Town Board discusses bow-hunting for deer, riverfront photo collage

Riverhead Town will support a request to the state assembly asking it to change state law to allow bow-hunting for deer in closer proximity to someone else’s property.

Current regulations require a distance of at least 500 feet and advocates of hunting as a means of culling the deer herd on Long Island, say a distance of 150 feet is adequate.

The bill, supported by County Legislator Al Krupski, would relax the setback requirements in the five East End towns. Krupski asked the Riverhead town board for a letter in support of the measure.

Councilman George Gabrielsen said bow-hunters won’t shoot at a target more than 30 to 40 yards away, because an accurate shot can’t be taken at a greater distance.

L.I. Cauliflower Association plans new building
The Long Island Cauliflower Association’s plan to replace a 1950s-era storage building on its Marcy Avenue property got a thumbs-up from Riverhead Town Board members at Thursday’s work session.

The three town board members present — Supervisor Sean Walter and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio were absent — agreed to LICA’s request for a special permit to construct a new building.

The footprint of the new building won’t be any larger than the existing structure, and since the gross floor area will increase less than 10 percent, the board can approve a special permit without first holding a public hearing.

The pre-existing building is non-conforming because it does not meet the current zoning’s setback requirements, deputy town attorney William Duffy told the board. The special permit will eliminate the need to seek variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals, Duffy said.

“It really looks nondescript to me,” Councilman James Wooten said of the new building. plan “You’re improving your property. You’ve been good neighbors. It’s an in-kind replacement.”

Riverfront photo collage coming

Board members agreed to give consent to East Quogue photographer Meryl Spiegel to construct a “large-scale interactive photo collage” on the Peconic Riverfront.

The collage, printed on aluminum about six feet wide, would be “a way to celebrate the river,” Spiegel said. She said she’d teach a series of photography workshops in Riverhead and use images produced by students to create the collage. The student images would be incorporated into a photo of the riverfront and boardwalk.

Board members agreed to pass a resolution in support of the project and, in response to Siegel’s request for financial support from the town, suggested she speak with Riverhead CDA director Christine Kempner. Spiegel said the art installation would cost upwards of $11,000. She has already applied for a state arts grant through the Huntington Arts Council, she said.

Spiegel said she hopes to unveil the work at next year’s holiday bonfire.

Business Improvement District Management Association president Ray Pickersgill said the BID supports the project.

Photo credit: Stock photo from 123rf.com