About a dozen protesters, including civic leaders and environmentalists, picketed on July 10 against Caithness Long Island’s proposal to build its second power plant in Yaphank, a 750-megawatt facility.
Port Jefferson Village Trustee Bruce Miller, also the head of the local Grassroots Committee to Repower Port Jefferson, snapped this picture of Long Islander Andrea Barracca during the protest.
Some oppose the Caithness plant for environmental reasons, and the Grassroots Committee wants the Port Jefferson power plant upgraded instead, to keep it a source of local energy and tax revenue.
Police are looking for a tall redhead who they say robbed the HSBC bank in Port Jefferson Station.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, the suspect entered the bank, in Jefferson Plaza off of Route 112, on Friday afternoon and gave a teller a note demanding cash.
After the teller complied, police said, the man fled south on foot.
The suspect was described as a white, 6-foot-tall male around 30 years old who was skinny and unshaven and had red hair. Police said he was wearing a white T-shirt and a red baseball cap at the time of the robbery.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-220-TIPS.
Port Jefferson school district held its 57th annual senior prom on Monday night. Parents had worked tirelessly to transform Earl L. Vandermeulen High School into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for the event, secretly painting sets and making dummies to surprise the Class of 2015.
1 of 20
Students arrive for the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple poses with Willy Wonka at the Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A senior steps out of a Mr. Softee ice cream truck on his way to the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
Port Jefferson's high school is decked out for a Willy Wonka-themed prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
An oompa-loompa helps an emcee announce the names of the Port Jefferson seniors as they roll up for prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple arrives for the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
The Ghostbusters give one couple a fun entry at the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple walks up to the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple arrives for the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
The Port Jefferson Fire Department brings a couple in to the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple arrives for the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
Port Jefferson's high school is decked out for a Willy Wonka-themed prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple arrives for the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
Willy Wonka waits to admit a couple to the Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple is all smiles as they walk into the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A chariot brings a couple to the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
One senior escorts two ladies into the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
Port Jefferson's high school is decked out for a Willy Wonka-themed prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A couple walks up to the Willy Wonka-themed Port Jefferson prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
Port Jefferson's high school is decked out for a Willy Wonka-themed prom. Photo by Elana Glowatz
A man robbed a bank in Centereach on Friday, and police are still looking for the culprit.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, the suspect entered he Peoples United Bank on Middle Country Road at 11:30 a.m. that day and gave a teller a note demanding cash. After the teller complied, the man fled on foot.
Police described the suspect as being a white male with a heavy build between 45 and 50 years old, and about 5 feet 7 inches tall. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, a black T-shirt, dark jeans and sunglasses.
Detectives from the SCPD’s Pattern Crime Unit are investigating the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
Police arrested three people they allege were illegally selling fireworks with names like Saturn Missiles, Splendid Flower, Big Bad Bucket, Anaconda and Tornado Alley.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, officers working off an anonymous tip on Saturday afternoon found about 65 boxes of fireworks — both on display with price tags in front of the store and in the back room — at the Card Smart on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station, just south of Route 347.
The officers arrested the store’s owner, 46-year-old Hicksville resident Ketan Shah, as well as employees Vijaykumar Patel, a 30-year-old Elmhurst resident, and Nancy Sapienza, 65, of Ridge, charging all of them with unlawfully dealing with fireworks, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
Police said the employees were issued field appearance tickets while Shah was arraigned on Sunday.
Shah’s lawyer, Riverhead-based Richard Pellegrino, declined to comment on the case Monday morning, saying he was still investigating the case.
Attorney information for Patel and Sapienza was not available.
President announces candidacy against Valerie Cartright
Above, far right, Ed Garboski testifies before the town board. He has announced he is running for the seat held by Councilwoman Valerie Cartright. File photo
Ed Garboski will be taking a leave from his role as civic president as he works to unseat Councilwoman Valerie Cartright in the fall.
Garboski, of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, announced his run against one-term incumbent Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station) for Brookhaven Town Board’s 1st District at the civic’s meeting on Wednesday night — opening up much debate.
The association’s bylaws do not contain a provision for taking a leave of absence, which originally created a tricky situation for the membership during the discussion. The room was divided — and at times argumentative — over whether Garboski should resign his position as he runs for political office on the Republican and Conservative tickets.
Faith Cardone said she felt it would be a conflict of interest for him to remain the president while running a political campaign for the Town Board.
Garboski said he had wanted to take a leave of absence, largely because he foresees having less time to fulfill his presidential duties, but was limited because of the bylaws’ shortcoming. He pushed back, however, when some called for his resignation, including fellow civic executive board member Joan Nickeson.
Councilwoman Valerie Cartright. File photo
“I don’t think that I need to resign as of right now,” he said. “Where’s the conflict [of interest]?”
Other members also spoke up against Garboski remaining in his civic position.
“I don’t want to insult your integrity, Ed,” Gerard Maxim said, but having Garboski serve as president while also running for Town Board “makes it awkward for us.”
There were, however, voices of support in the audience.
Kevin Spence, a Comsewogue library board member, said there is no ethical problem before Election Day.
“I don’t see where this is a conflict until he gets elected.”
After some back and forth, Garboski relented somewhat, saying, “if this is such a big problem … if it’s that important to this membership here that I step down, I’ll step down.”
But instead, another library board member, Rich Meyer, made a motion for civic members to vote on granting Garboski a leave of absence starting in August and ending after the election, overriding the bylaws.
The members unanimously approved the motion for his leave.
Once Garboski departs in August, Vice President Diane Lenihan-Guidice will step into his shoes, including running the civic meetings for the months he is away.
Cartright, who is running for a second term on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence lines, said in a statement she and Garboski “will continue to work together to address community concerns. As a sitting elected representative, I firmly believe government always comes before politics.”
She said if re-elected she would “address the needs and ideas of the community and advocate for an informative and transparent local government.”
Port Jefferson Middle School has a new interim principal. Photo by Caroline Biondo
A familiar face will guide Port Jefferson Middle School as the district searches for a new principal.
At a school board meeting on Tuesday night, members approved Leonard Bozza to serve as interim principal effective July 1. The board resolution stipulates that Bozza will be in the role for no more than 100 days, and will be compensated $600 for each day.
According to a Wednesday letter from Superintendent Ken Bossert, Bozza was previously an interim assistant principal in the district and an interim high school principal. Before stepping into those roles at Port Jefferson, he had retired from his position as the Longwood High School principal.
The district is searching for a permanent replacement for outgoing Principal Antonio Santana, who announced earlier this month that he would not return for the 2015-16 school year, instead going to work for a Nassau County high school beginning in July.
Santana’s news came about three months after the high school principal, Matthew Murphy, announced his own departure at the end of the current school year, saying he was going “to pursue other educational opportunities.”
Murphy and Santana had been hired together three years ago to jointly replace Roseann Cirnigliaro, who had served as principal of both the middle and high schools.
Despite the pair’s coinciding resignations, the district has said the two schools will retain separate principals. Officials have already filled Murphy’s spot — Christine Austen, the Pre-K to grade 12 assistant principal, will take the helm of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School.
Until a permanent middle school principal is chosen, parents can reach Bozza at the school’s main office, at 631-791-4431.
After searching a Huntington Station home early Thursday morning and allegedly recovering weapons and drugs, police say a father and his two sons kept criminal activity in the family.
The Suffolk County Police Department arrested an alleged gang member, his brother and father on charges of criminal possession following the 6 a.m. search on 11th Avenue. Detectives and officers from various SCPD units, including the Narcotics Section, Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Emergency Service Section, Canine Section and the 2nd Precinct’s Special Operations Team, Gang Unit and Patrol Section jointly executed the search warrant on the residence. Police said they recovered a “loaded and defaced” Tec-9 semiautomatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine and quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana that have a combined street value of about $3,000.
Zachary Watkins Sr. photo from SCPD
Police said there were also two other loaded handguns, an imitation pistol, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, digital scales, other drug packaging equipment and $3,700 in cash.
Brothers Tracy Watkins, 42, and Zachary Watkins Jr., 46, were charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Their father, 75-year-old Zachary Watkins Sr., was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a firearm, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
Attorney information for the father and for Zachary Watkins Jr. was not immediately available. The eldest Watkins has a previous charge pending against him for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Zachary Watkins Jr. photo from SCPD
Tracy Watkins, who police said was a confirmed member of the South Side Posse gang, has previous charges against him for criminal possession of a controlled substance, for which the New York State court system’s online database lists him as representing himself. It was not immediately clear if he would also be representing himself on the new charges.
The trio was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
Police said Huntington Town code enforcement officers issued 32 violations to Zachary Watkins Sr. and are still investigating, to determine if the Huntington Station residence will be declared uninhabitable.
The district’s newest policies were brought forth by the school board’s policy committee, which is headed by Trustee Bob Ramus, above. File photo
Port Jefferson’s school board approved district policy changes on Tuesday night that mostly regulate student behavior.
After having a first reading of the 14 new or updated policies at a meeting two weeks ago, the board of education finalized the new language regarding the dress code, substance abuse, and student conduct and discipline, among other areas, at their meeting this week.
With the adoption of the new policies, the board also deleted five old ones — the outdated versions of some of them.
One of the most significant changes is in the district’s policy on school building visitors. Previously, visitors had to report to the school office and get a visitor’s permit. And “whenever possible, entrance to the school buildings shall be restricted to entryways most effectively supervised by building staff.”
But under the new policy, visitors will be allowed inside during classes only “through the designated single point of entry, have a clear purpose and destination, and report to the designated visitor sign-in area.”
Those visitors will have to surrender their photo identification while they are in the building and wear a school-issued badge at all times.
The student dress code policy has been changed from the original to specifically list inappropriate types of clothing, leaving the language less open to individual interpretation.
“Extremely brief garments such as tube tops, net tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, plunging necklines … and see-through garments are not appropriate,” the policy now reads. “Underwear [must be] completely covered with outer clothing.”
Previously, the policy said only that clothing could not be too revealing, a health hazard or obscene in any way.
The restriction on obscenity will remain, as the updated policy bans vulgar or obscene items on the clothing, and things that denigrate others or promote illegal activities like drug use.
Much like the dress code policy added specific banned clothing, the updated policy on substance abuse adds language to the district’s list of prohibited substances.
The list already contained substances like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, LSD, cocaine, PCP, heroin and steroids, and now it also lists synthetic versions of those substances, regardless of whether they are illegal.
Parking spots in the Brookhaven Town Marina lot were given to Port Jeff Village as part of a 2015 agreement, but the deal alienated parkland, according to the AG's office. Screen capture
Port Jefferson Village could add 50 more spaces to its metered parking arsenal, drawing them on asphalt in the town’s marina lot.
The village is leasing the spots as part of an agreement with Brookhaven Town regarding the historic First National Bank of Port Jefferson building at the corner of Main and East Main streets.
Town officials are selling the former bank — and the attached building on East Main Street that used to house the Brookhaven tax receiver’s office — to local developer Agrino Holdings LLC, which has approval from the Port Jefferson Planning Board to put retail space on the first floors and apartments above. The developer plans to renovate the tax receiver’s office and restore the bank building, a historic landmark.
But downtown Port Jefferson has a perennial parking problem, with a constant space shortage that can make it difficult for new developments to meet requirements in the village code. To offset the lack of spaces at the site of the mixed-use project, the town has been working with the village for more than a year on a parking space swap — leasing to the village some spots at the town-owned marina lot two blocks away.
The original plan involved the roughly 30 existing spaces that wrap around the old Suffolk County Water Authority building across West Broadway from McDonald’s. But Trustee Larry LaPointe explained at Monday’s board of trustees meeting that it would have involved “a spaghetti of easements and curb cuts.”
Instead the village will get land on the western end of the marina lot, near Beach Street, that it will restripe and meter. LaPointe said the size of that section will allow the village to create 50 new parking spaces, whereas the previous arrangement would have merely transferred ownership of 30 spots.
Revenue from the village’s other parking meters will cover the costs of restriping and adding the new meter.
Prev
