Plans for the Enterprise Park at Calverton could be headed back to the drawing board.

The Riverhead Industrial Development Agency yesterday denied an application for financial assistance by Calverton Aviation & Technology, saying the venture group is not financially capable of developing a technology and aerospace hub at the former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant in Calverton. Tara Smith reports on Newsday.com that the decision, approved in a 3-0 vote, and to cheers from a large group of opponents at last night's meeting, gives the Riverhead Town Board the option to declare null and void the contract to sell 1,644 acres at the property to the venture group for $40 million to develop Enterprise Park at Calverton, also known as EPCAL.

“It was a totally responsible decision,” said John McAuliff, coordinator of EPCAL Watch, a Riverhead-based coalition of community activists. “The IDA was not prepared to risk its reputation on a project that was absurd.” In their decision, the IDA cited a lack of financial credentials, ambiguity over specific plans for the property and community opposition.

Plans outlined by the developers last year showed a mix of industrial and aerospace uses at the site, estimating that building the first million square feet of development could cost $247 million.

The future of that deal could be decided by the Riverhead Town Board.

Supervisor Yvette Aguiar said last night that she supports withdrawing from the deal and plans to call an executive session to discuss the next steps.

“I’m confident that we have the wherewithal to move forward and return the land back to the residents for the intended purpose that it was given to us,” Aguiar said. She also said she plans to request the property be appraised to reflect its current market value.

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The sale of e-cigarette devices resembling highlighters, USB drives, ballpoint pens, smartphone cases, smartwatches, backpacks and other personal items would be banned in Suffolk County under legislation announced yesterday. Vera Chinese reports on Newsday.com that the bill, expected to be voted on during the Nov. 21 general meeting of the Suffolk County legislature, prohibits the sale of the devices to anyone of any age. While it's already illegal to sell vape pens to people under the age of 21, the bill says newer products are “predatory” and marketed to teenagers as a way to vape undetected.

Some, such as those marketed by Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based High Light Vapes, look like highlighter pens used in schools or offices. The company's website says the pens are for people "who want to vape discreetly in public" and includes disclaimers that they contain nicotine, can be addictive and are not for minors.

Legis. James Mazzarella (R-Moriches), the bill's sponsor, said the products have not been found in Suffolk but can be ordered wholesale and could show up on store shelves. The law would apply to in-store sales, with first-time violators facing a $1,000 fine.

At a news conference with officials from Longwood and William Floyd school districts, Mazzarella said he submitted the legislation about a month ago after seeing social media videos showing how the products work.

Marykate Guilfoyle, a spokeswoman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, said Bellone is reviewing the bill.

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The Southampton Village Board of Trustees has selected Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter as Southampton’s new village administrator. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that Carter will replace Charlene Kagel-Betts, who has served as both administrator and treasurer since 2020 and announced her retirement at a work session in late September. Her last day is November 1, but she will continue on in a part-time capacity to help deputy treasurer Julie Krudop transition into her new role as treasurer. The Southampton Village Board plans to vote to approve Carter’s hiring at its work session today. He will be paid an annual salary of $165,000 with “other terms and conditions of his employment to be determined and subject and subject to approval by the Board of Trustees,” according to the resolution on their agenda for tonight’s work session.

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The LIRR will further adjust its schedules next month to address demands from riders, including by adding a few more trains serving Brooklyn and Penn Station, and eliminating some trains serving Grand Central Madison. Alfonso A. Castillo reports on Newsday.com that the railroad's new chief said he expects the schedule changes, which take effect Nov. 13, will further bolster the LIRR improving ridership, which has set several COVID-era records since September.

Speaking at his first meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board's railroad committee since becoming acting LIRR president last week, Robert Free said the ridership gains are "further proof that the schedule adjustments we've made over almost eight months now are really leading to some positive results for our customers.

The new timetables include two more morning trains from stations on Long Island to Atlantic Terminal — one from Ronkonkoma and one from Wantagh — more morning peak express trains on the Port Washington branch, and the permanent addition of an afternoon Babylon train out of Penn Station that previously operated only occasionally.

Free said, throughout the system, the LIRR’s post-Labor Day ridership has been "extremely strong," especially outside of the rush hours. September marked the first month that the LIRR’s monthly off-peak passenger count — about 3.57 million — surpassed that of the same month in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The approximately 5.56 million total riders carried by the LIRR in September is nearly 74% of what the LIRR carried in September of 2019 — a year in which the railroad went on to set a modern ridership record of about 91 million passengers. Ridership plummeted the following year as people stopped taking the train to work during the coronavirus outbreak, and has gradually recovered since then. The LIRR ended 2022 carrying about 52.5 million riders.

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Sag Harbor’s Ragamuffin Parade is Back!

The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce is inviting everyone to attend its Halloween celebrations in Sag Harbor, with the annual Ragamuffin Parade taking place on Sunday, October 29, at 1 p.m. Kids and adults can wear their most creative Halloween costumes and meet at Nassau Street (between Tutto il Giorno and the Laundromat).

The community will parade down Main Street in Sag Harbor to the Custom House, across the street from the John Jermain Memorial Library, where there will be family fun games, treats and more (presented by the Bridgehampton School Theatre Club). Everyone is invited to participate in this family fun event including children, adults and even pets!

“Everyone loves the parade and the party afterwards,” Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce President Ellen Dioguardi said. “The Chamber is delighted to be organizing this fun event again this year.”

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The Mattituck Fire District Board of Commissioners has arranged a community-wide capital bond referendum for the expansion of the current firehouse which is being voted on today. The polls are open from 3pm to 9 p.m. at the firehouse, located at 1000 Pike St. in Mattituck. Beth Young of EAST END BEACON reports that this referendum is a result of more than a year of evaluation and meetings with department volunteers following the defeat of the fire district’s initial $11 million expansion proposal in June 2022. The total cost of the revised plan is approximately $15.5 million. The revised plan includes the renovation of the current firehouse, located at the corner of Pike Street and Wickham Avenue, as well as the construction of a two-story addition that will be connected to the existing building. The expansion will allow for four pull-through truck bays, allowing volunteers to respond to emergencies quickly and more efficiently. The proposal will increase the firehouse’s square footage for equipment and comply with ADA, OSHA and FEMA regulations, some of which it does not currently satisfy, according to the commissioners. It will also increase fire district taxes on 3,940 taxable parcels within the hamlet. Today, the Mattituck Fire District Board of Commissioners are asking voters to approve a capital bond for the district to borrow $13 million. The district will fund the other $2.5 from its capital reserves. Once again voting on the community-wide capital bond referendum for the expansion of the current Mattituck firehouse is today. Voting is scheduled for this afternoon and evening from 3pm to 9pm at the firehouse, located at 1000 Pike St. in Mattituck.