http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/ Serving Riverhead Since 1857 en-us http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_Jaffe_ES Balancing himself on a narrow deck at Brewer's Yacht Yard in Greenport early last week, Nick Jaffe looked as weather-worn as his little sailboat. Overly sunbaked, the good-looking blond had a few bleached-out spots on his arms from sun poisoning. He had a stuffy nose. He looked tired. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_plum_den It's the meeting before the hearing. Exactly a week before the Department of Homeland Security's scheduled public hearing in Greenport on the draft environmental impact statement for its planned National Bio- and Agri-Defense Facility, Supervisor Scott Russell will host a meeting at Southold Town Hall on the subject of Plum Island. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_voice_den SoutholdVOICE, which bills itself as an organization for Southold's "waterfront stakeholders," held its second annual meeting Saturday morning at the Southold Town Recreation Center. Approximately 90 people turned out to hear updates from the fledgling organization's board of directors on progress made in its first full year of existence. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_beixedon_den The Peconic Baykeeper and a homeowners organization called Save the Beixedon Beach Group have joined forces in a lawsuit asking a state court to throw out a trustees permit issued in March to John Nickles Sr., allowing the construction of a 278-foot timber jetty off Arshamomaque Avenue east of the channel into Petty's Pond in Southold Bay. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_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/ST/stories/T072408_candidates_ag In the race to represent the state's First Assembly District, Republican challenger Jim Staudenraus and Democratic incumbent Marc Alessi are both quick to point out fuel prices and property taxes as two of the biggest issues facing constituents. "I think the economy will be front and center in voters' minds this fall," said Mr. Staudenraus, a 53-year-old from Shelter Island. "We're taxing ourselves to death, and I see our quality of living is threatened." http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_VillageNotes_jal A suggestion that Greenport lower its weekday rates for boats to dock at the Mitchell Park Marina got short shrift from Village Board members Monday night. Because the marina, which tends to do a brisk weekend business, is often fairly empty during the week, some have suggested lowering the price, according to Mayor David Nyce. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_EMCA_jal In a wide-ranging question and answer session with members of the East Marion Community Association last Thursday at the East Marion firehouse, Supervisor Scott Russell laid the blame for what he said was uneven code enforcement in Southold Town at the feet of code enforcement officer Ed Forrester and members of the building department. He also criticized the state Department of Environmental Conservation for failing to mitigate issues of drainage and water runoff affecting East Marion streets and waterways. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_dragonflies_mm If you happened to pass Skipper Horton Park on your way out of Greenport Saturday afternoon, you might have wondered if all those women running up and down with butterfly nets were having any luck. Well, they were -- but not with butterflies. The hunt was for dragonflies and damselflies and was the practical (and really fun) part of "Dragonflies 101," a program organized by the North Fork Audubon Society for first-time dragonfly hunters. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_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/ST/stories/T072408_sewers_jal Now that Greenport has lifted its moratorium on sewer hookups outside the village, Trustee Bill Swiskey and Mayor Dave Nyce have unleashed a war over what to charge and whether new utilities chief Jack Naylor is overstepping his bounds and failing to protect the interests of the village. http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_Gateway_jal Charging Greenport Village with "incompetence in handling an application for Greenport Gateway to develop a mixed-use residential and commercial building in downtown," attorney Anthony Pasca of the Riverhead law firm of Esseks, Hefter & Angel LLP wants the Village Board to "take some responsibility and see to it that this process is brought to a conclusion." http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/stories/T072408_birdhouses_jal Next time someone tells you it's "for the birds," you might think twice about the potential value. On Saturday, Aug. 2, the Oysterponds Historical Society will auction off unique birdhouses designed by renowned area architects. The idea to ask area architects to design birdhouses instead of auctioning the works of local artists came from Emma Trenti-Paroli of Orient, who is coordinating this year's fundraising benefit. But a look at the completed birdhouses defies anyone to identify them as anything but works of art. Because Orient has been designated an "Important Bird Area" by the Audubon Society, the tie-in with birdhouses seemed natural, according to Keri Ockenden-Christ, an organizing committee member at whose Orient home the birdhouses have found temporary refuge.