Concert Noise Complaints Go Unheard, Some Residents Say

While Monday's concert at Martha Clara to benefit All for the East End garnered rave reviews from many, some irate neighbors felt their noise complaints went unheard.

Riverhead Town police said after the show that no noise complaints were received.
On Thursday, police said that a few calls came in, but residents who had reached out to express their discontent were told that a concert was taking place and that the event had all the necessary permits, so no action was taken and no reports filed.

Southold Town police said they, too, received some calls, but told the individuals who were phoning in that the concert took place within Riverhead Town boundaries and referred them to call Riverhead police.

Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said the only noise complaint responded to took place at 7:35 p.m. at Peconic Bay Boulevard and North Oakwood Drive in Laurel, where someone complained about music. The officer that responded wrote in the narrative of his report that it was coming from Martha Clara Vineyard and notified Riverhead police of the complaint, Flatley said.

After that, any calls that came in regarding concert noise issues were referred to Riverhead police, Southold police said.

Mattituck resident Kathy Chamberlain said she called to complain about noise from the concert and was not the only one to voice discontent.

She added that she has called the Riverhead town officials and the winery, but has not received a response. Police, when she called, told her that all permits were in order, Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said her walls were "literally shaking from the noise," even though she lives a mile and a half away, and vowed to keep calling public officials until she received a response.

After the show Riverhead police said despite the crowds, only two arrests were reported.

Theodore Galvles, 46, was arrested at 9:29 p.m. on Sound Avenue, near the concert venue, and charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.

Police said Galvles, who was drunk, rear-ended a car and kept going, then spun around and hit a police car that had been chasing him. 

No one was hurt, police said. Galyles was arrested and brought to Riverhead police quarter for processing.

In addition, one man was arrested for disorderly conduct after he was standing in the roadway, drunk, and refused to leave, police said.

But not everyone had rave reviews about the show. "How can this be ag production on a farm?" Georgette Keller of the Save Main Road group asked. "It's not a concert venue and is not appropriate in residential neighborhoods, and that's what Sound Avenue is."

Others felt the event put the North Fork on the map. Dennis McDermott of the Riverhead Project, who sits on the AFTEE board, said, "This is good for the North Fork." He added that Riverhead Town officials had been great in facilitating the event, which brought an infusion of much-needed funding to East End charities. Over 4000 tickets were sold, he said.

Many also posted positive reviews of the show, which featured Nile Rodgers, Chic, Adam Lambert and Swedish DJ Avicii.

Did you feel the concert to benefit All for the East End was too noisy, or was it a great show? Share your thoughts with Patch.