This Morning’s Bulletin — 1.22.15

January 22, 2015January 29, 2015 Beth Young 0 Comments

Good Morning!

• It’s snowing now but the weather-people say it will stop soon, with a smattering of it staying on the ground. The National Weather Service says it will likely snow again Saturday morning, with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches before it begins to mix with rain Saturday afternoon.

• Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, State Senator John Flanagan and the relatives of four men and women killed by hit and run drivers renewed the call on Tuesday to increase the maximum punishment from seven to 15 years imprisonment. Mr. Flanagan is an advocate of increasing prison time for convicted hit and run drivers, and the sponsor of similar previous bills in Albany. Among the family members who addressed the media was the niece of Scott Wayte, killed on Dec. 28, 2012 while crossing the street in front of the Riverhead restaurant where he and his family were about to celebrate his 50th birthday. Her family has fought twice at parole hearings to keep hit and run driver Joseph Plummer behind bars, where he is serving 2 to 6 years.

• New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele is again on the offensive against PSEG-Long Island this week, denoucing the ongoing power surges and service interruptions on Jobs Lane in Southampton Village. According to Mr. Thiele, power surges and service interruptions occurred on Sept. 8, 2013, Nov. 17, 2013, Sept. 22, 2014, Dec. 8, 2014, and Dec. 30, 2014. The interruptions were caused by defective bolt connectors, failing transformers and various other unpredictable equipment failures. During these outages, computers, furnace controls, credit card machines, lighting, restaurant food storage units, and surveillance cameras were damaged. Businesses have had damages amounting up to $60,000 and the Village of Southampton has had to replace nearly $10,000 in equipment. The businesses who have submitted claims to have damage reimbursed have received denial letters stating that PSEG-LI’s liability is precluded under LIPA’s Tariff for Electric Service.

“I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it again,” said Mr. Thiele. “The LIPA Reform Act did absolutely nothing. PSEG is not more accountable to its ratepayers or the small businesses that hold the East End’s economy together. PSEG-LI must grant these claims and pay for the damage they caused.”

Peter Fouchet (left), Member, Southold High School FIRST® Robotics “Team R.I.C.E.,” accepts a certificate from Will Recce (right), Principal, School Construction Consultants, Inc. and Board Member, School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. — Southold High School FIRST Robotics “Team R.I.C.E. member Peter Fouchet (left) ,” accepts a certificate from School Construction Counsultants principal Will Recce (right).

• The Southold High School FIRST® Robotics “Team R.I.C.E.” was the winner of this year’s musical theme contest, sponsored by Work Life Resources. The song will be used at the 2015 Long Island Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition from March 26 to 28 at Hofstra University. Ryan Burns and Alex Kandora of Team R.I.C.E. composed the winning piece. Pierson High School in Sag Harbor also submitted a composition to the competition. Students were allowed to work individually, with their mentors on the robotics team, or with colleagues in their high school’s music department,to compose their song. The Southold High School robotics team will be presented with a $1,000 check at this year’s Long Island Regional FRC.

• ARF in Wainscott is offering free spay/neuters for community (feral) cats this Friday, Jan. 23, by appointment only. All cats must arrive in traps no later than 10 a.m. on Friday or can be dropped off at the ARF Adoption Center in Wainscott on Thursday afternoon. To set up your appointment or for more information call Rita at 631.537.4000 ext. 210.

• The Riverhead Town Board is discussing expedited review of plans and materials for the EPCAL recreation path at their 9:30 a.m. work session this morning. Their agenda is online here.

• The Southampton Town Board will discuss agenda items for next Tuesday’s meeting at a 11:30 a.m. work session this morning, and will then hold a special meeting at noon. The agenda is online here.

And that’s the way things look at dawn’s light today.