meeting, asking for greater communication from the district in the wake of the arrest of a Greenport student in last Tuesday’s Southold shooting. 

Superintendent David Gamberg said he agreed that school security would need to be improved, though he noted that the incident occurred off school grounds.

But it was a student who stood up at the meeting and told the audience that he and his classmates are often warned about the dangers of gangs and that parents shouldn’t fear for their safety.

“The teachers that we have, we talk about things like this. We talk about how there are ways out of gangs,” said David Krumenacker, the high school student council vice president. “To think that the school isn’t safe just because this occurred isn’t true.”

More than a dozen other high school students, who attended the meeting to voice support for a senior class trip, applauded after he spoke.
Responding to parents, Mr. Gamberg said the district had to “guard against the kind of behaviors that might lean towards being illegal and just being watchful for things that aren’t helpful.”

He noted that it wasn’t just gangs, but also drug abuse and other serious problems that teachers know to look out for.

Mr. Gamberg said he has personal experience dealing with at-risk youth, and told the crowd he had worked as a teacher in a prison for four years and has seen what happens to children who “unfortunately succumbed to that lifestyle.”

Still, parents asked why there hadn’t been a statement from the school notifying residents of what occurred in Southold last week.

Others asked if the district had bilingual teachers who were trained to be on the lookout for gang activity; the student allegedly involved in last week’s shooting is accused of being a member of MS-13, a Hispanic street gang.

Mr. Gamberg said the school does have bilingual teachers, but that gangs are not just a Hispanic phenomenon.

“The issue of involvement in gangs can transcend race and culture and ethnicity,” he said. “It’s very important to remember that. It’s not just the Spanish-speaking population, though I understand why that’s being talked about in this particular case.”

He said the district is working with police investigators and would also try to have lecturers come in to speak with teachers about ways to find out if students are joining gangs.

He told The Suffolk Times that the district’s biggest tool was the close relationships between students and the teachers who can mentor them.
“We’re considerably smaller than Riverhead and other districts,” he said. “And the kind of relationships students have with teachers are the best asset to ward off [gang involvement].”

psquire@timesreview.com

Meet JP Meehan of Greenport. 

On his way to school Thursday, the 6-year-old noticed a flag that had been blown to the ground during the overnight nor’easter. Instead of just driving past it, he asked his mother to pull over.

He got out of the car and picked up the wet flag from the ground.

Then he continued on his way to school.

“His father served in Iraq,” JP’s mom Patricia Eckardt wrote in an email to The Suffolk Times. “He is very proud of his father and country.”

JP’s father served in the Army.

The Third Street basketball court was resurfaced in August. (Credit: Cyndi Murray ,file)

A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday will commemorate the official renaming of the “Third Street Memorial Basketball Court” in Greenport. 

The newly renovated park will be named in honor of four residents who lost their lives at early ages.

The dedication honors residents Corey Freeman, Michael Brown, Kyle Rose and Jefferson “Naquawn” Treadwel, who died in separate accidents and shared a love for the park.

Food and refreshments will be available.

Greenport Fire Department is testing the village’s fire hydrants Sunday. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

The Greenport Fire Department is holding its annual fire hydrant testing Sunday between 9 a.m. and noon.

The only hydrants included in the testing are located in the incorporated Village of Greenport. Testing may cause discoloration of the water during this time frame, fire officials cautioned.

A Greenport woman was caught driving with a revoked license Sunday after police noticed her SUV had switched license plates, according to a Southold Town police news release.

Deborah Ryan, 55, was stopped on Center Street in Greenport about 1:50 p.m. while driving a 1998 Ford Explorer, police said. Officers found that Ms. Ryan’s license had been revoked and that she was also driving uninsured, according to the news release.

She was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, as well as violations for switched plates, unlicensed driving and having an uninsured vehicle, police said. She was taken back to police headquarters and released on cash bail.

psquire@timesreview.com

Olive Oils from Vines & Branches

Northforker.com presents our latest “Experience North Fork” Giveaway. We are giving away great prizes through rafflecopter that only take a second to enter multiple times.

Vines & Branches in Greenport is our latest partner. Enter to win a $100 gift certificate to this gourmet Olive Oil & Vinegar store. In addition to their well-known olive oils and vinegars, Vines & Branches also offers a wide collection of specialty items such as private label herbs, sea salts and seasonings, as well as gourmet mustards, tapenades, soups salsas and dips. All of these items, as well as our unique gifts and holistic olive oil-based skin care products make a perfect gift for any occasion!

You can enter until Monday, November 3rd at 2:00PM.

Otto Schoenstein the East End Seaport Museum in Greenport. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder, file)

Tomorrow brings the end of yet another month. It seems like only yesterday I was talking about the beginning of another school year and we’re already two months into it. Time sure does pass quickly. 

The East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation will screen a film about Otto Schoenstein, the philanthropic Greenport craftsman who served as grand marshal for this year’s Maritime Festival, at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Floyd Memorial Library. Admission is free and the film will be followed by a Q&A with Otto and filmmakers Marla Milne and Tony Bettler, also of Greenport. Beverages and snacks will be served.

• The pastor and members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church offer their sincere gratitude to the community for supporting their annual Harvest Festival. The event’s success is due to the generosity of those who made donations and those who attended.

• San Simeon by the Sound is planning a trip to Foxwoods and/or Mohegan Sun for Monday, Nov. 17. The ferry leaves at 10 a.m. and the cost is $30 per person. Reservations are a must. To make yours, call San Simeon at 477-2110 or Paula Thorp at 477-2392.

• Holy Trinity Church will hold its annual harvest dinner fundraiser this Saturday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. The fare will feature “American comfort food”: roast turkey, London broil, roast loin of pork and local vegetables, served buffet-style and accompanied by wine, homemade desserts, coffee and tea. Call Rich at 477-0855 for tickets, group seating and takeout. Send checks to Holy Trinity Dinner, P.O. Box 502, Greenport, NY 11944. Limited tickets will be available at the door.

• Greenport’s American Legion Burton Potter Post has a couple of events planned for Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11. At 11 a.m., post members will dedicate the skating rink to the memory and honor of George Costello Sr. The event will take place in front of the rink and move indoors if it rains.

The legion hall will also host a benefit Veterans Day dinner Nov. 10 and 11 at Skipper’s Restaurant, from noon to 9 p.m. both days. Tickets are $20 per person. Contact any legion member for tickets or get them at the door.

• Who among us will celebrate a birthday in the near future? Here they are: Adele Cassone, Oct. 30; David Urban, Oct. 31; Vicky Chute and Taj McKenzie, Nov. 1; Sally Corwin, “Sooty” Jimenez and Sean McElroy, Nov. 2; Brian Lehmann, Sue Tyler and Chris Doucett Sr., Nov. 3; Chris North, Nov. 6; Sue Raynor, Barbara Richter, Sean Furman and Suzanne Pacholk, Nov. 7; my uncle Jack Heaney, Tara Detrick and Chris Quillin, Nov. 8; Tanya Gates, Nov. 9; my cousin Greg Wallace, Billy Robins, Jenna Finne and Ron Rock, Nov. 10; Charlie Corwin and Margaret Hurley, Nov. 11; and Jessica Middleton, Nov. 12.

• Dancing once again to “The Anniversary Waltz” are Cheryl and Ron Rock, married 23 years on Nov. 2; Regina and George Cartselos, 13 years on Nov. 5; Sally and Ray Corwin, 39 years on Nov. 5; and my aunt and uncle Maria and Bernie Heaney on Nov. 11.

GREENPORT

To the Editor:

Over the past month, a Greenport teacher and at least one student have been arrested in unrelated incidents, and while both events have seen media coverage, neither incident seemed to warrant much messaging from the Greenport School District.

Last year, crisis-type incidents also went unaddressed. These issues are part of the world we live in and are not unique to Greenport; every community will face similar controversies and tough issues. However, how these issues are dealt with and communicated about speaks volumes to the integrity of a school community.

And Greenport has been largely silent — most importantly, to the families that make up the school.

No message identified that the school was even aware of these issues, very little was said to the press, and students were not addressed by administration. I realize that there are protocols of confidentiality, but addressing controversies as they arise can be done without breaching privacies. By keeping a policy of silence on these and any other issues we might not even know about, Greenport unintentionally conveys a policy of acceptance.

Saying nothing says that Greenport either turns a blind eye to issues of controversy, or doesn’t take these issues and their future impact seriously.

It’s my hope this isn’t true, but silence does Greenport no favors. Possibly there are actions and conversations being had internally to amend and move past these circumstances, but I wouldn’t know. Nothing has been said. When asked why the district has not communicated with the school community, more than once I was given a response that had no connection to the question asked.

Greenport is capable of communicating. When faced with a shorter football season, a special meeting was held to address parents and discuss the impact of a shorter season. Apparently, football ranks higher than criminal activity on the priority list.

I can say that as a parent, the message I’m getting is that Greenport is silent in the face of conflict. So far, I’ve heard nothing to dispute this fact.

Rosalie Rung

Several people are reporting seeing a Northern Right Whale in Greenport Thursday. (Credit: Paul Squire)

Ronnie Pringle of Greenport couldn’t believe his eyes Thursday.

He was at Sixth Street Beach in the village when he looked out over the water and spotted something highly unusual.

“I saw a geyser and then what looked like the hump on a whale,” he said. “Then it came full out of the water.” 

Mr. Pringle is one of several people who spoke with The Suffolk Times Thursday to report the whale sighting. He said he saw it around 3:30 p.m.

U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Peter Winters confirmed the sightings, saying Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation volunteers have identified the mammal as a Northern Right Whale, a federally endangered species.

North Ferry general manager Bridg Hunt said a member of his morning crew also saw the whale Thursday.

“He came to tell me and he was so excited,” Mr. Hunt said. “He told me the whale was swimming alongside the boat.”

Mr. Hunt said a whale sighting is extremely rare for the ferry company, which connects Greenport to Shelter Island, and he couldn’t recall another instance of it in recent years.

Scientists from NOAA Fisheries Service approaching a young North Atlantic right whale they disentangled on Jan. 15 off Cape Canaveral in Florida. (NOAA News Archive 011811)

Mr. Pringle said it was like something “on the Discovery Channel.”

“I told a couple people who looked at me like I told them I saw a space ship,” the Second Street resident said.

Mr. Pringle said he didn’t run to get his camera because he didn’t want to take his eyes off the mammal, which has no dorsal fin, before it swam away.

Mr. Winters said the whale doesn’t appear to be stranded. ”It is swimming freely,” he said.

Riverhead Foundation officials estimated the whale to be between 40 and 50 feet long. The Coast Guard has issued a “safety marine broadcast” to alert boaters that a whale is in the area, Mr. Winters said.

“[Boaters] have to stay 500 yards away from it if it’s sighted, as it is a protected species,” he said.

Officials are hoping the whale successfully passes Gardiners Bay and heads back into the ocean.

The Northern Right whale weighs up to 70 tons, reaching about 50 feet in length, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.  The state DEC estimates the population to total no more than 600 individuals, 300 to 350 of which can be found in the North Atlantic Ocean.

This type of whale is more rare than the humpback whale, of which between 2,000 to 4,000 remain in the western North Atlantic. In August, the Wildlife Conservation Society released a photo of a humpback whale feeding in the Atlantic Ocean just a few miles from New York City. CBS News reported in August that there were more than 50 whale sightings reported near the city this summer.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Portions of Moores Lane in Greenport will be repave prior to winter. (Cyndi Murray photo)

Village Board members approved up to $120,000 in spending to repave two roads in Greenport prior to the winter.

The board voted 5-0 during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to pave portions of Moores Lane, as well as a small portion of Main Street from Bridge Street to First Street.

The village awarded the contract to Corazzini Asphalt Inc. While it is projected that the paving will cost less than $100,000, Mayor David Nyce said the board allocated the additional money from the village’s general fund in case unexpected costs arise.

The move comes almost a month after village and state officials couldn’t reach a deal to include the village portion of Route 25 to be repaved as a part of the DOT’s $6.9 million repaving of the road elsewhere on the North Fork. Instead, the village, town and DOT are looking into joint federal grants to repave the village-maintained portion of Route 25 in the future.

There are also preliminary talks for DOT to take over the maintenance of Route 25 all together in the future, Mr. Nyce said.

Tuesday’s vote is a short-term solution to repair the roads before the winter, he said.

“We need to do something before the winter hits,” Mr. Nyce said.

“We know that area needs to be paved, so we decided that as long as we were getting some of Main Street done we would get Moores Lane done as well,” village administrator Paul Pallas said prior to the vote.

The repair work is expected to take about a day to complete.

Although no start date has been selected the mayor said the work needs to be done “as soon as possible” to beat the winter weather.

Detour notices will be issued prior to the paving.

The board also voted Tuesday to fund $32,000 worth of repairs to the east pier at Mitchell Park Marina, another time-sensitive project, officials said.

cmurray@timesreview.com