By Amanda Wyatt

Plans for Sag Harbor School District’s capital project proposal — an initiative to tackle maintenance and building projects within the school district, that some say have been pushed to the backburner for too long — were resurrected at Monday night’s board of education (BOE) meeting.

Larry Salvesen of the architectural firm Burton, Behrendt & Smith addressed the board and members of the community on revised plans for improving the district’s buildings and grounds. Salvesen’s presentation took place on September 24, a year since he last addressed the BOE on the project.

This year, there are approximately 121 items included in the capital project list, which seeks to make improvements in building integrity, code compliance, health and safety, and energy conservation.

BOE Vice President Chris Tice said the school’s facilities have been neglected for too long. She urged her fellow board members to take swift action to move ahead with the project.

“Our buildings are in desperate need of some really basic maintenance,” she said. “We have areas that aren’t safe, and they don’t get safer if you leave them alone. It’s like a cavity in your mouth doesn’t get smaller if you don’t fill it.”

Salvesen agreed.

“Deteriorating conditions begin to accelerate over time. You have deteriorated conditions that have sat for years and need to be addressed,” he pointed out.

“This is so much more than anything cosmetic,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Carl Bonuso. “You’re talking about air quality, you’re talking about safety, you’re talking about saving energy and money, frankly.”

The capital project program includes architectural improvements, such as kitchen expansion, window and flooring replacements and a partial roof replacement. The plan also involves the replacement of deteriorated walkways and asphalt areas, as well as the main entry plaza.

Ventilation improvements, the installation of carbon dioxide sensors, as well as the installation of energy-efficient electrical motors, drives and transformers are also on the plate.

The capital project plans would require a bond of $4,438,402, which is some $2 million dollars less than the project that was originally proposed. After the community voted against the district’s request for a $6,724,087 bond in December 2009, school administrators and the Long Range Planning Committee made a number of reductions to the proposal.

The fall 2012 capital project proposal includes $3,745,902 for the cost of basic repairs and $692,500 for reconstructing and expanding the Hampton Street and Jermain Avenue parking lots. Salvesen explained that the goal of the parking lot project is not simply to increase the number of parking spaces, but to also improve deteriorating conditions in the lot. The project also aims to increase traffic safety and maneuverability.

For example, the proposed Jermain Avenue lot is set back slightly from the street, with a landscaped island separating it from the main road. This would prevent cars from backing out directly onto the road and, possibly, into oncoming traffic.

Salvesen also presented two separate, supplemental propositions, which are not included in the capital project proposal. The first is the creation of a $1,620,000 synthetic turf field and a two-lane rubberized walking/jogging track. An additional $675,000 would be used for the installation of stadium-style lighting, so that students could use this new field in the evening.

With the supplemental propositions added to the cost of the Capital Project, the potential total would be $6,733,402. This figure is just slightly higher than the Capital Project of 2009’s total of $6,724,087.

President Theresa Samot suggested discussing the proposal with the school’s Long Range Planning Committee. Once these discussions have taken place, the BOE will present the committee’s recommendations at its next meeting in November.

If a decision is made, the district will put the proposed amount of money up for bond, and the community can vote on whether or not to approve the amount. However, the BOE said, a vote to approve the proposed bond would probably not take place until at least the early spring, and repairs would not begin until summer.

By Gavin Menu

Most field hockey players and fall athletes in general will look sluggish at times early into a new season as they come around to the physical demands of playing full speed for an entire game. And then there is Kasey Gilbride.

Pierson-Bridgehampton’s all-everything junior midfielder was in overdrive from start to finish during a convincing 4-0 victory over Riverhead in the team’s season-opener at Mashashimuet Park on September 7. Gilbride dominated the action and scored a second-half goal that seemingly came straight from the barrel of a high –powered rocket launcher.

“Kasey played phenomenally,” head coach Shannon Judge said following the game.

Prior to her goal, which put the Lady Whalers up 2-0, Gilbride was angry over a no-call by the referee that would have resulted in a corner for the Lady Whalers. But rather than sulk, she immediately called for the ball at the top of the shooting circle and fired a laser two meters off the ground into the back of the Riverhead net. It was clear from that moment that the Lady Whalers, with Gilbride in the lead, would be a force to be reckoned with this 2012 season.

“She can be pretty intense,” Judge said of her junior captain. “She played very well today and she’s also a great teacher out there.”

The Lady Whalers improved to 2-0 in non-league play on Tuesday with a 6-0 win over Greenport/Southold/Shelter Island, with Gilbride netting three goals and two assists.

The team was scheduled to play Babylon in a non-league game on Wednesday after press time in a game that was important, according to Judge, since Babylon is a fellow Class C school from Division II, and a win would help her apply for a playoff exemption at the end of the season should Pierson fail to land in the top six in Division III, which is comprised of both Class B and Class C schools.

Against Riverhead, the Lady Whalers proved they would be more than just a team with one star player this season, getting solid play from their core group and goals from juniors India Hemby and Emme Luck and freshman Erica Selyukova, who rebounded another rocket shot from Gilbride for the first goal of her varsity career.

“Erica is going to be someone to watch in the future of Pierson athletics,” Judge said. “She has great athletic ability.”

Pierson had 18 shots on goal against Riverhead and dominated action on the offensive end with 10 corners to Riverhead’s three. Junior Emma Romeo, starting in goal for the first time, recorded the shutout with three saves while junior Katherine Matthers, who played limited minutes as she recovers from injuries, played well defensively.

Next up for the Lady Whalers is a game against rival Southampton at home on Wednesday, September 19 at 4:30 p.m.

According to Pierson Middle-High School principal Jeff Nichols, AP and Regents exam test scores “remain stable” in the Sag Harbor School District. That announcement was made during the Sag Harbor Board of Education’s September 10 meeting, just a week after students shuffled back into school for a new year.

On Monday, Nichols and Sag Harbor Elementary Principal Matthew Malone presented the latest results of the district’s AP and Regents exams, as well as New York State’s Elementary/Intermediate tests.

Nichols reported that 94 students took AP classes in 2012, which is nearly double the enrollment in AP courses in 2005. Seventy percent of students who took an AP exam passed, earning a score of at least 3 (roughly equivalent to 65 percent) out of 5.

“Our performance, in terms of students scoring 3 or higher, has remained stable,” said Nichols. “To me, [this] indicates the philosophy that we’ve supported over the years, which is all students can do the work if you provide them with the necessary resources to be successful.”

While Regents scores were somewhat mixed, there was an improvement in certain subjects. For example, 87 percent of students passed the Geometry exam in 2012, up from 79 in 2009. All students passed Earth Science in 2012, up from 93 percent in 2009.

However, there was a slight drop in other subjects. For instance, 91 percent of students passed the English exam in 2012, while 94 percent had passed in 2009. Seventy-nine percent passed Algebra in 2012, down a point from 2009.

Still, Nichols pointed out that the decline can be attributed to two factors — the increase in students taking the exam and the increase in ESL (English as a Second Language) students in the district.

Students in third through eighth grade also took exams in English/Language Arts (ELA) and Math. The tests were graded on a 1 to 4 scale, with 3 being a passing grade.

In 2012, students in third through fifth grade and in eighth grade fared better on the ELA exam than they had in 2010, said Malone. However, Malone said there was a decline in scores among sixth and seventh graders. For instance, 75 percent of sixth graders passed in 2012, compared to 80 percent in 2010.

With the exception of sixth graders, whose scores were down, the math scores for third through eighth grades were either higher or the same as they were in 2010. For example, 71 percent of eighth graders met or exceeded standards in 2012, compared to only 55 percent in 2010.

Principal Malone noted that the school is required to provide academic intervention services (AIS) for students who only score a 1 or 2 on these exams.

In other news, the district is developing a new concussion management plan in response to New York State’s new Concussion Management and Awareness Act, which took effect in July.

“We’re in the process of getting that done within the next couple weeks [to a] couple months,” said J. Wayne Shierrant, interim athletic director.

Shierrant submitted a sample policy to the school board with guidelines on how to identify and manage concussions. It includes the education of coaches, physical education teachers, nurses, athletes and parents, as well as proper sideline management and emergency follow-up and return-to-play protocol.

Each physical education teacher, nurse and athletic trainer must also complete an approved course on concussion management every other year, said Shierrant. He added that there is a 30-minute online test that will allow participants to print out a certificate of completion.

At Monday’s meeting, the board of education also reappointed Deborah Skinner as the beach manager of the YARD Summer Beach Program and the group leader of its after-school program.

The BOE said it had made the agreements with other municipalities that help fund the YARD program, and had received payments from three out of four of them.

While these agreements run through December 31, 2012, Sag Harbor School Superintendent Dr. Carl Bonuso said the district planned to “honor its commitment to the program” through the end of the school year.

He noted that the district has “contingency plans” to help fund the program through June, even if financial agreements with other municipalities are not renewed at the end of this calendar year.

“Should it come to the point where we don’t have some revenues coming in that we expected for any reason, we would unfortunately have to tap into our reserves,” he said.

However, Dr. Bonuso added, “Given our conversations that went into the development of those agreements, we feel that it’s not going to be an issue.”

By Amanda Wyatt

In order to combat drug and alcohol abuse, you’ve got to bring in “the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker.”

This is a favorite expression of Kym Laube, the executive director of the Westhampton-based advocacy group, Human Understanding and Growth Seminars, Inc. (HUGS). On Tuesday, August 21, Laube led Sag Harbor’s second community coalition meeting at the Pierson Middle-High School library.

Thirteen others from various sectors of society — including law enforcement, education and clergy — were also present to help build the foundation of the coalition, which is very much in its infancy.

At the meeting, Laube discussed the need for the entire community to band together. Rather than blame a particular group — such as the school, the kids or the parents — Laube believed the community must realize that dealing with substance abuse is everyone’s responsibility.

“In this field, we often say, ‘we can’t blame the fish for dying after they’ve swam in the polluted pond.’ And it’s really up to us to begin to take a look at why the pond is polluted,” she said.

Sag Harbor Village Police Chief Tom Fabiano called on the need to bring in more parents into the coalition. While some parents have expressed interest in the group, none were present at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Other participants discussed bringing in youth, as well as school security, janitors and counselors, in order to have a more comprehensive coalition.

As Laube noted, a community coalition does not focus merely on youth. Substance abuse is just as much of a problem among adults as it is among teenagers.

Still, the discussion of underage drinking and drug use at Pierson Middle-High School remained a hot topic. After the results of the New York State OASAS Survey were released in July — showing that substance use at Pierson was generally higher than average — some Sag Harbor parents were fuming.

“I received calls from parents [who] were adamant that [the results] were exaggerated lies, [saying] we were being so mean to the children,” said school board member and parent Mary Anne Miller.

Miller, along with Vice President Chris Tice, also mentioned the need to streamline the data. Currently, the results of the OASAS survey — as well as the TAP Survey and a recent survey taken by the district — should be reviewed and assessed by a professional.

“People may not realize that there have been three surveys, or that it is consistent,” said Tice.

“The bottom line is that all of the results tell us the same things, and that’s what I’m trying to get across to people,” Miller agreed. “And that’s the denial, saying we’re ‘being mean’ to the kids. And that’s huge in this town.”

Laube attributed some of the perceived denial to the stigma surrounding substance abuse.

“When we begin talking about [substance abuse] at a school, I always hear, ‘It’s a good school,’ and ‘He’s a good kid,’” she said.

“And guess what folks? Sometimes good schools and good kids make dangerous, high-risk choices,” Laube added. “And it’s our job to bring that to light and talk about it.”

Dr. Carl Bonuso, the recently appointed district superintendent, lauded Sag Harbor for being proactive.

“I think a sign of a really good school system is that they don’t just rely on giving out information; they’re willing to ask questions,” he told the coalition.

Another topic was the possibility of becoming involved with Vet Corps, a program that partners a veteran to work full-time with community coalitions.

“They really work hand-in-hand with taking a look at substance abuse, and also looking at how that affects the vet population,” Laube explained.

She noted that after San Diego, Suffolk County has the highest amount of returning veterans. Sadly, said Laube, each day a returning veteran takes his or her own life and one out of every three of those is under the influence of a substance when they do that.

Veterans involved in the program have training in the strategic prevention framework, and would be under the supervision of HUGS, OASAS or another organization. Laube said she planned to send additional information on this possibility to the coalition.

The tentative date for the next meeting of the coalition is set for Tuesday, September 25 at 5:30 p.m.

In related school news, the Board of Education will hold their next business meeting on Monday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m.

By Amanda Wyatt

The East End is “a drinking community with a sailing problem.”

This old joke, which was told by former Pierson principal Bob Schneider, got quite a few laughs at the school’s community coalition meeting on July 16. But behind the humor was a much more sober truth — the belief that alcohol use is widespread among residents of the East End, including its youth.

In an effort to curb alcohol and drug use among Pierson students, 16 members of the community gathered in the school library for a discussion and a special presentation by Kym Laube. Laube is the executive director of Human Understanding and Growth Seminars, Inc. (HUGS), a Westhampton based group which offers a drug and alcohol awareness program Pierson has been using for a number of years.

According to Laube, drinking is more prevalent in this area than in many other parts of the country.

“The East End always has a propensity for high volume drinking,” she said in an interview on Tuesday.

“Drinking seems to be a very prevalent, challenging issue here on the East End,” agreed Mary Anne Miller, a member of the Sag Harbor School Board. “Each community has its own challenge, sort of like the ‘flavor’ of that area.”

That ‘flavor’ is indisputably alcohol, especially among Pierson students, according to the unofficial results of a recent survey conducted at the school by the New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The school board has received the results of the survey, and although the board has yet to release those results, members did confirm drinking and drugging rates at Pierson were higher than they had hoped.

“Our kids drink and drug higher than the county, the state and the national [averages] on the East End,” said Laube. “If we don’t ask why Sag Harbor kids are drinking and drugging higher than they are up the island or at the state level, then we can’t change it, because we can’t change what we don’t acknowledge.”

Miller stressed Sag Harbor residents should not be hitting the panic button quite yet. The challenge here, she said, is no greater than any other town.

“We’re not in some sort of emergency mode,” Miller said. “But we want to do better. We the community, we the parents, we the students want to do a better job of creating healthy behaviors and supporting healthy behaviors.”

Still, teen drinking remains an obstacle for the school.

According to Southampton Town’s 2008 Teen Assessment Project survey, 30 percent of students in the town report drinking regularly. Three percent said they drink every day, while seven percent drink several times a week and 20 percent reported drinking several times a month, according to the survey. Forty two percent of students reported they had their first drink at age 15 or younger.

In addition, 27 percent of students reported that they binge drank at least once in the past month. Binge drinking, Laube explained, is defined as consuming five to seven drinks within a two to three hour period.

Laube added that drinking among today’s youth is much “more aggressive” than when she was a teenager. Binge drinking is much more common, and kids often begin drinking at younger ages. She attributed the rise in teen drinking to a number of factors and explained that alcohol is easily accessible, not only at home, but at convenience stores and chain pharmacies.

Furthermore, the “party atmosphere” in the Hamptons may be another factor in teen drinking.

“‘Come party in the Hamptons’ is kind of our thing out here, and that in and of itself sends a message to young people,” Laube said. “When they’re working in an industry and there’s that much exposure, it’s just that much easier for them to engage [in drinking].”

Laube added that with limited activities for teenagers, as well as limited public transportation to events, kids sometimes feel that all there is to do is drink.

“We’ve heard kids on the East End talk about boredom being a contributing factor,” she added.

However, she noted perhaps the biggest factor in teen drinking is parental involvement—or lack thereof.

“Parents who are working two to three jobs to afford to live on the East End aren’t necessarily home during those key, important hours,” said Laube. “And then there are parents who are out enjoying their own ‘East End experience.’”

Both Laube and Miller criticized parents who allow alcohol to be served at their teen’s parties — an illegal practice.

“I think some people don’t understand that other parents would be really mad if they found out you were letting kids drink beer at their house,” said Miller who hoped the coalition would help “get our parents on board” with the substance prevention agenda.

“We want to get them to come and be part of a more proactive group to better educate ourselves as to what the kids are facing and what the kids are doing, and how we can support more positive, protective behaviors in the community,” said Miller.

The next coalition meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Miller encouraged representatives from all sectors of the community — law enforcement, youth organizations, teenagers — to attend.

The 13-year-old star of the Pierson Middle School production of “Annie,” talks about when she was first bit by the acting bug, stage fright and what it feels like to have a dream come true.

By Kathryn G. Menu

Playing Annie in the school play is a dream come true for a lot of young girls.

I have been in musicals since I was nine years old when I joined Stages [the East Hampton-based children’s theatre]. Since Stages is for kids eight to 18, I never had a big part, so I was really happy. I have done “Annie” before at camp, but I played Ms. Hannigan, which is a very different part.

How did you feel when you were cast?

I was really excited. I went into it kind of trying not to get my hopes up, which is kind of my motto, because then you are not upset if you get a small role. I was jumping up and down when I found out.

The world Annie lives in – Depression era, New York – is a very different place than where we live. How do you connect to the character?

I just kind of put myself in their shoes.

Has learning about the character – an orphan – and the play, made you feel more grateful for what you have?

It’s kind of like, wow, I am very lucky.

What is your favorite part in “Annie”?

My favorite part, I think, is the scene with the President [Franklin Delano Roosevelt]. I like it because there are all these uptight business guys and we all start singing “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” and there I am standing on the table. It’s really cool because he is not supposed to like children, but there he is belting it out with the rest of us.

Do you have a favorite song in the play?

“It’s a Hard Knock Life,” because I like group songs where I don’t have to sing the whole song. I also just like the tune – it’s very nice. And I also like “Tomorrow.”

Outside of Annie, who is your favorite character in the play?

Probably Ms. Hannigan, and not just because I played her before. I like how she is flirty, but mean. It’s funny.

“Annie” the movie came out when I was a kid, in the early 1980s. Did you grow up watching it?

I did grow up watching “Annie” and it’s kind of funny, because I will say to someone, “I watched “Annie” last night and it was great,” and they are like, “You still watch that movie?” It’s a classic – it never goes out of style.

Your director, Paula Brannon, told me you are in virtually every scene of the play.  How difficult was it for you to wrap your arms around such a big part, with singing, acting and dancing?

It was kind of easy-ish. In the beginning I just tried out different things, like using a lower voice, but then I thought to myself, she is just a little girl.

What do you like about acting in a play?

I like how you cannot be yourself, but be a different character, and I really like singing and dancing, too. I take voice lessons.

What first got you into acting?

My friend Audrey did the play “Once Upon A Mattress,” and I went to see it and she said Stages was so much fun, so the next year I did “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Will you continue performing through Stages?

I will; but this year I am 13 and I am Jewish so it is my Bat Mitzvah year and with Stages having rehearsals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday my Hebrew school conflicts; but next year I will definitely keep doing it.

Are you excited, or nervous, about opening night?

For some reason I am more nervous about the dress rehearsal because it is the first time we are working with costumes and everything; but when I get to the real show, I more have the feeling that I can do this.

Rebecca Dwoskin will star in the Pierson Middle School production of Annie on Thursday February 4 through Saturday, February 6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. The production features almost 70 students on the stage, backstage, in the lighting booth and in the pit orchestra. Tickets are $5 and are available at Pierson’s Main Office. To reserve your tickets, you can e-mail agalanty@sagharborschools.org.

A conversation with Connor Vorhaus, Christopher Beroes-Haigis and Timothy Megna, students at the Pierson Middle-High School in Sag Harbor who are members of the newly formed Suffolk County Principal Orchestra of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, which will have the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan on June 7, 2009. (Listen and watch a performance on video below).

How did each of you discover your passion for music?

Chris: In the fifth grade I started playing cello at The Ross School. They let us choose almost any instrument we wanted, and we were able to sample the instruments with one of the teachers, Laurinel Owen who played them for us. She played the cello very nicely and I knew I wanted to play that instrument.

Tim: I was in the fourth grade at [Sag Harbor Elementary School] and we had the choice to play for the orchestra. I decided to play the viola because there were violins everywhere, but I wanted to try something everything else wasn’t doing.

Connor: It was in kindergarten. I just wanted to play the violin very badly so I begged my parents for about a year and I got to play.

When did you audition for the MYO Suffolk Principal Orchestra? How was that process for you? Were you confident or was the competition daunting?

Chris: It was near the end of the summer.

Tim: I had an audition later in the season, around October.

Chris: I wasn’t that confident. I wasn’t very practiced at the time.

Tim: I was like a nervous wreck. I thought I definitely wasn’t going to get in, but they said I had a lot of resemblance and tone from my teacher, Chris Shaughnessy.

Connor: I auditioned like two-and-a-half weeks before the [November] concert. I was really nervous.

The orchestra practices in Farmingville, which is pretty far to travel from Sag Harbor on a school night. How difficult is that on you?

Chris: I get to finish some homework and usually I sleep in the car. It’s only around two hours, roundtrip, and only on Thursdays.

Tim: The ride there is actually really nice for me because I get to spend some time with my dad and listen to music in the car – rock and roll.

Connor: I enjoy it. I just get to chill and listen to music – awesome music.

How does playing in this orchestra differ from a school band or orchestra?

Connor: It’s a lot more intense and there is a certain skill level that is required. At my old school orchestra, because we really don’t have an orchestra [at Pierson] you could just come in and play music without practicing. This one you have to practice. [The conductor] will know if you don’t and he doesn’t like it.

Tim: I think that pretty much the whole level of music is a lot more exciting. I went to music camp this summer – the same one as Chris – and I found it was at about this level. It is a great experience.

Connor: It’s like Mozart. And not edited, but just how he wrote it.

Chris: I think I enjoy it a lot more because it is made up of people who play outside school, people who practice their instruments. You really have to put effort into it and you are expected to. Also, a lot of the pieces we play at school are arrangements, not the originals. One of the pieces we play in the orchestra is the overture to Don Giovanni with the original notes.

Is the material challenging for you?

Tim: I just find it is a whole different level. It’s just that people who want to play and are excited to play are there. There is a whole different sound quality.

Connor: The material is not challenging. I play 45 minutes to an hour a day. The amount of effort actually shows. The music stops being challenging, but you always have to work out the kinks and the mistakes.

What are some of your favorite pieces to play?

Tim: I have only played in an orchestra. I like Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber.

Connor: I really enjoy Don Giovanni and the Mozart pieces. I like the intensity of it. Minor is the best.

Chris: Probably my favorite would be Prelude in G Minor by Bach. It is one of the cello suites and that was a piece I played as a solo a year and a half ago.

Who are your favorite composers?

Tim: That is a tough question. I would say Bach because you can’t really be disappointed by Bach. I have never heard something that I have had to shut off. It’s just good music.

Connor: I really like Mozart. He has really good stuff.

Chris: I think all classical music is pleasing to the ear, even though it might not be the popular music. I don’t listen to it myself, but I like playing it anyway.

Do you see a future in music for yourself?

Tim: I find I really want to go as far as I can with it. I really enjoy playing. I just really want to go ahead and do what I can with it.

Chris: It’s hard to say. As long as I can keep up with the talented kids I have been playing with I would like to pursue music for as long as I can.

Connor: I really enjoy playing music, listening to music. I think I have to be able to remember what I ate for breakfast before I can tell you what I am going to be when I am older.

Pierson Takes The Challenge

(Left to right) Pierson academic advisor Frank Atkinson-Barnes, with students Andrew Mitchell, Amanda Holder, “The Challenge” host Scott Feldman, students Zachary Fischman, Celia Gianis and Devan Stachecki during a break while filming Cablevision’s “The Challenge,” which will air at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 16 on News 12.

All-star student scholars from Pierson High School will challenge Cold Spring Harbor High School in the first round of the 12th season of Cablevision’s “The Challenge,” an academic quiz show designed to test students’ knowledge in a Jeopardy-style format. Hosted by News 12 Long Island anchor Scott Feldman, the show can be viewed on Sunday November 12 or anytime via video on demand (VOD) through News 12 Interactive, located on iO TV channel 612.

In its 12th season, “The Challenge” includes students from the Bronx and Brooklyn, Long Island, the Westchester/Hudson Valley region, New Jersey and Connecticut. More than 900 students representing 184 tri-state area high schools are participating this season.

As this season of “The Challenge” progresses, schools will vie each week to continue on in the competition, which ultimately results in the best teams from each region facing off against each other next spring. Regional champions will then compete for the ultimate title, Tri-State Challenge Champion. The winning team in each region will receive $2,500 and go on to compete for $10,000 in the Tri-State Championship. Each student participating in the championship match will receive $500.

Southampton Town: Completing An LWRP

Southampton supervisor Linda Kabot announced today that the Town of Southampton has been named the recipient of a $100,000 New York State grant to finance a number of plans to stimulate community projects relating to economic, environmental, and recreational improvements.

As part of that process, town staff will prepare a Harbor Management Plan and Intermunicipal Waterbody Management Plan, while consultants integrate them into a full Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP).

“Whether it has been fishermen seeking abundance, beachgoers looking for an unspoiled ribbon of paradise, or someone looking to build a dream house, the waterfront has been the center of our economic and cultural life,” said Kabot. New York’s waterfronts extend more than 5,000 miles, including the Town of Southampton’s 320 miles of bay and ocean coastline.

According to the office of New York State Governor David Paterson, the grant will be part of a $23.3 million funding package from the State Environmental Protection Fund’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. In total, it will include funding for 88 undertakings across New York State, and cover a variety of planning, design, and construction projects. The grants are awarded on a 50-50 matching basis, and administered by the Department of State’s Division of Coastal Resources.

To date, 76 local governments in New York have completed Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs designed to protect and enhance these valuable resources, added Governor Paterson. Working with the state, they will “plan and develop projects that provide public waterfront access, protect and develop coastal resources, and improve quality of life,” he concluded.

Bridgehampton: Wrap a Box of Kindness

Today, Thursday, November 13, the Bridgehampton Parent Teacher Organization will hold its first annual “Wrap a Box of Kindness” event. This event is in conjunction with Operation Christmas Child’s campaign where shoeboxes are filled with items for children.  Items range from pencils, pads, small toys and novelty items to washcloths and toothbrushes. Children and adults are encouraged to come together to donate items, money and time. Participants are also urged to bring a shoebox already decorated and stuffed to the Bridgehampton School for drop off if they are unable to attend. The PTO is asking that liquids not be included in the boxes.

As a part of the event, this year an estimated eight million shoeboxes will be hand-delivered to children in over 100 countries. The kids-helping-kids project has collected more than 61 million shoebox gifts and hand-delivered them to needy children in 130 countries since 1993. Every United States President since Ronald Reagan has packed an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.

Community and schools members alike are invited to the school for the event at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium.

Peconic Land Trust: Bridge Gardens Donated

John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust, announced the donation of Bridge Gardens, a five-acre garden on Mitchell’s Lane in Bridgehampton, by founders Jim Kilpatric and Harry Neyens. Kilpatric and Neyens founded Bridge Gardens over 20 years ago, and the donation represents a generous gift by them to the Trust as well as to residents and visitors of the East End.

“We believe the stewardship of the Peconic Land Trust will significantly guide Bridge Gardens into the future,” Kilpatric said.

“Gardens are living creations and must undergo change over time; to survive, they must change,” Neyens added.

In accepting the donation Halsey said, “Bridge Gardens is truly a wonderful sanctuary here on the East End, and we are very honored that Jim and Harry have put their trust in us to steward this property. We intend to keep Jim and Harry engaged with us as the garden evolves and we work to expand public access to this hidden treasure. We expect to introduce more educational programming related to gardening and conservation in general. Bridge Gardens is a refuge for people to meet and experience the handiwork that Jim and Harry have created over the years.”

The garden, which has been open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through September, will reopen again in the spring under the auspices of the trust. The trust has appointed Rick Bogusch, master gardener and landscape architect, as Garden Manager.  He will be responsible for managing and maintaining the garden and residence/education center. Prior to joining the trust, Bogusch held landscape design and gardening positions with Rockland Farm in Canaan, The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, and Cornell University where he also received his Masters in Landscape Architecture. 

Bogusch will work with members of the trust staff to coordinate educational programs and tours at the Gardens, as well as special events and related fundraising activities. An advisory committee has also been established – including members of the trust board, staff, garden experts and local residents – to work with Bogusch on future evolution of the garden.

Bridge Gardens was established in 1988 by Neyens and Kilpatric, who designed and installed the gardens over the ensuing 10 years. In 1997, Bridge Gardens Trust was created as a charitable corporation to maintain and preserve the gardens.

Bridge Gardens will be open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through September. Days, hours and other information regarding visiting the Gardens will be announced in early spring, including membership options.

Southampton Hospital: Diabetes Awareness

Southampton, Hospital will present a free panel discussion “Diabetes: Awareness and Treatment” with a seven person panel of experts in the field that including George Keckeisen, MD, Medical Director of the hospital’s wound care center, Alan Goldenberg, MD, endocrinologist; Joshua Feiner, MD, endocrinologist, Judy O’Connell, Nurse Practioner (NP), certified diabetes educator, Pat Vonatski, registered dietician and certified diabetes educator and Peggy Kraus, MA registered clinical exercise physiologist.

Diabetes affects over 24 million children and adults in the United States, contributes to the deaths of over 220,000 Americans each year and costs our nation more than $174 billion annually. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy for life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although genetics and environmental factors such as diet, obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. 

This comprehensive program is designed for people who already have diabetes, those whose family history puts them at risk and those who have a diabetic spouse, partner, relative or friend. It is free and open to the public and will take place on Thursday, November 20 at 5 p.m. in Parrish Memorial Hall, corner of Lewis Street and Herrick Road. In addition, Southampton Hospital offers expert counseling services with a board certified diabetes nurse educator and diabetes support group that meets every month.

The program will provide an in-depth view of diabetes prevention, management and treatment in an informative, interactive panel discussion. Dr. Keckeisen will report on the huge success the hospital’s Center for Advanced Wound Healing, the only location on the East End offering the latest innovations for healing chronic wounds that frequently afflicts diabetics; much of this success is accomplished by using the Center’s state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers which infuse chronic wounds with oxygen for faster, better results.  Patients, who have suffered from wounds for months, even years, are routinely restored to health in less time ever thought possible. Dr. Goldenberg, who is board certified in endocrinology and diabetes, along with his new partner, Dr. Joshua Feiner, also an endocrinologist, will review and evaluate the latest advances in medications to control diabetes.  Ms. O’Connell, creator and director of the hospital’s program, “Diabetes: Basics and Beyond” will discuss steps to avoid prevent diabetes as well as comprehensive treatment plans for those with diabetes.  Ms. Vonatski will outline nutritional plans for maximum health, both as a prevention and treatment. Ms. Kraus will make recommendations for glucose monitoring and exercise for diabetics. The panel will conclude with a question-and-answer session, there will be a raffle and giveaways for those attending.

This free program is very popular and space fill up quickly. Call 726-8700, extension 8 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to register or email dcraven@southamptonhospital.org. 

Halloween is traditionally a holiday associated with both tricks and treats, but according to Sag Harbor Village Police Lieutenant Thomas Mackey, one Halloween prank went too far and has resulted in the arrest of a Sag Harbor teen on a felony count of burglary.

On Wednesday, November 5 Sag Harbor Village Police arrested Stephen Taylor Early, 16, of Sag Harbor for burglary in the third degree, a class D felony, and criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor, following the discovery of a break-in at Pierson Middle-High School on Monday morning. According to police, Early gave them a written statement on Tuesday, and turned himself into police on Wednesday.

On Monday morning, staff at the school discovered that someone had entered the building, removed three fire extinguishers and sprayed them throughout the stairwells on all three floors. On Wednesday, Mackey said the incident occurred on Halloween night, when Early and another individual allegedly entered the building through an unopened door on the roof. School officials have estimated the damage to school property in excess of $500, which covers the extensive cleanup needed following the fracas, said Mackey, as well as a broken Snapple vending machine. There was no other damage to the property, he added.

According to Mackey, a malfunction in the alarm system had occurred prior to the incident, which is why police were not aware of the break-in until Monday. The malfunction has since been rectified.

Mackey said Early has been cooperative with police and stressed this was “a prank that got out of hand.”

Early was expected to be arraigned at East Hampton Town Justice Court on Wednesday, and Mackey said another person is expected to be arrested this week in connection with the burglary.

The burglary at Pierson Middle-High School wasn’t the only prank played on Halloween. On Saturday, November 1, a number of Sag Harbor and Noyac residents called Southampton Town Police to report their tires had been slashed. According to police reports, a North Valley Road, Sag Harbor resident reported that sometime overnight someone slashed her tires, causing $200 in damage. Two Long Beach Lane, Sag Harbor residents reported the tires on their vehicles were slashed – one reported damage to the tune of $250. Two residents of Ridge Road also reported their tires were slashed. One said the left rear tire of her 1993 Honda Accord was cut, possibly with a box cutter, resulting in $125 in damage. The other Ridge Road resident said someone punctured the rear tire of her boyfriend’s work van, and also threw a pair of his work boots in the road. Police said there are no leads or suspects at this time and an investigation is ongoing.

In what appears to be another Halloween related incident, a Division Street resident called Sag Harbor Village Police on Sunday, November 2 to report that at some point on Halloween, a one hundred year old American flag, which was displayed on his porch, was torn to shreds. The flag had been in the family for generations.