Calverton man arrested for unlawfully selling fireworks

Long Island Morning Edition

Striking Stop & Shop workers who walked out of the supermarket chain’s East Hampton and Southampton stores yesterday are expected back on the job today.

Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that unionized meat and seafood workers and Stop & Shop reached a tentative contract deal last night after a strike at two of its east end stores earlier Tuesday and months of negotiations, union officials said.

Workers at Stop & Shop in Southampton and East Hampton went on strike early Tuesday after a late-night bargaining session between Stop & Shop and members of UFCW Local 342.

The daylong strike was limited to the two locations, where the union represents all workers, including cashiers, officials with Local 342 said.

Hours after the union had called for a strike of the stores, a contract deal was reached, officials with Local 342 said.

Speaking on behalf of Local 342 president Deana Abondolo, Keeley Lampo, director of activities and communications for the union, said Abondolo was “proud of the negotiation committee.”

“She was blown away by their efforts, their dedication and perseverance to not just settle for anything, but to get exactly what they deserve,” Lampo said. “The back-and-forth with the company over the last several weeks were not for the weak of heart.”

The local represents around 1,230 workers, mostly meat and seafood workers, at 68 of Stop & Shop’s locations across the Northeast. Members voted to authorize a strike on June 20 after eight months of negotiations following the expiration of their previous contract in October.

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A Calverton man was arrested yesterday on charges of unlawfully selling fireworks valued at $500 or more, Riverhead Police said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

As reported on Riverheadlocal.com, the arrest came after an investigation by the Riverhead Police Department Detective Division into community complaints about illegal fireworks being used and sold by Thomas Smith of 65 Laurin Road, Calverton, police said..

The investigation revealed that Smith was traveling to Pennsylvania to purchase large quantities of illegal fireworks for resale on Long Island, police said.

Police yesterday arrested Smith, 60, for violating New York State Penal Law §270.00 (2)(ii), a class A misdemeanor, according to the press release.

The investigation into Smith and his customer base is ongoing, police said. Police urge any additional witnesses to contact them at 631-727-4500 or the Department’s Crime Hotline at 631-727-3333. All calls will be kept confidential, police said. The Riverhead Police Department said residents should remember that, due to the inherent danger of handling fireworks, firework demonstrations should always be left to the professionals so they can be enjoyed in a safe environment.

Riverhead Town will be hosting a fireworks display at the Alive on 25 street festival on Friday July 5 beginning at 9 p.m.

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The Southampton Village Independence Day Parade tomorrow will be one of the largest and longest running 4th of July Parades on Long Island. The parade begins at 10am in Railroad Plaza…where you’ll be able to see a special Heart of the East End live broadcast from 9am to 11am tomorrow on air and on the street with Gianna Volpe and Michael Mackey speaking with local folk and other dignitaries celebrating the United States of America’s founding 248 years ago…then from the train station the parade marches south on North Main Street, to Main Street, makes a right onto Jobs Lane, and concludes in front of the review stand by Monument Square at Agawam Park.

That’s the Fourth of July Parade tomorrow morning in Southampton.

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Suffolk County Sheriff Errol J. Toulon Jr. held a press conference at Coast Guard Station Shinnecock in Hampton Bays yesterday to discuss DWI and boating while intoxicated enforcement during this Fourth of July week. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Sheriff Toulon said area police agencies and the Coast Guard will increase BWI enforcement this year, as he noted that “boating while impaired is equally dangerous, but historically harder to enforce than driving while under the influence.

Toulon said that the enforcement efforts will feature more checkpoints conducted by the department’s Marine Bureau and the East End Marine Task Force. He also said that there will be more enforcement on the roads as well.

“We will be enhancing patrols throughout Suffolk County, from the Hamptons to Huntington, on both roadways and waterways,” Toulon said. “We have already increased our DWI enforcement efforts this year, making 71 arrests so far, and we will continue to crack down on impaired driving, especially during the high-risk summer months.”

At Tuesday afternoon's press conference, Coast Guard Station Shinnecock Commanding Officer Christopher Skala talked about the importance of boating safety practices for those on the water this summer, including wearing life jackets and having the proper fire safety gear. Regarding BWI incidents, Skala said that “just like driving a vehicle, operating a vessel under the influence is inherently dangerous for yourself and other boaters.”

Additionally, Allen Bode, chief assistant district attorney from District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office, encouraged people to use rideshare apps if they plan on drinking. Bode said that with the amount of rideshare apps and services available, “there’s no excuse in this day and age not to preplan before you party.”

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The Farrell Companies have purchased the Dime Community Bank building at the corner of Montauk Highway and Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton and plan to make the new building the firm’s headquarters as soon as it is renovated. The building was originally constructed in the 1990s as a main office for the Bridgehampton National Bank. Stephen J. Kotz reports on 27east.com that Farrell Companies founder Joe Farrell, who recently completed construction of a new headquarters for his expanding business a few blocks east on the south side of Montauk Highway, across from the Bridgehampton Post Office, said he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to buy “arguably the best piece of property in the Hamptons, period.”

“I just thought it was an incredible opportunity to put our brand on that building for the next 100 years,” added Farrell.

After negotiating for about a year, Farrell said he and Dime agreed on a $12.5 million purchase price.

Dime Community Bank, which was created by the merger of BNB Bank and Dime Community Bank in 2021, has its headquarters in Hauppauge.

Dime will continue to lease space for a branch office in the Bridgehampton building, according to Steve Miley, Dime’s chief marketing officer.

Farrell said he would convert most of the building into office space for his real estate and construction businesses. He said he planned to renovate the basement of the building into a gym with a boxing ring, among other amenities, to be used by his employees.

Farrell built his first office building on the site of the former Elaine Benson Gallery. He has since leased that property to Greenberg Traurig LLP, a law firm. He said he would also lease his new office building, which is right next door in Bridgehampton.