Friday, November 23 2012 21:33

Real estate transfers in Riverhead Town recorded in the office of the Suffolk County Clerk during the period of  Oct. 15 to 31, 2012, as reported by Suffolk Research Service.

Wading River 11792

R. Marcus to D. Finston, 354 Sound Rd., One Family Year-Round Residence, .23 Ac., $200,000; on Oct. 18, 2012.

J. & D. Sigle to K. Kovach & C. Moffitt, 132 Beach Rd., One Family Year-Round Residence, .09 Ac., $125,000; on Oct. 17, 2012.

T. & L. Kroez to S. Karaytug, 193 Dogwood Dr., One Family Year-Round Residence, .5 Ac., $270,000; on Oct. 24, 2012.

Riverhead 11901

R. & D. Salcedo to Town of  Riverhead, 173 Horton Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .17 Ac., $310,000; on Oct. 24, 2012.

I. Brown to Town of Riverhead, 112 Horton Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .2 Ac., $63,000; on Oct. 23, 2012.

K. Knapp to J. & D. Fratello, 1203 Pebble Beach Path, One Family Year-Round Residence, .28 Ac., $269,900; on Oct. 17, 2012.

Riverhead Middle Road to Crossroads East Realty, 957 Harrison Ave., All Health Facilities, 4 Ac., $2,300,000; on Oct. 18, 2012.

Kevric Development to Velocity Commercial, 341 Sweezy Ave., Other Storage, Warehouse and Distribution Facilities, $479,619; on Oct. 24, 2012.

F. Sawicka to P. & H. Loria, 818 Pulaski St., One Family Year-Round Residence, .15 Ac., $180,000; on Oct. 26, 2012.

M. Gromadzka to S. Tran, 417 Claus Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .23 Ac., $253,000; on Oct. 16, 2012.

FJ & J. Tilmont to M. & D. Marshak, 283 Newton Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .3 Ac., $285,000; on Oct. 19, 2012.

Aquebogue 11931

P. Byrns Trust to J. & J. Domow, 196 Church Ln., One Family Year-Round Residence, 1 Ac., $444,5000; on Oct. 31, 2012.

J. & M. & A. Honig to L. Gerard, Main Road, Residential Land Including a Small Improvement, 8.92 Ac., $550,000; on Oct. 19, 2012.

P. Guardino & K. Gayda to M. & J. Silvis, 46 Fox Chaser Pl., One Family Year-Round Residence, .61 Ac., $450,000; on Oct. 16, 2012.

Baiting Hollow 11933

S. Sepulveda to A. Bettencourt & Gizzo, 520 Williams Way N., One Family Year-Round Residence, .79 Ac., $270,000; on Oct. 19, 2012.

Jamesport 11947

J. Zakian Trust to S. & C. Brickman, 19 Smith Ln., Residential Land Including a Small Improvement, .12 Ac., $180,000; on Oct. 16, 2012.

South Jamesport 11970

M. & M.  Samilo to E. Lynch, 66 Morningside Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .45 Ac., $1,250,000; on Oct. 17, 2012.

Saturday, November 10 2012 11:41

Real estate transfers in Riverhead Town recorded in the office of the Suffolk County Clerk during the period of  Oct. 1 to 15, 2012, as reported by Suffolk Research Service.

Wading River 11792

Y. Geremie to J. Murray & J. Yuan, 184 Sylvan Dr., One Family Year-Round Residence, .14 Ac., $268,000; on Oct. 10, 2012.

R. & M. Rensch to J. Quilliam, 205 Great Rock Dr., One Family Year-Round Residence, .69 Ac., $347,000; on Oct. 15, 2012.

R. & S. Rossetti to E. & L. Bulger, 16 E. Woodland Dr., One Family Year-Round Residence, 1.06 Ac., $320,000; on Oct. 5, 2012.

Nosal & Gates Waski to L. & J. Faraone, 2184 North Wading River Rd., One Family Year-Round Residence, .92 Ac., $240,000; on Oct. 9, 2012.

V. Alvino to J. Lull & S. Yakaboski, 187 Deer Run, One Family Year-Round Residence, 1.06 Ac., $450,000; Oct. 5, 2012.

M. & C. Kenneally to M. & D. & G. Greene, 19 Little Leaf Ct., One Family Year-Round Residence, .36 Ac., $370,000; on Oct 5, 2012.

Riverhead 11901

E. Birnstiel to S. Milsom & L. Adams, 998 Sound Shore Rd., One Family Year-Round Residence, .57 Ac., $155,000; on Oct. 1, 2012.

Eastport Property Development to County of Suffolk, Northville Tpk. Development Rts., Residential Vacant Land, $3,209,364; on Oct. 15, 2012.

G. Mayer to H. & J. Stone, 71 Saddle Lakes Dr., One Family Year-Round Residence, .28 Ac., $395,000; on Oct. 15, 2012.

Stoneleigh Woods RH to S. & M. Cleary, Stoneleigh Woods #1801, One Family Year-Round Residence, $417,037; on Oct. 3, 2012.

F. & I. Doroski to M. Columbus, 90 Linda Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .33 Ac., $270,000; on Oct. 5, 2012.

D. Wilmott Sr. by Exr. to Gene's Four Seasons, 911 Ostrander Ave., Two Family Year-Round Residence, .35 Ac., $260,000; on Oct. 2, 2012.

D. Wilmott Sr. by Exr to 911 Ostrander, LLC, Ostrander Ave., Residential Vacant Land, .37 Ac., $50,000; on Oct. 2, 2012.

V. & J. Smith by Admrs. to J. & C. Hubbard RE, LLC, 203 Hubbard Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .24 Ac., $150,000; on Oct. 13, 2012.

FGP West Street LLC, to Peconic City Properties, 137-20 W. Main St., Bank Complex with Office Building, 1 Ac., $1,125,000; on Oct. 9, 2012.

Aquebogue 11931

V. Cennamo to D. & M. Stuart, 5 Summerfield Ln. S., One Family Year-Round Residence, .51 Ac., $315,000; on Oct. 15, 2012.

D. Sims to Liberty Masonry Inc., 262 West Ln., Multiple Use or Multi-Purpose, .92 Ac., $260,000; on Oct. 4, 2012.

A. & D. Lyczkowski to F. & L. Petriganani IV, 38 Linda Ave., One Family Year-Round Residence, .28 Ac., $292,000 on Oct. 1, 2012.

Jamesport 11947

A. & J. Lauer to J. & L. Healy, 34 Big Pond Ln., One Family Year-Round Residence, .64 Ac., $650,000; on Oct. 15, 2012.

Manorville 11949

R. & A. Kruger to M. Druzel & A. Monte, 56 Schultz Rd., Two Family Year-Round Residence, 1 Ac., $223,400; on Oct. 1, 2012.

Saturday, November 03 2012 08:28

Superstorm Sandy: are you sick of her yet? I'm sick of the devastation, the heartache, the financial burden and the overall loss. Though we were warned this would be like no other storm we had experienced, I don't think we were able to comprehend the breadth of its severity before it was here, wreaking havoc.

It's been days and as I'm writing this, Sandy is still making a mess of things. The gas frenzy has me worried, not about gasoline, but about our society. Ones behavior in times of crisis says a lot about one. I did feel the pull of mass hysteria and questioned my decision to avoid the lines at local fueling stations. But I still have half a tank of gas. And when I thought about it, there is very little that I need that requires me to drive. Route 58 has enough markets and retail establishments to choke a horse. If I needed, I could hike or bike that way for some shopping.

And then there's Main Street, where my heart belongs. Sandy really took a toll on the businesses on that little strip of Americana. Yet, everywhere you see doors open, cleanup being done, food being served, and people doing business. In Sandy's wake, people are stepping up to help one another. Local establishments have posted on Facebook, inviting residents down for reduced price (and sometimes even free, in the case of Ralph's Italian Ices) food and drinks as well as the opportunity to plug in and charge devices. We are stepping up and proving that the residents of Riverhead take care of our own.

As you may have heard or seen, River and Roots took a beating. The infrastructure of the garden was wrecked. Raised beds were lifted and carried away by the rising water, some landing more than 30 feet from where they began. Plants were ripped from the garden. Debris came in with the flood and when it receded, the trash remained behind. The water mark on our shed is about two and a half feet. The shed was moved several feet from its previous location and the items inside are either disheveled or ruined.

I went down, when it was deemed safe, to assess the damage. I had already seen pictures from the Riverhead Local live feed and a few from one of our gardeners so I wasn't too surprised. But it was still sobering.

The garden will require rebuilding. It's going to take a lot of manual labor to bring it back. Otherwise, we were lucky. There will be some costs, but nothing too outrageous; new soil, maybe a new shelf in the shed, a few new tools. We can, and will, bring it back.

What Sandy can't take from us, and has maybe even helped improve, is our community. After we visited the garden, Amy Davidson sent an email to our subscribers. The note assured all who are still suffering from Sandy's blows that we wish them well and hope all returns to normal very soon. And then she asked for help. To those who are able, we requested that they meet us at the garden this weekend as we begin the long journey of cleanup and repair.

The response has been amazing. One of our subscribers has already arranged for the cutting and removal of a large evergreen tree that fell across River and Roots, trapping several raised beds underneath. And our other gardeners are still replying, and they are saying yes. Yes, we will be there. Yes, we will help. Yes, we are a community of gardeners and we are taking care of each other when we need it most.

So today from 10 to 1 and tomorrow from noon to 3 we will be at River and Roots, picking up the pieces (literally) and starting over. Feel free to come down and join us, we can use all the hands we can get. Come meet our community, because we are your community, too. I'll even make some muffins, so get 'em while they're hot! And if you can't make it, if you're overwhelmed, overwrought and just plain wrecked, take care of yourself. We'll be there next time and we'd love to say hello.

If you can't join us but have the ability to bake, here's the recipe for the muffins I'll have with me at River and Roots:

Apple Muffins, gluten free

2 unpeeled apple, chopped
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup oil
1 cup milk
1 3/4 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/8 cup coconut flour

Combine apples and honey in bowl, tossing to coat. Beat egg, oil and milk in large bowl. Stir in both flours, cinnamon, salt and baking powder. Fold in apple mixture. Spoon into greased or paper lined muffins cups. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Yield: 16 muffins.

Want to share your amazing experience within our community? Send me a note at laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

Laurie Nigro, a mother of two, is passionate about natural living. Laurie resides in downtown Riverhead and is co-founder of the River and Roots Community Garden on West Main Street. Contact her by email to laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

Laurie resides in downtown Riverhead and is co-founder of the River and Roots Community Garden on West Main Street. 

Saturday, October 27 2012 08:06

In October, River and Roots Community Garden held its 2nd Annual Scarecrow Building Event to coincide with the 37th Annual Riverhead County Fair.

We like to build scarecrows on that day so that garden members can have some fun at the garden and then spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the fair. It also ensures that the garden is open to the public on a day that Riverhead sees so many visitors.

Building scarecrows in October when most of us aren’t planting seed and our crops are mostly harvested can seem counterintuitive, but we don’t build them to scare the crows away from the garden. We build scarecrows as art. Cleaning out the garden beds leaves a fresh palette just begging for a creative use. By October we have removed almost all of the tomato plants giving us a ready supply of stakes for building scarecrows.

So we gather on the first Sunday of October with our supplies. It’s great fun to watch how each individual approaches construction of their scarecrow. It’s interesting to see the skills, talents and personality of the builder reflected in each scarecrow.

Now when I pass the community garden I am startled at the people in the garden, even at night, and have to take a second look before I realize that it’s the scarecrows keeping vigil and pronouncing to all passers-by that this is a spot of earth that is cherished.

You can build a scarecrow at home, too.

You will need:
• One 6 foot long stake or pole
• One 3 to 5 foot stake or pole
• Straw for stuffing
• Twine
• Scissors
• Burlap or cloth for the head
• Fabric shapes, buttons, or paint for the face
• Old jeans, pants
• Long sleeve shirt
• Decorations: Hat, gloves, rake, hoe, baseball bat. This is up to your imagination.

Using twine lash the short stake to the tall stake to create shoulders.

Slide the pants onto the stake and stuff with straw. Tie the bottom of the pants with twine so the stuffing doesn’t fall out. Tie a belt of twine.

Place shirt onto the stake. Tie around waist with twine and stuff with straw. Tie the ends of the sleeves.

Set the stake with scarecrow body in the ground in the scarecrow’s final location.

Cut a yard of burlap and stuff with straw to form a head. Tie the neck to the top of the stake and decorate the face. Tie a hat on with twine.

Use your imagination and decorate the scarecrow to give it its own personality.

Amy Davidson is a resident of downtown Riverhead and co-founder of River and Roots Community Garden. She has been a backyard gardener for 15 years. When she is not in the garden she is herding seven chickens, two dogs, two cats, two kids and one very patient husband.amy@riverheadlocal.com