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Graphics: VC4 and AMDVLK Driver VC4 display, VC5 kernel submitted For VC5, I renamed the kernel driver to “v3d” and submitted it to the kernel. Daniel Vetter came back right away with a bunch of useful feedback, and next week I’m resolving that feedback and continuing to work on the GMP support. On the vc4 front, I did the investigation of the HDL to determine that the OLED matrix applies before the gamma tables, so we can expose it in the DRM for Android’s color correction. Stefan was also interested in reworking his fencing patches to use syncobjs, so hopefully we can merge those and get DRM HWC support in mainline soon. I also pushed Gustavo’s patch for using the new core DRM infrastructure for async cursor updates. This doesn’t simplify our code much yet, but Boris has a series he’s working on that gets rid of a lot of custom vc4 display code by switching more code over to the new async support. V3D DRM Driver Revised As It Works To Get Into The Mainline Kernel Eric Anholt of Broadcom has sent out his revised patches for the "V3D" DRM driver, which up until last week was known as the VC5 DRM driver. As explained last week, the VC5 driver components are being renamed to V3D since it ends up supporting more than just VC5 with Broadcom VC6 hardware already being supported too. Eric is making preparations to get this VideoCore driver into the mainline Linux kernel and he will then also rename the VC5 Gallium3D driver to V3D Gallium3D. AMDVLK Driver Gets Fixed For Rise of the Tomb Raider Using Application Profiles With last week's release of Rise of the Tomb Raider on Linux ported by Feral Interactive, when it came to Radeon GPU support for this Vulkan-only Linux game port the Mesa RADV driver was supported while the official AMDVLK driver would lead to GPU hangs. That's now been fixed. With the latest AMDVLK/XGL source code as of today, the GPU hang issue for Rise of the Tomb Raider should now be resolved.

A Guide To Buying A Linux Laptop It goes without saying that if you go to a computer store downtown to buy a new laptop, you will be offered a notebook with Windows preinstalled, or a Mac. Either way, you’ll be forced to pay an extra fee – either for a Microsoft license or for the Apple logo on the back. On the other hand, you have the option to buy a laptop and install a distribution of your choice. However, the hardest part may be to find the right hardware that will get along nicely with the operating system. On top of that, we also need to consider the availability of drivers for the hardware. So what do you do? The answer is simple: buy a laptop with Linux preinstalled. Also: The Open-Source / Linux Letdowns Of 2016 Linux 4.10 RC2 Linux 4.10-rc2 Released To Kick Off Kernel Testing For 2017 Linus Torvalds has issued the second test release of the in-development Linux 4.10 kernel. Linux 4.10-rc2 marks the first kernel release of 2017. Linux 4.10-rc2 Hey, it's been a really slow week between Christmas Day and New Years Day, and I am not complaining at all. It does mean that rc2 is ridiculously and unrealistically small. I almost decided to skip rc2 entirely, but a small little meaningless release every once in a while never hurt anybody. So here it is. The only even remotely noticeable work here is the DAX fixups that really arguably should have been merge window material but depended on stuff during this merge window and were delayed until rc2 due to that. Even that wasn't big, and the rest is trivial small fixes. I'm expecting things to start picking up next week as people recover from the holidays. Linus

The Mattituck-Cutchogue Board of Education adopted a $40,676,947 budget for the 2018-19 school year at its meeting Thursday. The budget, which was approved with a 5-0 vote, as board member Barbara Talbot was absent, is a $88,000 decrease compared to the current year’s budget. It has a tax levy increase of 0.15 percent, which stays well below the district’s allowable 0.97 percent tax levy cap. The budget allows for the expansion of the one-to-one Chromebook initiative to include students in grades 5 to 8, upgrades to the high school TV studio, equipment for the district’s new wellness center, a districtwide icommunication platform, and additional security enhancements. Security enhancements include the addition of another security guard — the district’s second — and an upgraded security entrance. Here visitors will need to get buzzed into the main entrance door where they will be in a holding area behind another glass door that will only be opened after visitors show an ID to someone sitting at a window, business and operations administrator Kevin Coffey explained during a March meeting. The approved budget also comes with a decrease in teaching positions, as the district is not looking to fill some vacancies left open by retirements. Those include a part-time speech and language position, two elementary teaching positions and one full-time secondary English teacher. The assistant principal position at Cutchogue East Elementary School is also becoming part time, with that person also absorbing the role of district-wide instructional support administrator. In addition to the budget, the district is putting up a capital reserve fund for residents to vote on. The reserve fund, which cannot exceed $6 million over a term of 10 years, would be used to pay for repairs, renovations and improvements throughout the district, Mr. Coffey said. If approved by the voters, the fund would be originally funded for $3 million, with $2.5 million from the employees retirement reserve and $500,000 from the unemployment reserve. Over time, the capital reserve can be funded annually with an amount not to exceed $750,000. The budget vote is Tuesday, May 15 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Mattituck High School gymnasium. Additionally, residents will be asked to vote for two candidates to fill two open board seats, each for a three-year term. They include incumbents Doug Cooper and Barbara Wheaton and newcomer Jeffrey Connelly, who appears likely to fill the seat left vacant when former member Laura Jens-Smith resigned after being elected Riverhead Town Supervisor in November. [email protected] Comments comments

Richard J. O’Brien of Laurel and Naples, Fla., formerly of Sunnyside, Massapequa and Manhasset died April 12. He was 89. The family will receive visitors Tuesday, April 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue. Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of the Presentation, 84 Presentation Way, New Windsor, NY 12553. A complete obituary will follow. Comments comments

Vineyard 48 will not be able to sell alcohol through the weekend after the New York State Liquor Authority revoked its liquor license on Thursday. A hearing on the company’s argument to have it restored will take place before an administrative law judge on Wednesday in Mineola, according to State Liquor Authority spokesman Bill Crowley. The exact time and location were not immediately available. “The judge ordered the SLA to have a full hearing to determine if the suspension is permanent,” Southold Supervisor Scott Russell said in an email to The Suffolk Times. The announcement that the liquor license had been revoked for the controversial Cutchogue winery came after Southold Town police were called Saturday and found an estimated “400 disorderly, heavily intoxicated patrons were pushing, shoving and screaming at one another,” according to the SLA. A fight ensued, involving 15 to 20 people. Officers originally responded Saturday after 911 calls from a neighbor who complained of two people engaging in sex acts in view of their backyard that borders the winery. Peter Sullivan, the attorney for Vineyard 48, which is owned by Joseph Paul Winery Inc., said that the SLA suspension order “doesn’t contain a single fact that’s new.” “The media releases contain facts that are new, because media releases don’t have to be verified with evidence,” he said. “We will demonstrate that the allegations are not true, like we’ve done before.” Mr. Sullivan did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. [email protected] Comments comments

It was a sad day last week when Pete Stevens walked out the door of The Book Scout for the last time. It was another link cut from the chain connecting us to the past, back to a time when rents were reasonable and used book stores, like The Book Scout, could survive, if not prosper. Still, a more than three-decade run for a shop that didn’t sell food or clothing is pretty impressive. Actually, given the incredible turnover rate among businesses in Greenport, it is downright amazing. The Chamber of Commerce should give him an award. The Book Scout was an institution that defied description. In this age of homogenized decor, where every shopper is an expert on Yelp, full of his or her own personal “shopping experiences,” The Book Scout existed in a parallel universe. The shop was not neat; far from it. Nor was it dusted. Pete did sweep on a regular basis, though where those sweepings went, no one seemed to know. Its stock of books, up to 6,000 at any time, were displayed on irregular and mismatching bookshelves of various sizes and materials. Due to some wiring quirk, not all the overhead fluorescent lights would work if the humidity was above 50 percent. It was not unusual for Pete to turn the heat on in July so he could get his lights to work. Sometimes even that didn’t help and, over the years, there were times when the lights didn’t go on at all. What a perfect metaphor. Most of the customers didn’t seem to notice, using ambient light from the windows to browse. The store more resembled a rummage sale, the day after, than a smartly run, well-oiled business. Yet Pete was no slouch. Beneath his elfin appearance and somewhat distracted manner, Pete is a smart cookie with wide reaching tastes who knew what his customers wanted. At least most of the time. And it wasn’t just books that Pete displayed and sold. Anything that caught his interest — and his interest is pretty inclusive — he would buy, if the price was right, and resell, if he could. This included guitars, mandolins, violins, violin cases, violin bows, guitar amplifiers (I got an Ampeg Jet, 100 bucks, about 15 years ago and use it professionally) Leica and Nikon cameras, record turntables, hand-carved folk art, Victorian-era “Ordinary Bicycles,” ship models, antique scallop dredges, clam rakes, eel forks, postcards and more. He even once sold (to me, I might add) a brick of pressed Chinese tea that I have no idea what to do with. Pete never worked a customer. Never talked fast or tried to make a sale. People found what they wanted, tried to bargain a bit and either bought or didn’t. To the uninitiated, the shop seemed to have no order at all. It was not uncommon to see folks come to the front door, look in and then beat a hasty retreat, thinking they were looking into a scene from the life of the Collier brothers. Most others, though, understood immediately and waded in like confident swimmers. The store was deceptively organized: art and photography books along with the paperbacks (half-off cover price) at the entrance, then nature, arts and crafts, fishing, philosophy, drama, world literature. The other side of the room held the drama section, then sailing, maritime history and sports, leading to American history and military history. The spine of the store was a path so narrow that two people could not pass each other without a polite “excuse me.” In the back, where the cooking section was, all the cookbooks were in the old sliding-glass-door cooler that had been used to hold soft drinks from the time when the place had been a restaurant. When visitors inquired as to the location of cookbooks, Pete would say, “In the back. In the refrigerator.” In the back, too, was the store’s one upholstered chair, a mid-century modern design with aluminum and wood frame covered in black vinyl. Very comfortable. It was not uncommon to have a person come into the store looking for someone only to find them snoozing in that chair, an open book on his or her lap. The Book Scout will be missed, especially among the legion of visitors who stop by every year to resume conversations with Pete that they began the previous season. Visiting sailors will be disappointed that they can’t find a used Bowditch or an old nautical chart. Others will miss having a place to sell their books. I will miss the place as well. One of the reasons I moved to Greenport a quarter of a century ago was partially due to Pete’s store. I figured, and correctly so, that any small village that supports such a place can’t be half bad. David Berson is an inveterate reader and fan of Pete Stevens. Comments comments

The 21st annual Village Merchants Fourth of July parade marched down Southold’s Main Street Wednesday afternoon. The parade is known as one of the North Fork’s most authentic and community-friendly activities, with many local programs participating. Scroll down for more photos from photographer Jeremy Garretson. Comments comments

Here’s the question: Coming off the greatest season in program history, can the Mattituck/Southold girls lacrosse team turn in an even greater season this year? The answer to that question will unfold over the next several months. Having said that, things look promising, very promising for the Tuckers. Just look at the facts: Mattituck returns 21 players (six seniors, nine juniors and six sophomores), having lost only two (one was injured the entire season) to graduation. One hundred percent of its scoring offense from last year is back. The defense remains virtually intact, and that was a defense that ranked second in Suffolk County, allowing 5.1 goals per game. Seven players tallied more than 20 goals and four bagged over 20 assists. Nine players have committed verbally or with their signatures to play in college, said coach Matt Maloney. Sprinkle in healthy doses of confidence and experience, and this is what Mattituck (14-5 last year) brings to the field a year after reaching the New York State Class D semifinals for the first time before falling to Bronxville. It was the furthest Mattituck had ever advanced in the playoffs in its eight-year varsity history. It was a season that saw Mattituck win its first county and Long Island titles. “It was a really nice run for us,” Maloney said. “I think it was kind of a steppingstone season for this program to continue on the path that we’ve been on. Last year we had a bunch of youth again. This year that youth is growing up.” Mattituck is loaded with familiar names and fully capable players. Among them are the team’s top scorers from last year, sisters Riley Hoeg (77 points) and Mackenzie Hoeg (71 points). Riley is a junior attack and Mackenzie is a sophomore midfielder. The midfield is bolstered by All-County senior Jane DiGregorio and senior Chelsea Marlborough. They will support an attack that includes juniors Francesca Vasile-Cozzo and Julie Seifert. Alex Beebe, a senior who was the team’s defensive MVP last year, fortifies the defense along with seniors Ashley Burns and Brianna Fox and junior Lauren Zuhoski. Senior Alex Talbot and junior Claudia Hoeg split time in goal last year. Claudia Hoeg was named to the all-state tournament team. Kaitlyn Tobin, a sophomore who can play attack or midfield “could be an X factor for us, somebody who might put us over the edge,” said Maloney. The Tuckers can also draw from attack Rachel Janis, midfielders Maddie Schmidt and Charlotte Keil, and defenders Emily McKillop, Sarah Bihm, Halle Foster, Maggie Bruer and Payton Maddaloni. Mattituck is seeded fifth among 25 teams in Division II. “It was a great learning experience getting up there” to the state semifinals, Maloney said. “I think we have a lot of hungry girls, a lot of girls that keep last year in the back of their mind, what it was like.” And perhaps wonder what 2018 will bring. [email protected] Photo caption: Mattituck/Southold went deeper into the playoffs last year than it ever did before. Now what do the Tuckers do for an encore? (Credit: Daniel De Mato, file) Comments comments

Maria Concetta Esposito, a former 30-year resident of John Wesley Village in Riverhead, died Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at the Westhampton Care Center. She was 102 and just seven hours before she passed was conversing and singing to loved ones. She was born in Naples, Italy on Dec. 8, 1915, to Antoinette (Topi) and Anthony DiPalma. At the age of 5, the family came to the United States and settled in the Prospect Park section of Brooklyn. With very little formal education, she went on to excel in everything she did. She sewed boots and was a professional singer. She also had a creative side sewing clothes for her daughter when she was young. She was great with numbers and playing Scrabble and will also be remembered as a great cook, baker and flower gardener. Predeceased by her husband, Felix Joseph Esposito in 1971, she is survived by her children, Xavier Anthony Esposito of Virginia, Anthony, of Rockville Centre, Felix Michael Esposito of Florida, Francis Dominick Esposito of Oregon and Maria Concetta Schenone of Mattituck; grandchildren, Carmen (Matt), Felix Joseph, Xavier Anthony II (Melissa), Carmen, Connie, Stephen, Anthony Jr., Lucca, Shiloh, Joseph W., Craig and Jared; nine great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by siblings, Peter, Frank, Mike and Felix DiPalma and Mary Conelli. Maria’s family has chosen to remember her life privately. DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home is assisting the family. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

Aquebogue resident Donald E. Caron died at his home on Oct. 4, 2017, following a long illness. He was 89. He is survived by his daughters Michele Chattaway (Don) and Donna Kleiman (Keith); sister, Rosemarie Stock; grandchildren, Jason Goldschmidt, Melissa and Bobby Kleiman and great-grandchildren, Genevieve and Graham Goldschmidt. He is predeceased by his wife, Jane and daughter Jeannie. Mr. Caron’s lifelong passion was both listening to and performing music. Blessed with a singing voice that reminded listeners of his idol Frank Sinatra, his vocals were an integral part of family events for decades. He also sang at numerous local venues and restaurants, enjoying a long association with the former Wine Garden Restaurant. The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck, officiated by Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Roman Catholic Cemetery in Coram. Memorial donations to Good Shepherd Hospice would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

We asked our crew what 2016 stories they most enjoyed reading or meant the most to them. Here are just… Read More

Local farmers weighing in on Southold Town’s proposed agricultural definitions raised concerns that a few new terms could be too restrictive. But, they said, including one word, “primarily,” could make all the difference. Southold Agriculture Advisory Committee chairman Chris Baiz noted during a public hearing on a resolution that would accept a set of new terms that the word “primarily” was left out of brand new definitions for agricultural processing, agricultural processing building and on-farm direct marketing building. The terms relate to on-farm processing and sales of agricultural products “at and from a single farm operation,” but should say products “at and primarily from a single farm operation,” Mr. Baiz said. “I think if we just got to that point where we understood that primarily means primarily — it’s the bulk of your product is coming off of your farm operation,” he said. Following that, other farmers said they wanted the word to be added for concerned that their operations could be limited. Norman “Sam” McCullough of Cutchogue said he fully supports the modernization of the definitions to keep up with how agriculture has evolved, but the terms need “tuning up.” The phrase “from a single farm operation” in the agricultural processing definitions would restrict farmers in the town who are not directly in the processing or marketing business, but sell their products wholesale to other farmers may process or retail, he said. “Hence by doing this, if it’s strictly from a single operation, you’ll be closing that market to other farmers,” he said. “There are people around who grow sweet corn and sell it to other farm stands, grow strawberries and sell to other farm stands and so forth, and I don’t believe we should be limiting that.” Adding “primarily” to those three definitions would solve that problem he said. Jessica Anson, public policy director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, said there is concern that if the terms are passed as written, the code would be “overly restrictive” and that the bureau also recommends “primarily” be added to make it more clear. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the issue is that current code does not include those definitions in the first place. The terms are being added with the intent of adding uses for farms that the code does not address, he said. “We’re moving a line under the current code, but for wineries processing isn’t allowed, so we’re saying we’re going to allow it when we get into the uses, so that’s why we’re defining it,” Mr. Russell said. “I don’t know how that’s overly restrictive. It’s quite the opposite. It’s being more permissive.” He said the new definitions don’t contradict what’s already taking place on farms in terms of processing, because the code doesn’t currently mention it. The definitions are there to make sure everyone’s speaking the same language, he said. Oyster farmer Karen Rivara said it’s common practice for farmers in Southold to sell their products through another’s farm stand, as some aquaculture growers do, and that “single farm operation” could be unclear down the road. “I’m just thinking in terms of someone who doesn’t work for the town now, somebody five years down the line and they have to look at a permit and they see the words ‘from a single farm operation’, they may say, ‘Well your farm doesn’t do aquaculture, so how is it that you’re selling aquaculture products at your farm operation because it isn’t your single farm,’ ” she said. Local winemaker Adam Suprenant said change is essential, but the word “primarily” needs to be added to allow more flexibility for agricultural producers. The definitions are “part one” to addressing agriculture in the town code, Mr. Baiz said at the start of the public hearing. Once vetted, the town will determine the permitted uses regulations that apply to the terms. The definitions have been in the works for five years with input from the agriculture committee, town board and code committee, Mr. Baiz said. The definitions are included in the town’s zoning code, which out of 210 terms had only three relating to agriculture, he said. The town board ultimately decided to table the vote to accept the definitions to take the public’s comments into consideration. [email protected] Photo: Winemaker Adam Suprenant addresses the Southold Town Board on agricultural definitions Tuesday night. (Credit: Kelly Zegers) Comments comments

Hi there, my name is Caroline Eng. I work at Dog Town and I’m the store manager over here. I’ve been here for two years. My favorite thing about this job is getting to meet all the different breeds of dogs that come. We get to play with puppies and we have adults, so we have a whole entire variety of dogs that you get to meet and greet and learn about their personalities, also. A typical day here goes where you have dogs that come in and out and we actually take boarding, we do grooming and we also offer day care, with a little bit of a retail space. As far as our day goes, it involves a lot of taking care of the dogs and making sure they’re happy. That’s our biggest priority. I do schedule reservations and groomings. Throughout the day, we have dogs that come in and we do different play groups with them. They get to play throughout the day. We have big guys. We have little guys. We have old guys and we have young guys. As far as boarding goes, we have a big yard in the back where we let them go out for some outings. We have a lot of regular customers. There are some dogs who are here six times a week with us and we have a lot of dogs who come in for boarding continuously. We have a lot of repeat clients and we’ve become friendly with a lot of their owners along with the dogs. If you ever want to give your dog some extra TLC, you can add on a bedtime story or an extra cuddle session, so it’s something just to pamper your pet just a little bit more. You get to know their personalities pretty well. We have one golden retriever, name is Opi, and he is the happiest, playful dog you will ever meet — a giant sweetheart. The most rewarding part would probably be the dogs when they go home and then when they come back to us. They’re just as happy going home as they are to come in. We like seeing a dog that enjoys being here and that wants to be here. That’s a big part of our goal — to make sure these dogs do want to come back and that they’re happy every time they come back. ‘The Work We Do’ is a Suffolk Times multimedia project profiling workers on the North Fork. Read it first and see more photos every Monday on Instagram @thesuffolktimes and watch the video on facebook.com/thesuffolktimes. Comments comments

A large tree branch fell onto Main Road in Mattituck Sunday night, blocking traffic in both directions and then was struck by a limousine with five passengers, according to Southold Town police. Police responded to a report of an accident involving a limousine at about 7 p.m. Sunday and officers found the large branch had separated from the tree and fell onto the road, blocking both the westbound and eastbound lanes of traffic, police said. The limousine was driving westbound when it struck the brach as it fell onto the highway, police said. One passenger in the limousine was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center with a minor injury, police said. The limousine was towed from the scene and the State Highway Department cleared the tree from the road. Comments comments

Senior nights are known for emotions and tears, but the only visible emotion on Mattituck’s side Friday night was joy. And there were no tears, just smiles. For good reason, too. In the final regular-season home game for Liz Dwyer and the rest of Mattituck’s seniors, they won and in the process clinched a share of the Suffolk County League VII girls basketball championship. “I’m not sad,” Dwyer said after Mattituck ran off its ninth straight win, 50-40 over Bishop McGann-Mercy. “It’s kind of exciting for our future. It’s Senior Night, but it’s not the end.” Indeed, the future looks bright for the Tuckers (16-2, 13-0). Prior to the game, Mattituck recognized five of its seniors — Alex Beebe, Mackenzie Daly, Jordyn Maichin, Chelsea Marlborough and Dwyer — and their parents. (The team’s sixth senior, Jane DiGregorio, was away on a college visit). During the pregame ceremony, coach Steve Van Dood read out to the crowd the achievements of his seniors over the past three seasons. It’s an impressive list: a 56-9 record, a 27-2 home record and two Long Island championships. Add to that the most recent addition: a seventh league title and third in a row. “It’s unbelievable to say that we did that,” said Marlborough. The most senior member of the team, Dwyer, added to her legacy as Mattituck’s all-time leading scorer. Despite dealing with foul trouble, the forward put up 17 points on 5-for-16 shooting to raise her career total to 1,742 points. She also had five rebounds, five blocks, two assists and one steal. “She’s a very smart player,” Mercy coach Meaghan Smith said. “She’s very persistent. She knows her abilities. She knows when to shoot and when to drive.” Mattituck made a strong start, shot out to a 15-3 lead and never trailed. Mercy (12-5, 10-2) trailed by as many 14 points twice in the third quarter before clawing its way to within three points at 40-37 with an 8-0 burst. But Dwyer showed her leadership in the final couple of minutes, making a layup and going 4-for-4 from the foul line during that time. A pair of Beebe free throws iced it with 9.1 seconds left. “I want to leave my best good impression here and feel good about the time I spent here in this gym,” said Marlborough (seven points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals). Daly finished with 10 points and six assists. Mercy senior Melina Santacroce pulled down 19 rebounds to go with 14 points. Sarah Penny added 10 points for the Monarchs, who had won six in a row since their previous loss, which was also to Mattituck. Because of illness and other commitments, Mercy had only seven players available, including Cailin Duffy, who was brought up from the junior varsity team but didn’t play. In addition, Mercy played its first game in 11 days. “We knew that we had to keep it tight,” said Mercy’s Karina Ellis. Smith said: “We didn’t do what we needed to do. We didn’t take care of the ball, but we’re moving past that.” Although Mercy can still earn a share of first place, Smith said the Monarchs have their sights set primarily on the Suffolk Class C title. “We’re looking forward to playing [Mattituck] again in that small school championship,” she said. Mattituck believes it has bigger things ahead, too, namely a third successive Long Island crown. “We like spending time with each other so we’re going to keep going at it,” Van Dood said. “The more we keep winning, we stay together.” Dwyer, who has committed to play tennis for Southern New Hampshire, said she has recently decided she wants to pursue basketball at the NCAA Division II school as well. In the meantime, she has some unfinished business with a special group of seniors. Dwyer said, “We’ve been together so long, our bond, we’ll be friends together for life.” [email protected] Photo caption: Mattituck senior Liz Dwyer (17 points) looks for shooting room under the long arms of Bishop McGann-Mercy senior Melina Santacroce (14 points, 19 rebounds) while Gianna Santacroce watches. (Credit: Garret Meade) Comments comments

An unlicensed driver was arrested on a drunken driving charge Sunday after police noticed her failing to maintain her lane of travel on Center Street in Greenport, Southold Town police said. Angelica Hernandez Ochoa, 31, of Greenport was stopped by officers at about 10 p.m., according to a town police press release. She was found to be driving without a license and she also failed standardized field sobriety tests. She was held overnight for arraignment in Southold Town Justice Court on a charge of driving while intoxicated-unlicensed driver. Comments comments

Dorothy Ann Schmidtchen of Southold died at her home on April 19, 2018, at the age of 77. She was born in Queens on Aug. 25, 1940, to Harry and Rita Elliott. Predeceased by her husband, Roger Schmidtchen, she is survived by siblings Fredrick “Rick” Elliott of Liberal, Kansas, Christine Elliott of Mattituck and Barbara (John) Harrison. A private family service will take place at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue. DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is assisting the family. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

Winterfest 2017 is shaping up to be about much more than live music and wine tastings. For its 10th anniversary, the event is expanding to provide visitors with a wider range of offerings and experiences. “There’s still tons of wine, tons of music, but we had a lot of different participants jump on board this year,” said Kristen Reyes of Hotel Indigo East End in Riverhead, who helped plan the multi-week event. In years past, Winterfest was principally a music festival designed to showcase local artists and attract tourists to the East End. Last year, wineries affiliated with the festival began moving away from concerts, a trend that will continue in 2017. East End Arts director Pat Snyder, who has helped run Winterfest in the past, said the event is now “spreading its wings.” Ms. Snyder explained that because state funding to support the event dried up, she reached out to businesses to see if they would support the festival this year. Rather than focus purely on music, event organizers this year set up a committee of a dozen East End businesses to generate new ideas. “We put the word out to all the participants,” Ms. Snyder said. “It was overwhelming that they wanted Winterfest to continue.” “It’s not an overriding music festival,” she said. “It’s more of a marketing tool for all the businesses on the East End so that everyone can benefit.” In addition to the traditional live music and wine tastings, Winterfest 2017 will offer an eclectic mix of events, including poetry readings and dance performances. For the first time, bus tours — called the Winterfest Experience — will be available to ferry visitors between events and back to their hotels at Hyatt Place East End or Hotel Indigo. GIVEAWAY: WIN A TRIP TO THE KICKOFF PARTY AND A STAY AT HOTEL INDIGO Planned bus trips include a vineyard concert, private wine tastings with winemakers, three-course dinners in Riverhead and a behind-the-scenes tour of a local brewery. “People really love the idea of getting on a bus and being able to experience what Winterfest is offering,” Ms. Reyes said. “We put the word out to all the participants,” Ms. Snyder said. “It was overwhelming that they wanted Winterfest to continue.” “It’s not an overriding music festival,” she said. “It’s more of a marketing tool for all the businesses on the East End so that everyone can benefit.” Winterfest will kick off Friday, Feb. 24, with a party from 7 to 10 p.m. at Hotel Indigo East End, featuring 30-plus vendors and live music by the East End Trio and Gail Storm. Restaurants, vineyards and breweries will offer special tastings and participating vendors will offer items in a chinese auction. “It’ll be a great time to have face-to-face time with our participants,” Ms. Reyes said. “We’re just excited to see the event, this whole festival, is continuing after 10 years.” Winterfest 2017 will run from Feb. 24 to March 19. For tickets and information about participating vendors, concert schedules, bus tours or the kick-off party, visit longislandwinterfest.com. Credit: Bedell Cellars winemaker Rich Olsen-Harbich will host a barrel tasting as part of Long Island Winterfest. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder) [email protected] Comments comments

Eleanor Lingo is never in a hurry, even though she’s busy, splitting her time between church and the various community groups she belongs to. But she’ll always stop to say hello on the street and, “if you act like you wanna talk, I’ll sit and talk,” the longtime Southold resident said. “I always look for the good. I don’t look down on anybody, even when I walk the streets,” she said. “This is the way I am. I just love people.” Suffolk County saw the good in the 91-year-old, recently naming her Senior Citizen of the Year. The annual award recognizes a senior citizen who has made significant contributions to their community as an advocate, role model, volunteer or community leader. Ms. Lingo meets every one of those criteria, having promoted the importance of education and committed countless hours to organizations such as Southold Town’s Anti-Bias Task Force, Community Action Southold Town and the Southold-Peconic Seniors Club. “Eleanor Lingo’s kindness, compassion and commitment to helping others demonstrates how ordinary residents can have an extraordinary impact in touching the lives of others,” County Executive Steve Bellone said in a statement. “As a trailblazer for African-American women on the East End, she unknowingly helped to break down barriers for many Suffolk County residents today.” Ms. Lingo said she was shocked to learn she’d been chosen to receive this year’s award. “I didn’t ask for this honor,” she said. “My thanks goes first to God and then to my parents for instilling in me to do the best that I could and it’s paid off.” Born and raised in Southold, Ms. Lingo was always around older people. She and her siblings would tag along with their parents wherever they went. Both her parents, Thomas and Anna Morris, were involved in the community. Her father was a founder of Shiloh Baptist Church in Southold and her mother always attended Parent Teacher Association meetings. They always encouraged her and her seven siblings to get a good education, Ms. Lingo said. It’s something she’s passed on when invited to speak to children at Town Hall, reminding them that “you never know who’s watching.” “I didn’t get the education to pick potatoes and work in the farms so that was not my thing, so that’s when I left Southold,” Ms. Lingo said. She left after graduating from Southold High School in 1944, working on the sales floor at F.W. Woolworth in Bridgeport, Conn., where she was the first woman of color to do so. She broke similar barriers as the bookkeeper for a record company, then a manufacturing company until she returned to the North Fork in 1954 and became the first woman of color to work in the business office at Eastern Long Island Hospital. “Every job that I had I was breaking a color line,” she said. And she was always a perfectionist on the job. “I was always with figures and if I was out a penny I would have to find a penny,” she said. Ms. Lingo returned to a town that looked vastly different from what she knew growing up. “When I came back, oh my goodness it was such a change,” she said. “It was like I had come to another country. Where there was all farmland, there were developments and houses and so forth and if you asked me where a street was I couldn’t tell you because I was like a new resident of the town.” Known as Aunt Ellie to many, Ms. Lingo is notable for placing a wreath each December on the grave of a slave woman at the Old Burying Ground in Southold. She did so anonymously for years. She had noticed the grave while walking to school as a teen, and when her mother died in 1954 she decided she would put a wreath on her grave as well. It took some digging, literally, to find the gravestone of the woman known as “Bloom,” but Ms. Lingo was certain it was there. Sure enough, the stone, which reads “Negro woman, died 1810,” was revealed. “I was shocked and very happy that this was one of the people of color because being in Southold Town when I was a little girl there were few Afro-American families here,” she said. “Me decorating this grave — it was like a part of my family.” Ms. Lingo’s niece Lizette Malone, who lives in New Jersey and is “like a daughter” to her, will carry on the tradition of placing a wreath on the grave, as well as the graves of family members there. Ms. Malone said she wants to do it to honor the legacy of her aunt, who does not have children of her own. “If I can do all the things that she does as a volunteer, I would love to be in her health and still give back to the community,” Ms. Malone said. As a child in one of Southold’s few African-American families, Ms. Lingo said she did not notice a color difference growing up. It’s something children learn from their parents, she said, and she didn’t really notice it until she was older. “My grandfather, he did an excellent job, they never slighted or anything of the sort,” Ms. Malone said. There was a color barrier, she said, but her grandfather made her aunts and uncles feel like everyone else. Today, as a member of the town’s Anti-Bias Task Force, Ms. Lingo is part of a group that aims to promote diversity, unity and understanding. Task force co-chair Sonia Spar said that, as a younger woman trying to help the community, she looks to Ms. Lingo as a role model. She said her recognition from the county is well-deserved. “It’s a testament to her commitment not to let life pass by without taking any action,” Ms. Spar said. Southold Supervisor Scott Russell said he’s had the privilege of working alongside Ms. Lingo for several years. “She is one of the most decent and hardest-working people anyone could ever know,” he said in an email. “She is an excellent choice and the fact that she was selected over so many other outstanding candidates illustrates just how special she is. Her commitment to this community and her compassion for others sets a standard that we should all try to achieve.” [email protected] Comments comments

Councilman Bill Ruland suggested that East End towns come together to address traffic issues on the North Fork now that it’s the off-season. He said Southold Town should host a meeting with officials from Greenport Village, Riverhead Town and Shelter Island sometime early in 2018, after newly elected officials are in place. The goal would be to discuss possible traffic solutions, specifically for weekend traffic. He stressed the importance of having police chiefs from each municipality in attendance. “The involvement of the chiefs of police are imperative,” he said. Mr. Ruland brought up the idea of limiting left-hand turns during certain times of the day during the busy season, but recognizes that may be an issue. “There may well be a need for a concentrated traffic study in the areas where the flow is so heavy and the impediments are so strong,” Mr. Ruland said. “As liaison to the [transportation] commission, very little would be lost by having people come together and talk about these issues,” he added. Councilman Bill Ghosio said traffic was a major topic of discussion during the most recent election and that community members want answers. Mr. Ruland said he would like to invite businesses to talk about issues as well. “A lot of people weren’t going to the pumpkin farms and, ironically, all the businesses are hurting as a result,” Supervisor Scott Russell said. The town will pick a date for early next year and proceed from there. Photo caption: Traffic backed up in Jamesport in October. (Credit: Nicole Smith) [email protected] Comments comments

A Cutchogue man had the police called on him after he tried to pay a $100 parking ticket at Southold Town Justice Court using nothing but pennies, according to a police report. The man, who was carrying the pennies in a spackle bucket, became irate after being told the court did not have the equipment to process that many pennies, town officials said. The man refused to leave and began videotaping the incident, officials added. He agreed to leave after speaking with police. The incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. Friday. Comments comments

Elizabeth “Betty” Blasko, a former longtime resident of Greenport died on Dec. 9, 2017, at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Quiogue. She was 90. Born in Greenport, on Feb. 28, 1927, to Ethel May (Merrill) and George Capon, she was a graduate of Greenport Schools She had been a skate instructor at the Greenport American Legion skating rink where she met her husband Carl H. Blasko Sr. On Oct. 15, 1949, she married Carl and together they made their home in Greenport for 57 years. They moved to the Founders Village Community in Southold nine years before his passing on July 17, 2016. Betty had been employed by IGA and the Arcade in Greenport for many years. In the community, she was a 60-year member of Greenport Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and a member of Greenport United Methodist Church. In her free time, she enjoyed ceramics, Find-A-Word puzzles, playing bingo in Southold on Tuesdays and decorating her home for the holidays. She is survived by four children, Carl H. Blasko Jr. (Lorraine) of Cutchogue, Bruce Blasko (Cathy) of Greenport, Karen Blasko of Southold and Gary Blasko (Carla) of Queensbury, N.Y.; three siblings, Ethel Quillin and George Capon both of Greenport and Bev Lehr of Southold and seven grandchildren, Timmy Blasko (Regina) of Cutchogue, Jayme Rishe (Marc) of Greenport, Gabby Blasko of Queensbury, Will Blasko of Greenport, Carter Blasko of Queensbury, John Blasko and Matthew Blasko of Greenport and great-grandchildren, Olivia and Charlie Blasko both of Cutchogue and Elizabeth Rishe of Greenport. The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Services will be held at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Tom MacLeod of the North Fork United Methodist Church officiating. Memorial donations to East End Hospice would be appreciated. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

Saint Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport has scheduled an interfaith prayer service for the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas. The event will be held in the church located at 523 Front Street in Greenport on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. All are welcomed to attend. Comments comments

Fall traffic on the North Fork has become a major quality-of-life issue — and one without an obvious solution. Crowds coming our way for what used to be called “wine tasting,” long afternoons at breweries and “agritainment” centers that are more like amusement parks draw enormous numbers of people and cars. A common refrain heard on weekends is that the drive from Riverhead to Mattituck can take over an hour. For so many years, Sound Avenue in Riverhead was a rural road. It is also a historic roadway that showcases the North Fork’s farming past and present. On weekends in the fall it is now pretty much a parking lot, with cars moving barely more than 10 miles per hour to get to various roadside attractions, where they can buy doughnuts and pumpkins — items that, based on the volume of buyers out here, must have been banned farther west. The Harbes Orchard Farm on Sound Avenue has become so popular that Riverhead Town officials have posted “no parking” signs near the business, and police are working with the Harbes family on ways to find solutions. East of the Orchard Farm, the Harbes Family Farm has also generated traffic problems. Both are successful businesses, and that is a good thing for the family, for the tourism industry as a whole and for people who drive east looking for a “rural” experience. The North Fork’s rich farming past was mostly anchored in potatoes and cauliflower. Those days are long gone. Nowadays, you almost never see the old V-shaped trucks lumbering down the road overflowing with potatoes. For farming operations to support themselves today, the old model of a roadside farm stand selling only what that farmer grows has been reimagined into more of an entertainment center. We are lucky to have what we have here. The big three — farmland, salt creeks and the Peconic Bay — are the goose that laid the golden egg on the North Fork. Every public figure in office or considering running for office must focus on preserving those three. But our success at holding on to our quality of life has brought issues such as traffic congestion. Resistance has grown against potential agritainment venues — witness the recent outcry from Orient residents over the construction of a 9,000-square-foot barn on a farm in that hamlet. At least in Orient, the pendulum has begun to swing in the other direction and away from support for anything that, on the surface, promotes itself as a farming operation. In both Riverhead and Southold, among the leading complaints to Town Hall are about traffic. There are no simple solutions. Sound Avenue cannot be widened; turning lanes cannot be constructed. Sound Avenue is an old country road, not engineered for what it is experiencing now. Mile-long limousines are no more suited for these country roads than horses and buggies. Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter correctly points out that fall gridlock is pretty much a six-week issue. And Southold Supervisor Scott Russell is also correct when he says that the public would not support investments in infrastructure. “If we were to propose widening Sound Avenue, we would be covered with a particularly thick coat of tar and feathers,” Mr. Russell said. He is right. Sound Avenue is such a great road. You can see the old, what used to be, at Hallockville Museum Farm, and the new, what is ‘farming’ today, at the Harbes family businesses. They are all within a few miles of each other. Our past is our present. Comments comments

Illegal dumping was reported at 67 Steps Beach in Greenport last Wednesday, Southold Town police said. An officer found a piece of mail with an address for a Greenport man, and when he was questioned he verbally admitted to being responsible for dumping garbage there, the report states. He was issued a Southold Town summons, officials said. • A Mattituck man reported his dirt bike stolen from his front porch overnight last Monday, police said. It was valued around $1,100, the report states. • Thomas Hamlin, 61, was arrested for driving while intoxicated on Kenney Road in Southold on Friday, police said. He was originally stopped for having a defective headlight around 2 a.m., officials said. • A Greenport man said an unknown person cracked and damaged a piece of vinyl siding on the corner of his garage last Tuesday. Damages totaled around $100, police said. • A Cutchogue woman was arrested on a drug charge Tuesday morning after police found her in possession of cocaine. Grace Holdsworth, 34, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police were executing a probation warrant at about 8:30 a.m. when officers found Ms. Holdsworth in her car on County Road 48 in Southold while in possession of cocaine, police said. • A Greenport man called police last Sunday when his license plate was taken off his vehicle overnight, police said. There are no suspects. Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent. Comments comments

A Mattituck man was seriously injured after he was struck by an SUV crossing Main Road in Mattituck, Southold Town police said. Ismael Ochoa, 50, was crossing the street after exiting the S92 bus. Police said he crossed in front of the path of a 2011 Acura SUV and was struck. The Acura was driven by a 58-year-old Syosset man who was traveling westbound along Main Road. Mr. Ochoa suffered serious injuries and was treated by Mattituck Fire Rescue. He was transported to PBMC, according to police. No criminal charges were filed in relation to the crash. Comments comments

Riverhead Town officials are hoping to get grant money to fund two major projects. One is the so-called scoot train, which would run between the Riverhead and Greenport train stations while establishing a series of “feeder” bus loops to take riders from the stations to other nearby attractions. Dawn Thomas, the town’s community development agency director, said officials are hoping to obtain federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recover) grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The federal DOT has $500 million available in TIGER grants and says on its website that grants are between $5 million and $25 million, except for projects located in rural areas and the minimum TIGER discretionary grant size is $1 million. “It’s an awfully large amount of money if you can get it, so it was suggested we apply corroboratively with Southold Town, as we have in the past,” Ms. Thomas said. The scoot train idea goes back many years, and it had actually been funded in the Long Island Rail Road’s capital budget, but has yet to come to fruition. “This has been a sizable challenge for tourism overall on the East End,” said Bryan DeLuca, who heads the East End Tourism Alliance and is the general manager of Atlantis Holdings, which owns the Long Island Aquarium and Hyatt Hotel, among other things. “We want to grow a tourism business, but the residents are in complete opposition, clearly because of the traffic.” The second project officials are hoping to obtain grants for is the resurfacing and lifting of Creek Road in Wading River, which is prone to flooding in bad storms and high tide, officials said. “You can’t even drive on the south lane after it rains or is high tide,” Supervisor Sean Walter said. “Everybody drives in the north lane.” Officials said the project will probably be done in conjunction with Suffolk County, and that some town and county land is proposed for use in improving the drainage on Creek Road. Photo credit: Tim Gannon [email protected] Comments comments

If you could use a brand new Jeep — or thousands of dollars in cash — now’s your chance. Eastern Long Island Hospital’s Auxiliary announced Tuesday it will raffle off a 2017 Jeep Renegade, which recently arrived at the Greenport hospital, at its 12th annual fundraiser this spring. This year’s event is sponsored by both the auxiliary and Mullen Motors of Southold. The winner will be able to choose either the Jeep or a $15,000 cash prize. Raffle tickets cost $50 each and are limited to the first 900 received. All proceeds benefit the hospital’s patient services. The Jeep will be on display at the hospital’s entrance until the raffle drawing on May 12. Ticket holders don’t need to be present to win, officials said. [email protected] Photo caption: (From left) Bill and Rich Mullen of Mullen Motors with ELIH Auxiliary members Helene Fall and Fran Murphy with the 2017 Jeep Renegade. (Credit: Eastern Long Island Hospital) Comments comments

Regina A. Orlowski of Mattituck died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. She was 89. “Jean” was born in Greenport Jan. 25, 1928, to Bertha (Ryan) and Irving Comiskey. Predeceased by her husband Bruno D. “Brusie” Orlowski on Dec. 15, 1999, she is survived by her children, Susan Skrezec of Mattituck and Peter (Deborah) Orlowski of Mattituck; sister, Patricia Lee; grandchildren, Carl and Josh Skrezec, Karen Yacono and Jacy Ross and four great-grandchildren, Dominick and Rylie Skrezec, Myah Orlowski, Grace Ross and Evan Yacono. The family will receive visitors Thursday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt officiating. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue. Memorial donations to the Mattituck Fire Department would be appreciated. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley said several members of the department have expressed interest in leading the accreditation process. “We are currently trying to get them into an accreditation workshop the state offers,” he said Tuesday during the Southold Town Board’s work session. The town police department is the only one in Suffolk County that hasn’t been accredited through the state program. Chief Flatley updated the Town Board on the accreditation process along with John Slattery, chair of the town’s police advisory committee. The workshop would take place in early 2018 and Chief Flatley said he would try to send at least two people. He said he’s still unsure how the manpower issue would be resolved, because it requires the participation of a full-time person with a rank of sergeant or above who can rewrite rules and procedures. “Dedicating a sergeant to this is very expensive, but to me it’s very important,” Councilman Jim Dinizio said. Accreditation takes about a year or two, but after that there is maintenance that needs to be done every year in order to maintain that status, according to Chief Flatley. “There are standards that we should be meeting that we may not be, and we will find out from this,” Mr. Dinizio said. Chief Flatley said that with the limited number of sergeants in the department, that position will need to be replaced if one is focusing solely on accreditation. The manpower may not be the only expense. “Headquarters was built in back in the mid-’60s,” he said. “I’m sure our detention facilities and other parts of the headquarters are probably not going to be what the accreditation process is looking for, so there may be other financial considerations.” [email protected] Comments comments

Arlene Ann Ritter, 84, of Roanoke, Va., formerly of Greenport, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2018. She was preceded in death by her former husband and friend, Donald Ritter. She was a loving mother and well-remembered for her patience and care by those students she helped while a teacher’s aide at Greenport School. After her children had grown, she went to college and earned two associate degrees. She was an avid reader and fan of classic movies. She enjoyed managing retail stores, where older employees often became good friends and younger ones called her their second mom. She had a passion for travel and always had an adventurous spirit. She loved social gatherings and telling humorous stories. After residing in Arizona for many years, she moved back east to be closer to her family. Her infectious smile, laughter and cheerful disposition will be greatly missed. Those left to cherish her memory are her nine children: Michael (Julie), Donald (Carol), Virginia Martinsen, Jacqueline Melucci (Remo), Kristine Jacobi, Beth Cundiff (Bill), John (Todd), Matthew, James; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial service to celebrate Arlene’s life will be held Sunday, June 24, at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home Chapel in Salem, Va. Online condolences may be sent to the family at johnmoakey.com. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

Its cool-minded approach to things, both on and off the golf course, came in handy for the Mattituck High School… Read More

Organizations looking to host special events in Southold Town must now seek approval through the Town Board — an administrative change that has businesses that rely on events as a major portion of their revenue stream on edge. The Southold Town Board adopted the amendment to the the town’s special events law following an hours long public hearing Tuesday night. The crux of the changes shift the decision-making responsibility from the appointed chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals to the elected Town Board. A committee will also be formed to review applications for special events before a board vote. “This particular change has no impact, no new restrictions on special events and I am certain it will have no impact other than who reviews it in house,” said Town Supervisor Scott Russell to an audience that filled the Town Hall meeting room with concerned speakers whose businesses rely on special events. Anthony Sannino of Sannino Winery, the current president of the Long Island Wine Council, said he did not view the changes as purely administrative and a large number of public speakers urged the board to keep the public hearing open for further discussion of the issue before voting. The speakers, many of whom represented wineries in town, felt the code change was ambiguous and could leave events vulnerable to arbitrary decisions by committee members and the Town Board. They also sought clarification on application fees and deposits. Kate Sepenoski of Seps Farm in East Marion said “quite a bit of fear” has been injected into the agricultural industry concerning the town’s views on special events and how that will impact the viability of their operations. That concern was echoed throughout the night. “Generally, we need to know what the expectations of our costs are going to be,” said Alie Shaper of Peconic Cellar Door, a boutique tasting room on Peconic Lane. “Most of wouldn’t buy an appliance or a car or any major purchase without knowing what the price is first, and in my opinion it would be the same for deciding as a business if I can afford the application fees or any costs I may run into.” Councilwoman Jill Doherty said it’s difficult to codify specific costs in the code because they are subject to change over time, but the costs should not immediately change from the current application system. The number of permits sought for special events has skyrocketed in recent years, reaching a new high in 2017, when the ZBA reviewed 49 applications. By comparison, only three applications were submitted in 2008. Since 2014, more than 30 applications have been submitted each year. Some are bundled permits covering more than one event and they are typically approved. But what if that were to change under the amended town code? Mike Falcetta, general manager of Sparkling Pointe Vineyards on Route 48 in in Southold, said wineries are on the hook for a lot of money when booking a wedding, and some are scheduled years in advance, so any uncertainty involving approvals create a great burden. “We’re often contracting with people and taking deposits well in advance of an application,”Mr. Falcetta said. “If there ever came a time where something that was essentially run of the mill, becomes an opportunity that is denied, we as the businesses become in breach of contract and what are we at stake for?” ‘There is a gamble every single time we have an affair,” he added. Prudence Heston of Salt Air Farm in Cutchogue shared the same concerns, because some people may book weddings and other events nearly three years ahead of time at her farm. “I’m really left on the hook here. I’ve told this person they can get married on my farm, and they’re making all those plans along the way,” Ms. Heston said. “There’s always this question mark, and that’s worrisome, and would be very worrisome for brides if they knew.” One of the points of confusion in the code change for some speakers comes from clean up fees. Those fees are often charged to community groups hosting events on public property, but businesses wanted assurance they would not be charged clean up fees for events moving ahead, since they are already responsible for the expense of clean up on their private properties. The board said those fees would be waived for private events and that police fees, used to cover the cost of a police presence at an event, would be rare. ZBA chair Leslie Kanes Weisman spoke out in support of the change, saying she believes it’s a good way for the Town Board to better understand the workings of its business community. “All that this proposed code changes is to take the decisions out of my hands and to put it in the hands of the Town Board,” she said. “No definition or fees are proposed to be changed at this time. The review of applications will remain the same.” Councilman Jim Dinizio was the only board member to vote in opposition to the code change. He also voted against closing the public hearing. Board members said they will continue to look at the town code regarding uses at wineries and expressed a desire to work together with the wine industry moving forward on these issues. Photo: Alie Shaper addresses the Town Board at the public hearing for proposed changes to the special events section of the town code. (Credit: Rachel Siford) Comments comments

What started as an agricultural agency in 1917 has grown to encompass that and much more. The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, based in Riverhead, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. A hundred years ago, Long Island had over 100,000 acres of farmland, dedicated primarily to potato growing. Now, there are approximately 30,000 to 35,000 acres of active farmland producing a variety of crops and flowers. With the evolution of the farming industry, CCE has transformed quite a bit as well. “Tremendous evolution has occurred to the Cooperative Extension over the years,” said executive director Vito Minei. “Even in the last ten years, with technology in marine science, agricultural science, in the way we approach nutrition education and also dealing with youth programs, everything is changing very quickly and I’m extremely proud of the people who do the work here.” The Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 established land grant colleges in each state to educate farmers, but it was decided in 1914 that extensions were necessary to reach more people. Thus, the Suffolk County extension was born, and has been helping farms on Long Island’s East End ever since. For example, 70 percent of Suffolk County’s fruit tree growers seek assistance from CCE in controlling insects and, as a result, their average number of pesticide applications has dropped from five per season to 1.5, according to the extension. “I don’t think I’d be around if it weren’t for Cornell,” said Jack Van de Wetering, owner of Ivy Acres in Calverton. “They’ve done amazing things for my company.” Mr. Van de Wetering remembers when CCE developed a new soil in the 1960s that allowed him to grow without weeds and produce more efficiently. He relies on CCE to keep him informed about pests and problems that affect Long Island farmers. Today, Ivy Acres supplies Home Depot with flowers and serves 150 stores daily with its greenhouse products. “Another thing that has changed dramatically over the 100 years in agriculture is the ability to provide information very quickly,” Mr. Minei explained. “We’re proud to have agriculture researchers here on Long Island in these conditions, so farmers don’t have to call the campus in Ithaca, where the conditions are different, to ask about problems they are encountering.” Although most Suffolk farms are on the East End, landscaping, horticultural and greenhouse businesses operate countywide. “There’s agriculture all over New York, that’s true,” Mr. Minei said. “But there’s nothing close to the agriculture around here. I don’t think there are two or three counties combined that come close to the amount of flowers grown in Suffolk County. My point is how diverse agriculture is in Suffolk.” Harbes Family Farm has been on Long Island for 13 generations. CCE has helped transform the farm from a wholesaler into a Long Island attraction, using agritourism to spark visitors’ interest in farming. “As part of their involvement to help me grow the best possible fruit, we also like to open the farm to the public to allow families to come in as farm guests to participate in the annual harvest,” Edward Harbes said. “I hold [CCE] in the highest regard. They’re instrumental in helping me forge my own life on the farm and bring a higher degree of sophistication to have their resources than I would have by myself.” CCE of Suffolk County now runs numerous programs, including agriculture and horticulture, family health and wellness, the 4-H Youth Development, marine and nutritional programs and the Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank, which attracted 50,000 visitors last year. The 4-H program is promoting science, technology, engineering and math for school-aged children, in an effort to keep youth here in Suffolk County. It also aims at getting young girls interested in STEM and has started a mentorship program with Cornell that tries to encourages young girls to explore careers in science and engineering. “They keep talking about how the rejuvenation and development of Suffolk’s economy will be in high-tech industries,” Mr. Minei said. “The concern of the businesses that want to relocate here is ‘Will we have technologically-trained youth to fill these jobs?’ so we try to do that through STEM.” CCE’s Marine Sciences Program, developed in 1985, is responsible for bringing back Peconic Bay scallops. The extension also launched Eat Smart New York to help people with limited resources choose healthier food options. CCE also reported reaching 69,000 individuals in 2015 through its parallel SNAP-Ed program, aimed at improving nutrition on Long Island. Also, due to increases in the number of grandparents who are primary caregivers for their grandchildren, CCE launched PASTA, or Parenting a Second Time Around, in 2013 to help with issues that grandparents may not be able to relate to, like technology and changing trends. CCE dedicates considerable resources to its Long Island Pesticide Pollution Prevention Strategy, aimed at discouraging use of harmful pesticides that can damage drinking water. It has introduced biological controls, mating disruption techniques and scouting, which helps farmers determine if chemicals are needed to fix a pest problem. “The goal in 1917 was to help farmers remain sustainable,” Mr. Minei said. “That goal remains the same, but how you do it changed dramatically. The costs to farmers have dropped and protection of drinking water has become enhanced.” [email protected] Photo: Jack Van de Wetering, owner of Ivy Acres in Calverton, credits Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County for helping his business. (Credit: Rachel Siford) Comments comments

Hello, I’m Dennis Deerkoski. I’m a math teacher here at Mattituck High School. I’ve been teaching here at Mattituck for about 38 years and, in total, 45 years in this profession. Mattituck really is a special place for me because I graduated from Mattituck myself back in 1969. I went from kindergarten through 12th and, at that time, the building itself was just the front part of the building and it was kindergarten through 12th grade. After I went to college, I graduated in 1973 and at that time it was hard getting a teaching job. I had an interview here but I got a job in Baldwin first. I took the job in Baldwin for seven and a half years. They had called me to see if I would like to come back and teach calculus in Mattituck. In the middle of my seventh year, I said yes I would like to come back and so I came back. I’m glad I taught someplace else other than Mattituck first because I appreciate it out here so much more now. My favorite part of teaching is just working with the students. I enjoy math and I like bringing it to the students and hope they enjoy it also. I don’t mind helping them, not only after school but during my free periods, either on my hall duty or my lunch duty. I do have a number of students come in and they ask questions. I say once they understand what’s going on, it makes it easier for them. Math is not a spectator subject. You have to do the math in order to understand the math. We all teach five classes. My classes all involve 12th-graders. I do three precalc classes, then a calc class and also an AP calculus class. People always ask me if I’m going to retire, but I still enjoy what I’m doing and I think the students are still benefiting. It’s not work if you love what you’re doing. Teaching so many years in Mattituck now, I have students whose parents I’ve also had as students. It’s like a good home feeling. “The Work We Do” is a Suffolk Times multimedia project profiling workers on the North Fork. It is made possible by Peconic Landing. See more photos on Instagram @thesuffolktimes. Comments comments

As we celebrate Independence Day, it’s worth remembering that the men who signed a document 242 years ago in Philadelphia knew that if things went wrong, they’d be dead weights swinging from the ends of English ropes. The signers had the courage to die for principles founded in the Enlightenment, a movement of ideas that said public life, politics and social order must be founded on reason and science — not on superstition — and that individuals must be freed from lives one philosopher described as “nasty, brutish and short.” The men in Philadelphia dedicated themselves to the belief that there are truths everyone could recognize: “that all men” — and that should read “people” — “are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These words can’t be allowed to remain static — enshrined on marble walls or worshipped under glass at Freedom Hall in Philadelphia. They must be actively defended every day, just as the ideas of the Enlightenment must be re-emphasized in our era. Ronald Reagan summed up this idea of vigilance: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Recently, the policy of our government, instigated by the president and the attorney general, involved separating small children from their parents and sending many of them thousands of miles away to be lost in a bureaucratic maw. Top officials are on record as saying this was needed to “deter” illegal immigration, and was done in the name of American values. But nothing, no explanation, can diminish the wrongness of what was done in our names. Fortunately, the people who founded the country wrote a Bill of Rights that helped stop this shameful policy. If courage is the virtue that guarantees all the others, the First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees all other rights, with a defense against polices that are tyrannical at worst and idiotic at best. Declaring that a free press and the right of individuals to protest peacefully for redress of grievances against their leaders must be honored has time and again revived the Spirit of 1776 throughout American history, When the catastrophe happened at the border, most Republicans in Congress stayed silent or were mealy-mouthed in their objections, while the administration loudly defended the indefensible. That’s until journalists — enemies of the people, according to the president — exposed the base inhumanity, and the president caved. The “optics” looked bad, it was said. Although the separation of children and parents has now stopped, the debacle is ongoing, as the effort to locate children and reunite them with their families drags on. Living up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence has always been tested. Slavery was eliminated at the cost of 620,000 Civil War casualties. Bigotry, injustice and discrimination are scourges that a free press, the right to assembly and a majority of brave elected officials have overcome time and again. The Greek historian Thucydides, to whom the authors of the Enlightenment looked for guidance in a world ruled by tyranny and corruption, wrote: “Be convinced that to be happy means to be free. And that to be free means to be brave.” Comments comments

We asked our crew what 2016 stories they most enjoyed reading or meant the most to them. Here are just a few of our responses. Have any favorites of your own from 2016? Share them below in the comments section. “It was interesting to learn more about the investigation 30 years ago into the deaths of William and Michelle Becker and the folks trying to bring some closure to this unsolved mystery. The depth of the investigative reporting made for a great read.” Sarah Olsen, co-owner “The story of Harun ‘Billy’ Ilgin, manager of Wayside Market in Southold, was my favorite. It’s a real-life American dream come true capturing Billy’s positive character, complete with his ever-present smile.” Bob Liepa, sports editor “I loved revisiting Bill Zuhoski’s experience of surviving U.S. Airways Flight 1549, better known as ‘The Miracle on the Hudson.’ It was the story after the story and came with an even happier ending.” Grant Parpan, executive editor “Paul Maffetone took the heartbreak of losing his brother to opiate addiction and turned it into an organization to help others through education and prevention, Michael’s HOPE.” Laura Huber, editorial assistant “Joe McInnis of Greenport is working hard to find an explanation for colony collapse disorder, which has affected honeybee populations across the globe. And he’s only 14 years old!” Jen Nuzzo, managing editor “I enjoy small-town journalism and the piece about Dr. John Andresen of Mattituck Laurel Veterinary Hospital and his 50 years of service to the community was close to my heart as I had horses for over 20 years and he took care of them.” Melissa Martin, community outreach “I found the story on Diane and Walter Foote, a Greenport couple who discovered their old house was built with 1891 circus billboards to be very entertaining. It perfectly combined the aspects of art and local history with a mystery.” Lauren Sisson, senior associate editor “The story about Ed Schaefer, the retired Laurel postal worker who received a heart transplant, was a great example of a piece about someone who made a difference in the community just by being themselves. It was great to see he got a new heart after his health issues.” Krysten Massa, reporter “Mary Latham’s ‘more good’ trip serves as inspiration that good things are happening all over the country, and that is for sure the one thing we all need to be reminded of.” Cerria Torres, display sales coordinator “I’ve always been fascinated with lives being saved through organ donation and Joseph Tandy’s story is an exceptional one. It is such an amazing gift for so many. In this case a young life was lost and a kidney helped save the young man’s father’s colleague. Truly wonderful.” Sonja Reinholt Derr, sales and marketing director “Robert Scott of Robert’s Jewelers in Southold has been a colorful figure on the North Fork for decades. It was wonderful to see the story behind his successful jewelry business, while also sad to see it come to an end.” Joe Werkmeister, editor “Bob Liepa’s column on the meaningful impact the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball league has had on the North Fork and entire East End. My family hosted a player the last two seasons and it has been an incredible experience. It’s also great to see some of these players make it into Major League Baseball.” Andrew Olsen, publisher Comments comments

Anna Cisterino, 92 years of age, died peacefully at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport on April 23, 2018. “Annie” to her American family and friends, she was born Anna Haala on April 15, 1926, in what was then the village of Tuschkau in the “Sudetenland” region of Czechoslovakia, now Touškov in the Czech Republic, near Pilsen. Anni, as she was known in her German family, was the second of three children born to Simon and Maria Haala, who owned and operated a small family farm in Tuschkau. Like farm children everywhere, she and her brother and sister grew up learning their chores — churning butter, pounding sauerkraut and tending to the animals. When chores were done, they explored the fields and woods, and picked wild strawberries and mushrooms, living the life of children in a simpler time. Sometime before Anni finished her eight years of obligatory schooling and was entering the workforce, the Nazis were setting up local control after having taken over Czechoslovakia in 1938, and village life changed dramatically. Among Anni’s youthful experiences was being jailed by the Nazis at the age of 14 for “sabotage” when, after being assigned to work on a farm in a neighboring village, she grew homesick and ran away to return to her parents. Her father and older brother were both drafted into the Wehrmacht, and farm life was very hard for the women and children left behind. In spring of 1946, the Haala family and all the residents of Tuschkau became part of the estimated 12 to 16 million ethnic Germans deported after World War II from Central and Eastern Europe to Germany proper, the most extensive forced migration in recorded history. With the clothes on their backs, 50 kilograms in a suitcase per person, and a loaf of bread and liter of water per day, they spent weeks in a transit camp, then three days crowded in a railroad freight car. They were eventually resettled in Oberammergau, the tiny alpine village in Bavaria famous for its Passion Play, performed by the villagers every 10 years since 1634. In Oberammergau, Anni eventually found work as a waitress in the mess hall on the U.S. Army base. It was there that in 1948 she met a U.S. Army cook, Camillo Paul “Bud” Cisterino of Greenport. At first, she spoke no English and he spoke no German, but they found ways to communicate, and in due course they were married, and their first son, Paul, was born in 1950. In 1955, Anni and young Paul came to the U.S., her husband having been transferred to Camp Carson in Colorado. During the 30 days’ leave between postings, Anni got to know the Cisterino clan in Greenport — Bud’s mother, Bridget “Bessie” Cisterino, his brother, Eddie, and sisters, Virginia “Gigi” Iacono and Catherine “Babe” Krawchuck and their respective husbands, Charlie and Bill, all of whom combined to help her get her driver’s license and to become an American citizen. Colorado was followed by Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where sons Edward and Louis were born in 1957 and 1958. A re-posting to Germany came in 1958, and Anni saw her German family again, and had another son, Charles “Chuck,” born in Germany in 1960. Following Bud’s retirement in 1964 after 22 years in the Army, he and Anni, with their four boys, settled in Greenport among Bud’s family, and Anni saw the boys all graduate from Greenport High School and make their way in the world. Anni eventually was able to travel to Germany again several times to reconnect with her own family there and to revisit Tuschkau. She lost Bud in 1994, and at her own death was the last surviving member of her generation in both Bud’s and her own German family, but to the end she enjoyed her four sons, her daughters-in-law, her five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews in Germany and America. Anni did not have a career in the usual sense of the word, but she was a master of the domestic arts. She was known by her family and friends as a talented and intuitive cook and baker, and passed that legacy on to her family and friends. From early childhood onwards she sewed, knitted and crocheted, and all her family today is still using her handiwork. In her final years her memory faded, but during her life she told many stories of her childhood and youth in Czechoslovakia, and in these stories, she lives on in the memories of her family and friends. A memorial service and interment of Anni’s cremated remains will be scheduled at a later time. This is a paid notice. Comments comments

The Mattituck American Legion Post No. 861 has struggled with low numbers in recent years and with a small group of active members, the post is attempting one last push to build participation. Members will host a free dinner later this month for any interested veteran or children of veterans in a last-ditch effort to bolster its roster with new names. “If not, this is the last hurrah basically,” member Art Tillman said. “If this doesn’t work, it’s over. That’s the consensus of the guys.” At its last three monthly meetings, the post named for Raymond J. Cleaves, who was a casualty of World War I, failed to meet its quorum of six members, according to Mr. Tillman. There are 26 members who pay dues, but most don’t make it to meetings at the Wickham Avenue building for a number of reasons, he said. Some have moved, others are too old to travel, while others may have lost interest in participating, Mr. Tillman added. Volunteer organizations around the country are having similar issues with dwindling numbers, he noted, calling it a phenomenon. If the post ends its run, membership would be absorbed into other local posts, he said. The building was also home to Mattituck Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 11117, which disbanded about four years ago. It’s not clear what would happen to it if the organization ceased, Mr. Tillman said. It could be reverted to the state’s American Legion branch, but the Mattituck Fire Department has an agreement to use the space, he said. The Mattituck post is three years short of its 100th anniversary, having formed in 1920, Mr. Tillman said. “I think it’s important because it’s been in existence 97 years and in the past I had many friends from the legion who have passed away,” he said. “They were good legionnaires, active. I’m getting involved not only for the Legion, but to honor their memories, the guys who put so much into keeping this post going.” The nation is also approaching the centennial of the end of World War I, he noted. “Coming on the anniversary of WWI, that really bothers me and it would bother others too,” he said, adding that he hopes to get to people’s conscience. There are many veterans out there, he said, but that doesn’t mean they want to come out at night and go to a meeting after work. The dinner for prospective members will be held Tuesday, June 27, at 6:30 p.m. at Touch of Venice in Cutchogue. Active members will discuss activities the American Legion takes part in and the veterans’ causes it supports. “I want to strike the note of seriousness here,” Mr. Tillman said. “This will close unless we get active members and it will close very soon.” [email protected] Photo credit: Kelly Zegers Comments comments

Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library has a new director, and she has deep roots in the community. Rosemary Martilotta will officially take over Feb. 5. Ms. Martilotta, a Cutchogue native, started working as a library page at just 14 years old. Her responsibilities included sorting through returned books and helping with programming. She later became head of tweens and teens services, was project coordinator and, most recently, served as assistant director. “My parents told me to get a job and I came here and there wasn’t a job, but I came back every couple days until I got hired,” she said. “It was one of the best things that had happened to me because it certainly guided me into my career.” Ms. Martilotta, 26, has been working toward this goal her entire life. “It’s been my goal to be the director of this library as long as I can remember, and given my age it’s humbling to be seen as a leader, and to receive such an opportunity,” she said. She feels fortunate to be able to stay in the town she was born and raised in. After graduating from SUNY/Geneseo, she started working at the library again while she was pursuing her master’s in library science at CUNY/Queens College. “I was always a very avid reader and that was what initially led me to come here,” she said. “I was using this library my whole life.” In her new role at the library, Ms. Martilotta plans to expand its outreach and tap into different segments of the community. “As seasonal visitors extend our patron base, immigration diversifies our demands, and the imminent growth in our retiree sector approaches, it is more important now than ever that we focus on outreach service,” she said. She mentioned how Darlene Brush, head of adult services, partnered with BOCES to organize English as a second language classes at the library. Ms. Brush even received the countywide Excellence in Library Service Award for 2017. “When that started to happen, it just widened my scope and I realized that there are a lot of untapped communities within our own community,” Ms. Martilotta said. Patrons should expect new programming, with a focus on technology, and more as she learns about residents’ needs. “As a library, we are at the forefront of change — enhancing our status as a community center, meeting or exceeding patrons’ needs — and increasing awareness of our services will help us stay relevant,” she said. “Our focus is to bring all of our community together and show them all the wonderful resources we have to offer.” Ms. Martilotta recognizes that the space has become more of a community center than just a library and will focus on that moving forward. “I’m very excited. I’m a very driven person and I’m energized to be in this role,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of changes in the past and had many directors, but I’m here to stay. I want to give the community everything I think it deserves. I love this library and I want to see it excel.” [email protected] Comments comments

One hundred years ago, when Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County was started, Long Island had over 100,000 acres of farmland. Most of that acreage was dedicated to potatoes and, considering the massive expansion of the New York City suburbs, it’s interesting to note that potato farms once extended as far west as the Nassau-Queens line. Long Island’s glacier runoff soil was perfectly suited for the growing of potatoes. Suffolk County was a different sort of place in 1917, which is also the year the United States gave up on its nonintervention policy and entered the Great War that had been raging in Europe since 1914. America was now a world power. On eastern Long Island, farms ran to salt water, fields were plowed and cultivated with teams of horses, there were no summer communities to speak of and a farmer this far from New York City could feel isolated and on his own. Hence the vital importance of Cornell Cooperative Extension. The extension, which is affiliated with Cornell University, was formed as part of the national land grant university system started in 1862. It is amazing that something so far-reaching and so vital to the country’s future as setting aside land for future universities was begun as the Civil War was raging. It does not seem possible that the Lincoln administration and Congress — made up, of course, of only the northern states — could have come up with something that important while putting down a rebellion by the southern slave states. For Suffolk’s farmers, the experts at CCE were lifesavers. They worked directly with farmers on crop issues, helped them stay ahead of problems such as potato diseases and kept an industry so vital to this region healthy and moving forward. And today, the success of New York State agriculture is obvious: the state has more than 36,000 farms that produce nearly $5 billion in products each year, according to a report by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. With a huge boost from eastern Long Island’s vineyards, the state ranks second nationwide in wine production. The Long Island Farm Bureau would say that eastern Long Island is among the best growing areas anywhere in the world. Today, there are approximately 35,000 acres of farmland in Suffolk, producing a variety of crops and flowers. Something like 70 percent of Suffolk’s fruit-tree growers seek assistance from CCE . As a result, the average number of pesticide applications has dropped from five per season to about 1.5, according to the extension. Successful growers like Jack Van de Wetering of Ivy Acres say the extension has done wonderful things for their enterprises. He pointed out that CCE even developed a new soil that allowed crops to grow without weeds. Ivy Acres has grown because of this; it now supplies Home Depot with flowers and serves 150 stores daily with its greenhouse product. Edward Harbes, who manages the Harbes Family Farm enterprise, said the extension helped his business become a Long Island attraction. The extension also now has a STEM program as well as a marine sciences program that is directly responsible for bringing back famed Peconic Bay scallops. Beyond that is another important effort by the extension: It launched Eat Smart New York to help people choose healthier food options. All in all, Cornell Cooperative Extension is a great success. Comments comments

Sometimes it’s not whether you win or lose. Sometimes it’s about playing in decent weather so you can play up to your potential and enjoy yourself as well. Monday was a perfect day for sports, especially tennis, in Riverhead. With temperatures hovering around 70 degrees, Southold/Greenport and Riverhead finally got their Suffolk County League VIII boys tennis match in after not one, not two, but three postponements. “It gives the kids an understanding of all the indoor work that we’ve been doing,” said Clippers coach Andrew Sadowski, whose team (6-1, 6-1) defeated the Blue Waves, 6-1. “All those freezing cold days, it’s nice to come out and play and move around and not have to deal with windchill factors.” Ditto from Riverhead coach Rosaleen D’Orsogna, whose squad (0-7, 0-7) was forced to practice indoors because of the cold and rain in March and early April while playing in less than ideal conditions as well. “At the beginning of the season, it was so cold,” she said. “Our first game, the kids were coming off the courts saying they couldn’t feel their hands. And that’s not tennis weather. We can’t wear gloves. If you wear a lot of bundled clothing, you’re not moving the way you need to move. You don’t see pros playing that way.” Senior Jens Summerlin certainly enjoyed his day in the sun for the Blue Waves. He defeated Xavier Kahn in first singles, 6-2, 6-2. “The past weeks we’ve been playing in 50-60 degree weather with a lot of wind where we have to wear pants,” he said. “It’s good playing in warm weather. We don’t have to worry about that, but the wind is warm also. I find it important because it’s relaxing more than the cold.” As it turned out, Summerlin was the lone Riverhead player who won his match as Southold dominated the day. Xavier’s twin brother, Jacob, won the second singles match against Brendan Gregory, 6-1, 6-1. Cole Brigham defeated Juan Rivas at third singles, 6-3, 6-1, and Matt Civiok outlasted Jason Thompson at fourth singles, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6, in the closest match. Southold swept the three doubles matches. In first doubles, Devon Quinones and Mario Contreras downed brothers Freyscher and Ferdy Patzon, 6-0, 6-0. Mark Moran and Alex Kondora defeated Alejandro Tomas and Marillon Alvardo, 6-3, 6-0, at second doubles, and Charlie Bonilla and Jared Palumbo bested Livardo Torres and Brian Gallo at third doubles, 6-1, 6-2. Comments comments

A mosquito sample in Southold tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Suffolk County Health Department. The sample was one of 19 to test positive across Suffolk County. “The confirmation of West Nile virus in mosquito samples or birds indicates the presence of West Nile virus in the area,” Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken said in a statement. “While there is no cause for alarm, we advise residents to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce the exposure to the virus, which can be debilitating to humans.” Other samples to test positive were located in: Lindenhurt (two), Copiague (one), North Babylon (two), West Babylon (three), West Babylon (one), Nesconset (one), Port Jeff Station (one), Rocky Point (one), East Hampton (one), Huntington (three), Dix Hills (one) and Greenlawn (one). Most people affected with West Nile virus will experience mild or no symptoms, but some can develop severe symptoms such as high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. In 2015, the most recent data listed, there were 200 positive mosquito samples in Suffolk County and five human cases, according to the Health Department’s website. Dead birds may indicate the presence of West Nile virus in the area. To report dead birds, call the public health information line at 631-787-2200 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents are encouraged to take a photo of any bird in question. For more information on how to protect against mosquitos, click here. Comments comments

A story posted by a Texas mom has gone viral. The Round Rock mom and her son went to buy groceries at H-E-B, according to her post. But when the family was about to leave, a friend was missing. Ashley Sanchez posted on her Facebook Sunday about her son Noah's lost rabbit, named Rabby. The little stuffed rabbit goes everywhere with Noah and the missing bunny was "a very big deal because he doesn't sleep without his rabbit." After searching and speaking with employees, the family exhausted all efforts. Sanchez had posted the picture of Rabby on social media and a family reached out, including a worker who knew exactly where the rabbit was located. The employee, Lyle Wells, said that Rabby had done a lot of "fun things" at H-E-B. Check out her post below! Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

A man turned himself in after an investigation found that he had hit a man with his vehicle and left without rendering aid. Officers responded to the 4900 block of State Highway 21 after receiving a call of someone lying in a ditch on Jan. 14. The person, Geneva Serna, 48, was believed to have been hit by a car in the morning. The suspect was found to be Leroy Conerway Jr. Conerway turned himself in and bonded out on the same day. He was charged with accident involving death, a second degree felony. Police believe that Conerway was traveling westbound when he hit Serna and left the scene without rendering aid. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

A free event in Waco is bringing together the special needs community to fish! The Really Big Fishing Event for Really Special People is taking place at the Heart of Texas Fair Grounds Creative Arts and Exhibits Building in Waco, Saturday, Feb. 3. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m The event, which provides a safe and fun environment for fishing, is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will feature fishing, dancing, games and food, free to everyone! No license is required and fishing equipment will be provided. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All

Belton and Temple ISD are joining together for an employee incentive program called "Perks for Paws" that will provide certain benefits for district employees. One of the incentives will be discounts offered by local business on purchases or services. Belton and Temple ISD are asking local business to participate in the program. Belton and Temple ISD have more than 2,500 staff which include teachers and administrators. The Perks for Paws program will consist of an employee webpage where the discounts or savings from local business will be posted. Participation in the Perks for Paws is open to all business in and around the city of Belton and Temple. If you are interested in joining the program, click here. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Several Central Texas agencies plan to attend the funeral for an officer killed in the line of duty last week. According to police, Kenneth Copeland was shot to death while he was serving a warrant on Dec. 4. McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara is wearing a black band over his badge to show respect for the fallen officer. "I know it has been there a lot there than it has been off in the last few months. It seems like I never take it off,” McNamara said. On Wednesday, he plans to attend the third funeral of a law enforcement member who died in the line of duty in a month. Department of Public Safety Trooper Thomas Nipper and Trooper Damon Allen passed away last month. "I think it's important to honor the officer any way we can and the least thing we can do is to be there," McNamara said. Two members of the Waco Honor Guard Pipes and Drums, including Wade Kaminski, also plan to go to San Antonio to show their support through music. There's something about playing that music that just reaches very deep on everybody,” Kaminski said. The Waco firefighter who has been a member of the group for three years said playing at the funeral of a fallen brother is an emotional experience. "The tunes that we play. When we play amazing grace as a piper, or you are just part of that, as a drummer, laying a brother to rest, is a tough thing to do," Kaminski said. McNamara said it is also tough to think the way Copeland lost his life. "It's an extremely sad situation that you have these low life pieces of trash who want to gun down police officers,” McNamara said. He is also saddened to know another family lost a loved one. "It's very emotional. They're brothers in law enforcement, even though they work in law enforcement, they're still a brother,” McNamara said. Other law enforcement agencies in CTX will also be sending representatives to the funeral, including Woodway Public Safety, Waco Police, Mexia Police and Robinson Police. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity is on a mission to help local families in need. Hammering away in the heat of the sun, the Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity is helping the community one home at a time. "This year alone we're working on, for this calendar year, this is our third home we're working on, and we're breaking ground on our fourth one in Temple," Ken Cates, Executive Director of Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity, said. But, families in need aren't getting homes for free. "We're not just gonna throw things at you. You need to earn it, you need to deserve it, but we're gonna partner with you and help you get there," Cates said. So, they help homeowners get there by helping them help each other and themselves. "Once they're selected, they have to do three hundred or more hours based on the size of the family. Construction is fifty hours, depending on the size of the family again at least fifty hours, and they're helping other homes get built first," Cates said. Teeja Williams, a single mother, is on her way to getting a new home. "I'm having mold issues in my home which is not good to bring a child up in, so I would like to do better for me and my daughter," Williams said. Meanwhile, Andy Diluzio is already settling into his. "Due to my condition, I have cerebral palsy, I explained to them my living situation and how having a house where I can get a wheel chair around would definitely benefit me," Diluzio said. With each drop of the hammer, Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity is helping homeowners like Williams and Diluzio overcome challenges and set up for a better future. Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity also teaches their families how to repair their homes. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Police said several schools were on a lockdown.(Source: KXXV) The two male suspects fled the scene. (Source: KXXV) The Temple Police Department said a man is dead after a shooting in Temple. Police are currently searching for two suspects, and schools were briefly on a soft lockdown and had a delayed release. The spokesperson for Temple Independent School District said Temple High School, Fred W Edwards Academy, and Kennedy-Powell Elementary School were on a soft lockdown. The lockdown has been lifted as of 4:05 p.m. on Monday. Students at Kennedy-Powell Elementary had a delayed release. These students are now being dropped off at their usual bus stop. Parents of these students can also go and pick up their child. The shooting happened on Saulsbury and Betsy Ross around 2:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man on the ground and performed CPR on the victim, but the victim succumbed to his injuries. The two male suspects fled the scene. This case is currently being investigated by the Temple Police Department, the Texas Rangers, and DPS. The DPS Helicopter is assisting with the search. TPD is currently investigating a shooting. Dispatched to Saulsbury and Betsy Ross in Temple where they began CPR on the victim. Still searching for 2 black males that fled the scene. We will keep you posted. #seesomethingsaysomething — Temple Police Dept (@TempleTX_Police) March 19, 2018 This is a developing story, check back for updates. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The Bellmead Police Department said they arrested a man for assaulting an on-duty security officer on last Friday. Officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a hotel located in the 1300 block of Behrens Circle around 10:25 p.m. When officers arrived they found the victim, a 28-year-old on-duty security officer. The suspect identified as 37-year-old Nathan Wayne Taylor was employed by the hotel as a maintenance worker that was causing a disturbance at the front desk. The security officer asked the suspect to leave the lobby. When the suspect was leaving, he shoved the officer with his body and pushed the officer away. The suspect then escalated the disturbance further, by attempting to coax the security officer into a physical altercation. During that time, the suspect pulled a knife and yelled at the security officer, “do something”. The suspect chose to put the knife down and a citizen intervened and took the suspect to another part of the complex, away from the security officer. This is when the security officer was able to call police. Investigators were able to locate the suspect and take him into custody without incident. The suspect was booked into the McLennan County Jail and is being charged with 1st-degree felony, aggravated assault against a security officer. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The Killeen Police Department said they have arrested a murder suspect from the U.S. Virgin Islands. On June 13, Killeen police received information from authorities in St.Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands that a suspect wanted for several crimes, including murder might be in Killeen. On June 14 at around 10:18 a.m. detectives located the wanted person, identified as Currup Williams. Williams was riding a van and was traveling between locations in downtown Killeen. Officers stopped the van and arrested Williams. The driver of the van was arrested for an unrelated charge. In addition to First Degree Murder, Williams was also wanted for First Degree Assault, Third Degree Assault, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Crime of Violence and Reckless Endangerment. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

An organization of first-responders in Killeen said it has a big problem - and it's with one of the city's councilmen. An organization of first-responders in Killeen said it has a big problem - and it's with one of the city's councilmen. First responders claim councilman refuses to meet with them First responders claim councilman refuses to meet with them A first responders' association attended the meet and greet of a local councilman after claims that the councilman refused to meet with them. The Killeen Professional Firefighters Association (KPFA) to social media to air out the problem. A chance to have coffee with Killeen City Councilman Gregory Johnson apparently wasn't open to everyone. "I submitted a question as a resident of Killeen, and the response I got back from Mr. Johnson was that due to some recent tensions between himself and the first responder community that he wasn't going to allow certain people to attend. Those three people being myself, Bobby Castillo and Ms. Kimberly Hornsby-Waggoner," said Marc Clifford, President of KPFA. Marc Clifford and Bobby Castillo stopped by anyway. "So, we came not as representatives of our respected organization but rather as concerned citizens," Clifford added. When he got there, Clifford said a police officer greeted him and quickly asked him to leave per Johnson's request. "I refuse to allow this event to turn into something that is a negative way, and so those three individuals, I asked them to respect my decision," said Councilman Johnson. "Well since he's been seated we have been trying to get in contact with him requesting meetings and things like that," Clifford said. Johnson has said that's because he wants to meet with people, not organizations. "I support them in their mission to provide the safety for our citizens, but I want to hear that from individuals and not the association," said Councilman Johnson. Ever since he said that, Johnson's relationship with Clifford and the firefighters association has gone downhill. "Hopefully relationships will get better and we can have the opportunity later on to sit down and have coffee and talk," Councilman Johnson added. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Atlanta Customs and Border Protection officers are traveling to Minneapolis to help with security at this year's Super Bowl. CPB's Director of Field Operations says the officers are gaining valuable experience that will help with the security of next year's Super Bowl that is set to be played in Atlanta. CBP officers are working hand-in-hand with local and federal law enforcement to secure numerous venues during the game. CBP says they are more than happy to work with and learn from, their colleagues and they hare the goal to protect the public. CBP says their security efforts in Minneapolis will not affect day-to-day operations in Atlanta. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Terry Maston scored a career-high 23 points and Baylor ended a four-game losing streak with an 81-67 victory over Iowa State on Saturday night. The lead changed hands eight times before the Bears went on a 15-0 run over a 2:12 span early in the second half. Baylor had three 3-point plays during the spurt, including one that resulted in a five-point trip after Iowa State coach Steve Prohm was hit with a technical foul. Baylor (13-10, 3-7 Big 12 Conference) led 51-38 at that point and the Cyclones never got closer than eight the rest of the way. Manu Lecomte added 14 points for the Bears, who won despite shooting 2 for 14 from 3-point range. Baylor made up for that with a 43-35 edge in rebounds and 52-28 in points in the paint. The Bears shot 62 percent in the second half and 50 percent for the game. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. added 10 points and 14 rebounds for Baylor. Donovan Jackson had 15 points to lead Iowa State (12-10, 3-7). Cameron Lard and Lindell Wigginton scored 14 points apiece. All of Wigginton's came in the first half, and he led the Cyclones with eight assists. Iowa State was 9 for 20 from 3-point range (45 percent), but shot 34 percent overall. BIG PICTURE Iowa State: The Cyclones fell to 0-5 on the road in the Big 12, thanks in large part to inconsistency. Jackson only had two points in the first half before finding his shot in the second, while Wigginton was 0 for 7 after halftime. Baylor: With shots not falling from the outside, the Baylor guards were aggressive going to the basket. Lecomte missed all six of his 3-point tries, but scored two of Baylor's 3-point plays during the game-deciding spurt. Jake Lindsey and King McClure got high-percentage shots to combine for 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting. UP NEXT Iowa State finishes a two-game road trip on Wednesday when it meets No. 10 Texas Tech, which is tied for first in the Big 12. Baylor is on the road against Oklahoma State on Tuesday. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

A couple was arrested after leaving a 4-year-old child in a vehicle while they ate at a sports bar in Houston on Saturday. EMS crews told deputies the child was inside the vehicle with the windows cracked open slightly. When authorities arrived at the restaurant, the mother ran out to take the child out of the car. The child was limp, unconscious, and extremely sweaty. Deputies say Brenda Hurtado and Antonio Hurtado had come to the location to eat. Antonio reportedly put the child into the car to sleep and then went back inside the restaurant. Brenda told authorities the child had been in the vehicle for about 30-40 minutes. Both parents were arrested and charged with child endangerment. Their bond was set at $1,000. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

For the fifth straight year, the tower of Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University will be illuminated in red light in support of the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day on Friday night. The tower will show the red lights around 6 p.m. Baylor University is joining other local landmarks such as Baylor Scott & White - Hillcrest, Dr Pepper Museum, I-35 bridges, McLennan County Courthouse, Providence Healthcare Network and MarathonNorco Aerospace in showing red lights. The American Heart Association also will host its annual Go Red For Women luncheon with guest speaker Jenna Bush Hager on Thursday, March 29, at the Waco Convention Center. The luncheon focuses on the strides in the fight against heart disease in women in the past decade and the ongoing need to educate Central Texas women about their health risks. For more information on the luncheon, visit Waco Go Red or click here. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Texas Parks and Wildlife wants to remind you about the dangers of zebra mussels this summer. Zebra mussels can damage boat motors and hulls, harm native species and disrupt municipal water supply systems by getting inside of pipes. Officials said it's important to clean, drain and dry your boat after leaving the lake before going to another one. Zebra mussels can attach to your boat, trailer or gear. Transporting zebra mussels is illegal and can cost up to $500 in fines. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents work the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs detonat...

Destiny DeLillo, the spokesperson for the City of Robinson, is also happy to hear of the national attention.(Source: KXXV) A relocation website called Move Buddha ranks Robinson as the 13th most popular small city in all of the U.S. to relocate to in 2017. Every month, thousands of people use the moving cost calculator on the site to help plan their relocation. The site then used that data to determine the most searched places in America for relocation. Donna Roach moved to Robinson shortly after dropping her son off at Baylor University in Waco back in 2005. The Californian said she was won over by the southern charm of the nearby city. "Robinson was not as developed when we moved here. There was still a lot of acreage and land and that's what we wanted," Roach said. Roach also opened up Sherwood Florist in Robinson after buying her home. "When we moved here, I needed to send flowers to somebody," Roach said. "At the time, there was no flower shop, so we decided we'll open up a flower shop and here we are!" Roach said she smiles as familiar faces visit the Robinson Center, where her shop is located, each day. "Everyone knows everyone," Roach said. "Everybody supports everybody. It's very hard to find that anywhere else, I believe." Roach thinks the strong sense of community is what's making Robinson a hot commodity, along with an affordable cost of living and a great school system. "To make a list like that, it's great, that's awesome," Roach said. "That means more people will move in!" Destiny DeLillo, the spokesperson for the City of Robinson, is also happy to hear of the national attention. "It feels great actually," DeLillo said. "You see everyone growing around you and to know that people are choosing you as their place to live, it feels really good." Robinson was also ranked in the top 20 safest cities in Texas by the National Council for Home Safety and Security. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Central Texas parents are concerned how a therapy program change could affect their children. Superior Healthplan announced this week they are changing their therapy services provider. According to their website, starting March 1, 2018, Care Options For Kids (COFK) will be Superior’s new provider for therapy and evaluations for speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Patients can choose to continue going to their current therapists, but under Superior, they are required to go to COFK for evaluations and re-evaluations. For Marcia and Jonathan Bayer, parents to four kids who receive therapy weekly, this change is concerning. "As a parent, I feel like it takes away our power to be a parent. I feel like it takes away our kids choice in who their therapists are and who they have a relationship with and I just feel betrayed," Marcia Bayer said. The Bayer family has 16 therapy sessions a week for their kids at home for speech and occupational therapy. "They all are homeschooled and all have different varying medical needs from physical disabilities to cognitive disabilities," Bayer said. Bayer is concerned if they don't opt out of the new regulations, their children will have a difficult time adjusting to new therapists and trusting them. They are especially concerned about their youngest daughter, Hannah, who has had multiple surgeries. "You know for medically fragile children who have had multiple surgeries and have been in and out of the hospital their entire lives, they don't like being touched. Because so much when they are touched by a doctor ends in pain. and so a therapist touching them, stretching them, repositioning them, she will definitely regress I can guarantee it," Bayer said. The Bayer family said they plan to opt out of the new therapy provider to keep their current therapists, but will still have to go to COFK for evaluations. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

There are income limits for this program. (Source: KXXV) You have another chance to get your roof fixed for free in Waco. The Waco Community Development Corporation is accepting applications for its second phase of a roof repair program. Executive Director Mike Stone said it is free for low-income families in the city.He said crews already fixed 22 roofs in the first phase, and they expect to be able to do about 10 more during the second. Stone said he has seen many families using tubs and buckets to catch water from leaking roofs. That is a short-term fix that Stone said can lead to a long-term problem. "You know a lot of these houses have roof leaks and if they don't get them fixed in a couple of years, it's going to rot the inside of their house and it will get condemned and torn down. So it's very important that we're able to save the houses," Stone said. He said they will start evaluating homes and applications in April and then choose which roofs to repair. There are income limits for this program. Stone said you can apply online or at the office at 1624 Colcord Avenue in Waco. You may also call him at (254) 235-7358 ext 206. You have until April 6 to turn in your applications. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The man at the center of a death investigation has been identified and his cause of death determined. Police said a man walked into the CEFCO on N. Third Street about 2:20 a.m. Sunday and asked to speak to police, according to police spokesperson Officer Shawana Neely. When officers arrived, the man told them he went to his friend's home and found him dead on the floor, Neely said. He left and went to CEFCO to call 911. Officers went to the home on N. Second Street and E. Monroe Avenue, noticed the front door was opened, went inside, and confirmed there was a man dead on the floor, Neely said. The dead man was identified as Archie Geiger, 49, of Temple. Medical examiners determined that Geiger was a victim of a homicide, dying from a gunshot wound. Anyone with information surrounding Geiger's death is asked to call the police. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents work the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs detonat...

The state organization on Arts and Disability is expanding its writing workshops for veterans to Temple. The six-week course offered by VSA Texas that starts on Saturday allows veterans to turn their memories into well-crafted poems, plays or songs. "Being able to write that out and share that as a legacy for their kids, their grandkids so they can really know some of the things that they've been through. It's I think very helpful for them to get that out there and express themselves," Artworks Director April Sullivan said. The workshop that starts on Feb. 3 at the Cultural Activities Center is full but the organizers plan to offer more of them in Central Texas in the future. Participants have the option to get their work published with other writers this summer. For more information of the workshops, visit this page. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Baylor baseball sophomore left-handed starting pitcher Cody Bradford was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday. Bradford, who garnered the honor for the first time in his career on Feb. 19, was outstanding last Friday vs. No. 8 Texas Tech. The Aledo, Texas, native earned the win by throwing a career-high 8.2 shutout innings while giving up six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. His stellar effort helped BU post its first series win over a top 10 team since 2016. He also helped give the Bears their fourth shutout of a ranked opponent since 2016. He has tossed at least five innings with one run or less and seven or more strikeouts in four of five starts this season. The award marks the second this season for Baylor from the Big 12. Bradford is the first pitcher to garner the honor twice in a season for BU since Daniel Castano did so twice in 2016. Under third-year head coach Steve Rodriguez, the Bears have collected 10 Big 12 weekly accolades. BU hosts No. 16 Dallas Baptist on Tuesday at 4:35 p.m. CT at Baylor Ballpark.

For the Mar. 19. edition of Central Texas Living Ann Harder spoke with Louis Hunter, co-founder of Deep in the Heart Film Festival. During the interview, Hunter explained when the film festival is set to begin, and what type of films are featured in the festival. For more information about the film festival and how to attend, click here. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Cynthia Holowatsch has been indicted on murder charges. She is accused of shooting and killing her roommate in Nolanville. According to Nolanville Interim Police Chief Michael Hatton, Holowatsch, 50, was arrested and charged with first degree murder. Nolanville police were dispatched to a civil standby around 11 a.m. A civil standby is when a resident calls police for police supervision in a tense situation. The situation was cleared. Police said 30 minutes later, a shooting occurred at the same residence the 1200 block of Ave. H. The victim, Roy Linder III, 26, was pronounced dead. Holowatsch and Linder were roommates but were not romantically involved. Police said that the shooting stemmed from an argument inside of the house with the other roommates. Holowatsch invoked her right to remain silent, police said. Justice of the Peace G.W. Ivey will arraign Holowatsch on Sunday. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Campus Kitchen and Heart of Texas Urban Garden Coalition are partnering for a service project on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that will send over 300 volunteers to 17 sites across the city. La Vega Sophomore, Solae Loadholt, is using the time off to reflect on community service. "Your impact today can make a difference along the way," she said. That's why she did a simple internet search to find out what events were going on in Waco. Not only did she find Baylor's Campus Kitchen volunteer event, she decided to bring along her friend Delma Harrison. "It may not be as big as what other people are capable of doing but the fact that I'm giving back to my community gives me a great feeling," Harrison said. In order to make sure volunteers don't go hungry on Monday, a small group of students took the afternoon to make sandwiches and lunches. Ahead of Monday's day of service.Campus Kitchen organizer, Eric Pritt, said while the work was fairly simple, they hope it will have a significant impact. "We only see the five or six of us who are in the kitchen together and it's not always easy to see where your work is going towards. But, without doing this, then we'll have all of our volunteers out working without food in their bellies on Monday." Pritt said the goal is to make one less task for those who want to lend a hand. "It's not just where can we go pull some weeds but how can we make someone else's job easier?" With some of the smaller details covered service groups can focus on increasing their impact. Service sites include the Brazos River as well as community gardens. "They're going to places where kids use those gardens to learn about nutrition from the roots up. And these churches have gardens that they feed community members fresh local grown produce where people don't have fresh local grown produce," Pritt said. If you are interested in volunteering you can sign up with the Urban Gardening Coalition. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Killeen police said a 35-year-old man is in stable, but critical condition after he was shot on Monday morning. Around 7:40 a.m., police were called to the 1300 block of Estes Drive where they found the man suffering from a gunshot wound. The man was transported to Central Fire Station before being airlifted to Baylor Scott & White in Temple. The Killeen Police Department continues to investigate. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

For the Mar. 19. edition of Central Texas Living Ann Harder spoke with two broadcast journalism students from Baylor University about their newscast program. During the interview, Bailey Brammer, LTVN broadcast managing editor, and Christy Soto, editor-in-chief of the Lariat and newscast producer, explained what they do for the newscasts, and how you can watch them. For more information, click here. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Matt Coleman scored 22 points, leading a big Texas second-half rally before his late free throws helped secure a 79-74 win over No. 12 Oklahoma and freshman star Trae Young on Saturday. Coleman scored 14 points in the second half. His free throws down the stretch came after he missed three in a row late in an overtime loss at Texas Tech that could have helped clinch a victory. Texas closed the game on a 22-8 run. Kerwin Roach II added 19 points for Texas (15-8, 5-5 Big 12). Young, the national scoring leader, came in averaging 30.3 points, but finished with 19 points on 7-of-22 shooting and made just two 3-pointers. He had 14 assists. The loss kept the Sooners (16-6, 6-4) from pulling into a three-way tie atop the Big 12 with Kansas and Texas Tech. Young scored seven points in a flurry early in the second half that pushed the Sooners to a 50-40 lead, and Oklahoma looked ready to pull away. Coleman kept that from happening with a burst that got the Longhorns and the home crowd back into it. A long 3-pointer and two more jumpers by Coleman tied it at 52 with 12 minutes left. Young's shooting troubles didn't become a problem for Oklahoma until late when Texas tore through a 13-0 run to take its first lead since early in the first half. Dylan Osetkowski's two free throws tied the game at 66 before Young missed consecutive 3-pointers on Oklahoma's next two possessions. Coleman made a tough layup over two defenders and another by Roach put Texas ahead by four with 3:32 to play. Coleman's first free throws with just under two minutes left put Texas up 74-70, and two more with 56 seconds left stretched the Longhorns' lead to six. Coleman hadn't been to the line since his misses late against Texas Tech. BIG PICTURE Young continues to show he can do more than score. He struggled to find his shot early as both long and short attempts found an unfriendly rim. But Young keeps pushing the ball and the offense with sharp passes, splitting defenses that have eyes locked on him. Young had nine assists in the first half, most of them leading to easy dunks and layups as the Sooners scored 34 points in the paint in the half. He would have had more assists, but his teammates sometimes get caught watching him as well and dropped several passes for turnovers. Texas got its third straight home win over a ranked opponent and continues to protect its home court in the rugged Big 12. The Longhorns did it despite an unusually quiet game from freshman forward Mo Bamba, who scored 13 and had nine rebounds, but could do little to stop the Sooners from scoring 56 points in the paint, many of them coming on dunks and alley-oops. UP NEXT Oklahoma hosts No. 15 West Virginia on Monday. Texas hosts Kansas State on Wednesday. ___ More AP college basketball: https://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Temple Police Department has released the pictures of the two victims who were found dead at an auto shop in Temple Wednesday night. Police have identified the victims as 25-year-old Cody Glenn Cornell and 35-year-old Robert Joseph Pellerin III. Both were employees of O'Reilly Auto Parts. Police arrested 47-year-old Theodore Dwyane Sims in connection with the double-homicide. Sims was a former employee of O'Reilly Auto Parts and of NAPA Auto Parts. Sims is facing capital murder charges. NAPA Auto Parts has only been open since January 2018 - around the time Theodore Sims was hired after leaving O'Reilly Auto Parts. Louis Sims, the owner of NAPA Auto Part with no relation to Theodore Sims, said "The last 48 hours have been more than tragic for our community, employees and for our friends at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Louis, Bryan and I along with our employees at Napa are heartbroken by the senseless loss of the two O’Reilly employees at the hands of such evil." Sims was fired from NAPA auto parts for stealing cash under $100. He left without incident. His boss at NAPA auto parts said he would never guess something like this would happen. Sims was apprehended by the Harker Heights Police Department at a Walmart gas station located in the 2000 block of Harker Heights without incident around 2:19 p.m. Temple police responded to a welfare check at the O'Reilly Auto Parts in the 1700 block of SW H.K. Dodgen Loop around 11:35 p.m. Wednesday, and when they arrived on the scene, they found two men dead in the building. Sims has also been identified in an aggravated assault at the NAPA Auto Parts on 1000 E 6th Ave. in Belton at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday night. The owner of NAPA Auto Parts said two employees were outside with doors locked. The suspect wore a hoodie with a ski-mask and showed a shotgun. Employees ran from the store. Paul Romer the spokesperson for the Belton Police Department said following the Belton assault, the car Sims was driving was seen near the scene of the double homicide. In the Belton incident, Sims approached two employees, one who is the assistant manager, at the close of the business and pointed a shotgun at them around 9 p.m. on March 14. According to the arrest affidavit, Sims was dressed in all black and had a ski mask covering his face when he chased the two men with a shotgun. The victims recognized Sims by his build, walk and voice as he yelled, "don't run, don't run." After the men ran away, Sims got in his car and left the area. No shots were fired in that particular incident and nobody was injured. The Belton Police Department identified Sims as former NAPA employee who was recently terminated. Sims is being held at the Bell County Jail on a $500,000 bond. He is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both of the victim's bodies will be sent for an autopsy. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team seized control of the game in the first half and then held off a late barrage of Hardin-Simmons three-pointers as the Cru topped the Cowboys 105-93 Saturday in Belton. UMHB improves to 16-6 overall and 9-5 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops HSU to 8-14 overall and 6-8 in the ASC on the season. The Cowboys jumped out to a 17-11 lead early in the first half, but UMHB responded with a 38-16 run to build a 16-point lead with 3:44 remaining in the half. The Cru would take a 53-37 lead into halftime. The UMHB lead would grow to as many as 22 points in the second half before Hardin-Simmons started to heat up from long-range. The Cowboys would trade three-pointers for Cru free throws on three straight possessions and then used a Joe Hoeup jumper to cut the lead to 97-90 with 2:41 left to play. Sam Moore hit two free throws, but Caleb Spoon answered with a three-pointer to make it a six-point game with 2:09 on the clock. Brian Long came up with a big blocked shot on one end and a crucial offensive rebound at the other for UMHB. Long would add two free throws after an intentional foul was whistled on HSU with 52 seconds on the clock. The Cowboys would not score again as Braden Hammond and Long hit two more freebies apiece to stretch it out to the final margin. Long led UMHB with 25 points on 8-9 shooting from the field and he also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Sam Moore had a double-double off the bench with 23 points and 11 boards for the Cru. LaKendric Hyson added 20 points, Demarius Cress scored 14 and dished off eight assists and Shaq Martin also reached double figures with 10 points. UMHB shot 52 percent from the field as a team and dominated HSU on the boards with a 53-36 margin. The Cru was 10-25 from beyond the arc and 25-35 from the free-throw line. Hoeup led all scorers with 31 points and he added 11 rebounds for the Cowboys. Spoon had 25 points, but was just 6-20 from the field. Keenan Holdman had 18 points in his first game back at UMHB since transferring to HSU in the fall and Chris Barrett added 12 points and seven assists. The Cowboys shot just 37 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 42 percent from the game. HSU was 14-35 from three-point range with ten of those makes coming in the second half. The game closes out a five-game home stand for the Cru men. It was also the final home game for UMHB seniors Aubrie King, Justin Gammill and Hammond. UMHB will now hit the road for the final three games of the regular season. The Cru returns to action with a 4:00 PM tip-off at Concordia Texas next Saturday in Austin.

(Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP). FBI agents work the scene of an explosion in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 18, 2018. At least a few people were injured in another explosion in Texas' capital late Sunday, after three package bombs detonat...

One man is in the hospital after he attempted to cross Valley Mills Drive and was hit by oncoming traffic on Sunday night. Waco police said around 7:45 p.m. 47-year-old Lester James was crossing the street on foot and was hit by a man driving a Chevrolet Avalanche in the 800 block of N. Valley Mills Drive. James was taken to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said they do not believe the driver of the Chevrolet is not at fault. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Baylor baseball junior right-handed pitched Montana Parsons and junior outfielder Kameron Esthay were selected on the final day of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday. With the selections, BU has had at least one player chosen in 40 of the last 42 drafts, dating back to 1976. The Bears have a total of 138 draft choices in program history and their first multi-player draft since 2014 (Colorado Rockies 21st round pick RHP Josh Michalec and Minnesota Twins 38th round pick C Brett Doe). Parsons was the 24th round (719th overall) pick by the Miami Marlins. After transferring to Baylor from San Jacinto Junior College, the Conroe, Texas native excelled in his lone season with the Bears as he won 2017 Co-Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and was a second-team All-Big 12 honoree. The 6-3, 185-pound starter posted a 3.06 ERA with a 5-4 record in 15 appearances (all starts). In 88.1 innings, he allowed 35 runs on 88 hits and 38 walks with 71 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .263 batting average. Esthay was the 26th round (793rd overall) pick by the Washington Nationals, making him BU’s highest position player selected since 2013 (Los Angeles Angels 17th round pick 3B Cal Towey). The Moss Bluff, Louisiana native was a 2015 Big 12 All-Tournament, 2015 Big 12 All-Freshman, 2016 All-Big 12 second team and 2017 All-Big 12 honorable mention selection. The 6-0, 215-pound right fielder had three very productive seasons with the Bears as he has a career .303 batting average with 86 runs, 167 hits, 32 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, 91 RBI, 61 walks and 11 stolen bases in 159 games. In 2015 as a redshirt freshman, he hit a career-best .323 with 26 runs, 50 hits, seven doubles, one triple, five homers, 25 RBI, 12 walks and a career-high five steals. In 2016, he hit .307 with 20 runs, a career-high 59 hits and 14 doubles, one triple, three homers, 31 RBI, 19 walks and two steals. In 2017, he hit .283 with career highs in runs (40), triples (2), homers (9), RBI (35) and walks (30) while tallying 58 hits, 11 doubles and four steals.

A man has been charged for sexually assaulting a woman while she slept. On March 20, 2017 the Temple Police Department said they met with the victim who reported she was sexually assaulted earlier that day. The victim told police that she knew the man who assaulted her and identified him as James Ford. He was at her residence that night, and she said she was laying down on her couch, and Ford was laying on the other side of the coach when she fell asleep. She then told police she woke up to find the man sexually assaulting her. She shouted at Ford and he apologized. That is when she contacted police. She told police that she never gave consent to Ford and was not in a romantic relationship with Ford. The victim went to Baylor Scott and White Hospital for examination. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended 41-year-old Martin Gerardo Perez Garcia after discovering a warrant for his arrest while conducting a secondary inspection. Garcia is wanted in Dallas County for sexual assault and continuous sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 14. Garcia, a Mexican citizen, was traveling on a commercial bus and attempting to enter the United States through Laredo Port of Entry. After initial inspection, CBP officers referred Garcia for a secondary examination. After running Garcia through the National Crime Information Center's automated database, they found that Garcia had an outstanding felony warrant in Dallas County. Garcia was then arrested and booked into Webb County Jail where he will remain in custody to await criminal proceedings. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Additional search dogs, crews and soldiers have been deployed on Fort Hood to continue a search for a missing driver. Additional search dogs, crews and soldiers have been deployed on Fort Hood to continue a search for a missing driver. Fort Hood: additional crews deployed to help in search for missing man Fort Hood: additional crews deployed to help in search for missing man A diver that assisted in the search for a missing man on Fort Hood has died from injuries sustained during the search. According to the Fort Hood Public Affairs Office, the diver, identified as Lori Pohanka-Kalama, was a volunteer with the Morgan's Point Resort Dive Team. The incident happened at 6:30 p.m.. According to Fort Hood, the boat team personnel requested additional assistance for a diver in distress in House Creek. "We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the diver's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time," said Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood in a statement. "We are grateful to everyone who has participated in this operation over the past 6 days, especially our local and regional partners assisting in the search." A visitation will take place on Friday, April 21 and there will be a public memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 22. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball player Jackson Godoy has been named American Southwest Conference Pitcher of the Week for the week ending March 18th. This is the first player of the week honor for the Cru baseball team this season. Godoy, a junior from Crosby High School, did not allow a run in two relief appearances covering 2.2 innings last week. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and ended a LeTourneau rally with a game-ending strikeout to nail down his first save of the season in UMHB’s 7-5 victory over the Yellowjackets on Saturday. That victory also clinched a series win for the Cru. Godoy added two innings of perfect relief earlier in the week. He struck out two of the ten batters he faced and held opponents to a .111 batting average on the week. The Cru is 8-12 overall on the season and has a 5-4 mark in ASC play. UMHB returns to action with a 6:00 PM non-conference home game against the University of Chicago on Tuesday.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Juicy Landrum had 20 points to lead five Baylor players in double figures and the No. 3 Lady Bears overwhelmed Texas Tech for the second time this season, 90-44 on Saturday for their 18th straight win. The game was tied 6-6 halfway through the first quarter before Baylor (21-1, 11-0 Big 12) ended the quarter with 15 straight points. Five different players scored in that spurt for the Lady Bears. Dekeiya Cohen had 19 points for Baylor, while Kristy Wallace had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Cox had 12 points and Kalani Brown scored 11. Jada Terry had 10 points to lead Texas Tech (7-15, 1-10), which shot 27 percent (19 of 70) from the field. After the Lady Raiders lost 97-49 at Baylor on Dec. 31, coach Candi Whitaker was fired. They are 1-8 under interim coach Shimmy Gray-Miller, and three of their last four losses are by at least 30 points, including a 51-point home loss to No. 8 Texas two weeks ago. BIG PICTURE Baylor: The Lady Bears are 11-0 in Big 12 play for the second year in a row. Before that, the last time they were 11-0 was during their 40-0 national championship season six years ago. Texas Tech: The Lady Raiders have a 48-42 series lead, but have now lost 17 in a row and 27 of 28 against Baylor. UP NEXT Baylor plays its next two games at home, starting Monday night against Oklahoma. Texas Tech goes to Kansas State on Wednesday night. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The Temple Police Department said they are searching for two suspects after a shooting on Monday afternoon. The shooting happened on Saulsbury and Betsy Ross. The victim was given CPR. The two male suspects fled the scene. The spokesperson for Temple Independent School District said Temple High School, Fred W Edwards Academy, and Kennedy-Powell Elementary School are on a soft lockdown. Students are Kennedy-Powell Elementary are on a delayed release. These students will remain at the campus until Temple Police indicate it is okay them to be dropped off at their regular stop. Parents of these students can also go and pick up their child. TPD is currently investigating a shooting. Dispatched to Saulsbury and Betsy Ross in Temple where they began CPR on the victim. Still searching for 2 black males that fled the scene. We will keep you posted. #seesomethingsaysomething — Temple Police Dept (@TempleTX_Police) March 19, 2018 This is a developing story, check back for updates. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Officers with the Lorena Police Department donated and decorated a Christmas tree for the family of fallen Trooper Damon Allen. Trooper Allen was shot and killed on Thanksgiving while conducting a traffic stop. The Lorena police chief ended also had a message to the Allen family. "We hope that this tree will bring a small ray of sunshine to you over these dark days," he said. "Your husband and father was a hero! For that, we will be forever grateful. Please know that we will always be there for you." Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

A Florida man accused of murdering his wife in front of his three children was found in Central Texas this morning. McLennan County deputies said they were alerted by Florida authorities that Maclovio Salas Martinez might be in McGregor, where he is known to have family. McGregor police were the first agency to find the location of Salas. Early Monday morning they set up a perimeter around his location and waited for SWAT assistance. Deputies said Martinez was sleeping in his black Toyota Camry with the doors locked. Officials broke a window, pulled him out of the car and took him into custody around 4 a.m. The car has since been impounded. Deputies said it is considered part of the crime scene from Florida. Florida authorities are flying to Central Texas on Monday to conclude their investigation. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The man police were searching for was found safe Saturday morning. According to police, Calvin Lee King had not gone home nor contacted any of his friends. King was last seen in the Waco area on Jan. 11 after 10 a.m. King has onset dementia resulting from a car crash. The McLennan County Sheriff's Office said deputies found King near Lincoln City Road in Elm Mott around 11 a.m. King was taken to Providence Hospital where he was evaluated and released to his caregiver. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The Waco Police Department said they arrested three people for stealing a AK-47 from a individual. On June 14 at around noon, patrol officers responded to a call of three suspects identified as Chris Morales, Skyler Durham, and Miguel Moreno, that stole a AK-47 from an individual in North Waco. The victim was at a friend's house located at 1600 N 15th St., where the victim was to meet the three individuals who wanted to purchase the firearm. When the victim showed the weapon to the three, they stole the firearm, a magazine, a gun-case, and ammunition and fled from the scene on foot. Officers where able to quickly locate a suspect at 928 Reynolds St. During the investigation officers detained all three suspects and recovered the rifle and other items. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Baylor acrobatics & tumbling will enter the 2018 season ranked No. 1 in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) Preseason Coaches Poll, the organization announced Friday. The Bears, who garnered the top spot for the third straight season, received 11 first place votes for a total of 283 points in the poll. BU has been chosen in the top two slots of the poll for four straight years. Baylor begins the 2018 season with a home meet vs. Alderson-Broaddus on Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. For tickets, visit: http://www.baylorbears.com/tickets/. For updates on the program follow @BaylorAcroTumb on Twitter and Instagram and @BaylorAcrobaticsandTumbling on Facebook. 2018 NCATA Preseason Coaches Poll Baylor 283 points (11 first place votes) Oregon 277 points (6 first place votes) Azuza Pacific 246 points Quinnipiac 232 points Hawaii Pacific 226 points Gannon 200 points Fairmont State 195 points Alderson Broaddus 171 points King 146 points Converse 127 points Concordia Wisconsin 109 points Glenville State 104 points WVWC 85 points Adrian 78 points West Liberty 45 points Davis & Elkins 41 points Georgetown 36 points

While soaking up sun rays can give you a good tan, doctors say that the sun could be doing more damage to your skin than you know. The ultra violet radiation we receive from the sun, especially during the peak hours of the day, is a known carcinogen according to doctors. Therefore doctors said without protection your skin could be damaged beyond repair. However, the EPA's UV index website and app allows people to track the sun rays in their area, so they can have an idea of when to avoid going outdoors if possible. Statistics show 1 in 5 Americans will get a skin cancer at some point in their lifetime, and one American dies from it every hour. Dr. Katie Fiaola, a dermatologist at Baylor Scott & White, said this is why she warns people that sunscreen isn't just for those sunny days at the beach, instead this should be a part of everyone’s daily routine. Using it properly can ensure their skin is fully protected. "The most common kind of skin cancer is basal cell skin cancer, the second most common squamous cell skin cancer, and the least common of those three major ones is melanoma but it's the deadliest,” Fiaola said. Dr. Fiaola said parents should also protect their kids skin with sunscreen, and monitoring the number of freckles they have. Everyone is at risk of getting sun burned or more serious damage, but Fiaola said some people have a higher risk or skin cancer than others. "The darker your skin is the more melanocytes you have they're little cells that kind of help protect our body from the sun so even though you’re darker and have more protection you still could get a skin cancer,” Fiaola said. Doctors said people with fair skin have a higher risk for skin cancer but they recommend everyone use a sunscreen with broad protection and it should be at least SPF 50. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

No. 8 Baylor equestrian (3-3, 1-1 Big 12) grinded out a 9-8 win over No. 5 Auburn on Friday afternoon at the Willis Family Equestrian Center, the first meet of the spring schedule for the Bears. The meet got off to a rocky start in fences, with the Bears held scoreless, but both Abby Jorgensen’s 78 and Brittney Mirkov’s solid 82 tying their opponents’ scores. Those points would prove crucial to limit AU’s lead after fences to 3-0. The teams transitioned into reining, where Kaylynn DeBernard was the first to put BU on the scoreboard with a solid 71. Abbi Demel and Carly Salter both snagged a point, solidifying a 3-2 event win and cutting the lead for the Tigers down to 5-3 at the break. In horsemanship, Elizabeth Forney, Abbi Demel, and Charlotte Green each put the Bears on the board, bringing BU’s score to 3-1 in the discipline and a 6-3 win in the western side of competition. Forney’s 76-71 win earned the Most Outstanding Performance (MOP) honors. Tied up at 6-6 with flat closing out the meet, the teams traded points through the bracket, coming down to AU’s Hayley Iannotti facing BU’s Grace Thiel’s score of 85 with the meet tied at 8-8 and the result hinging on the final ride. Iannotti’s score of 77 clinched the point and the win for BU, with Thiel’s score holding to give the Bears a 9-8 win over the Tigers. Rachael Davis and Rachel Van Allen secured BU’s two other points, with Van Allen taking MOP honors with a 78-62 win.

The No. 6 McLennan Highlanders showed total domination in this afternoon’s series opener with Midland at Bosque River Ballpark, crushing the Chaparrals 18-1. Sophomore Nick Urbantke got the win on the mound in relief of starter Logan Freeman who recorded eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Josh Breaux’s solo home run in the bottom of the first inning began the McLennan scoring. Two more Highlander runners scored in the bottom of the second inning. Chase Sortor led off with a single and scored on a double by Thomas Santos. Santos then scored on a sacrifice by Aidan Shepardson. Another McLennan run came across the plate in the bottom of the fourth as Shepardson was safe at first and move to second on a Midland error, then scored on a double by George Callil. Midland’s only run came in the top of the fifth inning as Riley King singled and scored on a double by Jordan Billups. Keaton Milford tripled and scored on a sacrifice by Sortor in the bottom of the fifth to put the Highlanders up 5-1. McLennan opened the flood gates in the bottom of the sixth, scoring 10 runs in the frame. Shepardson singled and scored on a double by Callil. Dylan Neuse followed with a two-run homer. Griffin Paxton drew a walk and Breaux singled. Milford followed with a single to score Paxton, and Sortor doubled to bring in Breaux and Milford. Sortor advanced to third on a wild pitch and Mitchell Caskey walked. Santos followed with a single to score Sortor. A passed ball moved Santos and Caskey to second and third, respectively, and both scored on a single by Shepardson. Neuse followed with a double to bring Shepardson in to score. The final three Highlanders’ runs came in the bottom of the eighth. Pinch hitter Brooks Embry was hit by the pitch, Shepardson singled and Callil was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Neuse drew a walk, bringing Embry in to score. Shepardson scored on a ground-out double play by Paxton, and Breaux singled to score Callil. “Today was really nice day. I thought our ballclub came out with good intensity but I was really proud of the way we had a very businesslike, relaxed atmosphere. Our guys were all business. I was a little concerned before the game started that we might have been flat, but in retrospect, it looks like we were relaxed. I’m pleased that they were able to come out with that kind of attitude,” head coach Mitch Thompson said. “When you look back at today, we had a really nice pitching performance from Freeman as a starter but also from Urbantke and Max Mize out of the bullpen. As a coach, one of the things that really makes you feel good about your ballclub from time to time is especially when your bullpen is able to come in and really throw the ball well. Today, it was obvious that our bullpen did. Between Urbantke and Mize, they threw 4 2/3 innings, over half the ballgame; they struck out seven and gave up two hits. That’s a really nice performance. Our pitching staff only giving up five hits and one run, and striking out 15 Midland hitters, we will take that every day.” “Offensively, our guys competed well at the plate and got off to a good start, scoring a run early, which was nice; and we continued to add to the lead. It was nice to see Neuse with two extra base hits and four RBIs. Breaux hitting another home run, that’s outstanding. But, up and down the lineup, Sortor with three RBIs; Shepardson, our eight-hole hitter with three RBIs; and then two RBIs from both Santos and Callil in the seven and nine holes. We got great production from the bottom half of our order. That’s a tale-tale sign of success so hopefully we can continue that tomorrow. “We need to be prepared to take Midland’s best shot because I’m sure they are going to come out and compete very hard. I have great respect for their program and we will need to show back up and be ready to compete hard for two games.”

Texas A&M second baseman Braden Shewmake and pitcher Brigham Hill were named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Team the NCBWA announced Wednesday afternoon. Shewmake was selected for the NCBWA All-America First Team and Hill was picked for the NCBWA All-America Third Team. Shewmake has already garnered Collegiate Baseball National Freshman of the Year, Collegiate Baseball All-America First Team, Baseball America All-America Second Team, NCBWA District VII Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and All-SEC First Team recognition. He is hitting .335 with 47 runs, 17 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 68 RBI. He ranks 15th in the nation in RBI (68) and in hits (89). Shewmake leads all Division I freshmen in hits and RBI. Hill has started 16 contests in 2017, posting an 8-3 record with a 3.18 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 96.1 innings. He earned SEC Pitcher of the Week on one occasion and was named the SEC All-Defensive Team pitcher. Hill picked up wins against three Top 20 squads in 2017, including then No. 8 LSU. The Nacogdoches, Texas native was selected by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. It marks a repeat All-American performance for Hill. In 2016, the northpaw earned Baseball America All-America Second Team and NCBWA All-America Third Team recognition. He logged a 9-2 record with one save, a 2.51 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 97.0 innings as a sophomore. The Aggies return to action Sunday when they play the Louisville Cardinals in College World Series action at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

About 100 Baylor sorority hopefuls got some self-defense lessons Saturday morning with the help of a local jiujitsu academy. This comes just a week after at least two armed robberies on or near campus. Members of the Select Jiujitsu Academy on Franklin Avenue taught the class. It was made up of Pi Beta Phi pledges. The techniques they learned are based from the Japanese martial art. Lance Yager owns the academy and said it's important to learn self-defense - even if you think you already know it. "Most people walk through life without a game plan or maybe they have this idea of what they would do. Without practicing, you're not gonna have a real grasp of what your capabilities area," he said. Yager said the purpose of jiujitsu is to defeat your opponent using efficiency moreso than strength. Sorority hopefuls aren't his only clients. He says members from the Waco Police Department and the McLennan County Sheriff's Office have trained with him, too. For more information about Select Jiujitsu Academy, click here. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

On Wednesday, a Texas reporter covering Washington D.C. talked to News Channel 25 about the aftermath of the shooting at a baseball field in Virginia. Congressman Steve Scalia (R-LA) and lobbyist Matt Mika remain in critical condition. Two others were also injured during this incident. 66-year-old James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois, who died is the suspect in the shooting. Texas Tribune’s Washington Bureau Chief Abby Livingston said this comes after tense weeks filled with members of the U.S. Congress discussing passionate and pivotal issues. Livingston said the baseball charity game is the highlight of the summer and an event that many in Capitol Hill looked forward to. Texas Congressmen Joe Barton and Roger Williams coach for the Republican team. Something Livingston said they are very passionate about. She describes the mood in Washington as ‘fearful.’ "These members are out, they're distracted. They're doing something fun and somebody showed up and started shooting them. If you don't feel safe playing baseball the most American of sports, where are you safe?” Livingston said. Rep. Barton, Rep. Williams and Rep. Mike Conaway were present when the shooting ensued. Williams’ legislative correspondent Zack Barth who is a 2015 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin was shot in the leg at the baseball field. Williams recalls he was retrieving balls in the outfield. "When I got into the dugout. It wasn't 10 seconds and Zack had come running in from the outfield and literally we landed into each other arms. He held me and I held him,” Williams said. Rep. Kevin Brady left moments before the shooting took place. Brady who is the roommate of Rep. Scalise released a statement commending police for their actions and praying for the congressman’s speedy recovery. “I am so grateful for the heroic action of the Capitol Hill Police Force protection detail and pray for the full recovery of my roommate Congressman Steve Scalise and others wounded this morning. The quick action of Scalise’s protection detail saved many lives this morning,” Brady wrote. The Thursday game is expected to take place as expected. "If we don't play this baseball game and we go home, then they win so that is the reason. This is America, the greatest country in the world, if you punch us, we will punch you back,” Williams said. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Baylor Director of Track and Field Clyde Hart, famed coach of 12 Olympic gold medal-winning performances, will receive the annual Legend Coach Award on June 24 during the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships at Sacramento State University. Known as a master coach in the 400-meters, Hart prepared promising U.S. athletes to claim five world records and 16 Olympic medals while also coaching at Baylor University – most notably Michael Johnson, Jeremy Wariner, Sanya Richards-Ross and Darold Williamson. For six consecutive Olympic Games starting in 1992 Barcelona, Hart boasted at least one gold medalist. Hart will be recognized at an award ceremony on Saturday, June 24 at 12:50 p.m. PT in Hornet Stadium as part of USATF Outdoor Championships. Hart’s protégés Sanya Richards-Ross and Michael Johnson are expected to be in attendance. Born on February 3, 1934 in Eudora, Arkansas, Hart was a five-time state cross country and track & field championships winner in high school. He graduated from Baylor University in 1956 and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from University of Arkansas in 1962, one year before returning to Baylor as Head Track & Field Coach. Hart coached for 42 years before transitioning to director of track and field in 2005. During his coaching tenure, Hart led the Bears to produce 34 national champions and 258 All-American track athletes, totaling 555 All-American awards. Among his many accolades as the longest-serving coach in Baylor history, Hart was named NCAA National Indoor Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1996, as well as USATF Nike Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2004. IAAF proclaimed Hart the 2009 International Coach of the Year. In 2014, Baylor University renamed its $18.1 million facility the Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium. Hart began his Olympic journey with USATF Hall of Famer Michael Johnson, seeing his protégé through four Olympic gold medals, three Olympic records, five World records and countless more achievements until Johnson’s retirement in 2008. He continued his Olympic legacy with Sanya Richards-Ross, coaching the 400m American record holder to 3 Olympic gold medals, 1 bronze medal and 6 World Championship titles. In total, Hart coached nine Olympians to 16 Olympic medals - 12 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze. He also represented Team USA as an assistant men’s coach at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. As a result of his numerous contributions to the sport, Hart is a member of several notable Halls of Fames including Arkansas Sports, USTFCCCA Coaches, Texas Sports and the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame. Hart is married to Maxine Burton Hart, a professor emeritus of Information Systems at Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University. The couple has two sons and three grandchildren. The USATF Legend Coach Award is in its fourth year. The inaugural award was presented to Hall of Fame Tigerbelle Coach Ed Temple in 2014, followed by Dr. Joe Vigil in 2015 and Tom Tellez in 2016.

Warm air will surge back north across the area early Sunday so count on it being a little warmer. Few storms are possible Sunday afternoon with a line of storms rolling after 10 PM Sunday night. There is a risk these storms could be strong to severe. Primary threat looks to be straight line winds up to 70 mph. There will also be torrential rainfall and lots of lightning. Stay alert Sunday evening! Rain will linger into Monday morning but will clear out by the afternoon. A brief shot of cooler air comes in Tuesday. Rain chances come back mid week with the heaviest staying to our southeast. Download the First Alert 25 Weather App! Search KXXV in the app store to download for free. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

Five adults and one juvenile have been arrested after they were caught breaking into cars and driving a stolen vehicle early Monday morning. Around 12:40 a.m., police were called to the Highland Apartments at 1600 Lake Shore Dr. when a witness saw multiple people breaking into a car. Police found numerous vehicles that had been burglarized in the complex. The suspects were caught in a vehicle that had been stolen in the 2200 block of Bosque Boulevard around 10:30 p.m. Police said the victim had left her car running and unoccupied when it was stolen. The six people, Anthony Smith, 19, Tevin Horn, 20, Kelvin Watkins III, 17, Quientay Atkins, 17, Dayveon Rougely, 17 and one male juvenile were charged with engaging in organized crime. Waco police continue to investigate. Copyright 2017 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team built double-digit leads in both halves and hit clutch free throws down the stretch as the Cru knocked off Concordia Texas 96-90 Saturday afternoon in Austin, The UMHB men improve to 10-5 overall and 3-3 in American Southwest Conference play with the win. The Cru has won eight of its last ten games. The loss drops the Tornados to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in ASC play on the year. UMHB controlled the final minutes of the first half to build a 47-38 lead at halftime. Concordia closed to within three points early in the second half before the Cru responded with a scoring surge to push the lead to 66-55 with 11:59 remaining in the game. UMHB still led by ten points with 5:25 to go but Concordia clawed back to within five points at 87-82 with 2:19 on the clock. Demarius Cress wrapped three free throws around a Tornado lay-up and the Cru hit its final six free throws to keep Concordia at bay in the final seconds. UMHB led by as many as 11 points in a first half that featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes. Aubrie King led the Cru with 29 points on 7-13 shooting from three-point range. He also grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. Keenan Holdman added a career-high 16 points and Cress totaled 15 points. Ryan Newton had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench and Braden Hammond also reached double figures with 10 points. UMHB shot 48 percent from the field and went 10-21 from three-point range. The Cru held Concordia to just 15 percent from beyond the arc in the victory. Ephrain Price topped the Tornados with 21 points and Chase Brooks had 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Joe Neal (14 points), Joshua Samuels (12 points) and Philip Meikle (10 points) also reached double figures for Concordia. The Tornados shot 42 percent from the field, but did out rebound UMHB by a 44-41 margin. The Cru returns to action with a 5:00 PM tip-off at U.T. Dallas in Richardson on Monday. UMHB will continue its four game road trip with contests at Howard Payne University and Sul Ross State University next Thursday and Saturday.

Two Temple elementary school teachers are incorporating 3D technology into their lessons. Raye Allen Elementary school teachers Ashley Hine and Megan Richards are using 20 Google Goggles with their third and fifth graders. The educators obtained the new tool thanks to a nearly $8,100 Temple Education Foundation grant. The grant also received the Superintendent's Award for Creativity. “A lot of our kids here don’t get to leave Temple, Texas so we get to take them on a vacation or a new adventure every day,” Hine said. “The first time we tried, I had a student pretending to swim on the floor because they didn’t realize they were not actually there.” Kaiden Eikelboom, a fifth grader who is interested in science and math at first didn’t think the googles would be able to show a vivid look of a location or landscape. “I didn’t really believe here that we could do this. Once I saw it, I thought anything can be possible,” Eikelboom said. He was excited to be able to travel to the moon with the goggles. “We got to see Neil Armstrong and we got to see the footsteps,” Eikelboom said. The Googles are also allowing students to explore places on earth. “I’ve never been to a forest but when I looked into the Google goggles, it made me feel that I was right there,” Raye Elementary third grader Kordell Williams said. According to 3rd grade teacher Megan Richards, the technology has sparked curiosity from the students. “I knew they would be excited about it but when you actually experience their excitement for their learning and they want to learn more, it really makes their learning come alive," Richards said. Hine agrees and added that she has noticed the grades of students interested in science improve since she started using the Googles in the classroom. “When they see it more in 3D. They get to understand better. They get their faces light up and be more involved and more engaged,” Hine said. Both teachers plan to evaluate the impact of the goggles at the end of the school year. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.

The Hewitt post office will be holding a passport fair next Saturday. The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 10. Appointments will not be required on this day, so customers are encouraged to show up early, as applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served basis until the applicant maximum capacity has been reached. Below is the following address. 901 S. Hewitt Dr. Hewitt, TX 76643 Saturday, February 10, 2018 10:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. To obtain a passport you will need the following: Bring proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; naturalization certificate (a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable); consular report of birth abroad; certificate of citizenship; or a previous U.S. passport. Each applicant must bring a clear photocopy of their proof of American citizenship that will be presented at the time of passport acceptance. If the document is two-sided, then a photocopy of the front and back of the document must be provided. Bring proof of identity. This must be either: a previous U.S. passport or passport card; certificate of naturalization with identifiable photo attached; certificate of citizenship with identifiable photo attached; valid driver’s license (not temporary or learner’s permit); Official U.S. military or military dependent identification card; government employee identification card (federal, state, municipal, county); current valid foreign passport. Each applicant must bring a clear photocopy of their proof of identity that will be presented at the time of passport acceptance. If the document is two-sided, then a photocopy of the front and back of the document must be provided. The passport application requires recent color passport photograph of you (2” x 2” in size), which the Post Office Passport Office can provide for $15. To save time, customers may download a passport application at www.usps.com/passport to complete beforehand. All applicants must appear in person (including minors). Minors under the age of 16 must appear with both parents. If one parent is not available, a notarized authorization from the absent parent is required. Each passport for an adult must be accompanied by a check or money order for $110 made payable to the U.S. State Department and a $25 execution fee made payable to Postmaster. Fees for children under 16 are $80 and $25. The cost to expedite processing at the Department of State is $60 paid per application in addition to required fees. Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.