News

New CAST director named

Linda Ortiz has been named director of Community Action Southold Town, an organization funded by the town, and through contributions and fundraising events. She replaces Liza Coppola who left the job in April, after an upheaval in the organization that resulted in the resignations of several CAST board members this past year.
Ms. Ortiz has 25 years of experience in creating and operating community programs. Although recently retired from Greenport Village where she established the recreation program, she will oversee the village’s summer camp program while assuming her new duties with CAST.
Ms. Coppola and board members reached a parting of the ways earlier this spring after she was offered only a part-time job that would strip her of her director’s title. At the time, CAST board president Peggy Murphy called the change a reorganization aimed at keeping down expenses while searching for someone with grant-writing abilities and program development skills. Ms. Coppola said the job she was offered “wasn’t appropriate to my skills.”
For a full story on Ms. Ortiz’s appointment, check out Thursday’s edition of The Suffolk Times.