http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/ Serving Riverhead Since 1857 en-us http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_produce_stef After an influential nudge from Senator Charles Schumer, the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, which owns food-chain giants Waldbaum's and Pathmark, agreed this week to begin buying tons of fresh produce they sell on Long Island from Long Island farmers, following a sourcing practice started nearly a decade ago by Bethpage-based King Kullen supermarkets. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R071708_RBA_mw For years, it's been obligatory for Riverhead's political leaders to proclaim themselves loudly and often as "business friendly," disavowing attempts to stand in the way of progress with petty bureaucracy and ever more regulations that seem oblivious to the way the real world works. But until recently, with the formation of the Riverhead Business Alliance, there's never been a coherent voice to call them on it. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_water_stef Attempting to resuscitate their browning lawns and wilting gardens after three weeks of hardly any rain, to say nothing of seven days of scorching heat, local homeowners created a potential crisis for the Riverhead Water District over the weekend by excessive watering, which dropped reserves to dangerous levels. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_drowning_GAN A 34-year-old man was found drowned in Wildwood Lake in Northampton Sunday afternoon, according to Southampton Town Police. Lucas Saban Chamale, 34, of Riverhead, a native of Guatemala, was found floating in the lake and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police, who said the preliminary investigation indicated Mr. Chamale had been swimming in an area of the lake away from other bathers. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_Perkins_GAN The company that bought the former Henry Perkins Home on West Main Street has not only reopened the facility quietly and with little fanfare, it did so six weeks ago. Medford-based Concern for Independent Living has now completed its renovation of the 79-year-old former hotel and reopened it with 50 apartment units and 50 residents, according to Ralph Fasano, CIL's executive director. He said the apartments were filled in about a week. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_bags_ES Cynthia Redmond uses reusable Elizabeth Haub designer tote bags to carry her groceries. She saw Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" a few years ago. Since then, the 35-year-old Aquebogue resident has carried the bags around with her to avoid using plastic. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_MS_victim_jal In the late 1990s those who knew Elizabeth Rather would tell you about her incredible enthusiasm as a cheerleader at Riverhead High School. They described her then as a bright student with lots of promise who played softball, worked as a lifeguard at Iron Pier Beach, played the flute, was an Irish step dancer and had energy that inspired everyone around her. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_THN_GAN Gas prices may have risen pretty quickly in recent months, but gas station attendants are still going to have to climb a ladder to change them, if Riverhead Town has anything to say about it. The Valero gas station on Route 25 and South Jamesport Avenue in Jamesport last week installed a digital price sign, allowing attendants to change the prices posted on the sign without having to climb up and physically change the numbers. But the town quickly hit them with a summons for violating the town's sign ordinance, according to building department coordinator Leroy Barnes. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_Big_Duck_Ranch_GAN The Big Duck is already listed on both the state and national registers of historic places. Now, the Big Duck Ranch is expected to make the state register as well. What's the Big Duck Ranch? It's the 11.3 acres surrounding the Big Duck at its new (and old) site on Flanders Road. The New York State Board of Historic Preservation recommended Big Duck Ranch and 32 other sites for inclusion in the registry last month. The state commissioner of parks, recreation and historic places is expected to formally approve the site's official listing soon, according to spokesman Dan Keefe. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_irish_dg Heat and humidity could not squelch Irish pride at the Long Island Irish Festival at Abbess Farm in Calverton this past weekend. Luckily for those with pale northern European complexions, the fifth annual festival took place under the shade of white tents. Three tents featured live music by nearly 40 bands, ranging from guitar ballads to bagpipes to upbeat dance music. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_helicopter_GAN A state Supreme Court justice last week issued a temporary restraining order barring a Calverton resident from landing his helicopter on his Deep Hole Road property. The order came as part of a lawsuit the Town of Riverhead filed earlier this year against Walter Gezari, his wife, Debbie Ma, and his company, Inter-Archipelago Airways. Town officials say they brought the action after receiving complaints from neighboring residents about the helicopter landings, which began last summer. http://www2.timesreview.com/NR/stories/R072408_teachers_cr Once there's no more pencils, no more books, what exactly are some teachers doing during the summertime? Teaching computer graphics and advanced placement art at Riverhead High School is Vinny Nasta's full-time job from September to June. But once school's out, his students aren't the only ones flying high.