Long Ireland Beer Company, a fixture at 817 Pulaski St. since 2011, will be closing its doors on Dec. 31. 

The brewery’s owners announced the decision Saturday, Dec. 13 on social media, expressing sadness and thanking the beer-quaffing public for its support over the past 14 years.

“We have worked endlessly these past years trying to stay afloat, trying to provide a fun and welcoming atmosphere, trying to brew consistently good beer,” the post reads on Facebook. “Even with all of our hard work and dedication — we have come to the reality that it just isn’t enough.”

Suds-loving pals Dan Burke and Greg Martin began brewing beer together in their free time on March 1, 2009. They enjoyed it so much that they quit their day jobs in the heating and air conditioning business and spawned Long Ireland Beer Company two years later.

The pair said New Year’s Eve will be the brewery’s “final hurrah,” adding that they “plan to go out partying as only we can.” 

“Over the next couple of weeks we hope you’ll join us in the tasting room and help us say goodbye on a high note. We have a few fun events left, so if you’ve ever raised a pint with us, made a memory here, or felt like part of our extended beer-loving family — now’s the time to come by and see us,” the post reads.

The company publicly discussed its financial struggles in May, citing declining sales and rising expenses, saying it was difficult to survive and warning that its future was uncertain.

Last month, the company posted an update, saying the community responded and showed immense support. Nonetheless, it wasn’t enough to keep the doors open.

News of the closure prompted an emotional response on social media, drawing nearly 200 comments, many accompanied by crying-face emojis.

“This makes me so sad. We love Long Ireland and have come to feel very ‘at home’ there. We will miss you all so much. We wish you the best of everything going forward,” Ruth Taylor Driscoll wrote.

Irish Crossroads, an Irish gift shop in Sayville, thanked Long Ireland for being “such an important part of the Long Island Irish scene.”

“Pioneers on L.I. for sure, great beer, great vibes, great people! I’m so sorry this (is) the end, I had hoped for a different outcome. Thank you for years of support,” wrote Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association.

Others echoed the sentiment.

“A second family to me, and a second home to many,” wrote Stevie Czelatka. “Sorry to see this. Long live Long Ireland!”

The post Long Ireland Beer Company closing after 14 years in Riverhead appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6, also featured the school’s annual wreath sale, the lighting of its giant wreath and hot cocoa.

“It’s the start of the holiday season,” said principal Thomas Payton. “This is a magical time of year, particularly for elementary kids, and this kicks it off.”

The annual wreath sale has been a staple for the school since 2011, a year after Mr. Payton became principal. The sale acts as a fundraiser for the school’s PTO, with all of the money going back toward helping the students. 

The school’s fourth-grade singers showed off their voices, belting out three holiday tunes, led by Lily Kutner, the school’s music teacher. Following the special concert, parents joined their kids and looked up to the window above the main entrance, counting down from 10. At the end of the countdown, the window was illuminated by the school’s giant wreath, lit up with multicolored lights.

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Karla and Carlos Vasquez were all smiles at their school’s holiday celebration. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) Madison Grigg and Amethyst Marshall braved the cold weather to celebrate with their friends. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) Principal Thomas Payton thanked families for coming out to continue the annual tradition. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) Music teacher Lily Kutner led the fourth-grade singers. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) For the first time, the Riverhead Fire Department helped light up a Christmas tree for the school. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter) PTO members Cleydi Amaya, Melissa Mapes, Lindsay Raynor and Karma Marshall helped put together the festive event. (Credit: Brendan Carpenter

Mr. Payton said the wreath was originally donated by a former student’s parent. They asked if they could hang it up, and it turned into a beloved holiday tradition. 

This year’s celebration featured for the first time the help of Riverhead Fire Department, which is located directly across the street. Students, parents and administrators were happy with the surprise addition, taking pictures in front of the tree.

Families also took photos next to a blow-up Frosty the Snowman. 

After the festivities were over, everyone lined up for hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies from the PTO, warming up holiday-style on a chilly winter night.

“We have the wreath that will be lit through the holiday season. Now, a tree, for the first time, is going to be lit through the holiday season,” said Mr. Payton. “I think that this signifies the holiday season for our students.”

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Andrew Mitchell, PBMC’s former chairman and CEO, still vividly remembers those nights.

“There are many patients today who’ve gone through heart attacks and been brought to the hospital,” Mr. Mitchell said. “They’re alive today because of what Stanley did.”

Early years and the path to medicine

Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, medicine wasn’t something Dr. Katz ever imagined for himself. He recently celebrated his 79th birthday, but still recalls wanting to be what many boys dreamed of: a professional soccer player.

“Medicine was the last thing on my mind, because I would get queasy in biology class and passed out at my cousin’s bris,” the silver-haired surgeon recalled in a sit-down with the Riverhead News-Review. “But then I desperately wanted to get out of South Africa. It was, at the time, Apartheid era.”

Many of his friends were taking the medicine route for the same reason — a path out of the country. One was already in a program, and when Dr. Katz tagged along to observe a lab, he surprised himself. He didn’t pass out. That realization nudged him toward medicine.

After graduating from the University of Cape Town and interning in Israel, Dr. Katz came to the United States at 26. He spent his 20s and 30s training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. He then directed the cath lab at what’s now NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola for nine years before being recruited in 1991 to North Shore University Hospital as chief of cardiology — a position he held for 26 years.

When Dr. Katz started at North Shore in 1991, the hospital was performing 100 stent procedures a year. A decade later, that number had grown to 3,000.

A pilot’s mindset

Outside the operating room, Dr. Katz has another passion: flying. For years, he has piloted a multicolored, four-seat Cirrus out of Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, a hobby he picked up in his 50s.

He sees a familiar rhythm between the cockpit and the cath lab.

“When I’m doing a procedure, I’m looking at the monitor, but I’m also looking at the EKG and the blood pressure, and I’m listening to the patient’s respiration,” he said. “It’s the same with aviation. You have to be multitasking and monitoring many different parameters all at the same time. There’s a certain risk-taking with flying and the same with interventional cardiology.”

For him, it’s not the thrill but the problem-solving discipline that connects the two.

Coming to the North Fork

In 2016, on the verge of turning 70, Dr. Katz was told the hospital where he worked wanted to move toward younger leadership. Around the same time, PBMC was in talks to join the Northwell system. He knew Mr. Mitchell, who hoped the merger would bring the hospital its first cardiac catheterization lab.

The two spoke, and Dr. Katz expressed interest in coming out himself to help make that a reality. They had dinner, discussed the opportunity and Dr. Katz was hired that year.

“I think what he really set out to do, and what he accomplished, is … establish a standard of care that the people on the East End of Long Island deserved,” said Mr. Mitchell, who retired as CEO in 2022 and has since helped raise millions of dollars for the hospital.

The cath lab first opened in an interim operating room on the second floor in 2017, before plans began taking shape for the permanent home of the program: the Kanas Regional Heart Center.

Mr. Mitchell still recalls watching Dr. Katz sit overnight with patients, just as he had done decades earlier — a hallmark of his approach.

“One of the things that I believe really makes a difference in the care of the patient is if they have some kind of medical advocate, because they don’t know enough to ask the right questions,” Dr. Katz said. “So when I take care of a patient, I act as their advocate. I spend time going over everything with them so that I earn their trust.”

Building programs and raising standards

Once the program got going, it grew quickly and gained credibility. In 2023, PBMC’s cath lab was ranked as one of the top 100 labs in the country — out of more than 1,700 nationwide.

Since Dr. Katz came aboard, the hospital has also built a credible electrophysiology program — putting in pacemakers and defibrillators — and expanded its interventional cardiology capabilities. PBMC became a level three trauma center in 2017, and its next goal is becoming thrombectomy-capable for strokes.

Looking ahead, Dr. Katz would like to see PBMC become a tertiary hospital, where heart surgeons can perform open-heart procedures. That would eliminate the need to transfer patients west of the medical center.

Mentorship and legacy

PBMC president Amy Loeb, who succeeded Mr. Mitchell, credits much of the hospital’s cardiac program growth to Dr. Katz’s influence. She said he commands deep respect, and that it’s clear from speaking with him how patient-centered he is. She describes him as an extraordinary individual.

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Katz has made it a priority to mentor the young doctors who work beside him.

“One of Dr. Katz’s famous sayings that I love is, ‘Just say yes,'” Ms. Loeb said. “What he has taught those coming behind him is to have that mentality that you must figure out how to find a ‘yes’ for patients. He’s probably trained more interventional cardiologists on this island than anyone else. His fingerprints are literally all over this island and country.”

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The tournament will be held at Box Pickleball in Riverhead, at 605 Old Country Rd., on Dec. 20 from noon to 5 p.m.

“​​This is a cool opportunity to bring together, not only some of the kids that play in our soccer league or basketball tournaments, but definitely a lot of the parents as well, and all ages, for this tournament,” said league co-founder Francis Buonaiuto. “Pickleball brings the community together, and that’s what we’re all about.”

A max of 64 two-person teams will compete in a March Madness-style bracket. It will be a round-robin, meaning each team can play multiple games before being eliminated. To make it even more fun, you don’t have to play to take part in the tournament.

Like millions of March Madness fans do each year, spectators can fill out a bracket with who they think will win each round. Points are then awarded based on how many winners are guessed correctly and how many of the top eight teams are guessed correctly. Those brackets can then be turned in for prizes.

For every team that signs up, the league will get their pictures, age, and a quote from them. That all goes to their Instagram and Facebook, and that’s how people can find out who’s playing before filling out their brackets.

“This was the perfect opportunity to reach a new audience, to follow our same morals, which is bringing communities together through sports,” said fellow co-founder Joe Aiello.

There will also be raffles, Christmas-themed prizes under a tree and stocking-stuffers from sponsors. Under the tree, the top three teams will have special gifts. The first-place team will get trophies, shirts and a cash prize. Second and third place will get medals, shirts and some additional little gifts.

Oh, and there will be an ugly sweater contest — a classic holiday staple.  

“I’ve even heard some players are going to wear them during the tournament,” Mr. Aiello said.

To sign up, visit aldrichsportsleague.com or contact Mr. Aiello at 631-905-9595. The deadline is Dec. 8 and costs $100 per team.

The two lifelong friends, Mr. Aiello and Mr. Buonaiuto, both from Mattituck, established the Aldrich Sports League in 2023 after recognizing that they wanted to create an organized, competitive, and welcoming place for athletes to learn, grow, and have fun.

The league has continued to grow each year with the support of the community. They’ve held other events such as soccer clinics and leagues, basketball tournaments and several fundraisers. They’ve even had some meaningful collaborations, such as with NoFo Kid Connect and the American Amputee Soccer Association.

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The grade was awarded by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, which assigns grades to nearly 3,000 general hospitals nationwide based on over 30 national performance measures. The “A” grade represents the highest standard for patient safety.

“This recognition affirms the exceptional work of our entire PBMC team in maintaining a culture of safety, compassion and clinical excellence,” president of PBMC Amy Loeb said. “Every member of our staff, from physicians and nurses to support teams, plays a vital role in delivering care that our patients can trust.

“As our hospital continues to expand to meet the growing needs of the residents on the East End, we remain focused on ensuring that patient safety is at the heart of every step forward.”

The current grades reflect data from 2021-2024.

Doctor and nurse communication and responsiveness, ICU physician staffing levels, total hours of nursing care and cleanliness are among the measures for determining grades. Grades are given out each spring and fall. PBMC received a “B” grade this past spring.

“Earning an ‘A’ grade means Northwell Health made a true commitment to put patient safety first,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the leadership, board, clinicians, staff and volunteers who all had a role to play in this achievement.”

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital was the only one on Long Island to receive a “D” in the 2025 rankings. The hospital has far fewer beds than PBMC — 70 compared with 144. That could lead to a difference in staffing, patient care, and other criteria The Leapfrog Group grades on.

Hospital officials said in a statement that since last year, they have implemented substantial patient safety improvements, and these efforts continue to advance, “resulting in premier quality and safety rankings across several nationally recognized organizations.”

“This one survey does not reflect the quality of care provided by our exceptional staff,” SBELIH officials said. “Our teams care deeply about the communities we serve and are dedicated to achieving the highest levels of quality and safety.”

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Two barns caught fire at the farm at 4976 Sound Ave. around 5 p.m., though firefighters were able to save one, according to Riverhead Fire Department Chief Piotr Kurzyna. One of the destroyed barns housed pigs and chickens.

“I literally drove here at 4:35, and by five the building was on fire. 
So, I drove through here. I didn’t see anything, nothing to indicate there was any problems,” Laura Wells, the owner of the farm, told Riverhead News-Review on Thursday, Nov. 13.

“I was talking to my grandson. He’d come over to get a package from our porch. 
I walked outside with him, and then I went back in the house. I got word that there was a fire, came back and the yard was full of smoke. I was literally outside not even two minutes before that, and then all of a sudden, there was smoke everywhere.”

The Wells family has operated the farm since 1661, making it Riverhead’s oldest farming family.

The Riverhead Police Department said they responded to the fire and found a portion of one barn fully engulfed in flames.

With the assistance of the Wells family, uniformed officers entered the barn and helped multiple animals to safety. Firefighters at the farm were reportedly seen chasing pigs out of the barn and into pens to save them.

“It was difficult to get the animals out, especially when they were afraid,” Chief Kurzyna told Riverhead News-Review last Thursday afternoon. Smoke also made it difficult to get the animals out, he added.

All of the chickens in the barn were killed, as well as two of the 20 pigs, Ms. Wells said. None of the lambs on site were in the barn.

A Riverhead police officer and Ms. Wells’ two granddaughters were treated on site for smoke inhalation and transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for further care, according to officials and Ms. Wells.

“My granddaughters ended up in the ER. 
They had smoke inhalation. They were helping get the pigs out. I believe [there was also] a police officer, but they say he’s doing fine,” she said. 


The officer was treated and released from the hospital, Riverhead Police Department Chief Ed Frost said.

The pigs have been secured together in an outdoor pen since last week. Their behavior appears normal, and they are eating and drinking.

“The pigs are doing very well. There’s one that has a small burn on the backside. They will probably bring somebody in to have to look at that. As far I can tell, it’s just the one pig,” Ms. Wells said. “But they’re doing well, surprisingly. Being outside probably helped them, with the fresh air.” 

According to Ms. Wells, more animals are housed in these barns during the summer, but now the season is winding down.

“I would like to thank all the first responders who came to our place to help with the barns that caught fire. Also, I would like to thank those who helped save as many animals as possible and get them out of the building and into an outside pen where they could get fresh air and be tended to by our personnel,” Eric Wells Sr. wrote on Facebook. “I would also like to thank Stan Niegocki of Niegocki Farms for his help in tending to the animals.”

Fire departments from Riverhead, Jamesport, Flanders, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Wading River, Hampton Bays and Eastport responded to the inferno, which closed traffic along Sound Avenue between Church Lane and West Lane for several hours. Chief Kurzyna said that more than 50 firefighters responded to the scene.

It took more than two hours to get the fire under control, according to Chief Kurzyna. Firefighters were there for about nearly four hours, spraying the buildings down to ensure there were no more hot spots.

“Everybody did a phenomenal job at that fire,” Chief Kurzyna said.

The Ridge Fire Department and other ambulance personnel were also on standby.

The Riverhead fire marshal’s office, Riverhead Detective Division and the Suffolk County Police Arson Section are investigating the cause of the fire, which did not appear to be suspicious in nature.

“They’ve ruled out foul play. That’s about all they can do at this point,” Ms. Wells said.  “The fire marshal was saying they’re just leaving it as undetermined.”

Police said due to the significant amount of water used to extinguish the fire, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation representatives were present to monitor water runoff.

John Di Leonardo of Humane Long Island rushed to the scene after smelling smoke from the nearby fire. He got there around 6 p.m. and stayed for about an hour. Mr. Di Leonardo said upon arriving, he immediately noticed how terrified all the pigs and sheep in the corral were. 

“A lot of the pigs were experiencing smoke inhalation, foaming at the mouth,” he said. “They had burns and lacerations on their body.”

Mr. Di Leonardo said he did not perform any veterinary assistance, but offered to bring some doctors in.

“It could have been so much worse. Buildings can be rebuilt, you know. Nobody got hurt, so that’s what’s important at this point. That’s what we need to focus on,” Ms. Wells said.

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The wall of 14 names is located on the first floor, right down the hall from the main lobby. This area was chosen because, as hospital chaplain Deborah Miller joked, it’s where everyone stops to ask for directions. Scattered across the American flag covering the wall, are plaques with the names of veterans now working at the medical center.

Ms. Miller said that people will be able to look around, see the wall and be reminded of the values that guide them in their service and the employees in their work.

“When their time in the military ended, they chose, once again, to serve; this time in the halls of healing in their own hospital,” Chief Operating Officer Arthur Crowe said. “Caring for patients, supporting families, mentoring colleagues and strengthening our community, they exemplify the very best of our values: integrity, teamwork, compassion and excellence.”

As the tape and paper covering the display were taken down, the first-floor hallway was packed with veterans, colleagues and members of the hospital’s veterans committee, who erupted with claps, cheers and smiles.

Richard Belfer, senior manager of facilities management and a Marine Corps Reserve master sergeant, said the dedication was vital to the hospital’s mission of wanting to recognize its veterans further.

“This is an addition that embodies respect, gratitude and enduring recognition for our team members who have served our country, who are here to officially unveil and dedicate our new Team Veterans Honor Wall,” Mr. Belfer said. “To see it evolve from a hopeful concept to the magnificent reality you see here today is incredibly rewarding, but like any significant undertaking, it wouldn’t be possible without some critical support and belief.”

The star-spangled wall will only be the beginning at PBMC, as Mr. Belfer said a program will be created that will allow the recognition to grow in the years to come.

“We want it to be more than just names. We want it more to be a true embodiment of who we are as the organization and as Peconic Bay,” he said. “We are a service-driven culture, committed to compassion, excellence and community.”

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On the North Fork, the polling station at the Riverhead Town Hall drew voters in the key races for supervisor and Town Board, along with the County Legislature battle between Democrat Greg Doroski and Republican incumbent Catherine Stark. 

According to Southold Town Democrats, 3,660 of 18,849 registered voters came out early in Southold as of Oct. 31. In Riverhead, 2,198 of 24,417 took part in early voting.

Turnout over the early voting period from Oct. 25 through Nov. 2 was fairly steady throughout the county, with a weekend surge bringing more than 14,000 voters to the polls. 

Sunday saw the largest single-day totals, with 3,270 Republicans and 2,302 Democrats voting.

Overall, Democrats led with roughly 21,000 ballots cast, Republicans followed with nearly 17,500, and independents totaled about 10,600, according to officials. 

Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard is running for reelection against Jerry Halpin.

The candidates running for two open seats on the Riverhead Town Board include incumbents Ken Rothwell and Bob Kern, and newcomers Kevin Shea and Mark Woolley.

North Fork voters can still find their designated voting sites for Tuesday at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

The Riverhead News-Review published endorsements in all the race last week.

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Riverhead Town Supervisor

The Riverhead battle for town supervisor pits GOP incumbent Tim Hubbard against local pastor Jerry Halpin.

Riverhead Town Board

Four candidates are vying for two open seats on the Riverhead Town Board. Incumbent councilmen Kenneth Rothwell and Bob Kern are both running for second, four-year terms. Both were elected in 2021 and have played critical roles in making decisions that shape Riverhead’s future. Two newcomers, Kevin Shea and Mark Woolley, have also entered the ring of this competitive race. Mr. Shea of Baiting Hollow, is a retired New York City firefighter and 9/11 first responder, and a staunch environmental steward. Mr. Woolley, a Riverhead native, is a seasoned government liaison who has worked with six different members of Congress.

Suffolk County Legislator

The race for County legislator between Republican incumbent Catherine Stark and Democrat Greg Doroski and it has an odd twist. Depending on the results of Proposition 2 on the ballot in Suffolk County, the winner could be back on the campaign trail next year. 

The proposition looks to extend the term for Suffolk County legislators to four years from their current two-year stint. 

If Prop 2 is approved, the elected legislator would serve a three-year term through 2028. 

If it fails, the winner will serve a one-year term and have to run again next year to get on board with the state’s move to even-year election cycles to coincide with state and federal elections.

Early voting wraps up today, with polls opening at 10 a.m. and staying open until 6 p.m. The voting booths are located on the lower level of Riverhead Town Hall at 4 West Second St. and in the rear of the Southold Town Recreation Center at 970 Peconic Lane in Peconic.

Can’t make it to vote early? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, with voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, registered voters must report to their regular polling location. Find out where to vote on Election Day here.

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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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