The legislator joins a chorus of community members who have taken steps to better the odds of the ABC network's choosing the Riverhead family for an episode.

Each episode documents a family in need as its house gets transformed in seven days.

Duffy and Wendy Griffiths, deli owners from Jamesport, got the idea to circulate a petition in support of the Behrs after the couple remembered seeing an episode that highlighted one community's outpouring.

They learned of the Behrs' application, submitted by one of Jared's schoolteachers, in a News-Review article that ran in May. A few weeks later, they had posted petitions and copies of the article at two Duffy's Deli locations in Jamesport and Riverhead.

They collected 3,326 names in just over three weeks.

Mr. Griffiths, who like John Behr is a volunteer firefighter and an EMT, said most of their customers signed the petition without a second thought.

"Most people that knew the story obviously were very happy that people were trying to do something, and the people that didn't know were definitely touched by it," Mr. Griffiths said.

The petition was also posted at the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance headquarters, Jamesport and Riverhead fire departments and other businesses throughout Riverhead and Southold Towns.

Mr. Griffiths even spent 2 ¬½ hours one day at the Boardy Barn in Hampton Bays, collecting 425 signatures from clubgoers.

"It wasn't really planned to get as large at it was," she said. "We had planned to get it to the two delis and get word of mouth, but we then realized to get more names we had to push even harder.

"I have two kids, and Jared himself just breaks my heart," she later said. "My husband volunteers his time just like Heidi did, and I watch him go out of the house at 2, 4 in the morning. If anything ever happened to him and I needed help I would hope the community would help me."

Aside from the petition, which was sent through certified mail and signed for by an ABC casting director, and Mr. Romaine's letter, other people are also writing e-mails in support, Ms. Griffiths said. Aside from Jared's teacher's nomination, another person happened to suggest the Behrs for the show and sent a second video application.

"[ABC] is getting bombarded from all ends with the Behr name," Ms. Griffiths said. Several people who signed the petition also volunteered to help the Behrs with time or money if they're not chosen by ABC. The Griffiths said they have a stack of business cards from people wishing to help.

Reached at home, Ms. Behr said they have not yet heard from the show's producers, but noted the application, sent in April, indicated it could take six to eight month for a decision to be reached.

She also said that with all the exposure, she already feels like a sort of local celebrity.

"We've gotten a lot of response form the community," said Ms. Behr, a waitress who had to cut her hours to care for Jared and her ailing parents. "We can't go a day without someone asking, 'Have you heard?' We don't even know these people, but they all say, 'Hi' and ask."

Representatives of the show could not be reached for comment.

Some locals aren't waiting for the Behrs to hear from ABC to take action.

Guy and Stephanie Cawley, of Northhampton, and their four children, ages 5 through 9, got sponsorship from Sunkist to set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the Behrs last weekend in Riverhead.

Ms. Cawley said they raised over $300 in a mere three hours while the group worked the lemonade stand in front of Riverhead Building Supply, where John Behr works full time.

"The people were amazing. They would come over and drop fives, tens, twenties, even if they didn't want the lemonade," said Ms. Cawley. "And I liked that my children learned they were working to help another family."

Mr. Romaine said he learned of the Behr's TV show application while at an annual Heidi Behr charity golf tournament at Island's End Golf Club in Greenport.

"It's a great thing," he said of the show. "You see people, and their backs are really against the wall, and you see they get these new homes and the tears in their eyes," he said. "Somebody finally came by and helped them. That doesn't happen to a lot of people, so it's nice that it happens to some people."

He also thought the needs of the Behrs, coupled with their charity and volunteerism as a family, as well as their great sacrifices in caring for Jared, would make compelling television.

"I think it would be great thing for the community and they are very deserving and have great need," he said. "The family has done a lot for the community. It's about time we gave back."

e-mail: mwhite@timesreview.com

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