However, the port of Sag Harbor was busier, meaning that the railroad would have more variables to deal with when it came to scheduling. Greenport was the most advantageous jumping-off point for passengers coming from New York City on their way to Boston. 

“We like to say, that Greenport was the reason for the Long Island Railroad,” said Don Fisher, president of the Railroad Museum of Long Island.

Greenport has a deeper, wider harbor that allowed steamships in and out to Connecticut more easily. Most importantly, to get to Sag Harbor, you had to go over Shinnecock Canal, which at that time was essentially a tidal swamp where water would pass between the Peconic Bay and Southampton Bay. 


“It was marshy, you would have had to bridge it over. That cost a lot of money. Also, you didn’t have the metallurgy and stuff in the early 1800s. That’s why we’re coming down Long Island anyway, because you couldn’t get across the rivers in Connecticut,” said Mr. Fisher. “At that point, we didn’t have the resources, knowledge, or the metallurgy to build bridges. We didn’t have the Portland cement to put proper piers to get across those rivers.” 

Before engineering advancements in metal and cement, it wasn’t possible to build bridges strong enough to support the weight of the trains. In order to connect points south with New England and create a corridor for both passengers and commerce, the Long Island Rail Road chose to run along the center of the island and up to Greenport. On July 27, 1844, the Greenport line began operation.

“And for five or six years, the Long Island Railroad, after it was formed, those people made a lot of money because it was the fastest way to get from New York to Boston. So you get on a boat, go across on a ferry boat to Brooklyn, you’d get on the train, and in three hours, you would be out there on the dock,” Mr. Fisher said.

Greenport had a four-bay engine house, a hostler engine, freight houses and a turntable. The train ran right out onto the dock so that boats could unload directly into the cars.

“They got fresh oysters from out here every day. You’re going to be sending out perishables, you needed to be able to ice them down. The oysters would be put into boxes or barrels at the time, and they put ice on top of their oysters to keep them chilled. The railroad made it not only economically feasible, but physically feasible to move these perishables, because you could put it on the train in less than three hours it was in the city,” said Mr. Fisher. “The truck would run up to the train depot there in Greenport, and they would ice in on top of the oysters and the fish and then transport the stuff in.”

The freight house serves as the eastern outpost for the Railroad Museum and the turntable is still there. The dock still stands, with the old station serving as the East End Maritime Museum. Ownership of the line has changed hands several times, first from the MTA to Suffolk County and then to the village of Greenport.

Sag Harbor eventually got its own railroad connection, but not until 1870 — more than two decades after Greenport’s line opened. The Sag Harbor branch served as the South Fork’s eastern terminus for 25 years until expansion pushed further east to Montauk in 1895.

The village’s station was rebuilt in 1909 and saw various uses, including transporting torpedoes to the wharf for testing during World War I. The branch was abandoned in 1939.

“The importance of Greenport cannot be downplayed because it was the reason for the law on the railroad,” said Mr. Fisher. “It was an important site for maintenance and preparing the trains to go back to the city the next day. It’s where the people could come and get on a train and get on their way to Boston.”

See more in the Keeping track of history series:

Wading River Station

Calverton Station

Manorville Station

Riverhead Station

North Fork stations

The post Keeping track of history: Why Greenport won LIRR race to the East End appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation, the organizer of the September tradition celebrating the village’s seafaring heritage for the last 35 years, announced it is pulling out of running the event next year.

Museum director Erin Kimmel cited the need to focus on its “core mission” after receiving feedback from local businesses and community members, according to a stunning memo sent Thursday, Oct. 30.

“The decision to pause the festival is a combination of many factors and voices,” Ms. Kimmel wrote. “Ultimately, it was clear that taking a year to focus inward — strengthening the museum, supporting our core mission, and planning for the future — would best serve our village and institution.”

Business Improvement District President Richard Vandenburgh quickly pivoted to keeping the tradition alive after being blind-sided by the museum’s decision.

“While we were surprised, the BID is always committed to making sure that the village continues to enjoy successful and prosperous events that enrich our community, serve our businesses, allow our residents to enjoy their life and to enjoy their slice of the East End,” Mr. Vandenburgh said.

The BID will hold an organizational meeting on Monday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the village’s Red School House to begin discussions and create a Steering Committee.

The committee will work to create a “more authentic festival that incorporates more local businesses, working waterfront experiences and avoids the conflicting presence of other vendors that compete with our local business community.”

Mayor Kevin Stuessi said that while the museum’s decision was difficult, he understands the desire to refocus energy on its core mission.

“The museum, under [Ms. Kimmel’s] leadership and focus, is in great hands,” he said.

Nonetheless, Greenport business owners and residents were shocked and “disappointed” by the looming cancellation of the popular event, which features a parade, food, street fair, live music and a cardboard boat race.

Noah Schwartz, owner of Noah’s in Greenport, said this year’s festival drew excellent crowds and seemed to be gaining momentum.

“I’ve always been all for the more the merrier. Bring it on, it’s December,” he said. “Who are they talking to that has that sentiment that we should not be hosting these events for business and the business community?”

Mr. Schwartz said he wasn’t part of any conversations with business owners about the festival’s future. He noted that with the recent cancellation of Shellabration, there’s been talk that some businesses felt overwhelmed by events.

Peter Rowsom of Preston’s Chandlery had participated in each year of the festival and called it a major weekend for the village and his marine supply business.

“It’s quite a surprise. Having just heard of it, I don’t know, but it’s not good news,” he said. “The weekend was always great. It’s better than not having it.”

Resident Cathy Blasko, who worked at Crabby Jerry’s and whose children marched in festival parades, said she was surprised and saddened by the news after learning about the decision on Facebook.

“I thought the businesses and the village made money that weekend,” she said. “I guess it must be hard to get people to volunteer and donate.”

Ms. Kimmel, who took over earlier this year, said the museum will spend 2026 concentrating on three priorities: modernizing the museum and enhancing visitor experience, preserving Bug Lighthouse, and expanding educational and conservation initiatives to support the bays and working waterfront.

The Land and Sea Gala, the museum’s main fundraiser, will still take place in 2026, she said.

Ms. Kimmel acknowledged that there will be disappointment, but said the pause will allow the foundation to improve. The museum is planning new exhibitions, lectures and film screenings, “Social Summer Fridays” and children’s programs.

“We hope 2026 will be a defining year — one that allows us to modernize, deepen our impact, and build toward an even stronger future for our institution, maritime heritage and marine appreciation on the East End,” she said.

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Empathy is the driving force behind Rural & Migrant Ministry’s statewide caravan, which kicked off on the North Fork Saturday, Aug. 2. In an effort to honor New York’s immigrant workers and to cast a spotlight on their positive contributions to its rural economy, dozens of participants will travel thousands of miles from Long Island to Buffalo until Aug. 9 to celebrate and show appreciation for the vulnerable, migrant worker community.

Along the way, participants will also support local businesses, hold vigils at significant locations, have gatherings, play music and more.

“Most of the time, [the rural migrant] doesn’t get the credit that they deserve, in terms of putting food on our tables … A lot of our small towns in the rural areas are pretty much built on migrant families,” said Wilmer Jimenez, chief program officer for Rural & Migrant Ministry. “We want to show small businesses the support we’re giving them, but also for them to understand the impact of this new administration. We want to make sure we’re emphasizing that we care about the rural economy.”

The ‘Save New York’s Rural Economy: A Journey of Empathy Caravan’ started in the Hamptons, and the procession of decorated cars made their way along the East End, making stops at the Amandla Rural Worker Education Center in Riverhead, the First Presbyterian Church in Southold, past St. Agnes Church in Greenport and then ending the first leg of the trip at the Orient Congregational Church.

The Rev. Ron Garner of Orient Congregational Church and a RMM board member said his congregation hosted a vespers service and a meal, which was well-attended by people in the community. Although traffic kept the caravaners from stopping at St. Agnes, the pastor said there was a large contingent of folks standing in front of the church waving signs in support. As drivers passed by, they honked their horns with enthusiasm, he said.

“I think the whole purpose of the caravan for the East End, and on the South and North Fork, was to familiarize people with Rural & Migrant Ministry,” the Rev. Garner said. “Now, I’ve been tasked as a board member to figure out ways to keep the enthusiasm going, so in this very fearful time for our migrant workers, we want to be supportive allies and advocates for them.”

Rural & Migrant Ministry, a multi-faith, state-wide organization with four locations in various regions in New York, is helmed by its executive director, the Rev. Richard Witt. The nonprofit’s mission is to empower individuals from marginalized backgrounds, particularly farmworkers and rural laborers, by providing educational resources, youth programs and legal assistance.

After serving at as a pastor at Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church for almost a decade, the Rev. Garner moved to Orient in December. To further promote RMM’s mission, he invited the Rev. Witt to lead a service on July 27 and give a presentation to other church leaders in the area. He said he was surprised to find that even in a predominantly agricultural area, there was not a great familiarity with Rural & Migrant Ministry. That day, he and the Rev. Witt began laying the groundwork for a Journey of Empathy.

“When we began planning this, we did not want it to seem like a partisan issue or political — what we wanted to say was, we have to have empathy for folks,” the Rev. Garner said. “We kind of want to be in the middle of the dialogue that’s going on. How do we treat undocumented workers? How do we treat people who work in our grocery stores and stock the shelves? How do we relate to them in a way that shows care and concern?”

Noemi Sanchez, regional coordinator of RMM’s Amandla Rural Worker Education Center, said the Riverhead site is always working to connect the immigrant population with necessary services and support, such as English language workshops, teaching parents how to navigate the school districts and educating workers on their rights.

“When you talk about the East End, a lot of people think it’s only rich people that live around here,” Ms. Sanchez said. “We want more empathy and humanity for the [immigrant] people, especially the workers, and how they contribute to this country. Sometimes [people] have the idea that undocumented immigrants don’t pay taxes, but it’s very important that the community knows even if they are undocumented, they still pay.”

Just a day after the Caravan of Empathy passed through the North Fork, five vehicles with personnel from several federal agencies, including ICE, were reportedly active in Greenport on Sunday morning, impacting at least three families. The Rev. Garner called the timing of the incident with the caravan “unbelievable.”

“The timing couldn’t be more advantageous to us getting the word out — that we’re not trying to become adversarial on this issue,” he said. “We just want people to look at, what Jesus called the least to our brothers and sisters, with empathy, and that’s the whole purpose.”

The Rev. Witt, who is currently driving through upstate New York with the rest of the caravan, spoke a few words outside the First Presbyterian Church in Southold on Saturday and thanked supporters for their positive energy, which he said will propel the caravan through their journey.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how powerful it was to drive around the corner and be greeted by folks,” he said in a livestreamed video. “As we travel up to the Hudson Valley, and we travel up to the Canadian border, and go along the St. Lawrence Seaway, and down into the Rochester area and eventually end up in Buffalo, we will be sharing your energy, your hope, with others, so they know that they are not alone.” 

To follow along with Rural & Migrant Ministry’s Journey of Empathy Caravan, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages to view livestream videos and photos.

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Calverton

On Friday, May 24, starting at 9:30 a.m., the support committee for Calverton National Cemetery will hold a graveside flag placement event in preparation for Memorial Day. While the registration for this event has already closed, the flags will wave proudly until Friday, May 31, for all who visit the cemetery to see. For more information, please visit calvertonsupport.com. 

Calverton’s annual Memorial Day commemoration ceremony will be held at Calverton National Cemetery Monday, May 28, from 1 to 2 p.m. This event is one of the more than 130 cemetery commemoration ceremonies happening nationally this Memorial Day weekend, hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, go to va.gov. 

Riverhead

Rain or shine, the Riverhead Combined Veterans Committee is holding its annual Memorial ceremonies and parade on Monday, May 26. The parade will start marching on Osborn Avenue at Pulaski Street at 9 a.m., before continuing south down Osborn Avenue to the World War I monument on the corner of Court and West Main streets. Once there, Memorial Day commemorative ceremonies will be held on the law. The parade will then proceed Main Street to East Avenue, north to St. John’s Cemetery, and then farther north on Roanoke Avenue to Pulaski Street for a stop at Riverhead Cemetery. The final destination of this year’s parade will be the War Memorial on the lawn of Pulaski Street School. 

Southold

On Friday, May 23, the Griswold-Terry-Glover Post 803 Southold American Legion Auxiliary will hold a ‘Pop Over for a Poppy’ curbside distribution in observance of Memorial Day. Those interested in picking up a poppy can stop by the Legion Hall, 51655 Main Road, Southold, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Members of Post 803 will also line up for Southold Town’s annual Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to noon. The parade will start at Boisseau Avenue and Hobart Road and march from there to Tuckers Lane along Route 25. All are welcome to join in the commemoration. For more information, visit southoldtownny.gov.

Greenport

On Monday, May 26, starting at 8 a.m., the Village of Greenport will hold a parade consisting mainly of Greenport American Legion and community members. The parade route begins on Adams Street and marches toward the IGA, before turning onto Third Street and continuing on to the East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation. 

Orient

On Monday, May 26, from the bright and early 7 to 9 a.m., the Orient Fire Department will hold its Memorial Day parade. The march starts at the firehouse, 23300 Main Road, continues down Tabor Road to Orchard Street, then on to Navy Street and Village Lane, before taking Main Road back to the starting point. For more information, visit southoldtownny.gov.

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Clean Up in the Village of Greenport

The Village of Greenport is hosting a clean up Saturday, April 19, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. to help keep the village beautiful. Bring your own gloves, tick protection, buckets and pick-up sticks. Bags will be provided. Those interested should meet at the miniature train on Moore’s Lane, or at Monsell Trail at the end of North Street.

Beach Clean Up

On Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to noon, North Fork Audubon board members Theresa Dilworth and Carol Edwards will lead a walk through Inlet Pond County Park trails. After the spring jaunt, the group will help preserve the local environment with a beach clean up. Those interested can register at northforkaudubon.org.

Slow Down for Earth Day

Slow Food East End and Golden Acres Farm (652 Peconic Bay Blvd., Jamesport) are holding an all-day Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 19, packed with local vendors, eco-activists, artists, farmers and food producers. Kids crafts, face-painting, an eco-friendly egg hunt and live demos will round out the afternoon’s festivities. 

Global Warming and Climate Change with Jack Gibbons

On Tuesday, April 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Mattituck-Laurel Library, Jack Gibbons will give an engaging presentation on the pressing issue of climate change, its impact on our planet, the consequences of inaction and the solutions available to address this crisis. Those interested can register at the free event at mattitucklaurellibrary.org.

Gardening for Change: Earth Day Action Meeting

North Fork environmental groups will gather at the Unitarian Universalists of Southold Meeting Hall (51900 Main Road) Tuesday, April 22, at 6:15 p.m. to provide information regarding exciting volunteer opportunities. Following these short presentations, president of the North Fork Environmental Council Mark Haubner will moderate an open panel of local experts, which will discuss practical and inspiring environmental advice to change the world one step at a time.

An Earth Day celebration that embraces nature

Quogue Wildlife Refuge (3 Old Country Road) is hosting an Earth Day celebration Saturday, April 26, from noon to 3 p.m. The event features guided birding walks, live animal presentations, fun crafts, environmental exhibitors and the potential for self-guided kayaking and canoeing on Old Ice Pond. The celebration, completely free, will run rain or shine.

Discover the Night

On Saturday, April 26, from 6 p.m. to midnight, the Custer Institute and Observatory (1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold) will host an event celebrating both Earth Day and Dark Sky Week. Beginning with guided walks through the ReWild native garden, the celebration will move indoors at 7 p.m. for tours of the observatory. At 8 p.m., Randall DiGiuseppe will give an outdoor presentation on the multitude of galaxies we can see in our night sky. From 8 p.m. to the end of the event at midnight, Custer Observatory will give guided tours of the night sky. Registration is recommended at custerobservatory.orgdue to limited seating. Suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children under 16 help support the observatory. 

The post Earth Day 2025 Events Roundup appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Last summer, the family of the overdose victim contacted Mr. Tierney’s office, prompting an investigation into Shawn Smiley, 53, of Greenport, who is alleged to have mailed fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to the Albany user.

Authorities said that Mr. Smiley obtained the pills he sold at various locations on the North Fork from Melissa Flythe, 45, of Riverhead. Ms. Flythe’s boyfriend, Lashawn Lawrence, 40, of Riverhead has also been charged with trafficking fentanyl and oxycodone pills. Their Riverhead apartment was raided early Thursday morning, according to Mr. Tierney’s office, and an untraceable semi-automatic “ghost gun” was recovered, as well as fentanyl and oxycodone pills.

Mr. Smiley’s Greenport apartment and storage unit were raided as well, according to authorities. Oxycodone pills were allegedly recovered from the apartment and two loaded firearms from the storage unit.

In the course of the year-long probe, investigators identified David Brown, 48, of Riverhead, Jamal Lawrence, 49, of Greenport and Amylyn Spinelli, 41, of Greenport as alleged co-conspirators in the trafficking operation. A search warrant executed at the home of Mr. Lawrence and Ms. Spinelli allegedly turned up cocaine that was packaged for individual sale.

A search of Mr. Brown’s Riverhead apartment allegedly turned up more than a half ounce of cocaine and more than a half ounce of what officials believe to be fentanyl, which were also packaged for sale, according to Mr. Tierney’s office.

During the search of Mr. Brown’s apartment, Zante Davender, 25, of Riverhead was allegedly caught with oxycodone pills and Willie Davender, 53, of Riverhead was found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm, according to authorities.

Mr. Smiley was charged with five felonies for drug sales, drug and weapons possession and conspiracy — and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Brown was charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor for conspiracy and drug possession and faces up to 12 years behind bars if convicted. A spokesperson for the Legal Aid Society, which is representing Mr. Brown, declined to comment.

Lashawn Lawrence and Ms. Flythe, who were both charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor for weapons and drug possession, each face up to 15 years behind bars if convicted. Mr. Lawrence’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it could not be determined whether Ms. Flythe has retained a lawyer.

Jamal Lawrence was charged with two felonies for drug possession and conspiracy and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Smiley, Mr. Brown and both Lashawn and Jamal Lawrence were remanded to jail at their arraignments, while Ms. Flythe’s bail was set at $250,000 cash.

Ms. Spinelli was charged with one felony conspiracy count, while Willie Davender was charged with felony weapons possession. Zante Davender was charged with misdemeanor drug possession. It could not be determined whether any of the three have retained attorneys.  

In a press release, Mr. Tierney thanked the family of the overdose victim for reaching out to authorities.

“The fact that the victim’s family, amid their grief, had the presence of mind to contact law enforcement led to the unraveling of an alleged criminal organization and the arrests of these eight individuals,” he said. “I urge any families who are unfortunately in similar circumstances to call my office or the Suffolk County Police Department, so that we may seek justice for the untimely death of your loved one.”

Chief Steve Grattan of the Southold Police Department, which participated in the investigation, thanked the East End Drug Task Force in a statement “for their relentless commitment and tireless efforts to keep our community safe.”

The task force is made up of investigators from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Deptartment, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the East Hampton, Southampton, Riverhead and Southold police departments.

Individuals named in police reports have not been convicted of a crime or violation. The charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or they may be found innocent.

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RIVERHEAD

Voters approved the $201,464,530 school budget, an increase of 4.93% over the previous year. The measure passed by a margin of 1,224 to 745 votes.

A proposal to add a 12th-grade student representative as a non-voting member to the district board passed with 1,418 votes.

Two seats were up for grabs on the Riverhead Central School District’s Board of Education. Incumbent Brian Connelly and newcomer Kelly Freeborn were elected to the board. Mr. Connelly received 1,322 votes and Ms. Freeborn garnered 1,497.

SHOREHAM-WADING RIVER

Voters approved the $88,183,464 budget, a 4% increase from the previous school year. The measure passed by a margin of 526 to 125 votes.

Voters also approved the transfer of $1,676,920 to the capital fund to complete building repairs including the construction of two additional faculty restrooms at Miller Avenue School as well as electrical infrastructure replacements and upgrades districtwide.

Incumbent James Smith and newcomer Jim Lauckhardt were elected to the two open seats on the seven-person board of education. Mr. Smith received a total of 487 votes and Mr. Lauckhardt tallied 537.

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The nonprofit LGBT Network, along with Greenport business own- er Lori Panarello, organized the June 23 event “North Fork Pride,” which featured a colorful parade through Greenport Village followed by a street fair and tea dance.

Ms. Panarello had contacted Rob- ert Vitelli and Brian Rosen of the LGBT Network earlier in the year.

“That was a very serendipitous moment because at that moment we really knew that we kind of found each other,” said Mr. Vitelli, who explained that the LGBT Network had wanted to bring Pride to the North Fork for some time but never had a local source to help. Ms. Panarello solved that problem.

“This kind of openness and change coming to our community is so important. It’s been a long time coming,” said Colleen Stellato, an LGBT Network volunteer.

Next year, the plan is to make it bigger. The LGBT Network wants to start planning earlier and do some more fundraising, they said.

The June event was warmly received, despite rain earlier in the day that threatened to cast a pall over the proceedings.

Ms. Panarello would not be deterred, as she declared before Pride kicked off: “It will not rain on our parade.”

ORIGINAL REPORTING BY MELISSA AZOFEIFA AND JULIA VASILE-COZZO

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Here is what you need to know as the new school year kicks off.

Riverhead

First day: Wednesday, Sept. 6

Over the summer, the Riverhead Central School District ramped up its security measures.

“We installed 125 new cameras,” said Superintendent Augustine Tornatore. “We also updated our camera software … put access control devices at targeted entries and exits throughout the district [and] door sensors to prevent unauthorized building entry and exit. At the middle school and high school, we are having ScholarChip, which is a web-based school safety system, which means … we’ll have a better way of really knowing which students are in the buildings [at] what time, to help us really tighten up security.”

Districtwide, parents will now use a new application, ParentSquare, which Dr. Tornatore said will “increase communication between the district and the community for transparency.”

At the elementary school, Riverhead will now offer a dual language program.

The district has also worked on easing transitions for students between its different schools. Over at Riverhead Middle School, which encompasses grades seven and eight, Dr. Tornatore said students will be “riding the wave” of the positive behavioral intervention strategies represented by the acronym “PRIDE” — present, respectful, independent, diverse and empowered — which they learned as fifth- and sixth-graders at Pulaski Street School. He added that this will “continue to make the middle school a more inviting environment for students, but also redirect any negative behavior.”

The superintendent also said some seventh-grade students and teachers will pilot an advisory program “to help those students who may need that additional support coming to the middle school from Pulaski.”

Riverhead High School will offer several new courses this year, including AP pre-calculus, AP English seminar, advanced guitar, video game design, an ENL computer class, Python computer programming, social studies research methods, a portfolio development course in art and technology, theater performance and production and an agricultural science class.

“We have the greenhouse, which is almost fully completed now … which will help our students who want to go into agricultural farming,” Dr. Tornatore said. “We have farmers in the community and we want to continue to support their success.”

Shoreham-Wading River

First day: Wednesday, Sept. 6

Shoreham-Wading River made progress on various capital projects at the high school during the summer. 

“We are fully renovating our high school art rooms … they’re going to be beautiful, modern, 21st-century vibrant art classrooms,” Superintendent Gerard Poole said. “It’s an art suite, [with] new pottery and ceramic wheel stations, a new CNC engraver as part of technology in the art classroom. We’re really looking forward to unveiling at the start of the school year for our high school students.”

The school also converted the high school’s auxiliary gym into a health and fitness center. Thanks to a donation from the Wildcats Athletic Club, the center will be open for students on Saturday mornings. Mr. Poole described it as “a state-of-the-art facility with modern workout equipment, flat panel TVs, branding with the high school logo on there, so really trying to engage students, and taking care of themselves and fitness.”

Work has also been completed on the high school’s driveway, HVAC system and roof. “You don’t have anything unless it’s dry, right?” Mr. Poole said.

“I want to be there when students walk into those spaces for the first time,” he added. “It was a lot of work to finish those spaces and get them to the finish line, so I kind of want to be there when students walk in for the first time, to see the smiles and the excitement on their faces.”

After their unified basketball program, open to students of differing abilities, proved successful, the school will offer a similar bowling program in the year ahead.

On the administrative side, the district added a second assistant principal position at the high school, which was filled by Daniel Ackerman, the former middle school assistant principal. His middle school position will be filled by Lauren Biscardi from the Huntington school district.

On the class and club side, Mr. Poole said teachers can now instruct students in outdoor learning environments districtwide. The high school’s technology program will include a drone unit, and the Future Farmers of America club will be engaged in a particularly sweet project this year.

“That club is going to be running an apiary program,” Mr. Poole said. “So we will have bees for honey farming; we have a facility set up for that with a shed, some fencing, we have the hives … I should have some Wildcat honey in the spring.”

Oysterponds

First day: Tuesday, Sept. 5

Oysterponds is starting the 2023-24 school year with a new district superintendent, Justin Cobis. Mr. Cobis started on July 1 and is taking over for Richard Malone, who served as the district’s previous superintendent/principal for a decade.

Besides housekeeping work to the school building, including asbestos abatement, there was also plumbing work, along with adding shelving and furniture, Mr. Cobis said.

Students can look forward to a new science, technology, engineering and math lab created this year to enhance the STEM curriculum. Oysterponds former principal Jennifer Wissemann will lead the program and help align it with New York State standards. The school will continue to share a faculty member with the Greenport school district to be able to offer students Spanish classes.

The school’s staff went in for professional development on Aug. 29 and 30 to help implement a new math program called Into Math, an online and interactive curriculum resource bank, aligned with New York State standards.

“It will help us to help diagnose students and meet them at what levels they’re at for either academic intervention services or enrichment,” Mr. Cobis said.

The new superintendent noted that although Oysterponds’ enrollment isn’t large, with roughly 100 students in grades K through 6, the district is able to provide services that other districts don’t.

“While some might think that there are challenges, we take challenges and turn them into opportunities,” Mr. Cobis said.

Greenport

First day: Thursday, Sept. 7

Greenport continues working hard to complete the $18 million bond project passed in 2019. Students will return to some new facilities and upgrades in various areas of the building, including a new elementary library and renovated bathrooms on the second and third floors. Students will also see entirely new lockers on the second and third floors, as well as new flooring in classrooms and hallways, according to Superintendent Marlon Small.

“Our children are coming back to very upgraded facilities, which we think will do well in terms of setting a different tone in terms of what our kids are learning in a more comfortable environment,” Mr. Small said.

The district broke ground and began construction on the new auxiliary gym last May. However, Mr. Small said that because new flooring and heating/air conditioning units have yet to be installed, the gym won’t be ready for use until about mid-October. Until then, students will continue to use the cafeteria/gymnasium on the first floor.

In terms of staff, the school has hired a new nurse, a new assistant director for special education and a new band teacher. The elementary school hired new teachers for kindergarten, third grade, special education and English as a new language.

Southold

First day: Tuesday, Sept. 5

This year, Southold Union Free School District is bolstering its academic intervention services.

“That’s for students who need additional support in reading or math,” Superintendent Dr. Anthony Mauro said. “We have that in our elementary school and we’re adding it to our middle school. We’ve always had some sort of iteration of it, now we’re adding it as a class. It’s a fluid class; students may go in and out as needed … If they need support they will be offered to be moved into it, and if they are performing on grade level they would exit out of it.”

For elementary school students, Dr. Mauro said the district will offer a new “comprehensive after-school Spanish program” for English-speaking students eager to learn another language. The district has also added a new two-year AP world history sequence for ninth- and 10th-graders.

The district has hired two English as a New Language teachers — one for elementary students and one for the high school — and two new music teachers — one for elementary and one for both schools. The high school recruited a new physical education teacher and a new family and consumer sciences teacher.

In addition, Southold is adopting a year-long social and emotional learning program. “The SEL scope and sequence will be a combination of topics from awareness of self and others, self-management, social skills, social awareness, self-care, and then within them there are different [concepts],” Dr. Mauro said. “Certain formal lessons will be delivered and everybody else in the district will know what the particular topic is.

“We’re very excited for a new year,” he said.

New Suffolk

First day: Tuesday, Sept. 5

New Suffolk’s new superintendent, Joe Vasile-Cozzo, is taking over for Phil Kent, who retired earlier this year. Mr. Vasile-Cozzo has 32 years’ experience in education. He worked at Mattituck-Cutchogue school district as the physical education teacher for nine years, then at Center Moriches school district as athletic director for five years, followed by 16 years at East Hampton.

In addition to a new superintendent, the district also has two new Board of Education members, Brooke Dailey and Lisa Zissel.

The school building has undergone some minor renovations, including a project to weather seal the bricks around the building and a paint job to refresh the historic building’s appearance.

As superintendent, Mr. Vasile-Cozzo wants to provide as much support to the school’s staff and faculty as possible.

“We’re committed to giving the kids the best education possible and really support [the community] and their children,” Mr. Vasile-Cozzo said. “That’s really what my focus is going to be this year, is to make sure that happens.”

Mattituck-Cutchogue

First day: Thursday, Sept. 7

Little tykes can look forward to some new playground equipment at Cutchogue East Elementary School this year.

“We are very excited … two new playgrounds were installed at Cutchogue East,” said district Superintendent Shawn Petretti. “The first was put in and installed by our partners at Just Kids. They leased some space for us for our pre-K program and through some grants that they received, they were able to put in a playground for our primary grades. Then, as part of our five-year plan, it was time to replace the old playground that we had there … We are excited about the new playground in that [it] is ADA compliant, wheelchair accessible and there are numerous activities within the playground for our students, different sensory stations and things like that.”

Mr. Petretti added that the PTA donated two gaga ball pits for elementary school students. For those who haven’t been to recess lately, gaga ball is a variation of dodgeball designed to be much safer and more inclusive for children of all abilities.

“It’s a new game that’s really getting a lot of momentum,” Mr. Petretti said. “We like it because it involves a lot of students at one time.”

Over at the high school, the new STEM wing will be complete by the time students walk through the doors. The section will boast facilities to house the school’s trade-based classes, including a new wood shop to host an Eastern Suffolk BOCES carpentry program that’s open to Mattituck-Cutchogue, Greenport and Southold students. The school is also offering new classes in Long Island history, and AP pre-calculus along with an AP capstone research course.

“It’s a project-based class for our upperclassmen that participated in our AP seminar class in 10th grade,” Mr. Petretti said.

The post North Fork back-to-school guide 2023 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Greenport’s historic Front Street theater reopened in 1939 after a 1915 building on the same site was destroyed by the September 1938 hurricane.

Both venues are beloved by history and architecture lovers as well as longtime residents of the North Fork and Shelter Island, who remember them well. These iconic theaters are reminders of our past, and of happy summer evenings attending movie openings. They also showcase what is unique about each town and what should be protected from both the wrecking ball and big-money interests with a very different vision for the North Fork.

The Greenport Theater is now the real estate market for $5.5 million. It is also available for a long-term lease. It has been owned since 2004 by Josh Sapan, who recently stepped down as CEO of AMC Networks.

There are good reasons to be optimistic about the theater. John Catrambone of Dering Harbor Real Estate, who listed the property, said Mr. Sapan is looking for a group with a vision for how to run the theater going forward. 

“There’s this renewed interest in these older movie palaces … that could be used for cinema, music, theater, and other art forms,” he said.

Mr. Sapan first became enamored with the theater after purchasing a home in Shelter Island Heights — a brief ferry ride away. In an interview, he recalled the days when uniformed ushers escorted people to their seats and cars lined up along Front Street. 

“It was the heartbeat — the pulsing center of Greenport,” he said.

Hope for the theater’s preservation now lies with filmmaker Tony Spiridakis, founder of the Manhattan Film Institute with his partner, Lisa Gillooly. The institute ran a winter film series there in 2019.

Mr. Spiridakis said he hopes to form a nonprofit and raise money for a new cultural arts center at the theater. This is a terrific idea and we earnestly hope he can succeed with this goal. Greenport — with its extraordinary waterfront — cannot afford to lose what makes it unique. Historically, with its fishing and boat-building past, Greenport is like no other place on the North Fork. Save what can be saved. The clock is ticking loudly.

In Riverhead, where development has been front and center for the Town Board, The Suffolk is one of the anchors for a reimagined downtown. The theater now hosts concerts and events and its owners, Dianne and Bob Castaldi, are seeking to expand to attract bigger acts.

There is strong sentiment among Riverhead officials to do whatever is necessary to save this local treasure. It is said to be the last remaining large Art Deco theater on Long Island.

The theater attracted generations of people to downtown Riverhead. And a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant recently awarded to Riverhead will all but ensure that crowds keep coming, as $2 million of that funding has been earmarked for The Suffolk. 

The Castaldis’ plans for saving the Suffolk include incorporating apartments and retail stores to ensure a steady source of revenue. If approved by the town, a 59-foot addition to the rear of the building would include new dressing rooms, with 20 rental units on upper floors.

For both Riverhead and Greenport, the goal is to preserve what is unique to these communities. Their iconic theaters are fine examples of period architecture and meaningful symbols of our past that must be saved.

The post Editorial: Two downtown movie palaces must be saved  appeared first on Riverhead News Review.