On Monday, May 25, at around 4:19 a.m., the Southampton Village Police Department responded to the scene of a two car accident on County Road 39 at the intersection of North sea Road. One of the vehicles was a Home Town taxi cab. Police say Ihsan Peker, 31, of Southampton was driving the cab and had recently picked up four passengers from the Pink Elephant, a nightclub in Southampton.

According to police, as Peker attempted to make a left turn into the 7-11 parking lot, a 2001 Hyundai, operated by Ryan Rozynski, 18, of Shirley, struck the cab.

The Southapton Village Volunteer Ambulance and the Southampton Volunteer Ambulanc transported all six injured people from the accident to Southampton Hospital. A short time later on of the injured was airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital and another was transported by ambulance. Police say both persons are in critical condition. Two others at Southampton Hospital were listed in stable condition. Peker was treated and released with only minor injuries and was given a summons for failing to obey a traffic device. Rozynski was also treated for minor injuries and was charged driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. He will be arraigned on Teusday morning, May 26.

Police say the accident is still under investigation and additional charges are likely.

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By Marissa Maier and Marianna Levine

Nearly two weeks after a fatal accident occurred on County Road 39, another local resident has died on the road – this time a 16-year-old Bridgehampton Student – on Saturday, April 11.

At around 4:30 p.m., Southampton Town Police received a report of an accident in front of the Starbucks on County Road 39, near the intersection of North Sea Road. The Southampton Volunteer Ambulance, Village Police and Fire Department responded to the scene, but it was soon ascertained that Pablo Saldivar, 16, who lived on the Sag Harbor/Bridgehampton Turnpike was in critical condition.

Saldivar was riding in a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by a Joshua Harris, 20, of Hampton Bays. The Camaro was traveling westbound on County Road 39, as rain lightly pelted the road. According to police, Harris lost control of the vehicle, which spun out into the eastbound lane colliding with a Toyota Sedan. Michael Krafve, 29, of Amagansett was operating the Toyota.

Although the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, Southampton Lieutenant Bruce Molloy said the rear tires on the Camaro were worn down and in poor condition. According to Molloy, the combination of the poor tires and the wet road probably caused the vehicle’

s instability.

Saldivar was taken by ambulance to Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Harris was transported by Suffolk County Police Helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital. As of Monday, Harris was in stable condition. Krafve was taken by ambulance to Southampton Hospital for treatment.

Saldivar had been a student at Bridgehampton School since the fall of 2008, where he had been a member of the Killer Bees basketball team. Although the school was closed for spring break, Principal Jack Pryor decided to open the school and have an open meeting for students, teachers, and parents on Monday morning. Pryor estimated about 150 people gathered at the school from Bridgehampton as well as Hampton Bays where Saldivar had previously resided.

Pryor sent out an email about the meeting through the PTO because he was concerned students weren’

t getting reliable information about the accident, and also wanted to provide a place for them to come together and remember Saldivar.

“It was very emotional, but necessary and therapeutic,”

said Pryor.

Pryor remembers, “He had a certain level of compassion for people, and a real charming quality. He had recently turned his life around. His grades were up and his confidence was up. Making the basketball team was really big for him.”

Killer Bees coach Carl Johnson recalls, “He was just so happy to be a part of the team. He always showed up to practice and he’d give 100%.”

Like Pryor, Johnson notes, “He was very sincere, and looking for someone to believe in him and encourage him. He had had a rough life but he was turning it around by always remembering to do the right thing.”

 

Johnson choked up saying, “All I keep seeing is his little face looking up at me. He’s one of the few kids who came up to me and personally thanked me for my coaching.”

Pablo Saldivar was born on February 17, 1993 in Auernavaca, Mexico, the son of Jose Luis Sandivar Cabrera and Jatzin Ruiz Aranda, who survive. He is also survived by brothers Luis Fernando Saldivar and Eric Roberto Saldivar.

Visiting will be held at Yardley & Pino Funeral Home, 94 Pantigo Rd. East Hampton, on Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at Iglesia Church (Bridgehampton United Methodist Church), Bridgehampton. Interment at Good Ground Cemetery in Hampton Bays will follow.

 

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According to supervisor Linda Kabot, the Southampton Town board needs to make a final decision on what will happen to County Road (CR) 39 – or the “funds will disappear.”

Last week, members of the town board met in a work session to discuss the Long Term Plan (LTP) for CR 39, all in agreement that they need to approve the interim plan that the county is suggesting, in order to comply with a January 2010 federal deadline.

Kabot’s goal on Friday was to get all the board members to co-sponsor a draft resolution, which affirms support for the Highway Improvement Plan, and provides Suffolk County with overall guidance for further development of a proposed LTP design concept.

The chief engineer from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, William Hillman, presented a “funding situation” to the Southampton Town Board in late November, explaining that the county will be making improvements to the eastern portion of CR 39 similar to those completed on the western portion of the road in 2007-2008 as part of an interim plan. These additional interim plan improvements will not affect a Long Term Plan, or the funding of it, either positively or negatively, according to Hillman.

On Friday, at a work session, the board members met with Tom Neely, Southampton Town Transportation and Traffic Safety Director, to finalize a resolution to approve the county’s changes to CR 39.

Some of the major changes planned for CR 39 include utilizing a median where possible, and the use of a center turn lane in place of the median in specific high left turn rate locations, such as those along the business corridor immediately west of Tuckahoe Lane. Other changes included in the plan are the creation of right turn lanes where feasible, and inclusion of roundabouts and creating shoulders where feasible. Also set out in the long-term plan are bus shelters and bus turnouts at sites coordinated with Suffolk County Transit.

Neely explained that funding for the LTP is in question because the federal “10 year rule” deadline will be reached in January 2010. In order to keep this project eligible for federal funding, by that date, the county has to begin acquisition of commercial and residential land along the shoulder areas and the planned roundabout at the intersection where Flying Point Road and Route 27 meet CR 39.

The goals of the LTP and changes to CR 39 are to improve safety, traffic flow, adjacent property access and roadway aesthetics. The draft resolution, which was being discussed at the work session on Friday states that intentions include minimizing the roadway width and takings as well as encourage the use of public transportation.

Neely explained that the LTP must be done in phases, and will take approximately five years to complete.

At the work session, Neely gave an update on what has occurred over the last few years in response to the changes along CR 39. He explained that the town held special public meetings with emergency services, the various Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs) and members of the police force in 2007. In February 2008, there was a broader meeting, in which the county and the town met with property owners along CR 39. At the meeting, the town was able to get “good feedback” according to Neely.

“We don’t want to be portrayed as not being supportive of this plan,” Kabot said on Friday about the LTP. She informed the room that the federal government is funding 80 percent of this $50 million project and “we don’t want that money to disappear,” she continued.

Neely gave explanations as to why all these topics have to be covered in the final plan. He said that the bus route along CR 39 – the S92 – is the second most popular bus route in the county.

Further he said, pedestrians and their safety is a major concern, for both business owners and traffic moving through the area. Pedestrians crossing CR 39 have been a great cause for concern, but so has the reduced number of pedestrians frequenting businesses along the road.

“It is even hard with the sidewalk that is there now,” councilwoman Nancy Graboski said.

“Which is why the long term plan is so critical,” Kabot responded, turning everyone’s attention back to the draft resolution on the table for discussion. “We don’t want to lose this money from the federal government.”

The supervisor also said that a big concern is for water connections for fire hydrants along the CR 39, adding them to both sides of the road. She said running a fire hose across the road would cause 30,000 vehicles to use an alternative route – old Montauk Highway – and could potentially stop traffic for three to four hours.

“But that will be costly,” she added.

“All this is, is a joint letter of the town board, saying that we support this,” Kabot said of the draft resolution.

If approved at the next town board meeting, the draft resolution will be sent to local politicians including Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr., Senator Kenneth LaValle, and Congressman Tim Bishop.

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ARF: Cats and Dogs Calendar 

 

         The 2009 Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) Pet Calendar is now on sale at area bookstores, galleries and specialty shops. There are more than 100 animals featured in the calendar including mutts, pedigrees, former shelter animals as well as ARF cats and dogs available for adoption. The cover features Mimi Vang Olsen’s painting of cats and dogs in a kingdom setting. The calendar also features many candid photographs, contributed by pet owners.

         “While it’s handy for keeping a busy 2009 schedule, the Pet Calendar is just as likely to find its home on a coffee table,” says Dick Huebner, an award-winning art director who designed the original calendar.

         Founded in 1974, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons has found loving homes for over 15,000 animals. ARF currently provides for the health and welfare of dogs and cats on the South Fork of Long Island and Shelter Island through shelter and adoption services, medical care, spaying and neutering programs, community outreach and humane education. The calendar retails for $25, the 2009 ARF Pet Calendar is also available at www.arfhamptons.org, as well as local retail locations and galleries.

 

Southampton Town: Justice Court Receives Grant

 

   According to Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, the Town of Southampton has been awarded a grant in the amount of $6,500 under the State’s Justice Court Assistance Program. The grants awarded through this program make it possible for the local justice courts to make renovations and purchase equipment to improve their operations and make their facilities more secure.

         Of the grant, the State’s chief Administrative Judge, Ann Pfau, said, “Town and Village Courts play a critical role in the justice system of our State. It is vital that these courts, whose jurisdiction includes non-felony criminal prosecutions, motor vehicle cases, small civil claims, and landlord-tenant disputes, be well equipped and secure. I am therefore pleased to announce Justice Court Assistance Program grants totaling almost $5 million, statewide, to help ensure that these courts which date back to the 17^th and 18^th centuries, are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.”

         Senator LaValle added, “Local courts are the closest to the people and are an integral component of our justice system. However, town and village budgetary issues can limit their resources. This grant will help the court to better serve the community and improve the administration of justice.”

 

County Road 39: Sign Change on CR 39

 

         Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today said that billboards cautioning drivers to watch their speed while moving through the fixed portion of County Road 39 will be changed at the request of Southampton Town officials, including Southampton Town Supervisor Linda Kabot and Councilwoman Anna Throne Holst.

         “After our project to provide a second eastbound lane was completed this spring, we felt it was necessary to properly warn drivers to maintain a safe speed,” said Levy. “This stretch of road was known for decades for being a bottleneck, and we did not want to be victims of our own success and have drivers speeding through the two smooth flowing lanes.”

         “Hopefully that message has been delivered this summer, both to visitors and to year-round residents, and we are happy to accede to the Town’s wish for more low-key speed warnings,” Levy continued.

         The billboards received a great deal of attention when they were vandalized in early December. An unknown vandal painted over the image of a police officer leaning onto his official vehicle, while pointing a radar gun at the oncoming traffic, covering it with white paint. The vandal spray-painted “Thank You” on the westbound side of the road and “Please” on the eastbound side.

 

Riverhead: Ribbon Cutting for New Unit

 

         On Thursday, December 4th, Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, and Health Commissioner Dr. Humayun Chaudhry officially opened the county’s second state-of-the-art digital mammography unit in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The site of the new mammography unit is located at the Riverhead County Health Center.

         “This is a tremendous benefit for our patients,” said Suffolk County Health Services Commissioner Humayun Chaudhry. “We are proud that the county has taken such a proactive role in bringing this resource to our patients and in advancing the quality of health care services for our citizens.”

         The new unit in Riverhead is the second digital machine to come into operation in Suffolk under Levy’s leadership. In 2006, Levy sponsored a resolution to modify a portion of the first floor of the Health Center to accommodate the equipment, which was performed as part of the ongoing renovations to the Riverhead County Center. The first digital unit was installed in Coram in 2006; Suffolk is also proceeding with the availability of digital mammography equipment for its health centers in Shirley and Brentwood.

 

 

Suffolk County: A Gift of Food

 

         During their general meeting, on Tuesday, December 2, the Legislature by Certificates of Necessity adopted an amendment to the 2008 Operating Budget, which will provide an additional $20,000 of funding to the Island Harvest. Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman introduced the resolution that made these amendments possible, and was readily adopted in order to expeditiously make these funds available to Island Harvest. During this holiday season and in these challenging economic times, many more families will be able to receive additional food assistance.

         Island Harvest is one of Long Island’s largest hunger relief organizations that serve as the bridge between those who have surplus food and those who need it. Their volunteers and staff collect food from over 600 local restaurants, caterers, farms, and other food related businesses; and distribute it to a network of close to 500 soup kitchens, food pantries, residencies, shelters. Last year Island Harvest provided nearly 7 million pounds of food to local hunger relief organizations.

 

Suffolk County: Good Samaritan Diva

 

         Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) attended the Red Hat Divas Christmas luncheon to thank the ladies who collected supplies for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The divas collected donations from friends, family and neighbors over the last month. They contacted Legislator Schneiderman’s office, an official drop site for supplies donated to the U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Legislator Schneiderman has been working with the Family Readiness Group representing the Fighting 69th Army Reserve National Guard, collecting donations for the servicemen and women. These items include AA batteries, insect repellant, flea collars, and bags of charcoal briquettes for troops stationed in Afghanistan.

         “The County of Suffolk and its residents owe a debt of gratitude to our brave servicemen and women who often find themselves in dangerous and hazardous circumstances and give their lives for their County, making the ultimate sacrifice in the service of others, ” Legislator Schneiderman said. “I am pleased to assist in any way possible and encourage donations of these items for our troops.”

 

New York State Assembly: Request for LIPA Audit

 

         State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., and State Kenneth P. LaValle have sent a letter to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli requesting that its current audit of LIPA include the Southampton to Bridgehampton Transmission Line Project.

         LIPA originally proposed an approximately nine-mile transmission on the South Fork in the Town of Southampton from Southampton Village to the Hamlet of Bridgehampton. LIPA had proposed that the transmission line be constructed 45% above ground and 55% below ground through the heart of the South Fork’s farm country, where substantial amounts of land and scenic vistas had been preserved with public dollars.

         There was universal community outrage and opposition to the LIPA proposal including litigation. In response, Thiele and LaValle mediated the dispute between LIPA and the Town and the community. After long and extremely difficult negotiations, an agreement was reached this spring. The project was completed this summer.

         The agreement provided that LIPA would contribute the cost of its original proposal towards payment of the project (estimated to be approximately $20 million.) The incremental cost of burying the remaining 45% would be borne by LIPA customers from Southampton Village to the Southampton/East Hampton town line. This charge would be based on the actual electric usage of LIPA customers in the benefited area. After the project was bid, it was estimated that the incremental cost would be about $8 million.

         LIPA authorized substantial overtime to complete the project. As a result, LIPA is now estimating that the incremental cost may be as much as $12 million. Thiele and LaValle have requested the State Comptroller determine the total cost of the project, determine whether the up to $4 million increase in the cost of the project was prudent and justified, and determine whether any portion of the up to $4 million increase should be legitimately borne by the VBA area.

         Thiele and LaValle stated that this additional expenditure of up to $4 million dollars does not in any way increase the visual benefits for those in the benefited area, if indeed such addition expenditures were prudent at all. It is certain that not all the additional expenditures were to construct only 45%, which was the subject of the VBA.

 

 

 

 

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