East End Report: Fire Destroys McMansion; Missing Boater Found Dead

SOUTHAMPTON

Eight fire departments were called to respond to a fire at a mansion on Jordan Drive in Water Mill on Thursday evening that completely destroyed the home and damaged a neighboring residence before it was extinguished.

A resident of nearby Head of Pond Road reported seeing a red glow, like from a fire, at 6:47 p.m., police said. and firefighters set out to the area of Edge of Woods Road and Deerfield Road, and discovered that a large house at 18 Jordan Drive, off Edge of Woods Road, was nearly fully engulfed in flames.The estate was listed for $4,675,000 with Gary DePersia of . According to the listing, the house was a 6,800-square-foot 10-bedroom on 1.5 acres.

EAST HAMPTON

After more than a year of waiting, East Hampton Village has received approval and funding for illuminated crosswalks across Main Street, which is part of the state highway.

When the plan was presented by Dunn Engineering in November 2010, it was said that there was no other form of pedestrian safety such as this on Long Island.

The board decided to seek approval for the lit crosswalks on Main Street at Huntting Lane, by The Palm, and The Circle, near Chase Bank, to increase safety where there are four lanes of travel. Safety and warning devices will be at either side of the crosswalks. A push of a button and a light will flash that will warn drivers to slow down and stop as the pedestrian passes. There will be a 9-by-12 inch sign above the button with instructions.

The State Department of Transportation Regional Traffic Engineer Frank Pearson said in a letter to Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. that he was hopeful the work would be completed before Memorial Day. The project is estimated to cost $125,000.

RIVERHEAD

Calverton Man Looking to Strike it Big With Match Invention

Willie Rangel, a Calverton man who moved to the area nearly a year ago, has been working hard since moving to Long Island to find an outlet for his invention, El Diablo Match. But after making some of his own as workable models, he’s unsure exactly where to head next.

NORTH FORK

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.
Since 2009, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company has been operating out of a renovated firehouse on in Greenport, which Vandenburgh due to demand for the craft beer. But that expansion was not enough.
For years now, the former Lucas Ford dealership’s buildings have been vacant on the corner of Route 25 and Peconic Lane across from the Southold Town Highway Department and Vandenburgh said that he will add a drainage system and use existing curb cuts in the parking design. The facility will be used strictly for beer production at first, but Vandenburgh said he hoped to eventually add a tasting room similar to the one on the second floor of the Greenport brewery.
“It’ll be more like a winery tasting room, not a bar,” he said.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

Southampton Town Police are investigating the death of a boater who was found dead north of Dune Road in East Quogue on Monday afternoon. According to police, John Lindahl, 59, of East Quogue, was found nearly a quarter mile from his 18-foot skiff. Coast Guard officials reported earlier on Monday that Lindahl's son had reported around 12:20 p.m. that his father had been missing after going out Sunday to check on his duck blinds. A funeral was held for Lindahl on Thursday.