Sag Harbor resident and attorney Linda Mintz approached the Sag Harbor Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday night with an informal plan to convert the former Sag Harbor United Methodist Church into a 15-room bed and breakfast. However, board members expressed concern about the concept, questioning whether it would be an appropriate use for the historic, and now vacant, structure. On Tuesday, November 10 Mintz said she was interested in purchasing the church from Bridgehampton resident and former chairman of Goldman Sachs Dennis Suskind, who bought the building two years ago from the Methodist Church congregation for close to $3 million. Pastor Tom MacLeod said the congregation could not afford repairs and upkeep of the historic structure and needed to make the sale in order to afford construction of a new, more affordable, church off Carroll Street. While Suskind originally intended to convert the church into a single-family residence, he later put the church back on the market and it has sat dormant for the last two years. On Tuesday, Mintz noted the building was a registered historic landmark and very important to village residents. She proposed converting the structure, which is zoned residential, into a high-end bed and breakfast. “There is a lot of history as far as converting historic buildings into B & Bs,” said Mintz, adding she believed the project could be beneficial to businesses, specifically those located near the church at an often less-traveled portion of the village business district. “Unfortunately, the code doesn’t really allow for that type of use in that type of structure,” she said. Mintz said the simplest way around the code, should the village support the idea, would be for the board to change the definition of a bed in breakfast to allow for more rooms in larger structures. “To me, I don’t know any B & B is 15 rooms,” said Mayor Brian Gilbride, to the agreement of a majority of the board. Trustee Tiffany Scarlato added there was a lot of public resistance to allowing smaller bed and breakfasts in residential neighborhoods. Mintz noted the 1708 House in Southampton Village has 15 rooms and the 1770 House in East Hampton boasts 10. Both are located in residential districts and despite its closeness to Main Street, the church is in a residential section of the village. “The problem is the use is so limited and we have a landmarked building sitting there vacant,” said Mintz. On Wednesday, Mintz said she felt the village has long needed a boutique bed and breakfast and when she looked at plans drawn up for Suskind by Fred Stelle architects for the church, felt it was a perfect fit. “I would think the village would welcome this use instead of it being a private residence,” said Mintz. “This way it is good for businesses and open to the public.” Mintz said Tuesday’s meeting did not deter her completely, and she planned to explore the concept further with her attorneys. However, an uphill battle is not something she is interested in, she added. “If it looks like I am trying to push a pebble up Mount Everest, I will not proceed,” she said. Sewers & Budget In other news, the village repealed and adopted a new sewer law to make the legislation in line with state law. According to attorney Frederick Eisenbud, who represents the village regarding the sewer system, changing the law involves defining the use of private septic systems as a part of the sewer district. Ted Conklin, owner of The American Hotel, urged the board not to pass the new law, noting a major aspect of an ongoing lawsuit between some member of the sewer district and the village is that just 10 percent of the village – those currently hooked up to the system – pay for the sewage treatment plant. He said passage would result in ongoing legal battles and expenses. “This is a very complicated thing, but our side is more than willing to sit down and discuss practical resolutions to this,” said Conklin. The board ultimately did repeal the old law and enact the new law, despite Conklin’s protest. Village Treasurer Eileen Tuohy informed the board that the village is currently looking at a budget shortfall of $40,000 to $45,000 for the fiscal year 2009-2010, for the most part as a result of mortgage tax revenues and interest on investments not bringing in what the village budget anticipated it would. She will present the board with a complete report in January. The board also adopted a new law designating bike lanes on a route around the village business district, from Glover Street to Long Island Avenue, which connects with Route 114, and on an alternate route from Spring Street to Bridge Street to Long Island Avenue. Lastly, the board agreed to hire Bob Bori as the new village harbor master after Ed Swenson announced his resignation earlier this month. Bori, who owns a landscaping business, is a former Sag Harbor Village Fire Department Chief, former officer with the Southampton Town Police and lives in the village.

Gary Collins, 42, of Patchogue, was arrested last week by Sag Harbor Village police for stealing several thousand dollars worth of copper wiring from Sag Harbor Industries. Since August, Collins has allegedly been stealing the metal from the company’s location at 60 Bay Street. Sag Harbor Industries holds materials in the basement the building. Manual+Sports Physical Therapy, Innovative Diagnostics and Doctor John Oppenheimer operate out of the rest of the space.

Above: Gary Collin’s mugshot.

According to police, Collins helped a friend install some wiring in the basement of the building. Sag Harbor Industries first learned of the theft after an employee at the physical therapy office noticed Collins taking several boxes out of the basement. After an investigation, police say Collins committed a similar crime on Tuesday, November 3. Police say they received a complaint on November 3 that a white male with white hair went into the basement and stole eight spools of copper wiring, worth around $5,250. The man was said to have driven away in a Dodge van. Police say, however, that they were able to get the plate number off of Collin’s vehicle. Sag Harbor Village police put out a notice to other police agencies and Collins was finally caught by state police on Sunrise Highway. When Collin was pulled over, police allegedly found a glass pipe with what appeared to be crack-cocaine inside and prescription pills. Collins was also said to be in possession of a hypodermic needle.

Collins faces three counts of burglary in the third degree, a felony, three counts of grand larceny in the third degree, a felony, three counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, a felony, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor, and one count of criminal possession of a hypodermic needle, a misdemeanor.

Above: Regina Modelle’s mugshot.

Police also discovered that Regina Modelle, 29, of Ronkonkoma helped Collins steal copper wiring on October 23. Police say Modelle and Collins stole eight spools of wiring, worth $5,250, during this incident. Modelle faces charges of burglary in the third degree, a felony, and grand larceny in the third degree, a felony.

Animal control, a mandated service of the municipality, will remain a separate entity of the town. According to Burke, the animal control unit which is comprised of four staff members will be relocated to the animal shelter facilities in Hampton Bays.

According to the Vice President of the Foundation Dorothy Frankel, the Foundation hopes to maintain most of the current animal shelter staff. Assistant Supervisor Christine Russell, however, will not be returning to the shelter. Susan Kelly, who is the Foundation Chair Susan Allen’s assistant, said that she couldn’t comment on the specifics regarding staffing.

Animal shelter and animal control division supervisor Don Bambrick will move into the Hampton Bays location and act as supervisor of the shelter’s operations.

In their proposal, the Foundation encouraged existing staff to apply for their positions. The Foundation promised to provide wages and benefits comparable or better than those provided by the town.

“The idea is to make this a fluid transition,” reported Frankel.

In addition to staffing five kennel attendants and two animal shelter education specialists, the Foundations staff will hire additional staff. According to the proposal, the animal shelter will have a veterinary technician, a positions equivalent to a nurse for human patients, a volunteer coordinator and a full-time receptionist.

Supervisor Linda Kabot said the $200,000 will come from mortgage tax revenue. Kabot will raise the amount of expected revenue from the tax from $5.25 million to $5.5 million. The difference will be used to cover the contribution to the Foundation. Kabot added that the Suffolk County Clerk’s office which tracks real estate sales in the area has already signed off on the measure.

The Foundation is expected to take over the care of the nearly 140 cats and 40 dogs currently housed at the animal shelter at the beginning of next year.

While Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre’s recent call for financial support in the wake of dire economic distress brought out what general manager Tracey Mitchell called “the best of the community,” the theatre is not resting on its laurels. Instead, Bay Street has launched a campaign aimed at partnering with local businesses – a campaign Mitchell says is designed to benefit both the theatre and the local businesses that recognize its draw as a cultural icon on the East End.

Last Thursday, October 29 at a Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce meeting at the theatre, the campaign was pitched to local business owners via a letter from former Sag Harbor Mayor and current Bay Street Theatre board member Gregory Ferraris, although, according to Mitchell the theatre has been selling the concept to local businesses for six months now.

According to Ferraris, who is a certified public accountant with Banducci Katz & Ferraris, and Mitchell, the program aims to take partnerships with the theatre outside the realm of standard advertising. While Bay Street will continue to look for advertising sponsors it can promote in its playbills and on its 60-inch plasma screen lobby television during its Main Stage summer season, Mitchell said the theatre has found looking outside the normal sponsorship box has proved successful for Bay Street and its partnering businesses and not-for-profits.

“We have found that having partnerships in general, even with things that may seem like an odd fit, have proven to make a difference for all parties involved,” said Mitchell on Tuesday, adding Ferraris and board member and local media entrepreneur Rob Florio agree and are promoting the campaign.

“As a certified public accountant and a member of the Sag Harbor business community, I understand the importance of nurturing and strengthening business relationships during these tough economic times,” said Ferraris in a letter to chamber of commerce members. “These relationships will forge a base to which merchants can grow and adapt to the ever evolving economic climate, an equation that is essential for any successful business venture.”

Noting Bay Street Theatre is “a cultural and economic asset for us all in the greater Sag Harbor community,” and that the theatre brings roughly 30,000 people to the village annually – visitors who shop and eat in Sag Harbor – Ferraris added Bay Street is an untapped resource that can be leveraged by business communities on the East End as a valuable marketing tool.

In addition to standard marketing agreements, whether through shared programming or marketing of specific business events by the staff at Bay Street Theatre, Ferraris added smaller, equally profitable arrangements could be made between local businesses and the theatre for services Bay Street requires in its $2.5 million operating budget, including for businesses in hospitality, construction and basic administration.

And so far, according to Mitchell, the arrangements already made by the theatre have proved winning for businesses and the theatre alike.

“What we have done is partnered with various people in various ways,” she said. “Our house wine, for example, is Channing Daughters and we advertise that. But beyond that we have tried to come up with ways to partner with other businesses.”

Recently, the theatre has agreed to take over the winter jazz series established at Sag Harbor’s Bay Burger called “The Jam Session,” which closes during the winter season. Wanting to keep the series alive, Mitchell said owner John Landis approached the theatre for a suitable home while Bay Burger shuttered its doors. Marketed as a production of both Bay Burger and Bay Street Theatre, the series will kick off with a “Jamming for Bay Street” fundraiser on December 3. The free event will feature various musicians, all who have donated their time to support the theatre, and will be free with a hat passed around to collect donations to support the cultural mainstay.

Mitchell has other ideas, including a ladies night featuring cosmopolitans and a romantic comedy, complete with spa services provided by a local business.

The theatre has already found success working with local inns and restaurants, creating packages like The Picture Show prix fixe dinner and movie by Bay Street Theatre and The American Hotel, and a cabaret package with The Sag Harbor Inn.

The theater is looking to expand its reach further into East Hampton, Southampton and even Montauk for business partners. Mitchell says she hopes to create a committee of community members willing to perform outreach in these areas.

“We have a base in Sag Harbor, but I would say we could use more,” said Mitchell. “I think there is a lot we can do as a theatre to help drive business to local businesses as well. Thousands of people come through our doors that might not be coming through theirs.”

By Marianna Levine

Last spring when a make shift “soup kitchen” was erected at the Tires Plus store in Southampton many people were shocked into an awareness of local poverty. The many pictures and headlines depicting large groups of men lining up for food presented an image of the Hamptons quite at odds with our area’s reputation for extreme wealth and exclusivity in the summer months. Yet being homeless in the Hamptons is a year round realty for the approximately 500 hundred people currently seeking shelter in the five towns of the South Fork of Eastern Long Island. That is the estimated figure according to Barbara Jordan, and affordable housing advocate living in East Hampton.

Since April, Jordon has been on a mission to give the area’s homeless a safe, warm place to eat and rest during the cold winter months. She spent her summer organizing volunteers and raising money to buy supplies for a program called Maureen’s Haven, a national program that helps local church’s set up occasional shelters for the homeless. With the help of several community churches and non-religious organizations, East Hampton’s United Methodist Church will start housing guests every Friday night starting November 6^th and will continue housing them through March. Sag Harbor’s Christ Episcopal Church and Addas Israel will be a part of the community-wide effort.

Jordan explained the program asks area churches to provide an overnight stay including a hot meal, a place to wash, and other things such as AA meetings, nurses visits, and clothes to the homeless during the winter months. People are only allowed into the program after they have been searched and screened for drugs, alcohol, and unstable behavior.

Jordan was overwhelmed by both the media interest in the shelter as well as the community’s generosity. “People are wanting to find something constructive and helpful to do.” She noted, and added “People have been great. I have to put people on a waiting list to volunteer at the moment.”

So far the shelter is a real mix of community volunteerism, according to Jordan. Although East Hampton’s Methodist Church is housing the shelter, which will only be able to accommodate about 20-25 people, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church is backing the venture both financially and with volunteers. At the moment various congregations sponsor a Friday night, which means their parish or group pays for and makes a hot meal, sets up the bedding, and arranges for volunteers to dine and spend the night with the guests.

Sag Harbor’s Christ Episcopal Church will sponsor the night of November 20^th, but East Hampton’s Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Rotary Club, Living Water’s Gospel Church, Most Holy Trinity, and Renacer, the Methodist Church’s Hispanic Congregation are hosting a night as well.

Other community groups who heard about the program after all the nights had been spoken for are coming to help in other ways, Jordan explained. St. Therese in Montauk is taking care of clean-up while the Deacons of East Hampton’s Presbyterian Church are providing guests with a box lunch for the following day.

Secular groups also are pitching in. An individual, Jane Iselin, volunteered to launder the bedding, and the American Legion is cooking the guests breakfast. The Commander of the local VFW will be driving the VFW’s van around the towns and villages to pick up people who want to be sheltered. East Hampton high School seniors, as well as middle school students from Ross and the Springs school will be in charge of initial set up.  Jordan even has a nurse volunteering each Friday to provide guest with medical attention.

According Kathy Tucker, of Sag Harbor’s Christ Episcopal Church, the task now is to spread the word to the homeless population. Jordan and Tucker are posting flyers in public rest rooms and libraries, letting those who need it know that there will be a van picking them up the Montauk Bus Station at 4:15 p.m., St. Luke’s at 5 p.m., and the Old Whaler’s Church at 5:40 p.m. each Friday.

Although Jordan said she’s had plenty of volunteers, Tucker said Christ Episcopal could use more donations of money or beverages, and another adult to help set up. Anyone interested in helping out should contact the Church. Leah Oppenheimer, head of Temple Adas Israel’s Hebrew School, has been collecting packages of underwear to pass out to the guests as well.

Jordan explains the homeless here are often “the working poor who don’t wish to leave because they have kids in school here or because they have actual jobs they can’t afford to leave.” The homeless are the people we see lingering in local coffee shops and libraries trying to stay warm when it turns nasty outside, she said. “We’re already aware of 12-15 people in East Hampton.” Jordan adds. She notes if you carefully look around, you’ll see them.

By Benito Vila

If “all’s well that ends well”, then what are people to do about things that end poorly?

For the Pierson field hockey team, the tears came on as soon as the ball hit the bottom of the box Saturday evening, Port Jefferson taking the Suffolk County Class C title 1-0 in a double-overtime thriller played at Patchogue-Medford High School.

For the 60-some Pierson fans in the stands, there was a dull and hollow feeling. All the effort, emotion, teamwork and tenacious play put in by the Lady Whalers wasting away so quickly after 73 minutes of dead-even competition.

It seemed so cruel somehow, but someone had to win and someone had to lose. Pierson had had its chances, the midfielders and forwards controlling the ball for much of the match and the defense making stop after stop.

But the sudden and somewhat shocking loss didn’t stop the Whaler faithful from cheering. Out of the bleachers came kind words of encouragement in and amongst the applause, the Lady Whalers hearing, “Good job, girls” and “Walk away proud, Pierson.”

WhalerNation

It seemed such a perfect day Saturday. The temperature, the sky, the light, the breeze, the easy tempo in town; it was without a doubt one of those ten best days of the year Al Roker goes on about.

It was also a great day for field hockey, despite the academic realities SATs, the end of the first grading period and college application deadlines. And the Lady Whalers and their faithful fans were ready to go.

Setting off just after lunch, the team was psyched-up to put away the Lady Royals, Port Jeff having run off with last year’s title with a 1-0 win in overtime and having pulled out of Mashashimuet Park with a 2-0 non-league win earlier this season.

That was all the motivation the Lady Whalers needed. But in case that wasn’t enough, team parents, led by Missie Mahoney, organized a spectator bus, courtesy of the Sag Harbor Fire Department, when the school district was unable to provide one of its own.

Word went out about the bus by every personal communication device imaginable and a packed-in party of primarily sophomores, juniors and seniors pulled away from Pierson at 2:30 p.m., ready to make some noise. By the time that contingent arrived in Patchogue, red warrior face paint adorned much of the rolling WhalerNation.

Finding the ladies practicing, the Pierson fans watched from a distance, spirits light and hopeful among those wearing red and black. When the Class B game ended, Shoreham-Wading River outscoring Miller Place 2-0 for the Class B title, the team and spectators packed up to go in, smiles and “good luck” creating a positive energy.

Once inside, the Pierson side began to make itself heard even before the game started. Words of encouragement were constant as the Lady Whalers prepped on the field and then were introduced.

That cheering was so constant when the game started that a Port Jeff fan scolded his side for sitting quietly, loudly saying, “Why can’t you be more like them?”

Back and Forth

The Lady Whalers came out ready and kept the ball moving upfield for most of the first half. Five Port Jeff corners and long runs deep into the Pierson side late were turned away by goalie Christy Deery and Jessica Warne, Kasey Gilbride and Sam James in front of her.

Meanwhile, Aly Bori, Abby Gawronski and Alexa Lantiere were leading the Lady Whalers into the Port Jeff side, feeding the ball forward to Nicole Dorego, Sarah Barrett, Lindsay Warne and Sariah Cafiero.

The best Pierson scoring opportunities came with seven minutes and three minutes remaining in the half, but a missed crossing pass thwarted the first bid and a hesitation on a one-on-one break saw the second one go for naught.

After the half, the Lady Whalers immediately took the ball upfield, a shot coming out of a scramble in front of the Port Jeff box. The ball seemed to go past the goalie a point being indicated by one of the officials. After some discussion with the other official, the goal was waved off, Pierson being awarded a penalty stroke.

Stepping up to shoot from seven yards out, Lindsay Warne had all the Whaler faithful up and cheering. Her shot, though, went wide, Port Jeff regaining possession and taking the ball deep into the Pierson side.

That Lady Royal run was cut off by Jessica Warne, who sent the ball back into the midfield only to see it come back as Port Jeff cut off the Lady Whaler counter. In that possession, the Port Jeff attack moved the ball into the box and beat Deery but Cafiero came in to cut off the shot and keep the contest scoreless.

That play sent up a huge roar from the Pierson fans and sparked a series of deep drives into the Port Jeff side, Lantiere and Cafiero coming close to breaking the tie more than once. With both sides working furiously as the clock wound down, the match finished regulation scoreless, overtime and “sudden death” or “sudden victory” assuredly coming to one side or the other.

7-on-7

Overtime in field hockey calls for each team to take off four players, leaving the match to be resolved in a seven-on-seven contest. In the first 10-minute period, the ball stayed mostly at mid-field, the two teams playing to a draw despite an occasional foray downfield.

The second overtime continued much the same way, before a Port Jeff charge into the Pierson circle with seven minutes remaining ended with the ball becoming lodged under Deery’s gear. That trapping of the ball is illegal, the officials stopping the match and awarding the Lady Royals a penalty stroke.

Stepping in for Port Jeff was Amber Bruckner, a tall forward who took a moment to stretch yoga-like while Deery set herself to defend the Pierson goal. On the official’s whistle, Bruckner rocketed a shot to Deery’s left that made the hard sound no one in the WhalerNation wanted to hear.

The seven Lady Whalers on the field took it hard, gathering and consoling each other as the Lady Royals ran in to congratulate Bruckner.

Post-game Moments

Lady Whaler coach Shannon Judge brought her team together on the field while the other side was taking pictures. Even in defeat, Coach Judge managed to find a way to make her girls laugh and stay together, though it was clear the outcome had broken hearts and brought on bleary eyes.

In describing what hurt the most, Bori, a senior captain said, “Losing to a team that way, twice, and realizing that this is the last time I will wear the Lady Whaler uniform.”

Knowing she and her teammates had outplayed their opposition didn’t help either in accepting the outcome. “We should have had that goal, not a stroke. It was a terrible call. I was right on the ball.”

Still, in talking about and praising her teammate and classmate Deery, Bori added, “It’s hard to be in that situation one-on-one. It’s a bad place. She played such an amazing game but there was no way she could have blocked that shot. To me, she’s still our MVP.”

Please pick-up the Express on Thursday to read Coach Judge’s comments on the game and the season.

Being on JV is a bit like babysitting your sister; everyone expects you to do and no one ever seems to notice you’re doing it.

In the high school sports world, those athletes are working just as hard as the varsity and playing as many games. But there are no playoffs, no championships, no trophies, jackets or cheerleaders.

The Good Life

The JV golf team did live the good life in their season, playing at the ultra-exclusive Bridge course when no other course would have them. Coach Clint Schulman described his group as “a very young team with a lot of potential.  All but [eighth-grader] Cooper [Marienfeld] are new to the team and playing golf for the first time.”

Joining Marienfeld on the roster were Kevin Duchemin (10th grade), Jake Bennett (9th grade), Jack Bori (8th grade), Charles Canavan (7th grade) and Ben Kushner (7th grade).

In describing his team’s season, Coach Schulman said, “We lost to perennial powerhouses East Hampton and Southampton but had wins against West Hampton and Center Moriches.”

“The enrollment for golf has increased since I’ve been coaching. However, part of the interest is due to the generosity of the Bridge Golf Course. This year they helped us out since we couldn’t go to Noyac. We not only practiced there but had our matches there as well. “

“It’s one of the most challenging courses on the East End. And we had the pleasure of assistant pro Mike Sweeny helping with the kids.”

At The Net

In leading the girls’ JV volleyball team each fall, Claudia Ortmann has the pleasure of coaching girls she had on middle school teams the winter before.

This year, she chose to “bring up” some of those middle schoolers, adding eighth graders May Evjen and Lily Kunzeman to the team when workouts started in August. Those youngsters excelled, Evjen even going further “up” and joining the varsity towards the end of the season.

Last week, Coach Ortmann described her squad as “a terrific group of young women. Right from day one back in August, the girls have worked hard, rarely missed practice and have been able to maintain a positive attitude.”

A 4-10 mark didn’t dampen their enthusiasm for the sport either, Coach Ortmann noting, “In many of those losses, we played into the deciding game and lost by a small margin of points. That might have been difficult for another team, but this group seems to be able to move past the losses and focus on the successful moments of play during each game.”

Joining the two eighth graders on the roster were freshmen Emma Buckner, Alissa Clermont, Hannah Kaminski, Anna McAree, Malisa Muongcharoen and Taylor Vaugh. The Lady Whalers had three sophomores, Emma Brannen, Chelea Freleng and Tanethea Clark, with Freleng and Clark providing on-court leadership as captains.

The Little Team That Could

Typically a full field hockey team has 11 players on the field and some reserves on the bench. This year’s Lady Whaler JV was not typical by any means, nine players committed and showing up for each other so that they could all play.

Coach Melissa Edwards led the determined crew and called them, “a small platoon, that was able to beat and play tough games against teams of twenty or more. These girls were in great condition and worked hard daily. With help from some of the varsity underclassmen [filling spots on the field so the team had eleven], we went undefeated, 10-0, with two ties.”

Sophomore captains Melanie Stafford and Catherine Musnicki led the team, with freshmen Hope Denon, Gabby Gardiner, Rachel Saidman and Holly Zapolla finishing off the high school contingent. Eighth graders Emme Luck, India Hemby and Emma Romeo rounded out the roster and saw considerable playing time.

In describing her team’s standouts, Coach Edwards said, “Melanie dominated on the field. Holly did a great job in goal; she worked very hard with her goalie coach [Kaitlin Daniels] and it paid off. Emme, although very hard on herself, was able to make great strides this season and became a player I could put anywhere.”

A Learning Year

Pierson art teacher and girls’ JV soccer coach Peter Solow proved to be a patient and creative instructor on the field this fall. His Lady Whaler squad consisted of disparate parts: one eighth grader, five Bridgehampton players, seven freshmen and three sophomores.

But as if constructing a distinctive and meaningful collage, Coach Solow saw his girls come together during the season. “This was a learning experience for the whole team. None of our players had any experience playing at the high school level. Most of our players were ninth graders and our tenth graders hadn’t played soccer in more than a year because there was no JV team last year.”

“I was impressed by the commitment of the girls to the team and to each other. Our Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor girls have played together now for several years, in middle school, Long Island juniors and now JV. They are becoming more and more like family.”

Representing Bridgehampton on the JV were Vanessa Cruz, Lesley Fridie, Bryzeida Perez, Mikeyia Stanfield and Angelica Uribe.

Earning Pierson letters for the first time were Sarah Arbia, Bridget Canavan, Allison Cedeno, Jenna Chase, Lindsay Cox, Liz Grigonis, Emma Lasiuk, Valeria Lemus-Sandoval, Angela Piro, Hanna Potter, Vanessa- Roses-Torres, Abby Ruiz and Madeline Weber.

A Team Comes Together

Coming into the pre-season workouts JV boys’ soccer coach Marc Schimmer was unsure of what he had to work with, a large contingent from last fall’s team moving on to varsity. He also did not have a goalkeeper coming up from the middle school.

Necessity being the mother of invention, Coach Schimmer found an able keeper in volunteer Liam Doyle and saw the team run up a respectable 7-6 mark.

“We had a rough start with a tough slate of opponents, East Hampton and Westhampton,” said Coach Schimmer. “But with the development of a team chemistry and with everyone getting comfortable in new positions, it came together and we reeled off a four-game winning streak.”

“The highlight of that streak, and of the season, was a hard fought victory over Southold, a team that the JV program had not beaten previously in my [three-year] tenure as coach. The decisive goal was scored with only five minutes remaining in the game, securing a 2-1 victory.”

In talking about the individuals on the team, Coach Schimmer said, “Liam helped fill a critical void on the team, this despite little experience at the position. As the season progressed, he turned into a very dependable, steady net minder.”

John Farry stepped into the stalwart role of sweeper [a central defender] after an injury ended the season of his teammate Sam Miller [broken wrist].  Both, in their turn, were the ‘heart and soul’ of our defense, providing leadership in our own half of the field.” Sean Romeo very effectively manned the stopper role [the other central defensive position].”

“Those defensemen were ably supported by Joe Farraguna and Damian Syrianos on the wings. Christian Figueroa and Drew DeVito came off the bench to provide relief.”

“Refugio Mendez, Emet Evjen, Patrick McKenna and Alex Gurvich were a hard working crew who helped secure the mid-field. They provided a strong effort on both offense and defense, with Stephen Solow coming off the bench in support his teammates.”

“Diego Gamboa led the way in the goal scoring department, reinforced by Hunter Leyser and Christian Bautista, who were also key members of the team’s attack.”

It was the Brooklyn Dodgers that inspired Noyac resident Gerry Hamel to pursue his childhood passion of baseball, but it is with the Boston College Eagles that he will always be remembered.

On Saturday, October 31 Hamel, a collegiate baseball star and summertime Sag Harbor resident since 1946, was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club along with seven other athletes. The induction took place at the halftime ceremony during a Boston College football game as part of a weekend of celebration in honor of the athletes. Hamel joins sports luminaries Doug Flutie, Steve De Ossie, Bob Cousy and Frank Leahy, to name a few of the all-star athletes the college has graced with such an honor.

Hamel grew up in Brooklyn rooting for the Dodgers, but spent every summer in Sag Harbor, where the 70-year-old learned to play baseball at Mashashimuet Park and behind the old Noyac School House in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

“I used to ride my bike from Millstone Road to the park with my dog Mickey, and would you believe it, only one car would pass us on our way,” said Hamel.

Hamel played on the 1954 Sag Harbor Lions championship baseball team and was named an All-Star for the East End Babe Ruth League Suffolk County champions.

“We beat Carl [Yastremski] in 1954,” remembered Hamel. Other local teammates of Hamels included Paul Schiavoni, Denny and Eddie Early, Jimmy Lattanzio, Billy Stravropoulos and Merritt White.

“His father was a better baseball player than he was,” remembered Hamel of Yastremski. “When Carl was signed by the Red Sox his father used to go to spring training and play in the games and his father was so good, the scouts used to joke that they signed the wrong Yastremski.”

At 16, Hamel played for the local team, the Sag Harbor Whalers as one of its youngest players, continuing his love for the game during the school year at Wantagh High School and was named an All-Scholastic and Most Valuable Player for the Nassau County High School League in 1957. Hamel has already been inducted into the Wantagh High School Baseball Hall of Fame.

“My father wanted me to be the first in the family to go to college and the Dodgers had visited us and the Milwaukee Braves had visited us, but he said, ‘No, you are going to college’,” said Hamel.

His father turned down Yale, wanting his son to attend a Catholic college and after being turned down by Georgetown University, he ultimately decided on Boston College after flipping a coin.

Hamel was a three-year starter for the Boston College Eagles, batting third and playing right field. He led the team in RBIs twice and in runs scored once, and earned the Greater Boston League all-star honors twice and MCAA Tournament all-star honors in 1961. The Eagles went to consecutive College World Series, in 1960 and 1961, during Hamel’s collegiate career.

Hamel said over the weekend, 22 of 25 surviving members of that team attended the weekend festivities.

“There are only 100 of us inducted into the sports hall of fame,” said Hamel. “Fourteen of them are baseball players, 11 off that team alone.”

All of those players signed professional contracts with Major League baseball, including Hamel who signed with the San Francisco Giants in 1961 before retiring from baseball in 1962.

A retired college professor in business management, now Hamel lives full time in Noyac with his wife Mary Jane. The couple had four children, including son Jay, who owns Murf’s Tavern on Division Street in the village. Jay joined the couple’s other children – Liz, Suzanne and Tricia – at the weekend ceremony, which Hamel said is something he will never forget.

“I am 70 years old, and let me tell you, this just turned my life around,” said Hamel. “Life is good. I am exhilarated.”

The budget is comprised of $72.1 million in appropriations, $56.6 million of which will need to be raised in taxes. Former East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill McGintee, who resigned last month, originally drafted the budget. Since the tentative budget was first released last month it has increased after town comptroller Janet Verneuille discovered close to half-a-million in additional expenses, mostly to cover increases into the state employees retirement program.

The preliminary budget, available for public review at www.town.east-hampton.ny.us/Budgets.cfm, shows an 11.7 percent tax increase, or $25.73 per $100 of assessed valuation, for residents of the town who live outside of the village. Residents of East Hampton who reside in the village are currently looking at an increase of 11.5 percent, or $12.68 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Last year, town residents had to swallow a 23 percent tax increase with village residents seeing their taxes raised 39 percent.

The current board is comprised of acting supervisor Pete Hammerle and board member Julia Prince, who will be joined by the newly elected Republican Supervisor Bill Wilkinson and Republican town board members Theresa Quigley and Dominick Stanzione in January. Board member Pat Mansir did not seek re-election in the 2010 race and councilman Brad Loewen was not picked by the Democratic Party to run in this year’s contest.

A majority of the increases projected in the preliminary budget is to pay the debt service on a state backed $15 million in deficit financing to cover rising deficits over the last two years. The total town deficit is predicted to rise above $20 million by the close of this fiscal year.

Last month, McGintee resigned as supervisor of the town in the midst of a Suffolk County District Attorney’s investigation of the town’s finances, although no charges have been brought against the former supervisor. Earlier this year, McGintee’s longtime budget officer Ted Hults was arraigned on several felony charges related to the financial mismanagement of the town.

The public hearing comes amid ongoing disputes between members of the current town board over employee layoffs in the town, after the board held two executive sessions with department heads looking at what positions could be eliminated to reduce spending in the town.

Hammerle and Prince faced off against Mansir and Loewen at a now infamous October 23 budget meeting that was scheduled to publicly discuss positions that would be eliminated in the proposed budget. The meeting resulted with Mansir and Loewen walking out after the four-member board failed to agree on employee layoffs.

Hammerle has reportedly said cutting the positions – some that are already vacant – could save the town $1 million.

Last week, both Loewen and Mansir advocated sending McGintee’s budget, intact, and allow the new, full town board to tackle any necessary changes. They also proposed over $400,000 in cuts, including through eliminating leaf pickup in the town and replacing the system with a leaf bagging program, cutting aid to the East Hampton YMCA RECenter and cutting down on garbage pickup at the town’s beaches during the off-season.

None of the suggestions were added to the preliminary budget residents are considering at Thursday’s public hearing as they would not result in savings for the fiscal 2010-budget year. At the same time, proposed employee layoffs have also been tabled with the board still unable to come to agreement on the matter.

Last Tuesday, October 27, the board did cut the budget slightly by eliminating a vacant position in animal control, slashing funding for the Family Service League and Phoenix House, a substance abuse counseling center and by reducing hours for some part-time employees. Additions made last week, include the creation of a new part-time court officer.

Following the public hearing, the town board must adopt a final budget by Friday, November 20.