GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Southold’s Alex Poliwoda sliding safely under Shelter Island shortstop Hunter Starzee and kicking up a dust cloud.

FIRST SETTLERS 3, INDIANS 1

The same instinct that tells Southold’s baseball coach, Mike Carver, when to call for a bunt or a hit-and-run, told him that something was up.

After Friday’s game, Carver was trailing his players as they marched from their Southold High School field to the gym. Then, one of his players, Anthony Esposito, lugging a large, apparently empty water bucket with him, tracked back to the field, past Carver, saying he forgot something on the bench. While Carver and the rest of the First Settlers stopped and waited for him, Esposito walked back to the bench, picked up a package of crackers and then returned Carver’s way. With the coach eyeing him suspiciously, Esposito suddenly hurled water that had been in the bucket at Carver, who quickly jumped aside so that only some of the water hit him.

As far as Gatorade baths go, it wasn’t the best, but it was the spirit behind the subterfuge that counted.

The First Settlers had their own way of celebrating Carver’s 150th career win, a 3-1 victory over Shelter Island that moved them a step closer to the playoffs in the process.

“It was just a last-minute thing,” Southold third baseman Alex Poliwoda said. “We kept a little bit of water in the water bucket and said, ‘We should get him with this.’ He’s got to expect it. It was a great win, 150.”

The Suffolk County Baseball Coaches Association will recognize the milestone with a plaque for Carver, whose 12-year record is 150-102 (.595). Prior to the start of this season, Carver ranked 14th among the county’s active coaches in wins.

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Southold second baseman Sean Moran backhanded this ground ball but was unable to make a play on it.

“It’s a nice accomplishment,” Carver, 40, said. “It’s a nice milestone. I’m real proud of what we, the team, the boys over the years have accomplished with Southold baseball. I’m proud of that. It’s definitely a sign that we had success. We have had success. Without the players, we wouldn’t have any wins.”

The win on Friday, Southold’s sixth straight, did the team’s playoff chances a world of good. The First Settlers (9-5, 9-5 League IX) need two wins from their final six regular-season games (three each against Smithtown Christian and Greenport) in order to clinch a postseason place.

“We’re in a great position right now,” Poliwoda said. He said the team’s playoff scenario is “doable, so I feel pretty confident.”

Rob Mahony (2-2) turned in the complete-game win with eight strikeouts. He allowed six hits and three walks.

The First Settlers scratched out the win with the aid of two runs in the third inning. Three successive doubles by Noah Mina, Anthony Fedele and Poliwoda brought in those runs for a 3-0 lead.

Southold had opened the scoring in the first. Poliwoda led off with a single, stole second base and, after two walks, came home on a fielder’s choice by Dillon Engels.

Shelter Island’s sole run came in the fourth. Hunter Starzee, who led off by shooting a single to right field, stole second base and advanced to third on a single by Matt BeltCappellino. Then Starzee scored when a fly ball by Spencer Gibbs was misplayed in the outfield for the game’s only error.

Shelter Island’s leadoff hitter, Riley Willumsen, produced three singles.

The Indians, who returned to varsity baseball after five straight years of junior varsity ball, dropped to 2-12, 2-12 with their sixth loss in a row.

Shelter Island coach Peter Miedema said the move back to the varsity level on Shelter Island brought some excitement as well as a little “nervousness” among his players. Although the core of the team is made up of juniors, he said, “We had to take some eighth-graders and some ninth-graders, and that’s a scary thought to go from a junior high to a varsity level.”

“Batting-wise, it’s tough for us to put together six, seven good at-bats in a row,” Miedema said. “The pitching has improved … and the defense has improved immensely. Hopefully the wins come eventually.”

The progress was evident on Friday. Absent were the handful of errors that the Indians have been known to make in a game (they had none Friday). BeltCappellino (1-5) gave up five hits before being relieved by Gibbs with two out in the fourth.

“We knew we weren’t going to be that good [this season], but it’s a little tougher than we expected,” Willumsen said. “We’re still working on a lot of things that we have to work out, but we’re getting better.”

Carver’s big day clearly meant something to his players.

“It just feels great to be part of the history of Southold baseball,” Poliwoda said. “You know, being part of his 150th win, we all did it together. It just feels great to be part of that.”

bliepa@timesreview.com

JO ANN KIRKLAND PHOTO

If you know, let us know. Send your responses to a.clancy@sireporter.com or phone 749-1000, extension 18.

Seniors in teacher Peter Miedema’s class were on top of last week’s mystery photo (below), calling early to identify the beautiful mosaic of a ferry in the floor of the Shelter Island School’s lobby.

Karen Brush weighed in shortly after with the correct answer, followed by Capt. C. Stone, who both appreciate the beauty and craft of the tile work. It was created by teacher Stephanie Sareyani and her art class a few years ago, according to School District Clerk Jacki Dunning.

It was “part of the beautification of the lobby,” Ms. Dunning said. “For a long time, the kids wouldn’t walk on it.”

JO ANN KIRKLAND PHOTO

BEVERLEA WALZ PHOTO |
The Shelter Island junior varsity boys basketball team on the break in a victory over the Ross School Monday.

As we enter the holiday season, a new year of Shelter Island School girls and boys winter sports is under way. This includes the Shelter Island boys varsity and JV basketball teams.

On the sidelines this year are returning Head Coach Jay Card and assistants Ian Kanarvogel, Jimbo Theinert, Jim Colligan and Peter Miedema.

On Monday, Coach Card watched the junior high boys — 7th and 8th grades — basketball team as they won an impressive game over the Ross School.

When asked about his vision for the upcoming season, Coach Card said, “First and foremost, a main goal this year is to stay healthy. It’s a long season and players need to keep away from the injury bug as well as keep themselves healthy off the court.”

Coach Card hopes the varsity team can build on last year’s strong finish when the team was clicking down the stretch. He’s also counting on his seniors for leadership on and off the court.

This past year many players worked hard, competing in spring, summer and fall basketball leagues, keeping in condition through competitive games.

The JV team, which shares gym time with the varsity, has a large squad this year. Ian Kanarvogel returns as coach and said he’ll be focusing on teaching his charges how to play as a team and improving basketball skills to prepare them for the varsity level.

The teams were in action  at home against non-league opponent East Rockaway Friday night.

Come out and support the teams at their first home game of the season.

See you at the gym!

AMBROSE CLANCY PHOTO

If you know, let us know. Send your responses to a.clancy@sireporter.com or phone at (631) 749-1000, extension 18.

Last week’s What Is That? was a contest but also a public service. The photo (see below) is of a custom-made covering used by the Shelter Island Heights Pharmacy to enclose deliveries of a box of bread and rolls, which arrive daily before the pharmacy opens to a perch on the porch.

The cover is to keep birds, squirrels and other critters away from the baked goods, Greg Ofrias of the pharmacy told us.

Jack Capon stopped by the office this week with the correct answer and Peter Miedema called to let us know he also knew what the cover is for.

Now, for the pubic service part: This is the second custom made cover, Mr. Ofrias told us, since one early bird of the human variety stole the original. “If you have it, please bring it back,” he said.

AMBROSE CLANCY PHOTO

The post What is that? appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

COURTESY PHOTO
Nicholas Vecchio in the produce department of Southeast Grocers’ flagship Winn-Dixie store.

Nicholas Vecchio lives in Jacksonville, Florida these days. But he grew up in Shelter Island, which will always hold a special place in his heart — and for good reason.

“Sixteen years ago this Christmas, Islanders showed their true colors when they came to our aid after we had a house fire in the early morning hours of Christmas Day,” Nicholas explained. “The love and support we received is something my family will never forget, and is truly what makes Shelter Island special.”

Nicholas, 26, will be returning to the Island again this year to spend Christmas with his family who live off Sylvan Road. He notes that his mother makes a wonderful dinner, and his favorite part of the Island around the holidays are the seasonal decorations.

“We all know the Island is quiet in the winter, but the fact that storefronts are still decorated, the Police Department lights the tree, and even the ferries have wreaths on them all makes it feel even more welcoming,” he said. “My dad does a good job of putting lights on our house, and I love the way our lights reflect across a calm Chase Creek — you get a good view from New York Avenue.”

While his upcoming visit will primarily be focused on family, there’s a chance Nicholas may also run into some of the individuals who guided him over the years at Shelter Island School.

Numbers have always been Nicholas’s thing. In high school he excelled in Audrey Pedersen’s math class and Ann Marie Galasso’s science class. But in his senior year, it was a class on stock trading in Peter Miedema’s economics course which set Mr. Vecchio on the path that would ultimately define his career.

“That’s how I got the idea of finance in my head,” Nicholas said.

He was valedictorian of his Shelter Island High School class of 2008. Today, he is a finance manager with Southeastern Grocers, the fifth-largest conventional supermarket chain in the United States, comprised of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, located in seven states throughout the South. With 1,000 people, including Nicholas, based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, and more than 66,000 associates working throughout all of Southeast Grocers’ stores, it’s a company environment that dwarfs the population of Nicholas’s hometown.

But he remains pragmatic about his humble beginnings, and feels that hailing from a place like the Island has served him well in the wider world, since coming from a small community helped him socially. Nicholas explained that as a result of his upbringing, when he got to college he looked to create a small group of friends.

“We might not have had a lot in common, but we kept a close group,” he said. “Shelter Island is always a story. When you say you went to a public school that only graduates 20 kids a year, people are flabbergasted.

Nicholas earned his undergraduate degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. During his first semester in the fall of 2008, world markets were rocked by the U.S. housing crisis and subsequent financial meltdown, which quickly caused Nicholas to shift his educational focus from investment banking to finance.

“I always tell the story as an aside, but the day I decided I wanted to change to finance at Tulane, the Dow fell over 700 points,” he said. “I knew eventually it would recover, but the 2008 crash changed my track.”

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Tulane in 2012, with a major in finance and a minor in accounting.

But upon graduating, he realized the economy still hadn’t rebounded to the extent he would have liked.

“Job prospects were not good then. So I went right away to grad school that next fall,” Nicholas said.

He enrolled in a 16-month program in finance at the University of Tampa. By that point, he realized educational institutions had worked a new lesson into the curriculum.

“By the time I got to my masters program, we understood what got us to the financial crisis and the process needed to fix it, and the slow growth back,” Nicholas said.

While living in Tampa, he interned at FIS Global, a banking and payment technology company, and eventually worked there as a risk analyst. In February 2015, he began his career at Southeast Grocers as a financial analyst and has since been promoted twice, and now is the treasury manager.

“All the cash inflows and outflows are managed by me and my analyst,” Nicholas said. “Every day, store deposits go in to the bank, and the accounts payable team is paying out most of the bills.”

On any given day multi-millions of dollars can be moved in just a few transactions. He recalled one day moving over $100 million in half an hour.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said. “There are a lot of financial controls we’re under and we’re back and forth with the treasurer.”

Many of those controls are checks and balances that have been put in place in recent decades to ensure everything is being done properly. Even though Southeast Grocers is a private company, as a result of the Enron scandal, corporations have become highly regulated.

“I can’t move the money by myself,” Nicholas said. “It needs a second verification.”

While he admits that at times he misses his hometown, he’s enjoying his career and has found financial advantages to living in Florida. “I’m a homeowner now. Moving away afforded me that,” Nicholas said, noting that he returns to the Island at least twice a year to visit.

Gaining as much experience as possible at Southeast Grocers is a primary goal for Nicholas. He brings to his job the same determination he had in high school.“That’s my own desire,” he said. “Being at a bigger company, sometimes you can get lost in the shuffle. You have to keep the drive and determination going.”

What advice would he give to today’s students at Shelter Island High School?

“When you get to college and are trying to decide what to major in, go with something you’ll enjoy, and second, ask is it practical?” Nicholas said. “If you can manage your time, the payoff is memories that last a lifetime.”

The post Where are they now? Nicholas Vecchio, class of 2008 appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

REPORTER FILE PHOTO
Billy Boeklen, working off a pick set by Semaj Lawrence, driving to the hoop.

Now that the season is over, Shelter Island High School boys varsity basketball Coach Jay Card Jr. said he was satisfied his squad accomplished many of its original goals.

What’s not satisfying is failing to achieve the ultimate goal — a Class D County championship. But the Bridgehampton Killer Bees — the defending New York State champions — were too tough for the Indians in the championship game on February 13.

Nevertheless, Shelter Island finished in third place in League VIII with a solid 8-4 record, behind Bridgehampton and Stony Brook, with both of those teams going 10-2. Overall, the Indians posted 11 victories for the 2015-16 season.

The highlights of the year were beating Pierson and Stony Brook late in the season by 1 point in each game. The team also recorded both home and away victories against East Rockaway, Southold, Greenport and Port Jefferson.

The Indians also beat Hampton Bays earlier in the season in a non-league game.

The sudden death in January of Southold’s varsity coach, Phil Reed, was a shock to our players. The two teams have always shared a bond, plus Coach Reed was a role model for the entire league. He will be deeply missed by many in League VIII and throughout the East End community.

Based on a 5-year study of Shelter Island varsity basketball statistics, this year’s team scored more points (58.63), had more assists (12.7) and shot better from 2-point range (49.3 percent), 3-point range (34.2 percent) and the foul line (68 percent), than any other team in the preceding five years.

But this year’s team gave up an average of 60.47 points per game, the highest total in five years. It’s easy to see why, in light of the statistics, that individual and team defense will be a point of emphasis for Coach Card leading up to the 2016-7 season.

Expressing pride in his entire team, the coach singled out seniors Tristan Wissemann and Billy Boeklen for receiving accolades from the Suffolk County Coaches Association (SCCA). Wissemann earned All-League, All-Conference and All-County honors and was voted Player of League (VIII) by the coaches.

He ended his 3-year varsity career by scoring 1,240 points, shooting 52 percent from 2-point range and 76 percent from the foul line. Wissemann also posted 174 assists, 70 steals, 89 blocks and 652 rebounds during his varsity career.

Boeklen also earned All-League honors for a second straight year, totaling 594 career points, grabbing 170 rebounds, handing out 154 assists, as well as making 70 steals during his 2.2 years of varsity experience.

The honor of “most improved player” on this year’s team is senior guard Jack Kimmelmann. He proved to be a real asset at both ends of the court. As the season progressed, so did his confidence. Although he wasn’t a big scorer, Kimmelmann hit big shots in games that were hanging in the balance.

Peter Kropf, another of our senior guards, also improved as the season progressed. Kropf was honored by the SCCA as a scholar athlete for League VIII. He kept his turnovers to a minimum and managed to grab some key offensive rebounds in closely contested games, helping his team to victory.

Semaj Lawrence, a junior, was the team’s second leading rebounder (181) and third leading scorer (165 points). He also led the team in blocked shots and played a key role in many games this season, gaining the accolade of the “X” factor for his team.

Luke Gilpin, a sophomore transfer from the Stony Brook School, was a great addition to our team. An extremely valuable sixth-man, Gilpin, provided energy at both ends of the court. Unfortunately, a medical issue sidelined Luke during the second half of league-play. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery for the coming season.

Seniors Max Moroz and Henry Lang, as well as junior Will Garrison, made up the remainder of Coach Card’s bench. All three of these fine young men battled every night in practice and combined for 26 points during the season. Although they saw limited time, all three played a key role in the success of the team.

Coach Card noted how proud he was of the junior varsity players. Coach Ian Kanarvogel was challenged to manage the largest JV squad in many years. Both coaches saw a steady growth of skill and dedication by the JV team. Coach Card, losing seven of his nine varsity players, will rely on many of these JV players as they make their way to the varsity level.

Lastly, a special thanks to our official scorers, Kelly Colligan and Connor Rice, for all their hard work and loyal service. A huge thanks goes out to Peter Miedema, Jimbo Theinert and Ian Kanarvogel for providing their input and special talents to our varsity and JV programs. All three men spent countless hours assisting at practices, games and scouting our opponents.

To Cindy Belt and Mark Cappellino — we appreciated your outstanding basketball articles in the Reporter and for helping to keep stats as well.

Finally, to all our fans, cheerleaders, parents, chaperones and school administrators, the coaches and team thank you for your loyal support throughout our season.

The post Year in Review: Basketball team battled way to winning season appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

AMBROSE CLANCY PHOTO
Three high school students addressed the Town Board Tuesday. From left, Nicolette Frasco, Olivia Yeaman and Julia Labrozzi.

High school teacher Peter Miedema brought his senior class in government Tuesday to attend the Town Board’s work session. At the end of the meeting, when residents can address the board on any topic, three students, Julia Labrozzi, Olivia Yeaman and Nicolette Frasco eloquently explained their concerns that in the near future there’s the possibility there will be no place for them on the Island.

Poised and confident, Ms. Labrozi explained that in their class they have been following the issue of the lack of affordable hosing on the Island. A group of her classmates, Ms. Labrozzi said, are concerned about being able to live here after they’ve completed their educations.

She noted that young people are vital to the Island on many levels, including staffing the volunteer Emergency Medical Services and the Fire Department. “I don’t think Shelter Island can grow and prosper” without young families living here full-time, Ms. Labrozzi said. “If there aren’t people who are willing to give their service, then what’s going to happen to the community?”

The student said she was aware that second homeowners contribute greatly to the economy, but houses are not affordable to the “middle and working classes.” She also saw a day approaching when the school would close because “no one can afford to live here with their children.”

Supervisor Jim Dougherty said Ms. Labrozzi “put your finger on a terribly important issue.” He noted that the town passed the Community Housing Law in 2008, “relaxing some zoning and density requirements” to construct affordable housing, but it “became kind of a dud of a law.” However, the board is continuing to find ways to “do more,” he added.

Ms. Frasco noted that in the mid-1990s six affordable houses were built on Bowditch Road and made available through a lottery for those who qualified, based on their incomes and ability to pay what would be mortgages averaging $65,000.

Ms. Frasco said that was “an affordable housing plan that hasn’t been replicated since” and re-instituting it “would be an effective answer to the current affordable housing issue.”

Mr. Dougherty said the town is looking for opportunities, but in the 1990s land values “were somewhat sane,” while today real estate prices have skyrocketed.

“Sympathy doesn’t pay the bills,” Councilman Paul Shepherd told the students. “Ultimately it’s about money. Never forget that.”

He spoke of market forces, the dwindling availability of land, either bought to build on or the town purchasing open space to preserve.

“People who move out here have more money that you probably will ever have when you get out of college,” Mr. Shepherd said.

Another issue keeping affordable housing as a dead issue is NIMByism, he said, adding that “people sing all day long of how they want it to happen but when the time comes for it to be next to their house” there will be resistance.

He told the students that he” didn’t want to burst any hope” they might have, “but it’s about money.”

Ms. Labrozzi said she realized that their hopes for the future are “easier said than done.”

“It won’t be done if it’s not said,” Ms. Shepherd replied.

Mr. Dougherty asked the students for their opinions on short-term rentals, an issue that will be aired at a public hearing on January 27.

“People making money quickly each weekend” might find it “more appealing than renting to a family for an entire year,” Ms. Frasco said, which in turn hurts the stability of a community.

Mr. Shepherd said, “You understand. It’s about money.”

In other business: Mr. Dougherty reported that financial numbers for December were down significantly compared to December 2015 (see below). Mr. Dougherty said, “As the chief financial officer of the town, if you want me to give the reasons why, I say, ‘I don’t know.’”

Responding to concerns by some residents that the price of leasing 37 slips at the town owned-dock at Congdons Creek had been raised from $250 annually to $500 to pay for extensive re-construction of the facility, Councilman Jim Colligan said the board was looking into offering a less steep increase to the six baymen who use the dock, as opposed to the recreational boaters.

TOWN FINANICAL REPORT
Total receipts
December 2016 — $46,900
December 2015 — $81,800

Building permits
December 2016 —  $5,800
December 2015 — $$7,200

Garbage Bag Sales
December 2016 — $5,400
December 2015 — $13,350

Landfill Receipts
December 2016 — $16,200
December 2015 — $33,600

The post Students address Town Board on housing issues appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

BEVERLEA WALZ PHOTO Shelter Island High Shcool social studies students with Supervisor Gary Gerth at the annual State of the Town luncheon. Front row, from left, Mason Marcello, Luke Gilpin, Emily Strauss, Caitlin Binder, Lindsey Gallagher and social studies teacher Peter Miedema. Back row, from left, Darien Hunter, Jack Lang, Francesca Frasco, Madison Hallman, Isabella Sherman, Bianca Evangelista and Sarah Lewis.

Several traditions continued for the 11th year at the League of Women Voters of Shelter Island’s ‘State of the Town’ luncheon.

One of the most significant was inviting a group of high school seniors to hear the town supervisor give, in the words of League President Lois B. Morris, “a report card for the town.”

But Ms. Morris said the gathering at the Ram’s Head Inn was not just about local government and politics, but a chance to relay the message of the League.

“Voting works,” she said. “The more people who vote, the better democracy works.”

BEVERLEA WALZ PHOTO League of Women Voters of Shelter Island President Lois B. Morris at Sunday’s ‘State of the Town’ luncheon at the Ram’s Head Inn.

Noting that “it’s incredible to me that the vote message falls on so many deaf ears,” Ms. Morris presented some statistics on voting. In the 2016 national election, only 58 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls, with just 28 percent of New York state voters participating.

Shelter Island, however, showed it’s strong commitment to civic responsibility, Ms. Morris said, with 82 percent of registered voters casting ballots,

She acknowledged the 12 students of teacher Peter Miedema’s senior social studies class, asking if any of them had registered to vote in November. Several hands went up. Registration forms were at the post offices, Ms. Morris said, and “we’ll nag you to death.”

“Young people of this country are waking up to the power of civic involvement,” the League president said.

Turning to the students, she added, “You are the future of this democracy. And you are the future of this town. Vote.”

The post League of Women Voters sends strong message to youth: Vote appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

BEVERLEA WALZ PHOTO |
The Shelter Island junior varsity boys basketball team on the break in a victory over the Ross School Monday.

As we enter the holiday season, a new year of Shelter Island School girls and boys winter sports is under way. This includes the Shelter Island boys varsity and JV basketball teams.

On the sidelines this year are returning Head Coach Jay Card and assistants Ian Kanarvogel, Jimbo Theinert, Jim Colligan and Peter Miedema.

On Monday, Coach Card watched the junior high boys — 7th and 8th grades — basketball team as they won an impressive game over the Ross School.

When asked about his vision for the upcoming season, Coach Card said, “First and foremost, a main goal this year is to stay healthy. It’s a long season and players need to keep away from the injury bug as well as keep themselves healthy off the court.”

Coach Card hopes the varsity team can build on last year’s strong finish when the team was clicking down the stretch. He’s also counting on his seniors for leadership on and off the court.

This past year many players worked hard, competing in spring, summer and fall basketball leagues, keeping in condition through competitive games.

The JV team, which shares gym time with the varsity, has a large squad this year. Ian Kanarvogel returns as coach and said he’ll be focusing on teaching his charges how to play as a team and improving basketball skills to prepare them for the varsity level.

The teams were in action  at home against non-league opponent East Rockaway Friday night.

Come out and support the teams at their first home game of the season.

See you at the gym!

The post Coach Card’s take on the season appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

AMBROSE CLANCY PHOTO

If you know, let us know. Send your responses to a.clancy@sireporter.com or phone at (631) 749-1000, extension 18.

Last week’s What Is That? was a contest but also a public service. The photo (see below) is of a custom-made covering used by the Shelter Island Heights Pharmacy to enclose deliveries of a box of bread and rolls, which arrive daily before the pharmacy opens to a perch on the porch.

The cover is to keep birds, squirrels and other critters away from the baked goods, Greg Ofrias of the pharmacy told us.

Jack Capon stopped by the office this week with the correct answer and Peter Miedema called to let us know he also knew what the cover is for.

Now, for the pubic service part: This is the second custom made cover, Mr. Ofrias told us, since one early bird of the human variety stole the original. “If you have it, please bring it back,” he said.

AMBROSE CLANCY PHOTO

The post What is that? appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

COURTESY PHOTO
Nicholas Vecchio in the produce department of Southeast Grocers’ flagship Winn-Dixie store.

Nicholas Vecchio lives in Jacksonville, Florida these days. But he grew up in Shelter Island, which will always hold a special place in his heart — and for good reason.

“Sixteen years ago this Christmas, Islanders showed their true colors when they came to our aid after we had a house fire in the early morning hours of Christmas Day,” Nicholas explained. “The love and support we received is something my family will never forget, and is truly what makes Shelter Island special.”

Nicholas, 26, will be returning to the Island again this year to spend Christmas with his family who live off Sylvan Road. He notes that his mother makes a wonderful dinner, and his favorite part of the Island around the holidays are the seasonal decorations.

“We all know the Island is quiet in the winter, but the fact that storefronts are still decorated, the Police Department lights the tree, and even the ferries have wreaths on them all makes it feel even more welcoming,” he said. “My dad does a good job of putting lights on our house, and I love the way our lights reflect across a calm Chase Creek — you get a good view from New York Avenue.”

While his upcoming visit will primarily be focused on family, there’s a chance Nicholas may also run into some of the individuals who guided him over the years at Shelter Island School.

Numbers have always been Nicholas’s thing. In high school he excelled in Audrey Pedersen’s math class and Ann Marie Galasso’s science class. But in his senior year, it was a class on stock trading in Peter Miedema’s economics course which set Mr. Vecchio on the path that would ultimately define his career.

“That’s how I got the idea of finance in my head,” Nicholas said.

He was valedictorian of his Shelter Island High School class of 2008. Today, he is a finance manager with Southeastern Grocers, the fifth-largest conventional supermarket chain in the United States, comprised of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, located in seven states throughout the South. With 1,000 people, including Nicholas, based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, and more than 66,000 associates working throughout all of Southeast Grocers’ stores, it’s a company environment that dwarfs the population of Nicholas’s hometown.

But he remains pragmatic about his humble beginnings, and feels that hailing from a place like the Island has served him well in the wider world, since coming from a small community helped him socially. Nicholas explained that as a result of his upbringing, when he got to college he looked to create a small group of friends.

“We might not have had a lot in common, but we kept a close group,” he said. “Shelter Island is always a story. When you say you went to a public school that only graduates 20 kids a year, people are flabbergasted.

Nicholas earned his undergraduate degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. During his first semester in the fall of 2008, world markets were rocked by the U.S. housing crisis and subsequent financial meltdown, which quickly caused Nicholas to shift his educational focus from investment banking to finance.

“I always tell the story as an aside, but the day I decided I wanted to change to finance at Tulane, the Dow fell over 700 points,” he said. “I knew eventually it would recover, but the 2008 crash changed my track.”

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Tulane in 2012, with a major in finance and a minor in accounting.

But upon graduating, he realized the economy still hadn’t rebounded to the extent he would have liked.

“Job prospects were not good then. So I went right away to grad school that next fall,” Nicholas said.

He enrolled in a 16-month program in finance at the University of Tampa. By that point, he realized educational institutions had worked a new lesson into the curriculum.

“By the time I got to my masters program, we understood what got us to the financial crisis and the process needed to fix it, and the slow growth back,” Nicholas said.

While living in Tampa, he interned at FIS Global, a banking and payment technology company, and eventually worked there as a risk analyst. In February 2015, he began his career at Southeast Grocers as a financial analyst and has since been promoted twice, and now is the treasury manager.

“All the cash inflows and outflows are managed by me and my analyst,” Nicholas said. “Every day, store deposits go in to the bank, and the accounts payable team is paying out most of the bills.”

On any given day multi-millions of dollars can be moved in just a few transactions. He recalled one day moving over $100 million in half an hour.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said. “There are a lot of financial controls we’re under and we’re back and forth with the treasurer.”

Many of those controls are checks and balances that have been put in place in recent decades to ensure everything is being done properly. Even though Southeast Grocers is a private company, as a result of the Enron scandal, corporations have become highly regulated.

“I can’t move the money by myself,” Nicholas said. “It needs a second verification.”

While he admits that at times he misses his hometown, he’s enjoying his career and has found financial advantages to living in Florida. “I’m a homeowner now. Moving away afforded me that,” Nicholas said, noting that he returns to the Island at least twice a year to visit.

Gaining as much experience as possible at Southeast Grocers is a primary goal for Nicholas. He brings to his job the same determination he had in high school.“That’s my own desire,” he said. “Being at a bigger company, sometimes you can get lost in the shuffle. You have to keep the drive and determination going.”

What advice would he give to today’s students at Shelter Island High School?

“When you get to college and are trying to decide what to major in, go with something you’ll enjoy, and second, ask is it practical?” Nicholas said. “If you can manage your time, the payoff is memories that last a lifetime.”

The post Where are they now? Nicholas Vecchio, class of 2008 appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

REPORTER FILE PHOTO
Billy Boeklen, working off a pick set by Semaj Lawrence, driving to the hoop.

Now that the season is over, Shelter Island High School boys varsity basketball Coach Jay Card Jr. said he was satisfied his squad accomplished many of its original goals.

What’s not satisfying is failing to achieve the ultimate goal — a Class D County championship. But the Bridgehampton Killer Bees — the defending New York State champions — were too tough for the Indians in the championship game on February 13.

Nevertheless, Shelter Island finished in third place in League VIII with a solid 8-4 record, behind Bridgehampton and Stony Brook, with both of those teams going 10-2. Overall, the Indians posted 11 victories for the 2015-16 season.

The highlights of the year were beating Pierson and Stony Brook late in the season by 1 point in each game. The team also recorded both home and away victories against East Rockaway, Southold, Greenport and Port Jefferson.

The Indians also beat Hampton Bays earlier in the season in a non-league game.

The sudden death in January of Southold’s varsity coach, Phil Reed, was a shock to our players. The two teams have always shared a bond, plus Coach Reed was a role model for the entire league. He will be deeply missed by many in League VIII and throughout the East End community.

Based on a 5-year study of Shelter Island varsity basketball statistics, this year’s team scored more points (58.63), had more assists (12.7) and shot better from 2-point range (49.3 percent), 3-point range (34.2 percent) and the foul line (68 percent), than any other team in the preceding five years.

But this year’s team gave up an average of 60.47 points per game, the highest total in five years. It’s easy to see why, in light of the statistics, that individual and team defense will be a point of emphasis for Coach Card leading up to the 2016-7 season.

Expressing pride in his entire team, the coach singled out seniors Tristan Wissemann and Billy Boeklen for receiving accolades from the Suffolk County Coaches Association (SCCA). Wissemann earned All-League, All-Conference and All-County honors and was voted Player of League (VIII) by the coaches.

He ended his 3-year varsity career by scoring 1,240 points, shooting 52 percent from 2-point range and 76 percent from the foul line. Wissemann also posted 174 assists, 70 steals, 89 blocks and 652 rebounds during his varsity career.

Boeklen also earned All-League honors for a second straight year, totaling 594 career points, grabbing 170 rebounds, handing out 154 assists, as well as making 70 steals during his 2.2 years of varsity experience.

The honor of “most improved player” on this year’s team is senior guard Jack Kimmelmann. He proved to be a real asset at both ends of the court. As the season progressed, so did his confidence. Although he wasn’t a big scorer, Kimmelmann hit big shots in games that were hanging in the balance.

Peter Kropf, another of our senior guards, also improved as the season progressed. Kropf was honored by the SCCA as a scholar athlete for League VIII. He kept his turnovers to a minimum and managed to grab some key offensive rebounds in closely contested games, helping his team to victory.

Semaj Lawrence, a junior, was the team’s second leading rebounder (181) and third leading scorer (165 points). He also led the team in blocked shots and played a key role in many games this season, gaining the accolade of the “X” factor for his team.

Luke Gilpin, a sophomore transfer from the Stony Brook School, was a great addition to our team. An extremely valuable sixth-man, Gilpin, provided energy at both ends of the court. Unfortunately, a medical issue sidelined Luke during the second half of league-play. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery for the coming season.

Seniors Max Moroz and Henry Lang, as well as junior Will Garrison, made up the remainder of Coach Card’s bench. All three of these fine young men battled every night in practice and combined for 26 points during the season. Although they saw limited time, all three played a key role in the success of the team.

Coach Card noted how proud he was of the junior varsity players. Coach Ian Kanarvogel was challenged to manage the largest JV squad in many years. Both coaches saw a steady growth of skill and dedication by the JV team. Coach Card, losing seven of his nine varsity players, will rely on many of these JV players as they make their way to the varsity level.

Lastly, a special thanks to our official scorers, Kelly Colligan and Connor Rice, for all their hard work and loyal service. A huge thanks goes out to Peter Miedema, Jimbo Theinert and Ian Kanarvogel for providing their input and special talents to our varsity and JV programs. All three men spent countless hours assisting at practices, games and scouting our opponents.

To Cindy Belt and Mark Cappellino — we appreciated your outstanding basketball articles in the Reporter and for helping to keep stats as well.

Finally, to all our fans, cheerleaders, parents, chaperones and school administrators, the coaches and team thank you for your loyal support throughout our season.

The post Year in Review: Basketball team battled way to winning season appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

AMBROSE CLANCY PHOTO
Three high school students addressed the Town Board Tuesday. From left, Nicolette Frasco, Olivia Yeaman and Julia Labrozzi.

High school teacher Peter Miedema brought his senior class in government Tuesday to attend the Town Board’s work session. At the end of the meeting, when residents can address the board on any topic, three students, Julia Labrozzi, Olivia Yeaman and Nicolette Frasco eloquently explained their concerns that in the near future there’s the possibility there will be no place for them on the Island.

Poised and confident, Ms. Labrozi explained that in their class they have been following the issue of the lack of affordable hosing on the Island. A group of her classmates, Ms. Labrozzi said, are concerned about being able to live here after they’ve completed their educations.

She noted that young people are vital to the Island on many levels, including staffing the volunteer Emergency Medical Services and the Fire Department. “I don’t think Shelter Island can grow and prosper” without young families living here full-time, Ms. Labrozzi said. “If there aren’t people who are willing to give their service, then what’s going to happen to the community?”

The student said she was aware that second homeowners contribute greatly to the economy, but houses are not affordable to the “middle and working classes.” She also saw a day approaching when the school would close because “no one can afford to live here with their children.”

Supervisor Jim Dougherty said Ms. Labrozzi “put your finger on a terribly important issue.” He noted that the town passed the Community Housing Law in 2008, “relaxing some zoning and density requirements” to construct affordable housing, but it “became kind of a dud of a law.” However, the board is continuing to find ways to “do more,” he added.

Ms. Frasco noted that in the mid-1990s six affordable houses were built on Bowditch Road and made available through a lottery for those who qualified, based on their incomes and ability to pay what would be mortgages averaging $65,000.

Ms. Frasco said that was “an affordable housing plan that hasn’t been replicated since” and re-instituting it “would be an effective answer to the current affordable housing issue.”

Mr. Dougherty said the town is looking for opportunities, but in the 1990s land values “were somewhat sane,” while today real estate prices have skyrocketed.

“Sympathy doesn’t pay the bills,” Councilman Paul Shepherd told the students. “Ultimately it’s about money. Never forget that.”

He spoke of market forces, the dwindling availability of land, either bought to build on or the town purchasing open space to preserve.

“People who move out here have more money that you probably will ever have when you get out of college,” Mr. Shepherd said.

Another issue keeping affordable housing as a dead issue is NIMByism, he said, adding that “people sing all day long of how they want it to happen but when the time comes for it to be next to their house” there will be resistance.

He told the students that he” didn’t want to burst any hope” they might have, “but it’s about money.”

Ms. Labrozzi said she realized that their hopes for the future are “easier said than done.”

“It won’t be done if it’s not said,” Ms. Shepherd replied.

Mr. Dougherty asked the students for their opinions on short-term rentals, an issue that will be aired at a public hearing on January 27.

“People making money quickly each weekend” might find it “more appealing than renting to a family for an entire year,” Ms. Frasco said, which in turn hurts the stability of a community.

Mr. Shepherd said, “You understand. It’s about money.”

In other business: Mr. Dougherty reported that financial numbers for December were down significantly compared to December 2015 (see below). Mr. Dougherty said, “As the chief financial officer of the town, if you want me to give the reasons why, I say, ‘I don’t know.’”

Responding to concerns by some residents that the price of leasing 37 slips at the town owned-dock at Congdons Creek had been raised from $250 annually to $500 to pay for extensive re-construction of the facility, Councilman Jim Colligan said the board was looking into offering a less steep increase to the six baymen who use the dock, as opposed to the recreational boaters.

TOWN FINANICAL REPORT
Total receipts
December 2016 — $46,900
December 2015 — $81,800

Building permits
December 2016 —  $5,800
December 2015 — $$7,200

Garbage Bag Sales
December 2016 — $5,400
December 2015 — $13,350

Landfill Receipts
December 2016 — $16,200
December 2015 — $33,600

The post Students address Town Board on housing issues appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

BEVERLEA WALZ PHOTO Shelter Island High Shcool social studies students with Supervisor Gary Gerth at the annual State of the Town luncheon. Front row, from left, Mason Marcello, Luke Gilpin, Emily Strauss, Caitlin Binder, Lindsey Gallagher and social studies teacher Peter Miedema. Back row, from left, Darien Hunter, Jack Lang, Francesca Frasco, Madison Hallman, Isabella Sherman, Bianca Evangelista and Sarah Lewis.

Several traditions continued for the 11th year at the League of Women Voters of Shelter Island’s ‘State of the Town’ luncheon.

One of the most significant was inviting a group of high school seniors to hear the town supervisor give, in the words of League President Lois B. Morris, “a report card for the town.”

But Ms. Morris said the gathering at the Ram’s Head Inn was not just about local government and politics, but a chance to relay the message of the League.

“Voting works,” she said. “The more people who vote, the better democracy works.”

BEVERLEA WALZ PHOTO League of Women Voters of Shelter Island President Lois B. Morris at Sunday’s ‘State of the Town’ luncheon at the Ram’s Head Inn.

Noting that “it’s incredible to me that the vote message falls on so many deaf ears,” Ms. Morris presented some statistics on voting. In the 2016 national election, only 58 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls, with just 28 percent of New York state voters participating.

Shelter Island, however, showed it’s strong commitment to civic responsibility, Ms. Morris said, with 82 percent of registered voters casting ballots,

She acknowledged the 12 students of teacher Peter Miedema’s senior social studies class, asking if any of them had registered to vote in November. Several hands went up. Registration forms were at the post offices, Ms. Morris said, and “we’ll nag you to death.”

“Young people of this country are waking up to the power of civic involvement,” the League president said.

Turning to the students, she added, “You are the future of this democracy. And you are the future of this town. Vote.”

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COURTESY PHOTO
Among blood donors last week at the Emergency Medical Services building were members of the Lions Club newly formed Leo Club, who call themselves Simbas. With their teacher and Lions Club member Peter Miedema (back left) are (standing) Owen Gibbs, Jaime Lenzer, Abby Kotula and Stephen Cummings, and (seated) Lydia Shepherd and Jonas Kinsey.

Teaching by example is perhaps the best method to get lessons to sink into young hearts and minds.

The Shelter Island Lions Club does that in many ways, with its most recent venture to encourage school youngsters to give back the induction of a “Leo Club,” the student affiliate of the Lions Clubs.

Calling themselves “Simbas,” 12 Shelter Island School students — sponsored by high school social studies teacher and Lion Peter Miedema — signed up and will spend part of their time on community service.

Guided by Lion Marilynn Pysher, the youngsters will find ways to help the elderly population on the Island in large and small ways, such as shoveling snow and other difficult chores.

With summer coming, and the nonprofit Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League Bucks needing volunteers, the Simbas will be there to help make summer afternoons and evenings easy and enjoyable for Islanders taking in a game.

Ms. Pysher was the leader of the Communities That Care (CTC) organization, which attacked a host of social problems, including youth drinking and drug abuse. Ms. Pysher has been lion-like in her energy and fierce commitment to make the Island exactly what the name of the now defunct CTC stood for.

She was also the driving force in convincing the Town Board to hire a part-time social worker for the town, a resource that was sorely needed.

With Ms. Pysher and Mr. Miedema onboard, the young Lions are off to a great start.

As we asked in this space last June: What would Shelter Island do without the Lions Club? We answered our own question by noting that it would be a less caring and comforting place.

The editorial was in response to the Lions opening the sparkling new pavilion at Wades Beach, a gift to the community that allows the elderly and people with disabilities to have a day at the beach. Wheelchair accessible, the completed facility allows everyone easy access to summer’s fun.

We look forward to hearing more from the Simbas, and hope they can increase their membership, for the benefit of the Island and for themselves, learning valuable lessons they can take with them as they grow into young adults, and make a life-long commitment to their communities.

First chartered in 1950 on Shelter Island, the Lions Club here has never stopped giving back, making their motto — “We Serve” — not just a promise but a reality.

The post Shelter Island Reporter editorial: Young lions appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

JULIE LANE PHOTO
History teacher Peter Miedema discusses differences between patriotism and nationalism with his students.

Teacher Peter Miedema told a class of Shelter Island seniors Tuesday morning that he will hunt them down and arrive angry if they’re ever interviewed on TV and fumble a question about American history.

He and co-teacher Michelle Corbett engaged the class in, among other topics, a thoughtful discussion about the differences between patriotism and nationalism, drawing on President Ronald Reagan’s farewell speech.

The students showed what they’ve learned about citizenship, as the teachers fired off questions immigrants seeking to become United States citizens must know.

Mr. Miedema and Ms. Corbett expressed pleasure in the mastery the students showed in answering the citizenship test questions. The class has studied and learned all 100 questions and were “awesome” in their answers, Ms. Corbett said.

Last week, the Reporter published 10 questions from the 100 Maria Serano of Maria’s Kitchen (see “Island businesswoman becomes U.S. citizen,” February 28) had to answer to gain her citizenship, which inspired the teachers to quiz the class.

As rapidly as the questions came, the students shot back responses, demonstrating a mastery of knowledge about the country’s founding, the Constitution, and its history, as well as a sense of current events.

No indoctrination here — but an impressive demonstration that none of these students will have to be hunted down and berated for ignorance.

In his farewell speech, Mr. Reagan spoke about the need for “informed patriotism,” and that’s how the students saw the positive side of loyalty to their country.

Patriotism is not a matter of blindly following others, one student offered, and a consensus saw nationalism as a less knowledgeable political stance.

Ms. Corbett summed it up for them, calling patriotism an informed working knowledge of the foundations and principles of the nation.

JULIE LANE PHOTO
Teacher Michelle Corbett leading a classroom discussion.

One student responded that reclaiming values makes the country a better place.

Another young scholar thoughtfully suggested that viewing patriotism as a negative or positive term depends on how it’s used. It can be a means of bringing people together if it’s informed, or keeping them apart if it’s not linked to knowledge.

Today’s students have access to multiple views and an interchange of ideas with a wider number of people, partly because they have more information at their fingertips, Mr. Miedema said. Therefore, he said he expects his students to be able to examine premises in greater depth than was available to past generations.

And, yes, he does want them to know dates, because they are critical to understanding periods of history, and to locate what may have influenced certain events.

The post Students learn the power of informed citizenship appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

COURTESY PHOTO
Members of the Shelter Island Class of 2020 in Washington, D.C.

Twenty-two Shelter Island juniors have been infected with Potomac Fever. No, not a new tick-borne disease, but the affect on one’s heart causing a life-long love of Washington, D.C.

The students, along with teachers Peter Miedema, Sean Brennan and Jimbo Theinert, left the Island April 8 for a trip to the nation’s capital. Lucky enough to see Washington arrayed for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the young people were enchanted.

“It was snowing cherry blossoms,” Lyng Coyne said.

On the way to Washington, the group made a stop in Philadelphia long enough to visit the Liberty Bell and have lunch before completing their trek to Washington.

“We learned a lot and saw a lot you might not ordinarily get to see,” Isabelle Topliff said.

“It’s one of those trips you’ll never forget,” Lucas Quigley-Dunning said.

What particularly wowed the Islanders was Arlington Cemetery, not simply to observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, but to have a wreath bearing ribbons with the names of American Legion Mitchell Post 281 and the school brought to the Tomb. The Island’s veterans paid for the floral wreath.

COURTESY PHOTO
Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns place a wreath purchased by Island veterans and bearing ribbons identifying both American Legion Post #281 and Shelter Island School.

Maria Carbajal joined Mr. Quigley-Dunning and Ms. Coyne in presenting the wreath to the military personnel who placed it at the Tomb.

“It made you feel you were part of history,” Mr. Quigley-Dunning said.

“Really powerful,” Ms. Coyne characterized the experience, noting she had an uncle who fought in World War II.

The group visited the graves of President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both murdered by assassins. Another memorable stop in Arlington was the grave of former Islander Admiral Harold E. Shear, who rose to be vice chief of Naval Operations during a 42-year military career.

Visits to the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the World War II Memorial and the FDR Monument were also on the agenda.

You can almost see parts of history that took place everywhere you look, Mr. Miedema said.

Although the students have known one another since early childhood, travelling out of town together for a few days was a new experience and brought them closer together, Ms. Ling said.

“It taught us more about ourselves,” she added.

“It was really good living in a hotel with friends,” Mr. Quigley-Dunning said.

“Our kids got it,” Mr. Miedema said. They had studied and understood the traditions that they now saw with their own eyes.

“The kids really had a great time,” Mr. Brennan said. “It was everything you thought it would be and more.”

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COURTESY IMAGE

Protectors of our rights
The League of Women Voters of Shelter Island held their annual “State of the Town” luncheon at the Ram’s Head Inn April 28, which was an enjoyable, social afternoon, as always.

Supervisor Gary Gerth delivered a substantive summation of issues facing the town and we applaud him for expressing plans his administration has to come to grips with the concerns of his fellow Islanders.

By sponsoring and organizing the annual luncheon, the League brings Islanders together for the town’s “report card,” but also to have a chance to talk about life on the Island and share ideas.

What was most important, perhaps, on Sunday, were the young people who attended, students from teacher Peter Miedema’s Participation in Government class, who had front row seats to view democracy at work in their own hometown.

League President Lois B. Morris and her colleagues are continuing the essential work of teaching the lesson that every vote counts and participation in the political life of communities is one of the highest forms of patriotism.

From the beginning of the Republic down to the present day, guaranteeing the right to vote in America has been a ceaseless battle.

The League was founded to ensure that women be acknowledged as first-class citizens and guaranteed the right to vote. The organization was inspired by the movement that came out of the mid-19th century fight for women’s equality, along with the abolition of slavery and enfranchisement of former slaves.

But with enfranchisement came voter fraud, with barriers denying voters’ rights in the south after the Civil War. The situation was so corrupt, vicious and endemic that it was necessary 100 years after the last shot was fired at Appomattox to pass a federal law guaranteeing voting rights.

But still, low-life legislators erect roadblocks in front of ballot boxes. This was seen in elections in 2018 in several states, with last minute polling place changes; election eve robocalls lying to voters that they were no longer eligible to vote; and long lines allowed at the polls with no intervention by officials to speed up the process.

The League is on the barricades of this issue, stating: “We work year-round to combat voter suppression through advocacy, grassroots organizing, legal action and public education. Our efforts have resulted in the protection of voting rights and ballot access for millions of Americans.”

The Shelter Island chapter of the League — celebrating its 20th anniversary this year — presents information through the State of the Town event, candidate forums as well as informal gatherings, along with “get-out-the-vote” campaigns.

We are all indebted to the continuing work of these fighters for fairness and protectors of American rights.

The post Shelter Island Reporter Editorial appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Nicholas Vecchio lives in Jacksonville, Florida these days. But he grew up in Shelter Island, which will always hold a special place in his heart — and for good reason.

“Sixteen years ago this Christmas, Islanders showed their true colors when they came to our aid after we had a house fire in the early morning hours of Christmas Day,” Nicholas explained. “The love and support we received is something my family will never forget, and is truly what makes Shelter Island special.”

Nicholas, 26, will be returning to the Island again this year to spend Christmas with his family who live off Sylvan Road. He notes that his mother makes a wonderful dinner, and his favorite part of the Island around the holidays are the seasonal decorations.

“We all know the Island is quiet in the winter, but the fact that storefronts are still decorated, the Police Department lights the tree, and even the ferries have wreaths on them all makes it feel even more welcoming,” he said. “My dad does a good job of putting lights on our house, and I love the way our lights reflect across a calm Chase Creek — you get a good view from New York Avenue.”

While his upcoming visit will primarily be focused on family, there’s a chance Nicholas may also run into some of the individuals who guided him over the years at Shelter Island School.

Numbers have always been Nicholas’s thing. In high school he excelled in Audrey Pedersen’s math class and Ann Marie Galasso’s science class. But in his senior year, it was a class on stock trading in Peter Miedema’s economics course which set Mr. Vecchio on the path that would ultimately define his career.

“That’s how I got the idea of finance in my head,” Nicholas said.

He was valedictorian of his Shelter Island High School class of 2008. Today, he is a finance manager with Southeastern Grocers, the fifth-largest conventional supermarket chain in the United States, comprised of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, located in seven states throughout the South. With 1,000 people, including Nicholas, based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, and more than 66,000 associates working throughout all of Southeast Grocers’ stores, it’s a company environment that dwarfs the population of Nicholas’s hometown.

But he remains pragmatic about his humble beginnings, and feels that hailing from a place like the Island has served him well in the wider world, since coming from a small community helped him socially. Nicholas explained that as a result of his upbringing, when he got to college he looked to create a small group of friends.

“We might not have had a lot in common, but we kept a close group,” he said. “Shelter Island is always a story. When you say you went to a public school that only graduates 20 kids a year, people are flabbergasted.

Nicholas earned his undergraduate degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. During his first semester in the fall of 2008, world markets were rocked by the U.S. housing crisis and subsequent financial meltdown, which quickly caused Nicholas to shift his educational focus from investment banking to finance.

“I always tell the story as an aside, but the day I decided I wanted to change to finance at Tulane, the Dow fell over 700 points,” he said. “I knew eventually it would recover, but the 2008 crash changed my track.”

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Tulane in 2012, with a major in finance and a minor in accounting.

But upon graduating, he realized the economy still hadn’t rebounded to the extent he would have liked.

“Job prospects were not good then. So I went right away to grad school that next fall,” Nicholas said.

He enrolled in a 16-month program in finance at the University of Tampa. By that point, he realized educational institutions had worked a new lesson into the curriculum.

“By the time I got to my masters program, we understood what got us to the financial crisis and the process needed to fix it, and the slow growth back,” Nicholas said.

While living in Tampa, he interned at FIS Global, a banking and payment technology company, and eventually worked there as a risk analyst. In February 2015, he began his career at Southeast Grocers as a financial analyst and has since been promoted twice, and now is the treasury manager.

“All the cash inflows and outflows are managed by me and my analyst,” Nicholas said. “Every day, store deposits go in to the bank, and the accounts payable team is paying out most of the bills.”

On any given day multi-millions of dollars can be moved in just a few transactions. He recalled one day moving over $100 million in half an hour.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said. “There are a lot of financial controls we’re under and we’re back and forth with the treasurer.”

Many of those controls are checks and balances that have been put in place in recent decades to ensure everything is being done properly. Even though Southeast Grocers is a private company, as a result of the Enron scandal, corporations have become highly regulated.

“I can’t move the money by myself,” Nicholas said. “It needs a second verification.”

While he admits that at times he misses his hometown, he’s enjoying his career and has found financial advantages to living in Florida. “I’m a homeowner now. Moving away afforded me that,” Nicholas said, noting that he returns to the Island at least twice a year to visit.

Gaining as much experience as possible at Southeast Grocers is a primary goal for Nicholas. He brings to his job the same determination he had in high school.“That’s my own desire,” he said. “Being at a bigger company, sometimes you can get lost in the shuffle. You have to keep the drive and determination going.”

What advice would he give to today’s students at Shelter Island High School?

“When you get to college and are trying to decide what to major in, go with something you’ll enjoy, and second, ask is it practical?” Nicholas said. “If you can manage your time, the payoff is memories that last a lifetime.”

The post Where are they now? Nicholas Vecchio, class of 2008 appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Now that the season is over, Shelter Island High School boys varsity basketball Coach Jay Card Jr. said he was satisfied his squad accomplished many of its original goals.

What’s not satisfying is failing to achieve the ultimate goal — a Class D County championship. But the Bridgehampton Killer Bees — the defending New York State champions — were too tough for the Indians in the championship game on February 13.

Nevertheless, Shelter Island finished in third place in League VIII with a solid 8-4 record, behind Bridgehampton and Stony Brook, with both of those teams going 10-2. Overall, the Indians posted 11 victories for the 2015-16 season.

The highlights of the year were beating Pierson and Stony Brook late in the season by 1 point in each game. The team also recorded both home and away victories against East Rockaway, Southold, Greenport and Port Jefferson.

The Indians also beat Hampton Bays earlier in the season in a non-league game.

The sudden death in January of Southold’s varsity coach, Phil Reed, was a shock to our players. The two teams have always shared a bond, plus Coach Reed was a role model for the entire league. He will be deeply missed by many in League VIII and throughout the East End community.

Based on a 5-year study of Shelter Island varsity basketball statistics, this year’s team scored more points (58.63), had more assists (12.7) and shot better from 2-point range (49.3 percent), 3-point range (34.2 percent) and the foul line (68 percent), than any other team in the preceding five years.

But this year’s team gave up an average of 60.47 points per game, the highest total in five years. It’s easy to see why, in light of the statistics, that individual and team defense will be a point of emphasis for Coach Card leading up to the 2016-7 season.

Expressing pride in his entire team, the coach singled out seniors Tristan Wissemann and Billy Boeklen for receiving accolades from the Suffolk County Coaches Association (SCCA). Wissemann earned All-League, All-Conference and All-County honors and was voted Player of League (VIII) by the coaches.

He ended his 3-year varsity career by scoring 1,240 points, shooting 52 percent from 2-point range and 76 percent from the foul line. Wissemann also posted 174 assists, 70 steals, 89 blocks and 652 rebounds during his varsity career.

Boeklen also earned All-League honors for a second straight year, totaling 594 career points, grabbing 170 rebounds, handing out 154 assists, as well as making 70 steals during his 2.2 years of varsity experience.

The honor of “most improved player” on this year’s team is senior guard Jack Kimmelmann. He proved to be a real asset at both ends of the court. As the season progressed, so did his confidence. Although he wasn’t a big scorer, Kimmelmann hit big shots in games that were hanging in the balance.

Peter Kropf, another of our senior guards, also improved as the season progressed. Kropf was honored by the SCCA as a scholar athlete for League VIII. He kept his turnovers to a minimum and managed to grab some key offensive rebounds in closely contested games, helping his team to victory.

Semaj Lawrence, a junior, was the team’s second leading rebounder (181) and third leading scorer (165 points). He also led the team in blocked shots and played a key role in many games this season, gaining the accolade of the “X” factor for his team.

Luke Gilpin, a sophomore transfer from the Stony Brook School, was a great addition to our team. An extremely valuable sixth-man, Gilpin, provided energy at both ends of the court. Unfortunately, a medical issue sidelined Luke during the second half of league-play. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery for the coming season.

Seniors Max Moroz and Henry Lang, as well as junior Will Garrison, made up the remainder of Coach Card’s bench. All three of these fine young men battled every night in practice and combined for 26 points during the season. Although they saw limited time, all three played a key role in the success of the team.

Coach Card noted how proud he was of the junior varsity players. Coach Ian Kanarvogel was challenged to manage the largest JV squad in many years. Both coaches saw a steady growth of skill and dedication by the JV team. Coach Card, losing seven of his nine varsity players, will rely on many of these JV players as they make their way to the varsity level.

Lastly, a special thanks to our official scorers, Kelly Colligan and Connor Rice, for all their hard work and loyal service. A huge thanks goes out to Peter Miedema, Jimbo Theinert and Ian Kanarvogel for providing their input and special talents to our varsity and JV programs. All three men spent countless hours assisting at practices, games and scouting our opponents.

To Cindy Belt and Mark Cappellino — we appreciated your outstanding basketball articles in the Reporter and for helping to keep stats as well.

Finally, to all our fans, cheerleaders, parents, chaperones and school administrators, the coaches and team thank you for your loyal support throughout our season.

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