Stony Brook Southampton Windmill Moves Closer to Restoration

Long Island Morning Edition

New York State has unexpectedly hit the brakes on three large offshore wind projects it awarded last year for the waters between Long Island and New Jersey, citing “technical and commercial complexities” with a turbine manufacturer. Mark Harrington reports on Newsday.com that the decision to nix the three projects comes atop months of hard knocks for the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry and poses big challenges for New York’s plans for some 9,000 megawatts of the green energy by 2035, including the state’s plan to subsidize the manufacture of turbines in New York.

The industry had already been beset by soaring costs for turbine materials and rising interest rates, leading to canceled projects in New Jersey, New England and Maryland. Overseas wind-energy developers have taken billions of dollars in impairment charges reflecting the lower value of the projects.

The three newly canceled New York projects, known as Community Offshore Wind, Excelsior Wind and Attentive Energy One, represented just over 4,000 megawatts of that plan — nearly half the state’s goal.

Officials blamed a decision by manufacturer GE Vernova to cancel its plans to make the largest turbines on the market, at 18 megawatts each.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which has been administering the awards, said yesterday it would open a new “request for information” in advance of a new offshore wind bidding process.

So far, the only working commercial offshore wind project in the country is South Fork Wind, a project by the Long Island Power Authority. The 12-turbine project, which was not administered by NYSERDA, is sending its power to the South Fork of Long Island.

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The dilapidated, historic windmill sitting at the heart of Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus is officially one step closer to returning to its former glory. Michelle Trauring reports on 27east.com that Governor Kathy Hochul’s $237 billion budget, which was approved this past Saturday includes authorization for Stony Brook University to enter into a long-term lease, not to exceed 100 years, with Southampton Town in order to rehabilitate the windmill — which was condemned last year — using money from the Community Preservation Fund. NYS Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., who introduced the legislation with State Senator Anthony Palumbo, said the repairs could cost up to $2 million and expects discussions between Southampton Town and Stony Brook University to start in the coming months. “The windmill’s always been a symbol of the campus and a symbol of that property. I think it’s gonna be a symbol again,” Thiele said. “The rehabilitation of the windmill is going to be the symbol of the rebirth of the campus.”

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The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) is now accepting applications for its 2024 Student Scholarship program. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 10th, 2024.

Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame will award $500 scholarships to graduating students. These scholarships will provide funding to eligible graduating high school students from Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, or Kings (Brooklyn) Counties who have shown an interest in pursuing a career in music. To apply and to read the eligibility requirements, please download the scholarship application here.

Student Scholarships Applications Deadline: Friday, May 10, 2024.

All applications must be postmarked by the application due date in order to be accepted.

For more information about LIMHOF’s education recognition programs, contact Tom Needham, Education Advisory Board Chairman at [e-mail]. More information and applications for both programs may be found here.

The LIMEHOF Education Committee will base selections on the completed application and the following:

· 400-to-500-word essay on education and career goals.

· High school transcript.

· Letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to the applicant’s commitment to a career in music.

Eligibility criteria is:

· Graduating high school senior from Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, or Kings (Brooklyn) Counties.

· Minimum 2.5 GPA.

· Accepted full-time at an accredited college or university.

· Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in music.

· Financial need.

· U.S. citizen or legal resident with I-55 permanent residency.

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Former Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the U.S. House last year over alleged ethical violations, has abandoned his bid to run for New York’s 1st Congressional District seat as an independent. CD-1 includes the East End. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports on Newsday.com that Santos, a Republican who once represented the 3rd Congressional District, announced on the social media site X yesterday that he no longer planned to run for the seat currently held by Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville).

Santos, who is still awaiting trial on federal charges stemming from his 2022 campaign and allegations that he defrauded campaign donors, said he was dropping his latest congressional bid in order to keep the seat in Republican hands. “I don’t want to split the ticket and be responsible for handing the house to Dems,” Santos wrote in his X post.

Democrats John Avlon, a former CNN political commentator and journalist, and Nancy Goroff, the former chair of Stony Brook University’s chemistry department, are currently running in the June Democratic primary as both look to unseat LaLota, a first-term incumbent.

Santos’ removal from office forced a special election in February that led to the reelection of Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove). Suozzi’s victory and a number of early Republican retirements mean the GOP holds only a razor-thin voting majority in the House.

Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

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The Riverhead Town Board will begin its official public review tomorrow of the comprehensive plan update that’s been in the works since 2019. The board is scheduled to accept a draft impact statement for the plan, issue a notice of completion and schedule public hearings on the document at a special meeting Thursday morning.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the acceptance and notice of completion begins a period of public review and comment required by the NYS Environmental Quality Review Act. After the review and 30-day comment period are concluded, including the required public hearings, town planners will gather and respond to comments on the draft impact statement. The draft plan, comments and responses together will be published as a final generic impact statement, which will be then accepted by the board. That will complete the review process and allow the Town of Riverhead to adopt a findings statement and a final plan.

At that point, it will be up to the town to adopt code changes to implement the plan.

Representatives of BFJ Planning, the consulting firm hired to complete the comprehensive plan update begun by a prior consulting firm in 2020, are scheduled to meet with the Town Board tomorrow morning to present the draft plan and discuss next steps.

The special meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Riverhead Town Hall, 4 West Second St., Riverhead.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the Riverhead Town website and carried live on Optimum Cable Channel 22.

The meeting will also be available via Zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86764686629?pwd=ckNaTU1XZnUycW1CRE5WYVlYOHFKZz09 - or by phone at 1 [phone].

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For the first time ever, the Shelter Island Friends of Music and the Perlman Music Program (PMP) are presenting a Works In Progress chamber concert at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. Featuring 21 gifted young musicians, including 14 from Israel, the event is scheduled for tomorrow evening at 7pm. Perlman Music Program has featured an Israel Residency for its young students since 1999. “This year, more than ever, we are focused on fulfilling our commitment to nurturing young Israeli string players by providing them with a much-needed safer space to hone their craft...” they said. Shelter Island Friends of Music looks forward to hearing these

PMP chamber groups in our own acoustically wonderful venue.

As always, admission is free. Donations are encouraged and will be shared by SIFM and PMP.

For more information, visit ShelterIslandFriendsofMusic.org

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Opportunistic squatters have long been a worry for New York property owners, but a portion of the 2024 state budget promises to change that, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. “As part of the historic actions to address the housing crisis in the FY 2025 Budget, Governor Hochul reached an agreement to reinforce existing law to make clear that squatters are not tenants, supporting property owners statewide,” a Hochul spokesperson said.

The “optics” of a homeowner handcuffed after changing the locks on a squatter in her Queens home worth $1 million pushed New York lawmakers to enact a harsh new law to protect property owners, a real estate attorney told Fox News Digital. As reported in THE NY POST, a portion of New York’s 2024 state budget agreement, signed into law by Gov. Hochul specifically excludes squatters from tenant protections under state law. The language defines a squatter as someone staying on a property without permission from its owner or the owner’s representative. This wording, lawmakers said, will make it easier for police to intervene in squatting cases, sparing homeowners months or even years in housing court.

Real estate lawyer Michael Romer told Fox News Digital the case of Brian Rodriguez pushed lawmakers “over the finish line” to pass anti-squatter legislation. Rodriguez had allegedly commandeered and subletted a home in Queens and summoned police to detain owner Adele Andaloro after she tried to change the locks. Romer told Fox News Digital he has seen an “uptick” in instances of squatting complaints from clients compared to his earlier 20 years practicing real estate law.