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Southold teen to make another pitch to save Helen Keller house

Ian Toy, the Southold teen on a mission to save the Helen Keller House near Cedar beach, will be speaking again to county legislators Tuesday morning. This is the second time Ian, 13, will  make a pitch to lawmakers to save the dilapidated county-owned Bavarian-style cottage built in the 1920s and, according to local historians, rented in the summer of 1936 by Ms. Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan.
He will present a report from local architect Michael Mendillo, who evaluated the house on May 15 and estimated that its restoration will cost $386,656.
“In order to prepare a more accurate assessment as to costs, the building should be gutted down to its framing and made secure so that a proper analysis can be made,” reads Mr. Mendillo’s report.
Though the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality has recommended the structure be demolished as scheduled this summer, Ian said he is still hoping the county will pass a resolution proposed last month by County Legislator Ed Romaine to set aside $400,000 to begin restoration. That resolution was tabled earlier this month.
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