Bishop McGann-Mercy wore stylish throwback baseball uniforms. Greenport went old school itself, playing throwback ball with only nine players. That wasn’t by choice, of course.

Mercy’s white uniforms come with horizontal green and gold stripes on the tops with an Old English “M” that also adorns the green caps.

“They look great,” said coach Ed Meier.

Mercy typically wears the throwbacks every third game, but since Saturday’s contest in Greenport was a makeup game, the decision to wear them came on a vote by the players.

The Monarchs played as well as they looked in those uniforms, jumping on inexperienced Greenport from the start for a 22-2 trouncing of the Porters at Robert Constantini Field.

More than anything else for Mercy, perhaps, the Suffolk County League IX game served as a trial for pitcher Ethan Aube. The sophomore righthander didn’t disappoint in his first career varsity pitching start. Over five innings, he gave up six hits, two runs (one earned), a walk and struck out two. By throwing two-seamers, four-seamers and mixing in an occasional curveball, Aube remained in control of his pitches and the game.

“That’s my job. That’s what I’m going to do,” he said of finding the strike zone. “I knew I was going to be nervous, but you just got to shake it off and throw strikes. I felt good.”

Andrew Smith and Christian Atkinson each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Meier liked what he saw from Aube. Asked what he thought of Aube’s work, Meier replied: “Great. He threw strikes, mixed it up well. He did a great job. We’re kicking the tires today. Hey, if you can throw strikes, you’ll be out on the mound for us, and he threw strikes today. We were kind of auditioning for a starting pitcher.”

Judging by this performance, Aube could be another option for a starting staff that includes Matt Chilicki, Allan Zilnicki and Joe Marti.

Greenport was missing players for various reasons and had no bench players available. That didn’t help a struggling team already beset with other issues.

Mercy, coming off a 4-16 season, is vastly improved. The Monarchs (6-4, 6-4) believe their current record should be even better.

“We had a stretch of bad luck lately,” Meier said. “I think we’ve just been hitting into hard outs and lost a few one-run games that we’d like to have back. That’s baseball, but I feel like we’ve been playing better than our record.”

They sure did on Saturday.

It was a good day for the Monarchs to bump up their statistics, and they did so. Phil Marino and Sean Hinck knocked in three runs apiece. Smith and Marti had two RBIs each. Leadoff batter Christian Doroski walked three times, stole four bases and scored four runs.

By the time all the damage was done, eight Mercy batters contributed to an 11-hit total. The Monarchs stole 11 bases.

“I think they put together a complete game today,” said Meier.

What really stood out, though, were the errors upon errors committed by Greenport (1-9, 1-9). There were 14 in all, including six in a nightmarish seventh inning in which Mercy scored seven times.

“We’re all trying to work hard here,” said Jordan Fonseca (3-for-4), who played shortstop and threw three innings of relief for Greenport. “We’ve just had a lot of adversity to overcome. I mean, we’re always the underdog in every situation. We have to prove that we can fight with other teams.”

“I knew today was going to be tough,” he continued. “We just need to keep working out there in practice. We just need to get better.”

Mercy, meanwhile, seems to be getting better. For one thing, the Monarchs look to have found a starting pitcher.

Said Meier, “We’re always looking for more starting pitching.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Jordan Fonseca (3-for-4) pitched three innings of relief for Greenport after playing shortstop in Saturday’s game against Bishop McGann-Mercy. (Credit: Bob Liepa)

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Three Greenport school records were set Saturday in the Westhampton Beach Invitational by Hayley Brigham, Blayr Corazzini and Emily Russell. They all broke records they had previously set.

Brigham clocked 1 minute, 12.66 seconds to finish ninth in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. The senior broke her own mark of 1:13.6, set earlier this year.

Corazzini, a senior, was 14th in the 1,500-meter race walk in 8:44.91, a significant improvement from the 9:30 she posted in 2016.

Russell, a junior, cleared 4 feet, 10 inches to finish first in the high jump novice. The previous record of 4-8 was set earlier this season.

Greenport sophomore Kat Kilcommons was second in the 400 hurdles novice in 1:13.03.

Photo caption: Hayley Brigham set a Greenport school record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles with a time of 1 minute, 12.66 seconds. (Courtesy photo)

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A proposed 50-unit affordable rental project in Greenport received positive feedback from residents who spoke at the Southold Town Planning Board’s public hearing Monday. But concerns were raised about traffic, the environment and what “affordable” really means. 

The proposed Vineyard View project features seven buildings containing 14 one-bedroom, 22 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom apartments on a 17.2-acre site on County Road 48 in Greenport. A community center is proposed for the center of the property along with picnic tables and a playground. The project was first unveiled in December.

Ten acres of the property would be preserved as open space in the Hamlet Density zoning district east of Chapel Lane, according to the site plan application.

Allen Handelman, vice president of Conifer Realty, LLC, which is heading the project, said he met with local fire departments, school superintendents, civic groups and Greenport Village trustees to discuss what they’d like to see in the area. He said they took into consideration a failed proposal for condominiums and workforce housing at the same site that dated back several years. He said the Vineyard View project would be 50 percent less dense than the failed Northwind Village plan.

“These meetings enhanced our understanding of the town and the challenge of finding affordable housing for the long-term residents and employees of key industries,” Mr. Handelman said. “The advent of AirBnB and other similar services have resulted in the loss of many rental units in the town, with landlords realizing greater revenues during peak seasons.”

The Community Development Corporation of Long Island partnered with Southold Town to make this proposal happen, and were also involved with the Cottages at Mattituck, according to Glen Williams, vice president of asset management and community development for CDCLI.

Residents who spoke Monday favored the project and said there is a dire need for affordable housing in Greenport.

“One of the biggest barriers to self-sufficiency for our clients is affordable housing,” said Cathy Demeroto, director of Community Action Southold Town. “When people are spending a large share of their money on rent, they can’t afford food. When families don’t have adequate nutrition, this will negatively impact their health and it will also have an impact on children’s ability to learn.”

Mr. Handelman said that the units would remain affordable for 50 years under a regulatory agreement, with rents mandated by New York State and indexed to the area median income. Rents have not been set since it is too early in the process. After 50 years, the dwellings will rent for market rate.

Some in attendance called for an environmental impact study and a new traffic study. The last traffic study was done near Youngs Avenue in 2015, but residents worried that location was too far from the projected site to be meaningful.

“On the application, they checked ‘no’ for any substantial increase in traffic and I think that’s something you should have a second look at,” said Anne Murray of East Marion. “I’m also concerned for the need for a left-turning lane. There have been many deer strikes by that turn so it’s a dangerous roadway so I urge you to do another traffic study.”

Attorney Abigail Field raised environmental concerns. She was representing neighbors across the street from the site who could not attend the meeting. She said that while the project incorporates stormwater retention areas and planting of native plants, other issues could come up, like possible endangered wetlands or the use of pesticides getting into bodies of water.

Planning Board vice president Jim Rich said that there would be a new state environmental quality review, but it has not been decided whether an environmental impact study will be required.

rsiford@timesreview.com

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In less than a month, Olivia Valle will stand on that stage at Bishop-McGann Mercy High School and look out at the audience — fellow classmates wearing green and white gowns, the teachers who have inspired her and alumni of the close-knit Riverhead Catholic school. To have the opportunity to address the class as valedictorian is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for any student. For Olivia, it will be so much more.

“It makes a sentimental event even more sentimental,” she said. “I want to make [my speech] good. People are distraught. This is everyone’s graduation and a lot of alumni will be there … This feels even more sentimental because there’s nothing to come back to, and that’s really sad.”

The sudden announcement in March that the Diocese of Rockville Centre would close the school at the end of the school year put the Class of 2018 in the unexpected position of being the final group of students to receive diplomas as Monarchs. The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6.

McGann-Mercy recently announced the 10 top-ranking students in that final graduating class, with Olivia, of Hampton Bays, at the top, joined by her close friend Isabella Sorgi as salutatorian. During the 58th commencement ceremony they’ll both be tasked with summing up what their school has meant to them.

“It’s so amazing that we’re No. 1 and 2,” Olivia said. “I have never felt a competition with her. We work off each other, not against each other … I’m happy my best friend is salutatorian because it’s like we did it together.”

Olivia compiled a 102.783 grade point average to earn valedictorian honors. Isabella, also of Hampton Bays, is one grade point behind her at 101.348.

The friends are also co-captains of Mercy’s varsity softball team, on which they’ve both played for four years.

While they share other similarities, such as volunteering at their local churches, they have varying interests.

Isabella, 18, plays tennis, is editor-in-chief of Mercy’s student newspaper and is a member of the science and math National Honor societies. She is also vice president of Mercy’s chapter of the National Honor Society.

Outside school she is a lifelong piano player. This past summer, she visited family in Finland, where she interned doing social work and helped Somali refugees assimilate to Finnish culture.

This desire to help people fueled Isabella’s college decision. She will attend the New York University’s Stern School of Business to pursue a degree in business and political economy.

“I’ve always had an interest in helping people,” she said. “When looking at the future, I think being successful, in my opinion, is being able to make a difference. This is the way I will be able to make a difference hopefully.”

The top 10 students in McGann-Mercy’s last graduating class. Back row: Mercator Osinski, Margaret Gazda, Kate Wilkie, Olivia Kneski and Maria Lucatorto. Front row: Olivia Valle, Isabella Sorgi, Vanessa Quiros, Laura Naranjo and Ailsa Augustyn (Credit: McGann-Mercy

Olivia, 17, is headed to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she plans to major in neuroscience and minor in management and leadership.

At Mercy she ran varsity cross-country and winter track all four years. In 10th grade, she joined the club Mercy on a Mission. Each year members pick a charity and raise nearly $10,000 for it.

She’s also been a Girl Scout for 13 years, completing her bronze, silver and gold awards. For her silver award, Olivia and a friend raised money to purchase the scoreboard for the Mercy softball field. She also participates with her dad in the annual Polar Plunge at Coopers Beach in Southampton.

Olivia credited Mercy’s small size and desire to include everyone for allowing her to be so involved.

“You don’t get lost in the numbers here,” she said. “I can name everyone in my grade, no problem. And everyone can be involved in whatever they want to do. It’s really great.”

Rounding out the top 10 of the 2018 graduating class are, in order, Maria Lucatorto, Mercator Osinski, Olivia Kneski, Vanessa Quiros, Laura Naranjo, Margaret Gazda, Kate Wilkie and Ailsa Augustyn.

The girls agreed that what they will miss most about the East End’s only Catholic high school is the people they’ve met — peers, teachers, parents and community members alike.

“I think what’s special about Mercy is the feeling of family and community and the sense of pride and love that exists within the Mercy community,” Isabella said. “It’s something I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else.”

Top photo caption: Olivia Valle was named valedictorian of McGann-Mercy’s final graduating class. The 17-year-old plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology next year. (Credit: Nicole Smith) 

nsmith@timesreview.com

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Peconic Landing hosted its annual John May Mile under grey skies in Greenport Saturday.

The annual event raised more than $20,000 for the Greenport Fire Department this year. Honored at the event was Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley, who was given the Older Americans Champion Award.

Chase Junell, 22, of Harper, Texas won the 5K race in 16:29.6. The top female finisher was Greenport’s own Claudine McShea, who finished in 26:49.

Sponsors of the annual event include Times Review Media Group, American Tent, Andy’s Restaurant of Greenport, Cook Maran & Associates, McBurnie Tent, East End Cardiology, ProCare, and The Family of John and Elinor May.

See the complete race results at itsyourrace.com.

Top Caption: The start of the 2018 John May Mile at Peconic Landing Saturday. (Credit: Bill Landon photos)

Claudine McShea of Greenport was the first female finisher, breaking the tape in 26:49.

Claudine McShea of Greenport was the first female finisher, breaking the tape in 26:49.

Chase Junell, 22 of Harper, Texas was the overall winner of the 5K race, finishing in 16:29.6.

Chase Junell, 22 of Harper, Texas was the overall winner of the 5K race, finishing in 16:29.6.

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The state awarded $5.7 million in financing to Vineyard View, a project aiming to bring 50 affordable apartments to Greenport.

It’s part of more than $200 million awarded to fund affordable housing projects around the state that Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

The Vineyard View project would feature seven buildings containing 14 one-bedroom, 22 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom apartments on a 17.2-acre site on County Road 48 in Greenport.

Representatives from Conifer Realty, LLC first unveiled the proposal to the public in December. Conifer Realty and the Community Development Corporation of Long Island, which are in partnership on the project, applied for the low income housing tax credits, according to Southold Town government liaison officer Denis Noncarrow.

“That’s fabulous news,” he said of the financing. Without any subsidies, the affordable housing project would run at a loss every month, he said.

At a public hearing before the Southold Town Planning Board last Monday, Conifer Realty vice president Allen Handelman said the units would remain affordable for 50 years under a regulatory agreement, with rents mandated by the state and indexed to the area median income.

Residents who spoke at the hearing showed support for the project, citing the long-discussed need for local affordable housing.

Some speakers also asked that an environmental impact study be conducted, citing concerns for nearby wetlands. Other also asked for a new traffic impact study for the area.

The project’s site plan is still under Planning Board review.

The state’s stake in the offering funding for affordable housing projects is to revitalize communities and generate economic activity, according Thursday’s announcement.

“This investment is a significant milestone in New York’s $20 billion housing and homelessness plan, and a giant step forward in our efforts to increase access to homes for families, seniors and our most vulnerable men and women across the state,” Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. “These resources will help the region build affordable, stronger, better neighborhoods for our residents for generations to come.”

kzegers@timesreview.com

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Greenport stood alone and its residents delivered.

As the only school district in Suffolk County asking its voters to pierce the tax cap, Greenport officials quickly exhaled shortly after 8 p.m. when the results of Tuesday’s budget vote began to be tallied. For the second time in three years, voters approved the budget with more than 60 percent approval to allow the district to pierce the cap.

“I’m so thrilled and grateful to the residents of Greenport,” Superintendent David Gamberg said after the $19,038,000 budget for 2018-19 was approved. “Their support of our school district really represents their true spirit as Porters and how much their community’s school means to them.”

Voters in all five North Fork districts approved their budgets in Tuesday’s election.

For school board in Greenport, incumbents Barbette Cornine (229) and Daniel Creedon (221) defeated challenger Sonia Spar (170).

In New Suffolk, where no candidates were running for school board, a tie emerged from the write-in votes. Lauren Grant and Jim Baker both received eight write-in votes, forcing officials to figure out what to do next for the tiny district.

“I will call them in the morning and see if either is interested,” said school board president Tony Dill. “Just because someone wrote them in doesn’t mean they wanted it.”

If both say they want the decision, another vote will be held to determine the winner, Mr. Dill said.

The district has been embroiled in controversy for months and, until recently, there was concern the tiny school would not remain open. The budget carries a 1.6 percent tax levy increase, remaining within the tax cap. Considerable savings were realized from the resignation of teacher Martha Kennelly, which takes effect July 1.

Mattituck and Southold both had overwhelming majority approval. In Mattituck, voters approved by 76.4 percent. In Southold, voters approved by 79 percent.

Incumbents Paulette Ofrias (390) and John Crean (335) were re-elected to the Southold school board by defeating Amy Bennett (295).

Oysterponds had no issues with an 85 percent approval.

A full breakdown of the numbers below:

Greenport School District

BUDGET APPROVED
Yes: 243
No: 133
(64.6 percent approval)

$19,038,000 proposed budget with an estimated tax levy increase of 4.62 percent

School board election results: (Two open seats, three candidates)

• Barbette Cornine: 229
• Daniel Creedon: 221
• Sonia Spar: 170

Superintendent David Gamberg: “I’m so thrilled and grateful to the residents of Greenport. Their support of our school district really represents their true spirit as Porters and how much their community’s school means to them.”

Oysterponds School District

BUDGET APPROVED
Yes: 103
No: 18

$5,794,781 proposed budget with an estimated tax levy increase of 1.08 percent

School board election results: (Two open seats, two candidates)

• Philip Mastrangelo: 95
• Linda Sledjeski Goldsmith: 87

Superintendent Richard Malone: “I’m very pleased with the budget. It will allow us to do the things that we anticipate bringing to the school and it keeps us moving in a very positive direction without strapping the local taxpayers.”

Mattituck School District

BUDGET APPROVED
Yes: 415
No: 128

$40,676,974 proposed budget with an estimated tax levy decrease of 0.22 percent

School board election results: (Three open seats, three candidates)

• Barbara Wheaton: 462
• Doug Cooper: 442
• Jeffrey Connelly: 406

Referendum Proposition No. 2 Approved
(Establishes a Capital Reserve fund)

Yes: 394
No: 139

School Board President Charles Anderson: “This is the best budget we ever had.”

New Suffolk School District

BUDGET APPROVED
Yes: 45
No: 18

$1,292,581 proposed budget with an estimated tax levy increase of 1.6 percent

School board election results: (One open seat, zero candidates)

• Lauren Grant: 8 (write-in votes)*
• Jim Baker: 8 (write-in votes)*

*Winner to be determined

Superintendent Tony Dill: “I will call them in the morning and see if either is interested. Just because someone wrote them in doesn’t mean they wanted it.”

Southold School District

BUDGET APPROVED
Yes: 436
No: 115

$29,981,000 proposed budget with an estimated tax levy increase of 1.62 percent

School board election results: (Two open seats, three candidates)

• Paulette Ofrias: 390
• John Crean: 335
• Amy Bennett: 295

Superintendent David Gamberg: “We’re so grateful to our community for the continued support. We look forward to continuing.”

Photo caption: Greenport Superintendent David Gamberg celebrates the budget approval Tuesday night. (Credit: Kelly Zegers)

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According to statistics compiled recently by the Southold Town Police Department, about 90 percent of the cars on Main Street in Greenport are traveling within three percent of the 30 mph speed limit, and the highest speed recorded was 49 mph, according to Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard Jr. 

The speed survey was done by the Southold Town police highway patrol officers on May 11 and 13, according to Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley.

“May 11 was completed between 4 and 5:30 p.m. and May 13 was completed between 10 and 11 a.m.,” the chief said by email. “All surveys were conducted on Main Street between First Street and Monsell Place by the officers using unmarked police vehicles and handheld radar guns.”

The speed survey was done in conjunction with a village proposal to reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on village roads, and to request the state to lower from 30 mph to 25 mph on Front Street and Main Street, which are state roads.

About 500 cars went by during the survey, according to Mr. Hubbard.

“We had asked for this and I want to thank Chief Flatley and his officers for doing this,” he said. “Basically, we had discussed people going 40-to-50 mph, but there really wasn’t a lot of that on the days they tracked.”

Police did not monitor speeds along Fifth Avenue, which has been mentioned as a location where speeding occurs during a village public hearing on lowering the limits, Mr. Hubbard said.

Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said police also put up speed limit signs for traffic coming into the village, as well as a flashing speed limit sign, which she feels has lowered speeds.

Ms. Phillips and Trustee Julia Robins both said they do not support lowering the speed limit.

“Five mph is not going to change bad driving habits,” Ms. Robins said. She feels the improved signage is a key to lowering speed limits.

Ms. Phillips also feels the new signage has helped, as had an increased police presence in the village.

Eric and Bridget Elkin, the Main Street residents who initiated the petition to have a 25 mph speed limit, both expressed disappointment with the positions taken by Ms. Phillips and Ms. Robins.

“Originally, when the conversation started about changing the speed limit, it was really about safety,” Mr. Elkin said. “Somewhere along the line, the debate shifted to ‘how prevalent is speeding?’”

Ms. Elkin said the braking distance is 17 feet more in a car going 30 mph as compared to one going 25 mph, and the survival rate in accidents increases by 50 percent at 30 compared to 25.

Ms. Phillips asked how many pedestrian traffic fatalities have occurred in the last decade on Main Street.

“I don’t think we have to wait for someone to be fatally injured before we change the speed limit,” Ms. Elkin said.

“I’ve done my research, but we have a state road and they’ve done their research and established that the speed limit is 30 mph,” Ms. Phillips said.

Trustees Doug Roberts and Jack Martilotta, who have supported the 25 mph speed limit, were both absent Thursday.

Mr. Hubbard didn’t state a position Thursday, but said the board will discuss the issue again at its June work session, when the other board members are present before taking a vote.

tgannon@timesreview.com

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You’ve probably passed by Island’s End Golf and Country Club in Greenport many times in your travels to and from the North Fork. 

But if you’ve never set foot on the 18-hole course, you might be surprised to see the beauty that awaits on its tightly manicured fairways and greens that extend from Route 25 to the Long Island Sound.

We recently spent an afternoon filming the course to showcase its public driving range, catering facilities and, of course, the iconic 16th hole.

This post was brought to you by Island’s End Golf and Country Club and created by Times Review Partners, a division of Times Review Media Group making content for our advertising partners. 

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The Long Island Rail Road is increasing the number of trains to and from Greenport on weekends this summer. New LIRR timetables took effect Monday, May 21, and local transportation watchdogs are giving the agency good grades.

“The LIRR is doubling weekend service to the North Fork for the summer season. For the first time, weekend service is operating with four round trips between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, as opposed to the two round trips per day that existed until this May, and in previous summers,” the agency said in release.

“I think this is very important given that there’s been increasing attention on the traffic issue on the North Fork,” said Jim Ellwood of Riverhead, president of Five Town Rural Transit, a nonprofit group that’s been trying to get improved public transportation on the East End for many years.

The new summer schedule also includes a train that leaves Penn Station at 3:55 p.m. and arrives in Greenport at 6:45 p.m. on Fridays only, as well as on Tuesday, July 3.

Mr. Ellwood said Memorial Day is usually when traffic gets bad on the North Fork.

In recent years, however, traffic on the North Fork has increased not only during the summer but also during the fall “pumpkin picking” season, when roads in Riverhead and Southold towns are often jammed with visitors.

And recent news reports have suggested that Greenport Village is becoming a “hipster haven,” with more people in their 20s and 30s moving there and opening businesses.

Local officials have been urging the LIRR to increase service on the North Fork for many years. Last November, following a number of meetings with state and local officials, the agency responded by adding a westbound train that left Greenport at 9:34 a.m. weekdays and arrived in Penn Station at 12:33 p.m.

That train remains on the summer schedule, with the times changed to 9:39 a.m. to 12:37 p.m.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Neboysha Brashich, chairman of Southold Town’s Transportation Commission.

“The response from the LIRR has really been great, and I’m pleased to see that they are listening to our concerns and that they really paid attention and accommodated us to the fullest extent possible,” he said. “What’s so nice about it is that we have an improved service in place.”

“The MTA has helped as they have changed the schedule and added more trains,” said Riverhead Town Councilwoman Jodi Giglio. “ The more we promote trains and public transportation during our tourism seasons, when ridership increases, the more trains and buses we will get.”

Photo caption: A Long Island Rail Road train in Greenport. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

tgannon@timesreview.com

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North Fork high school soccer will have a different look and feel this fall.

Two girls programs — Southold/Greenport and Mattituck — have merged due to declining participation and population.

Also, a new divisional alignment has endangered one of Long Island’s greatest soccer rivalries as the Mattituck and Center Moriches boys teams will compete in separate leagues for the first time.

The girls merger will allow varsity teams to have full rosters and younger athletes to develop at their proper pace.

“Numbers were getting so tight, we were forcing kids who were not at the appropriate skill level to come up to the varsity level,” Southold athletic director Steve Flanagan said. “When it’s not the appropriate skill, it’s not really fun anymore. Or, they were sitting behind a girl who was very experienced and did not get that much playing time. So, it’s really important to have that appropriate level for JV and varsity. That with, dwindling numbers through the years, the writing was on the wall.”

Both programs haven’t had a JV team in a few years.

So, Greenport AD Chris Golden, Mattituck AD Gregg Wormuth and Flanagan worked out a plan.

“It’s a positive for everyone involved. It allows all three schools to field a JV team, which is critical,” said Golden, who will coach the team. “The driving force is to put players where they should be developmentally.

“From an athletic director’s standpoint, we’re going to provide opportunities. From a coaching standpoint, it’s going to provide depth at the varsity level. Injuries and nicks are all part of that. Instead of having a team of 14 or 15, you’ll be able to have a solid team of 18 players at both levels. From both perspectives, I couldn’t be happier.”

All three schools will host matches, allowing each to hold homecoming games and senior days.

Golden guided Southold/Greenport to the state Class C semifinals last year. It will compete in Class B this fall.

“We know Chris Golden with the girls he has is going to do great things,” Flanagan said.

The new team will boast two of the county’s best girls players — Southold’s Jillian Golden (33 goals, 16 assists) and Mattituck’s Claire Gatz (14 goals, 11 assists).

Both programs have enjoyed success. Last year Southold/Greenport (14-5) reached the state semifinals for the first time. The Tuckers, who captured the 2005 state crown and won 14 county titles since 1988, lost in the county Class B final last season.

The schools have worked together before, deploying combined teams in other sports.

In boys soccer, Mattituck will be among three Class B teams in League VII — Babylon and Port Jefferson are the others — along with Southold, Greenport and Pierson/Bridgehampton (all Class C) and Smithtown Christian (Class D).

Center Moriches, the defending state Class B champion, will compete in League VI with four Class A teams — Shoreham-Wading River, Mount Sinai, Bayport-Blue Point and Elwood/John Glenn — as well as two Class B sides — Southampton and Hampton Bays.

So, the coaches have scheduled a non-league game at Center Moriches on Sept. 17. They also can meet in the playoffs.

“Playing Center Moriches is a must and is the best barometer for our progress from last year to this year,” Mattituck coach Will Hayes said. “Preserving the rivalry is nice, too, given the history, though it will be nice to renew our old rivalry with Southold on a twice-yearly basis.”

The rivalry dates back to 1936, when Mattituck defeated Center Moriches for the county championship, 1-0.

Center Moriches coach Chris O’Brien knows something about North Fork soccer rivalries as a Southold High School player in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He called Center Moriches-Mattituck “one of the great rivalries in Long Island high school sports.”

“I was disappointed to see that we weren’t in the same league,” he added. “It’s part of history. Sort of not having the Yankees and the Red Sox no longer in the same league.

“Rivalries are a big part of the high school experience. Not having Mattituck and Center Moriches in the same league is something that the present teams won’t get to experience.”

Hayes noted there was a bit of a silver lining to the new set-up.

“Reaction to the separate leagues was surprise at first, though after some thought it’s what makes the most sense,” he said. “It’s nice to have six B schools instead of the three we’ve had for the past two years.”

Mattituck could drop to Class C in a few years, due to declining enrollment, Hayes said.

Photo caption: Southold/Greenport, which reached the state semifinals for the first time last year, will merge with Mattituck for this coming season. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk, file)

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Residents and guests from across the North Fork gathered Monday to pay tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. 

The annual Memorial Day dock service was held at 8 a.m. in Greenport Monday.

An Honor Guard, Greenport Village officials, veterans and Boy Scouts gathered on Adams Street before marching to the Railroad Dock for a service.

Greenport dock ceremony and parade photos by Madison Fender.

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A Greenport man was arrested Saturday morning on a weapons charge after he was stopped by police on Main Road in Southold.

Anthony Toy, 52, was stopped in the vicinity of St. Patrick’s Church shortly after 10:30 a.m. for driving with a suspended license, according to a town police press release.

Upon stopping, police found him to be in possession of an illegal electronic stun gun.

Mr. Toy was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree aggravation unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was processed and released on cash bail for a later court date, according to police.

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Three years ago, Mercator Osinski’s dad, Michael, presented him with a task: What can the family do differently to improve the quality of the oysters their Greenport business, Widow’s Hole Oyster Farm, produces?

Then just 15, Mercator got to work researching different options, ultimately implementing kusshi, a Japanese technique that uses the tides to grow smaller, plumper oysters. 

Kusshi involves pilings that support the lines where oysters grow suspended in purses that move with the high and low tides. The pilings, large wooden poles sticking out of the water, are expensive, so Mercator designed a system of pilings and cables that resembles a suspension bridge.

“We go to the city every week to sell the oysters in our harvest season,” he said. “The bridges we go over are suspension bridges … It’s a lot cheaper and a lot easier to install.”

Not only is Mercator’s design more cost effective, it optimizes the quality of the oysters, leading to greater demand from customers. It also is more beneficial for the environment, making the system a win-win for the Osinski family.

“I like building things,” said Mercator, who recently graduated fourth in his class from Bishop McGann-Mercy. “I find it fun and fascinating.” 

This passion for building has been a constant in his life and has guided Mercator to a future that includes attending Yale University, where he will major in mechanical engineering. 

The oyster system he implemented has been one of his favorite projects. Another sits in his driveway under a tarp: a red Jeep that he purchased in August 2015 and has been working to restore. 

Mercator said he chose Yale over his other options — which included Brown University, Northeastern University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — because it most closely mirrored his experience at Mercy.

“I like that it’s not huge, it’s more of a community,” he said. “I was looking for that in a college. My sister goes to Cornell, and that’s too large for me. I like being in a small community; I know everyone at Mercy.”

Although he maintained a 100 GPA while working at the family oyster farm, that’s only the tip of the iceberg for Mercator. He also works at Costello Marine in Greenport. 

During high school, he played soccer each fall and ran track, and in his senior year, he tried lacrosse for the first time. He also played alto saxophone in Mercy’s jazz band and hopes to continue playing at Yale. 

Mercator said the key to being involved in so much is to find the right balance. 

“Sometimes I have to sacrifice not going somewhere to do work or vice versa,” he said. “Plan your time. It’s important to be involved but not to burn yourself out. Make time to sleep and hang out with friends, but then find the balance with academics and challenge yourself from there.”

Mercator crossed the stage at Mercy June 6 as a member of its final graduating class, and received the school’s Medal for Mathematics. He said he’s excited for the future, but will miss his time at Mercy. 

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” he said. “The school is still there so I still drive by and see it when I’m in Riverhead. But it’s endearing to be the last class graduating at Mercy Monarchs.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo caption: Mercator Osinski holds tiny oysters at his family’s business, Widow’s Hole Oyster Farm, where he introduced a system that grows smaller, plumper oysters. (Nicole Smith photo) 

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Triangle Sea Sales, Greenport’s nautical and marine shop, will be closing after 46 years, and co-owner Elaine Henry calls the end of an era “bittersweet.”

Her husband, Joe, opened the store in 1972 on Atlantic Avenue, where the Triangle Yacht Club, once a boatyard owned by Mr. Henry and two partners, is located. The Henrys moved the shop to its current South Street location in May 1978.

“My husband was always into boating, and he was in the Navy,” Ms. Henry said. “He retired from the New York police department when he was only 47 or 48, and he wasn’t about to stop working. This was his hobby, as well as his business.”

For more tan four decades, Triangle Sea Sales has sold marine antiques, nautical gifts and decorations and parts and hardware for the restoration of old boats. Hidden behind the store is what the Henrys call “Shipwreck Alley,” sheds filled with one-of-a-kind vintage boat and ship parts, hardware and fishing gear.

The couple’s son, Joe Jr., said that over the years, the shop has been a place where boat enthusiasts can come for unique and hard-to-find parts.

“People that know boats, they know my dad, and they’ll come here and find the right part for their boats, which you can’t just get — you can’t just buy. You can’t just order these parts online,” he said.

Co-owner Elaine Henry stands behind the counter. (Erika Peters photo)

Ms. Henry, who is in her 80s, and her husband, who is 90, said the store has just become too much for them to handle. She hopes the business will be sold to a buyer interested in continuing to run it or at least that the contents will be sold so they can rent out the building.

“It would be nice, because I know people in the area and even visitors come back, maybe only once a year, but they come back every year while on vacation, and they will miss it if it’s not a nautical store anymore,” she said.

Over the years the Henrys have collected numerous marine antiques, such as portholes, anchors and telescopes. One item Ms. Henry says her husband never wanted to part with is a U.S. Coast Guard bell buoy from 1941, which she will auction off along with other antiques at the end of the season. Mr. Henry also used to make furniture and lamps by hand for the shop, and Ms. Henry says that over the years movies and television shows have come to the store for nautical props.

“My husband used to talk to people for hours here — he loved it,” she said. “In the winter we would travel throughout the United States, to antique shops and nautical places, to see if there was anything we could sell in our store.”

Ms. Henry expects the store to remain open through the Maritime Festival at the end of September.

“It’s been fun over the years, but it’s time,” she said.

Photo caption: Triangle Sea Sales in Greenport. (Erika Peters photo) 

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Frank Schiavoni remembers his daughter Shelly as an animal lover and an amazing friend.

“In July 2017, my daughter was taken from me. Not from an accident or an illness, not from drugs or alcohol,” he said. “It was from the actions of Jaime DeLeon-Tino who took her from me, her mother, her brothers and sisters.”

Mr. DeLeon-Tino was sentenced Thursday morning to 25 years in prison and five years post-release supervision. The sentencing was nearly one year after 27-year-old Michelle Schiavoni was killed. It was the first murder in Greenport in over two decades.

Ms. Schiavoni was found strangled in her Greenport home on July 10, 2017. Mr. DeLeon-Tino was arrested later that day on Osborn Avenue in Riverhead.

He originally plead not guilty to second-degree murder, but in April, he plead guilty to a count of manslaughter with intent to cause physical injury.

“Michelle was a kind and loving person, and treated people better than most deserved,” her father said in his victim impact statement read in front of Judge Richard Ambro. “She saw beauty where others could not.”

Family members gathered in the Riverhead courthouse, including her sister Marissa Aubin, brother Alex Carlson, and aunt Casey Martin, to voice their anger.

Ms. Aubin expressed sadness over the fact that her three children would only have memories left of their Aunt Shelly, and how she will no longer be in their lives.

“He should be ashamed of himself,” she said of Mr. DeLeon-Tino, 24. “I hope he carries that shame and misery with him every day he has left on this earth.”

Ms. Martin, Ms. Schiavoni’s aunt, said that with their only six-year difference in age, they were more like sisters.

“Michelle was so accepting of Jaime DeLeon-Tino,” she said. “She didn’t deserve to have his hands around her neck and have her life taken from her.”

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Creighton read a letter from Ms. Schiavoni’s mother, Terra Carlson of Southold, who was unable to attend the sentencing. She urged the judge to remember the horrific act of Mr. DeLeon-Tino when it comes time for his parole hearing.

“This man climbed on top of my daughter and looked into her horrified eyes,” Ms. Carlson said in her letter. “Please do not grant him freedom.”

“Like many people with adult children, we drifted apart but we were working on our relationship when she was killed,” she added. “Her siblings and her father are devastated.”

Ms. Creighton said that this plea “in no way diminishes the horrific crime for the family,” but instead saves them the trauma of having to relive that day in trial.

When given a chance to comment, Mr. DeLeon-Tino declined to say anything to the family.

He was previously found to be in the United States illegally from El Salvador. Judge Ambro said that he will be deported after his prison sentence.

“I hope if you ever get back into this country, you’re jailed for the rest of your life,” Judge Ambro said.

Family members declined to comment outside court following the sentencing, saying they had nothing left to say.

Judge Ambro added during the sentencing: “I am horrified. This appalling crime is hard to fathom. How you can do this to a person described as your friend? The pain conveyed here is palpable in this room.”

Photo caption: Michelle Schiavoni, left, was killed last July by Jaime DeLeon-Tino, right. 

rsiford@timesreview.com

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The Greenport Village Board will hold a public hearing July 26 on a proposal to regulate transient, or short-term rentals, within the village.

But the specifics of the proposal have yet to be determined.

The proposal would only pertain to residential properties or units.

Mayor George Hubbard Jr. said Thursday night he plans to meet with Village Administrator Paul Pallas and Village Attorney Joe Prokop on Monday or Tuesday iron out specific language for the proposal.

“Hopefully, by July 9th, which is the following Monday, we can have it published, so that the public will have more than enough time to review it before the hearing.”

A version of the proposal will be sent to the village board members prior to that, he said.

The village has a law that requires all rentals to be inspected and registered, but it does not have a law specifically dealing with short-term rentals. The existing law defines a transient rental as being less than 30 days.

The July 26 meeting starts at 7 p.m.

tgannon@timesreview.com

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Sparkling Pointe’s application to convert a First Street residence and convert it into a tasting room received site plan approval from the Greenport Village Planning Board Thursday, but not without a few conditions. 

Specifically, the board included a provision where limos and buses would need to make an appointment to drop off or pick up people at the tasting room, which would be located at 411 First Street.

Sparkling Pointe, which has a vineyard and tasting room on Route 48 in Southold, already has a notice on its website saying “reservations are required for buses, limos, and groups of 6 or more.”

Board member Walter Foote suggested setting up a designated area “outside the village,” where buses and limos could wait, although that wasn’t a part of the conditions agreed upon.

The village had received complaints from Broad Street residents about buses that had dropped people off at other sites in the village later idling on that street. Officials said idling is already prohibited by state law.

Another condition approved last Thursday requires Sparkling Pointe to plant arborvitae that are at least six feet tall to begin with, as a buffer for the neighboring property.

David Murray, a local builder who has represented the project during the application process, had suggested an arborvitae buffer at an earlier public hearing on the proposal.

“This is an illustration of the kind of problem we are running into with legitimate commercial ventures getting closer to residential areas and parking there,” Planning Board member Ben Burns said, adding that he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The building is used residentially now, but it is located in a commercial/retail zone, and the wine tasting room is a permitted use and does not require any zoning variances, according to Village Administrator Paul Pallas.

The tasting room, which would serve Sparkling Pointe’s array of sparkling wines, would be located on the ground floor of the two-story building.

Sparkling Pointe had also indicated at a public hearing that it would rent the upstairs apartment on the building year-round, rather than having a short-term rental. Mr. Murray, a former village trustee, had said that is required by the village code.

Caption: The First Street residence that will soon be a second tasting room for Sparkling Pointe Vineyards. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

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The site plan for Pearl, a new restaurant proposed at the former Taste Boutique space on Main Street in Greenport, was approved by the Village Planning Board Thursday. 

The approval was unanimous, although board members expressed some concern about an email they received from Jennifer O’Brien, the chef and owner of the proposed restaurant, saying the kitchen would close at 1:15 a.m. and the dining room would close at 2 a.m.

Officials said they would like to see the proposed restaurant closing earlier.

Planning Board attorney Robert Connolly had told the board earlier that the Planning Board does not have authority to set hours of operation. That falls under the jurisdiction of the Village Board of Trustees, he said.

Ms. O’Brien described Pearl as a “scratch kitchen” that would use local, seasonal products, which she plans to go out and buy herself.

“This is my vision, this has been a dream of mine,” she said at a June 7 public hearing on the site plan.

Taste Boutique, a clothing store, closed down earlier this year after 15 years at the location where Ms. O’Brien’s restaurant is proposed.

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One person died and another was arrested following a head-on collision that shut down Route 48 in Greenport for several hours Sunday, according to Southold Town police press release. 

Glenn Zaleski, 36, of Greenport was driving a pick-up truck eastbound on Route 48 near Chapel Lane when he crossed over into westbound traffic and struck a minivan with seven occupants shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to police.

Mr. Zaleski was charged with driving while intoxicated, police said. He is being held overnight at police headquarters and is expected to be arraigned Monday. He suffered only minor injuries in the crash.

The driver of the van, You Feng Yang, 51, of Flushing was pronounced dead two hours later at Stony Brook University Hospital. Two passengers in the van were also airlifted to Stony Brook for treatment of serious injuries. The other four passengers, all adults from Flushing, were treated at local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The accident remains under investigation with the assistance of the New York State Police Department, police said.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated there were eight passengers in the van, including children. We regret the error.

Photo caption: The mangled minivan taken away from the crash scene. (Credit: Stringer News) 

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