East Quogue
Politics
Residents concerned about Riverhead’s future speak out at comp plan hearing Monday night
While discussion of a proposal to allow private schools in industrial districts dominated Monday night’s comp plan update hearing at Town Hall [read prior story] there were plenty of other topics on the minds of speakers at the podium, who focused on several hot topic land-use issues like agri-tourism resorts, downtown apartments, farmland preservation, nonconforming uses, industrial zoning in general — and warehouses, distribution and logistics centers, in particular.
SCWA cuts ribbon on new laboratory expansion
The Suffolk County Water Authority celebrated Drinking Water Week (May 5 to 11) with the opening of a new expansion of its state-of-the-art laboratory. The expansion will support SCWA’s mission of providing its customers with high quality drinking water. SCWA’s water quality testing laboratory is recognized as one of...
Riverhead Town’s financial administrator set to retire June 14 after nearly two decades of service
Riverhead Town Financial Administrator William Rothaar is retiring next month after 17 years as the town’s chief accountant. Rothaar, who is turning 62 in June, was hired during the Cardinale administration in 2007, after coming on as a consultant in 2006 to fill in for his predecessor, Jack Hansen, who was on sick leave. After Hansen retired, Rothaar was appointed to the position as a full-time employee.
Riverhead’s assistant superintendents Koerner and Galati taking incentive to retire as of June 30
Two Riverhead Central School District assistant superintendents will leave the district at the end of next month, according to an agreement set for a vote at tonight’s special school board meeting. Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education and Educational Services Lori Koerner and Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, Grants &...
Riverhead school board suspends Regents Exam weighting policy for 2024: May 14 school board wrap-up
For the third year in a row, a Riverhead student’s state Regents examination score will not negatively impact their final course average. The Riverhead Board of Education voted last Tuesday to suspend its policy that weighs the exam as 20% of a student’s final course average. The exam will still count if it improves the student’s average, according to the board resolution suspending the policy. The vote comes after months of debate between parents, faculty, administrators and board members about whether to change the policy — and if so, how it should be amended.
Riverhead school budget passes 62% to 38%
Riverhead school district voters approved a $201.4 million operating budget for the 2024-2025 school year Tuesday by a vote of 1224 to 745 — a margin of 63% to 38%. School board vice president Brian Connelly of Riverhead and newcomer Kelly Freeborn of Baiting Hollow won the uncontested election for the two open seats on the Riverhead Board of Education. Connelly received 1,322 votes and Freeborn received 1,497 votes.
Energy company to discuss plans for 50 MW battery storage facility in Shoreham at Wading River Civic meeting Thursday night
Representatives of Key Capture Energy, a company seeking to build a 50-megawatt battery energy storage facility on LIPA-owned property in Shoreham, will make a presentation to the Wading River Civic Association Thursday night. “The project is tentatively proposed,” said Key Capture Energy representative Phil Denara in a phone call Tuesday....
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