Week in Review: Your Thoughts

During the week of Jan. 23, North Fork community members chimed in on discussions on a new windmill proposal, a redistricting proposal for New York’s First Assembly District, and — of course — North Fork 7-Elevens. Thanks to all for your comments on these important issues. Please remember to keep the conversations on-topic and civil.

• Residents surrounding the are up in arms at the prospect of a

"It would be nice if more residents could benefit from the efforts am thinking possibly provide investment opportunities for land owners/ residents to construct more windmills to better benefit locals and make the visual a little bit more to...lerable and profitable... The majority of these are constructed on private land why not, construct these on preserved land and offer investment opportunities (small buy ins, for the construction costs); let the community be part of it, let's all benefit with lower energy costs... Just a few thoughts..." — Sandy Beech

"Wind turbines are not effective. Solar and tide turbines are effective. Tides are predictable and tide turbines are below the surface of the water. Think of the water depths which would allow them to be safely moored and tides around shelter island and robins island as well as off the various points such as Nassau Point and Jessups." — Concerned

"I guess windmills on wineries are vogue and stlylish. But a real business no way Jack." — William Swiskey, Sr.

• Now that the Giants are about to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 46, North Fork fans seem to be divided in team loyalty — as they always have been.

• Is the North Fork Giants or Patriots Country?
  
  • Giants   47 (58%)
  • Patriots   16 (19%)
  • Both   3 (3%)
  • Jets, baby, Jets   14 (17%)
  • Buffalo Bills all the way   0 (0%)
  • It's complicated - I'll explain in the comment boxes below   1 (1%)
  Total votes: 81 

• The South Fork will share its state assemblyman with Southold and Shelter Island towns starting in 2012 if a redistricting plan unveiled Thursday based on the 2010 Census is adopted,

• Do you think Thiele's redistricting proposal is a good idea?
  
  • Yes   12 (27%)
  • No   31 (70%)
  • It's complicated — I'll explain in the comment boxes below   1 (2%)
  Total votes: 44

"Fred Thiele has been advocating improved rail and bus service for the entire East End. I along with representatives of the East End Democratic Town Leaders and the Five Towns Rural Transportaton Committee met last week with Assemblyman Thiele to advocate increased funding for the proposals drawn up by that Committee. Fred will introduce a capitalization bill in the Assembly for necessary funding. Fred Thiele gets it on this issue and I believe he will well represent us." — Art Tillman

"A capitalization bill" -- Is that a codeword for 'bond it out and assume more municipal debt on the backs of the taxpayers?' Generally speaking, and I do mean generally, the only people on either the north or south forks who need public transportation to "commute" on the east end, do not own homes. As a very real and direct consequence of not owning homes on the east end, they do not pay any property taxes. Therefore, the ultimate effect of any bond or other public payment to support or improve rail or bus services on the east end will be increased taxes on property owners, to provide a service for those who do not own property. In short, tax the rich to give benefits to the poor.
Sorry. You want a bus or rail operation providing better services to citizens, let private industry do it. Don't tax me, more, to give someone less fortunate a more convenient way of getting to work. We already subsidize the MTA to the tune of millions of dollars. I am not interested in a PBTA." — Tom

• , after about finally had its But have you been to the store at the corner of Route 25 and Factory Avenue yet? What do you think? Or do you still prefer to go to , or

"Equal time at Southold." — Nicholas Planamento

"If they don't fix the "new" SUGAR FREE Slurpee machine, it will be back to Cutchogue for us! Cutchogue has GREAT sugar free Slurpees!!!" — Susan

"Oh, the Cutchogue one, for sure. a big gulp and cheesy dog is so much tastier when enjoyed sitting in one's car in a parking lot overlooking a lovely famstand. the views from the parking lots of the other three are just so, I don't know, insufficiently quaint and rustic." — Gwen Gwoocock

"We really don't need any of them. Previously, we would have made sure to pick up what we needed at the store, or do without, substitue, or borrow from a neighbor. Gee, we still do that in E Marion, Orient, Orient Point. .. and folks might want to lay off the Big Gulp and cheesy dog. Speaking of cheesy, would be nice if storefronts got rid of the cheesy neon signs they buy from Costco." — Brian

"Glad to see I am not the only one who really has no use for 7-11. I love the commenter who said what about borrowing from a neighbor if you are in a pinch? Also the litter issue is BAD! Breaks my heart and also people are littering their precious bodies with the 'food' choices some people posted...If I was starving I would NEVER purchase those things.." — JET

"If we could only get our other Southold businesses to improve their buildings, landscaping, and dark skies friendly lighting, to the standards met by the Mattituck 7-11, we would all have a better looking town." — Tom

"I prefer the North Fork that I grew up in where people were cordial to one another and did not openly attack people who made the choice to shop at 7-eleven. If you do not want to shop at 7-eleven that's fine, don't go there. Many other people do shop there on a regular basis for things other than slurpees or fast food. Do not think you have a right to belittle the contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, dock builders, truck drivers, carpenters, landscapers, municipal employees, firemen, police officers, nurses, and others who go there. They might not have the inclination, or the time, to respond such rubbish but I just cannot let the class warfare that is implied by some of the comments go. That's not the North Fork where I was raised." — Sandy Martocchia

"Right or wrong (and it is MY choice - not yours), I am a 7-11 junkie and have been to more 7-11s than I can actually count -- which is probably why I am such a fatty. To weigh in on the original question (which is by no means absurd). My choice is Mattituck, mostly because it is a few blocks from where I live, its clean, modern and the staff is super friendly. A close second would be Southold for the same reasons (except location). It is no surprise - they are owned by the same people who, might I add, own houses and live in the Town of Southold, have kids in the school district, participate in local organizations and donate to local causes. So, as far as I am concerned, I AM shopping locally. We live in an age of franchises people... get used to it. A franchise may not look like a "mom and pop" but it can certainly be owned by a 'mom and pop.' Now, the only thing absurd are these comments. Recently, my family and I went for a nice long walk on the beach here in Mattituck and I was disgusted by the amount of litter I saw. Most of it was candy wrappers. I say we find Willy Wonka, hang him, and burn down his chocolate factory because, clearly, it is all HIS fault! As for 'not needing' a 7-11 and borrowing from our neighbors? Its not 1957 folks and do you really think that this family would have invested their money in a new 7-11 if it wasn't going to be successful? Finally, can we get a like/dislike button for the comments? Sandy deserves one for her last comment!" — Damon Rallis

• A month after announcing his plans to expand to Peconic, co-owner Rich Vandenburgh approached the Planning Board on Monday with initial plans to convert the former dealership into a brewery. “This is a great parcel, with enough room to accommodate the size of vessels we need,” he said. “We’ll clean up the exterior and add silos outside, which will be tucked back in the corner. It’s a good fit for us.”

"Peconic is turning into quite the little hotspot, between this and the winemakers studio...." — Meredith Little