The Long Island Daily

Large orca spotted off coast of Montauk

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

An analysis of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) tactics on Long Island shows how the agency has largely operated outside of coordinated raids and targeted home visits, and instead emphasizes parking lot surveillance and traffic stops. At least 84 of roughly 400 cases of local ICE arrests reviewed by Newsday involved immigrants who were using a car on Long Island, including during traffic stops, in parking lots and following crashes. ICE is barred by state law from accessing New York DMV records, but has run out-of-state plates in several cases that led to arrests, records show. Josefa Velásquez and Arielle Martinez report in NEWSDAY that ICE has arrested more than 2,000 people on Long Island since the start of the second Trump administration, and almost none have come from the type of attention-grabbing sweeps that have sparked unrest around the country. Instead, ICE is leveraging the region’s prevailing car culture, turning strip mall parking lots, side streets and highways into a pillar of its surveillance operation, a Newsday investigation found.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that favors limited immigration, said ICE is carrying out its responsibilities by surveilling parking lots and carrying out traffic stops.

"Like any law enforcement department anywhere in the country, they look for violators in places where they are most likely to be found and utilize the tools that are available to them to identify people who are subject to enforcement," said Ira Mehlman, FAIR’s media director. "That appears to be precisely what ICE is doing on Long Island."

Immigration arrests on Long Island reached a historic high at the start of the year and continued steadily, according to the most recently available arrest data, from October through early March. The arrests make up a growing share of detentions by ICE in the metropolitan area.

Since last fall, arrests on Long Island make up more than half of the arrests in the region, although roughly 15% of New York’s undocumented immigrants call Long Island home.

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A massive and potentially legendary orca was spotted cruising off the coast of Montauk Monday in what could be the first sighting off Long Island in decades. Katherine Donlevy reports in THE NY POST that the beast — possibly the famous Old Thom whale known for patrolling the waters off Cape Cod — shocked sailors by sticking its 7-foot dorsal fin above the surface and shooting a spout of seawater from its blowhole.

Incredible video captures the whale’s single, quick surfacing — and its black fin slicing through the blue waves just 10 nautical miles off Long Island’s South Fork.

“It was just a really impressive animal. I think we all stood in shock and couldn’t believe what we saw and we were screaming at the top of our lungs!” said Discovery Channel superstar Dr. Craig O’Connell, who witnessed the once-in-a-lifetime event. “It’s kind of like winning the lottery that we actually got to see one.”

O’Connell was at sea with the O’Seas Conservation Foundation’s Shark Camp — a program that teaches high school students how to tag and study sharks.

But the sharks were seemingly scared off by the killer whale, one of the few species that make meals of sharks.

Plus, the Montauk orca was traveling with a sea of dolphins rather than a pod of orcas, behavior for which Old Thom is known.

The orca sighting could be the first off Long Island waters in decades.

The species’ return to Long Island could simply be because it was following food, explained O’Connell.

“We were in an area where there was an abundance of prey. There’s big bluefin tuna around right now. There are smaller marine mammals that they can also feed on. There’s also sharks in the area, so likely it’s prey related,” the Shark Week host said.

“It’s a species that utilizes all waters. We call it circumglobal, so they can be anywhere and the fact that it’s here in Montauk is exciting and definitely unusual, but it’s not something that’s out of the realm of possibility.”

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A long-planned new headquarters for the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps {RVAC} moved a step closer to construction Tuesday, with the Town Board’s approval of two measures related to the project.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the ambulance headquarters drew the most discussion among the board’s formal actions. The board scheduled an Aug. 4 public hearing to conduct a Monroe balancing test for Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps’s proposed new emergency services facility at 1111 Osborn Avenue. The project calls for demolishing the existing one-story ambulance building and replacing it with a 25,303-square-foot, three-story building with ambulance bays, offices, meeting rooms, bunkrooms, kitchen space, recreation and fitness rooms and other support space.

RVAC President Garrett Lake thanked the Riverhead Town Board, Council Member Ken Rothwell, the town attorney’s office and town financial staff for their work on the project, saying the long-term lease relieves stress for the ambulance corps’ membership.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Suffolk County yesterday touted her one-year pause on large-scale data centers as protective of utility ratepayers, natural resources and local control — as Long Island officials assess an East Hampton battery storage plant's impact on water wells and North Shore groups press for more control over a pending high-voltage cable through their community.

Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that during a panel session at Babylon Town Hall in Lindenhurst, Hochul defended her executive order earlier this month that put an up to 12-month pause on hyperscale data centers that would use more than 50 megawatts of power. The state will take the year to study the impacts and develop a regulatory framework for the projects that assure they don’t raise energy costs, damage natural resources or impact communities that don’t want them.

"As a former local official, my initial default position is to defer to locals on these decisions," Hochul told attendees at her panel, which included local and state lawmakers and conservation groups. The question for communities, she added, will be: "Do you want this? It is up to localities to make that determination. Full stop, nothing goes anywhere unless the locality wants it."

Her visit to Long Island coincided with heightened criticism of some state-backed energy projects. On Monday, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine called for owners of an East Hampton battery storage plant to shut down the facility after recent tests found high levels of a forever chemical, prompting the closure of vital public drinking water wells and heightening a water crisis in the Hamptons.

The battery plant, contracted to the state controlled Long Island Power Authority, is the subject of a federal lawsuit by the Suffolk County Water Authority which links the toxic plume to a thermal-runaway fire at the battery plant in 2023. Most Long Island towns have enacted moratoriums on big battery projects. Large battery storage plants are key to Hochul's green-energy vision for the state; she doubled the target for the plants to 6,000 megawatts by 2030.

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Speaking at a panel discussion in Babylon Town Hall yesterday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended her executive order instituting a 12-month pause on hyperscale data centers. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that the pause is intended to allow state officials to develop a regulatory framework and study the centers’ impacts, including on communities that don’t want them.

Asked by Newsday whether battery facilities warranted the same protections as those for data centers, Hochul said the two were different.

Large-scale battery projects, she said, "all need to be looked at individually. Many have been functioning for a long time without any incident."

The 5-megawatt battery plant in East Hampton, she noted, "had a fire [in 2023] which really created a different dynamic. I don’t think it’s necessary to have a broad-brush approach saying every one [battery] that’s existing has to shut down."

Asked if she agreed with Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine’s request to suspend the battery plant's use during state and local investigations, Hochul said, "That’s not something I’m going to get ahead of the investigation, because I don’t know the results just yet."

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The Sound Symphony will perform a free concert of patriotic music sponsored by the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council this evening at 7 p.m. on the Cutchogue Village Green. Come early to picnic and bring a chair, relax and enjoy. The show starts at 7 p.m. featuring the Sound Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Christian Olson, performing all of your patriotic favorites on the Village Green in Cutchogue Behind the Old House.

And in Riverhead this evening, Northeast Stage’s free Shakespeare in the Park production of “All’s Well That Ends Well” is being staged in Grangebel Park in Riverhead. Curtain lifts at 7 p.m.

After the curtain drops tonight in Riverhead the production moves to Greenport, where performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 24 through 26.

All performances are free and open to the public. For more details, visit northeaststage.org.

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A new Walgreens pharmacy taking over the former Rite Aid building in Hampton Bays will open for business this Friday, July 24, at 8 a.m. That’s tomorrow morning.

The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Hampton Bays residents, who once had four local pharmacies to choose from, have been left with only one pharmacy in the hamlet — the one inside the Stop & Shop supermarket — since the Rite Aid closed more than a year ago amid the company’s second bankruptcy filing in as many years.

Motorists approaching Hampton Bays new Walgreens Pharmacy in the King Kullen shopping center are likely to encounter even heavier traffic on 27A someday in the relatively near future…especially those driving from the east.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the Suffolk County Department of Public Works will host an information session on the plans for the long-awaited replacement of a Hampton Bays bridge where Montauk Highway passes over the LIRR tracks. The meeting is scheduled for Southampton Town Hall next Thursday, July 30, starting at 6 p.m.

The first hour of the open house will be informal discussion with county engineers, who will have graphics illustrating the work that will be done and how it will impact traffic along the Montauk Highway corridor, followed by an informational presentation from county officials at 7 p.m.

The project, which has already been delayed twice despite dire warnings about the bridge’s deteriorating condition, is expected to take nearly two years to complete and require several months of detours off the heavily used thoroughfare on the east side of Hampton Bays. Detoured traffic will adversely affect surrounding residential neighborhoods, too it seems.

Suffolk County has not yet said when they expect the work to begin.

Congressman LaLota makes broad claims about OLA of Eastern Long Island over sanctuary policies

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced last month that it will dismantle and construct new Long Island Rail Road overpasses in three locations in a project that will begin later this year. But Sagaponack Village Mayor Bill Tillotson is concerned about what the project will mean for the South Fork. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Mayor Tillotson said that his concern stems from the plan’s intent to reduce the clearance to 19.5 feet from the current clearance of 22 feet at the three overpasses, one of which is located on Sagg Road in Sagaponack. In doing so, he said that it would permanently prevent the possibility of using trains to transport building materials and other supplies to the South Fork, a practice that he acknowledged has not been done in many years.

“A lot of the bulk materials, you see tractor trailer loads of lumber and concrete products, all that bulk stuff should really be coming on a train,” he said. “And if they kill that, if someday you want to go back to that, that’s the end of it.”

Tillotson also raised the idea of using trains for waste disposal as a way to reduce traffic on the village’s roads.

“In terms of us, there’s a fantastic amount of garbage you could put on one of those trains and they do it in place [of garbage trucks],” he said. “Instead of running all over the roads, they could dump it on a train and get it out of here.”

The other two overpasses that will be replaced are the River Avenue Bridge in Eastport and the Cranberry Hole Road Bridge in Amagansett. Unlike its counterparts in Eastport and Amagansett, which are closed to vehicles, the Sagg Road Bridge remains in service, though vehicles weighing over 5 tons are prohibited from crossing it.

***

Southampton Village Police are investigating the death of a man who had been taken to the hospital late last week after being found unconscious behind the 7-Eleven convenience store on North Sea Road.

A police officer responding to a report of a fight earlier that night on Aldrich Lane, the short dead-end street that runs adjacent south past the entrance to the 7-Eleven, found the man unconscious in the store’s rear parking lot shortly before 2 a.m. on Friday, July 17.

The officer reported the man was “unresponsive” and “intoxicated.”

As reported on 27east.com, the unconscious man was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for evaluation and later to Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, where he died yesterday…Tuesday morning, July 21.

Police have not identified the man and said they are awaiting autopsy results from the Suffolk County medical examiner’s office to determine his cause of death.

S.V.P. Detective Sergeant Herman Lamison said the man’s death is not currently being investigated as a homicide, pending the medical examiner’s report.

***

Local environmental organizations are inviting the community to a special Monarch Waystation Garden Tour & Talk tomorrow…that’s this Thursday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. at Southold Town’s Native Garden at Custer Preserve.

Co-hosted by ReWild / North Fork, the Group for the East End, and the Southold Peconic Civic Association, tomorrow’s free public event offers an up-close look at the recently established native plant meadow on Southold Town property and provides actionable insights on supporting local pollinator populations. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Town of Southold has supported the creation of this Native Garden with permission, supplies, and ongoing support since 2023.

Free (Registration requested but not required due to limited walking space)

Registration: Available on the Group for the East End website.

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Congressman Nick LaLota…the Republican from Amityville who represents the east end in the U.S. House of Representatives… has remained steadfast in his position that he will cut off both the town and village of East Hampton from congressional earmarks and will do the same to any other municipality in his 1st Congressional District that adopts a law championed by OLA of Eastern Long Island that blocks partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Brendan J. O’Reilly reports on 27east.com that without mentioning OLA, which stands for Organización Latino Americana, by name, LaLota wrote a letter to constituents last Thursday that characterized the Latino advocacy nonprofit as a “Far Left open-borders organization” promoting “sanctuary city policies.”

“I have one simple expectation for any municipality asking me to fight for these scarce federal Community Project Funding dollars: Do not prohibit your local officials from cooperating with federal immigration law enforcement,” LaLota wrote.

He claimed that under the laws the village and town adopted, “if either municipality had an illegal immigrant in custody following an arrest for crimes such as possessing child sexual abuse material, third-degree assault, and second-degree robbery while aided by another person, local officials could not use local personnel or vehicles to transport that individual into federal custody.”

And he wrote that, “coupled with New York’s cashless bail laws, these sanctuary policies require that those violent criminal illegal aliens be expeditiously released from custody. That exacerbates our nation's illegal immigration crisis and makes our communities far less safe.”

We will read a response from East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez at 8:06 a.m.

***

U.S. Representative Nick LaLota on social media recently and in a letter to 1st Congressional District residents last week harshly criticized East Hampton Town and East Hampton Village’s “sanctuary policies.”

Brendan J. O'Reilly reports on 27east.com that East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez responded to LaLota’s characterization of her town being “less safe.”

“East Hampton is already an extremely safe community. We will keep our police focused on local public safety, not the congressman’s political agenda.” Then, yesterday, Burke-Gonzalez offered a further response to LaLota’s many statements about East Hampton, saying he is conflating several separate areas of law. “East Hampton’s Public Safety and Accountability law does not require the release of anyone charged with a crime, and it does not prevent cooperation with federal authorities when required by law,” Burke-Gonzalez said. “The East Hampton Town Police Department could not transport someone directly to federal immigration authorities because of the criminal charges cited by the congressman. The person must first be processed and arraigned. A judge then determines whether the person is released, held on bail, or remanded to the Suffolk County Jail.” Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez added, “If federal authorities present a judicial warrant or court order while the person remains in custody, law enforcement can hold the person for pick-up…If the person is remanded, the Suffolk County sheriff assumes custody.” The supervisor accused LaLota of singling out East Hampton over legal restrictions and police procedures that apply countywide. She pointed out that after the town adopted the law, New York State enacted a statewide prohibition on 287(g) agreements.

***

Without mentioning OLA, which stands for Organización Latino Americana, by name, U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota recently characterized the Latino advocacy nonprofit as a “Far Left open-borders organization” promoting “sanctuary city policies.” Brendan J. O'Reilly reports on 27east.com that OLA Executive Director Minerva Perez responded by accusing the congressman of “continued false statements” and sowing disunity among East End residents and municipalities. She noted that the “Public Safety Law” OLA promotes does not stop local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement when required by law. “Our congressman is creating mistruths and confusion for his personal gain,” she added. Perez vowed that OLA will continue to promote the “Public Safety Law,” which she wrote is “a logical next step to safeguarding our towns and villages from chaos and panic that run through our shared communities during random immigration raids.”

***

The adult spotted lanternfly is about to emerge any day on Long Island and vineyard owners are keeping a vigilant watch. The invasive red and black plant hopper, which has spared East End vineyards so far, can destroy grapevines and fruit trees by sucking out the sap and leaving a sticky substance that can cause mold. Experts say populations go up and down annually and can be somewhat impacted by the increase in birds and insects feeding on them.

Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that so far, Long Island’s vineyard owners have been spared the wrath of these pests. The spotted lanternfly, which is native to China, was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and on Long Island around 2021.

"The populations around the Long Island vineyards are still building up and they are able to manage them," said Brian Eshenaur, senior extension associate and invasive species coordinator at Cornell University’s Integrated Pest Management Program. "But this year it will probably be more of a challenge than it was last year as the population of spotted lanternfly increases."

Robin Epperson-McCarthy, the consulting winemaker at Osprey’s Dominion in Peconic and the owner of Saltbird Cellars, said they've set out specific pheromone traps for lanternflies this year but have not caught any to date. She did not see any last year.

Rich Pisacano, vineyard manager at Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, said his staffers have been trained to look for the spotted lanternfly at all of its life stages. For example, some people have mistaken fourth instar nymphs, the stage before it becomes an adult and grows its wings, as a black and red spider.

"Up until last year, we had never really seen them," he said.

While they can cause damage by consuming more than 70 types of plants, spotted lanternflies are not harmful to people or pets. They have infested 19 states and Washington, D.C. and are known as proficient hitchhikers who can hide in car doors, bumpers, wheel wells and grills, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

They also leave egg masses on trees, bricks, stones and other smooth surfaces and their favorite spot is in the invasive tree of heaven, which destroys native plants.

The state had launched an aggressive campaign asking pedestrians to stomp on any lanternflies they come across. While some New Yorkers embraced the suggestion, especially when the five boroughs seemed infested with them a few years ago, it is not a long-term solution.

Gas prices on LI top $4 as Trump war with Iran disrupts oil production and transportation

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Gasoline prices on Long Island topped $4 per gallon yesterday for the second day in a row as the war with Iran disrupted oil production and transportation.

The average price of regular unleaded was $4.03 per gallon, up from Sunday’s $4.025. A year ago, the price was $3.09 on average — a 94-cent difference, according to AAA. In Water Mill last night Speedway posted $4.199 per gallon.

James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that pump prices in Nassau and Suffolk counties have risen for the past two weeks since the ceasefire between the United States and Iran collapsed and the Strait of Hormuz is once again closed. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that about 20% of the world’s oil passes through the waterway.

The last time local gas prices were this high was on April 16, based on AAA data.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for the app GasBuddy, predicted Monday another spike in the cost of gasoline due to the Iran war and Ukraine’s attack on oil refineries in Russia.

Oil "markets are likely to see another jolt higher in the coming days, and motorists should brace for a rougher stretch ahead," De Haan said. "While the ongoing U.S.-Iran situation continues to weigh on markets, the story is increasingly less about crude oil and more about global refining capacity."

Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 1.3% on Monday to close at $89.22 a barrel, the highest in more than five weeks. Crude was selling for closer to $70 a barrel before Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran.

Robert Sinclair Jr., a senior manager at AAA Northeast suggested maintaining your vehicle by checking the spark plugs and tire inflation.

"But the No. 1 thing that you can do is slow down," Sinclair told Newsday. "Once you get above 50 miles per hour, the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle starts to grow exponentially, and the engine has to work so much harder in order to propel the vehicle at those speeds."

***

Brookhaven National Laboratory yesterday announced what it called a "limited number" of staff cuts, due partly to the closing earlier this year of its signature heavy-ion collider.

Carl MacGowan reports in NEWSDAY that about 20 workers, including scientists, technicians, supervisors, engineers and operators, were let go, said Pete Genzer, a spokesman for the Upton lab, which is here in Suffolk County.

The terminations leave about 2,950 workers at the sprawling campus off William Floyd Parkway, Genzer told NEWSDAY.

Brookhaven Lab workers technically are employed by Brookhaven Science Associates, which manages the laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.

In a statement, Genzer said BNL remains "committed to delivering on vital missions to understand the building blocks of the universe, lead in discovery with light-enabled science, develop next-generation information science and capabilities — including AI and quantum — and advance energy security and essential resources independence," Genzer said.

The Brookhaven staff reduction comes amid budget cuts previously announced by the Energy Department.

More than half of this week's departures were due to the shutdown in February of the lab's $2 billion Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, a 25-year-old atom smasher that in its heyday advanced research into the origins of all matter in the universe.

The collider was closed to make way for a new one, the $2.9 billion Electron Ion Collider, currently under construction.

The new collider is expected to help scientists from around the world study gluons, the mysterious matter believed to bind together key molecular material known as quarks.

***

Northwell Health patients with insurance coverage through Fidelis will have to find new doctors, pay out-of-network costs or get new insurance after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a new contract last week.

Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that the change impacts about 200,000 people on Long Island and hundreds of thousands of people across the state, including those on Medicaid, low- and moderate-income people on the Essential Plan and self-employed or small business owners on the Exchange plan.

Fidelis patients can still seek — and receive — emergency care at Northwell hospitals.

Fidelis recently told Newsday that Northwell "continues to seek rates that significantly exceed those paid to comparable providers." It is the leading insurer for Long Islanders who have Affordable Care Act policies, and the second-largest insurer of residents with Medicaid managed care and state Essential Plan coverage.

People with established Managed Medicaid, Essential Plan and Exchange (marketplace) coverage will be allowed to continue treatment with their Northwell providers through Aug. 13.

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A cherished East End tradition spanning over four decades is returning to the historic streets of Sag Harbor. The Eastville Community Historical Society will host its 41st annual Summer Fish Fry this coming Saturday afternoon, July 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. The outdoor fundraising event will take place across the historic grounds of the society’s Heritage House and the adjacent St. David AME Zion Church.

What began in 1985 as a small neighborhood gathering on the church lawn has evolved into a premier summer fixture, bringing together local residents, historians, and summer visitors to celebrate the unique, multicultural tapestry of Sag Harbor’s historic Eastville neighborhood.

As reported in The Sag Harbor Express, this year’s milestone event will place a special spotlight on the society’s founding fathers, community elders, and the dedicated caretakers driving its modern preservation efforts. Among the confirmed honorees are Michael A. Butler, the society’s current preservation director for the historic St. David AME Zion Cemetery, and Martin Butler, the collections coordinator. Both leaders, alongside the community’s esteemed elders, are being recognized for their lifelong dedication to safeguarding the narratives, artifacts, and sacred grounds of Eastville — a working-class neighborhood uniquely composed of African Americans, Native Americans and Irish immigrants.

Beyond the celebration, the annual fish fry serves as the primary fundraiser for the historical society. All ticket proceeds directly fund the ongoing maintenance and preservation of landmark sites like the Heritage House and the church. Built circa 1840, the church is widely recognized as a stop along the Underground Railroad.

That’s this coming Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Historic St. David AME Zion Church at 33 Eastville Avenue and the Heritage House Museum at 139 Hampton Street in Sag Harbor. All are welcome to attend.

***

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand appeared with Southampton Town police at a news conference in Hampton Bays yesterday to promote a bill that would expedite benefit claims for 9/11 first responders, injured officers and the families of those who have died.

John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) urged a vote on the bill, which she co-sponsored with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in February, that would cut the red tape she said surrounds the Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program. Gillibrand said the program can sometimes take years to respond to claims.

The bill is named after NYPD Chief Michael Ansbro, who died of 9/11-related cancer after working at Ground Zero, and a Santa Fe, Texas, police officer who was critically injured in a 2018 high school shooting.

Senator Gillibrand said the bill would guarantee an answer to claims within nine months, or 270 days, and ensure benefits are paid immediately.

The bill is still awaiting a congressional budget estimate, but the benefit program was funded this year for $236 million, according to Gillibrand’s office. It was heard during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in May. A companion bipartisan House bill also is pending. The program is funded annually through congressional appropriations spending.

Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said the legislation would help several Southampton officers expedite their claims from responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

“[Their children] didn't have that choice whether their parent is put in harm's way to provide for them," Kiernan said during Monday's news conference at police department headquarters. "This bill shows fairness. It shows speed ... and it honors the sacrifice of those first responders so that their families can be taken care of in the times of tragedy."

Congress established the Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program in 1976 to provide death benefits for the families of fallen officers. Since then, the benefits have been expanded to include disability pay for injured officers and academic financial aid for officers' families.

The new legislation would create an office to oversee and approve claims, while providing outreach to disabled officers and their families.

***

“From Sea to Shining Sea: Whalers of the African Diaspora” is a collaborative exhibition presented at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum in partnership with the Eastville Community Historical Society and Dr. Georgette Grier-Key. The exhibition opens this coming Saturday, July 25, and will remain on display until September 6.

The purpose of the exhibition is to shed light on local history and show that many members of the diverse Eastville community — which was home to men and women of African American, Indigenous and European descent — played key roles in the whaling industry.

Originally created in 2023 by Dr. Grier-Key, the executive director and chief curator of the Eastville Community Historical Society, in collaboration with the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, the exhibition explores the experiences, contributions and lasting impact of African Americans in the whaling industry.

A free public opening reception will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, at the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum. During the reception, Dr. Grier-Key will discuss the exhibition and its significance, highlighting the important role African American whalers played in the maritime history of Long Island and beyond.

The Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum is located at 200 Main Street in Sag Harbor. More information is available at sagharborwhalingmuseum.org.

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Long Island’s largest business group — the Long Island Association — met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday to mark the group’s 100th anniversary, while mapping out economic priorities for the region’s future.

Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that in a roundtable discussion with Long Island’s four U.S. House members — Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), Laura Gillen (D- Rockville Centre), Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) and Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) — members of the group discussed the need for policies that promote affordable housing, childcare and lower energy costs in Nassau and Suffolk.

"This is an opportunity for us to reflect on the past 100 years and how we have supported Long Island’s economic development and also discuss pressing issues facing Long Island right now that will impact where we go in the future," Stacey Sikes, acting president and CEO of the association, told Newsday before entering the closed-door session.

Sikes said the association’s top priorities include looking at policies that focus "on strengthening Long Island's economy through investments in infrastructure, housing, workforce development, energy reliability, small business growth and innovation."

Members of the group’s board of directors also met with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), before being recognized in Senate and House floor speeches from the delegation.

"Their century of work fighting to make Long Island a better place to live, work and do business has accomplished more for the region," Schumer said of the group.

Congressman LaLota touching on the group's history said its "work continues today as Long Island confronts many of the changes that will define our next century."

Billy Haugland, CEO of Haugland Group, a Melville-based construction services company, and a member of the association’s board, told Newsday, "As we move forward toward America's next 250 and the LIA's 100, a greater partnership with the policymakers that are in D.C., as well as that on the state and local level, is going to be paramount in ensuring our successful path forward," Haugland said .

Board member Luis Vasquez, who also serves as president of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, told NEWSDAY "inclusivity" is a key part of the region’s future business growth, noting the association has sought to boost the participation of minority-owned businesses.

"We are honored to advocate for the policies, partnerships, and investments that will strengthen our economy and uplift the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs," Vasquez said.

New York spending more on education than any other state

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Students are using laptops and tablets for everything from group writing projects to math practice, and concern is growing over how much screen time is too much, particularly for younger students.

Now, after New York banned cellphones in schools, state education leaders and Gov. Kathy Hochul say reductions in screen time could be next.

Screens were vital to at-home instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now schools across the state and Long Island are starting to reduce screen time and reassess the best use of the technology.

The U.S. surgeon general in May issued a warning on the harms of excessive screen use, saying it can be linked to "poor educational and health outcomes in school aged children."

State and education leaders are considering broader action, such as guidance or even a state law.

"The use of technology is everywhere now ... there’s something that’s been lost as part of that shift and our educators are really sounding the alarm because they want to get that back," said Melinda Person, president of the New York State United Teachers, the state’s largest teachers union, representing nearly 700,000 members. "New York should really be setting the standard."

The union is pushing for developmentally appropriate limits on screen time and artificial intelligence in schools statewide, including a ban on the use of one-on-one devices for most students in prekindergarten through second grade.

It’s still the beginning of the conversation, but members would like some sort of statewide guidance, Person said.

Other education groups and experts are hesitant to have the state step in, saying it’s a far more complex issue than banning cellphones.

"This is a broader conversation that needs to be handled holistically and absolutely not a one-size model," said Greg Berck, director of advocacy and legal counsel for the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

Unlike cellphones, which are a distraction in the classroom, there needs to be more research on screen time and how it’s being used, he told Newsday.

"The key issue here is not just screens, but what is on their screens," he said.

***

Brookhaven National Lab is developing a tool that could help new data centers grow nationwide to power the booming artificial intelligence industry — even as municipalities look to block these facilities.

Celia Young reports in NEWSDAY that the lab is building an AI-powered tool that could identify places to connect data centers, factories and other big energy users to the electric grid, which could shorten the amount of time it takes to develop these facilities, said Hendrik Hamann, the chief AI scientist in the director's office at the lab.

"Say you want to build a new data center. It takes anything between three to eight years [and] it costs up to hundreds of millions of dollars just to connect this data center," Hamann said. "That's a huge issue. Shortening that time is absolutely critical."

BNL announced a partnership with Amazon's cloud computing service provider, Amazon Web Services, last month to help speed the development of the tool, dubbed GridSearch. If successful, the AI-powered tool would analyze billions of scenarios — like storms, outages, heat waves or maintenance issues — to find places to connect these facilities.

The tool could help companies identify places to build data centers without costly infrastructure upgrades, Hamann said, though he added GridSearch is still in development. If GridSearch is successful, it would be a huge boon for the AI industry and a major innovation that could be used for other purposes — like adding power to the grid, experts told Newsday.

But as Long Island businesses continue to use AI, local and state officials have sought to block data center development that powers the technology over concerns about noise, impacts on the environment and ratepayer's utility bills, Newsday reported.

A May Gallup poll found that seven in 10 Americans opposed the construction of data centers for AI in their local area. Businesses on Long Island are already using AI to build custom tools and draft emails.

***

Tomorrow evening, the Hamptons Observatory will hold a lecture on “Mapping the Heavens with Deep Space Surveys” at the East Hampton Library featuring Dr. Charles Liu, Astrophysicist of the College of Staten Island & Hayden Planetarium. Tuesday’s presentation is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Astronomers are mapping the universe with unprecedented precision, revealing secrets about our cosmic history—and inviting all of us to make discoveries alongside them. Join Hamptons Observatory and co-host

East Hampton Library for an engaging presentation by renown astrophysicist Dr. Charles Liu as he explores the monumental achievements of modern celestial cartography and how all of us can use the data for free to study the

universe on our own.

That’s “Mapping the Heavens with Deep Space Surveys” at East Hampton Library tomorrow at 7 p.m.

For further info and registration visit easthampton.librarycalendar.com.

***

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Friday, a diesel-powered train picked up passengers for the first time at the Long Island Rail Road’s $20 million Yaphank-BNL station, before chugging to the original Yaphank Station about 3 miles east. Full service at the new station, located just south of the Long Island Expressway near Exit 68, commenced Saturday, and service has now been discontinued at the original, 142-year-old Yaphank station. Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that with the more conveniently located station complete, about 3.5 miles south of Brookhaven National Laboratory, MTA officials said they now turn their attention to other upgrades to improve the commuting experience east of Ronkonkoma. MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said the MTA has begun studying the possibility of adding a second track between Ronkokoma and Riverhead and further electrifying the branch. Lieber said he expects preliminary findings from the study to be released early next year. Because the LIRR’s Main Line is only electrified as far as Ronkonkoma, service east of that station is limited to less-reliable diesel locomotives, which typically means customers traveling into and out of New York City have to transfer.

Electrifying more of the LIRR system in Suffolk "would mean faster trains, more frequent service and, obviously, an additional level of convenience," Lieber said.

LIRR President Rob Free said building the new Yaphank-BNL station, and one day modernizing track infrastructure leading to it could "provide a relief valve for Ronkonkoma" — Suffolk’s most heavily used station.

The MTA has other plans to upgrade its network in Suffolk County, including eliminating five grade crossings between Wyandanch and Ronkonkoma. Those upgrades, which are being funded in part by federal grants, coincide with Amtrak’s plans to expand its intercity rail service as far as Ronkonkoma, potentially over the next decade.

Lieber said the MTA’s upgrades have nothing to do with Amtrak’s plans, but rather "supporting Suffolk County’s expansion, housing growth and meeting the needs of a burgeoning region."

County Executive Edward P. Romaine — a frequent critic of the MTA — said Suffolk has been "neglected for so long" when it comes to public transportation upgrades. "So, when I see this investment, I am so happy," he said.

Lieber on Friday also confirmed that another key effort toward expanding LIRR service in Suffolk County is moving ahead — the embattled plan to build a rail yard on the former Lawrence Aviation property in Port Jefferson.

***

A group of people clamming discovered a dead body Friday evening in Three Mile Harbor in Springs, according to East Hampton Town police.

Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that police on Saturday afternoon identified the man as 62-year-old Edward J. Garbowski, of East Hampton. Officials said he may have suffered a medical emergency that led to his death.

Police were notified this past Friday at 7:36 p.m. to the report that an unresponsive man had been found on an "exposed grass island" in the water off Folkstone Road. Garbowski was found with equipment for harvesting shellfish, police said.

An investigation is underway to determine a cause of death. Detectives have not found evidence indicating any suspicious circumstances or foul play, police said.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office responded to the scene and is also investigating the cause of death.

Anyone with information can contact East Hampton Town police at 631-537-7575.

***

A scary and sad reminder on the north fork this weekend of a tragic moment which remains in the east end community's consciousness.

Exactly 11 years since the July 18, 2015 fatal crash between a limo and pick up truck in Cutchogue killed four women…six people this past Saturday were sent to the hospital with minor injuries after a pickup truck collided with a Mercedes party bus in Southold.

Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that an 89-year-old Southold woman was driving a Toyota Tacoma west on County Route 48 when she attempted to make a left on Youngs Avenue and struck an eastbound Mercedes Sprinter van carrying seven passengers, according to Southold Town Police Chief Steven Grattan. Per an accident report, the woman "failed to yield the right of way" and struck the van, driven by a 58-year-old Uniondale man.

The crash was reported shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday. Southold, Greenport and Cutchogue fire departments responded to the scene, officials said.

Four passengers and both drivers were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, the chief said. Three passengers declined medical attention at the scene.

No charges were filed, according to police…and the injuries this time were “minor.”

***

New York is spending more on education than any state in the nation despite shrinking schools and 12% fewer students than 15 years ago, according to a new report.

Carl Campanile reports in THE NY POST that New York State enrollment could see another double-digit decrease by 2031 as population growth stagnates and birth rates plummet — which would mean New York is shedding students faster than anywhere in the US except California and New Mexico, according to the report by budget watchdog the Citizens Budget Commission. The reckoning will force policymakers to consider controversial decisions: closing or merging schools and reducing staff or continuing to prop up facilities with a dearth of students, the report said.

“Public school enrollment has declined in every region over the past decade, reflecting broader demographic trends and slower population growth,” the CBC said in its “Value Proposition Tracker” analysis. “Enrollment declines have been particularly pronounced outside the New York City metropolitan area, creating new challenges for school districts as they balance staffing, facilities, and educational programming with fewer students.” Overall, statewide public school enrollment declined by 322,808 students to 2.38 million, the CBC analysis found.

New York City had the smallest decline in the state at 7.1%.

On Long Island - Nassau and Suffolk combined - enrollment was down 11.8 percent.

“Despite spending more per student than other states, New York’s reading performance is near the national average, and its math performance is below,” the CBC analysis said. “Students in New Jersey and Massachusetts perform much better, despite those states spending 17 percent and 23 percent less per student, respectively.”

New York State law currently allows school districts to merge with each other with the approval of residents, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office noted. The state also provides resources to assist with operating and building aid to school districts that have recently merged.

“Governor Kathy Hochul continues to make record investments in our schools because she believes every child in New York deserves access to a quality education, setting them up for lifelong success,” a Hochul spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to work with school districts around the state to ensure they have the resources they need, while maintaining the Governor’s strong track record of fiscal discipline during her time in office.”

NYS Dept. of Transportation changes work schedule to reduce traffic impact on Sunrise Hwy

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The New York State Department of Transportation has now changed its work schedule to reduce traffic backups on Sunrise Highway, moving any work that requires road closures to evening.

As reported on 27east.com, Richard Causin, the DOT’s regional director, told State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni that starting yesterday, and continuing until the project’s planned completion on September 7, only work done behind the metal guardrails will be done during the daytime.

Schiavoni noted that the roadwork and bridge maintenance along Sunrise Highway just east of the Hampton Bays exit, in the area of the Shinnecock Canal, had been causing “significant traffic in the westbound lane” because of lane closures.

“While I am pleased to see DOT working hard to maintain the safety and integrity of East End roads and bridges, I recognize that this kind of work can cause major congestion during the summer peak season,” Schiavoni said in a press release. “Thankfully … Causin, at my request, has decided to shift work to the evenings and end daytime lane closures. This measure will reduce the daily disruption for residents, commuters, and visitors.”

The NWS indicates areas of smoke before 4pm, then patchy smoke after 5pm today resulting from the Canadian wildfires.

And Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that after the Suffolk County Water Authority announced a Stage 1 Water Alert earlier this week, the agency emailed its customers Wednesday afternoon asking them to “refrain from lawn watering immediately.”

***

A sweeping new bipartisan housing law recently passed by the U.S. Congress looks to address the nation’s housing shortage and soaring home prices, but local housing experts note it will take years for the impacts to be felt across Long Island. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that the 21st Century Road to Housing Act was crafted by lawmakers from both parties and passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support last month, including the entire Long Island congressional delegation. The sweeping package includes incentives to municipalities that ease their zoning laws to allow for more construction and relaxes certain reporting requirements for landlords looking to rent their properties to low-income residents. "In order for us to be successful in the future, we desperately need more housing," Stacey Sikes, the acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association tells NEWSDAY. "It empowers the communities to determine what works best for them, and it also provides some regulatory framework relief within it, which is especially beneficial on Long Island."

While the bill was created to incentivize home construction and clear some of the red tape surrounding the development of affordable housing, housing policy groups note that the new law does not address other underlying issues, including rising cost of materials and a workforce shortage.

***

Jamesport Fire Department’s fireworks show will now take place tonight, instead of Saturday night, Jamesport Fire Chief Dan Doroski said yesterday.

The fire department made the schedule change due the inclement weather forecast for tomorrow night…thunderstorms during the evening. Storms may contain strong gusty winds.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Jamesport Fire Department carnival takes place today from 6 to 11 p.m. and is scheduled to be held tomorrow from 5 to 11 p.m.

The Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to have passed by Saturday night.

So, Jamesport Fire Department’s fireworks show is now on for tonight…not Saturday night.

***

Riverhead’s Helicopter Noise Task Force reconvened yesterday to discuss a reported renewed increase in low-flying helicopters over Wading River and other parts of the Riverhead area, as a federal rule pertaining to the route south fork-bound helicopters take approaches its July 29 expiration date. Councilman Ken Rothwell, the Riverhead Town Board liaison to the task force, reconvened the group, which hadn’t met publicly in several years, to discuss the current situation. Denise Civilettiorts on Riverheadlocal.com that Rothwell said the town’s immediate priorities were securing an extension of the Federal Aviation Administration North Shore Helicopter Route rule and pressing for stronger enforcement. He said he had contacted the offices of Rep. Nick LaLota and Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand about extending the rule and addressing complaints that pilots are flying too low or cutting inland over residential neighborhoods. “The first one is to ensure that the FAA renews the flight path,” Rothwell said. “And then we’re promising to work with them about enforcement.”

The North Shore Helicopter Route Rule generally directs helicopters traveling east along Long Island’s North Shore to remain offshore and fly at prescribed altitudes. Pilots may deviate from the route for safety, weather or when transitioning to or from a landing site. Task force members said those exceptions, combined with limited enforcement, have allowed increasing numbers of helicopters to cross inland over Wading River and other communities.

Rothwell said the Town of Riverhead has updated the helicopter task force page on its website with a complaint form and contact information for elected officials. Residents can submit complaints to the town and to the airports involved.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin said he would contact the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association about preparing a letter to federal officials. A similar coordinated effort was undertaken during earlier helicopter-route disputes.

Rothwell said the Town Board would formally renew the appointments of the task force members and reconvene the committee next month.

***

Recent tests of private wells just south of a battery storage plant in East Hampton have shown extremely high levels of a forever chemical at more than 1 million parts per trillion at several homes. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that a copy of the latest private-well report after tests conducted by Suffolk County earlier this month showed detections that are well above drinking water standards of the toxin, known as ultrashort-chain PFPrA (Perfluoropropionic acid) at four homes. The toxic plume has already affected public water wells around 2,500 feet south of battery plant, which experienced a thermal-runaway fire in 2023 that was treated with more than 2.2 million gallons of water.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has long advocated for the battery plants, doubling the state mandate for them to 6,000 megawatts by 2030, in 2023 declared there were "no harmful levels of toxins detected" at the East Hampton site and two others that experienced fires that year. A state task-force analysis at the time, she said, "shows no notable lasting impacts on the health or safety of the first responders or the communities they serve."

Hochul spokesman Ken Lovett previously has said while the governor can't comment on the litigation, she "immediately" reconvened her interagency fire-safety working group "on becoming aware of the situation," and the State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation "are investigating any potential impacts to water quality."

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen is calling for quicker and more decisive action.

The battery plant has since been rebuilt and restored to operation in 2024. Another battery facility in Montauk has also undergone redesigns. Both are under contract to LIPA.

Larsen said, "I think we should shut it down until we know there's some sort of [water] containment plan for this plant" in the event of another fire. "I think we shut down this one and the one in Montauk until we know there's a plan."

At a meeting Monday of state and local officials about the plume, the DEC told attendees it expects to have a contractor on site by today, with drilling of up to eight wells to begin sometime next week, according to an official who attended who asked NEWSDAY not to be identified. Results could be available in a month.

***

The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, Southampton Town Highway Department and Hampton Bays School District came together this week to return a baby osprey that fell from its nest at the Hampton Bays High School football field.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Tuesday morning, the osprey fell from its nest, located on top of a 55-foot light pole at the field. After receiving a call, a rescuer from the center responded and brought it back to the center, where staff determined that the young bird was healthy and needed to be reunited with its family.

To return the bird, Larry Luce, the assistant superintendent for finance and operations at the school district, approached Highway Department bucket truck operator Dan Rodriguez for help, as the department was conducting tree work nearby.

With the bird safely wrapped in one hand and operating the machine in the other, Rodriguez went up in the bucket to return the bird to its nest. The bird’s mother left the nest, allowing Rodriguez to unwrap and place the young bird back in the nest, before the mother osprey quickly returned.

The bird was named “Bubba” in honor of Bridgehampton School physical education teacher and athletic director Michael DeRosa, a lifelong Hampton Bays resident who passed away last Friday.

***

The Suffolk County Water Authority has issued a directive to its customers that they "immediately" refrain from watering their lawns.

Nicholas Grasso reports in NEWSDAY that in an email to its customers Wednesday afternoon, the authority said it was reaching its "maximum capacity under current drought and heat conditions," and that users could experience low water pressure in early morning hours, the time of peak demand.

"Halting lawn watering is necessary to ensure we maintain adequate water pressure for essential indoor use and emergency fire response," the emailed statement said.

The utility provider is "monitoring" demand and will decide whether to maintain or lift the guidance "day by day," Dan Dubois, the director of communications for the water authority, told Newsday yesterday.

The authority will not give its 1.2 million customers in Suffolk County the green light to water lawns again based on a set amount of time or rainfall, according to Dubois. It's also not basing the guidance on the U.S. Drought Monitor, which lists much of Suffolk County under a moderate drought and the East End and some northwestern hamlets under a severe drought.

Instead, the water authority will watch how much water its pumping, which could change if customers voluntarily agree to cut back.

"We're hopeful that as the weather cools off over the next couple of days and we're expecting some rain this weekend it lowers the demand on the system," Dubois said. "We'll certainly keep our customers up to date ... It's not really contingent on the rain, it's contingent on whether customers are responding."

Suffolk home values jump; immigration crackdown breeds uncertainty; and more

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Owners of more than 54,000 Suffolk homes challenged their property assessments last year, with jumps of more than 50% on the East End, a Newsday analysis found, amid prolonged assessment freezes in most towns and a spike in filings from tax firms.

In four eastern Suffolk towns, homeowner assessment challenges surged more than 50% last year, a Newsday data analysis found: Grievances grew by 59% in Southold, 53% in Riverhead and 50% in East Hampton. In tiny Shelter Island, the increase was 264% as challenges nearly quadrupled from 36 to 131. Elsewhere across the county, townwide increases ranged from 14% in Islip to 41% in Babylon.

Sam Kmack and Alek Lewis report in NEWSDAY that the 54,238 grievances across Suffolk’s 10 towns accounted for about 12% of Suffolk's 454,000 residential properties. Many Suffolk towns are relying on assessment rolls frozen decades ago. In six of the towns, the most recent update was before 1974, according to state records.

Newsday analyzed residential tax challenge data from the towns for the 2025-26 tax year, the most recent in which countywide data was available. In Suffolk, the 10 towns manage the property assessments, whereas in Nassau the county values the properties.

The data is focusing fresh attention on most Suffolk towns' failures to keep assessments up to date in one of the nation's highest-taxed and -priced real estate markets. Some critics question the wisdom, and sustainability, of keeping valuations frozen, especially as tax firms seize on vulnerabilities in the calculations and home sales spike to record levels.

Some tax firm representatives said that by keeping the assessments frozen, towns have failed to capture precise valuation changes among the many smaller communities and neighborhoods.

When homeowners win reductions, the tax burden is ultimately shifted onto those who do not, worsening inequities for those overassessed.

The surge in East End challenges comes as the region struggles with affordability pressures, including record home prices on the North Fork, and a string of annual town tax hikes.

****

The owner of a Long Island school bus company who used a check-kiting scheme to defraud banks out of nearly $10 million was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison yesterday.

Grant Parpan reports in NEWSDAY that John Mensch, 55, of Quogue, is the owner of the former East End Bus Lines. His father, the late John Mensch, founded Montauk Bus Company half a century ago. That family business is still operating locally. Mensch the son has now been ordered to pay $9.3 million in restitution to a pair of banks he admitted defrauding.

"Mensch kept a failing business afloat by manipulating the banking system and exploiting the trust that financial institutions place in their customers," Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. "By cycling worthless checks through multiple bank accounts, the defendant obtained millions of dollars in funds that did not exist, creating the illusion of financial stability while concealing the company’s insolvency."

Mensch had sought to avoid prison, arguing he carried out the scheme after falling victim to predatory lenders. The defense said incarceration could destroy Mensch’s current bus businesses and limit his ability to repay the victim banks.

Defense attorney Robert Anello, of Manhattan, said a dispute over a 2016 contract with its biggest client, the William Floyd school district, led to a $2.2 million loss for East End Bus Lines at a time when it was expanding to upstate New York and forced the company to seek financial support from predatory lenders with direct access to its bank accounts. The proceeds of the scheme were to cover the cash withdrawals from lenders, some of whom have faced their own legal repercussions, Anello told U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury at sentencing Wednesday.

"He made the biggest mistake of his life when he was desperate," Anello said.

Prosecutors argued Mensch’s criminal conduct was instead "driven by greed." He paid himself a salary of more than $368,000 in 2017 and increased his pay to over $383,000 in 2018, the same year East End Bus Lines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He also transferred significant assets, including his existing businesses, to his wife’s name, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Toporovsky argued.

"This is someone who was taking very good care of himself at the expense of the bank," Toporovsky said.

***

The East Hampton Historical Society will host a special presentation by Sean Decatur, the president of the American Museum of Natural History, exploring the remarkable story behind one of Long Island’s most extraordinary natural history discoveries.

“Bringing the ‘Monster’ to Manhattan: The Amagansett Whale, Roy Chapman Andrews, and the American Museum of Natural History“ examines the events that followed the 1907 hunting of the largest North Atlantic right whale ever recorded off the coast of Amagansett.

Decatur will recount how famed explorer and naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews traveled to Amagansett to recover the whale for the American Museum of Natural History, transforming a local event into a significant chapter in the museum’s history.

The presentation will take place on Friday, July 17…that’s tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Clinton Academy, 151 Main St. in East Hampton. Admission is free. A reception will follow the program. Reservations are strongly recommended and may be made at easthamptonhistory.org.

***

Farms, nurseries, landscapers and related local businesses say the onetime abundant groups of migrants typically available to do labor-intensive work have largely vanished amid the federal immigration crackdown.

Mycki McKay can remember when carloads of seasonal workers from Central and South America rolled down the drive at Helen’s Flower Farm & Greenhouses in Riverhead during the busy spring and fall looking for work. "We used to get them in caravans," she said.

But this year is different. "I don’t think we had one," said the retail manager of the sprawling East End nursery and farm stand the McKay family has run for decades.

The large seasonal influx of migrant workers who cultivate plants at greenhouses, prune grapevines and harvest corn and pumpkins across Long Island has been driven into the shadows, wary of the federal crackdown by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Large groups of workers who used to mass for work in public places are now rare, and the seasonal influx of workers has diminished, making recruitment more competitive, farmers and their advocates say.

Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that Long Island farms are trying to accommodate change, where they can. Businesses — largely unable to recruit domestic workers — are relying more than ever on established federal visa programs. They ensure their immigrant workers are legal during the time they need them, although they say the process is cumbersome and expensive. One type of worker visa used by farms and nurseries has jumped 155% in the past decade. Also, federal farmworker visa programs require employers to house workers.

Moreover, some farmers are concerned the Trump administration could end the temporary protected status of their workers from countries such as El Salvador.

***

Migrants are vital to Long Island farms. The immigration crackdown is sowing uncertainty.

Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that deportation fears have driven some migrants to self-deport, while farmers worry that other workers could lose their protected status.

The sense of fear that workers now face only adds to the challenges of farmers, who need them to do the jobs U.S. workers don't always want to do.

"To try to get domestic labor is getting harder and harder every year," said Bill Zalakar, executive director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, which represents farm-related industries from New York City to the East End. "That's why our industry relies so much on immigrants and workforces from other countries and through special visa programs to help us in agriculture."

Long Island's more than 600 farms comprised 34,468 acres and generated nearly $373 million in sales in 2022, according to a report from the NYS comptroller’s office. Most Long Island farms are in the greenhouse, nursery and flower businesses, while vegetable and fruit farming, including vineyards, is just under one-third of the total. All rely heavily on seasonal or migrant work forces — upward of 65%, according to the Long Island Farm Bureau.

According to U.S. Census data, the number of hired farmworkers in Suffolk for 2022, the most recent year available, was 4,910, with 451 labeled as "migrant." That's a decrease in migrant workers from 2017, when 523 of the 4,665 hired farm workers were labeled migrant. "Hired" farmworkers excludes self-employed farmers and unpaid family members.

The cost of labor for Long Island farms has spiked in recent years — up 52% for Suffolk between 2017 and 2022, according to the state comptroller's office. Zalakar, noting labor costs amount to about 30% to 45% of farm production expenses, estimated upward of 80% of farmworkers are immigrants and that more than half of those are likely undocumented.

Addressing another imminent concern, Gary Vogel, managing partner of East Coast Nurseries told NEWSDAY, "If temporary protected status for El Salvador is not renewed ... that's going to leave a large hole in our business."

The immigration crackdown and the fear of ICE comes as farmers face myriad other problems.

"This is just really one more notch in the belt of difficulties for farm labor to begin with, because farmers notoriously have a shortage of labor," said Amanda Powers, communication director for the New York State Farm Bureau. "When you throw this in, especially for seasonal work, that’s really going to cause a serious problem."

***

In recognition of our nation’s semi - quincentennial, the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton invites you to step back to 1776 and explore the bold ideas, powerful words, and daring actions that shaped America’s founding. Historian Jim Ward will examine the events leading to the Declaration of Independence, the document’s revolutionary principles, and its lasting impact on history.

That’s this coming Monday, July 20th at 6:30 p.m. in Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Rd, Southampton, NY 11968

For further info and registration visit www.myrml.org.

***

A checklist of items that the East Hampton Town Building Department punches through when reviewing building permit applications is the subject of scrutiny from local builders.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Chief Building Inspector Richard Normoyle developed the list, originally 25 items, from the New York State building code, for himself as guidance while handling plans review. Over time, the checklist expanded to 100 items and morphed into a training tool to guide new staffers.

But the East Hampton Town Business Committee has penned a memo to the East Hampton Town Board asking for implementation of the 100-point checklist in East Hampton to be delayed until after the backlog that has plagued the department for a year is cleared.

“The codes are independent of the Building Department,” said Business Committee Chairman Marc Clejan, the founder of Modern NetZero. “The Building Department has nothing to do with the codes. The codes exist by law, in the state, the county and the town. All things that are built have to conform to code, whether or not the Building Department asks you to put it on the plans.

“Forever, we have been submitting plans that were not covering so many details, but we were still responsible for building to code — so we just don’t understand this.”

East Hampton Town officials, meanwhile, have touted the checklist as one of the avenues by which the Building Department is looking to turn a new leaf and establish clear, consistent standards across the board when reviewing permit applications. The document was being used behind the scenes by Building Department staffers for some time, but town officials opted to make the list readily available in response to public feedback.

“It was developed as a training document for new Building Department staff to support consistent and complete reviews and was discussed with the building community during the April 16, 2026, Express Sessions, where we offered to make it a public document if that would help the building industry,” said town spokesman Patrick Derenze.

“The Building Department has a responsibility to apply the code as written and to carry out that work to protect public safety. Because these are existing code requirements, there is no new implementation to delay.”

Suffolk County Water Authority issues Stage 1 Water Alert

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The L.I. Daily / 7-15-2026 [Hour 1]



Summarize this email



Mackey, Michael

Masciale, Diane;

Hinck, Paula;

Hafener, Delaney;

Coccia, Brianna;

Volpe, Gianna

WEDNESDAY; JULY 15, 2026

6:49am - 6:51am

As he presented a giant-sized check for $3.5 million to the Town of Huntington’s Highway Department last week, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) repeated a threat, first made last month, that he would withhold similar future funding for the Town of East Hampton over its prohibition on police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Other municipalities should take notice, Congressman LaLota said: "Choose the money instead of going broke, when [East Hampton] went woke."

Congressional earmarks, the funding method LaLota is using, came back in 2021 after a decade-long pause over concerns about misuse.

Peter Gill reports in NEWSDAY that as LaLota’s decision illustrates, earmarks give individual members of Congress a lot of leeway to choose where the money goes, and where it doesn't, in their districts. Supporters say the system is designed that way because local politicians have a sense of local needs, but critics — especially fiscal conservatives — have long argued it leads to funding decisions based on political factors rather than need or merit.

Also known as Community Project Funding in the House and Congressionally Directed Spending in the Senate, earmarks bypass traditional funding mechanisms like formulas (which, for roads, are based on factors like miles of pavement and traffic volume), or competitive grants that consider need. Instead, members of Congress select the projects, subject to approval by each body’s appropriations committee, with few restrictions. Earmarks can be for a range of purposes — this year, Long Island's range from roads to water treatment and flooding infrastructure, new police vehicles and grants for nonprofits — and the spending is capped at 1% of the federal discretionary budget.

Joshua Sewell, director for research at the Washington-based nonprofit Taxpayers for Common Sense, said lawmakers often favor some parts of their districts over others, but he couldn't recall an instance of a lawmaker explicitly making earmarks conditional on a local government law or policy as LaLota has done.

Asked why he tied road funding to the unrelated issue of immigration enforcement, LaLota said it was because "we need to unwind this terrible [migrant] crisis that we're in the midst of."

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said she would not be intimidated by LaLota, who had previously submitted an earmark request for repaving 22 miles of the town's roads for next fiscal year.

"While we can disagree on the issues revolving around ICE, we fully expect Representative LaLota to honor any and all past and current commitments," she said in a statement.

***

The Suffolk County Water Authority issued a Stage 1 Water Alert yesterday for all customers in the towns of Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton and East Hampton. According to the SCWA, “despite rains last week, Suffolk County remains in a moderate drought. Portions of the county, particularly on the East End and Huntington, are experiencing severe drought conditions.” The Water Authority is requesting that residents of these areas adopt odd-even irrigation practices, irrigating their lawns on even days if they have an even street number, and odd days if they have an odd street number. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Town of Southold adopted a law last year requiring this of new irrigation systems. The SCWA is also asking residents to not water their lawns between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Stage 1 water alert comes as SCWA officials said the authority set a pumpage record in June, withdrawing 11.5 billion gallons of water systemwide — nearly exceeding its peak-pumpage per-minute record, reaching 540,000 gallons per minute.

The SCWA said because of "high water infrastructure demand" from irrigation systems during overnight and early-morning hours, water storage tanks "begin the day at low levels and require more time to refill."

Low tank levels reduce system pressure, which can create flow issues to homes as well as fire hydrants.

"The combination of regional drought and record pumpage requires an immediate response," SCWA chairman Charlie Lefkowitz said in a statement. "We need all customers on the East End to adhere to water use restrictions so we can maintain pressure for fire protection."

***

Shelter Island Friends of Music presents the Sinta Quartet this coming Sunday, July 19 beginning at 6 pm in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church…performing music by Antonin Dvorak, Marc Mellits, and others. BOSTON MUSIC INTELLIGENCER calls Sinta Quartet “a tight-knit ensemble exploding with power and virtuosity and an un-concealable ambition to connect with its newly found listeners.”

Admission is free.

The concert is this coming Sunday, July 19 at 6 pm in

Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, 32 N. Ferry Rd., Rte. 114.

For further info visit SIFriendsofMusic.org.

***

At their General Meeting in the Maxine S. Postal Auditorium in Riverhead yesterday, the Suffolk County Legislature voted unanimously to approve the $4.42 million acquisition of more than six acres along Route 25A in Wading River, ending the prospect of a long-planned shopping center on the property.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the five parcels, collectively known as the Venezia Square site, total approximately 6.34 acres on the south side of Route 25A, west of Wading River-Manor Road. The county plans to preserve the land as open space and transfer it to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for passive recreational use.

The resolution authorizes the county to purchase the property from Venezia Corporation for $4.42 million, or $16 per square foot, subject to a final survey. The purchase will be funded through the open-space component of the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program.

Riverhead Town Council member Ken Rothwell said the proposed 37,000-square-foot, campus-style shopping center would have worsened congestion along a section of Route 25A that already experiences frequent traffic backups.

The proposed development would have included three retail buildings, three restaurants, a bank and 171 parking spaces. It also would have required a new traffic signal at Route 25A and Dogwood Drive.

Instead, the legislation approved yesterday prohibits development of the property and designates it for passive recreation. It also permits the county to negotiate an agreement with Riverhead Town for management of the site.

Rothwell said he would eventually like to see a small park or gathering area with picnic tables and a pedestrian crossing connecting the property to the nearby county bicycle and pedestrian trail.

“I can see a small park with picnic tables, a place to gather outside, and perhaps a crosswalk to access the great Rails to Trails project,” he said.

***

Business and technology groups slammed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order placing a one-year pause on new hyperscale data centers yesterday, while environmental advocates urged further action.

Steve Hughes and Matthew Chayes report in NEWSDAY that Hochul signed the executive order, the first of its kind in the nation, at an event Tuesday overlooking the East River in Williamsburg. She said the order is necessary because the state’s regulatory agencies need time to develop a framework to handle the data centers' potentially massive water and energy needs.

Hochul’s announcement comes as communities around the state grapple with the potential environmental and financial impacts of large-scale data centers. It will apply to data centers over 50 megawatts that have not already received permits to begin construction.

But business groups and construction unions warned the move could cost the state jobs as technology companies decide to construct data centers elsewhere.

Stacey Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association, said the move sends the wrong signal. "The global race for artificial intelligence will not pause for New York, and the consequence will be that investment and innovation will locate elsewhere," she said.

Mark McManus, general president of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, criticized the moratorium as a job-killer. "Rather than implementing guardrails to build the future of American ingenuity, Gov. Hochul is taking her ball and going home," he said in a statement.

Several environmental groups expressed the need for further action.

Vanessa Fajans-Turner, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY, called the moratorium a step in the right direction.

"A moratorium and environmental impact statement gives the state time to understand this industry's full impact on our water, grid, and utility bills, but we must put lasting protections in place to ensure environmental protection," Fajans-Turner said.

Food & Water Watch’s New York State Director Laura Shindell credited residents across the state who pushed back against proposals for data centers and pressuring Hochul to act. But Shindell noted smaller data centers that have drawn community opposition are excluded from the order.

***

The Jamesport Fire Department’s annual Firemen’s Parade will step off on Washington Avenue this evening at 7 p.m., running down Route 25 to the carnival on South Jamesport Avenue.

The Annual Jamesport Firemen’s Carnival continues through Saturday night at George Young Community Center, 446 South Jamesport Avenue, Jamesport, NY 11947.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that this year the Jamesport Fire Department is teaming up with Newton Shows to bring new rides and new adventures!

Once again, this evening’s parade starts at 7 p.m. from Washington Avenue running down Route 25 to the carnival on South Jamesport Avenue.

***

The Amagansett Historical Association will hold the first-ever “Amagansett Day” this coming Saturday July 18, allowing those who are curious to explore nine historic properties in the hamlet.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Dan Mongan chaired the historical association committee that organized and planned the event, which will be free and open to the public. East Hampton Town Historian Hugh King, Historical Association President Peter Garnham and Rainbow Chavis of the Shinnecock Nation will all make appearances.

"It’s really two things,” Mongan said. “It’s a chance to see some of the properties that we go by every day and don’t always appreciate how interesting they really are. Then, it’s about people, which is really my passion, because there are a lot of great people that make all this stuff happen in our hamlet.”

The nine Amagansett properties that attendees will get to see are: Miss Amelia’s Cottage, Jacob Schellinger House, the 1802 Amagansett Schoolhouse, Phebe Cottage, Stephen Talkhouse, Lester Barn, Amagansett Presbyterian Church, the Amagansett Life-Saving Station and Jackson Carriage House.

Saturday afternoon's event, scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m., will work similar to an open house. Those who attend can go to as few or as many of the structures as they would like, while King, Garnham and Chavis will be on-site to provide tours and discussions of the historical properties.

“It was primarily me looking for ways to connect our organizations and get them accustomed to working together,” Mongan said. “Everybody has their own mission, their own vision, their own silo that they’re in, but we’re also part of a community and we have a lot of common interests. So I wanted to build those connections, have a very low-key event that we all cooperate on — but have the people interact.”

All the while, Peter and Max Honerkamp have agreed to open Stephen Talkhouse to visitors during Amagansett Day. It was built as a boarding house in 1832 but ended up as the East End’s premier music venue.

Suffolk County health officials investigating salmonella outbreak on South Fork

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

When Douglas Cooper hangs a large American flag from a crane outside his North Fork farm stand around Memorial Day and Veterans Day, he’ll often add a sign with a message saying “Thank you," he said.

For Independence Day this year, as the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary, the 78-year-old farmer and Mattituck school board vice president opted for a message directed at the highest office in the nation. In red lettering, he wrote “86 47” on a board posted above the flag that hung over Breakwater Road.

“That means, let’s throw the bum out,” he said of President Donald Trump, the 47th president.

Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that the sign has since been taken down after a visit last Tuesday from members of the Secret Service who investigated the perceived threat against the president and stirred local debate over the limits of free speech and whether school officials should be held to different standards. The term "86" commonly means to remove something but has been construed in conservative circles as having a more violent undertone when referencing Trump.

Cooper, in an interview Friday with Newsday at the farm stand where he's sold tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and more for decades, said he had no intention of promoting violence.

The Secret Service visit, first reported Friday by The Suffolk Times, lasted about 30 minutes, said Cooper, a registered Republican who did not vote for Trump. He described the two agents as professional and courteous and said he understood they had a job to do.

“I wasn’t doing anything wrong,” he said. “We have freedom of speech. I just wanted to make my views known.”

Cooper said he took the flag down for good Thursday and only keeps it up for a couple of days around holidays.

A spokesperson for the Secret Service said in an email Friday the agency investigates “anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees” but did not comment specifically on Cooper.

Cooper said he had no concerns about posting the sign given his role as the school board’s vice president. He said he notified the school superintendent about the Secret Service visit and explained what happened.

The Mattituck school superintendent said it’s “up to the public” to decide whether he serves on the board.

Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski, a Democrat who represents the north fork community, said federal agents questioning people over political speech is “an attack on the foundations of our democracy.”

***

Suffolk County health officials have launched an investigation into a salmonella outbreak on the south fork after dozens of people were hospitalized with the infection. Janon Fisher and Joshua Needelman report in NEWSDAY that Stony Brook Southampton Hospital said it has admitted 58 patients with the foodborne illness since the beginning of July.

"The majority of the patients were evaluated, treated, and discharged," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement. "As required, SBSH promptly notified the New York State Department of Health to support its public health investigation."

The illness appears to be concentrated in the Shinnecock Indian Nation community.

Tribal Chairwoman Lisa Goree told The Southampton Press that as many as 60 members of her tribe had fallen ill from the salmonella bacteria.

"We had about 60 tribe members that we have confirmed came down with salmonella poisoning and several had to be hospitalized," Goree told The Press. "Most were seen and released, but a lot of people are still feeling the symptoms, and we are told it can take six to 10 days for the symptoms to end."

"The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is involved in collecting information on a salmonella outbreak on the East End of Long Island," a department spokesperson said in a statement.

Goree told The Southampton Press that most who became sick had been to a June 30 funeral meal for a Shinnecock member.

There also were reports of salmonella illness at a music festival on the Southampton Shinnecock territory on June 27.

According to the NYS Department of Health website, thousands of people become stricken with salmonella poisoning every year. The bacteria thrive in uncooked food like raw oysters, eggs and chicken, according to the online information.

The symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and, sometimes, vomiting.

***

This evening’s free concerts across the East End include The Realm performing on The Green in Montauk from 6 to 8 p.m. and the Seismatics performing at Greenport’s Dances in the Park in Mitchell Park starting at 7 p.m.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that also, this evening, the Annual World Famous Jamesport Fire Department Bazaar opens at 6 p.m. on the grounds of the George W. Young Community Center. The Bazaar runs through Saturday, July 18. This year, the Fire Department is teaming up with Newton Shows to bring new rides and new adventures. The Jamesport Firemen’s Parade will be this coming Wednesday at 7 p.m.

George Young Community Center is at 446 South Jamesport Avenue in Jamesport, New York.

***

The Town of Southampton has reached a settlement agreement with the Discovery Land Company that will dispense with three pending lawsuits and potentially millions of dollars in damages against the town over the The Hills development in East Quogue, while allowing the development’s golf course to be opened to memberships beyond just the 118 owners of residences in The Hills.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that according to the settlement proposal, which the Southampton Town Board is expected to authorize on Tuesday, Discovery will wave the financial judgement against the town, will donate a 32-acre parcel of land it owns off Montauk Highway in East Quogue to the town, and will pay the town $10 million for the purchase of a 50-foot-wide by 1,000-foot-long strip of land that bisects the The Hills property and was discovered last winter to still be owned by the town.

In exchange, the town will abandon the northerly portion of Spinney Road that passes through the property and will grant Discovery a change of zone for The Hills’ golf course, allowing it to operate independently of the 118 residential units in the development and take on more than 175 additional private memberships.

The company will give the town an easement in perpetuity over the portions of Spinney Road that will be abandoned, guaranteeing that town residents will be able to hike and bike across the Hills Property to the woodland trails to the north. The company will also create a small public parking area near the end of the paved portion of Spinney Road for those using the easement.

And The Hills golf course will be required to host at least four charitable events per year — one benefitting a local fire department, one benefitting a local school district and two others for select charitable organizations — free of charge to the charities.

The settlement agreement is still contingent on the various components winning approval on the town’s end. The zone change to allow the golf course to be independent of the residential development will have to be the subject of a public hearing, which Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, who lives in East Quogue, said the Town Board will schedule for August, and must be approved by the Town Board within 90 days for the settlement agreement to be validated. If there are future legal challenges to any approvals that are ultimately successful, the settlement will be voided.

***

New York State has finalized six contracts to share costs and work on the next phase of the roughly 83-mile Fire Island to Montauk Point Coastal Storm Risk Management Project...FIMP...along Suffolk County’s Atlantic coast shoreline that aims to bolster a key part of Long Island against storms and protect homes and businesses, according to the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Matthew Chayes reports in NEWSDAY that the contracts are with Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Islip, Southampton and Suffolk County, and allow work to be done on their property, as well as what’s called a federal Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which are doing the work or contracting it out.

Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper says funding for the agreements, in a project with $1.7 billion in state money, is via the New York State budget and "includes the entire 'non-federal' cost-share associated with the project along with the advance of local cost-share amounts."

"Protecting Long Island’s South Shore means making significant, long-term investments before the next storm arrives. By securing these agreements and committing the resources needed to sustain the Fire Island to Montauk Point project we are making these communities stronger and safer, ensuring future generations inherit a more resilient shoreline," Hochul said in a statement sent by her office.

The work must be greenlit by the corps and the state comptroller’s office.

James Martin, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), says the project has 50% federal dollars.

"With these agreements, coastal communities from Fire Island to Montauk will have renourishment for their beaches to be healthy and resilient for decades to come," Schumer said in a statement sent by his office.

The timeline is at the discretion of the corps, and is based on dredge availability. The projects will be ongoing for the next 30 to 50 years, Martin said.

***

East Quogue Summer Concerts on the Green continue tomorrow evening with the Beatles tribute band – Penny Lane!

All you need is love…Tuesday evening’s show is free and starts at 7 p.m. on the East Quogue Village Green, Lewis Road & Montauk Highway in East Quogue, NY 11942.

Also tomorrow evening, as Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON, Tuesdays at Main Beach in East Hampton starts promptly at 6pm featuring – Yacht Pockets…a popular East Coast cover band that specializes in 1970s and 1980s "yacht rock"

As the East Hampton concert begins, attendees can enjoy swimming with the safety of lifeguards on duty and the ability to grab dinner right on the beach as the Beach Hut closes at 8pm when the concert concludes. If you’re lucky, you may catch a limited-edition concert t-shirt from the t-shirt cannon!

***

Southeastern Long Island – AKA The Hamptons - makes headlines for its luxury estates, helicopter commutes and extreme food options, including a $129.99-per-pound lobster salad, $400 Japanese melons and a set of vending machines that dispense tins of beluga caviar at $225 for two ounces. But amid these hoity-toity status foods, Dionne Searcey reports in THE NY TIMES that the humble chicken tender — the fast-food icon, a kids-menu staple — is thriving. By noon on any given day, the refrigerated cases in gourmet south fork grocery stores — earlier stacked five high with containers of breaded, deep-fried chunks of chicken they call nuggets, fingers, strips or tenders — may well be picked clean. A few restaurants offer “adult chicken nuggets” on their menus. Some private chefs say homemade nuggets are their most requested item.

These “elite” tenders are often served with Hamptons flair — and, just as importantly, consumed in Hamptons environs. Dolloped with caviar, they are nibbled in gardens bursting with hydrangeas and behind the hedges of dune-lined roads clogged with party-equipment rental trucks.

Shippy’s, a Southampton restaurant, delivers its chunky, thumb-sized chicken strips to the food shack at Cooper’s Beach. At least 600 strips a day are sold during the summer, said Andre Bianchi, a manager, at a relatively reasonable $21 an order, which includes fries.

The lightly cornmeal-battered, gluten-free “old-fashioned chicken tenders” have been so popular at the Lobster Roll in Amagansett, the menu now includes them as an entree for what feels like a bargain at $18, as well as an appetizer, for $14.

The appeal may be rooted in tender nostalgia.

“Any form of chicken nugget brings us all back to being a kid and comfort food and beach picnics,” said Kelli Delaney Kot, the editor of KDHamptons, a “luxury lifestyle diary” of the town, who likes to serve caviar-topped nuggets at her poolside luncheons in Water Mill. “There becomes a little bit of a competition of who can make the best ones.”

Congressman LaLota announces over $1 mil. for Southold police

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

A tree thought to be nearly 200 years old was felled last month during the demolition of a house on a Newtown Lane property in East Hampton Village, prompting calls for greater regulation of tree-cutting on private property in the village in such instances. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Sag Harbor Village currently regulates tree-cutting by requiring a permit from the Building Department, if the tree in question measures greater than 12 inches in diameter. Similar regulations exist in North Haven, but East Hampton Village does not currently have any such law.

This all came into the spotlight with the recent house demolition, and subsequent tree-felling, at the Newtown Lane property. The demo permit for 197 Newtown Lane, which is not in the village historic district and is owned by 197 Newtown Lane LLC, was issued in April and authorized the demolition of the existing house, garage and three sheds on the property. The limited liability company has owned the property since last fall. Michael Muller is listed on the demo permit, obtained by The Express News Group through a public records request, as the managing partner for the limited liability company. He offered “no comment” on the tree-cutting, when reached.

Elizabeth Linker of Hedges & Gardens, who frequently advises against lawns and in favor of native planting, travels home from work each day by going past the Newtown Lane property. She was thrilled, initially, to see that when the house was demolished, the tree in the front yard was left alone. But when she returned a few days later, the tree was chopped down.

The tree in question is a maple, most likely a sugar maple due to the size of the leaves. Linker says the tree was likely around 198 years old, though getting a grasp on the precise age is difficult without counting the tree’s rings.

Maple trees, which grow fast and are inexpensive, line streets across America, though the tree itself is considered fairly weak and vulnerable to storms. The Ladies Village Improvement Society, for one, typically aims to plant sycamores and other native trees instead of maples. LVIS recently committed to planting 250 trees in the village over the next 10 years in honor of the U.S. semiquincentennial.

“They can’t speak for themselves,” said Linker, who has become invested in the Newtown Lane saga. “They're trees — and they are a life force. Without trees, we are dead. They are the lungs of the planet. Period.”

East Hampton Village officials, with the guidance of Linker, are now planning to consider a law that would bring the regulations somewhat in line with those in Sag Harbor. “We have to have a permit in place to prevent people from cutting trees down in the village — and hopefully the town and hopefully all across America,” Linker said.

***

The Town of Riverhead, working with the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management, is collecting information from residents and businesses that sustained damage during the severe storm that swept through the area last Saturday, July 4th. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the town is asking anyone in Riverhead who incurred damage to a home or business to complete an online damage assessment survey created by New York State. The survey is intended to help state and local officials document storm-related damage and support possible requests for federal assistance, according to a media release issued yesterday by the Riverhead Town Police Department.

The form is for information-gathering purposes only, officials said. Completing it does not guarantee that relief funding will be available.

The survey can be completed online here.

The July 4 storm brought severe wind and weather to multiple areas of Suffolk County, including parts of Riverhead Town, causing downed trees, utility damage and widespread power outages.

Officials said the information submitted through the online form will be sent directly to New York State.

***

The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is still very much alive in local historians’ minds. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council is organizing a “Great Debate between Cutchogue’s most notable Revolutionary War nemeses, loyalist Parker Wickham and Patriot Jared Landon,” tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library. “The town truly wasn’t big enough for the two of them,” according to the Historical Council. “The winner not only won their independence, but also the keys to the Old House.” The Old House on the Cutchogue Village Green, believed to date back to 1649, “has a very interesting Revolutionary War history,” Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Society Executive Director Mark MacNish told the Southold Town Board at the June 30 meeting. “Parker Wickham, who was a Loyalist, owned the Old House, and he famously lost it to Jared Landen in a very interesting Revolutionary War story…. The debate really brings to life that story. They’re both going to debate the merits of patriotism and loyalism.”

Registration to attend the debate is required, through the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library here.

***

Kodiak Tarrant’s love for the Shinnecock Algonquian language began with a deck of cards and his grandmother.

As a child, the now 18-year-old would meet his grandmother, Shinnecock linguist Tina Tarrant, for a 4:30 p.m. class, where the pair would use card games like UNO and Go Fish to learn basic concepts of the Native language.

"I guess that’s what started that passion and also just keeping that part of our culture alive," Tarrant, of Southampton, said.

Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that Tarrant's yearslong passion and dedication in learning the language was recognized last month when he made history by becoming the first student in New York to earn a Seal of Biliteracy in the Shinnecock Algonquian language. The Class of 2026 S.H.S. student advocated for a pathway to be created for the native language, school officials said.

The recognition is awarded to high school graduates who have earned a Regents diploma and can demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and one or more other world languages through coursework, presentations and assessments.

"I felt that I was very capable, and I knew that it was something I could achieve," Tarrant said. "I wanted other people not to see that as such a foreign thing that’s out of reach."

In Southampton High School there are currently two levels of Shinnecock Algonquian language courses, with a third more advanced level being introduced in the fall, school officials said.

In creating the courses, officials sought assistance from other districts that offered Indigenous classes, and developed the curriculum alongside the Shinnecock Nation, according to Kristen Minter, Southampton’s World Language Department Chair.

Minter said the district contacted the state education department's office of bilingual education and world languages to seek approval for the new pathway. After a Zoom call, where Tarrant stated his case for an Algonquian language pathway, state officials approved his request.

Currently, the courses at the high school are being co-taught by Dave Riley and John Boyd of the Shinnecock Nation.

"We want to make sure we’re doing it right and we want to make sure that we represent our people," Boyd said. He noted that one of the earliest bibles used in the United States was translated into the native language. It serves as a reference for the educators.

***

The state’s youngest residents are increasingly ending up in emergency rooms after ingesting cannabis, according to a new study from the NYS Department of Health. The study notes that edible cannabis products that resemble candy or baked goods are especially attractive to children. It also found that older teens, ages 15 to 19, consistently ended up in the emergency room due to cannabis consumption at a higher rate than other age groups. “As a pediatrician for 36 years, this is one of the parts of the report that concerns me the most,” state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said this week at an event in Albany discussing the report.

Steve Hughes reports in NEWSDAY that the study notes that while the number of children under 5 is not the largest number of cannabis poisoning cases, with 253 in 2023, it merits special attention because it is unlikely children that age are intentionally exposed to cannabis.

Additionally, small children ingesting cannabis presents a safety concern due to their developing brains and smaller body size, the study said. “When you think about children under 4, developmentally, if it fits in a child’s hand, it's going to go into a child’s mouth. That is normal,” McDonald said, adding it had been more common to see accidents with things like over the counter or prescription medication, but those are now going down. It “speaks to changing the way we think about cannabis, which is, it’s a medicine, but like any other medicine, it needs to be stored safely, securely,” he said.

The report also brings to light questions that need to be further researched, Erica Stupp, lead epidemiologist with the public health and education team at the state Office of Cannabis Management, said at the Wednesday event.

She and other department officials stressed the importance of purchasing legal cannabis, which comes in child-safe packaging and is regulated, unlike cannabis products purchased illegally that often come in packaging that’s alluring to children and can be confused with regular snacks.

New York legalized medical marijuana in 2014, with sales beginning in 2016. And in 2021, the state legalized recreational marijuana for adults over 21.

The study made several recommendations, including that the state engage in public awareness campaigns to encourage people to safely store their cannabis products, as well as additional education and support for minors to prevent them from using cannabis products.

***

U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota visited Southold Town Police Department headquarters yesterday to announce just over $1 million in federal funding for Southold Town police. What will that buy? Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that ten new Ford Explorers and F-150s to be used by patrol officers and 20 dual band VHF and 800-megahertz radios allowing police to communicate with other emergency agencies, says Southold Police Chief Steve Grattan. Congressman LaLota…the Republican from Amityville who represents the 1st Congressional District…said he also expects the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge Mattituck Inlet this fall, paying special attention to the MTTK Park District ‘s Bailie Beach, which is eroding and in danger of breaching.

***

The New York State attorney general yesterday sued several chemical and manufacturing giants, including 3M and DuPont, accusing them of continuing to expose consumers to products containing chemicals linked to health problems and environmental damage, long after the companies knew of their danger.

“Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers’ health and polluted our environment for decades,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement on Thursday. “It’s time for them to pay for the damage they caused.”

Christina Caron and Hilary Howard report in THE NY TIMES that the chemicals, called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used in items like nonstick cookware, makeup, dental floss, food packaging and possibly leggings. Though the chemicals were originally hailed as revolutionary for their ability to repel water and oil, they have since been associated with an increased risk of cancer, metabolic disorders, decreased fertility in women and developmental delays in children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Often called “forever chemicals,” PFAS do not degrade and instead accumulate in the environment, as well as the body. Nearly everyone in the United States has been exposed to PFAS and has them in their blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chemicals have been detected in wildlife, too.

The lawsuit asks the companies to fund cleanup efforts throughout New York, and orders them to warn consumers about the risks of their products. The lawsuit also seeks damages for harms to the state and its population, restitution and other financial penalties.

The lawsuit is the first by New York concerning forever chemicals in consumer products. (The state previously sued many of the same companies over cleanup costs related to PFAS in firefighting foam.) But towns and counties have been embroiled in such battles for years.

“There’s a very well-documented body of science that these chemicals cause serious health harm,” said Judith Enck, the president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics and a former E.P.A. official. “This is a blockbuster legal action that should hold these companies accountable for the immense harm caused by their products.”

Riverhead shopping center was without power until late Tuesday afternoon; Hampton Library celebrates major renovations

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The owner of a Riverhead shopping center that lost power during Saturday’s storms said their electricity wasn’t restored until late Tuesday afternoon, costing some businesses thousands of dollars.

Maureen Mullarkey reports in NEWSDAY that Joe Tosini, owner of River Center Shopping Center at Ostrander Avenue and Old Country Road in Riverhead, said full power was restored Tuesday around 5:40 p.m. after a "frustrating" experience of getting in contact with PSEG Long Island.

"These tenants here lost their livelihood, and I'm the owner, so my responsibility is to make sure that I help them get their power back on," Tosini said.

The Saturday night storm left thousands without power on Sunday and roads closed to traffic because of downed trees and utility lines.

Tosini said the power went out after a tree fell onto power and electric cables. The storm caused bricks to fall from the building’s corner onto the pavement.

A photo Tosini took afterward showed the tree blocking traffic in both directions on Ostrander Avenue, its branches taller than a PSEG worker standing in front of it.

By Wednesday morning, PSEG had removed the tree from the road, but Riverhead police closed Ostrander Avenue between the property’s entrance and an entrance of a neighboring shopping center due to exposed and downed wires.

PSEG Long Island released a statement yesterday saying it had "completed the work to repower the area on Monday. In order to reenergize the shopping center, the owners' electrician must be present to safely restore power. This coordination took place on Tuesday. Safety is a number one priority for PSEG Long Island and it recognizes that being without power for any length of time is a hardship for its customers."

More than 11,600 customers across Long Island had no electricity just before noon Sunday. By Monday night, PSEG Long Island reported more than 3,000 customers without power.

***

Today at 12 Noon WLIW-FM’s Brian Cosgrove welcomes to our studio Anthony Mason - CBS news' Senior Culture Correspondent to talk about his new independent you tube show "Alchemy" - in depth conversations about the creative process which debuted in May. So far Anthony has spoken with Paul Simon, Hozier, Nile Rodgers & Brittany Howard with more shows to come. Anthony Mason is also a long time resident of Southampton. That’s today at 12 noon when Mr. Mason visits WLIW FM’s Brian Cosgrove right here on 88. 3 FM, 96.9 FM in western Suffolk, and 88.7 FM in Montauk. Also, on our WLIW FM app and on line at WLIWFM.org.

***

Southampton Arts Center’s outdoor grounds and arboretum have been transformed into a vibrant oasis. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the grounds on the north side of Jobs Lane are now renamed the Paulson Family Gardens in honor of John Paulson, a hedge fund manager and Southampton Village resident who provided a $3.4 million gift to the center that paved the way for the renovations. The grounds go back to the final years of the 19th century, when they were initially designed in 1898 after being commissioned by Samuel Parrish, the future namesake of the Parrish Art Museum. Paulson explained at last Friday’s opening ceremony that two years ago, he and his wife, Alina de Almeida, were in the midst of another park renovation project and while they were walking through the village one day, she took note of the gardens at the center and suggested turning his attention there, telling him that the space needed “some local care and some refreshment.” When Paulson approached the center about the idea, Simone Levinson, the chairwoman of the center’s board of directors, was immediately receptive and began meeting with village officials to get the necessary approvals to do the work.

The Southampton Arts Center worked with landscape architect Chris LaGuardia of the LaGuardia Design Group to redesign the 2.7-acre grounds. Among the changes introduced are a new fountain on the west side, new flower plantings and moving certain trees to new areas.

Tish Rehill, the president of Gardeneering Inc., was brought in to work on specifics of the garden. She said she wanted to continue Parrish’s original mission of introducing new plants to the area and noted that “you can do color and texture with just leaves.”

***

The Greenport Village Board is considering implementing resident parking permits in 2027 for the village parking lots that now require hourly payment near the center of the village.

The move came after backlash from residents over the expansion this summer of the village’s paid parking program.

The board discussed implementing the resident passes at a special meeting last evening.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that they received a smattering of mixed reaction from the public.

Greenport Village Treasurer Adam Brautigam told attendees at the meeting that if the village issued 1,430 parking passes at a rate of $40 per pass it would generate $57,000 in revenue in 2027.

He based those figures on the assumption that the village has 1,100 parcels of land, with two cars per parcel, and that 65 percent of residents would take advantage of the program.

He added that the Village of Greenport is making the assumption that 25 percent of people currently parking in paid parking areas are village residents.

The village had budgeted that it would receive $165,000 in paid parking revenue this year.

In 2025, the village had implemented a pilot paid parking program in the downtown areas of First and Main Street in which people pay online through a company called ParkMobile.

This year, the village expanded the program to include three parking lots on the north side of Adams Street, and began enforcing it in collaboration between a village parking violation officer and Southold Town Police.

Parking costs $3.50 per hour and payment is required between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The resident parking permits could only be used in the three lots on Adams Street.

Village board members said they can’t legally instate resident-only parking on state roads, including Front and Main Streets.

The expansion and the enforcement have been the subject of much public debate in recent weeks, with many residents pushing for a resident pass.

Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Stuessi said last night that Sag Harbor settled on its program after some pitfalls in its original rollout of paid parking.

“We’re doing our best,” he said. “Whether it’s the right decision or not, we probably won’t know for five years or so.”

***

This coming Saturday, the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton will celebrate two milestone achievements.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the library is reopening after a $2 million interior renovation — fully funded by gifts, donations and pledges — that gave the space a much-needed refresh and also reworked several spaces, including the young adult room, which is now double the size it used to be, and an expansion of the literacy room. Hampton Library, which is centrally located on the north side of Main Street in Bridgehampton, is also celebrating another milestone: 150 years since its founding.

Saturday afternoon’s celebration, open to the public, will run from 1 to 4 p.m. with a little something for library patrons and friends of all ages including live music, free food as well as giveaways and games.

Plus, Southampton Town historian Julie Greene will give a library history talk, sharing details about the rich tradition of the Hampton Library, and how it has evolved over the years. There will be a special book launch as well, by author Eva A. Petersen, whose picture book is based on a cat with a special relationship to the library. In keeping with that theme, ARF will be on hand with adoptable kittens.

Lisa Michne, the library’s executive director, spoke earlier this week about the renovation and the history of the library.

Hampton Library underwent an extensive renovation and expansion back in 2009. It was a major, $6 million addition designed by the architect Lee Pomeroy that doubled the library’s size, providing well-lit spaces overlooking the back lawn for library patrons to read or study and more room to store its growing collection of books and other media.

It’s been more than 15 years since that renovation, and while that may seem recent to some, Michne explained why the interior renovation and reworking of spaces was necessary.

“Libraries have changed even since then,” she said. “People use libraries in different ways now; they work here, and libraries are really community centers in a different way. So it was time.”

The entire inside got a refresh, with new paint and other touches. The project more than doubled the size of the young adult room and bumped out the literacy room, where the library hosts language classes and poetry workshops, and provides space for people who come in and want to work remotely. The children’s room and program room also both received a makeover.

Michne explained that Hampton Library is also working on a sustainable libraries initiative, so with that in mind, the project involved the use of sustainable materials and practices.

“Libraries are still so important,” she said. “They’re one of the most democratic institutions there is. It has changed in some ways, but it’s still about reading and literacy. There are a lot of challenges happening right now regarding books and literature, but I want to make sure everybody knows truly how important libraries are for communities, for individuals and for seniors.”

***

You are invited to join Southold Historical Museum for “America’s Birthday Party,” a lively celebration of the nation’s founding era, during a Revolutionary War encampment from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM this coming Saturday, the 11th of July.

The grounds of the Maple Lane Campus, 55200 Main Road, Southold, will be transformed into a vibrant living-history setting by reenactors from the Third New York Regiment. Visitors can explore an authentic encampment and see the equipment and supplies soldiers carried as they traveled to join General Washington and the Continental Army.

Families can enjoy children’s games inside the Bayview Schoolhouse and on the lawn, a Hamilton sing-along in the barn, light refreshments, vendors, and special demonstrations and tastings. Diane Schwindt will be “Stirring Up History,” while Cassandra St. George prepares traditional open-hearth bread.

This festive presentation of America’s semi-quincentennial is free and open to the public.

That’s this coming Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Southold Historical Museum, Maple Lane Campus, 55200 Main Rd, Southold, NY 11971, U.S.A.

***

Long Island home prices climbed to a record high during the spring, while the median price on the south fork…The Hamptons…cleared $2 million, according to new data released today. The median home price on Long Island, excluding the East End, rose 5% year over year to $761,250, eclipsing the previous high of $750,000 set last year, according to a report from real estate analyst Jonathan Miller and the Hamptons Real Estate Association.

Jonathan LaMantia reports in NEWSDAY that it was the eighth time in the last 12 quarters that home prices on Long Island, excluding the East End, have reached an all-time high, Miller said.

A shortage of houses on the market since the pandemic has led to intense competition for houses, Miller said, with more than half, 55.9%, of homes selling for above asking price during the second quarter.

In the Hamptons, the median price rose 16.1% to $2.2 million, with a surge of sales from $1 million to $5 million driving the market, Miller said. But the number of closings was down 10% in the second quarter, compared with the same period last year.

That was due in part to a 9.5% drop in the number of homes on the market as of the end of June.

"Sales are still underperforming," Miller said.

On the North Fork, the median price fell 10.4% to $979,000 compared with last year. Miller attributed the decline in the region, where 96 houses sold during the quarter, to a shift in the types of homes that sold.

"The median dropped because of more lower-priced sales," he said.

For the broader Long Island region, Miller doesn't anticipate the market easing much for buyers this year because the supply shortage is unlikely to improve anytime soon. That's because homeowners wedded to mortgage rates around 3% have been reluctant to move.

This year, with inflation climbing again, Miller doesn't expect mortgage rates to fall, incentivizing sellers to list their homes.

"Rates have to go down for inventory to really come into the market," Miller said.

Overall, today's report from Jonathan Miller and the Hamptons Real Estate Association indicates the median price of a home on Long Island, excluding the East End, has nearly doubled in the past decade. But prices have risen fastest in the Hamptons.

Riverhead Town to step up parking enforcement downtown

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Delays in the construction of new sidewalks along nearly three miles of Noyac Road have pushed the roadwork into July and caused headaches for motorists on some days, but the work is nearing completion and will be a major improvement for residents of the region that is already being well used, Southampton Town officials say.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the project was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of June, but the contractors have about a half-mile of sidewalks to go. The work requires that one lane of traffic be closed off, with the other lane used to allow cars to pass in alternating directions.

The contractors have been wrapping up work each day before 3 p.m. to avoid impacting the heaviest trade parade traffic, but during the run-up to the July Fourth holiday last week the closures still meant long backups of cars on Noyac Road.

“July Fourth weekend and they’re building a sidewalk — really?” one commuter, Debbie King, a Center Moriches resident, said in a message to a reporter last week with a photo of the resultant traffic jam through the windshield of her car, at about 2 p.m. on July 2. “Are they actually trying to torture us LOL?”

Southampton Town Highway Superintendent Charlie McArdle knows that King and other commuters are not actually LOL-ing about the headaches of traffic delays from the project but said that the relatively minor inconveniences caused by the work will be over soon and could have been much worse.

“The company that we picked to do this work is the best, the fastest and the most efficient company that is available for us to use — they are a huge company and we picked them on purpose because they have the resources to do it as fast as possible,” McArdle said of Rosemar Construction, the East Moriches contractor that won the $1.5 million contract from the town to build the sidewalk along Noyac Road.

The sidewalk project has been in the planning for more than four years and is something that members of the Noyac community have asked for repeatedly for many years, Southampton Town Councilman Michael Iasilli said.

***

A Southampton man has been arrested, charged with reckless operation of a vessel, failure to report an accident involving personal injury and other counts after New York State Police said he crashed his boat into a jetty in Sag Harbor on Monday night, seriously injuring two passengers.

Police said the operator, identified as Peter Mangiameli, 57, also left the scene while those passengers were receiving medical attention.

John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that the two passengers, whose identities were not released, were transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries that police said included a broken rib, leg fracture and vertebrae fracture. Their conditions were not reported yesterday.

State police said Sag Harbor Village police received a report at 10:07 p.m. Monday that a boat had struck the jetty in Sag Harbor Bay.

Investigators determined Mangiameli was operating a 2023 35-foot cruise boat from the bay into the harbor when the vessel struck the stone jetty causing what police described as "significant damage." There were eight passengers aboard the vessel, police said.

Police said after the collision Mangiameli docked the boat but then left the scene. It was not immediately clear who notified police of the collision.

Police said the investigation remained ongoing and asked anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who had additional information to contact them at 631-756-3300.

***

The Southampton Hospital Foundation has announced that award-winning journalist and bestselling author Katie Couric will moderate a conversation with internationally renowned model, advocate and Every Mother Counts founder and President Christy Turlington Burns during the foundation’s sixth annual East Hampton Emergency Department Luncheon tomorrow morning.

Couric will appear in place of Brooke Shields at the fundraising event, which will be held as scheduled at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton.

Thursday’s luncheon will benefit the Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department, supporting continued access to high-quality emergency care for residents and visitors on the East End.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program starting promptly at 11 a.m. A limited number of tickets remain available. For more information or to purchase tickets, email alexa.schultheis@stonybrookmedicine.edu or call 631-726-8700, option 1, extension 3.

***

East Hampton Town officials could seek court intervention over the installation — or construction, perhaps — of a large piece of art made of shipping containers at the former cow pasture turned high-end art gallery in Montauk known as “The Ranch,” most of which is agricultural reserve.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that a split East Hampton Town Board this week gave the town attorney’s office the green light to pursue legal action against the owner of the property at 8 Old Montauk Highway, which got its nickname from the years when the “Back at the Ranch” concert series was held there, from 1990 to 1999.

East Hampton Town Councilman Tom Flight was the lone dissenting voice in the 4-1 vote at the work session yesterday, flagging the regulation of an art exhibit on private property as a possible overstep by town government and describing himself as a supporter of the arts.

“We don’t have a lot of guidance as to when we are restricting art being displayed,” Flight said. “I appreciate that this is an exceptionally large piece, but to deny people the ability to exhibit art is not something I personally support.”

At issue here is a large sculpture called “Meditating Figure,” which depicts a stick figure man made of shipping containers with his legs crossed. It is part of an exhibition of outdoor sculptures billed as “LA Monumental” on the website for The Ranch.

The piece in Montauk is a huge art structure made of shipping containers.

The owner of The Ranch is Max Levai, who purchased the land in 2020 and who has gotten much publicity over his remaking of one of two horse barns and an adjoining pasture into an art gallery. The rotating exhibitions are featured prominently at theranch.art and maxlevai.com.

East Hampton Town officials must now figure out what steps will come next to force compliance. While litigation has been authorized, town officials are not necessarily bound to sue, as the resolution could wind up being a means of shepherding the owner of The Ranch toward compliance.

***

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded a contract to complete the design and reconstruction of three aging bridges that carry vehicular traffic over Long Island Rail Road tracks on the East End: Sagg Road Bridge in Sagaponack, Cranberry Hole Road Bridge in Amagansett and River Avenue Bridge in Eastport.

“New York is making historic investments in Long Island’s infrastructure in ways big and small – from opening Grand Central Madison to delivering bridge upgrades that have been urgently needed for decades,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who announced the contract on June 30.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that each structure, built between 1895 and 1921, serves vehicular traffic over the LIRR’s Montauk Branch. Because of structural deficiencies, two of the bridges – River Avenue and Cranberry Hole Road Bridge – are currently closed.

“Design completion is anticipated in January 2027, with demolition work beginning later this year, and the project is scheduled for completion by July 2028. The total project budget is $51 million,” per Governor Hochul’s announcement.

***

Riverhead Town officials are preparing to step up parking enforcement downtown, using an electronic system to issue tickets and transmit the information directly to the justice court. The system will allow people who receive tickets to respond online and allow the court to process parking tickets without paper files.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the new system will eliminate the need to manually process information recorded on paper tickets, increasing efficiency and accuracy, officials said. It will also drastically reduce the time spent handling and managing paper files.

Riverhead Town police issued just under 4,000 parking tickets in 2025, with the number peaking during the summer months to more than double the number issued at other times of year, according to data released by the Riverhead Police Department in January.

The town is purchasing six handheld electronic devices and portable printers, along with required custom software, from FBS.

The new system will allow officers to create a digital record of a parking violation, including photographs, GPS coordinates and time-marking information. The ticket will include a QR code, allowing motorists to pay the ticket or plead not guilty online. Motorists will not need to appear in court simply to answer the ticket.

The startup cost will be $24,259, including a $2,500 one-time fee to integrate the software with the town’s GoGov online permitting software. Costs will be $3,000 per year in years two and three.

If the town moves quickly, the system could be deployed in early to mid-August, according to Riverhead Town’s data management contractor Dennis Farrell’s statement at last Thursday’s work session.

The rollout will begin with Main Street and parking lots south of East Main Street, on the eastern end of Heidi Behr Way, stretching from the Town Square area to Turkuaz Grill.

***

Three New York City men allegedly used a glue trap and a belt to steal checks, money orders and gift cards from U.S. Postal Service mailboxes across Long Island last month, Suffolk County prosecutors announced yesterday.

Nicholas Spangler reports in NEWSDAY that in a news release Tuesday, prosecutors said Nicholas Delvillar, 32, of the Bronx, Franklin Mercedes, 27, of the Bronx, and Jhosua Peralta, 24, of Queens, were charged with grand larceny in connection with the alleged scheme, which they said unfolded around June 3 at USPS collection boxes in 20 Suffolk communities from Melville to Medford. Law enforcement officers found 6,750 stolen checks totaling $4.8 million, a loaded 9 mm handgun and cash when they searched the men's homes, according to the release.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Emily O'Neill, stated that the case was "the first of its kind in terms of the alleged scale and the thousands of pieces of mail recovered."

Authorities said the defendants allegedly used a "makeshift ‘fishing' device by attaching a sticky glue trap to the end of a belt" to extract the checks, and then tried to sell many of the stolen checks on a social media platform, according to the release. If convicted, the men all face 3½ to 7 years in prison.

O'Neill wrote that authorities began to investigate as the Postal Service and Suffolk police logged more than 670 complaints of mail theft from county residents and businesses from early 2025 through late April 2026, often from blue USPS collection boxes.

"The defendants were identified during the course of a long term investigation which included the monitoring of social media sites, the use of undercover agents, and numerous electronic investigative tools," O'Neill wrote.

Delvillar and Peralta pleaded not guilty before District Court Judge John B. Zollo in early June; Mercedes pleaded not guilty before District Court Judge Evan M. Zuckerman. According to the release, the judges ordered the men placed on supervised release with GPS monitoring.

Prosecutors said the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Suffolk police, Secret Service and NYPD participated in the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sacks of the Suffolk District Attorney’s Financial Crimes Bureau.

“To protect your mail, we urge all Suffolk County residents to use the letter slots inside your local Post Office," D.A. Tierney advised.

The communities affected include locations in Melville, Huntington Station, East Northport, Commack, Smithtown, St. James, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Centereach, Holbrook, Bohemia, Farmingville, Brentwood, Medford, Patchogue, Blue Point, Bayport, Sayville, West Sayville and Oakdale.

Southampton Village issed state of emergency following Saturday thunderstorms

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Southampton Village has issued a state of emergency in response to Saturday night’s thunderstorm that will remain in effect through Friday, July 10, at 9 a.m.

A brush amnesty will be extended to village residents until Friday to allow for residents to put storm debris out for pickup as part of cleanup efforts from the storm.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine shared on Sunday afternoon that a local state of emergency was declared on Saturday night in response to the thunderstorm. The state of emergency will last 30 days in Suffolk County.

PSEG Long Island said that it had restored power to over 23,600 customers who were affected by the semi quincentennial storm, which brought wind gusts as high as 84 mph, hail and heavy rain to Suffolk County. The update noted that eastern Suffolk County was the hardest hit.

The Town of Southampton has issued a brush amnesty to residents until tomorrow - Wednesday, July 8 - to allow residents to dispose of storm debris to transfer stations as part of cleanup efforts from the storm, according to Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara.

Meanwhile, Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Alive on 25 Summer Block Party event scheduled for Thursday, July 9 has been postponed, Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin announced yesterday.

The decision to postpone the event came in consultation with event organizer Diane Tucci of Main Street Agency, the Town Board and Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost, due to the widespread impacts of the July 4 storm and continuing rain, according to a press release issued by Halpin’s office last night.

The postponement will give residents, vendors, and town staff extra time to handle storm recovery and allow utility crews to restore power to all residents.

***

A 6-year-old girl died Saturday morning of a presumed drowning after police said she fell into the waters of a fast-moving creek in Tuckahoe while trying to retrieve a lost shoe and was swept into the Great Peconic Bay.

John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that Southampton Town police said officers, including from the marine patrol, as well as Southampton firefighters and volunteer ambulance crews responded to a 911 call received at 8:09 a.m. Saturday about a possible drowning off a beach on Sebonac Inlet Road. Officers initiated CPR on the girl, identified as Kiara Paolasin, of Brooklyn, after she was pulled from the water unresponsive by a kayaker, police said.

Despite those efforts, police said Kiara was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said an initial investigation indicates the girl was at the beach with family members to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. In an account based on witness information, police said, "The child went into the water to retrieve footwear that was floating away and slipped and got pulled into the current."

According to police, a 16-year-old family member attempted to reach the girl, but was unable to do so due to the swift current.

Police said family members were able to flag a kayaker in the area, who then paddled to the unresponsive girl and pulled her from the water.

The investigation is ongoing with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 631-702-2239 or 631-728-3454.

Information can also be forwarded using the police email tip-line at crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.

***

As college application season approaches, the Amagansett Library is launching a new program to help local high school students navigate one of the most challenging parts of the admissions process: the personal essay.

The library will offer free, individualized one-on-one college essay support from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17; Friday, August 21; and Saturday, September 19. Students may reserve a time slot through the library’s website or simply drop in during program hours, as appointments are not required.

Designed to meet students wherever they are in the writing process, the sessions will provide personalized guidance on every stage of the college essay, from brainstorming topics and organizing ideas to drafting, revising, editing and final proofreading.

The volunteer-led program is intended to help students develop essays that authentically reflect their experiences while strengthening their writing and storytelling skills.

The organizers hope the free service will make the college application process less intimidating while giving students the confidence to tell their unique stories in their own voices.

By offering individualized assistance at no cost, the library aims to provide an accessible resource for students and families during a pivotal stage in the college admissions journey.

***

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer recently announced a request for $273.5 million in funding for research of ticks and tickborne diseases in the 2027 federal budget. The initiative would add $90 million more than what was allocated in the 2026 fiscal year toward these efforts.

Hope Hamilton reports on 27east.com that according to a press release from Senator Schumer’s office, new data shows that Suffolk County recorded 3,152 Lyme disease cases in 2024 — the most of any county in the state, while the region from Manhattan to Montauk saw more than 6,600 cases in a single year.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Luis Marcos of Stony Brook University Medicine says there are 12 different tickborne illnesses on Long Island…but only about three or four of them are accurately diagnosed each year, due to a lack of commercial lab tests for the rarer diseases.

“If you don't test people, if you don't diagnose people, how are you going to know the real impact of these infections?” Marcos said. “The funding that we are trying to help Senator Schumer to get is for the research — once you get the research, then you will uncover what is unknown. That’s where things become more impactful for the community.” Going forward, Marcos said that the hope is to be able to administer a blood test for patients to rule out — or diagnose — any of the 12 tickborne diseases.

“We need improved diagnostic tests, and need awareness in the clinicians,” Marcos said. “Hopefully one day when we know more about the real number of cases of Bourbon virus or Heartland virus, then we will be able to develop a vaccine, but a vaccine is not the last step. We will do more diagnosis, we will do more testing. With that, we may be able to develop a drug to treat these infections. It’s really a chain of steps toward the future.”

Dr. George Dempsey of East Hampton Family Medicine urged residents to remember some important facts about lone star ticks. Unlike deer ticks, lone star ticks are not confined to long grasses. Though peak tick season is late June into July, in late August, lone star tick larvae, which people often mistake for chiggers, hatch. Lone star tick larvae can also carry illness.

“We’re still learning about the lone star ticks, but their habitats could really be anywhere, even by the dunes or the beach. They prefer to be in areas that are moist rather than dry,” Dr. Dempsey said.

Dempsey agreed that patients can become quite paranoid surrounding ticks — local patients or otherwise. For Dempsey, in terms of reassurance, it all comes back to prevention and education.

“That’s the only way we can get around it,” Dempsey said, adding that it’s important to be aware of the lone star tick’s aggressive nature.

“People assume that you have to walk into a tick, and then it will climb onto you. But the lone star ticks go after people, they don’t just wait,” Dempsey said. “I think, if people are more aware of that, they’ll keep their eyes and ears out.”

In a statement given to The Express News Group this past Friday, Suffolk County Department of Health Services Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said: “The tick population is a significant concern in our area. The scientists in our Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory are committed to studying ticks and associated pathogens in an effort to protect the public’s health. Dedicated funding for programs aimed at combatting tick-borne illnesses provides a direct benefit to those in Suffolk County.”

***

Gov. Kathy Hochul made a three-stop tour of Long Island yesterday — discussing law enforcement grants in Nassau, storm damage funding and a new Long Island Rail Road rail yard in Suffolk — weeks after a poll showed her slightly behind gubernatorial Republican rival Bruce Blakeman in his home turf in Nassau.

“I cherish these communities,” Hochul told Newsday after one of the announcements. “Long Island is an extraordinary place. I come here to show my love for it all the time.”

Candice Ferrette and Bahar Ostadanort in NEWSDAY that Hochul’s public schedule on Monday began around 8 a.m. in Freeport where the governor announced $100 million in grants for local police statewide and then a visit to Smithtown where she presented Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, a Republican, a check to help with damages from a 2024 storm. While in Smithtown, she also signed a bill clearing the way for the possible purchase of private property to be transformed into a new rail yard for the Port Jefferson LIRR branch. In between stops, Hochul also visited Newsday’s editorial board.

According to a Siena poll released last month, Blakeman leads Hochul, 44% to 39% in Nassau but Hochul leads 49% to 40% in Suffolk. Still, experts say Blakeman is likely to win Nassau, where he is the county executive, and Suffolk, where there is strong Republican support.

Hochul’s stepped up visibility could help chip away at Blakeman’s margins, and those of congressional, state and local candidates down the ballot, political experts say. Hochul, who has a $20 million funding edge, has been investing in electing Democrats up and down the ballot, a campaign aide told Newsday yesterday when asked about future visits.

***

The Sag Harbor Partnership holds a community block party fundraiser this coming Thursday evening, July 9 at Kidd Squid Brewing Company, raising funds for the restoration of the Sag Harbor Fire Department’s Firehouse Museum.

A family-friendly summer block party celebrating the expansion of Kidd Squid’s Beer Garden, the opening of The Corner, and the vibrant local businesses that make Sag Harbor special, Thursday’s block party will include great music from Silas & Sirena, a Kids’ art playstation, and a real vintage firetruck. Kids under 16 attend free, and organizers are planning plenty of fun for all ages.

That’s the Sag Harbor Partnership Block Party for the Firehouse Museum this coming Thursday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at 11 Spring Street, Sag Harbor, New York.

***

The Alive on 25 Summer Block Party event scheduled for this coming Thursday July 9 has been postponed, Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin announced yesterday.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the decision to postpone the event came in consultation with event organizer Diane Tucci of Main Street Agency, the Town Board and Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost, due to the widespread impacts of the July 4th storm and continuing rain, according to a press release issued by the supervisor’s office last night.

The postponement will give residents, vendors, and town staff extra time to handle storm recovery and allow utility crews to restore power to all residents.

“Alive on 25 is about lifting up our community, and hosting a great event for all to enjoy,” Tucci said on Monday. “Thursday’s forecast looks okay right now but important advance setup activities should already be taking place. Currently the rain is relentless.”

Tucci said her team has had conversations with several event participants who are stranded in their houses or dealing with property damage, and some would not be able to attend. “To have a successful event, we need a good turnout for our vendors as well,” Tucci said. “Everybody who participates spends a lot of time preparing for an event like this, and we want to make sure that it is under the right and safe circumstances,” she said. “While it’s extremely disappointing, we know giving people adequate notice is the best thing we can do,” Tucci said.

Alive on 25 in Riverhead is scheduled for two dates this year. The next scheduled date is Aug. 6.

“I’m looking forward to attending the rescheduled date of Alive on 25 and hope to announce that future date very soon,” Supervisor Halpin said.

The Suffolk County Water Authority is urgently requesting that East End residents, particularly in East Hampton, immediately reduce water usage.

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

No se trabajo!

As the sign on Hill Steet in Southampton, USA declares - No work in the village this holiday weekend.

With the 4th of July falling on Saturday this year, Independence Day for government workers and the financial community is being observed today – the 3rd of July - nationwide. Celebrations will still take place on Saturday.

John Valenti in NEWSDAY provides some of what is open and closed across Long Island:

Government offices

Federal and state, as well as public schools and libraries, will be closed today. This includes the NYS DMV, Suffolk county courts and some county and local departments. Check https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/ for details.

Mail and parcel service

Post offices will be open and there will be normal mail delivery today. Tomorrow there will be no mail delivery and post offices will be closed.

Courier services like FedEx and UPS will have no service on Saturday — though UPS will operate normally Friday, while FedEx will offer modified service for some of its delivery categories.

Most banks and the financial markets, including the New York Stock Exchange, will be closed today. ATMs, online banking and mobile banking services were expected to remain available regardless of branch hours.

Most supermarkets, big box stores except Costco and shopping malls will be open, although some will operate on modified hours.

Transportation

The Long Island Rail Road announced off-peak fares will be in effect systemwide the entire weekend. The LIRR will operate on a modified weekday schedule Friday, but will feature "early getaway" afternoon trains out of Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal. The LIRR said it would operate on normal Saturday and Sunday schedules.

Hampton Jitney offers expansive schedule options throughout this weekend for its deluxe motor coach express service between the east end and NYC.

The MTA has added enhanced afternoon and evening subway service to its major lines on Saturday to accommodate crowds for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show.

***

The Suffolk County Water Authority is urgently requesting that East End residents, particularly in East Hampton, immediately reduce water usage.

“Water demand is approaching record levels due to severe drought conditions and a forecasted heat wave,” SCWA stated in a release yesterday.

As reported on 27east.com, SCWA noted that the utility currently has two public water supply wells offline in East Hampton and two additional wells operating on emergency protocol only.

“The loss of these two offline wells removes 8% of the total water production capacity in the area, significantly hindering the ability to meet peak summer demand,” SCWA stated. “With high overnight and early morning water use driven by irrigation systems, water storage tanks are beginning the day at low levels and require more time to refill. Low tank levels reduce system pressure, which lowers water flow to homes and limits water availability for fire protection.”

SCWA is collaborating with Suffolk County to ensure that water pressure is maintained through this holiday weekend.

“As we face extreme heat and dry conditions, I urge all East End residents to conserve water whenever possible,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. “Simple steps taken today will help protect our water supply and ensure this vital resource remains available for our communities throughout the summer.”

SCWA is asking residents to only water their lawns if absolutely necessary and to take practical steps to conserve water indoors.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez added: “East Hampton is being asked to pull together right now. I am imploring residents, businesses, and visitors to skip lawn watering unless it is absolutely necessary, follow the odd-even schedule, and avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The town is doing its part by cutting back on outdoor water use at our facilities, and we are grateful to the Suffolk County Water Authority and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for working with us to protect public safety, and fire protection through the holiday weekend.”

For details and indoor and outdoor water-saving methods, visit scwa.com/conservation.

***

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that tonight is First Friday on Love Lane in Mattituck — the street will be closed to vehicles, shops will remain open late and street vendors will take over Mattituck’s historic shopping district from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Then tomorrow, the 4th of July, the kickoff concert of the Mattituck Park District’s summer concert series — The Eagle River Band, an Eagles tribute band, will play from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Veteran’s Beach.

Also, on the north fork tomorrow, the Old Town Arts & Crafts Guild holds its Fine Arts, Crafts & Antique Fair on the Cutchogue Village Green from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

***

As Long Island is about to celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial this weekend, Suffolk County officials yesterday ignited a vehicle using pyrotechnics to demonstrate how residents can injure themselves and others when setting off illegal fireworks.

Ashna Balroop reports in NEWSDAY that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk police Chief of Department William Doherty and Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Commissioner Rudy Sunderman urged residents during a Thursday morning news conference at the county Fire Academy in Yaphank to leave fireworks displays to the professionals, citing the potential for life-changing injuries, such as mangled hands, and for wildfires.

“We want people to stay safe,” Romaine said. “Don’t use illegal fireworks, and if someone you know is putting on their own show, do not go, because you could get injured.”

Police said people who set off fireworks could face criminal sanctions, adding that county emergency personnel attend to injuries caused by illegal fireworks every year.

Chief Doherty also announced enhanced patrols this holiday weekend, with designated police officers tasked with "no other job” than to look for intoxicated drivers.

Additional boats from the county police's marine bureau will also be on waterways this weekend to look for boaters who are intoxicated. Highway police officers, who are field sobriety test experts, will ride on the boats. The Suffolk police are also partnering with the Coast Guard, which will also be patrolling waterways.

Officials also urged residents to refrain from sparklers. Sunderman said that in 2025, there were reports of 1,300 injuries in the United States because of sparklers.

Dr. Steven Sandoval, medical director of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center at Stony Brook University Hospital, said if a sparkler burns a child’s hand, parents should start with cooling the hand before EMTs arrive.

“The best way to stay safe from fireworks is to not use them,” Sunderman said. “We urge everyone to do their best to ensure we have a safe Independence Day as we celebrate our 250th anniversary.”

***

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is urging residents to reduce their power usage and the Suffolk County Water Authority is asking residents of eastern Long Island, “particularly in East Hampton” where two supply wells are offline due to contamination from perfluorinated compounds, to reduce water usage, during the current high heat wave. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Hampton Bays Water District is also asking users to halt all use of outdoor water, while the Shelter Island Town Board has issued a Severe Drought Warning, prohibiting “use of sprinklers for irrigation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily”…a directive which currently applies across the east end.

“We are dealing with a double-edged sword right now: unprecedented early-season demand and a temporarily restricted supply on the South Fork,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “With crucial wells restricted or offline, we cannot afford any wasted water. If residents don't scale back immediately, we risk severe pressure drops that put localized fire protection at risk.”

“Our infrastructure is under intense pressure, and keeping the system balanced requires the community’s active help,” said SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Szabo. “We are working tirelessly to manage our local capacity, but we need East Hampton residents to go beyond the baseline. Please skip unnecessary watering and look for ways to cut back indoors so we can ensure reliable service for everyone.”

***

Promo for WLIW's live coverage of fourth of July parade.

***

Southampton Village Police are forewarning Southampton Village residents and visitors here that there will be several roads through Southampton Village closed to vehicle traffic tomorrow morning for the annual Fourth of July Parade.

Hampton Road, Main Street, North Main Street, Railroad Plaza, Nugent Street and Jobs Lane will all be closed to all vehicles for several hours on Saturday morning.

The parade route starts at Railroad Plaza and proceeds south on North Main Street, onto Main Street and then it turns right and proceeds west on Jobs Lane to Agawam Park.

Railroad Plaza, which is the staging area for those marching in the parade, will be closed off starting at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Other streets along the parade route will be closed to vehicles, including parked cars, at 9:30 a.m. The parade commences at 10 a.m.

The road closures tomorrow will last until as late as 1 p.m. in some places.

We are of course celebrating our nation’s semi-quincentennial…The United States Declaration of Independence, adopted on the 4th of July, 1776, is

the foundational document in which the Thirteen Colonies severed their political ties with Great Britain

250 years ago. ‘Twas over a century ago that residents of Southampton, U.S.A. begat their beloved Independence Day parade…now considered one of the most prominent presented on Long Island.

Southampton’s 4th of July parade starts at Railroad Plaza at 10 a.m.

We invite you to join myself and WLIW FM’s Gianna Volpe tomorrow morning from 9 to 11 a.m. for our annual live broadcast of Southampton, U.S.A.’s 4th of July parade. Gianna and I and our WLIW FM team will be stationed at the corner of Maple Street and Railroad Plaza. Come visit us in person or listen on line from 9am to 11am at WLIWFM.org or tune in via your old fashioned radio at 88.3 FM, 96.9 FM in western Suffolk, and 88.7 FM in Montauk, USA.

A blistering heat wave will strain Long Islanders' air conditioning systems this week.

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In the wake of the fifth modern U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club last week, many are asking the same questions they’ve asked following the previous four in 1986, ’95, 2004, and 2018. Was the event a good thing for Southampton? For the South Fork? For anyone?

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that when the inconveniences of the tournament’s logistics start to fall onto local residents and business people — primarily due to its impact on local roadways — {although traffic through Southampton during tournament week was generally a little lighter than the customary early summer congestion} - it always triggers questioning of whether the event is “worth it” for those who live and work on the South Fork as they await the next U.S. Open...which now is 2036 for both men and women.

In an area practically synonymous with summer escape for 20 million metro area urbanites, where second-home owners and the massive service network their seasonal residency requires is already nearly overwhelming, do we really need a worldwide boost of notoriety?

After all, "The Hamptons" are already America's most celebrated summer resort community.

Social media posts flourished with local complaints blaming the Open for commutes that were perceived to be even more miserable than usual — and continued this week, when the removal of the temporary pedestrian bridge over County Road 39 closed that roadway starting at 8 p.m. on Monday and left westbound traffic still crawling in much of greater Southampton until after 10:30 p.m.

As might be predicted, restaurant owners and those in the food and beverage industries proved this year again to be the biggest fans of the event in the business community and said they saw their revenues soar during the tournament compared to a regular June week and weekend.

“Our day business was probably down 10 to 15 percent, which I attribute to people’s concerns about even coming to Southampton that week, but in the evenings, from Sunday the 14th right through until that Monday after the tournament ended, we were up 20 to 25 percent, and each night was better than the last,” said Don Sullivan, owner of the Southampton Publick House on Jobs Lane. “On that Monday after the tournament, we were mobbed — double what we normally do. So for us it was a very positive increase in business.”

“The vibe in the village was really great all week,” Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger said. “I think, overall, the event was good for business in the village, in what is not always the busiest week during that period of June. I saw a lot of people in the village every day with their Shinnecock gear on.”

***

An air quality health advisory is in effect today for the Long Island and NYC Metro regions, where air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The extreme heat warning remains in effect through 9 p.m. tomorrow, for “dangerously hot conditions” with heat index values up to 112º, according to the National Weather Service said.

An extreme heat watch is in effect for Saturday, when heat index values could reach 103º.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside, the weather service said. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental health conditions are at an increased risk. Homes without air conditioning can be much hotter than outdoor temperatures.

The Town of Riverhead will open the senior center at 60 Shade Tree Lane as a cooling center both today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Know the symptoms of heat illness. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is a health emergency. Visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness for more information.

***

Beth Young in EAST END BEACON tells us about some festive local happenings tonight and tomorrow.

There will be fireworks this evening at both the Greenport Fire Department Carnival at the Moore’s Lane Polo Grounds, and at the North Sea Fire Department Carnival.

There’s more music in East End parks tonight! Simply Stapleton, a tribute to Chris Stapleton, kicks off the Good Ground Park summer concert series in Hampton Bays this evening at 7 p.m. and the Nancy Atlas Project will be in Southampton’s Agawam Park at 6:30 p.m.

And tomorrow, the Butterfly Effect Project at 1146 Main Road in Aquebogue, will hold an Independence Day Celebration with a free barbecue, activities for kids and honoring of local veterans.

That’s Friday, the third of July…tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details are at bepgirls.org.

***

White-tailed deer have become overpopulated in many parts of Long Island, according to state wildlife managers, occupying suburban landscapes at such high densities that they have damaged some woodlands, played host to ticks, and caused hazards to themselves and to humans when they wander onto roads.

"We've been struggling with deer management on Long Island," said Leslie Lupo, a wildlife biologist at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in Stony Brook.

Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that last week the agency announced changes in its hunting regulations, to increase the number of female deer killed, which it hopes will reduce the population in the long term.

When the new rules go into effect this hunting season, which runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 in Suffolk, hunters can get a "tag," or permit that allows them to kill a buck, as in the past. But under the new "Earn-a-2nd-Buck" program, if they want a second buck, a hunter will have to show they've killed a doe "before they can receive that second antler tag," Lupo said.

Research shows that it’s the does, rather than the bucks, that have the most effect on population growth, according to Lupo, so the DEC’s strategy is focused on reducing the does' numbers.

The new rules, which were proposed in March after consultation with hunters and residents, will allow hunting in more areas, outside of Long Island, and eliminate quotas in some areas. Suffolk does not have quotas. Hunting is not allowed in Nassau County.

Last year, recreational hunters killed 3,765 deer in Suffolk County, of which 1,761 were adult males and 1,296 were adult does; 708 fawns of both sexes were killed. The five-year average from 2020 to 2024 was 3,171 total killed, 1,449 of which were adult male, 1,124 adult female and 299 fawns.

There's been no clear trend in deer killed in Suffolk over the past decade or so. Since 2012, numbers have ranged from about 2,600 to 3,500 each year. The number jumped to more than 4,500 in 2020, then fell again.

In some parts of Long Island, white-tailed deer are so abundant that they are now browsing the understory woodland plants faster than they can regrow — creating what foresters call "regeneration debt."

Over time, as the mature trees die and new ones don’t grow to take their place, "you’re left with something that looks nothing like what was there," Brian Underwood, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told NEWSDAY.

The state’s deer management plan, released in 2021, found 25% of Long Island had moderate to severe regeneration debt.

***

A blistering heat wave will strain Long Islanders' air conditioning systems this week, as temperatures are expected to surge above 100 degrees in many areas across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Jonathan LaMantia reports in NEWSDAY that homeowners whose cooling systems fail could face long waits and costly repairs, as local HVAC companies scramble to meet demand and search for parts. Meanwhile, some distributors close altogether for Independence Day, said Carol Seitz-Cusack, CEO and president of Therm-A-Trol Heating and Air Conditioning Specialists in Blue Point.

"You know that energy we feel when we're going to get a hurricane around here?" Seitz-Cusack said. "I'm feeling it. I'm feeling everybody's just kind of waiting to see what happens. We're all going to be very busy."

Local companies told Newsday homeowners should take basic steps to maintain their systems by changing air filters and clearing debris around their outdoor units. Homeowners who need to replace their systems may need to spend $10,000 or more at a time when many Long Islanders already report struggling with the cost of living.

Energy costs have been a key driver of inflation this year, as homeowners endured a brutal winter and faced rising gas prices this spring. Now, the heat wave will drive up Long Islanders' electricity bills as they cool their homes.

Residential household cooling costs in the Northeast average $400 to $500 annually, according to estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Homeowners can help reduce their energy costs by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees and closing blinds and window coverings, according to PSEG Long Island.

Longer-term fixes include sealing gaps in attics, basements or around windows and doors, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority said in a statement.

Seitz-Cusack said she encourages customers to avoid taxing their systems by setting thermostats too low.

"Don't run your system so hard that you break it," she said.

***

The Montauk Fire Department has revived a parade float modeled on HMS Culloden, a slice of Montauk’s history, just in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that a piece of naval history from the American Revolution survives to this day in the form of the wreck of HMS Culloden, which sits just offshore from what is now known as Culloden Point and which is a popular destination for divers, as the wreck is on the National Register of Historic Places.

HMS Culloden, a 74-gun British ship of the line, ran aground during severe weather in 1781 while trying to intercept a French blockade runner bound for Newport, Rhode Island. British forces could not get the ship back on the water, so they conducted salvage operations during the spring, retrieving many of the smaller cannons from the wreck while discarding many of the larger ones and the hull of the ship in the water.

The idea for the float, which had been talked about for years but which was spurred on by the looming semiquincentennial, has roots going back 50 years: the Montauk Fire Department had built a similar float to commemorate the bicentennial in 1976.

This remade float also contains the original sign that reads “HMS Culloden,” which the Montauk Fire Department held on to, from the ship that was made in the 1970s. That sign now hangs on the back of the ship.

Since being completed, the float has made the rounds on parades across Long Island, with the first being the George Washington Parade in Greenport in February. The float has also made it to parades in Westhampton Beach, Montauk and East Hampton.

***

The victim of a 2023 hit-and-run claims that a venue in East Hampton had let the driver who hit him get drunk on tequila shots while underage and bears legal responsibility for the crash, according to a lawsuit filed this past Monday and the victim's lawyer.

Matthew Chayes reports in NEWSDAY that the venue and defendant, The Clubhouse Hamptons on Daniels Hole Road in East Hampton, also failed to seek an ID from the driver, says the suit, filed in NYS Supreme Court in Suffolk. The driver, Miguel Angel Mizhquiri, of Montauk, was born in October 2002. The crash took place on Aug. 26, 2023.

Just before midnight that night, after leaving The Clubhouse, Mizhquiri drove a short distance toward Montauk Highway, ignored a stop sign and made an “improper” left turn, striking the Toyota pickup truck driven by the plaintiff, East End helicopter mechanic David Carman, of Montauk, according to court papers.

Mizhquiri was arrested, charged with drunken driving and ticketed for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, according to a copy of the police report filed in civil court records. Mizhquiri received an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, which seals the records.

The crash left Carman with serious injuries to his head, body and nervous system, the suit says. Carman’s lawyer, Edmond Chakmakian, of Hauppauge, said Carman is still being treated for spinal injuries.

The suit did not specify the amount of monetary damages sought.

Scott Rubenstein, The Clubhouse’s managing partner, told Newsday that the venue has checked credit card receipts, but “we didn’t show any record of him being here.”

"We take it very seriously to proof and card and do our best to make sure the cards are legitimate, that they’re of age,” Rubenstein said. But fake IDs “are getting better and better,” he said, and there should be harsher punishment for those who use them.

Carman declined through Chakmakian to be interviewed.

Carman had initially sued Mizhquiri and later settled with the insurance company for a nominal but confidential sum, according to his lawyer.

The Arts Center at Duck Creek in Springs has announced the return of its Family Night Series

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Massive changes are coming to the federal student loan system starting today, with fewer repayment options for many borrowers and new loan limits for parents, graduate students, part-time students and others.

Maura McDermott reports in NEWSDAY that the new rules are part of President Donald Trump’s tax-and-spending legislation, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, approved last year by Congress. They’re expected to have a broad impact on Long Island and across the country, with nearly 43 million Americans holding $1.7 trillion in federal student debt.

Federal education officials have said the changes are intended to simplify the student loan system, protect borrowers from excessive debt and reduce the cost of higher education. In congressional testimony in May, Department of Education secretary Linda McMahon called college costs “exorbitant” and said they must be reduced.

In many cases, though, student debt experts said borrowers will face higher monthly payments, and the new loan limits could prompt some to take out higher-cost private loans.

One of the biggest changes is the replacement of older programs such as the Biden-era Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan, which linked monthly payments to income, with the lowest-earning borrowers having their payments reduced to zero.

More than 7 million borrowers in the SAVE plan will be notified that they have 90 days to choose one of two new plans, said Michele Zampini, associate vice president for federal policy and advocacy at The Institute for College Access & Success. The new options are the standard plan, which does not take income into consideration, or the income-linked Repayment Assistance Plan, she said. RAP requires payments of up to 10% of a borrower’s adjusted gross income for 30 years.

SAVE borrowers who do not apply for RAP will be placed in the standard plan.

Even in the RAP plan, a family of four earning the national median income of about $80,000 could see monthly payments spike from $36 under SAVE to $440 under RAP, Zampini said.

Two other plans, the Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plans, are also being phased out but not until 2028.

Other changes that take effect today include a new $20,000 per year and $65,000 lifetime limit on Parent PLUS loans. Previously, parents could borrow up to the full cost of tuition.

***

The East Hampton Historical Society has spent the past six months restoring the Mulford Farmhouse on James Lane to how the structure looked in 1776, during the American Revolution.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that in celebration of the semi-quincentennial, the historic structure — part of one of the most significant and intact colonial farmsteads in the nation — will reopen to the public this coming Saturday - the 4th of July.

East Hampton Historical Society Executive Director Steve Long said the project was the first comprehensive interior restoration of the historic building since the Historical Society first acquired the structure in 1948.

The restoration project was comprehensive and entailed major plaster repair, carpentry and painting. A paint analysis was done about 10 years ago, which first identified the finishes in the various rooms, allowing the Historical Society to recreate the paint from 250 years ago.

Mulford Farm, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally built in 1680. The farmhouse has been left largely unchanged since the end of the 18th century, with much of the framing and wood beams in the house being left undisturbed.

“By modern standards, it’s a tiny little house, but by 18th century standards, it was really one of the most outstanding houses here in East Hampton,” Long said.

Those who want to see the new house can take a self-guided tour or a tour with historical society staff. On the tours, they will learn about the eight members of the Mulford family who lived there, according to the 1776 Suffolk County census, and they will learn about the eight enslaved people who lived on the farm.

The guided tour will begin on July 4 at 3 p.m. and those interested are asked to meet at Home Sweet Home Museum. Throughout the summer, the Mulford Farmhouse will be open Thursday to Monday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

***

The Arts Center at Duck Creek in Springs has announced the return of its Family Night Series, a summer of free arts, music and community programming.

Beginning this coming Monday, July 6, and continuing weekly through August 10, Family Night will transform Duck Creek’s East Hampton campus into a lively community gathering space where residents and visitors can enjoy performances, hands-on activities, food and entertainment. Programs take place on Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. and are free and open to all ages.

The series opens July 6 with Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater, a longtime East End favorite known for inspiring creativity through puppetry and interactive workshops. Founder and puppeteer Liz Joyce will serve as host for all six Family Night programs throughout the season.

In addition to performances and activities, Family Night attendees will enjoy food provided by local donors including Almond Restaurant, Amber Waves, Balsam Farms, East Hampton Kitchen, Rita Cantina, Harbor Market & Kitchen, Maidstone Market & Deli, Shelly’s Kitchen, Springs Pizza, and Springs Tavern & Grill. Heras Fuel Oil Corp. is sponsoring the beverage station for all six events.

The Arts Center at Duck Creek is on 127 Squaw Road, Springs, East Hampton, N.Y.

For more information, go to duckcreekarts.org.

***

A group of Long Island Catholics, frustrated at what they say has been inaction by the Diocese of Rockville Centre amid President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, kicked off an effort yesterday to persuade local parishes to defend the rights of immigrants.

Bart Jones reports in NEWSDAY that the group, called Catholics Welcome Immigrants, includes several priests, some of whom attended a news conference Tuesday in Huntington Station where organizers provided details about the effort and decried Trump's deportation campaign, including the arrest of at least 3,000 Long Islanders. They also accused the federal government of violating Catholic teachings to welcome the stranger and assist the weak.

"These inhumane and immoral policies fly in the face not only of American values but also what we believe as Roman Catholics," Richard Koubek, one of the leaders of the group, said at St. Hugh of Lincoln Roman Catholic Church in Huntington Station.

The group hopes to start training lay Catholic leaders in August on how to plan prayer services focused on immigrants…be they documented or otherwise…and on how to publish bulletin inserts on the topic, how to reach out to new immigrants and advocate for "just" government policies. They aim to begin implementing their program in parishes in September.

Catholics Welcome Immigrants even hopes to have pastors preach about the deportation campaign from the altar and publicize letters by bishops in the United States denouncing the ongoing effort.

Koubek said that initially, he anticipates meeting "indifference" from many of the diocese’s 132 parishes, but if 10 participate at the outset, that will be a good start.

Bishop John Barres, who heads the Diocese of Rockville Centre has previously called for comprehensive immigration reform.

In response to NEWSDAY, the diocese also noted Catholic Charities' extensive lengths to help immigrants with food, housing, job training and legal services.

Bishop Barres helped draft a statement by the New York State Catholic Conference that said immigration enforcement should be done in "a humane manner that does not target the hard-working and law-abiding; that does not permit the wanton and unnecessary separation of families; and that does not rely on campaigns of fear that cripple whole communities."

There are approximately 1.2 to 1.47 baptized Catholics in Nassau and Suffolk combined, accounting for nearly half of Long Island's total population.

***

President Donald Trump's job performance is viewed unfavorably by a majority of Long Island voters — with nearly six in 10 reporting they disapprove of his work a year and a half into his second term, according to a new Newsday/Siena Research Institute poll.

Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that President Trump’s handling of the economy, and worries about the country’s role in overseas conflicts, are dragging down his approval rating, according to the poll, which shows 58% of Long Island respondents disapprove of his job performance, compared with 38% who approve. Three percent declined to offer an opinion.

Siena pollster Don Levy said Long Islanders surveyed for the poll ranked the cost of living as their top issue, with more than half – 56% – saying they disapproved of Trump’s job making prices more affordable for average Americans.

“This is a clarion call,” Levy told Newsday in a phone interview. “At present, the president of the United States is not succeeding in impressing Long Island voters in his ability to make prices more affordable. They don't see it. They don't feel it. They certainly don't feel it at the grocery store, and they don't feel it in the utility prices.”

Among Republicans interviewed by Newsday, most agreed with the president’s policies, arguing that his second-term efforts needed time to bear fruit, while Democrats countered that Trump’s economic policies were adding up to real financial pressure on their every day lives.

More than half of Long Island respondents — 53% — said they approved of Trump’s ability to secure the U.S. border with Mexico, compared with 37% who said they disapproved. Among Republicans, the issue was his top performer, with 84% saying they approved of his immigration efforts.

Despite support for Trump’s immigration crackdown — half of respondents said they believe the mass deportation campaign is hurting Long Island’s economy, while 33% said they believe it is helping. A combined 17% were either split on whether there was an impact or undecided on the issue.

The Newsday poll was done in conjunction with the Siena Research Institute between June 17 and 23 among 412 registered voters on Long Island.

***

The hustle and bustle of the summer season has arrived, but for residents of North Haven Village, fears about traffic and pedestrian safety will be eased, at least somewhat, by the arrival of two new speed humps on an important roadway in the small and quiet village.

North Haven Village officials oversaw the installation of the new speed humps on Tyndall Road, with one at the east end of the street and another at the west end.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the speed humps — which have a lower and more gradual profile than traditional speed bumps — were installed on June 22, in an effort to discourage speeding on the quiet residential street.

They join five speed humps that were put in place two years ago — three on Sunset Beach Road and two on Fresh Pond Road.

“Everybody loves the humps,” proclaims Mayor Chris Fiore, adding that he’s heard positive feedback from pedestrians, joggers and bike riders that use North Haven Village streets.

The cost of installation, which the mayor said was about $6,000 for each speed hump, is reimbursed by New York State highway funding for localities.

Mayor Fiore said that residents on Tyndall had been asking for speed humps, and that residents of other longer connecting streets have also asked for speed humps in their neighborhoods as well, meaning more could be on the horizon.

***

For years — many longtime residents might say decades — traffic and parking have been among the most challenging and hotly debated issues in Sag Harbor Village. Solutions have never been easy to come by, but the severity of the problem, and the increased demand to address it, since they both seem to get worse every year, mean local officials must continually try to come up with creative solutions to ease the burden on residents, visitors and employees.

That’s the reason why the Sag Harbor Village Board came together last Thursday for a public workshop on a village transportation plan.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that several representatives from the engineering firm LKMA were on hand to discuss and analyze traffic and parking studies conducted by the firm in the village last summer.

The LKMA representatives were presenting what they called a phase one study, with a phase two set for the near future. It’s part of an overall, long-term multiphase effort by the Village of Sag Harbor to study traffic patterns and parking issues and come up with solutions, some of which can be easily implemented sooner rather than later, and others that will require more study and in-depth analysis.

The project presented last week focused primarily on the north side of Main Street, and the Route 114 corridor in the village, particularly the areas that connect Sag Harbor to East Hampton via 114.

Several audience members, as well as Mayor Tom Gardella, expressed frustration that the presentation did not include an analysis of the area around Jermain Avenue, which has been a point of concern and problems, but officials from LKMA said they would focus on possible solutions and mitigation efforts for that area in the next phase of their presentation.

The LKMA representatives presented four main conceptual plans related to easing traffic issues, labeled A, B, C and D, focusing on certain areas.

Introducing stop signs at various intersections, as well as turning lanes, was on the table.

Overall, the Sag Harbor Village Board had mixed reactions to the plans but reminded audience members and those listening to the meeting online that the board welcomes written comments from residents and wants feedback on the plans, which should be emailed to Mayor Tom Gardella and trustees.

The phase one analysis and parking study plan prepared by LKMA is available for viewing online at the Sag Harbor Village website.

Nearly half of Long Islanders support slowing the development of large data centers

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Nearly half of Long Islanders support slowing the development of large data centers, according to the results of a Newsday/Siena Research Institute poll, which highlighted growing concerns among New Yorkers.

Data centers house the physical infrastructure for data storage, and technology giants say they are vital to the growing use of artificial intelligence.

The poll found 47% of Long Islanders back a bill passed by the State Legislature on June 4 that would put a one-year pause on the permitting of large data centers. One in three, about 34%, said they were either in the middle, didn’t know enough or refused to answer the question. About 19% of Long Islanders said they thought a moratorium is bad for New York.

Statewide, the results mirrored those on Long Island with 46% of New Yorkers saying a moratorium would be good for the state, 21% saying it would be bad, and 33% saying they were in the middle, didn’t know or refused to answer, according to the poll.

"Communities that are making this decision are focused on this. You’re weighing jobs, energy uses, the effect on water," Don Levy, executive director of the Siena Research Institute, told Newsday. Underneath those concerns is the question about AI and whether people feel it is going to be beneficial or they are threatened by it, he said.

The Newsday poll was done in conjunction with the Siena Research Institute between June 17 and 23 among 412 registered voters on Long Island. The margin of error was 6.1%, meaning answers may vary by that amount. The regional survey was taken as a subsection of a statewide Siena poll that surveyed 1,120 voters and has a margin of error of 3.6%

Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the poll comes as hundreds of large-scale data centers are popping up around the country and municipalities across the state and Long Island weigh the benefits and potential negative impacts of the centers on their communities. A large-scale data center is being proposed in Yaphank in Suffolk County.

Developers have touted the need for data centers, as well as the community investment and jobs they bring, largely through the construction of the facilities.

But there are growing concerns over their massive energy consumption and use of water for cooling purposes, which put pressure on infrastructure, increase utility rates and raise questions surrounding environmental impact.

If the bill is signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York would be the first state to put a moratorium on the development of more large-scale data centers.

Jennifer Fowkes, 58, of East Hampton, told Newsday she is "really grateful" to the legislature for passing a moratorium. "There’s so much fear, misinformation, misunderstanding," said the Democrat who participated in the poll.

Fowkes said the issue needs to be studied and expressed particular concern over the impact on water use and quality because Suffolk County sits on a sole source aquifer. "I don't think a year is long enough," she said, but "it’s a great start."

The question on data centers particularly "stands out," because one-third of respondents statewide and on Long Island say either they are torn, or they don’t have enough knowledge to have an opinion, Levy said. "Certainly, to whatever extent this is a political issue, they could be wooed."

***

A federal judge yesterday dismissed the complaint challenging New York’s Even Year Election Law, throwing out the governmental plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice, while allowing the remaining non-governmental plaintiffs an opportunity to file a new complaint.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that in a sharply worded 22-page decision, U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown on Monday ruled that the remaining government plaintiffs could not pursue the federal constitutional claims, concluding they were barred by the prior state-court litigation, lacked standing and had no cause of action under the federal civil rights statute known as Section 1983.

Barring further relief in the case, the ruling means Riverhead’s 2026 supervisor election is expected to proceed under the Even Year Election Law, with voters electing a supervisor this November to a two-year term that will align the town’s election cycle with even-numbered years.

Judge Brown questioned the propriety of municipal governments participating in the litigation alongside partisan political organizations, calling government spending on the lawsuit "troubling," since there was lack of "evident injury" suffered by the government plaintiffs, citing RiverheadLOCAL’s reporting on more than $1.6 million in taxpayer-funded legal fees.

Judge Brown granted the state’s motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint, dismissing the remaining governmental plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice. He also dismissed with prejudice the claims against the State of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Board of Elections.

Thus, government plaintiffs - Suffolk County and Huntington Town — have been dismissed from the case with prejudice.

The remaining non-governmental plaintiffs, including the New York Republican State Committee and the county Republican committees, were granted leave to file a second amended complaint against different defendants. The judge denied as moot the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.

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Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

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***

Local, state and federal law enforcement are now banned from covering their faces in New York State while interacting with the public in most encounters under a new law taking effect today.

Bahar Ostadan reports in NEWSDAY that the Making Enforcement Law Transparent Act is part of a push from state Democrats to regulate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and promote transparency. But Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — who is the Republican running against Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul for governor and last year signed an executive order allowing law enforcement to wear masks in Nassau — says the move puts officers at risk.

"Kathy Hochul is putting our cops in danger just to prove a dumb political point," Blakeman wrote in a statement to Newsday, later adding that masks help protect against people exposing law enforcement officers’ identities online.

The mask ban is part of bill package signed by Hochul last month. Among the many changes is a new law prohibiting local law enforcement from partnering with ICE through a federal program known as 287(g). ICE has two such agreements with Nassau, one with its police department and another with its sheriff’s department.

Blakeman has until Aug. 27 to terminate Nassau's contracts with ICE, or New York State Attorney General Letitia James says she will pursue legal action.

"We will seek compliance through the courts," James said in a news conference Wednesday. "I doubt that any municipality would be in contempt of the law at this point and I’m confident that they will comply."

The new law bans the use of local law enforcement officials or facilities for immigration enforcement, but allows ICE to continue working with local law enforcement on criminal matters. Unlike the mask restrictions, this measure hasn't taken effect yet.

That leaves Blakeman with about nine weeks to void Nassau’s partnership with ICE. Nassau County rents 50 East Meadow jail cells to the federal agency to detain immigrants, and deputized 10 Nassau detectives to help transfer defendants into ICE custody.

***

These future baseball stars are stealing a summer in “The Hamptons.”

Alex Mitchell reports in The NY POST that A-lister sightings, a pipeline to the big leagues, hanging with buds on boats are all guarantees in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League which plays its games across America’s most celebrated summer resort community.

“My friends are playing in leagues in the middle of nowhere. They’re pretty miserable. But out here it’s awesome,” Seattle-born pitcher Lincoln Oelschlager of the Sag Harbor Whalers told The Post. “It’s probably the best place you’d be for summer ball,” added the pitcher who attends Southern California’s Pomona College.

Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League is a Major League Baseball affiliate that provides an east end alternative to Cape Cod’s iconic collegiate summer development league.

Like its New England counterpart, the H.C.B.L. has produced a bevy of major leaguers, including Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes, in addition to 600 MLB-drafted players — 112 of whom stepped onto a diamond in the majors…plus New York Mets radio announcer Keith Raad.

The LI league is instrumental in identifying talent that may otherwise be overlooked, Riverhead Tomcats manager Kyle McLaughlin said.

“The Cape Cod League is the league where all of the high-end Division I players go, but here, you have more of a mix, you have anywhere from D-I to junior college guys,” he said.

“This allows the opportunity for a lot of local Long Island players to kind of get into that same realm as the players that are in the Cape.”

The Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League...which has been in existence for nearly 2 decades...is home to six teams, each rooted in the character, history, and natural beauty of the East End communities they represent.

The Riverhead Tomcats play on the former Grumman site and take their name from the legendary F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, a nod to Long Island’s aviation history. The Westhampton Aviators honor the 106th Rescue Wing, with the C-130 transport plane featured as part of the team’s logo. The North Fork Ospreys reflect one of the region’s most recognizable birds, often seen nesting across the North Fork. The Sag Harbor Whalers pay homage to Sag Harbor’s historic role as a whaling port, while the Southampton Breakers draw inspiration from the surf and shoreline of Cooper’s Beach, widely recognized as one of the top beaches in the country. The Shelter Island Bucks take their name from the island’s large deer population, a familiar part of life on Shelter Island.

The dream teams are all thanks to league president Sandi Kruel, who finds players housing and jobs, such as giving lessons or landscaping in between games.

“It’s a lot of door-knocking,” said the Sag Harbor native, who’s been the backbone of East End baseball for years as a labor of love.

HCBL games offer families an affordable way to spend a summer evening together while enjoying high-level collegiate baseball. Admission is free, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to cheer on their local team, meet players from across the country and experience the traditions of summer baseball on the East End.

To learn more about HCBL visit: hamptonsleague.com

***

The temporary pedestrian bridge spanning County Road 39 in Southampton—built for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club — is scheduled to be removed this coming Monday night. So, per the Long Island Railroad County Road 39 both ways will be closed Monday June 29 at 8 p.m. and remain shut down until 5 a.m. Tuesday June 30. Clearly, as we begin the week approaching 4th of July motorists should seek to avoid driving anywhere between Water Mill and Hampton Bays after 8’oclock this coming Monday night into early Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, Brianne Ledda reports in NEWSDAY that most Long Islanders fear younger generations won’t be able to stay in the region, according to the results of a Newsday/Siena Research Institute poll that highlighted the cost of living as a top concern. Nearly eight of 10 Long Islanders — 77% — said cost of living was the first or second issue most important to them, according to the poll. Four of 10 respondents said they weren’t optimistic they’d be able to afford to continue to live on Long Island and 81% expressed pessimism about the ability of individuals in their 20s and 30s to be able to stay in the area, the poll released yesterday found.

"I think those are disconcerting numbers," Siena pollster Don Levy said. "At first blush, you could say, ‘Oh that’s a pretty good finding. 57% of people say they’re optimistic.' But 40% are either not very or not at all optimistic about their ability to stay on Long Island because of affordability. Forty percent is a lot."

The Newsday poll, done in conjunction with the Siena Research Institute, interviewed 412 registered voters on Long Island between June 17 and Tuesday on issues ranging from politics to affordability with a 6.1% margin of error, meaning answers could be that much higher or lower.

Long Islanders listed property taxes, groceries and healthcare as significant cost burdens in the survey, with Republicans overwhelmingly focused on property taxes while Democrats highlighted groceries as the most significant threat to their family finances, Levy said.

Beyond affordability, 46% of Long Island Republicans said crime was the first or second most significant issue to them and Democrats in the region highlighted affordable housing as a top concern.

Less than a week after US Open, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club to host Palm Tree Music Festival

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

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***

The search for the source of the “forever chemical” that shut down two Suffolk County Water Authority wells in East Hampton has been broadened to include a 2005 plane crash on Mill Hill Lane that left one dead.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that four SCWA wells near Buckskill Road and Montauk Highway were recently found to be contaminated with perfluoropropionic acid, or PFPrA, with two of those in amounts exceeding New York State’s 50 parts per billion maximum contaminant level. SCWA has taken those two wells offline, while keeping the other two online at a reduced use.

SCWA, starting earlier in June, has been locked in litigation with the operator of a battery energy storage system, or BESS, on Cove Hollow Road, arguing that LG Chem and the East Hampton Energy Storage System failed to prevent runoff from a 2023 fire at the facility — ultimately leading to the water contamination.

But East Hampton Town officials, who called for the creation of a task force in the wake of the detection of the contaminated water, have now said that the 2005 Mill Hill Lane plane crash has emerged as another potential source of the “forever chemical.” The firefighting foam used, should it turn it out that this incident caused the contamination, would be the culprit.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said the sustained pumping may have drawn the contaminated water from the plane crash toward the SCWA wells, which are located around a half-mile from the site of the crash.

Burke-Gonzalez spearheaded the creation of a task force, made up of East Hampton Town officials, State Department of Environmental Conservation representatives and Suffolk County Department of Health Services officials, among others.

East Hampton Village officials also plan to contract with a private company, under the lead of Village Planner Billy Hajek, to conduct a separate testing operation from the door-to-door testing being done by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen said this will be done to confirm the results.

PFPrA, the chemical in question, is an unregulated contaminant that does not appear on the list of 40 PFAS chemicals that the Department of Environmental Conservation screens for and was only identified via SCWA’s specialized, in-house measures.

The location of the SCWA wells, alongside that of the BESS facility and the site of the 2005 Mill Hill plane crash, has put East Hampton Town and East Hampton Village officials in an uneasy partnership aimed at mitigating the fallout.

Both the BESS facility and the SCWA wells are located in the town, just north of the border with the village, while the site of the plane crash is located in the village. Groundwater flows south from those locations, likely putting the contamination, in part, within the village’s borders.

***

The immigration crackdown President Donald Trump promised on his first day in office has taken hold on Long Island. As reported on Newsday.com, federal immigration agents have arrested roughly 3,000 Long Islanders, but the campaign’s effects extend far beyond those detained. Across the region, employers are losing workers, businesses are losing customers and families are retreating from public life. Immigrants make up nearly a fifth of Long Island’s population, and as many withdraw from daily routines, or vanish from the communities where they live and work, the region itself is beginning to change.

Long Island's share of foreign-born residents has doubled in the past four decades, surpassing the national trend from 1960 through 2024.

David Dyssegaard Kallick, director of Immigration Research Initiative, a nonpartisan think-tank spoke with NEWSDAY about increased United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity through the past 17 months. "You can expect ripple effects to the economy and also ripple effects to our sense of who we are…This is raids on communities, raids on workplaces, picking people up in courthouses when they're coming to do what they're supposed to do in registering. ...it's much more disruptive, more indiscriminate, violent."

Trump’s second term immigration campaign came at a time when Long Island's immigrant population neared 550,000 and the portion of population that is foreign-born neared levels not seen for a century or more: close to 15% nationwide, 21% through Nassau / Suffolk combined.

But since the stepped-up enforcement began, immigration rates have fallen into a "historic decline," according to the Census Bureau, which does not distinguish between unlawful and lawful immigration. In New York State from 2024 to 2025, net migration from immigrants dropped from 290,500 people to 95,600 people. Nationally, the rate of immigration also more than halved over that period, from 2.7 million to 1.3 million, with further slowdowns projected for 2026. Immigration contracted so much it helped slow the nation’s growth rate.

Kallick and others, including the Brookings Institution, have warned that low or zero immigration could negatively impact areas like Long Island, which face the prospect of declining labor productivity as their populations age.

The crackdown has contributed to the departure of both documented and undocumented workers on Long Island. Economists say that, on Long Island and across the nation, those departures will create job openings that American-born workers don't necessarily want to fill.

For example: About two-thirds of home care aides are immigrants, and on Long Island the industry is expected to have about 9,500 openings per year through 2033, according to the state Labor Department.

And North Fork farmers said fewer immigrant workers showed up to do spring planting this year; as many as half of New York's farm workers are undocumented, state officials have estimated.

There are those who say the illegal immigration crackdown campaign is reaping public safety and economic benefits.

The Trump administration and its supporters describe the impacts of aggressive ICE deployment as a law-and-order campaign to remove violent "criminal aliens" from the country that is paying social and economic dividends.

Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman told Newsday earlier this year: "There is absolutely no data to support the fake proposition that removing criminals from Nassau County is hurting the economy. ... In fact, it’s quite the opposite."

***

Less than a week after crowds from the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club have departed, thousands of fans of a different kind will flood into Southampton in a couple days for the Palm Tree Music Festival on Shinnecock Nation territory just a mile south of County Road 39.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that as many as 10,000 fans are expected for the concert this coming Saturday, which will be held entirely within the nation’s 800-acre territory on the south side of Montauk Highway adjacent west to Southampton Village.

The gates for the festival will open Saturday afternoon at 3 and the music is expected to conclude at about 11 p.m.

Tickets for the concert, which is headlined by techno stars Kygo and The Chainsmokers, are sold out, according to the festival website.

Festival equipment trucks began rolling into Southampton almost as soon as the last cars from Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open pulled out of the VIP parking lots on tribal property.

Lance Gumbs, the vice chairman of the nation’s Council of Trustees, said that the Palm Tree organizers have made some improvements to the logistics and operations from last year’s event — including installing Starlink Wi-Fi service at the concert venue to help concertgoers connect to the Uber and Lyft apps that the majority of attendees used to get to and from the event.

Only a small number of concertgoers will be allowed to drive directly to the concert venue and park, Gumbs said. The rest must be dropped off by ride shares or shuttle buses that the Palm Tree organizers have arranged.

Southampton Town officials said that the festival organizers have been working with local emergency services providers for months on their logistical planning this year and said that the system the festival employed last year worked well.

Ryan Murphy, the town’s emergency management coordinator and head of code enforcement, said this year’s communication has been even better and the town is comfortable with how things are being put in place.

“We simply want to make sure that we have coordinated about our response capabilities if something does go wrong so that we can jump into action if necessary,” Murphy said this week. “I feel much more comfortable going into it this year. We had a good meeting with them right before the Open, and we’ll have another meeting this week. And we’ll all be ready to go on Saturday, and hopefully, it’s another safe and successful event.”

Motorists should seek to avoid driving near Shinnecock Saturday night from 10:30 p.m. To 1 a.m.

Certain Regents exams face scrutiny for not reflecting curriculum that was taught

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

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***

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is projected to be the winner of his Democratic primary, fending off two challengers.

The Associated Press projected a DiNapoli victory based on results from the state Board of Elections.

With nearly three-quarters of the election districts reporting, DiNapoli led with 60% of the vote.

Steve Hughes reports in NEWSDAY that the NYS comptroller manages the $295 billion state pension fund and serves as the state’s chief fiscal watchdog.

DiNapoli, 72, of Great Neck Plaza and a lifelong resident of Long Island, has been in office since 2007.

He will face Republican Joseph Hernandez in November.

In the Town of East Hampton, incumbent Democratic Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez defeated East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen. Final results were still trickling in last night, but Larsen conceded to Burke-Gonzalez. As of late Tuesday, Burke-Gonzalez had 2,054 votes to Larsen’s 1,245 — or 62 percent to 38 percent. With no Republican on the November ballot, Burke-Gonzalez victory in yesterday’s primary likely determines that she will continue to lead East Hampton Town next year.

Meanwhile, Brendan J. O’Reilly reports on 27east.com that Chris Gallant, a veteran from Amity Harbor, is now the 2026 Democratic nominee in the race to represent New York’s 1st Congressional District, having bested Lukas Ventouras of Northport in that primary election yesterday.

Gallant’s insurmountable lead last night stood at 59.9 percent of the vote, 11,565 to 6,780.

Gallant, 37, now faces two-term incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Nick LaLota, 47, of Amityville in the general election this November.

***

This year's Earth and Space Sciences and Biology Regents exams are drawing scrutiny from local school leaders and parents, who say the questions did not reflect the curriculum taught to students and contained errors.

Lorena Mongelli reports in NEWSDAY that as a result, officials in several Long Island school districts have said they will not count the scores from the two exams, which were administered last Thursday, if they hurt a student’s final average.

“We were not able to review the test until the day of the exam ... We began to see that there were some questions we had particular concerns about," said John Murphy, principal of Walt Whitman High School in the South Huntington district, one of the school districts that has raised concerns about the exams.

State Education Department spokesman JP O'Hare in a statement yesterday said classroom instruction, overseen by local schools, was responsible for ensuring the curriculum aligned with state standards.

“Through the New York State Education Department’s extensive, industry-standard test development processes, carried out in collaboration with hundreds of NYS teachers, we are confident that the Regents Exams are well-aligned with the state’s learning standards," O'Hare said. He said in the coming weeks the exam will be posted publicly, including scoring materials.

This is the second year in a row that the biology and earth science Regents exams have been criticized for asking about material not covered in class.

Timothy Eagen, president of Suffolk County School Superintendents Association told NEWSDAY on Tuesday, “This is a complex issue that deserves thoughtful examination from multiple perspectives, with students and their ability to fairly demonstrate their learning remaining at the center of the conversation...For Earth and Space Science, teachers have noted meaningful differences in this year’s exam compared to previously released versions that had been used to guide instruction and student preparation. For Biology, concerns have been raised regarding errors identified within portions of the examination,” he said.

While the state Education Department will no longer require students to pass Regents exams to graduate high school, beginning with students who started ninth grade in 2024, they must continue taking the exams until fall 2027 due to state and federal mandates requiring assessments, according to the state.

***

NYS Attorney General Letitia James’s office yesterday released the body camera footage of the fatal shooting of a Northampton man by Southampton Town Police officers last month on Mother’s Day.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the camera footage shows that the officers fired six shots at the man, Steven Eastwood, as he stood over his mother’s prone body in her home, stabbing her repeatedly with a large knife.

The footage from the bodycams of all three officers starts as they dash from the driveway toward the home on Topping Drive on the afternoon of May 10. The three officers had been dispatched to the property following a 911 call from Eastwood’s mother, who had said her son was at the house, intoxicated and threatening her with a knife.

As the officers enter the house, first into a foyer and then turning to the right into a kitchen and dining area, the first glimpse of Eastwood shows him bent over his mother, who is on the floor, with his back to the officers. His mother can be heard groaning as she lays on her back on the floor — at one point she simply says “Ow” over and over again. An empty wheelchair is beside her.

When Eastwood straightens up and turns toward the officers, both of his forearms and chest can be seen covered in blood, the knife still in his hand.

While the image of the victim is mostly blurred in the footage, THE VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC and the attorney general’s office released it with a warning for viewers to use discretion.

Inside the house the three officers repeatedly scream at Eastwood to drop the knife. At least one of them calls Eastwood by his first name several times.

Southampton Town Police had been called to the home on several previous occasions because of conflicts between Eastwood and his mother, Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said the day after the incident.

As Eastwood turns to the officers and starts moving toward them, two of the officers back out the front door of the house. The third officer, retreats through the foyer and into the home’s living room.

Eastwood follows the two officers out the front door, standing briefly on the front porch, still holding the knife as they continue to shout for him to drop it.

After a hesitating pause, he turns and goes back into the house and into the kitchen.

As the officers come back into the house and turn into the kitchen, the camera footage shows that he has once again begun stabbing his mother — who can be seen raising one hand toward her son in self-defense.

Officer Jake Jurgensen, who joined the Town Police force just last fall, fires five shots almost immediately and Eastwood spins away from the officers and crumples to the floor. A single additional shot is fired as he goes down.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Kiernan had praised the officers for their restraint on first contact with Eastwood, disengaging and backing away from him as he came toward them with the knife. But, he said, when Eastwood had resumed his attack on his mother, they were left with no choice but to use deadly force.

Eastwood was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother, whom police have not named, survived the attack despite suffering more than 40 stab and slash wounds.

Today is Primary Day in New York State

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

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***

Today is primary day in New York State. The polls opened at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 9 p.m. throughout Long Island.

Billy House reports in NEWSDAY that while party primaries often don't attract big voter turnouts, these races could have potentially significant impacts, including on which party takes the majority in the 435-seat U.S. House, which Republicans now control by a narrow margin.

In early voting, 16,480 people cast ballots in Nassau and 6,721 in Suffolk.

Here’s a rundown on some of what’s at stake:

In the 1st Congressional District which includes the east end:

Chris Gallant, 37, of Amity Harbor, a Black Hawk pilot, Army veteran, National Guardsman, former air traffic controller and volunteer firefighter, faces Lukas Ventouras, 25, of Northport, who is attending St. John’s School of Law, and has worked on past political campaigns. The winner takes on incumbent Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) in November. CD1 is entirely in Suffolk County.

NYS comptroller

Democrat Thomas DiNapoli, 72, faces his first primary challenge since he assumed the office in 2007, running against Raj Goyle, 51, who has worked on a number of philanthropic campaigns in New York City, and Drew Warshaw, 45, the executive director of a nonprofit housing firm.

East Hampton

East Hampton Town's Democratic primary pits incumbent Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, 64, against challenger East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen, 61. With no Republican on the November ballot, today's contest is likely to determine who takes office next year.

For voter info go to Elections.ny.gov.

***

The Long Island Builders Institute {LIBI} has formed a coalition focused on construction issues on the East End to help reverse a trend of permit delays for new builds and renovations that have caused industry slowdowns.

The group, Long Island Builders Institute’s East End Council, will advocate for more efficient online permitting systems and broader permit reforms across the twin fork's five towns and various villages, LIBI CEO Mike Florio told Newsday.

Builders in East Hampton Town have been hit hard by permit delays, with lengthy plan reviews slowing projects and creating uncertainty across the industry. The Town of East Hampton has outsourced reviews to architectural firms and hired more employees to process a lengthy backlog that has left some builders waiting for more than a year for permits.

“We’re looking to unify under one voice to address our regional issues with solutions,” said Michael Forst, a third-generation East Hampton builder and president of Forst Construction.

Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that members of the construction trade group recently met in Southampton to share frustrations and agreed that LIBI should expand its presence on the East End. The industry group hasn’t maintained a dedicated chapter in the region for more than a decade, builders said.

Forst will serve as the group’s co-chair, representing the South Fork, while Fred Seifert, part-owner of Seifert Construction in Mattituck, will serve as a co-chair representing the North Fork.

The construction and real estate industry is a key economic driver on the East End, particularly the multimillion-dollar luxury home market. The median home price in the Hamptons jumped to a record high of $2.4 million in the first quarter of the year, Newsday has reported. The median home price on the North Fork was just shy of $1 million, close to the record high of $1.1 million.

Among LIBI East End Council priorities is increasing affordable housing and train service for the area’s workforce, as well as lobbying for policies that lower construction costs, Forst and Seifert said.

“If we want our future contractors and tradesmen to be able to work here, they obviously have to live here,” Seifert said. “We need to find ways to be able to get affordable housing for them and keep our talent here on the East End.”

Wyndham Clark named winner of US Open and Southampton begins to return to normalcy

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

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***

The 126th U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club has concluded with Wyndham Clark the winner…he led through all four rounds and while the Denver, Colorado native was clearly not yesterday’s crowd favorite, Clark persevered and last night brought home his second National Championship trophy. The U.S. Open has now been played here in Southampton six times. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club…founded in 1891…hosted the second U.S. Open championship in 1896 then again in 1986, 1995, 2004, 2018, and 2026.

United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan opened Sunday evening’s closing ceremony by expressing gratitude to the many local and regional governmental agencies who worked together effectively to make this international sporting event a major success…including the State of New York, Suffolk County, the host town of Southampton, the village of Southampton, the Shinnecock Tribal Nation and the Long Island Railroad.

Whan jokingly apologized to south fork residents "for what we did to you this week" due to tournament congestion…although overall traffic through Southampton was a little lighter than customary for the third week of June.

Whan also offered a huge thank you to the 3,300 volunteers…most of whom were from Long Island.

Wyndham Clark, now the 2026 U.S. Open champion, will be awarded $4.5 million, while the USGA’s total prize purse this week at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club was $22.5 million.

***

What goes up must come down.

After the 126th U.S. Open ended last night at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, local attention shifted to what comes next at Shinnecock Hills and the surrounding areas.

Ben Dickson reports in NEWSDAY that the process of restoring normalcy across Southampton has already begun.

Long Island native John Ryan Celiberti, the USGA’s assistant director of U.S. Open championships, told Newsday during Sunday’s final round that “we’ll hopefully get Shinnecock back to being Shinnecock probably [in] August.

“The circus comes in, the circus goes out,” he said. “But the next two months are really a process of getting everything out.”

Celiberti said yesterday, “We got the Palm Tree Festival over at Shinnecock Nation [this coming Saturday], so that’s my priority Monday making sure all of our supplies are cleared off over the next two days so that they can start preparing for their event” on tribal territory.

The construction that began in earnest in March — pushed back a bit because of the late-February blizzard, which produced snow drifts almost up to the second floor of the Shinnecock Hills clubhouse and completely shut down Tuckahoe Road — was completed with its final touches on June 14...the day before tournament week began.

Shinnecock Hills members should be able to get back on the course sometime within the next week. Forklifts and vehicles might be driving around to clean things up, but that shouldn’t interrupt play.

Celiberti said Tuckahoe Road south of the course “probably” will reopen Monday afternoon and that Tuckahoe Road through the golf course will reopen this coming Friday.

The USGA and local authorities worked to create a “contraflow lane” on Route 27, which turns into County Road 39, for designated vehicles to get to and from the course. That was important to avoid “The Trade Parade” of vehicles that come out to the Hamptons on a daily basis.

Additional Long Island Rail Road services also ran to the temporary Shinnecock Hills platform, built across the street from the course — adjacent to Stony Brook’s Southampton campus — and connected via a pedestrian bridge.

The LIRR during tournament week was the Open’s most-used mode of transportation.

Yesterday U.S.G.A. officials said almost 60% of fans took the LIRR to the final round of the championship.

Overall, the U.S.G.A. views the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock as a major success and plans on recap meetings with local authorities to come up with learning lessons in preparation for ten years from now - June of 2036 - when Shinnecock Hills Golf Club will host both the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens in back-to-back weeks.

US Open at Shinnecock Hills requires all hands on deck

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

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***

Atlantic Golf Club, Noyac Golf Club and Sebonack Golf Club are all less than 10 miles away from Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

But at this time of year, they might as well be on another planet.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the superintendents who oversee those courses never see each other from late spring to early fall. Their heads remain down, for months on end, from sunrise to sunset, making sure conditions are perfect for the members.

But every decade or so, an international sporting event brings them together.

At this year’s 126th U.S. Open Golf Championship…which teed off at 6:30 this morning…Shinnecock Hills superintendent Jon Jennings has a huge team of volunteers helping him and his regular team ensure the golf course is set up and in perfect condition to provide a worthy test for the world’s best players, as the course steps into the global spotlight, hosting the Open for the sixth time.

The course benefits from its unique position in what is widely regarded as one of the top golf meccas in the world. While Shinnecock is the star, lauded courses like National Golf Links of America, Southampton Golf Club and Sebonack Golf Club are a chip shot away, while other highly regarded courses like Noyac, The Bridge and Atlantic are in close vicinity as well.

During the week, superintendents from those courses are volunteering their time, expertise and several of their own staff members to the huge undertaking of course preparation and maintenance at Shinnecock Hills for the sport’s national championship, while still ensuring their own clubs, just as busy as ever at this time of year, are running smoothly.

Jennings tells 27east.com that having so many superintendents from so many highly regarded golf courses willing to contribute and in such close proximity during a major championship is special.

“The density of good golf courses in this area is rare…And the ability to be able to draw from that talent is also rare…It’s really helping out a lot.”

Jennings indicates he’s deeply appreciative of our east end golf community’s spirit of teamwork.

“The importance of local support is really, really key to the success of the championship,” he said…I may be biased, but the best golf in the world is here on Long Island.”

***

Cutchogue Civic Association will hold a panel discussion on the current housing situation, “What Does It Take to Live on the North Fork?” Perspectives on our Housing Crisis,” this evening at 5 p.m. at the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library.

Attendees will hear about the history of housing in the community, the current real estate data, and the burden the housing shortage causes for essential workers and business owners.

“There is no easy fix, but there are programs that are underway that might lessen the impact on future lives in Cutchogue,” according to the civic association.

Panelists include Community Housing Advocate Katy Stokes, The Giving Room owner Paula DiDonato, True North Associates’ Michael Daly, and Beth Young, editor of the East End Beacon.

That’s “What Does It Take to Live on the North Fork?” later today at 5 p.m. in the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library.

Also related to the North Fork housing crisis, Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Town of Southold is considering using a portion of its Community Housing Fund revenue for a new first-time homebuyer down payment assistance loan program that could provide 18 percent of the cost to purchase a home on northeastern Long Island — up to $135,000.

Southold Town Community Development Project Supervisor Andrea Sullivan gave an overview of the proposal to the Southold Town Board at its work session this week, as she and members of the town’s Planning Department gave an overview of their work addressing community housing as a new top priority in the town’s Zoning Update.

Ms. Sullivan said she is working with town planners on adding a new chapter to the code, Chapter 112, devoted exclusively to the administration of community housing. She said that chapter will likely be brought to a Town Board code committee in August.

Councilwoman Alexa Suess said Tuesday, “The idea is looking at these solutions in parallel. These code changes are going to take a little while,” she said. “We’re trying to come at it from multiple angles at once.”

Car crash on County Rd 39 leaves two injured and gridlock through most of Western Southampton

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Despite the loss of federal funding, WLIW-FM continues to bring you pertinent local and regional news each and every day. Make a donation or becoming a sustaining member today by clicking here or call 800-262-0717.

***

A motor vehicle crash on County Road 39 that left two people injured, one very seriously, caused gridlock traffic through most of western Southampton and Southampton Village late yesterday.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com

that traffic along the Montauk Highway and County Road 39 corridor had been flowing well on Tuesday afternoon thanks to police officers posted at traffic lights to allow commuter traffic to bypass the usual red-green cycle, until the crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m.

According to Southampton Town officials, the single-vehicle crash occurred just to the west of Shrubland Road. Passersby reported that the vehicle was heavily damaged. One of the two people in the vehicle was trapped inside and had to be cut out by Southampton Fire Department heavy rescue crews with the “Jaws of Life.”

The more badly injured person was then taken to Southampton Village where a Suffolk County Police Department medevac helicopter was waiting to fly the person to Stony Brook University Hospital at about 6 p.m. The other victim of the crash was taken to the hospital by an ambulance to be treated for non life-threatening injuries.

County Road 39 remained closed more than another hour while the accident scene was cleaned up. As of 7:30 p.m., the road was open again but westbound traffic from Water Mill to Shinnecock Hills crawled until nearly 10 o'clock last night.

***

Walmart expects to finish enlarging its Riverhead store into a supercenter, with an added grocery store, by next spring, according to plans submitted to the town.

Tory N. Parrish reports in NEWSDAY that the Riverhead store is one of three existing Long Island stores, including those in Islandia and East Meadow, for which Walmart has submitted plans to municipalities since early 2025 to enlarge the locations into supercenters.

With the planned Long Island expansion projects, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer is aiming to grab a larger slice of grocery spending across Nassau and Suffolk. Walmart is the largest grocer nationwide by far, but on Long Island, Stop & Shop ranks first.

“With the potential to expand our existing Islandia and Riverhead stores into supercenters, we are excited about the opportunity to bring expanded grocery offerings, services, and new career opportunities to the community,” Walmart spokeswoman Mariel Messier told NEWSDAY this week.

Walmart Inc. has 14 stores on Long Island, including a Sam’s Club warehouse store in Medford; a Neighborhood Market, which is a grocery store, in Levittown; and three supercenters.

For Walmart to move forward with its Riverhead project, the retailer must receive site plan approval from the town’s planning board, along with approvals from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, Suffolk County Department of Health Services and two town agencies, Greg Bergman, senior planner for the Town of Riverhead, told NEWSDAY.

Walmart’s Riverhead store, at 1890 Old Country Rd. in Gateway Plaza, opened in 2014. The store was a relocation of a smaller store that opened in 2001 on Old Country Road.

***

More than 500,000 eligible Long Islanders will receive $659.2 million in tax relief beginning this summer through New York’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program.

Maureen Mullarkey reports in NEWSDAY that Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday that 572,000 Long Island homeowners out of the nearly 3 million eligible New Yorkers can expect to receive a STAR credit or STAR exemption on their school tax bill.

The Long Island figures are down slightly from last year's, when the state said 582,000 Long Island homeowners received $698.4 million.

Meanwhile, with the 126th U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club bringing mass media attention to the south fork and their frequent mention of the enormous wealth that surrounds us you can be sure the Golf Channel and N.B.C. will slip in this next story…if they haven’t already.

For Rachel Weiss reports in NEWSDAY that an oceanfront estate in Sagaponack has hit the market for $152.5 million, making it the most expensive public listing on Long Island. The taxes are about $105,000.

A sale at this price would beat a record set last year, when an Amagansett property closed for $115 million, the highest amount ever paid for a single parcel in “The Hamptons.” It was also the priciest closing of 2025 by a landslide, with a $66.75 million home sale in East Hampton coming in second.

The Sagaponack property features seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, spanning 9,500 square feet of living space. There is an additional 2,000 square feet of covered porches.

The home was built in 2017 and completely renovated last year according to listing agent Terry Cohen, of Compass. The estate, on Fairfield Pond Lane, encompasses 4 acres and more than 360 feet of ocean frontage. There are waterfront views from all of the gathering rooms inside.

Outside, there is a tennis court, kitchenette and a 46-by-16-foot infinity pool with a waterfall feature. Inside, amenities include a gym, dual-sided fireplace, sauna, spa tub, 15-foot ceilings and panoramic ocean views.

In the luxury market nationwide, including Palm Beach in Florida and parts of northern California, it is "really difficult" to find something as turnkey as this property, Cohen said.

"It's a very rare opportunity," she added.

Today is Triple Match Tuesday! Your donation is worth 3x as much today only!

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:30:00 -0400

Thanks to our Board of Trustees, every donation made today, June 16, is tripled. If you were on the fence about making a contribution to Long Island's very own public radio station, today is the day to go for it. Click here to make a simple, quick, and secure donation online or call 800-262-0717 - and leave us a comment after the call!

***

Nearly a year after its previous contract expired, the Bridgehampton Teachers Association finally inked a new agreement with the Bridgehampton School District this week.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that Joseph Pluta and Caitlin Hansen, co-presidents of the teachers association issued a statement;

“It was a long journey, but we are very satisfied with the outcome…We also acknowledge that we could not have achieved this without the overwhelming support from the community. Their kind words and support have meant everything to us and serve as a reminder of how special the Bridgehampton community is…We also recognize how Dr. Brigid Collins was able to truly change the tone of the negotiations and played a key role in completing them.”

The five-year contract is retroactive to July 1 of 2025, and runs through June 30, 2030.

Highlights of the new agreement include the creation of a “Management Labor Committee” for the purpose of “promoting effective communication and addressing matters of mutual concern.”

The committee will meet at least four times per year and will include representatives appointed by the district and by the BTA.

Changes to child-rearing leave enable teachers to use their sick time to continue paid leave past the 12-week Family and Medical Leave Act allowance, and contractually agreed upon evening parent-teacher conferences “will be a great opportunity for working parents that are not able to make it during the day,” stated union heads.

Three percent salary increases are built in for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, with 2.5 percent increases for the three remaining years on the contract. Retroactive pay will be provided for the 2025-26 school year as well.

For the 2025-2026 school year, teachers and nurses will pay 19 percent and teaching assistants will pay 16 percent of the individual or family health plan premiums, with a 0.25 percent increase in that number built in for each consecutive school year over the length of the agreement.

Effective July 1, and for the remainder of the life of the contract, the district will contribute $40,000 per year to a dental insurance plan and $9,000 per year to an optical insurance plan, both to be selected by the BTA membership.

The contract also includes a retirement incentive for all teachers who submit to the superintendent of schools no later than March 1 of their first year of eligibility to retire an irrevocable letter of resignation for purposes of retirement, effective the following June 30. In exchange, they will receive a one-time payment of $20,000 and a payment at a rate of 50 percent of their regular daily rate for their unused accumulated sick days.

***

For the first time in the history of the U.S. Open Golf Championship being held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, the Shinnecock Indian Nation incorporated a formal land acknowledgement as part of the opening events at the 126th U.S. Open, which teed off yesterday with practice rounds for many of the 156 players who will compete for the trophy starting this coming Thursday.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the land acknowledgment was historic, as it was the first time it has happened in the history of the U.S. Open, which began in 1895 and was hosted at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in 1896 for the first of what is now six times.

The land acknowledgement is a way to formally recognize that this international major sporting event is being staged on the ancestral, traditional and unceded homelands of the Shinnecock people, who have stewarded the land and waters of what is now known as eastern Long Island since humans arrived here some 10,000 years ago.

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club President Brett Pickett spoke at a special gathering on Monday, recognizing the historic moment and its significance. “As we gather to celebrate excellence in sport, we recognize the enduring presence, resilience and sovereignty of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and honor their continued contributions to the stewardship of the land, waters and natural resources of this region,” he said. “We pay our respect to Shinnecock elders past and present and extend that respect to future generations who will carry forward their traditions, knowledge and responsibilities to the land.”

A welcome address was delivered by the nation’s Sunksqua Linda Franklin and Sachem Daniel Collins Sr., offering words of reflection, gratitude and recognition of the enduring relationship between the Shinnecock people and their ancestral homeland.

“As you participate in this championship, I invite you to take a moment to recognize the history and spirit of this place,” Sunksqua Franklin said as she welcomed participants. “We ask that you walk these grounds with respect — not only for the game and its traditions, but for the land itself and for the generations of people who have called it home.”

Following the welcome, the Shinnecock Young Blood Singers sang an honor song recognizing the ancestors whose sacrifices, resilience and stewardship ensured the survival of Shinnecock traditions, language and cultural practices through generations.

***

The first day of practice rounds at the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club gave professional golfers the first taste of what the course will have in store for them this week, and gave residents and commuters the first taste of what the major international sporting event, which is expected to draw more than 100,000 people over the next six days, is going to mean for those of us who live and work on the South Fork.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that traffic was bad yesterday — really bad. Whether the eastbound morning trade parade and afternoon westbound commute were quantifiably worse than it normally is during peak season is the realm of anecdotal assessment, but there was no denying that some of the disruption of the normal situation — as bad as that is — was adding to Monday’s traffic woes. As of 9:30 last night, the westbound lanes of County Road 39 in Southampton were still crawling…with much congestion on the adjacent backroads.

“This is unbelievable, bumper to bumper everywhere — is it always like this,” asked Melody Bunson, who lives in rural Maryland but was driving one of the USGA’s shuttles, also stuck in the westbound traffic on Monday evening. “It took us about 20 minutes to get back here. That’s not even a mile. What time these folks going to get home?”

Inside the gates, those competitors and spectators who turned out for what is typically the least crowded day of the week, were met with bright sunshine and a stiff wind that had many denizens of warmer climates donning pullovers or even sweaters to ward off a chill.

A dead-ringer Donald Trump impersonator turned a lot of heads on the course Monday morning — including professional golfer Daniel Berger, who offered a bemused “Good morning, Mr. President” after walking off the first hole green, while another competitor, Jackson Van Paris stopped for a photo.

Lots of young fans took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere on the first day to try to get autographs from their favorite players.

Some folks dropped in yesterday just to grab their 126th U.S. Open apparel and memorabilia for the week ahead, while the gargantuan merchandise tent was not as busy as it will be later in the week during championship competition on Thursday through Sunday.

Democratic Primary early voting in NY now underway

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

***

The U.S. Open Golf Tournament Championship Trophy made its debut on the temporary Shinnecock Hills train station platform on Friday, with LIRR President Robert Free hoisting the 131-year-old trophy.

The ceremonial stop spotlighted what officials say is the highly recommended transportation option for the upcoming tournament week which starts today with practice rounds Monday through Wednesday. Then the championship play Thursday through Sunday.

Angelina Livigni reports in NEWSDAY that the last time the U.S. Open Golf Tournament took place in New York was in 2020 at the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck. The U.S. Open Trophy was last presented at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton in 2018.

“This is what every golf professional, every player on tour, this is what they want to win,” Eric Steimer, senior director of the U.S. Open Championships for the United States Golf Association, said during a news conference while holding the trophy. “Frankly, as we picked Shinnecock Hills as our golf club, one of the true cathedrals of the game, this is where they want to win.”

On days of the tournament, fans have the option to take the Long Island Rail Road, rideshare or drive. Personal parking spaces will not be an option at the course, but fans can pay to park at the Shinnecock reservation and take a shuttle provided by USGA over to the tournament. The USGA on its website calls the LIRR “the most sustainable, affordable and convenient transportation option.”

“We have experience working with the LIRR to help bring this to life,” Steimer said during a news conference. “The infrastructure in place is a massive undertaking. This is two-plus years of planning culminating right now.”

Getting to Shinnecock is an approximately three- to four-hour train ride from Penn Station, requiring multiple transfers. The Shinnecock station is not open year-round, with the station operating exclusively as a stop on the Montauk Branch for U.S. Open Golf Championships at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Hampton Jitney is operating dedicated luxury motorcoach shuttles for the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

from Wednesday, June 17, through Sunday, June 21.

Service runs directly between points east...Montauk through Southampton...dropping off and departing at Admission Gate 2 at the Stony Brook Southampton campus.

***

Reducing the cost of bringing prefabricated homes to Long Island and elsewhere in the state.

Expanding telehealth calls for residents of assisted living communities.

Ending the requirement that businesses who employ female restaurant workers get state permission allowing them to work after midnight.

James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that those are among the first 50 regulations that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has struck down as part of a new initiative to reduce red tape and bureaucracy for businesses and individuals that must interact with state government.

"We're making it easier to build housing and infrastructure, access healthcare and cut down on burdensome fees and paperwork — delivering a more efficient government for every New Yorker," Hochul said in announcing the changes today under her EXPRESS NY initiative.

Launched in February, the initiative comes as Hochul, a Democrat, seeks re-election in November to a second full term and faces criticism from Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman.

Government bureaucracy and red tape are a key challenge for small businesses. Ten percent said regulations were the single most important problem they face, based on a nationwide survey released last Friday by the advocacy group National Federation of Independent Business.

Hochul, who helped her late mother run a flower shop outside of Buffalo in the early 1990s, said the regulatory rollbacks announced today are the first in a series and would reduce state fees and compliance costs by "tens of millions of dollars" for more than 1.5 million people.

The changes announced today were recommended by 22 state agencies. Additional rollbacks will come from nearly 4,000 recommendations made by the public between February and April, according to Hochul.

"Every New Yorker can agree that bureaucratic obstacles stand in the way, wasting time and money," she said in a statement.

***

Early voting in the Democratic Party primary is underway in New York.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that on the east end, two candidates are competing for the Democratic party’s nomination in New York’s First Congressional District: Lukas Ventouras and Christopher Gallant. The winner of the primary contest will challenge incumbent Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) in the November general election.

Gallant, 37, is a National Guardsman, Black Hawk helicopter pilot, former FAA air traffic controller and volunteer firefighter from Amity Harbor. Born in Smithtown, Gallant joined the Army at 17, became an air traffic controller and deployed to Kuwait in 2012, he told RiverheadLOCAL last year. He later became an FAA air traffic controller, most recently guiding flights out of Kennedy Airport.

Ventouras, 25, is a law student from Northport and the son of Greek immigrants. He graduated from New York University and is a student at St. John’s University School of Law.

Also on the Democratic primary ballot this year is the contest for NYS comptroller, pitting incumbent Thomas DiNapoli and challengers Drew Warshaw and Raj Goyle.

The Democratic Party primary election date is June 23. There is no Republican Party primary.

Early voting in the primary election is as follows:

Today, June 15, 10am - 6pm
Tuesday, June 16, 7am - 3pm
Wednesday, June 17, 7am - 3pm
Thursday, June 18, 12 noon - 8pm
Friday, June 19, 12 noon - 8pm
Saturday, June 20, 10am - 6pm
Sunday, June 21, 10am - 6pm

Registered Democrats may vote at any one of the early voting locations in Suffolk County, regardless of residency. See the full list of early voting locations here.

On primary election day and general Election Day registered voters must vote at their designated polling places.

Gas prices on Long Island climb 46.8%; US Open to return to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Gasoline prices on Long Island and in the metropolitan area climbed 46.8% last month overall compared with a year ago, the third double-digit increase since March and the highest so far. James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that skyrocketing pump prices led to higher inflation overall in both the New York area and nationwide in May with the consumer price index rising at its quickest pace in three years. The index was released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The ongoing war in Iran, which has disrupted oil production and transportation for more than 100 days, is behind the high cost of gasoline, experts said. In the New York area, gasoline prices rose in May at their fastest rate in nearly four years.

However, they've moderated this month. The average price of a gallon of unleaded in our region was $4.25 yesterday, down from $4.41 on June 1, according to AAA. The price of gasoline on the south fork east of Southampton Village is currently closer to 4.50 or more per gallon.

Economists predicted pump prices would remain elevated as long as the Iran war rages — and consumers burdened by the higher cost of living would continue to alter their shopping habits as a result.

Gasoline was a driving force in the price index for the 25-county region that includes Long Island rising 5.1% last month compared with May 2025. That rate of growth is the fastest since February 2023.

“Over 5% starts to get people concerned because [increases in the index] should really be in the 2% to 3% range,” said Steven Kent, chief economist for the Long Island Association business group. “Getting to over 5% is difficult for people.”

Pump prices were up 40.5% nationwide year over year, or 6.3 percentage points lower than locally.

***

A Suffolk County judge yesterday issued an order in related lawsuits over U.S. Open Golf parking at Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL).

The order bars tournament-related vehicles from parking on 400 David Court LLC’s property.

Shuttle buses may pass through the easement area, and concrete blocks obstructing bus movement may be moved.

The court said the order does not decide whether the planned use is permitted under the easement.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that a Calverton property owner has sued the Town of Riverhead, the Riverhead Community Development Agency and the United States Golf Association over use of part of its property for U.S. Open parking and shuttle operations at EPCAL, but a court order issued Wednesday appears to preserve the town’s planned parking operation while barring vehicles from parking on the company’s property.

Riverhead Town Attorney Erik Howard told Riverheadlocal last night that the parties appeared in Suffolk County Supreme Court and conferenced the matter. “At this time, there appears to be agreement resolving the immediate disputes relative to the parking of vehicles at the Town’s Calverton property,” Howard said. “I do not anticipate that parking for the US Open at Calverton Enterprise Park will be negatively impacted.”

The court order expressly states that it does not resolve whether the use of the easement contemplated by the license agreement, or by the order itself, is a permitted use under the easement. The underlying lawsuits remain pending.

The USGA’s proposal, attached to the town’s license agreement, estimated peak parking demand at about 3,750 vehicles on Friday and Saturday of championship week, with about 8,625 people using the Calverton parking and shuttle operation on those peak days. USGA officials said they expected to use about 130 to 145 coach buses on peak days to move spectators between Calverton and Shinnecock Hills.

***

In just 4 days the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for its 126th playing, and the fifth time it has been held in Southampton.

As reported on 27east.com, the annual tournament is the United States Golf Association’s premier showcase, of the 14 national championships it puts on, and its largest production by far. Each year’s championship takes four years to prepare for and organize. With more than 100,000 spectators, volunteers, vendors and media passing through the gates, the logistics require creating, and then dismantling, a small city in just a matter of months — at a cost of more than $80 million.

Tournament week begins this coming Monday with championship play Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21st.

Opens at Shinnecock Hills are always in the national spotlight. Indeed, it is an international sporting event right here in our own hometown...for better or worse.

***

When James Abdul-Lateef Poulos started to study Islam in the mid-1980s, he had a hard time finding a mosque on Long Island, he said. There were only four.

Today, there are 40, underscoring the steady growth of the Muslim community in Nassau and Suffolk, he said. Now, several new ones are going up, including two that will be the largest on Long Island.

Bart Jones reports in NEWSDAY that groundbreaking is set for Sunday on a 34,000-square-foot mosque on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley that is being spearheaded in part by a new, younger generation of Muslims. It will be the second-largest in the region.

The largest, the Islamic Center of Melville, at 45,000 square feet, had a "soft opening" a year ago, leaders said. It should have its final touches done by the end of this year, followed by a grand opening.

In Suffolk County alone, new mosques also have been built recently or are nearing completion in Dix Hills, Wyandanch, Mount Sinai and Medford-Coram, Poulus said.

Poulus, who converted to Islam, became a founder of the Shirley mosque and an imam, or spiritual leader, there. Long Island is now home to at least 100,000 Muslims, community leaders said.

The Islamic Center of Shirley-Mastic mosque has grown from 40 families when it was founded in 2002 to about 400 today, said Poulos, who also is a chaplain with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. They come from neighboring communities as far as Ridge and Manorville, said Imam Mehdad Islam, another leader of the mosque.

The groundbreaking ceremony is expected to attract political local officials, including Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico.

The Muslim community is growing partly because many Muslims, like other immigrant groups before them, are moving out of New York City for the suburban life with more space and good schools, Imam said.

The project will end up costing about $6 million, some of it raised from Muslims in Shirley but the bulk coming from members of other mosques on Long Island, Islam said. He has visited many of them to make appeals during their Friday prayers services.

***

A defiant — and at times emotional — East Hampton Town Board trudged forward this week on buying a large vacant property on Wainscott Northwest Road for $4 million, which would be used to bolster the town’s fledgling housing landbank amid the ongoing housing crisis. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that with a unanimous vote, the East Hampton Town Board authorized town personnel to close on the deal, using Community Housing Fund revenue, at a work session on Tuesday.

“I will guarantee you: I will do everything moving forward to try to fix this problem as long as I'm here — and this is a potential sliver of a solution here to try to target and acquire property to try to make sure that this community survives well past me not being here anymore,” said Councilman David Lys.

Outside a simmering housing crisis, the backdrop to Lys’s impassioned remarks was stern opposition from neighbors and a courtroom battle over the funding source, which played out as the clock ticked on a 90-day, seller-imposed deadline to close, set to lapse on June 25.

The resolution came just days after Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice James F. Quinn cleared the way for East Hampton Town officials to move forward on the buy by coming down on the side of the town in the brief but intensive bout of litigation between the town and a neighbor of the Wainscott Northwest parcel.

Filed just a few weeks ago, the court case began after town officials made public, via resolution and subsequent public hearing, their hope to purchase the 13.5-acre vacant property in Wainscott, not far from Route 114, for use as a future affordable housing development.

But there was — and is — no plan in place as to the nature and scale of the affordable housing development, and a neighbor quickly filed suit to block the purchase, setting in motion the burst of legal wrangling between the Town of East Hampton and the neighbor, Elise McKenna.

Those in favor argued that landbanking with CHF money is made necessary by the aggressive nature of the East End real estate market and that vacant land is getting sparser and sparser around town as the pace of development continues unrelentingly.

***

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center will honor a group of East End educators during its 2026 Center Honors event this coming Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the center on Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.

The event celebrates what organizers describe as the “unsung heroes” of the East End — individuals whose contributions often go unrecognized but have made a lasting impact on local communities. This year’s ceremony will specifically recognize educators of color whose work has shaped the lives of generations of students throughout the East End.

Honorees from the Bridgehampton School District include Grace Reynolds Victor, Helen Giles Smith, Aleta Parker, Jackie Poole, Daisy Bowe and Mandel Perodin. Poole, Bowe and Perodin will be honored in memoriam.

The Southampton School District honorees are Sharyn Sammy, Nature Richard, Bertha Richard, Tonya Hodges and Perri Nation, who will also be recognized in memoriam.

Nancy Stevens of the Sag Harbor School District will also be honored during the ceremony.

Organizers said the event will bring together educators’ families, colleagues and community members to celebrate their dedication, service and lasting influence on generations of East End students.

The Center Honors will take place at the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, located at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton. Admission is free, though registration is encouraged.

For more information, visit BHCCRC.org or contact the center at info@bhccrc.org or 631-537-0616.

***

The Greenport Yacht & Shipbuilding Company, the storied Carpenter Street property known by Greenporters as the Shipyard, may soon change hands, and its potential new owner is exploring whether Suffolk County’s new Working Waterfront Protection Plan will be able to help keep the property in use as a vital resource for Greenport’s maritime industries.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Nick Voulgaris III, who is in contract to purchase the property from Stephen Clarke, received a favorable reception for his plans at the Suffolk County Working Waterfront Protection Committee’s meeting this week.

Members of the committee called the shipyard a poster child for the new program, which is designed to keep historically working waterfront properties from being sold off to developers looking to build high end waterfront projects — a rapid change that is happening all over Long Island.

The committee is charged with evaluating whether properties meet numerous criteria for working waterfront and recommending properties to the Suffolk County Legislature for the purchase of easements ensuring the property remains used in historic industries — including commercial fishing, boatbuilding, dockbuilding and aquaculture.

The county has allocated $2.6 million to the program this year, with a total commitment of $9.5 million between 2026 and 2028.

Tuesday’s session was only the second meeting of the Working Waterfront committee, which is still working out the details of the program.

The county would next need to appraise the value of the easement, a process that it has not yet gone through.

“It’s a property that we need to figure out a way to preserve,” said North Fork Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski, who is not on the committee but sat in on the meeting. “There’s definite urgency, but going through this for the first time, it’s important to get things right, not just for this applicant, but for future applicants. I think the idea of holding a special meeting is a good compromise position. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, once we get the answers.”

New bill to require healthcare providers to report instances of alpha-gal syndrome; Law suit unfolds over land for parking at Shinnecock Hills; and more East End news

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

A string of recent service meltdowns at Penn Station raises new questions about whether the Manhattan transit hub is up to handling massive crowds heading to the NBA Finals and World Cup, transportation advocates say.

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that three major incidents in and around Penn Station in recent weeks — including two rail tunnel fires — snarled Long Island Rail Road service over several rush hours, all while the station operates at reduced capacity because of a repair project keeping one of the four East River tunnels out of service.

Officials with Amtrak, which owns and maintains Penn Station and the adjoining tunnels, have said the incidents were anomalies and not evidence of larger infrastructure issues at the station — the busiest rail terminal in the Western Hemisphere.

But transit advocates say the recent failures were made worse by Amtrak's approach to tunnel repairs and capacity restrictions at a station built to handle about 100,000 riders daily, and now moving about six times as many each day.

Offering some hope for a smoother customer experience in the future at the 115-year-old station, Amtrak earlier this week released new details of an $8 billion project, spearheaded by the Trump administration, to redevelop Penn Station.

Although the effort will not expand track capacity, project leader Andy Byford said some of the upgrades will streamline train service. The planned demolition of the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, on top of Penn, will allow for the removal of several structural columns at track level that will give riders more breathing room on platforms.

"We’re not just going to limit ourselves to what looks nice at street level and on the concourse," Byford said. "We’re also going to totally modernize the platform area and fire, life safety issues and make sure that things like the switches ... are modernized."

Samuel Turvey, chairman of Rethink Penn Station NYC, a group pushing for upgrades at Penn, said, even with a limited ability to expand the station’s capacity, any redevelopment effort should look to widen narrow platforms — making it easier for customers to get on and off trains, even with the kind of demand during the NBA Finals and World Cup.

***

Last week, a bill sponsored by New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni that would require healthcare providers to report instances of alpha-gal syndrome in Suffolk County unanimously passed in the state Assembly.

Hope Hamilton reports on 27east.com that according to the NYS Department of Health, illnesses that are classified as reportable diseases must be reported to the department by healthcare workers and the data must be made available to the general public through the DOH’s annual Communicable Disease reports. Other tick-related illnesses such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are reportable diseases. Alpha-gal syndrome, however, is not.

Schiavoni’s legislation would place alpha-gal syndrome on this list.

Alpha-gal syndrome — an allergy to foods containing the alpha-gal sugar molecule, most commonly mammalian meat products such as beef, lamb and pork, and in severe cases dairy products — can be caused by a lone star tick bite. Because the human body does not produce alpha-gal, the saliva of a lone star tick that contains alpha-gal can trigger this allergy. It’s important to note, however, that not everyone who gets bitten by a lone star tick develops alpha-gal syndrome, according to the DOH.

“I made this legislation because of the growing prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome on Eastern Long Island,” Schiavoni told THE SAG HARBOR EXPRESS. “Of the reported instances on the federal websites, Suffolk County is leading the country in cases of alpha-gal syndrome.”

A spokesperson from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said in a statement this week: “Although specifics on tick density are difficult to establish, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services is continuing to see a tick population on the East End and throughout Suffolk County. The species of ticks the department is seeing includes blacklegged ticks, lone star ticks, American dog ticks and Asian longhorned ticks. Residents are reminded of the importance of tick education and prevention of tick bites.”

***

For the first time in seven years, a band has pulled off a three-peat at the 2026 Battle of the Bands.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that five teen bands treated fans to a memorable night of music and showmanship at Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays on Friday night. Daydream won its third consecutive battle in the Southampton Town-sponsored competition for teen musicians. Daydream is the first band to accomplish the feat since Road Trip from 2017 through 2019.

A four-piece rock band, Daydream’s five-song set showcased a band operating as a well-oiled machine, with quick transitions between songs and selections that got the crowd pumped.

After the winning bands were announced, Daydream returned to the stage for an encore performance of “The Spirit of Radio” by Rush, capping off a night where every battling band shined.

***

Land set to be used as parking for the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills next week is at the center of a legal dispute between its owner and the Town of Riverhead, court documents show.

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that earlier this year, the United States Golf Association signed an agreement with Riverhead Town to use Enterprise Park at Calverton’s runways, tie-down, and taxiway for the golf tournament for shuttles, security screening, and parking, court records show. The agreement included a 16-acre easement area owned by 400 David Court LLC, a Delaware-based company.

But in a lawsuit filed in the Suffolk County Supreme Court on Saturday, 400 David Court LLC said the decades-old easement agreement with the Community Development Agency stipulates that the disputed area should not be used for parking and its only legal use is as a taxiway and an “aircraft parking area."

The suit charges that the USGA has trespassed on and damaged the property. Staff affiliated with the golf association have repeatedly been denied access to the property, according to the town.

Riverhead town, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt the firm's interference, says otherwise, noting that the company “does not have any legal rights to utilize the Easement Area in any meaningful way," court records show.

Moreover, the town contends that not having access to the easement area will lead to irreparable harm, causing people with disabilities and first responders to travel longer.

The company’s lawsuit claims that the town and the USGA, which oversees the tournament, entered into a contract allowing the easement area to be used during the tournament “to park approximately 18,900 vehicles and shuttle an estimate of 43,470 people to and from the Town of Southampton."

Yet the company said in the lawsuit that it received written notice from the town regarding the tournament's use of the site only in late May.

Erik C. Howard, Riverhead Town attorney, told Newsday that efforts were made to avoid escalation of the litigation and that his office will “pursue judicial intervention and injunctive relief against the owner of 400 David Court, LLC to enforce the Town's property rights.”

“The Town is committed to its partnership with USGA and their production of the U.S. Open," Howard said. “It is unfortunate that the owner of 400 David Court has pursued this misguided course of action."

***

The Riverhead Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed site plan for the new five-story hotel adjacent to the town’s Town Square project at a special meeting this evening at 6 p.m. in Riverhead Town Hall. The five-story “Peconic Hotel,” slated to be a part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection is currently proposed as a five-story, 69,738-square-foot building containing a 94-room hotel, retail spaces, a restaurant, café and nine parking stalls on the lowest level, according to the public hearing notice.

The project is being proposed by J. Petrocelli Contracting, named last year Riverhead Town’s Master Developer of the Town Square project.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the hotel will be on property transferred last year from the town to J. Petrocelli as part of the Town Square deal. It was initially slated to include 76 hotel rooms rooms, 12 penthouse condos on the fifth floor, three retail shops and a restaurant facing onto the Town Square, and parking spaces for the condos under the building.

The condos have now been replaced with 14 hotel suites.

The hearing, scheduled for 6 o’clock this evening at Riverhead Town Hall, concerns the site plan and special permit applications filed by J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square LLC, the town’s designated master developer for the town square project. This evening's meeting was called solely for the public hearing.

***

Hampton Library in Bridgehampton invites you to join them this coming Saturday, June 13th at 4pm in the newly renovated Geri Bauer Gallery for an inspiring talk with award-winning aerial photographer Joanna Steidle. Through her breathtaking aerial imagery, Steidle captures the beauty and fragility of our coastal environments, blending artistic vision with environmental advocacy. She will share how her unique perspective from above reveals important conservation issues affecting the ocean and Long Island's shoreline, offering a fresh and compelling view of the landscapes we call home.

Joanna Steidle, a Southampton resident, was named International Aerial Photographer of the Year in 2025.

Saturday's presentation is free. It starts at 4 p.m. in The Hampton Library in Bridgehampton.

***

High childcare costs on Long Island are forcing many parents to reduce work hours or rely on family for childcare, thus making full-time employment financially unrealistic.

Childcare providers face financial challenges due to high operational costs, including labor, rent, and regulatory requirements, which consume most revenue, leaving little room for profit despite high fees.

Government efforts to expand childcare access through increased funding and subsidies have not fully addressed the economic challenges, as many families still find childcare unaffordable, impacting workforce participation, particularly among women.

Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that across Nassau and Suffolk counties, parents are confronting child care costs that can exceed a year of tuition at a state college, forcing some families to delay careers, reduce work hours or leave the workforce altogether.

The price of childcare is prohibitive for many Long Island parents with median prices for infant care at a daycare center totaling $21,000 annually, according to a 2024 New York State Office of Children and Family Services report.

Yet despite those high prices, child care operators say many centers operate on thin margins because labor, insurance, rent and regulatory requirements consume most of the revenue they bring in.

The average annual price of childcare in New York was higher than every other state except Massachusetts between 2018 and 2023, and grew 18% during that period from $12,422 to $14,621 per child, according to U.S. Labor Department data.

Prices for infant care are about 55.7% higher at a daycare center in New York than the national average, according to Child Care Aware of America.

The shortage has compounded the problem. A 2025 state comptroller report found 60% of census tracts in New York were “child care deserts” in 2023, including 23 on Long Island with no child care at all.

Suffolk County apprehends 18 shoplifters; toxic plume in East Hampton leads to questions regarding battery energy storage facility; and more East End news

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to flood New York City with more ICE agents since Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that will stymie the department’s efforts, the White House border czar said yesterday.

Hochul told Newsday that the move would be "wildly disruptive" to the nation's economic capital and that "Americans have had enough with the overreach of ICE."

On Long Island, immigration advocates said they feared a stepped-up U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement campaign in the city could spill over to Nassau and Suffolk counties, and they expect any surge to be met with resistance.

Speaking on Fox News, Tom Homan said he will fulfill a “promise" he made to Hochul that if the legislation passed, he would send more agents to the city. “I made her a promise," Homan said on “Fox and Friends." “You’re gonna see more ICE agents [than] you’ve ever seen in New York City. And it's coming." “I just reviewed an operational plan," he added. “I'm not gonna tell you exactly when it's gonna happen, but it's coming. I'm keeping my promise. We're gonna send more ICE agents to New York because you took away the efficiencies of safe arrests in county jails."

He has previously said he will “flood the zone" in New York City.

Bart Jones reports in NEWSDAY that Hochul in late May signed legislation that bars ICE agents from wearing masks and keeps immigration agents out of sensitive locations such as churches and schools unless they have a warrant.

The legislation also bars local governments from entering into 287(g) agreements that allow them to deputize local police as ICE agents and allows ICE to use local jails to hold detained migrants.

On Monday, Hochul said President Donald Trump had promised her he will not send a surge of ICE agents into areas unless local officials ask for it.

"I'm not asking now - that'll never happen, because they saw what happened to Minneapolis...I would think that the president, the former New Yorker, would understand, we want to all keep the city safe. It is the economic engine of the country, so that'll be wildly disruptive" if he sends a surge of ICE agents, Hochul said.

Minerva Perez, executive director of Organización Latino Americana {OLA} an East End immigration advocacy group, said yesterday she fears an uptick in ICE agents in New York City will spread to Long Island.

“We already know there are outposts on Long Island. We already know that there are processing centers on Long Island," Perez said, adding that any surge in agents is likely "going to spill over to Long Island."

Hochul said New York will help arrest real criminals but not immigrants without criminal records. "New York State is not a sanctuary state for criminals," she said. "In New York, our local police need to be focused on local crimes and not filling up our jails with people who ICE has taken off our streets, out of our schools, out of our pizzerias, out of our homes, and I'm not going to be part of that," she said. "We're not going to be helping with civil immigration enforcement."

***

The Riverhead Town Board will hold a special meeting tomorrow evening for a public hearing on the proposed Peconic River Hotel, a five-story, 94-room hotel planned for East Main Street in Riverhead as part of the downtown town square project.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the hearing, scheduled for Wednesday June 10 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, concerns the site plan and special permit applications filed by J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square LLC, the town’s designated master developer for the town square project. The meeting was called solely for the hearing.

The purpose of the hearing is to allow the Riverhead Town Board to review the hotel site plan and special permit application, hear from the applicant, receive comments from town staff and outside agencies, and take public comment before deciding whether to approve, deny or modify the applications.

The hotel is proposed for 117-127 E. Main St., on the south side of Main Street in Riverhead next to the planned town square and the East End Arts campus. The property is in the Downtown Center 1: Main Street zoning district, where hotels are allowed by special permit from the Riverhead Town Board.

***

The Suffolk County Police Department will hold a vehicle auction this coming Saturday, June 13, at its impound facility in Westhampton.

The auction, hosted by the department’s Impound Section, will begin at 9 a.m. at 100 Old Country Road.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that approximately 90 lots will be auctioned, including sedans and SUVs, according to police. All vehicles will have a minimum bid of $500 and will be sold as-is.

Vehicles may be previewed Thursday, June 11, and Friday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the impound yard in Westhampton. Vehicles will also be available for preview for one hour before the auction begins Saturday.

Vehicle documents for the auction can also be viewed at the Suffolk County Police website and conditions are available at suffolkpd.org under “Impound Section” and “Vehicle Auctions.”

***

As Jor’Dynn Duncan racked up 40 absences in the final six months of last school term, Bayport-Blue Point school district officials heard several excuses.

The little girl was sick. A family member had died. She was on a family vacation to Disney World. All those reasons turned out to be false, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Payton Guion reports in NEWSDAY that in May 2025 alone, Jor’Dynn missed nearly the entire month of school, prosecutors said. Seven months later, she was dead at age 7. Her guardian, Emily Kelly, now stands accused of torturing and killing her, with Kelly’s mother and daughter also facing charges.

The case exposes a gap in the State of New York’s approach to chronic absenteeism: Schools must track attendance and report suspected educational neglect, but there is no automatic requirement to notify child welfare agencies when a young child misses a specific number of days. That leaves districts with broad discretion, even in extreme cases.

The lack of formal reporting requirements is part of a larger, statewide effort to keep kids in homes and out of the child welfare system, advocates and state officials said. But some education officials and lawmakers have expressed concerns that the lack of coordination between schools and child welfare agencies means some children may be missed by the systems meant to protect them.

"Especially in this case, looking at how many days this child missed school, it’s an indication that something was going on," said Suffolk Legis. Greg Doroski (D-Mattituck), who sits on the legislature’s Public Safety Committee. "And I think it should be, going forward, a clear case where there should be some more formal guidelines."

The state’s vague guidance — and preference for school district autonomy — has led to a patchwork of policies across the state, according to Sen. James Skoufis (D-Cornwall), who introduced legislation regarding student attendance this past session.

Currently, Skoufis said, when it comes to students who miss days upon days of class, school policies around New York are "all over the map."

Newsday reported last month that 17.3% of public school students on Long Island were chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year, meaning they missed 18 or more school days.

That’s down from recent years but well above the pre-pandemic level of 11.4% in 2018-19.

In the Bayport-Blue Point district, where Jor’Dynn Duncan attended school, 14.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year, up from 13.6% the previous year.

***

As state and local officials scramble to understand and limit the impact of a toxic plume discovered near a utility battery-storage plant in East Hampton, new questions are being raised about the state’s oversight of the plant following a 2023 thermal-runaway fire that sent millions of gallons of smoke-fouled water into the aquifer. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that at issue as governments rush to test groundwater now is why the state did not order groundwater tests directly after the fire, despite on-site reports from a contractor of large amounts of water running off-site.

Gerard Turza Jr., fire and EMS administrator at East Hampton Village, who was at the fire scene, said his team raised questions about firewater runoff and air-quality tests during plant visits. He said plant officials haven’t provided him requested results of air-monitoring studies and "absolutely" should have conducted groundwater studies in the 2023 investigation. Only soil samples and plant swipes were taken, Newsday has reported, citing a 2023 state report.

Knowing the nature of toxins early could have resulted in an earlier mitigation plan, said Turza, who is also chairman of the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Commission.

"They weren’t very forthcoming with information," Turza said of plant developer NextEra, which owns the $55 million plant with National Grid. "Every time I asked a question they weren’t able to provide the answer. That’s alarming in and of itself."

In an email to Newsday Friday night, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation spokeswoman Cecilia Walsh noted that DEC spill responders had been “prohibited by the Fire Marshall” from going on-site at the fire until “days later,” after an internal sprinkler system had ceased and the fire was “determined to be fully extinguished.” DEC was told that runoff from the sprinkler water had migrated from the building “to an adjacent dirt road” on the southwest side of the building.

Walsh wrote that DEC was told that since no PFAS-containing firefighting foam was used to fight the fire, and that no other information provided to the DEC “indicated the presence of PFAS or any PFAS-related-discharges to soil or groundwater.” As a result, she wrote, “DEC did not require groundwater sampling.”

On June 2, following revelations in Newsday about a federal lawsuit filed by the Suffolk County Water Authority alleging toxin-laced water from the site impacted four drinking water wells in Bridgehampton, local officials called on state and local officials for help. Two of the wells have been shut down and two others put on restricted service because of the PFAS-related toxins, the authority charged, saying it will cost millions to resolve the problem.

A 2019 report by the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection shows East Hampton is the largest Suffolk town using private wells, with just over 7,400 at the time. Around 30 properties immediately surrounding the site appear to be on private wells, said a spokesman for Suffolk County, Peter Guaraldi.

***

The East Hampton Ladies’ Village Improvement Society will bring back its annual fair this coming Saturday, June 13 with an expanded slate of activities, new community partnerships and programming tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, according to LVIS organizers.

The fair, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Gardiner Brown House on Main Street in East Hampton, is expected to exemplify more than a century of tradition since the first LVIS fair in 1896. This year’s event will feature more than 30 free activities for children and families, including a carousel, pony rides, petting zoo, live entertainment, crafts, face painting and a children’s playland.

Ladies Village Improvement Society Executive Director Rachel Cooper said the 2026 fair places a renewed emphasis on community collaboration and historic themes while maintaining longstanding traditions.

Cooper said planning also included revisiting earlier versions of the fair, with an effort to revive historic booths and older traditions alongside new programming. She said the event reflects a “reset” following scaled-back pandemic-era fairs and a renewed push to expand offerings for families.

The fair will again be presented as a free, community-focused event supported by volunteers.

The Ladies' Village Improvement Society (LVIS) of East Hampton, N.Y. was founded in

1895 by 21 local housewives to help preserve and beautify the Village of East Hampton.

***

Suffolk County has apprehended 18 individuals alleged to have stolen items worth a collective $110,000 from local retailers through repeated shoplifting, county officials announced yesterday.

Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that the arrests stem from the county’s Retail Protection Partnership, which brings together police, retailers and U.S. Marshals to coordinate responses to repeat shoplifting offenders, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced at a news conference inside The Home Depot off Crooked Hill Road in Commack Monday.

“We want to make sure that we’re working with our police and retailers to identity the professionals, the ones who are doing the most damage, affecting our communities and stores most profoundly," Tierney said.

The 18 defendants have been charged with felonies over the last six months, including grand larceny burglary, according to the D.A.'s office.

The partnership, launched in 2023, brings together retailers with local authorities so repeat offenders can be identified, Tierney said. From there, shoplifters’ individual thefts can be “aggregated," increasing the total value of their theft, thereby increasing charges to felony levels, which carry harsher penalties.

Tierney said the goal is not to send U.S. Marshals after the one-time thief who “steals a six-pack from 7-Eleven and doesn’t show up [to court]," but rather to go after “organized and sophisticated" criminals who proficiently steal from retailers with the intent to resell those goods on the secondary market.

Nicholas Guttman, regional asset protection manager for The Home Depot for the metropolitan area, said shoplifting has become a more prominent issue in recent years.

Surveillance video at the media event showed several instances of charged individuals walking out the door with flat-bed carts stacked with large tools and appliances.

“It’s just gotten more organized and so much more brazen," Guttman said. “No longer is it the days where they’re hiding somewhere and trying to put something down their pants. Now, it’s just walk out with a cart full of product."

The Home Depot, based in Atlanta, states that an organized retail crime is reported at one of its more than 2,300 stores every 5 minutes.

Retailers reported a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents in 2023 compared with 2019, according to a National Retail Federation report released in 2024.

Suffolk County Water Authority suing East Hampton BESS operator

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The NYS Department of Transportation will begin $146 million in bridge and road repairs across Long Island this summer, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced yesterday, promising that upgrades would not affect peak summer beach travel.

“Investing in Long Island’s bridges and highways means investing in safety, economic opportunity and improving the stability of vital roadways while building a dependable transportation system that Long Islanders need,” Hochul said in a statement.

Janon Fishe reports in NEWSDAY that punishing commercial truck traffic makes up a tenth of the 190,000 vehicles that use the Long Island Expressway, tearing up the roadway, transportation officials said.

That is why most of the $146 million highway fund will go toward repaving 193 lane miles of the Long Island Expressway and 140 lane miles of Sunrise Highway, the governor said.

The governor promised that traffic disruption due to construction will not happen during rush hours and it will be coordinated with other traffic projects going on at the same time.

Suffolk County will get $3.6 million to seal pavement cracks and work on the wooden noise barriers will continue, according to the governor.

Heckscher State Parkway in Suffolk County has already started a $15 million project to repair concrete pavement in the Town of Islip. The governor said it would be finished by the end of next year.

State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Kathy Moser said in a statement that Hecksher State Park is "one of Long Island’s most treasured outdoor destinations, welcoming more than 1.3 million visitors each year," adding that the construction will "provide better access for the many visitors who enjoy this iconic state park.”

***

The Suffolk County Water Authority filed a federal lawsuit against the operator of an East Hampton Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) operator late last week after the discovery of high levels of perfluorinated compounds in nearby public drinking water wells following a 2023 fire at the BESS facility.

East Hampton Town is now calling for a task force to protect the community’s drinking water.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that two of the Water Authority’s affected wells, which are south of the BESS facility, exceeded New York State’s maximum contaminant level for PFAS, and SCWA has taken the affected wells out of service as a result of the detections, according to the Town of East Hampton, which released a statement about the incident this past Friday.

The 5 MW BESS system, called the East Hampton Energy Storage Center, is at an electric substation on Cove Hollow Road. It is a joint venture of NextEra Energy Resources and National Grid that came online in 2018. In addition to the operators of the Energy Storage Center, the Water Authority’s lawsuit also names battery manufacturers LG Chem and LG Energy Solutions as defendants.

A fire broke out at the BESS system on May 31 of 2023. Officials said at the time it was contained as designed, with a built in fire suppression system.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleges that the casings of the batteries “opened and released their contents” during the fire, and water from the fire suppression efforts ran off the property and into an undeveloped area to the south of the property. The wells are about 2,500 feet south of the BESS facility.

On Friday, June 5, East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez issued a statement calling on New York State, Suffolk County, and Suffolk County Water Authority leaders “to form a coordinated joint task force to protect the community’s drinking water and groundwater.”

In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, and the Suffolk County Water Authority, Ms. Burke-Gonzalez “asked the offices to establish a joint task force to ensure that residents’ drinking water and the underlying groundwater are protected, including testing nearby private wells and pooling state and county resources so that the burden does not fall on ratepayers or individual homeowners.”

***

The Riverhead Town Board is slated to hold a public hearing on the proposed site plan for the new five-story hotel adjacent to the town’s Town Square project at a special meeting this coming Wednesday, June 10 at 6 p.m.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the five-story “Peconic Hotel,” slated to be a part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection is currently proposed as a five-story, 69,738-square-foot building containing a 94-room hotel, retail spaces, a restaurant, café and nine parking stalls on the lowest level, according to the public hearing notice.

The project is being proposed by J. Petrocelli Contracting, named last year the Town of Riverhead’s Master Developer of the Town Square project.

The hotel will be on property transferred last year from the town to J. Petrocelli as part of the Town Square deal. It was initially slated to include 76 hotel rooms, 12 penthouse condos on the fifth floor, three retail shops and a restaurant facing onto the Town Square, and parking spaces for the condos under the building.

The condos have now been replaced with 14 hotel suites.

***

Now that New York has joined the nationwide rush to redraw congressional lines mid-decade, Democrats in the State Legislature are determined not to repeat the failures of the past.

Steve Hughes reports in NEWSDAY that in 2021, voters across the state soundly rejected a Democratic-backed plan that would have allowed them to gerrymander the state’s congressional districts.

Although a vote on the Democrats' current push to redraw the lines is still 17 months away, both Republicans and Democrats are preparing for a long battle to convince voters they are in the right. Redistricting changes in New York State can't be implemented until the 2028 congressional elections.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) said Democrats would have a different approach than in 2021, when the party was outspent by Republicans in engaging voters.

"I think the lessons learned are simply that you can't assume people know what it is you're doing, and you can't assume that if you do nothing, things will happen the way you want them," she said during a recent news conference.

A proposal that passed the State Legislature in the final days of the legislative session allows state Democrats to approve new maps with a simple majority vote and removes a ban on maps drawn to benefit a political party. It also says that if the maps are successfully challenged in court, they go back to the legislature for changes.

Democrats hope that eventual new district lines could help them pick up as many as four seats, including ones on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley. Democrats currently hold 19 of New York's 26 seats.

New York’s redistricting push differs from other states. States like Alabama and Louisiana have moved quickly, redrawing maps that erase districts where the majority of voters are minorities.

But New York’s process is more deliberate. First, state legislators must pass for a second time a proposal overhauling the state’s redistricting process during next year’s legislative session to put it on the November 2027 ballot.

Then the real battle will begin.

***

He has Knicks fans believing they can go all the way — to heaven.

Alex Mitchell reports in THE NY POST that a Long Island bishop who used to play college hoops is using his beloved Knicks and their “biblical” like 13-game postseason winning streak to get New Yorkers closer to God.

“Like Peter, James, and John were called from fishing nets, I was called from basketball nets,” Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre told The Post near the altar of St. Agnes Cathedral. The leader of approximately 1.2 million baptized Catholics throughout Nassau and Suffolk said, “New York Knicks, 2026, we’re so grateful to you…For the wonderful way you’ve turned Madison Square Garden again to just a magical place, and brought so many New Yorkers together.” The former point guard for Princeton University’s JV team in the late 1970s had his spiritual outlook shaped by both playing hoops and following his favorite basketball team — especially their “unselfishness.”

“They formed me in so many ways,” Barres said of watching the 1970 and 1973 NBA champs as a boy.

Barres is exemplifying the 2026 New York Knickerbockers long-awaited title run by teaching Long Island’s 1,000 newly confirmed Catholics and others to “step up” into their roles as “humble, compassionate” lights of Christ.. “I use the example of Jalen Brunson stepping up with his three pointers — his management of the floor, the wonderful way he passes, the wonderful way he drives to the basket, the wonderful way he reads the other team,” he said.

Bishop Barres is particularly fond of the “Nova Knicks” in former NCAA champion Villanova Wildcats Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. “The way they have such a wonderful team chemistry is a great metaphor for the Holy Spirit’s chemistry in the mission of the church in every continent,” Barres said.

***

Penn Station's Long Island Rail Road and subway sections will remain fully open on World Cup days even as neighboring NJ Transit service will be restricted to match-goers, MTA chairman Janno Lieber said this past Thursday.

But commuters to and from Long Island on the day of a match should ride via Grand Central Madison or Atlantic Terminal, Lieber said.

"It may be a faster and smoother commute for you on those match days," he said.

Matthew Chayes reports in NEWSDAY that Lieber spoke at a news conference at the MTA's Rail Control Center in Manhattan where he, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani each promised that officials are ready for the predicted surge of passengers across the region's transportation system.

The first game locally is June 13, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, between Brazil and Morocco. There are eight game days for New Jersey, culminating in the final on July 19.

An estimated 40,000 per game are expected to travel via NJ Transit to the stadium, which holds about 82,500 people.

In Manhattan on match days, beginning six hours before kickoff and ending three hours post final whistle, all nonofficial traffic will be banned on "dedicated travel corridors" along 42nd Street, parts of 5th and 6th avenues and 40th and 41st streets. The city is discouraging private vehicles.

***

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, says he'll "Make New York Affordable," a nod to President Donald Trump's famous brand.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, the incumbent Democrat, uses the slogan "Money in Your Pockets" to reflect her efforts to address everyday cost issues.

Blakeman is gathering signatures so he can run on a new statewide ballot line called "Vote Affordable." Hochul touted an "affordability agenda" in the recently passed state budget.

Candice Ferrette reports in NEWSDAY that the two candidates for governor are increasingly focused on convincing voters they are best suited to stem rising housing costs, utility and tax bills, child care expenses and insurance premiums, as so-called "affordability politics" dominate the race in historically unaffordable New York, political experts say.

The approaches are different, and somewhat emblematic of the political parties they represent: Democrats say government should provide relief while Republicans say government should cost taxpayers less. Whether either side provides meaningful action toward bringing down household bills is another question, experts say.

"It's really almost a textbook example of the fundamental differences that still exist between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to thinking about and proposing things regarding economic issues," said Grant Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University. "The 'affordability' tag has been put on this, but I think you can just substitute [that with] 'what are the two parties' approaches toward the economy?'"

Donald Nieman, a history professor and provost emeritus at Binghamton University who has written about polarization in U.S. politics, said he believes "affordability" is the watchword of the moment thanks in part to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's campaign last fall and a post-pandemic inflationary period.

"It's a buzzword because it's caught on, but it's caught on because it resonates with people," Nieman said. "We are a consumer society and consumption both drives our economy and defines our lives. And so, in a sense, there's never enough money, right?"

According to the Brookings Institute, a public policy nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., affordability will continue to be the key issue in the 2026 midterm elections.

Annual conservation event Day for the Bay tomorrow; Catholic church denounce Trump deportation campaign; and more

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Homeowners who live near the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club will not be allowed to park cars on their lawns on their driveways or on their street frontage for a fee during the U.S. Open this month, Southampton Town says. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the Town of Southampton has already issued a cease-and-desist order to a Barkers Island Road homeowner who was advertising for paid U.S. Open parking spaces on his property with lawn signs and through internet posts.

Ryan Murphy, the town’s director of code enforcement, said that using a residential property for a profit-making venture constitutes an illegal change of use under the town’s zoning codes and that the town code officers will be doing patrols before and during the tournament, which runs from June 15-21, to enforce the ban.

Selling parking on residential properties near major events like this month’s U.S. Open, which is expected to draw nearly 20,000 people on the competition days, is a common sight nationwide.

But communities, and even event organizers themselves, have taken different stances toward the practice. Many communities allow it, either looking the other way at the legal status it creates or expressly passing temporary special permissions to allow residents to rake in extra income from a major draw.

Some events have forbidden it because of traffic safety concerns.

At past U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, members of the Shinnecock Nation, who are not subject to the town’s zoning codes, have set up private parking lots on their individual properties along Montauk Highway, most even providing shuttles to the venue entrance at the other side of the Stony Brook Southampton college campus.

Lance Gumbs, the vice chairman of the nation’s Council of Trustees, said that he and other tribe members with streetfront properties will be offering private parking options, in addition to the VIP parking lots that the USGA has paid the tribe to host on their powwow grounds in the interior of the territory, from which USGA shuttles will ferry the spectators who pay the $84 per day, to the tournament entrance.

***

Long Island’s Latino population grew more than 120% since the turn of the millennium, compared with about 12% in New York City, according to a report from the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Robert Brodsky reports in NEWSDAY that on Long Island, the Hispanic population grew 122% between 2000 and 2024, including a 143% increase in Suffolk County and a nearly 99% uptick in Nassau County, U.S. Census data shows.

The Dominican population has become the largest Latino contingent across both the metropolitan region and on Long Island, which has seen a more than 260% growth during that 24-year period, figures show.

Suffolk now has 363,136 Hispanic residents and Nassau has 264,758, data shows.

Experts contend Latinos have flocked to Long Island for many of the same reasons other groups have: improved work opportunities, high-performing schools and relatively affordable housing in communities where the Hispanics appear to be clustered.

Latinos make up a majority of the population in seven hamlets and villages on Long Island as of 2020, according to Census data. Those areas include Brentwood, North Bay Shore, Central Islip, New Cassel, Inwood, Hempstead Village and on the east end – Flanders.

Lawrence Levy, executive dean at Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, said the growth of the Latino population on Long Island was not a surprise.

But its future trajectory remains in doubt, he said, in part because of the Trump administration's immigration policies. Census data figures include both legal and undocumented U.S. residents.

"It's pretty hard to predict the future of Latino growth because we're in an unprecedented period in terms of both policy and the processes that flow from it," Levy said. Immigration policies could affect local industries such as construction, and child and elder care, he noted.

The total Latino population increase in the N.Y.C. metropolitan area was 48%, from 3.59 million in 2020 to 5.31 million in 2024, according to Census data.

***

The Peconic Baykeeper will hold its annual Day for the Bay tomorrow morning from 9 to 11 a.m. at South Jamesport Beach. This year the event will include the Peconic Estuary Partnership, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the North Fork Anglers.

Learn about the Blue Water Task Force and participate in hands-on activities to learn about water pollution, runoff and safe fishing and boating on the North Fork.

Tomorrow morning’s event is free.

For further info and registration visit Peconicbaykeeper.org.

***

Presumably bedtime won’t be an issue for Game 2 of the N.B.A. Finals tonight since there’s no school tomorrow. But, parents will once again face a championship bedtime challenge before game 3 Monday night.

The last time the New York Knickerbockers won a National Basketball Association title was 1973. With fans' excitement now reaching a fever pitch, many parents are now weighing whether they should let their children stay up late for the 8:30 p.m. tip off of these championship round games against the San Antonio Spurs which don't end until after 11 p.m.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, joined by young Knicks supporters, signed a tongue-in-cheek executive order Monday temporarily repealing bedtimes in the city "so that kids of all ages can watch our team in the NBA Finals."

On Long Island, some parents interviewed by NEWSDAY staff yesterday agreed that the usual bedtime rules should not apply for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"I have three daughters and I’m making them watch the games," said Michael Burns, 57, who was at Adventureland amusement park in East Farmingdale with his family. "I told the kids, even though we don’t live in New York City, we’re going to go by the mayor’s proclamation: No more bedtime until the series is over."

Henry Fernandez, 40, said he also let his son watch Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday.

"You could stay up now, don’t worry about it," he said he told his son. "It’s a Knicks game today."

Megan Richards, at an outlet mall in Farmingdale on Thursday, had a slightly different take. She said if the game was on a school day, she might be against kids staying up late.

But, she added, if they keep up with their homework, she might reconsider.

In their nearly 80 year history, the Knicks franchise has won 2 N.B.A. championships in 1970 and 1973…before most current fans were born…regardless of age.

Some educators on Thursday said they were greeted with their share of droopy eyelids in the morning.

"Our kids were definitely a little extra sleepy this morning and some staff members looked a little extra tired. There’s definitely a couple more coffee runs this morning," said Merrick Avenue Middle School Principal Katelyn Dunn.

The Finals run, however, has given educators a chance to connect with their students, she said.

"It’s really great to see such common language and conversations, connections happening at this time of year," Dunn said.

***

Pope Leo XIV and other Catholic Church leaders have denounced President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, but anger and disappointment has spread in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where some immigration advocates say the bishop has not spoken publicly enough about the issue.

Bart Jones reports in NEWSDAY that the advocates, parishioners on Long Island, say they're done waiting for Bishop John Barres to act. They have started a grassroots effort seeking to educate and mobilize their fellow churchgoers throughout both Nassau and Suffolk counties in opposition to an immigration crackdown they say is separating families and terrorizing communities.

"We've been very disappointed that he hasn’t addressed the policies, we are very disappointed that he hasn't spoken up," said Richard Koubek of Dix Hills, a former public policy advocate at Catholic Charities who is helping to lead the effort. "We've reached a dead end. We're sort of moving on from him. This is the moment of urgency ... and we're not going to wait anymore."

The new group — dubbed Catholics Welcome Immigrants — is promoting a "tool kit" for pastors and priests that includes everything from ideas for homilies to prayers for immigrants to instructions on how to create parish discussion groups that lead to action. They say the effort is based on the teachings of Catholicism that mandate Christians help the weak, the poor and the vulnerable.

Some Long Island Catholics believe Barres is taking the proper approach on immigration.

"I personally believe, as a Catholic, that the Catholic Church should not speak out against" Trump’s campaign, said Barrett Psareas, vice president of the Nassau County Civic Association. "If there's wrongdoing, fine, go right ahead" and criticize it. "But they're only following the laws, from what we're being told."

Others think Barres, too, is in a difficult position as he must weigh politically diverse constituencies.

"I think I would not want the job of the bishop," said the Rev. Robert Smith, pastor of St. Hugh of Lincoln Roman Catholic Church in Huntington, a heavily Latino parish. "Because I think he's got a lot of things to balance, and I trust that he does that with a sincerity of heart and with the best way that he possibly can."

Bishop Barres, who leads 1.2 million Long Island Catholics in one of the largest dioceses in the nation, declined to be interviewed by Newsday. But in a statement, the diocese said the bishop has consistently called "for comprehensive immigration reform and compassionate care for migrants."

The diocese says Barres helped write a statement by bishops in New York State criticizing aspects of Trump’s campaign and that the church provides extensive support to Latino immigrants.

***

Long Island's Eastern box turtles, whose numbers are declining across their home ranges, are the subject of a long-term conservation study. The lead researcher has enlisted the help of a pair of wildlife detection dogs to help find the turtles, which are well-camouflaged on the woodland floor. Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that ecologists hope the study will lead to specific measures to protect turtles, such as wildlife tunnels. Last year Anna Thonis, a postdoctoral researcher at New York University, launched a study of Long Island’s Eastern box turtles, a "species of special concern" in New York — not officially threatened or endangered but imperiled by habitat loss and fragmentation, the illegal pet trade, pesticides and cars.

Expert advice on how to help turtles

Drive slowly and watch the road for wildlife.

If you see a turtle crossing a road, try standing guard (if it's safe) and let it cross on its own.

If the turtle needs to be moved quickly, carefully pick it up, with your hands on each side of the shell. You can also try using your car's floor mat to pull it across.

Do not defy the will of the turtle. Carry it in the same direction it was trying to reach; otherwise, it will probably try to cross again.

Never pick up a turtle, or any animal, by the tail.

Snap a picture of any turtle you see by a road, dead or alive, and report it to North Fork Turtle Watch.

If you find an injured turtle, call or bring it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator such as Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons or the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center.

Don’t take a turtle home — it's illegal.

Sources: Taralynn Reynolds, outreach director for Group for the East End; Karen Testa, director of Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons

***

Fueling up for summer road trips could cost more this year than last. Long Island drivers are paying about 47% more for gasoline than they were around this time last year. The average price of a gallon of gas on Long Island was $4.49 yesterday, compared with $3.05 a year ago, according to AAA data compiled by Newsday’s library. In Water Mill last night Speedway was charging $4.69999 per gallon of unleaded regular.

Arielle Dollinger reports in NEWSDAY that gas prices typically rise during the summer travel season as demand increases. But this year’s surge has also been driven by the war with Iran, which has pushed oil prices higher and added pressure at the pump.

“It wasn’t a continuous increase,” said Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast. “Feb. 28, we were at $2.86, and then things just went crazy.”

For short trips, driving can be less expensive than flying. But as summer travel season begins, prices remain near levels many drivers consider financially painful. In a survey conducted after the gas-price spike of 2022, AAA found that a majority of drivers said gasoline prices of $4 per gallon or higher would force them to change spending habits, drive less or delay purchases, Sinclair said.

With Long Island’s average gas price above the national average of $4.24 on Thursday, many local drivers are still feeling pain at the pump and looking to maximize mileage and cut costs. Experts recommend paying attention to both vehicle maintenance and driving habits.

“Proper tire inflation pressure is critical to good fuel economy,” Sinclair said.

A properly maintained vehicle also tends to burn fuel more efficiently, he added, cautioning drivers against ignoring warning lights or other signs that a vehicle needs servicing.

How you drive can affect fuel economy, too.

“The type of driving you’re doing. Instead of hitting the gas pedal all the time, can you coast into that light?” Sinclair said.

Speed matters, too.

“The faster you go on a highway, the more wind resistance that you face, making the engine work harder and burn more gasoline,” Sinclair said.

The “sweet spot” for fuel economy is generally between 50 and 55 miles per hour, he said.

Open windows can also reduce efficiency by increasing wind resistance.

Gentle acceleration conserves more fuel than sudden bursts of speed.

“These aggressive drivers that we’re seeing, particularly on local streets, will be burning up a lot more gasoline,” Sinclair said.

Shinnecock Nation to land helicopters during US Open; removal of "sell-by" dates will reduce food waste; and more East End Long Island news

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Charter helicopters will utilize temporary landing pads on Shinnecock Nation Territory during the U.S. Open Golf Championship for patrons wishing to breeze over traffic backups on roads — for rates ranging from several hundred dollars to more than $1,400 per seat.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the aircraft charter booking company Blade and Zip Aviation are working with the U.S. Golf Association and the Shinnecock Tribe to utilize a landing pad that will be set up in an open field, part of the powwow grounds on the 800-acre Shinnecock Neck territory…just west of Southampton Village.

The nation’s vice chairman, Lance Gumbs, said that the landing area has room for up to three helicopters to land and disembark passengers who will then be taken by shuttles to the tournament entrance gates.

Blade is offering flights to the tournament from helipads in New York City, and from East Hampton Airport, which is only a 10-minute flight away.

The Blade booking site — headlined “The longest drive is nothing to brag about” — shows prices for seats aboard the flights from New York City at $1,480 each and private charters as high as $15,000 for up to eight passengers. Seats for the flights from East Hampton Airport are $645 each.

A 10 a.m. flight from New York City to the third day of the tournament on Saturday, June 20, is already sold out.

During previous U.S. Open events at Shinnecock Hills, seaplanes have delivered passengers to Sebonac Inlet where they were met by concierge services and shuttles to the course, including at the 2018 U.S. Open, when Blade set up a concierge tent at the beach.

A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration said that temporary heliports that are operated for less than 30 days are not regulated by the FAA and do not have to be approved. But the temporary heliports are supposed to be limited to fewer than 10 operations per day — a total of five round-trip flights.

***

Democrats in the New York State Legislature passed resolutions last night supporting changes to the state constitution that would grant legislators the ability to redraw congressional districts in the middle of the decade.

The state Senate voted 38-22 in favor of the resolution. The state Assembly voted 91-47.

Steve Hughes reports in NEWSDAY that the votes are the first of three steps that must happen before Democrats, which control both houses, can redraw the state’s congressional districts in order to maximize their representation in Congress.

Republican legislators argued that the proposed changes ignore the will of the voters, who approved the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission in 2014.

Democrats said they were simply responding in kind to Republican efforts to create more favorable district maps across the South, amid a nationwide redistricting fight for competitive advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The changes would allow the legislature to redraw New York State's 26 congressional districts in the middle of the decade, rather than once a decade when the U.S. Census Bureau numbers come out, as it typically does.

The legislature will need to pass the same changes again next year. Voters would also need to approve the measure in November 2027 before it could go into effect for the 2028 election.

The proposal allows state Democrats to approve new maps with a simple majority vote and removes a ban on maps drawn to benefit a political party. It also says that if the maps are successfully challenged in court, they go back to the legislature for changes.

Democrats hope the eventual new district lines could help them pick up as many as four seats, including ones on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley. Democrats currently hold 19 of New York's 26 seats.

***

Thanks to coordinated efforts between students and educators, as well as the Southampton Rotary Club, the Bridgehampton School now has a special way of bringing the “global language of peace” to life right here on the east end.

Last Friday, the Bridgehampton School community gathered for a special outdoor ceremony to dedicate and recognize the recently installed “Peace Pole” that was set up on school grounds, next to a memorial bench dedicated to former teacher Nancy Bagshaw, who died at the end of 2023 at age 60.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that Peace Poles are a worldwide Rotary initiative. The tall but slim poles, often white and made of wood or PVC, are internationally recognized symbols meant to represent “the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth,” according to rotary.org. Each Peace Pole bears the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in different languages on each of its four or six sides. There are tens of thousands of Peace Poles in nearly every country. There are currently more than 100 Peace Poles planted across Long Island.

It was the Bridgehampton students who chose the placement of the pole near the bench dedicated to Ms. Bagshaw, a beloved teacher who embodied so many of the ideals and values associated with the peace pole.

***

The Shinnecock Indian Nation yesterday said its concerns about the creation of a temporary express lane on a section of Sunrise Highway that traverses tribal land in Hampton Bays have been resolved following discussions with operators of the U.S. Open Golf Championship.

In a statement, the Shinnecock Nation said it had "worked diligently to ensure that traffic management and transportation planning efforts respected tribal sovereignty, protected the Nation's governmental interests, preserved safe and reliable access for tribal citizens, and maintained critical emergency response capabilities within the territory. The Nation appreciates the collaborative approach taken by its partners in addressing these important considerations."

Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that assurances came in the form of a letter from Eric Steimer, the U.S. Golf Association’s senior director of U.S. Open Championships, to Shinnecock leadership, clarifying the use of a newly created, temporary express lane during the June 15-21 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Temporary changes that involved road work would not be done on Shinnecock-owned land, the tribe has been assured.

The plan involved "stabilizing" an existing crossover on Sunrise Highway at a point west of the Shinnecock Nation's Westwoods land, which would allow express buses traveling east to the tournament to use as a westbound lane of the highway from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.

"Working with [the state Department of Transportation], we have finished stabilizing the existing Sunrise Highway turnaround and shoulder that is located 0.5 miles east of the NY-27/NY-24 interchange," Steimer wrote. "This crossover will be used to allow U.S. Open shuttle buses traveling from Calverton Airfield and other points west to navigate from the existing eastbound [Sunrise Highway] lanes into the westbound lanes during the heavy morning commuter hours."

The Shinnecock Indian Nation has been in a protracted legal battle with the state DOT, which in 2019 sued nation leaders over the erection of 61-foot digital billboards. Decisions in that case, most favoring the state, have spilled over into a separate action by Southampton Town, which is suing tribal leaders over a gas station begun on Westwoods land in Hampton Bays.

***

New Yorkers would no longer see a "sell-by" date on food products they buy at the store under a bill passed by the legislature this week that aims to streamline food labeling and reduce food waste. Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the legislation, which the Assembly passed on Tuesday, would allow "best if used by" and "use-by" dates to remain. It also would require food producers and manufacturers to use scientifically valid methods to estimate those best-by and use-by dates.

"This bill would standardize food safety and quality date labeling on food products for human consumption," Assemb. Karines Reyes (D-Bronx), the bill’s sponsor said on the Assembly floor. "Currently labels can be confusing, so we’re trying to make it easier for consumers to determine what those labels mean."

The bill would help New Yorkers waste less, Sen. Michelle Hinchey (D-Saugerties), the bill’s Senate sponsor said in a released statement. "Confusing date labels lead people to throw away perfectly good food without even realizing it, wasting thousands of dollars per year and increasing emissions."

About 40% of food waste ends up in landfills, contributing to about 58% of unintentional methane emissions, according to the bill memo. And food waste as a result of date labeling contributes to 7% of all consumer waste, the bill said.

The measure received overwhelming support in both chambers. It was passed by the State Senate in May and will head to Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor's office said she will review the legislation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture currently provides guidance surrounding food regulation, but it’s not enforceable, according to the bill memo.

The proposed legislation would ban the use of the term "sell by" starting July 1, 2028.

Environmental advocates and food banks applauded the measure’s passage.

"In an ideal world, there would be no food waste of any kind," Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank in Melville, said in a news release. "This measure moves New York in the right direction by providing consumers with clearer guidance and the information they need to make smart choices about which foods can be consumed, donated, or discarded."

***

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced this week that the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center has been awarded $6 million to fund a proposed expansion of the PAC as part of a total of $82.2 million that the State Council on the Arts awarded from its Capital Projects Fund. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the expansion project that the PAC is proposing would add over 100 seats to the theater, along with a sunken dance floor that could hold up to 154 standing room attendees or roughly 50 attendees at tables and chairs. The plan also includes adding first-floor bathrooms, expanding the stage with additional backstage and side wings, and a bar and lounge area on the third floor. The expansion would be built behind the theater on a property that the PAC has owned since 2008.

Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Executive Director Julienne Penza-Boone said that if everything goes as expected, ground could be broken as soon as this fall, with a goal of completing the renovations by the theater’s 30th anniversary in July 2028. Once construction begins, it would not interfere with the PAC’s busy summer season, nor would it impact the historic marquee, since construction will take place behind the theater.

***

The Suffolk County Civil Service examination for police officers will be offered every two years instead of four as the number of applicants has steadily declined since the mid-1990s, officials announced yesterday.

Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine and Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina announced the new testing schedule to aid in recruitment and retention and provide more opportunities for prospective officers.

The exam is next scheduled for mid-2027, after which it will be offered every two years. The last exam was in 2023.

Suffolk County police officers are among the highest paid in the nation with a base pay of $189,801 after eight years, based on the contract agreement signed last year between the county and the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, the department’s largest labor union. The contract raises base pay by 18% over five years and reduces the number of steps to top pay, which officials said was to help recruitment and retention. Police officers are also among the highest-paid county employees in Suffolk.

The number of prospective officers who took the exam dropped by about 44% between 2007 and 2023. The number of those who passed the test dropped by about 57% during the same time period, according to the department's figures.

The department currently employs more than 1,800 officers who are PBA members.

PBA president Lou Civello told NEWSDAY there's been a "staggering" drop in applicants going back to the mid-1990s. The number of exam applications dropped by two-thirds from 1996 to 2023.

He said the job has become "exponentially more complex" and requires a "unique individual" to be qualified. Recruitment of minority officers has been difficult for departments across Long Island, including Suffolk, a recent Newsday investigation found.

Civello said while the department hasn't run out of applicants yet, it's important to be proactive.

He said a smaller pool of candidates also leads to concerns about the quality of candidates.

Recruitment and retention among law enforcement has become a concern nationally, according to a federal report this year by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, as law enforcement staffing levels decreased between 2020 and 2024.

On the east end, village and town police departments also rely on the county exam to add new officers. Other agencies like the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department have separate exams.

Riverhead Town Board votes to move forward with eminent domain proceedings

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

There are just a couple days left in New York’s legislative session in Albany — and the State Legislature has a lot of catching up to do.

Fewer than 350 bills have passed both the Senate and Assembly, meaning that the Legislature will need to go into overdrive to come close to matching the roughly 850 bills passed in 2025.

There is always plenty blame to go around in Albany, but this year the clear culprit seems to be the glacial pace of budget negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul. Lawmakers finally passed the $269 billion budget last week, giving them only one week to advance their own agenda.

In theory, the Legislature could stay in Albany as long as it likes to pass bills. In practice, members have already made travel arrangements to their home districts, to see family and campaign for the June 23 primary.

That will put pressure on the Assembly speaker, Carl E. Heastie, and the Senate majority leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to prioritize the bills that have the best chance of passing without much debate.

Several issues vying for floor time this week include a moratorium on data centers, making redistricting easier in New York, an uncertain future in plastics, keeping surveillance out of pricing, and counteracting some Trump administration initiatives.

The artificial intelligence debate promises to continue throughout the fiscal year in New York and across the country. A.I. has transformed New York’s economy, while it has also begun to shape the state’s physical landscape through the data centers that power A.I.

But concerns about their environmental impact and energy consumption have led lawmakers in Albany to rally around a one year moratorium on new data centers.

Initially, the push had been for three years. But after conversations with stakeholders, Mr. Heastie said, the Legislature had come to a compromise on one year. “I think we’re comfortable passing that,” he said.

Over the next five years, the number of data centers across the nation is projected to triple, consuming more electricity than 28 million households, according to an analysis from the nonprofit Food & Water Watch.

***

For teen bands in the Town of Southampton, the musical calendar year revolves around one night: the annual Southampton Youth Bureau Battle of the Bands at Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that this year is no different, as teenage bands, friends, family and peers will flock to the parking lot of Ponquogue Beach this coming Friday, June 5, to hear and cheer on their favorite young groups in the 23rd annual Battle of the Bands.

Gates open at 7 p.m.; those who arrive early will get to listen to a series of special guest opening acts for the first hour. This year’s slate features four local middle and high school students who have participated in the Youth Bureau’s annual “Hamptons Got Talent” event in the last two years.

The main event begins at 8 p.m., when the bands take the stage.

Like last year’s edition, this year will feature five competing bands. Each band will have 20 minutes to perform a set of three to four songs each. The winning band gets to come back on stage to perform an encore at the end of the show.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places. This year’s prizes have been donated by the event’s sponsors, including Dream Recording Studios, LTV Studios, Hampton Coffee Company and the Hampton Theatre Company.

The event will be emceed by three students from Westhampton Beach High School: juniors Elhani Armijos and Jennifer Santiago, and senior Kate Lynch.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the gate on Friday June 5.

For more information, visit southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau or call 631-702-2425.

***

The Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton invites you to join them for a wonderful Sunday afternoon of chamber music performed by Poetica Ensemble, a consortium of world class musicians led by artistic directors and local residents Song-A Cho and Christopher Shaughnessy. The ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Scorca Hall as well as other renowned concert halls throughout the greater New York area and beyond.

Registration required.

The performance is this coming Sunday, June 7, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Morris Meeting Room at the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton.

For further info visit myrml.org.

***

The Riverhead Town Board voted yesterday to move forward with eminent domain proceedings against the Long Island Science Center’s downtown property, adopting a findings statement that says acquisition of 111 E. Main St. is necessary to complete the town square project.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the resolution passed 3-1, with one abstention. Council Members Denise Merrifield, Joann Waski and Ken Rothwell voted yes. Supervisor Jerry Halpin voted no. Council Member Bob Kern abstained.

The resolution authorizes the Town of Riverhead to proceed under Article 2 of the state Eminent Domain Procedure Law to acquire fee title to the property, owned by A Place for Learning Inc., the nonprofit corporation that operates the Long Island Science Center.

The 111 E. Main St. building, the former West Marine store, has been slated for redevelopment as the science center’s new downtown home. The science center currently operates at Tanger Outlets.

Riverhead Town officials have argued that the building remains vacant and blighted and is a critical piece of the broader town square redevelopment effort. The findings statement adopted on Tuesday says the acquisition will serve a public purpose by removing blight and furthering the town’s economic redevelopment and revitalization plan.

The resolution says the property sits “directly on the Town Square” and forms the western border of the project. It states that the building has been in “blighted, deteriorating and substandard condition for over 20 years” and says the owner’s redevelopment plans have failed to move forward despite several years of ownership.

But residents opposed to the taking said before and during Tuesday’s meeting that the town has not identified a specific future use for the property, has not provided a cost estimate and has not adequately explained why condemnation is necessary.

Halpin said he believes eminent domain should be used only as a last resort and said he did not believe the town had reached that point.

“It’s a legal tool that should only be used as an absolute last resort,” Halpin said. “My opinion is that we’re not at that absolute last resort.”

Halpin said he understands the frustration of board members who expected the science center project to be farther along, but said he was “not ready” to use eminent domain.

The resolution directs the town clerk to publish notice of the findings in two successive issues of the News-Review beginning June 11 and directs special counsel Frank Isler to serve certified copies on the property owner and any other parties with an interest in the property.

***

One consequence of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s waiting so late to get a budget deal:

The State Senate might not have time to vote on all of her pending nominations for state agency commissioners, judgeships and other posts.

Yancy Roy reports in NEWSDAY that because budget negotiations consumed 18 of the 19 scheduled weeks of the 2026 legislative session, the Senate and Assembly have just this final week to approve all the hundreds of bills their rank-and-file members want before adjourning, either late tomorrow or Friday.

Meanwhile, Governor Hochul has submitted dozens of nominations for the Senate to consider, including several state agency commissioners, board members for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Corrections Commission and 28 judges, according to the Senate.

Customarily, the Senate acts on nominations before the final week of the legislative session. This year, however, the budget wasn’t agreed on and voted on till May 27, even though it was due April 1. The result is that the nominations now are competing with a flurry of bills lawmakers are seeking to approve this week, ranging from congressional redistricting to surveillance pricing to data-center moratoriums.

And the clock is ticking.

With the budget finishing so late, there is "limited time" to give proper vetting to the more than three dozen nominees, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris said.

"If we have time to do them, we’ll do what we can," Gianaris (D-Astoria) told Newsday.

New York State legislators — especially Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) — have complained that Hochul drew out budget negotiations by throwing in a kitchen sink of non-budget policy items, such as climate and immigration laws. And that they had no time remaining for legislators’ own priorities.

But the uncertainty over Hochul’s nominees isn’t so much about pay back as lack of time, a source said.

Consequently, not all of the more than three dozen nominees might make it this week and, if so, would have to wait till the legislature reconvenes in January, following the fall elections.

***

The Riverhead Chamber of Commerce will host “America 250: 4th Before the 4th,” a country-themed BBQ street fair at Grangebel Park in Riverhead tomorrow…the 4th of June…from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The event will feature live country music, BBQ food vendors, line dancing, cold drinks and kid zone family activities. Organizers are promoting the event as a preliminary blast off to the summer season and America’s semiquincentennial celebrations.

That’s “America 250: 4th Before the 4th,” an east end country street fair…happening tomorrow at Grangebel Park in downtown Riverhead from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, email info@riverheadchamber.com.

***

This winter, a group of Greenport architects embarked on a bold thought experiment — envisioning what this little North Fork village would look like if it made space for hundreds more people to live downtown. The group, organized by Greenport Affordable & Workforce Housing Committee member Frank Mackin, an architect, shared design ideas for three story redevelopment of several major downtown properties at a community meeting last Friday in the Old Schoolhouse.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that these ideas, which are dependent on the Village of Greenport allowing three-story buildings downtown, included building up downtown. In the presentation, they highlighted three locations — 110 Front Street, a long, low building across from Mitchell Park that is currently mostly vacant and in probate; 204 Front Street, where a strip mall has been home to a convenience store and a Japanese takeout restaurant; and the Adams Street parking lot between First and Main streets, which was re-envisioned as a parking garage inside a new complex of shops.

“The architects were thinking about how we start a conversation about making our village better for housing, and finding ways to expand housing,” said Housing Committee Chair Dinni Gordon.

This volunteer “brain trust,” as she called it, includes architects Wayne Turett of the Turett Collaborative, Clay Coffey of Isaac Rae Studio, John Nastasi of Nastasi Architects and Robert I. Brown.

“The core question is how does our village thrive? How do we create a village that’s a self-sustaining, coherent year-round community,” said Mr. Coffey, who gave a detailed presentation on the group’s work,

The group described their report as “not a development proposal. It is a community investment.”

Mr. Coffey said the closure of 18 storefronts in Greenport this winter (some have since reopened) is a symptom of several other issues.

“The driving issue is declining population,” he said. “The median age is 51 years old, and it’s not being replaced by the birth rate. The cost of living is a huge issue.”

Just 16 percent of people in the village are under the age of 15, he added, and one in three houses in the village are vacant or used part-time.

“We are a full-time village with a part-time population,” he said.

Mr. Coffey said the median income in Greenport is $81,094, while the median house value is $961,200, making it nearly impossible for people who work here to afford to live here. In fact, he said, more than 60 percent of Greenport’s workforce commutes to work.

He said the federal Housing and Urban Development calculates a healthy “valuation to income” ration at 4:1.

“We’re at 12:1,” he said. “It isn’t going to happen. No one can do that.”

Mr. Coffey outlined how adding affordable apartments downtown would help the village’s demographic problems, and shared watercolor renderings of some ideas for solutions.

The architects’ proposal included four action steps, starting with restoring the three-story zoning. The second action would be to “adopt a two-track development strategy” for private and publicly owned property. They also recommended reframing the housing conversation around how it could add to the village’s tax base and leveraging the village’s Pro-Housing Community designation for grant funding.

Phone ban proves extremely succesful; Hamptons Pride reaches 5 year milestone; and more East End news

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Recently passed state auto insurance reforms could help lower car insurance rates as much as 10% for New York drivers, according to some estimates. That includes Long Island, where the cost to buy and maintain a vehicle is notoriously expensive.

Brianne Ledda reports in NEWSDAY that Gov. Kathy Hochul's office has touted the reforms as part of a broader affordability push in her recently passed budget, as Long Islanders and others across New York struggle with rising costs of living. The nonprofit Citizens Budget Commission estimates the changes could shrink premiums as much as 10%, saving at least $200 per individual annually, and as much as $2 billion for New York residents and businesses, without any additional state spending.

But while proponents have lauded the initiatives for tackling high premiums, others say the changes could prove harmful to injured crash victims. The measures take aim at high rates of insurance fraud that experts say have been driving up premiums, by strengthening penalties against fraudsters and tightening the legal definition of a "serious injury."

The reforms also ban using ZIP codes, occupation, education level or homeownership as primary rating factors — a change that could prove especially beneficial on Long Island, where some ZIP codes last year saw average six-month premiums soar as high as $2,460, said Beth Swanson, an insurance analyst at The Zebra, an insurance comparison company.

Historically higher premiums for Long Island "comes down to factors like rampant fraud, runaway litigation, high state minimums, brutal traffic congestion, and just a higher cost of living overall," Swanson said. The reforms take "direct aim at several of those root causes," she added.

In New York, insurance fraud and attorney representation in accident cases have played a significant role in driving up costs, said Tim Zawacki, an S & P Global Market Intelligence insurance analyst.

Opponents say the changes could prove financially harmful to injured crash victims.

***

OLA of Eastern Long Island has announced the recipients of its 2026 OLA Youth Scholarship, recognizing eight students from across the East End for their academic achievement, leadership and commitment to their communities.

Founded in 2002, OLA of Eastern Long Island, Inc. (Organización Latino Americana) is a nonprofit Latino-focused advocacy organization working in the five East End towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Riverhead, Southold, and Shelter Island.

As reported on 27east.com, OLA scholarship recipients this year are Ashley Buestan; Faith Welch; Santiago Solorzano; Shirley Jiang; Angie Castillo; Cristian Bernal; Bruce William Apolo; and Emmanuel Morales Gonzalez.

OLA’s youth scholarship program supports students pursuing two- and four-year college programs as well as specialized vocational training. The scholarships provide financial assistance for up to four years to help students continue their education while developing leadership opportunities within their communities.

According to OLA, its 2026 recipients plan to pursue careers in medicine, law, engineering, architecture, environmental advocacy and public leadership. Many also have backgrounds in robotics, athletics, theater, climate advocacy, volunteer firefighting, music and mentoring immigrant students.

“Ashley, Faith, Santiago, Shirley, Angie, Cristian, Bruce and Emmanuel each represent the extraordinary determination and brilliance that exists within our community,” said Minerva Perez, the executive director of OLA of Eastern Long Island. “Their stories reflect not only academic excellence, but courage, leadership, compassion and the sacrifices of immigrant families who work every day to create brighter futures for the next generation.”

***

The Riverhead Chamber of Commerce will host “America 250: 4th Before the 4th,” a country-themed BBQ street fair at Grangebel Park in Riverhead, this coming Thursday, the 4th of June, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The event will feature live country music, BBQ food vendors, line dancing, cold drinks and family activities. Organizers are promoting the event as a kickoff to the summer season and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Line dancing – Kids zone – Family fun!

The “America 250: 4th Before the 4th,” country street fair is this Thursday at Grangebel Park in downtown Riverhead from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information, email info@riverheadchamber.com.

***

The federal Education Department's investigation into the Connetquot school district has been referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, after the agency determined that the district violated civil rights law by complying with the state's Native American mascot ban. Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that in a letter dated May 29, the Education Department's assistant secretary for civil rights, Kimberly Richey, asked the U.S. Justice Department to "commence judicial proceedings" against the district.

"After the District changed its Native American mascot in response to a state regulation that [Office of Civil Rights] has determined to be discriminatory, Connetquot has not yet taken the steps necessary to come into compliance with federal civil rights law," Richey said in a statement. "It is neither fair nor lawful to permit certain national‑origin‑based names and mascots while erasing others, and we are now referring the matter to the Department of Justice for further enforcement."

Public school districts in New York State were given until June 30, 2025, to comply with a state regulation banning the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos in public schools.

Some Native American leaders have said that the mascots promote hurtful stereotypes and can have a negative impact on the mental health and self-esteem of Native youth.

But the federal Education Department has said the ban violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The agency's argument is that the ban does not allow the use of Native American mascots while permitting those "derived from other racial or ethnic groups, such as the 'Dutchmen' and the 'Huguenots.' "

The ban affected 13 districts on Long Island. Connetquot, which used the nickname the Thunderbirds, was among them.

Experts have told Newsday that the federal determination puts the Connetquot district in an "impossible" position of having to choose between complying with either state or federal officials.

JP O'Hare, a spokesman for the state Education Department, said in a statement yesterday that the department was "not concerned" by the referral of the Connetquot case to the Justice Department because "it does not impact" the settlement agreement between the state and the district.

He added that the federal Education Department "has made a similar referral in the past without effect."

The federal agency, after determining the state ban violated civil rights law, had also referred that case to the Justice Department.

***

After lagging behind other state regions for years, police in Suffolk County significantly increased enforcement against dangerous driving violations in 2025, new statewide data show. Meanwhile, in Nassau County, enforcement for those offenses dropped last year and is significantly below its pre-pandemic level.

Peter Gill reports in NEWSDAY that the Suffolk County Police Department handed out around 76,150 tickets for speeding, aggressive driving, impaired driving, distracted driving and seat belts in 2025 — a 26% increase from 2024 and the department's highest number in at least a decade. Several village and town police departments also increased ticketing for those core safety violations, according to official data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at SUNY Albany.

But ticketing for those same categories declined in Nassau County in 2025.

The new ticketing data comes after Newsday reported last year that between 2016 and 2024, police in Suffolk County had issued significantly fewer dangerous driving tickets than other parts of the state when adjusted for traffic. However, the new data indicates Suffolk County caught up in 2025 and surpassed several other regions and Nassau, relative to miles driven.

***

Hamptons Pride will hit a five-year milestone this year with the nonprofit’s annual Pride Parade, which will return for another colorful march through East Hampton Village this coming Saturday, June 6.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that this year’s parade, the only pride parade on the South Fork, will start between the Presbyterian Church and Guild Hall on Main Street. Parade lineups will begin at 11 a.m.; the parade will step off at 12 noon. Those registered to march will make their way east on Main Street to Newtown Lane, Railroad Avenue and Lumber Lane.

The parade will end at Herrick Park, where there will be music and celebration until 3 p.m., with performances by the Bridgehampton School Marimba Band, DJ Watts and local singer-songwriter Inda Eaton, who will be joined by Jeff Marshall and Mila Tina.

The parade, which commemorates Pride Month, has grown into a major community event. Last year, the parade brought a crowd despite steady rainfall throughout the day.

That's the 2026 Pride Parade in East Hampton Village this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

***

They’re calling it a ringing success.

A majority of New York teachers reported huge classroom improvements after the state’s first phone-free school year — thanks to better student focus, less bullying and more kids just being kids.

Hannah Fierick and Alex Oliveira report in THE NY POST that about 600 public school teachers were polled and 76% of them gave high marks to the no-cellphone policy implemented in September, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced yesterday during a roundtable at Brooklyn’s PS 383 Middle School.

The educators reported a noticeable improvement in student behavior and said they were more engaged in discussions and collaborated better with one another.

“They’re participating in class discussions, and teachers can finally teach,” Hochul told reporters Monday while discussing the responses. “We have finally kids talking to each other.”

Hochul was one of the leading proponents of the measure, which affected the nearly 1 million K-12 kids in the state’s public and charter schools by requiring them to place their phones in monitored bins, lockers or secured bags at the start of each school day.

Albany touted the measure — passed in May 2025 — as “one of the nation’s strongest phone-free policies,” and said it came largely from student pleas for freedom from the social pressures phones put on them during the day.

“‘You have to save us from ourselves,'” Hochul said one student told her. “I realized it was this addictive device that held their attention throughout the day, kept them engaged with it and disengaged from the teachers.”

Governor Hochul did not provide test scores to bolster the teacher accounts of improvements, but said it “makes sense” that positive results would begin to show within a few years — if not sooner.

“I feel very optimistic that we will see some improvement,” Hochul said. “But the main focus of this has always been their emotional development and trying to combat such negativity that they’re enveloped with throughout the school day.”

Trump administration changes could lead to thousands of Long Islanders without food; LIRR strike proves successful; and more East End news

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

While falling short of the resounding victory some LIRR employees hoped for, the five railroad unions that went on strike two weeks ago surpassed many observers’ expectations — by securing raises higher than transit workers have seen in years, while giving up relatively little and cementing themselves as major players in New York’s labor relations landscape, union leaders, MTA officials and sources with knowledge of the negotiations said.

It was on May 28, 2025, that Long Island Rail Road locomotive engineers’ head Kevin Sexton, speaking at a meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, first warned of the potential for the first LIRR union strike in more than three decades. MTA managers would have to come to the table with an offer that "reflects the value, skill and sacrifice of the workers who keep the railroad running every day."

At the time, MTA chairman Janno Lieber largely dismissed the threat, saying, ‘We don’t see that happening in the near-term." He suggested the five unions, representing about half the LIRR’s 7,000-member organized workforce, would ultimately fall in line and take the same deal ratified by "other, larger Long Island Rail Road unions."

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that last month, less than a year later, on the third day of a work stoppage that sent tens of thousands of Long Islanders scrambling to get to work and back home with the nation’s largest commuter railroad shut down, Lieber stood beside Gov. Kathy Hochul as she announced a deal once widely considered unfathomable: Giving workers raises of 4.5% in a fourth contract year, with only modest concessions.

John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union — the MTA’s largest labor organization, representing more than 40,000 city bus and subway workers — called it "a big win" for the LIRR labor leaders, and for transit unions throughout the state who hope the new contract means bigger raises for them.

Some labor sources disputed the significance of the unions' achievement, noting some givebacks — including extending the term of the contract — dilute the value of the 4.5% raise in the last year of the four-year deal.

MTA officials have said they got a win in shining a light on the federally regulated LIRR collective bargaining process and that the agreed upon deal is affordable for Long Islanders.

***

Thousands of Long Islanders could start losing food assistance as soon as today because of the Trump administration’s changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Roughly 21,439 Suffolk County residents considered by the Trump administration to be "able-bodied" could lose access to the federal program, also known as SNAP, as a result of new work requirements to receive benefits.

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that these people could be cut off from the program formerly known as food stamps, according to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's December tally.

Last year, President Donald Trump signed a sprawling budget bill passed by Congress that made several changes to the SNAP program.

Among the key changes in the law were provisions regarding those considered "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents," officials said. Those in that category are restricted to three months of SNAP benefits across three years if they don’t meet work or volunteer requirements, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

New York State previously held federal waivers so that people in that category could continue receiving benefits outside that time period, but most of those waivers have lapsed, officials said. The extensions ended March 1, starting the clock on the three-month timeline ending June 1st…today. The law also makes it harder for states to obtain the federal waiver, requiring an unemployment rate of above 10%. In April, New York had an unemployment rate of 4.6%, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The law also includes increasing the age limit of those who would have to follow the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents timeline. Previously, it was limited to those aged 18 to 54. Now, the law has raised the higher age limit to 64, the USDA said.

Who can be exempt, and what are the new work-requirement rules?

People considered to be Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents should meet several requirements, including working or volunteering, the state said.

The work rules also can be met by gaining a job skill, though it must be approved by the local department of social services and be for 80 hours a month, according to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

The OTDA said there are several exceptions to the rules, including being pregnant or of Native American descent. Other exemptions may include not being able to work because of a physical or mental health disability, officials said.

The state also recommends reaching out to the Department of Social Services for Nassau or Suffolk for additional assistance for Long Island residents.

***

Those hoping to learn more about career opportunities within East Hampton town will soon have the chance.

Lisa Finn reports on Patch.com that the Town of East Hampton will host a job fair this coming Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the main meeting room at Town Hall, located at 159 Pantigo Road in East Hampton.

The job fair will give residents and prospective applicants an opportunity to learn more about employment opportunities with East Hampton Town, the civil service process, and the many ways local government serves the community, officials said.

Representatives from the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service will be on site, along with the town’s human resources department and representatives from the East Hampton town police, recreation, code and animal control, highway and sanitation departments.

No registration is required. Interested applicants are encouraged to stop by, meet department representatives, ask questions, and learn more about current and future employment opportunities with the Town of East Hampton.

***

This past Thursday, Riverhead Town Board members questioned the financial details and process behind Supervisor Jerry Halpin’s proposed early retirement incentive, after Halpin brought the proposal to a public work session for the first time following two prior executive session discussions and an earlier social media announcement and press release. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the proposal, still in conceptual form, would offer early retirement incentives to eligible CSEA, PBA and SOA employees. Riverhead Town Financial Administrator Jeannette DiPaola said the idea was explored after the town completed its 2025 annual financial report and found the general fund had a $5 million surplus due largely to higher-than-projected interest earnings on investments.

“I have to admit, at first I was skeptical, because I’m very conservative and don’t really want to let go of any money,” DiPaola said. “But I was asked to put the numbers together on paper, and when we did,” she said, the potential savings became clearer.

Council Member Ken Rothwell questioned why the interest earnings weren’t used to reduce the 2026 budget and tax levy.

“Because we never know. Interest can change tomorrow,” DiPaola said. “When I look back at how we budgeted for interest, we’ve always budgeted conservatively, because the market can tank,” she said.

DiPaola presented examples showing potential savings from replacing higher-paid employees with lower-paid new hires and moving employees from higher-cost retirement tiers to lower-cost tiers.

If every eligible PBA and SOA employee accepted an incentive, DiPaola estimated total savings at about $1.3 million to $1.4 million in the first year. She said the town currently has about $33.4 million in fund balance.

Riverhead Town Council Member Denise Merrifield said the public needs to understand that the proposal would require an incentive payment beyond the severance and benefits employees are already owed.

“Someone’s not walking out the door in early retirement without some incentive, and that incentive is money,” Merrifield said. “I need the public to understand what that is.”

***

Long Island allergy sufferers: the spring was as bad as you thought it was. Now get ready for summer.

This week, both tree and grass pollen are high as the seasons start to transition with longer, warmer days.

Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that the spring was particularly difficult because it did not ramp up gradually, said Erin McGintee, an allergist and immunologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Southampton. The cold winter slowed down the early blooming trees while the late blooming trees started earlier as soon as the weather warmed up.

"With particularly cold winters and an early spring, everything sort of pops at once, so to speak," she said. "When everything's out all at once, for the people who suffer from tree pollen allergy, it can be really rough. And then, on top of that, grass starts in May. So you’re getting a double whammy."

That means more people struggling with runny noses, red, watery eyes and sneezing.

Tree season, which can start in February, usually runs through April and into May. Grass pollen kicks up in May and goes through June followed by the first weed pollen days in August.

In March, Newsday spoke with Long Island allergy experts who predicted an "intense tree pollen season" based on the amount of snow and rain over the winter.

In general, grass pollen season is lasting longer and is more intense, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Some of the most common varieties of grass that cause allergies are Bermuda, fescue, Kentucky blue, rye and sweet vernal

Climate change plus increasing carbon dioxide in the air is leading to longer growing seasons and higher amounts of grass pollen, the organization said.

"There hasn’t been much rain, so there is nothing to take the pollen down a notch," McGintee said. "The people who have grass pollen allergies will be miserable for the next two months."

***

The Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association hosts a presentation on “Ticks & Tick Borne Diseases” with guest speaker Scott Campbell of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Arthropod-Borne Disease Lab this evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Veterans Park, on Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck.

This evening’s event is Free.

Visit mattitucklaurelcivic.org for more details.

***

A Suffolk County school district has been referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly violating federal civil rights law with the controversial name change of its Thunderbirds mascot in response to a New York State ban on Native American imagery.

Alex Mitchell and Anna Young report in THE NY POST that the Connetquot Central School District in Bohemia, Long Island, was slapped with a letter Friday after a federal review conducted by the Office for Civil Rights found the district flouted Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when altering its Thunderbirds nickname for the “T-Birds.“

“After the District changed its Native American mascot in response to a state regulation that OCR has determined to be discriminatory, Connetquot has not yet taken the steps necessary to come into compliance with federal civil rights law,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said.

“It is neither fair nor lawful to permit certain national-origin-based names and mascots while erasing others, and we are now referring the matter to the Department of Justice for further enforcement.

“The Trump Administration remains committed to upholding equal treatment under the law,” she concluded.

The name change was made last year to comply with a 2023 New York state law banning Native American-inspired names, mascots and imagery. After a legal battle, Connetquot officials reached a compromise with state leaders in September to shorten the nickname to T-Birds. But federal officials argued the rebranding discriminates on the basis of national origin and race, saying the ban doesn’t apply the same standard to other racial and ethnic groups.

“Based on a review of publicly available information … OCR determined that the District is not in compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulation,” the letter sent to the Connetquot school district said. “The Department therefore requests and recommends that the DOJ commence judicial proceedings against the District for violating Title VI.”

Greenport grapples with downtown vacancies; Hochul announces new restrictions on ICE; and more East End news

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Schools should do more to limit technology in the classroom but calls from the nation's second-largest teachers' union to impose sharp new restrictions on computer use — including a ban on screens for the youngest students — go too far, several Long Island educators said this week.

The American Federation of Teachers’ president, Randi Weingarten, laid out the union’s proposals in a speech Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The AFT’s 1.8 million members includes about 130,000 New York State United Teachers members in Nassau and Suffolk counties, the union said.

Maura McDermott reports in NEWSDAY that the union’s recommendations include an immediate ban on screens, including computer-based assessments, for students in kindergarten through second grade, as well as prohibitions on the use of artificial intelligence in elementary schools and on so-called “social companion” AI chatbots for those under 16. Weingarten cited Jonathan Haidt’s widely discussed book “The Anxious Generation” as an inspiration for the proposals.

Students are “drowning in tech,” Weingarten said at the National Press Club. Educators and parents, she said, “cannot manage the tech juggernaut on our own.”

The use of technology in the classroom has been a hotly-debated topic around the nation, with some states exploring measures to limit students' use of digital devices or artificial intelligence.

Local educators have seen “very positive results” from the state's ban on students’ smart devices in schools, including better behavior and more interactions between students, and restrictions on in-class technology also would be welcome, said Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association

“There's studies that show too much screen time is not good for the developing brain, so obviously we would support that,” he said. Plus, he said, “the use of artificial intelligence by students has to be closely monitored” to make sure the technology is being used in ways that are age appropriate.

However, Vecchio said it is important for local officials to maintain control over decisions such as which vendors to work with and what policies to implement, “as opposed to a one size fits all mandate.”

***

By early afternoon on a recent Tuesday, Greenport was bustling. Tourists sauntered between boutiques, friends caught up over coffee at sidewalk tables, music spilled from open doors.

But even against a busy backdrop, empty storefronts, "for lease" signs and dim windows are hard to miss as business owners and village officials grapple with a surge of downtown vacancies.

Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that as the summer begins, with day trippers trekking from western Long Island and tourists arriving on marina docks, business leaders are launching a plan to fill empty stores, ideally beyond the three-month sprint from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Nearly a dozen storefronts remain vacant, largely concentrated across the waterfront on Front Street. Though there are glimmers of hope as several new shops and restaurants plan summer openings, a publicly funded business district is pushing to bring a burst of new business to the North Fork village.

Rich Vandenburgh, the president of the Greenport Business Improvement District, described a “perfect storm” of challenges, including several retiring shopkeepers, coupled with rising rents, seasonal pressures and consumer trends.

“We’ll find ways to bridge the gaps and get good quality folks in there, and hopefully have them be there year-round," Vandenburgh said in an interview. “Unfortunately, some of the landlords are looking for rents that are Southampton, East Hampton kind of rents that are just prohibitive."

There are several vacancies on Main Street in Greenport, including a former candy store and pizzeria.

Among the most prominent vacancies is The Arcade, a longtime general store that closed in 2017. The sprawling landmark, founded in 1928, once sold everything from beach towels and toys to sewing kits and household goods.

Today, real estate posters fill the large windows of the 16,600-square-foot building. An online listing asks for a monthly rent of $27,667.

Residents are split over the right path forward as a debate brews. One former mayor favors more forceful tactics, such as seizing properties by eminent domain.

***

This Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton presents acclaimed pianist Olga Vinokur – who will return to the library for an afternoon of classical piano music. She has been praised by the New York Times for her “exquisite performance” and “the strength and consistency of her artistry.” From Great Romantics to American Favorites Sunday’s program will include pieces by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Gershwin among others.

Reservations required.

Visit the R.M.L. website at rogersmemorial.librarycalendar.com/event/olga-vinokur-piano-78124

That’s this coming Sunday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Rd, Southampton, NY 11968

(631) 283-0774

***

Roughly a week after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced new restrictions on federal immigration agents, including a mask ban, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security made clear it was girding for battle.

Grace Ashford and Hamed Aleaziz report in THE NY TIMES that in an internal memo, the department’s general counsel assured agents that they were “not legally required to comply with state and local mask prohibitions while carrying out their official duties.”

The memo, dated May 15 and reviewed by The New York Times, added that officers should “freely perform their authorized duties without concern for state interference or fear of prosecution.”

The guidance signals that the agency has no intention of cooperating with a wave of legislation across the country that aims to curtail immigration enforcement.

New York is the latest to join the fray, enacting legislation that bans masks, allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to be sued for constitutional violations, and prohibits agents from searching “sensitive locations” like hospitals and schools without a warrant signed by a judge.

“If you are enforcing the law, you should not be hiding from it,” Jen Goodman, a spokeswoman for Governor Hochul, said in response to the news that the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, was already preparing to disregard New York’s mask ban. “Any ICE agent who comes to New York and violates our laws will be held accountable.”

The state will also prohibit informal and formal arrangements, called 287(g) agreements, between counties and ICE that had allowed the federal agency to use local law enforcement and jails to arrest and detain people suspected of being in the country illegally.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it does not comment on leaked materials. But it called mask bans like New York’s “despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers,” arguing that agents wear face coverings only to protect themselves and that under the Constitution, state and local politicians “do not control federal law enforcement.”

“To be crystal clear: We will not abide by unconstitutional bans,” the statement said.

The Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, said earlier this month that New York’s legislation would make his agency’s work “more dangerous and less efficient.”

“When I lose those 287(g) programs, I lose those jails, that means I’ve got to send more officers into the street to look for more people you released,” he said in an interview with The Washington Examiner.

Lawmakers and immigrant advocates say that New York’s legislation, which was included in the state budget formally passed Wednesday evening, does not go far enough. Even though informal agreements between ICE and local law enforcement are prohibited, there is nothing in the law explicitly preventing the police from calling immigration officials after, for instance, a traffic stop involving someone potentially subject to deportation.

Governor Hochul, who fought against creating a blanket rule to ban such calls, said yesterday that police officers still should not be calling immigration just because someone is speaking Spanish.

“Why would you call ICE in that situation?” she said. “That is not your job.”

***

More details are emerging about the death of Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a sixth-grade student from the Sag Harbor Union Free School District who died this week following a rafting accident during an annual school trip to the Poconos.

Kathryn G. Menu reports on 27east.com that according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a party of five boaters was traveling the Lehigh River in East Penn Township, Pennsylvania. The group was in an inflatable raft as part of a larger guided excursion when the vessel capsized, ejecting everyone on board. Guncay did not immediately resurface, prompting a search and rescue operation that eventually recovered the child. According to the commission, everyone else on the boat was recovered safely. Guncay was one of 74 students on the school trip.

A release issued by the Carbon County Coroner’s Office stated that emergency personnel were dispatched to reports of a drowning near mile marker 99 of the D&L Trail along the Lehigh River. The 12-year-old boy had already been removed from the water and was being transported by the Lehigh Fire Department Dive Team to an area known as “Marvin Gardens.”

Guncay was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. An autopsy was scheduled for yesterday. An ongoing investigation is being led by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, with assistance from the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency, East Penn Township Fire Department, Lehighton Fire Department, Bowmanstown Fire Company, Palmerton Ambulance, and Lehighton Ambulance.

On Thursday, Sag Harbor Village Police Chief Robert Drake confirmed his department is also participating in the investigation.

“I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the student’s family, the school community, and all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” Drake said in a statement.

School counseling staff will be available to students, said Sag Harbor District Superintendent Jeff Nichols.

He also encouraged members of the community to reach out to the Response Crisis Center and the Long Island Crisis Center if help is needed.

***

The Springs Historical Society hosts a new art show, “CLIMATE,” looking at climate through five distinct lenses: Cultural, Environmental, Social, Emotional, and Physical, with an opening reception at SPRINGS COMMUNITY LIBRARY this coming Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The show will be on view through July 12.

The Springs Historical Society (SHS) is pleased to welcome guest curators Beth Barry and Laurie Hall to the Springs Library.

In this curated showcase, Springs artists explore CLIMATE not merely as a meteorological phenomenon, but as a multi-dimensional force that shapes our existence.

The exhibit’s opening reception is this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at SPRINGS COMMUNITY LIBRARY, 1 Parsons Place, East Hampton, N.Y.

***

New York State lawmakers this week approved a more than $268 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, touching on a wide range of activities and programs with the aim of making the state more affordable for residents.

Parents, children, subway riders, seniors, college students, utility ratepayers, nicotine pouch users, farmers and food servers are among those who could be impacted by the budget.

Keshia Clukey and Yancey Roy report in NEWSDAY that Gov. Kathy Hochul yesterday signed the final spending bills, roughly eight weeks after the state’s April 1 budget deadline. The New York State Senate and Assembly approved the last measures late Wednesday night.

Here are some items in the state budget which might be meaningful to New Yorkers.

Income tax rates frozen

Utility rebate checks

No taxes on tips

More childcare, pre-K seats

Tax credit boost for parents, caregivers

No tuition hike, higher education help

Pension sweeteners for public workers

Bigger taxes on nicotine pouches

No property taxes for disabled vets

More police and barriers in the subway

Rent freeze for some seniors

Tariff relief for farmers

Vaughn Golden and Matt Troutman report in THE NY POST that watchdogs and experts praised some provisions in the budget, but blasted it for being dangerously bloated.

“Shortsighted spending choices abound,” said Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a non-profit civic think tank and watchdog.

“The nearly two-month late budget agreement delivers meaningful policy wins but squanders the opportunity to shore up the state’s fiscal foundation.”

James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, warned the tax on secondary homes would hurt New York City, even as he praised several policy reforms – particularly delaying the state’s climate law.

“State spending increased nearly six percent this year and now stands over $268 billion – with tougher fiscal decisions awaiting state leaders down the road,” he said in a statement.

Sag Harbor grieves tragic loss of 6th grade student

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The United States Golf Association and New York State Department of Transportation will create an express lane along more than 3 miles of Sunrise Highway, solely for use by the shuttle buses ferrying spectators and volunteers from Calverton to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in June. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that over the last two weeks, construction crews have been building a paved crossover through the Sunrise median between the eastbound and westbound lanes just east of the interchange with Flanders Road that will allow shuttle buses to bypass the chronic crawl of trade parade traffic on 27 eastbound in the mornings. For the seven days of the tournament week — from Monday, June 15, through Sunday, June 21 — shuttle buses running between the remote parking lots at the former Grumman aircraft factory in Calverton and the S.H.G.C. will cross over into the nearest westbound lane to travel east.

The right-hand lane of westbound traffic will remain open at all times, separated from the so-called “contra-lane” by cones that will be put down and picked up each morning.

The express contra-lane will run from the Flanders Road interchange to the intersection of Shrubland Road and County Road 39, where the buses will turn off and take Shrubland and Sebonac Road to the Shinnecock Hills G.C. property. The eastbound express contra-lane will only operate until 10 a.m. each morning, after which the dividers will be removed and both lanes on the north side of the median returned to westbound traffic for the remainder of the day.

In 2018, the remote parking lots for the U.S. Open Golf Championship were at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton. But because much of what was once vacant on the Gabreski property has now been developed, the USGA this year was forced to move its remote lots all the way to the Grumman property in Calverton.

Tournament directors said that in order to incentivize people to use the remote parking and the shuttle buses, they needed to find a way to cut down on the overall travel time from Calverton — otherwise more people might opt to try to drive and find parking around Southampton.

***

The Bridgehampton School announced yesterday that it has hired Dr. Brigid Collins as its new superintendent of schools.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that Dr. Collins had been serving as interim superintendent since February, filling the void left by former Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, who announced her retirement in January.

In a letter to parents in the district, Bridgehampton School Board President Jo Ann Comfort said that the board made the decision to hire Collins after a “thorough and competitive search process,” during which Collins emerged as the top candidate.

“We have also been fortunate to experience her leadership style while she has served as the interim superintendent, and the board unanimously concluded that Dr. Collins brings the vision, experience and leadership qualities needed to guide our district forward.”

Collins lives in Sag Harbor with her husband, Jim Stewart, who was a longtime teacher and coach in the East Hampton School District

Bridgid Collins has more than three decades of experience as an educator. Her career began in upstate New York. After graduating with a teaching degree from Union College, Collins did a one-year internship at Niskayuna High School and taught for two years at Oneida Middle School as an English and reading teacher.

Since then, she has moved to the east end where Dr. Collins has furthered her education and worked as teacher and administrator in East Hampton, Montauk, and Southampton…and now in Bridgehampton as that school district’s new superintendent of schools…no longer their interim leader.

***

Thanks to a collaborative effort from several different groups, the Sag Harbor Village Police Department now has an officer with four legs and a mission to reduce stress. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that Gillies, a 17-month-old English Labrador, is now an official member of the department, serving as a therapy dog, after a special shield ceremony held at Village Hall in Sag Harbor this past Tuesday.

Gillies will play a key role in supporting officer wellness and overall well-being. In the few weeks he’s been with the department, he’s become something of a local celebrity. His handler, Sergeant Kelly Anderson, said people have come into the department on multiple occasions asking if Gillies is on the job, proving he’s already perfectly suited to one of his other job duties — serving as a connection between the department and the greater Sag Harbor community through outreach, events and overall public engagement.

Gillies is named after Clark Gillies, the New York Islanders 4-time Stanley Cup Hockey Champion who was highly respected as the team’s chief protector and enforcer. The young yellow Lab came to the department thanks to the Matt Martin Foundation and the Suffolk County Police Foundation. Those organizations teamed up to help fund the purchase of Gillies and pay for his training.

Veterinarian Dr. Teri Meekins will be taking care of Gillies, a service she is donating through the support of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation.

Martin, who used to own a home in Sag Harbor and regularly visits the area, played in the NHL for 16 years, with the Islanders, retiring last year. The Matt Martin Foundation prioritizes working with veterans and first responders, in particular raising and training service dogs for organizations that work with veterans and first responders.

***

The Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton has been sued by its primary fast-food vendor after the show ended its contract and allowed another vendor to offer items similar to those on its menu, according to the lawsuit.

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that G&L Gyro Concessions alleged in a lawsuit filed last week in state Supreme Court in Suffolk County it was not welcomed back to the 2026 event in August without prior written notice of dissatisfaction, despite an agreement the company would serve as the event's main fast-food provider through 2027.

The Bethpage-based business also said Citarella, a gourmet market with several locations on Long Island, ran a food concession right next to G&L at the show and was allowed to sell items that were only supposed to be sold by G&L.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show did not respond to Newsday’s request for comment, but court documents show the event’s executive director said in an email the event had received negative reviews of G&L and that it would have selected an alternative vendor whether or not Citarella was available or interested.

"The Hampton Classic did not find G&L Gyro Concessions' food service satisfactory and has therefore terminated the agreement," an email listed in court documents said.

For roughly 12 years, G&L had served as the primary fast-food vendor for the summer gathering, the lawsuit said. An agreement spanning 2023 to 2027 called for the company to operate a lemonade area, a Groom's Café and the main food hub within the Boutique Garden, court documents show.

In 2025, G&L said the Hampton Classic had told the company verbally it would not be asked to return in 2026, according to the lawsuit. G&L maintains the horse show had provided it "no written notice of deficiency, and no documented expression of dissatisfaction at any point during G&L's twelve years of service, or at any time during the term of the Agreement.”

***

Those hoping to learn more about career opportunities within East Hampton town will soon have the chance.

Lisa Finn reports on Patch.com that the Town of East Hampton will host a job fair on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the main meeting room at Town Hall, located at 159 Pantigo Road in East Hampton.

***

A Sag Harbor Elementary School sixth grader died yesterday during a rafting trip in the Poconos.

John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that Sag Harbor Superintendent of Schools Jeff Nichols sent a letter to parents last night announcing the death of Cesar Albarracin Guncay, who died during an annual class trip.

"There are no words to adequately express the depth of this loss," Mr. Nichols said. "Cesar was a cherished member of our school family, a child who mattered deeply to all who had the privilege of knowing him. His absence will leave an irreplaceable space in our classrooms, our hallways and our lives. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Cesar’s family and friends during this very sad time. We will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."

Cesar died while rafting on the Lehigh River in East Penn Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania after the raft overturned in the river.

The death is being investigated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

"On Wednesday, there was a large party of boaters on a raft on the Lehigh River in Carbon County, and that raft capsized," officials said. "There was an active search for one missing member of that party, and that search has concluded." The rest of the class returned to Sag Harbor at 2 o’clock this morning.

Sag Harbor school officials said school counselors would be available for students and staff and also referred families to the Long Island Crisis Center, which has a 24-hour crisis hotline.

"This is an incredibly difficult time for our community, and it is important that we lean on one another for support and comfort. In the days and weeks ahead, students may have questions and concerns relating to death and are going to require your support at home and our continued support here at school as they work through their feelings and grief," Mr. Nichols said. "Please know that you are not alone, and we are here to assist you every step of the way."

USDA declares Disaster Designation for Suffolk due to shellfish die-off; New pavilion at Cupsogue opens Friday; and more East End news

Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Here’s a question everyone around here has been asking the past couple days…

Are weekends rainier than the work week?

If the question sounds preposterous, consider this spring: Including the sodden Memorial Day weekend we just experienced, it rained five of the last six weekends.

Nicholas Spangler and Anastasia Valeeva report in NEWSDAY that it rained on half, or 10, of 20 weekend days since the start of the season on March 20. By comparison, it rained on a mere one-third of the 46 workweek days.

Was this uneven distribution a function of chance? A cosmic conspiracy to ruin your golf game? Is there a scientific explanation?

"Really, this is not much more than a bit of a bad luck pattern," said Newsday meteorologist Geoff Bansen. "Look at the global jet stream," the bands of strong wind that generally blow from west to east all across the globe, affecting temperature and precipitation, he said. "The movement is very rhythmic, but no one bats an eye when these things happen during the week."

Finding a pattern to weekend rainfall, he added, would likely require sifting decades of climate data, not just a season’s worth.

A Newsday analysis of decades of precipitation data collected by the National Weather Service in Islip suggested Bansen was correct: Analyses of five, 10 and 40 years of data found rain was not more frequent on weekends than weekdays. It also found no statistically significant change in the overall occurrence of rain events. The analysis did find that, over the last five years, Thursday was the rainiest day, followed by Saturday.

A number of academic studies have analyzed historical precipitation data from other regions in search of weekly weather cycles, or what is sometimes called a "weekend effect." One hypothesis is that human activity that releases aerosols — tiny particles from smoke, dust or other sources that float in the atmosphere — could have meteorological impacts including on precipitation occurrence and amounts. Since that activity tends to increase during the week and decrease during the weekend, the thinking goes, it might be possible to discern cyclical variance.

But the results of these studies are mixed. A 2008 paper found that "both the average area and intensity" of rain events over the southeast United States were greater in the middle of the week than on weekends; the phenomenon was reversed over the Atlantic.

***

A forgotten baseball stadium that once drew thousands of fans — and one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history — has become the spark for a new community-driven effort to preserve Riverhead’s overlooked stories.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Riverhead Free Library librarians Joann White and Michael Ryan say the idea for the library’s new “Riverhead Remembers” local history project grew out of their astonishment upon learning that Satchel Paige once pitched at a long-vanished Riverhead venue called Wivchar Stadium, later known as Riverhead Stadium.

Neither librarian had ever heard of the stadium.

Then they discovered many longtime Riverhead residents had not heard of it either.

That realization led to a larger question: What else has Riverhead forgotten?

Now the library is asking residents to help answer it — by bringing in photographs, documents, personal correspondence and stories tied to life in Riverhead through the decades. The library will digitize all materials and return originals to their owners, while building a growing archive of community history.

“We really want to know their story,” White said. “A picture is great, but we need to learn a little bit about the story in the background.”

The effort is centered partly around the mystery of Wivchar Stadium itself — a short-lived sports venue that operated from roughly 1949 to 1951 near what is now the Pulaski Street sports complex and the Riverhead Central School District offices on Osborn Avenue.

Despite hosting professional-style events and drawing crowds reportedly exceeding 6,000 people, almost no photographic evidence of the stadium has surfaced.

The legendary Satchel Paige appeared there in a barnstorming game on July 21, 1950.

That game inspired the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame to install a historical marker at the site in 2022.

The Riverhead librarians say they are especially interested in stories that often go undocumented — including African American history, immigrant experiences and everyday community life.

For more information or to submit something for the Riverhead Remembers project, email RiverheadRemembers@riverheadlibrary.org.

***

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) located on the north shore of Long Island at the Nassau / Suffolk border since 1890…congratulates their Professor David Jackson, who has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society.

Having the letters FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society) tacked onto the end of one’s name is among the very highest honors a scientist can achieve. It’s a mark of elite distinction. Other Fellows of the Royal Society include Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.

“David Jackson has been a cornerstone of CSHL’s historic plant biology program since he joined the faculty in 1997,” said CSHL President Bruce Stillman. “His research has advanced science’s understanding of plant stem cell regulation, with significant implications for crop yield and other traits of agricultural importance. I congratulate Professor Jackson on his well-deserved election to the Royal Society.”

Jackson came to CSHL after completing a fellowship funded by NATO and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Among his most recent discoveries are specific stem cell regulators in maize, which Jackson’s lab linked to corn ear size and productivity.

For 136 years, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,000 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program hosts more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year on its campuses in Long Island and in Suzhou, China. The Laboratory’s education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and programs for middle, high school, and undergraduate students and teachers.

***

The gaseous power duo that is heating up the planet consists of carbon dioxide, which is the largest contributor to global warming, and methane, its fast-acting, hot-tempered sibling.

Hilary Howard reports in THE NY TIMES that carbon dioxide, which is mostly the result of burning fossil fuels, tends to get top-villain billing in climate policies. But in New York, methane — the stuff of cow burps, pipeline leaks and landfills — is getting its moment in the spotlight as legislators consider changing a metric for measuring greenhouse gases. It is part of an overhaul of the state’s 2019 climate law that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed.

The suggested metric, a common — and some say outdated — formula for counting emissions since the early 1990s, would play a crucial role in weakening what was once described as one of the most ambitious climate laws in the world. It would downplay the warming effects of methane, many scientists argue.

Methane can trap 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. So New York’s current climate law uses a metric that reflects this fact.

Unlike carbon dioxide, which can linger in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, methane disappears fast; half of its presence is gone after 12 years. This means its heat-trapping effects diminish over time — which is why, many scientists said, it’s important to measure its effects at shorter intervals. Over 100 years, for example, methane’s heat-trapping powers are reduced to being about 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide’s.

Now, Ms. Hochul wants to adopt a 100-year time frame to measure the effect of methane on the climate. That would be a significant shift from the current policy, which evaluates methane’s impact over 20 years. Doing that would dilute measurements of the planet-warming damage of methane, scientists argue.

But it would also keep costs down by putting less pressure on waste management facilities, farmers and natural gas companies to reduce their methane pollution, an expensive undertaking that other New Yorkers could end up subsidizing through higher bills and prices, Ms. Hochul’s office argues.

Governor Hochul, a Democrat, is up for re-election this year and is embracing an affordability platform. She seems more amenable to New York trading in its trailblazing climate leader status for what other states are doing. Ms. Hochul has the support of some moderate members of her party, along with unions and business organizations.

***

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement this year has detained at least a dozen young people locally with a special immigration status that protected them from deportation. The men, all of whom are from Central American countries, were released after challenging their detentions in court. The agency last year deported 132 people nationally with this status. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applications have exploded in recent years. Roughly 78,000 people under the age of 21 applied nationally during the last fiscal year, up from 11,500 in 2015.

Josefa Velásquez reports in NEWSDAY that across Long Island, young immigrants who came to this country years ago as children or teens — and believed the status would protect them — are learning that security is eroding. The Trump administration last month announced changes to the program that no longer shields new applicants from deportation.

Newsday's analysis offers the first comprehensive look at how President Donald Trump’s immigration dragnet is capturing not just people attempting to follow the formal path to legal status, but the people doing so with what they thought was an explicit deportation protection, known as deferred action.

ICE agents arrested some of the 12 Long Island young people while they did mundane daily tasks: driving to work, walking to lunch, heading to a train, or simply being in the wrong place while agents looked for someone else.

The arrests are also drawing scrutiny from a Trump-appointed federal judge who questioned ICE's tactics as unconstitutional.

On Long Island, immigration arrests reached historic highs early this year, aided by Nassau County's partnership with ICE. Last week, state lawmakers approved a measure that would ban the agreement between localities and ICE. Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the measure.

Rachel Davidson, who focuses on special juvenile status for the End SIJS Backlog Coalition at the National Immigration Project advocacy group, said young people with this protection "don’t know how to navigate the world anymore.

"They came here seeking protection, they went through all these steps, they did everything right," she said. "They thought the government was committing to protecting them, and what they’re seeing is the opposite of that."

***

The new beach pavilion at Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton is opening this coming Friday, May 29, nearly 13 years after fire destroyed the previous pavilion in September of 2014.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the new 3,000-square-foot pavilion will have bathrooms and changing rooms plus a lifeguards’ locker room and is surrounded by decks with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Moriches Bay.

It will also have a full-fledged restaurant, with an outdoor bar and seating as well as indoor seating for the restaurant, which will be called Beach House.

The new pavilion was constructed entirely in-house by Suffolk County Department of Public Works staff, starting last fall, County Legislator Ann Welker said this week, at a cost of about $4.1 million.

The restaurant and concessions at the new pavilion will be run by a group that Welker said have run concessions at other county facilities in the past. The Beach House began advertising this week for waiters and bartenders and other service staff.

Welker said there will be live music at the pavilion on certain nights this summer, similar to the hugely popular entertainment nights at Meschutt Beach County Park in Hampton Bays.

***

The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a Disaster Designation for Suffolk County shellfish farmers due to this winter’s heavy snowfall and multi-week severe freeze, which significantly impacted the county’s oyster aquaculture industry this February — an estimated combined $2.4 million loss.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Disaster Designation now allows affected farms to apply for disaster assistance and low-interest emergency loans. It is separate from another federal fishery disaster declaration also being sought by elected officials.

“Early last month, I urged the USDA to take swift action to declare Suffolk County a disaster area and help our aquaculture growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a press release yesterday. “With this Secretarial Disaster Declaration, the producers who have seen economic loss can now take advantage of low-interest loans to help ensure they’re able to sustain their operations.

Prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and extensive ice formation in Long Island’s coastal waters this February prevented oyster farmers from accessing their shellfish farms, while farmers documented that ice accumulation caused extensive damage to aquaculture gear, vessels and farm infrastructure.

A survey conducted by industry leaders and Suffolk County earlier this spring found that many growers are facing a more than 30 percent loss in production and those that reported damage to racks, lines, and vessels are facing estimated repair and replacement costs totaling $2,396,500.

“This is great news as those who make their living on the water in Suffolk County are committed to seeing their industries flourish,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romain in the governor’s press release. “These funds will help our oyster growers recover from a brutal winter that destroyed costly equipment. The shellfishing industry is part of Suffolk County’s history, and we all have to do all we can to keep this important business viable and growing.”

Farmers can contact their local FSA office here.

U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota is also calling on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to declare a federal fishery disaster for the industry on Long Island.

NY Blood Center calls for donations amid dangerously low supply; Montauk restaranteur faces criticism for potential nightclub; and more

Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Scoring a 130 to 93 victory last night while finishing a four game sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knickerbockers now advance to the National Basketball Association championship round - the NBA Finals for the first time this century and the ticket-buying frenzy on the secondary market for the Knicks’ first Finals home game at the Garden next month already has begun.

Anthony Rieber reports in NEWSDAY that seats for the first Knicks home game in the Finals — which will be Game 3 on June 8 — are listing for well over $3,500 on most online resale sites.

And that’s for the nosebleed seats. The priciest tickets that were on StubHub on Sunday night were a pair listed for more than $104,000 each. The seats, which are in the first row at center court, include a complimentary buffet, plus champagne and beer.

On SeatGeek, the cheapest ticket for Game 3 on Sunday night was listed at more than $3,700, with the same $104,000 seats also being listed.

TickPick had center-court seats — not in the front row — being offered for more than $177,000. Gametime maxed out at more than $103,000 for its top offerings.

The Eastern Conference champion Knicks, who have not played in an NBA Finals since 1999, will host Games 3, 4 and 6 (if necessary) in the Finals regardless of whether Oklahoma City or San Antonio is their opponent. The two teams in the Western Conference Finals, which is tied at two games apiece, both had better regular-season records than the Knicks, and that is how home-court advantage is determined in the Finals.

Prices for Game 4, which is scheduled for June 10, are along the same lines as Game 3 on the resale sites.

The lowest-priced tickets for Game 6, which is scheduled for June 16, were listed for more than $4,200. Expect that number to skyrocket if the Knicks are up 3-2 and have a chance to clinch their first NBA title since 1973.

Some Knicks fans probably already are looking to attend Game 1 either in Oklahoma City or San Antonio to save a few bucks.

On StubHub, Game 1 tickets to a potential June 3 game in San Antonio could be had for about $1,500. And for Oklahoma City? Just over $1,100 a seat.

***

Jack Curio’s legacy at the Brentwood school district lives on through the Junior Olympics and Leader Corps programs he helped found.

And now, the legacy of the longtime physical education teacher at Southwest Elementary School, who retired in 2006, will extend another two centuries — through a tree planted in his honor.

Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that the Brentwood School District partnered with Suffolk County for its Planting It Forward to 2276 Program as part of the county’s yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. For the past month, residents have been planting trees to create a Living Legacy Tree Registry that will be preserved through the county clerk's office.

The county provided free red oak seedlings to anyone interested late last month at county parks.

Participants receive a Suffolk 250 Living Legacy certificate of registration. The goal is to plant 2,500 red oak trees by June 1, “connecting generations for the next 250 years,” according to the county, which has encouraged residents to dedicate their tree in honor of a loved one, family member or future generations.

“What better way to celebrate a community than planting a tree,” Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said during a news conference last month to kick off the program on Arbor Day. “Years from now, the tree that you planted that hopefully will grow high and tall will remind people about the history of Suffolk County.”

The United States of America celebrates its semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026.

***

The New York Blood Center is urgently calling on New Yorkers to donate blood this week as the region faces dangerously low blood collections at the start of the summer “trauma season.” Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that there are numerous local blood drives across the East End through the next few days.

To register for this or other NYBC blood drives click here.

Tuesday, May 26

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, 201 Manor Place, Greenport. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27

Hampton Bays High School, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Southampton High School, 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Box Pickleball, 605 Old Country Road, Riverhead. Noon to 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 28

Pierson Middle/High School, 200 Jermain Ave., Sag Harbor. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mattituck Lions Club at the Mattituck Fire Dept., 1000 Pike Street, Mattituck. 1 to 7 p.m.

***

The fleet of drones used to scan for sharks in the shallow waters off Long Island beaches will grow this summer, as will the number of pilots, officials said. Nicholas Spangler reports in NEWSDAY that the fleet, now at 30, will add 16 machines, and the number of operators will grow from 47 to 67, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul's office. The operators are mostly staffers of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation who are federally licensed but trained by the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

“We started in 2021 with lifeguards who volunteered their drones, and we have evolved to the point where we are using top-of-the-line drones with better cameras and wind resistance,” George Gorman, Long Island regional director for parks, told NEWSDAY Friday on the Jones Beach boardwalk.

As he spoke, a State Park Police pilot launched a DJI Matrice 300 RTK. Its four rotors made the sound of a swarm of angry bees, and the thing darted up to hover about 60 feet overhead. The Matrice can stay airborne for up to 55 minutes. This particular specimen cost $40,000 and was equipped with night vision, thermal imaging and a powerful zoom lens, making it useful not just for wildlife scans but also in searches for swimmers in distress, said Park Police Capt. Rishi Basdeo. The fleet’s cheaper models cost closer to $6,000.

“In the past, we’d use marine assets,” basically, officers in a boat, Basdeo said. “It was line of sight. Because the drone is three-dimensional, it’s more efficient, more cost-effective, to survey a large area.”

Expansion of the program will support drone patrols three times daily at state beaches — early mornings before swimmers arrive, in the afternoon and before beach closure, Gorman said. Operators will add patrols if they spot baitfish, a strong indicator that feeding sharks may also be present.

Parks works with state Department of Environmental Conservation biologists to confirm potential shark sightings. Swimming is not permitted for at least one hour after a confirmed sighting, and lifeguards, park police and park staff continue monitoring the water.

About 18 million people visit Long Island beaches each summer.

***

A two-story restaurant with a rooftop, Este, is currently under construction near the entrance to downtown Montauk — but the owner is facing scrutiny from East Hampton Town officials and the public over fears of what the site could become once up and running.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Marley Dominguez, the managing director of Enduring Hospitality, got approval last fall for a 39-seat restaurant. On the first floor, under those approvals, there would have been eight couches and a bar area with coffee, while the second floor would host 16 seats across eight tables and no bar. The rooftop would have had 23 seats across 11 tables with a service bar. This complex, located on Montauk Highway just down the street from the IGA in Montauk, will clock in at 22,100 square feet.

But two applications and an investor packet have come to light that have called into question whether Dominguez planned to comply with those approvals and move forward with simply a restaurant — and not an operation more akin to a nightclub.

Dominguez was tasked, in an unusual meeting with the East Hampton Town Planning Board last Wednesday, with explaining the conflicting applications and either convincing the board he would move forward with the current approvals or submit revised plans. In the exhaustive meeting, Dominguez largely wrote off the discrepancies between his approvals and the new supporting documents as misunderstandings or miscommunications and said the thought of making the space a club never crossed his mind.

The East Town Planning Board agreed that Dominguez should answer supplemental questions from town officials and confirm the use outlined in a narrative submission from last fall or submit revised plans that outline what the use would actually be.

***

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman dared New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to try and stop him from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement in defiance of new sanctuary bills largely barring local cops from working with federal immigration authorities.

The Democrat-passed package of bills would ban the Blakeman-brokered partnership with ICE that gives the agency space in Nassau County’s jail.

Brandon Cruz and Matt Troutman report in THE NY POST that Blakeman, who’s running against Hochul as the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee, had a blunt response to the governor’s threats to have state Attorney General Letitia James force Nassau County into line with their anti-ICE laws.

“Make my day,” said Blakeman.

“We will not comply with the law limiting our ability to cooperate with (ICE),” Blakeman said, adding that he intends to sue the state over the new laws.

The taunt imparted exclusively to The Post could put Blakeman and Hochul on a collision course outside the ballot box in November.

***

They know they are not going to get much sympathy. Who, after all, feels sorry for politicians?

Especially in New York, where members of the Senate and the Assembly pull in $142,000 a year, making them the highest paid state lawmakers in the country.

But since April 1, none of the New York State 63 senators and 150 Assembly members have gotten paid — a direct casualty of the delayed state budget, now more than seven weeks late. For some lawmakers, the pay stoppage has brought financial challenges familiar to many New Yorkers who live paycheck to paycheck.

Grace Ashford reports in THE NY TIMES that Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, a democratic socialist representing Greenpoint and South Williamsburg in Brooklyn, has had to defer student loan payments and borrow from family to pay rent. Other lawmakers have traded tips on how to borrow against their pensions.

And instead of swapping songs at karaoke night near the Capitol, lawmakers have been brainstorming ideas on how to stretch the $200 travel per diem as far as rules will allow.

If the budget is officially approved this week as some expect, it will be the latest that has happened in nearly two decades. In practice, that will mean that four pay periods would have come and gone as day care, student loans and grocery bills pile up.

Nearly every lawmaker interviewed acknowledged the poor optics of complaining about their own pay when so many New Yorkers were struggling. And it is true that some lawmakers are wealthy thanks to spouses with lucrative private sector jobs, or family money.

But many others — particularly parents, and members living in New York City, where the cost of living is much higher than the rest of the state — have had to tighten their belts.

The lack of pay is particularly irritating to lawmakers because Gov. Kathy Hochul and her team continue to get paid as long as leaders in Albany pass the budget extenders that allow state government to continue operating.

The delay is part of Ms. Hochul’s not-so-secret strategy to extract as many of her policy priorities from the Legislature in the budget as possible. The approach has roiled lawmakers who see it as erosion of their power.

Lawmakers insist that they have made no concessions because of the missing pay; the deputy Senate majority leader, Mike Gianaris, quantified the effect at “zero.” (Lawmakers will receive retroactive pay when the budget passes.) Still, they are increasingly unhappy with the process.

The NYS Legislature could pass a bill that would allow them to continue getting paid — like the governor herself — as budget negotiations continue. Or they could pass legislation requiring the governor also to go unpaid while talks drag on. Any legislation though would need the governor’s signature to become law.

EPA seeks to allow greater levels of "forever chemicals" in drinking water; Memorial Day events taking place across the East End; and more

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The Environmental Protection Agency this week announced a long-anticipated proposal to rescind federal limits on certain toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water, established two years ago by the Biden administration, a move New York has sought to neutralize. Tracy Tullis and Laura Figueroa report in NEWSDAY that the Trump administration plans to roll back restrictions on four types of these chemicals, known as PFAS. Another proposed rule would allow water suppliers to request two more years to comply with limits on two other PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA. Water suppliers were initially given until 2029 to meet the standards under the Biden-era plan, but they will now be eligible for an extension to 2031.

PFAS — or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — have been used in thousands of industrial and consumer products, from nonstick pans to artificial turf to fast food wrappers. There are tens of thousands of PFAS compounds, very few of which are regulated, and they do not easily break down — thus the term "forever chemicals." They enter groundwater when they are washed down the drains of ordinary households and when they leach from landfills where such products are dumped. High concentrations flow from industrial sites such as airports and firefighter training facilities.

When PFAS leach into soil and water they poison wildlife and farm animals; they also accumulate in the tissues of humans when they ingest them in water or food.

Researchers have found long-term exposure to PFAS, even in tiny amounts, increases the risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, developmental problems in infants and children and other health problems.

Many districts across Long Island have been installing filtering systems to remove the chemicals, which are highly effective but costly.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the former congressman from Shirley, Long Island, defended the proposed rules during an event at EPA headquarters in Washington on Monday, where he argued the Biden administration regulations were "rushed out the door." He said water suppliers across the country, particularly in rural areas, were raising concerns about meeting the original compliance deadline.

"The water systems were given deadlines that many of them have communicated to us that they were going to have trouble meeting, and we left the rule open to be struck down in court," Zeldin said at a roundtable on PFAS where he was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The New York State legislature is considering a bill that would codify the regulations that the Trump administration seeks to roll back.

***

Riverhead Town Board members repeatedly defended a proposed eminent domain taking of the former Swezey’s building Wednesday night during a contentious public hearing that exposed sharp divisions over the future of downtown redevelopment, the town square project and the Long Island Science Center’s stalled plans for the property.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the nearly three-hour hearing on the proposed condemnation of 111 E. Main Street in Riverhead frequently blurred the line between public testimony and board debate, with board members openly rebutting critics, questioning speakers and arguing the merits of condemnation from the dais.

Riverhead Town officials argued the long-vacant building is a critical piece of the town square project and must be brought under town control to ensure proper flood mitigation and “activation” of the downtown public space. Opponents countered that the town had failed to identify a specific public use for the property and accused officials of using eminent domain powers to advance broader redevelopment interests.

“This is not about the science center,” Council Member Joann Waski said during the hearing. “This is about 111 East Main Street.”

The hearing was held under New York State’s Eminent Domain Procedure Law, which requires municipalities to hold a public hearing before condemning private property. No decision was made Wednesday on whether to proceed with condemnation. The board voted at the end of the hearing to close oral testimony while leaving the record open for written comments for 10 days.

The property was purchased in 2020 by A Place for Learning Inc., a nonprofit corporation that operates as the Long Island Science Center, for a proposed downtown science center and planetarium project. Town officials initially supported the plan enthusiastically as part of the broader downtown revitalization effort.

Under New York State law, the Riverhead Town Board will have up to 90 days after the hearing record closes to decide whether to move forward with condemnation proceedings.

***

Southold Town Historian Amy Folk will discuss “What Happened in Southold During the American Revolution” at a 10 a.m. talk tomorrow morning at the East Marion Community Association’s annual meeting in the East Marion Firehouse.

Amy Folk serves as the official Town of Southold Historian. She oversees the town's historical records, assists with genealogical research, and manages various local archival collections. Her passion for North Fork history has led her to compile rich stories of local participation in the American Revolution. Everyone knows how American patriots fought the British and won during the American Revolution. But do you know what happened in Southold during the war?

Join Amy Folk tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the East Marion Firehouse where she’ll discus “What Happened in Southold During the American Revolution” Admission is free.

***

Sag Harbor will be commemorating the 249th anniversary of the Meigs Raid by American Continental Army forces on the village, which was then occupied by the British, throughout this weekend, with reenactments of the raid by the Third New York Regiment centered on the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum. Tomorrow’s event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum at 200 Main Street.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Meigs Raid (also known as the Battle of Sag Harbor) was a military raid by American Continental Army forces, under the command of Connecticut Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs, on a British Loyalist foraging party at Sag Harbor, New York on May 24, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. Six Loyalists were killed and 90 captured while the Americans suffered no casualties. The raid was made in response to a successful British raid on Danbury, Connecticut in late April that was opposed by American forces in the Battle of Ridgefield.

On Meigs Raid Weekend, The Whaling Museum will be invaded by a host of Revolutionary War reenactors. Members of the Third New York Regiment, Long Island’s premier reenactment group, will be encamped on the museum grounds and conduct demonstrations of drill and musket firing throughout the day. This 18th Century encampment, including canvas dining fly, troop tents and officer’s quarters, Continental Army soldiers, their wives, and other camp followers dressed in period clothing will transport visitors back centuries for an experience not to be missed. The camp is interactive and open to the public from the opening of the Museum to closing.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the Sag Harbor Historical Museum, Preservation Long Island and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation are also teaming up for a day of fun on Saturday. Their event - “Revolutionary Days” – is at the Custom House, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., right next door to the Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor.

***

Men’s recreational outdoor soccer leagues in Latino communities have flourished on Long Island over the last few decades. But this year a pall is hanging over the fields as the federal government's immigration crackdown has made many players afraid to come out for games, organizers said.

Bart Jones and Gregg Sarra report in NEWSDAY that some teams are folding for lack of numbers, while some leagues have postponed the starts of their seasons. Even fans are staying away.

"They’re scared to come to the soccer fields," said Miguel Flores, who has been running the Brentwood Soccer League since 1990. Other than the COVID-19 pandemic, when they had to shut down entirely, he’s never seen anything like it, he said. "All the leagues are suffering."

In Riverhead, which usually has 14 teams, the league is down to nine, said its president, Paul Villafranco, who called the drop "a big hit."

Some leagues have lost entire teams or delayed the starts of their seasons because of low numbers.

The decline in participation is lamented by organizers who contend the hugely popular soccer leagues provide a healthy outlet for young men, offer a family-oriented weekend activity and even serve as a lynchpin for communities when tragedy hits.

"It's bad, because a lot of young men are staying home instead of being in a park and enjoying soccer," Hempstead Soccer League President Robinson Barralaga told Newsday in Spanish.

While immigration agents have conducted numerous raids and arrests in Brentwood over the past year, according to advocates, they have not raided the soccer fields, Flores said. But many players are still suffering from what he called "the fear factor." Many worry they will get stopped at checkpoints on the way to games. They often travel together in vans or other vehicles, making them feel particularly vulnerable as a target, he said.

***

Shelter Island Friends of Music presents Junction Piano Trio performing music by Dvorak, Zorn, and Beethoven this coming Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.

Admission Free.

There will be a post-concert reception with the musicians.

Comprised of violinist Stefan Jackiw, cellist Jay Campbell, and pianist Conrad Tao, the Junction Trio is known for its adventurous spirit and electrifying ensemble chemistry. Their performances combine intellectual rigor with expressive warmth, offering audiences programs that range from the classical core to daring new works.

That’s Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.

For further info visit: sifriendsofmusic.org/

***

Scheduled plans for commemorating Memorial Day this coming Monday have been posted by Beth Young in EAST END BEACON. Here are events scheduled for the north and south forks. All on Memorial Day - Monday, May 25, 2026.

Orient’s Memorial Day Parade starts at the Orient Firehouse on Route 25 at 7 a.m., and goes down Tabor Road, Orchard Street, Navy Street, Village Lane and then back up to Route 25 and the firehouse for refreshments.
Greenport Scouts host their Memorial Day Parade starting at 8 a.m. from the Adams Street Parking Lot, down Main and Front streets to the commercial fishing dock on Third Street for a memorial service.
The Riverhead CVA Memorial Day Parade begins at 9 a.m., traveling from Osborn Avenue and Pulaski Street, to the World War I monument on the corner of Court Street and West Main Streets, then eastward on Main Street to East Avenue, north to St. John’s Cemetery, then to the Civil War monument in Riverhead Cemetery, concluding at the at the World War II Monument at Pulaski Street School.
Sag Harbor American Legion Chelberg and Battle Post 388 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9082 will observe Memorial Day with their annual parade to honor our Nation’s fallen. The parade, which will step off at 9 AM from the World War I Memorial at Otter Pond at the corner of Main Street and Jermain Avenue, where the poem, In Flanders Fields, will be read among the Memorial Field of Poppies planted by the Auxiliary. The parade will proceed north through the village, stopping at war memorials, the Main Street Firehouse, and the Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter Veterans’ Memorial Bridge, where wreaths will be placed, before concluding at Marine Park, where wreaths are thrown into the bay for those lost at sea.
The Sag Harbor Community Band will perform. Veterans, Scouts, the American Legion Auxiliary, and public officials are expected to participate. A reception will follow at the American Legion on Bay Street. All are welcome!
East Hampton Memorial Day Services & Parade are planned for 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.
For ” Lost at Sea” Ceremony. Participants meet at East Hampton American Legion Post #419 at (0800) before 0900 beach ceremony. Memorial Day Parade IMMEDIATELY following “Lost at Sea” ceremony, all participants flow to parade start point (David’s Lane & Rt 27 by church) for a 10 a.m. step off. Memorial Day Remarks and “Missing Man” Ceremony. at 1100 after parade on Windmill Green Vet’s Memorial. Social activities to follow after ceremonies at American Legion Post 419 in East Hampton Village.
North Fork Memorial Day Parade in Mattituck starts with a ceremony at the monument at Pike Street and Wickham Avenue at 9:30 a.m., followed by 10 a.m. parade. Starting line up on Pike Street and march west on Pike Street, left onto Pacific Street, left onto Route 25 and left onto Wickham, ending back at the Fire Department.
Southampton Village Memorial Day Service & Parade begins with a short parade at 10:30 a.m. from the First Presbyterian Church at 2 South Main Street down Jobs Lane, into Agawam Park for an 11 a.m. ceremony. Presented by Village of Southampton Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events.
And on Monday afternoon the Calverton National Cemetery Memorial Day Service is scheduled for 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Multiple fire departments put out fire at Dockers Waterside Marina; New traffic patterns for summer in place on County Rd 39; and more East End news

Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

State aid to Long Island schools is expected to total $5.5 billion for the 2026-27 school year, with most districts receiving at least a 2% increase in foundation aid, according to a Newsday analysis of state data.

The majority of school districts in Nassau and Suffolk will get more funding from the state for the next school year, according to aid runs published yesterday, the day after Long Island voters approved 118 local budget proposals. Five failed and one district had not yet released results as of last night.

The districts that are to see the highest jumps in state aid in Suffolk County are Amagansett (35.58%) and Montauk (23.62%). Five Suffolk districts are expected to see a dip in funding: Eastport-South Manor (-2.06%), Rocky Point (-1.71%), and Connetquot (-1.35%).

Dandan Zou and Michael R. Ebert report in NEWSDAY that school officials said the latest aid figures did not come with any big surprises as most districts had anticipated receiving at least a 2% increase. However, they wished the news had arrived sooner.

The NYS budget was due April 1 but lawmakers did not begin voting on budget bills until yesterday. School districts, meanwhile, had to present their budgets to voters on Tuesday, requiring them to guesstimate how much revenue they would get from the state.

“We finally know what our state aid package is the day after our communities voted on our budgets. It's insane,” said Tim Eagen, president of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association. “Thankfully it landed where we had anticipated it would.”

Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, said the 2% increase is better than the 1% jump that Gov. Kathy Hochul had proposed in January but still isn’t enough.

Total school aid for Long Island districts will grow by $230 million, or 4.35%, but Vecchio said that funding increase includes an additional $54 million in universal prekindergarten grants, as well as reimbursements for building projects. Foundation aid, the single largest source of state financial support for public schools, is considered "new money," he said.

Foundation aid will rise to nearly $4 billion — a 3.51%, or $134 million, increase for 2026-27 from the current school year.

In Nassau and Suffolk counties, 80 out of 121 districts would receive the minimum 2% increase in foundation aid. (Sagaponack and Wainscott districts receive funding under a different formula; New Suffolk is non-instructional.)

***

Firefighters from multiple departments were on the scene yesterday to put out a fire at Dockers Waterside Marina and Restaurant on Dune Road in East Quogue.

The East Quogue Fire Department was the first department on the scene at 3:53 p.m. after those at the restaurant, which was closed Wednesday, smelled smoke, according to Dockers owner Larry Hoffman. Members of the Hampton Bays, North Sea, Quogue, Southampton and Westhampton Beach fire departments, as well as the Hampton Bays and Southampton Village ambulance, soon arrived. The fire was deemed under control 30 minutes later.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the fire was contained and a majority of the damage was limited to the interior, with exterior damage occurring on the eastern facing side, according to Southampton Town Chief Fire Marshal John Rankin. A firefighter said that the kitchen and bar areas were heavily damaged. Nobody was injured.

The cause of the fire has not been determined yet and an investigation is underway, according to East Quogue Fire Department Chief Glenn Bullock.

***

Shelter Island Friends of Music presents Junction Piano Trio performing music by Dvorak, Zorn, and Beethoven this coming Sunday, May 24 at 6 p.m. in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.

Admission Free.

There will be a post-concert reception with the musicians.

That’s this Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.

For further info visit sifriendsofmusic.org/

***

Like it or not, the summer season is here — and the new traffic patterns on County Road 39 in Southampton are about to be truly tested.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the Town of Southampton last fall embarked on a still somewhat experimental redesign of the travel lanes along notoriously congested County Road 39, known on maps as the “Southampton Bypass,” in particular between the intersections with North Main Street and Tuckahoe Lane.

The new patterns are meant to mimic — in part — the experiment from the spring of 2025, in which the town turned off some County Road 39 traffic signals which allowed traffic to flow freely. The effort was perceived as successful at moving traffic west much faster than the usual crawl.

But it was far too expensive, costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 a week for the four hours each weekday the lights were turned off and intersections were manned by police and Highway Department staff to ensure safety.

So two of the lights — Magee Street and Tuckahoe Road — have returned to their usual red-yellow-green cycle. But to allow the town to keep the light at the Sandy Hollow Road merge green for both cars coming off Sandy Hollow and the County Road 39 traffic approaching from the east, the town has restriped lanes on both roads to create single lanes of westbound traffic that can come together without having to alternate who proceeds west.

As was done with cones last spring, the town convinced Suffolk County Department of Public Works to restripe County Road 39 west of the North Sea Road intersection, just west of the Burger King, to force traffic to merge from two lanes down to one.

That has caused a new congestion — though whether it is any worse than what was there before is a matter of debate.

The traffic on County Road 39 between North Sea Road and North Main Street has also been restricted to a single lane recently, to reduce the clog of cars rushing into the area ahead of the Burger King merge with each green light cycle.

But that constriction has worsened the back-ups at the eastern end of County Road — the junction of 27 and 27A {“the turn”} where Montauk Highway and Flying Point Road feed onto the bypass — which have extended on some days through the intersection and east on Montauk Highway as far as back as Hank’s Pumpkintown, and sometimes Head of Pond Road in Water Mill.

The effort has trade-offs, Southampton Town Highway Superintendent Charlie McArdle conceded, and he said the town is still making adjustments as they learn what impacts come with which changes and working with the county on ways to make small improvements where they can.

***

More Long Island schools were named to the Advanced Placement honor roll for 2025, and the number of schools that earned the highest ranking rose by one-third, according to the College Board, which administers the tests.

Lorena Mongelli and Michael R. Ebert report in Newsday that across Nassau and Suffolk, 110 schools received either platinum, gold, silver or bronze awards — up from 107 in 2024. Eight earned spots on the honor roll for the first time.

And of the 110 on the list, 23 schools notched platinum awards, compared with 17 the year prior, according to a Newsday analysis.

Some Long Island educators said they have expanded course offerings and sought to make classes more accessible for all students. They argued that the advanced coursework remains relevant, despite a move away from standardized testing — with the state poised to drop its Regents graduation requirement in 2027, and many colleges making SAT and ACT scores optional for admission. AP exams, they said, offer students a less expensive way to potentially earn college credit, while the rigorous coursework prepares them for higher learning.

Studies have found that taking AP coursework helps students excel at four-year colleges.

But some experts say low-income students and students of color are not equally represented in the program.

***

The Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum will host a Colonial Village Living History Festival this coming Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate America250 and commemorate the historic Meigs Raid, also known as the Battle of Sag Harbor, when Continental Army forces raided British Loyalists occupying Sag Harbor during the American Revolution. You’re invited to join a free, family-friendly, immersive experience as the 3rd New York Regiment recreates an 18th century Continental Army encampment and conducts military drills throughout the day. Watch and interact with historic tradespeople dressed in period clothing as they demonstrate trades and crafts such as blacksmithing, basket weaving, bread making, cooking, spinning, embroidery, medicine making, children’s games, period music, native regalia and jewelry making, wampum making, and more!

For more info regarding this weekend’s “Revolutionary Days” celebration in Sag Harbor visit Sagharborhistoricalmuseum.org.

***

Suffolk County police are using a new drug-testing kit to determine whether drivers may be impaired by cannabis and other drugs. John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that police are using three of the saliva-testing kits, known as SoToxa, in a pilot program to test drivers with a swab to determine the recent use of marijuana, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and opiates.

"It's everywhere around the roads ... I think that makes people nervous, and it should, because that means that there are people out there in their cars smoking marijuana, and therefore, very likely impaired," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said yesterday. "Our ability to determine that is hampered by the fact that there is no legal level of marijuana intoxication or impairment, so until that's established, it's very difficult for police in general to make an arrest in a case like that."

Suffolk County is one of the first downstate departments to use the technology.

The police department has been training its highway officers to use the swab kits, which can give an indication of "recent use" of certain drugs within about 10 minutes. Police can then call a trained drug recognition expert to determine if a driver is impaired in order to make an arrest.

Police said the test is voluntary, and unlike a drunken-driving arrest, rejecting a test without a warrant does not lead to an automatic driver’s license suspension.

Catalina and district attorney officials said the new saliva test would help identify impaired drivers and the department would explore buying more testing kits.

Nassau County police said they were testing the saliva kits, but they were not deployed with officers.

Defense attorneys have argued against the saliva tests, contending the roadside tests are not admissible in court until they are confirmed by a lab or with a blood test.

The Suffolk County district attorney’s office called on state legislators to pass a provision in the NYS budget known as the "Deadly Driving Bill." It would expand the number of drugs that could be prosecuted under impaired driving laws.

Most LI school budgets pass except 5; County Rd in Southampton to be closed today; and more East End news

Wed, 20 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

At least five Long Island school budget proposals failed to garner enough voter support yesterday while 115 others won approval, according to early returns last night. As reported by NEWSDAY, in Suffolk County, Three Village failed to win a simple majority, meaning more than 50% of voter support Tuesday. The outcome was 2,051-2,340 in Three Village. Results for the remaining four Long Island school districts were still pending by midnight.

Also in Suffolk, Bayport-Blue Point, Islip and South Country failed. The districts were three of seven on Long Island seeking a tax cap override, meaning they needed a 60% supermajority to pass.

Voters greenlit the proposals in Greenport and Shelter Island which had also sought to pierce their tax caps.

With a result of 398-153, Greenport had a 72% passage rate.

Greenport Superintendent Beth Doyle thanked voters in a statement last night: “This budget allows us to continue supporting our students while taking important steps toward long-term fiscal stability.”

Shelter Island’s budget was approved by a vote of 549-256. Voters last year rejected the Shelter Island tax cap override request but approved it this year with a 68% passage rate.

“We deeply appreciate the trust placed in the District as we work to balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining the high-quality educational opportunities our students deserve,” stated Shelter Island Superintendent Brian Doelger.

***

It appears all east end school districts passed their budgets yesterday.

On the south fork, long time local teacher Margaret “Midge” H. Fowler ousted incumbent Germain L. Smith in a 601-342 vote for one seat on the Southampton School Board.

As reported on 27east.com, Southampton School District voters approved, 722 to 211, a $84.5 million budget with a nearly $65.5 million tax levy.

Voters also passed all of the propositions, which will authorize a number of capital projects, including capital repairs and technology upgrades.

The last six propositions will authorize the district to contract with The Water Mill Museum for $125,000, the Parrish Art Museum for $461,700, the Southampton History Museum for $290,000, the Southampton Youth Association for $500,000, the Southampton Arts Center for $175,000 and the Southampton African American Museum for $125,000, and levy taxes for the 2026-27 school year.

In neighboring Tuckahoe, Sam Kelly – a Southampton High School Class of 2000 graduate - beat longtime incumbent Bob Grisnik in the Tuckahoe Common School District Board of Trustees election, 142-58. Grisnik will finish his 40th year as trustee in June.

Voters also approved the Tuckahoe School district’s nearly $26.4 million budget in a 157-54 vote. An additional three propositions also passed, which will authorize a number of capital projects and levy funds for the Southampton Youth Association and the Parrish Art Museum.

***

Tonight - County Road 39 in Southampton will be closed to through traffic between Tuckahoe Lane and Shrubland Road from 8 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. tomorrow for the construction of the pedestrian bridge linking the Stony Brook Southampton college campus and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the U.S. Open next month.

Starting tonight at 8 p.m. westbound traffic will be detoured south on Tuckahoe Lane to Montauk Highway and eastbound traffic will be detoured north onto Shrubland Road and Sebonac Road to get around the closure.

Residents and employees of businesses between the detour points will be allowed to use the closed stretches of roadway but will not be able to pass Tuckahoe Road where the construction is taking place at any point.

***

With the LIRR strike settled on Monday night, South Fork Commuter Connection service was set to resume its normal schedule today. The South Fork Commuter Connection {SFCC} is a coordinated train and bus service offered on weekdays on the Long Island Rail Road’s Montauk Branch where upon exiting at stations between Montauk and Speonk, riders board buses to and from nearby businesses.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that many in East Hampton Town government, and in the private sector in town, use the SFCC. In April alone, the service carried over 2,100 passengers over 22 days of service, said East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez.

"It just demonstrated how much our community and our town government depend on reliable public transportation, as we had a number of folks battling the traffic and others working remotely from home," Burke-Gonzalez said at a Town Board work session yesterday.

Meanwhile, MTA and union sources told NEWSDAY on Tuesday that the agreement reached between managers and LIRR labor leaders to end the strike represented a middle ground between the sides' long-held negotiating positions. The final deal pays workers 4.5% in raises in the fourth year. It also extends the contract six weeks…so it won’t expire until August 2027…less than a year and a half from now.

The agreement still has to be ratified by union members and the MTA Board.

LIRR President Rob Free during a press conference Tuesday morning said, “Through negotiations we were able to find a common ground to come to an agreement,” Free said. “A contract they feel [union members] can ratify and something we know wouldn’t cause a financial burden to the taxpayers and the riders.” He also said there were “factors within the contract that were worked on to make it more affordable.”

***

At least five Long Island school budget proposals failed to garner enough voter support yesterday while 115 others won approval, according to early returns last night.

Results for the remaining four districts were still pending by midnight.

It appears all east end school districts passed their budgets yesterday.

As reported by NEWSDAY staff, voters on Tuesday also weighed in on about 90 propositions, mostly for capital projects to improve school facilities. A total of 358 candidates were also running to fill 257 school board vacancies. Fewer than half the districts — 51 — had contested races.

This year’s budget season was marked by widespread cuts. A Newsday analysis found a third of the spending proposals called for reductions in staffing or programs. Officials have cited rising costs — in some areas double-digit spikes — among reasons for the cuts. Only a few Long Island school districts said they would add programs or jobs.

***

The New York Blood Center is urgently calling on New Yorkers to donate blood ahead of Memorial Day weekend as the region faces dangerously low blood collections at the start of the summer “trauma season.” Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that there are numerous local blood drives across the East End in the upcoming week, including one today from 1p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Public Library.

Here are the upcoming NYBC blood drives across the East End in the week ahead. To register for these or other blood drives, visit NYBC’s Blood Drive Locator.

Tuesday, May 26

Stony Brook ELIH, 201 Manor Place, Greenport. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27

Hampton Bays High School, 88 East Argonne Road, Hampton Bays. 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Southampton High School, 141 Narrow Lane, Southampton. 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Box Pickleball, 605 Old Country Road, Riverhead. Noon to 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 28

Pierson Middle/High School, 200 Jermain Ave., Sag Harbor. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mattituck Lions Club at the Mattituck Fire Dept., 1000 Pike Street, Mattituck. 1 to 7 p.m.

***

After a messy public fight between New York transit officials and five Long Island Rail Road unions whose three-day strike shut down the nation’s busiest passenger rail service, both sides are claiming victory.

Stefanos Chen and Grace Ashford report in THE NY TIMES that Gov. Kathy Hochul struck a conciliatory note when announcing the deal that ended the strike at a Monday night news conference in front of the Manhattan headquarters of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the railroad.

“I always believed we could reach a good, fair compromise that achieved two principles,” Ms. Hochul said. “Protecting affordability for Long Islanders and commuters, while giving fair wages to the employees.”

Kevin Sexton, the national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, one of the striking unions, also celebrated the deal on Monday, though he said he wanted to discuss the specifics with his members before sharing more details.

Ms. Hochul said the agreement, which includes a wage increase for the current year and a retroactive raise for the past three years, would not result in higher fares or state taxes — a key consideration for the governor ahead of her November re-election bid.

But the new contract could set a new precedent for the M.T.A.’s dealings with more than 80 unions, with repercussions that could be felt for years to come.

“There are no winners in a strike,” said William Dwyer, an associate professor at Rutgers University and a former labor negotiator for management at the utility company PSE&G in New Jersey.

The acrimonious dispute has eroded trust between the railroad’s workers and leadership, Mr. Dwyer said, noting that the two sides must negotiate their next contract in just a year…Monday’s agreement expires in August 2027.

And it is unclear how much the deal will cost the M.T.A. in the long run, as it prepares to engage with other unions that are likely to now seek higher wage increases than those the agency has budgeted.

Labor historian Josh Freeman called the end result a “strong win” for the workers.

“The governor realized she was in an uncomfortable position when the strike began,” said Freeman, a professor emeritus at the CUNY Graduate Center. “The strike put her in a difficult position.”

Governor Hochul, who is up for re-election in November, had repeatedly said she would not sign off on a deal that raised taxes or fares.

As reported in THE NY POST, riders exiting the train at the Ronkonkoma station last night were hard pressed to believe the governor’s guarantee. “She’s going to say that for the time being, you know, until that changes,” said Gianna G. while Ryan, who did not want to give his last name added, “I don’t know about that. I have to see it to believe it.” Ultimately, riders were glad that the railroad — which carries about 270,000 people a day — was back on track. “Definitely, definitely,” said city government worker and Queens resident Michelle, 55, as she left Penn Station. “The last few days getting into work was a nightmare.”

LIRR union reaches agreement; School budget votes being held today; and more Eastern Long Island news

Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

A deal to end the historic Long Island Rail Road union strike was reached late last night, with riders expected to see a resumption of rail service by noon today, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

As reported by Newsday Staff, the agreement reached shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, provides relief to the tens of thousands of harried and frustrated Long Islanders who saw their commutes double or even triple during the first workday of the dispute.

"I want to thank New Yorkers, Long Islanders, particularly, who made all the accommodations; who had to work from home; who sacrificed; who had to put up with inconveniences," Hochul said at a news conference last night.

Hochul declined to answer questions about the terms of the deal, including about wages and work rules, but said MTA negotiators reached the deal without having to raise fares or taxes.

LIRR president Rob Free said service will resume on the four electrified branches — Port Washington, Huntington, Ronkonkoma and Babylon — at noon today. All other branches will resume service at 4 o'clock this afternoon using normal weekday schedules, he said.

The deal was reached on the third day of the strike, which brought service on the nation's busiest commuter rail system to a grinding halt and after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the leaders of the five LIRR unions representing about half the railroad's 7,000-member workforce restarted talks early yesterday.

An MTA spokesman said there will be no morning service today on the LIRR given how long negotiations had continued.

"We're looking forward to our members getting back to work and doing what they do best, which is serving the region," said Kevin Sexton, vice president of the locomotive engineers union.

MTA chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said shuttle buses will operate in the morning, just as they did Monday.

"We had to find a deal that gave people fair raises, but didn't put the hit on the riders; the taxpayers; that didn't blow up the MTA budget, which would have bad consequences for everybody," Lieber said.

***

Long Island voters today will decide whether to approve the budget proposals of 124 school districts, with seven taking the risky move of attempting to pierce their tax cap.

Dandan Zou reports in NEWSDAY that if all budgets pass, spending across Nassau and Suffolk public schools would total nearly $16.9 billion in the 2026-27 academic year, a 3.26% increase over the current year. Local property taxes would rise 2.5%, to $10 billion Long Islandwide.

The spending increase is on par with the latest Consumer Price Index of 3.8%, as of April.

This year’s budget season was marked by widespread cuts.

A Newsday analysis found a third of Long Island districts have adopted budgets calling for reductions in staffing or programs. Only a few said they would add staff or programs. School officials across the region have cited skyrocketing costs, driven in part by inflation, among reasons for the cuts.

“Inflation impacts us as homeowners, but it also impacts school districts and to some extent to a greater degree because of the size of our budgets,” said Tim Eagen, president of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association.

Another challenge districts faced this year was the uncertainty posed by the delay of the state budget, which was due April 1 but had yet to be finalized as of yesterday. Without an approved state budget, districts did not know exactly how much state aid their schools would receive next school year.

Most were anticipating a minimum 2% increase in their foundation aid, as opposed to the 1% laid out in the budget plan unveiled by Gov. Kathy Hochul in January, said Eagen, also superintendent of the Kings Park district.

“We have the most unusual and bizarre task of putting together a budget not fully knowing what our revenue is,” he said. “Albany's got to do better.”

***

Greenport’s East End Seaport Museum is holding a reopening celebration for the season this coming Friday, May 22 with revamped gallery space and a new major installation by nationally recognized Shinnecock artist Courtney M. Leonard.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the museum’s other gallery spaces have also been refreshed for the new season, with the main gallery featuring “Stories from Our Working Waterfront,” curated by Paul Kreiling.

The museum has also revamped its Children’s Discovery Area with a new experience, All Hands on Deck, where young visitors can explore the sea through microscopes, interactive touchscreens, a restored boat helm, and a rope and knot station. The museum’s gift shop has also been fully renovated and restocked with all-new merchandise for the season.

Friday’s festivities start with an exclusive first look for museum members from 5 to 6 p.m., and the galleries will open up to the public at large from 6 to 8 p.m.

East End Seaport Museum is at 100 Third Street in Greenport, New York.

***

Cantwell Court has received a $7 million boost from the State of New York, which establishes and plots out a clear course for the future of the long-awaited 16-unit affordable housing development set to pop up in the coming months between East Hampton Village and Amagansett.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that initial bids for development at Cantwell Court came in high, at around $600,000 per unit from Habitat for Humanity, which prompted the move toward more affordable, alternate options — ultimately leading town officials to lean on the state for a helping hand.

The $7 million, which is part of a $19 million package spread out throughout the state, will support the installation of 16 CrossMod homes, which are so-called because they are essentially a cross between a traditional site-built house and a manufactured home, at Cantwell Court.

The idea behind the CrossMod homes, which will be installed via the state’s MOVE-IN NY program, is to provide the benefits of a prefab house — speed of installation at a fraction of the cost — while still resembling a more traditional single-family house.

Spokesman Patrick Derenze said East Hampton Town officials plan to meet with officials from Housing and Community Renewal later this week to iron out the details, like how much the houses will cost and when move-in is expected to occur.

Installation, however, is on track to take place on a speedy timeline, with the expectation being that the homes will be sited on the 7-acre property by this summer.

Cantwell Court is on Montauk Highway between East Hampton Village and Amagansett.

“All these programs, we should remember ourselves, are taxpayer supported and paid for, so it’s great to see our tax dollars coming back to East Hampton,” said Councilwoman Cate Rogers.

But the bottom line is that East Hampton Town officials, with a helping hand from the state, will be moving forward, at a reduced cost, on an affordable housing development that is years in the making and that will provide homes to 16 individuals or families — despite the wait time.

***

Residents in Long Island's more than 120 school districts can decide on board candidates, budgets and propositions by voting today at their local school district polls.

Meanwhile, Stefanos Chen and Ashley Southall report in THE NY TIMES that transit officials and unions representing Long Island Rail Road workers agreed to a new contract last night, ending a three-day strike that shut down the nation’s busiest passenger rail service and wreaked havoc on commutes between Long Island and New York City.

Details of the new contract were not immediately clear, but Gov. Kathy Hochul said the deal would not lead to an increase on fares or state taxes.

Even with a deal reached yesterday, this morning’s commute was disrupted as the M.T.A. moved trains into place to restart regular service. Rob Free, the president of the L.I.R.R., said hourly train service would begin at 12 noon today on the four main electrified branches — Port Washington, Huntington, Ronkonkoma and Babylon — and full service would return to all lines by 4 o’clock this afternoon, in time for the evening rush.

Workers for the five striking unions, which represent about half the railroad’s work force, had not received a raise since 2022. They had been seeking a raise of up to 5 percent in 2026, in addition to three years of retroactive raises.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state transit agency that runs the railroad, had balked at the workers’ demands, arguing that the wage increases could jeopardize their negotiations with dozens of other unions and force them to raise fares or cut service.

This strike shut down the entire service for 3 days, which carries an average of more than 270,000 passengers a day between Long Island and New York City. It was the first strike on the railroad since 1994, when a similar shutdown lasted for two days.

***

County Road 39 in Southampton will be closed to through traffic between Tuckahoe Lane and Shrubland Road from 8 p.m. on Wednesday night, May 20...that's tomorrow at 8 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. the following morning for the construction of the pedestrian bridge linking the Stony Brook Southampton college campus and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the U.S. Open Golf Championship next month.

Starting at 8 p.m. tomorrow westbound traffic on County Road 39 will be detoured south on Tuckahoe Lane to Montauk Highway and eastbound traffic will be detoured north onto Shrubland Road and Sebonac Road to get around the closure.

***

Think someone gouged you for a ride during the just concluded Long Island Rail Road strike? The state attorney general’s office wants to know.

Newsday has written about skyrocketing fares since the strike began Saturday, including an instance of a ride-hailing company trying to charge someone $297 to get home from the airport.

Yesterday, NYS Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning about ride-hailing companies potentially price gouging and providing a way to report incidents.

"As New Yorkers face a complete shutdown of LIRR service, many are counting on rideshares, rental cars and other services to help them commute," James said in a statement Monday afternoon, about five hours before the strike ended.

"This strike is no excuse for companies to unfairly raise prices on New Yorkers," she said. "We will not tolerate price gouging, and I encourage everyone to remain vigilant and report illegal price hikes to my office."

Yancey Roy reports in NEWSDAY that A.G. James noted New York’s price gouging law covers vendors, retailers and suppliers, and includes essential goods and services that are necessary for the health, safety and welfare of consumers or the general public. "Transportation options" are covered, her office said.

Penalties can run up to $25,000 per violation.

Consumers may report incidents by calling the AG’s hotline, 800-771-7755, or by reporting online here.

LIRR union strike stretches into first work day

Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The first Long Island Rail Road strike since 1994 has rolled into a third day and the start of the workweek. Negotiations between MTA and union leaders are expected to resume at 7:30 this morning.

As reported in NEWSDAY, Long Islanders arrived in Queens by the trickle early today, riding shuttle buses mobilized to replace LIRR trains.

The shuttle bus that left Ronkonkoma at 4:05 a.m. arrived at 179th Street in Jamaica at 4:58 a.m. It carried 58 passengers, including the driver.

An MTA employee stood at the bus door as passengers exited, handing out placards of the shuttle map and answering questions.

The MTA said multiple customer ambassadors will be at each of the shuttle bus locations to take questions from confused commuters. They will probably be very busy.

Here is the info on shuttle buses:

They will run until 9 a.m. this morning from these Long Island locations to the subway stations in Queens and then back to Long Island from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bay Shore LIRR station to the Howard Beach-JFK Airport stop on the A train.

Huntington LIRR station to the Jamaica-179th Street stop on the F train.

Ronkonkoma LIRR station to the Jamaica-179th Street stop on the F train.

In addition, shuttle buses will run until 9 a.m. from these three locations: Hempstead Lake State Park and the Hicksville and Mineola LIRR stations to the Howard Beach-JFK stop on the A train. But there will be no return buses in the afternoon.

There is no separate charge for the bus. Tap and ride with phone, credit, debit or OMNY card and you will transfer.

No substitute service is being provided east of Ronkonkoma.

If you haven’t already, take a minute to bookmark mta.info/lirr strike for details or dial 511.

Stefanos Chen reports in THE NY TIMES that five unions representing more than 3,500 workers — including engineers, signalmen and machinists — walked off the job shortly after midnight on Saturday, after yearslong negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the railroad, fell apart.

The strike has shut down the entire service, which carries an average of more than 270,000 passengers a day between Long Island and New York City. The M.T.A. is providing free bus service which began this morning from six locations on Long Island to two subway stations in Queens, and in the opposite direction during the evening rush. Police officers and members of the L.I.R.R. work force who are not on strike are expected to help direct passengers to buses at the stops.

But the M.T.A. said the shuttles would not be able to accommodate all the riders who rely on the railroad, and encouraged people to work from home if they can.

Yesterday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said that she had made major investments in the M.T.A. to stabilize its finances, and that she would not agree to a deal that could force the agency to raise fares.

“I worked hard to do that and don’t want that undone — I will not let that be undone,” she said.

A spokesman for the unions said in a statement on Sunday that their wage proposal was reasonable and that two federal review panels had sided with them.

“We remain ready to negotiate a fair agreement at any time and get back to work on behalf of Long Island commuters,” the statement said.

The National Mediation Board, a federal agency that oversees such disputes, summoned both sides to a meeting last night to continue negotiations. Negotiations continued past 1 a.m. with no resolution. Talks were set to pick up again this morning at 7:30 a.m.The unions represent about 3,500 workers - roughly half the LIRR’s workforce - who have not had a raise since 2022.

Both sides have agreed on retroactive raises of 3% for the first two years of the contract as well as 3.5% for the current year. But they clashed over the union’s demand for a 5% pay hike in 2026. The MTA has offered a lower amount and wants to increase the amount newly hired employees would pay for healthcare.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told the striking workers yesterday she values their labor and believes they deserved a fair wage and benefits but that the MTA cannot agree to a contract “that would raise fares as much as 8% and risk hiking taxes for Long Islanders.”

Early this morning, Matt Hollis, national president of the Transportation Communications Union, posted an update on social media saying the union “gave the MTA every opportunity to avoid this. Instead, heading into a busy workweek, MTA leadership once again demonstrated that it does not value either the riding public or in the hardworking men and women who keep this railroad moving.”

***

While the Long Island Rail Road made history this weekend with its first strike in over 30 years, train history buffs can learn more about the famous commuter railroad’s history tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. at Peconic Landing in Greenport, where Donald Fisher of the Railroad Museum of Long Island will speak as part of Peconic Landing’s America 250 lecture series.

Celebrating 192 Years of Railroading on Long Island. Greenport, the Reason for the Long Island Rail Road.

In 1995, with twenty-three years of audio-visual and technical theater experience, Mr. Donald Fisher joined the all-volunteer Railroad Museum of Long Island to serve as an electrician and exhibit designer. By 1998, Mr. Fisher had been appointed Assistant Site Manager for the Museum’s Greenport, Long Island campus and a major rehabilitation of the exhibit hall was underway.

Since October 2008, Don Fisher has served as President of the Railroad Museum of Long Island and continues to lead the restoration process on Locomotive #39.

Registration is required for Tuesday evening’s free presentation and will be strictly capped at 60 persons.

Click here to register and for further info.

***

Agriculture is an important business in Suffolk County, the top New York producer of many ornamental plants and vegetables.

Cows or hogs, not so much.

So a maverick stance by Rep. Andrew Garbarino for humane livestock conditions is befuddling his local farm bureau.

Billy House reports in NEWSDAY that the Bayport congressman was one of just three House Republicans out of 212 to vote against the GOP’s Farm Bill, which passed last month in a 224-200 vote. Garbarino objected to language that would overturn anti-confinement laws emerging in other states that mandate strict minimum space requirements for breeding pigs, veal calves and egg-laying hens.

"We were a little disappointed and somewhat puzzled," said Bill Zalakar, executive director of the Long Island Farm Bureau. He noted Garbarino’s vote was initially curious because of the bill's importance to Suffolk County, which ranks fourth out of the 62 New York counties in terms of overall agriculture production.

But Congressman Garbarino has an established record on federal animal welfare policy, notably through his work with animal protection caucuses. He is co-chair of the Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus, which bills itself as a conduit from zoos to Congress of "valuable expertise and resources in animal care and welfare."

He also has a track record of co-sponsoring bills to improve the treatment of animals or combat wildlife trafficking. As recently as last month, he was among a handful of Republicans to persuade party leaders to postpone a planned vote on a bill that critics said would impair and overhaul the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

"Long Islanders believe in treating animals humanely and respecting the right of states to set standards that reflect their values," he said. "That’s why I voted ‘no.’ ”

Garbarino represents New York's 2nd congressional district which stretches along the south shore of Long Island and includes parts of Suffolk County and a small portion of southeastern Nassau County.

Along with threatening state-level animal welfare standards, Garbarino also said the farm bill as passed by the House raises "serious concerns about federal overreach that could impact everything from New York’s pest and disease prevention safeguards to its public health, food safety and consumer protection laws."

***

East End Police Departments will participate in the statewide May 2026 “Click It or Ticket”/“Buckle Up New York” campaign, beginning today through Sunday, May 31.

During the two-week mobilization, officers will be conducting fixed and roving safety restraint details focused on seat belt and child restraint compliance, according to police.

Under New York State law, all front-seat occupants must be properly secured regardless of age. Since Nov. 1, 2020, all rear-seat passengers — both over and under age 16 — must also be properly secured, police said.

Police also remind drivers and caregivers of New York’s child passenger safety requirements, including that children up to age 4 must be properly restrained in a federally approved child safety seat, and that backseat passengers under age 2 must be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint.

For more information, residents can visit www.safeny.ny.gov.

***

As the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, the United States Golf Association, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Golf Association and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, is launching a wide-ranging community engagement initiative designed to deliver lasting impact across Eastern Long Island.

“Bringing the U.S. Open to a community is an opportunity to create impact that extends well beyond championship week,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan.

Focused on strengthening access to the game, enhancing public golf facilities and creating new opportunities for young people, the U.S.G.A. promotes its continued commitment to ensuring the championship leaves a meaningful legacy in its host community.

Shinnecock Hills President Brett Pickett states, “Nothing about hosting a U.S. Open is more satisfying than the opportunity to spotlight and help constituents of our local community…We are incredibly grateful to the USGA for its leadership, and the MGA for its partnership, in continuing the legacy of community investment around our national championship.”

Four Suffolk County public golf courses — Indian Island Golf Club, Timber Point Golf Club, Bergen Point Golf Club and West Sayville Golf Club — will receive targeted support aimed at enhancing course conditions and improving the overall player experience.

In addition, a key component of the community giveback initiative will support youth programming within the Shinnecock Nation, building on existing efforts to introduce the game to young people in the community.

The partnership will enhance programming at the Shinnecock Nation Boys & Girls Club, expanding access to golf instruction, equipment and playing opportunities, while continuing to integrate cultural education and community-based activities.

“The USGA has been a long-time supporter of the Shinnecock Nation and we have seen the impact that support has on our youth over the years,” said Lisa Goree, chairwoman of the Shinnecock Council of Trustees. “We’re excited about this next chapter and look forward to welcoming back the U.S. Open.”

Arriving here 4 weeks from now, the 126th U.S. Open is scheduled for June 18–21, 2026, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. As the national championship of golf, it features a 156-player field competing for the title, with the final round traditionally concluding on Father's Day.

It will be the sixth Open hosted at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club...dating back to 1896.

East End Police to participate in "Click It or Ticket" campaign

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The first strike since 1994 could shut down the Long Island Rail Road as soon as 12:01 a.m. Saturday...that's right after midnight tonight...as the MTA and five labor unions remain locked in a contract standoff.

If commuters didn't have enough anxiety over the possible Long Island Rail Road strike, service to Penn Station was “extremely limited” this morning due to yesterday’s track fire.

There are no eastbound trains leaving from Penn Station and “there will be reroutes, cancellations and delays,” according to the MTA’s TrainTime app.

As reported by Newsday Staff, a 12-hour negotiation session yesterday between MTA managers and five LIRR unions ended last night without a deal, and with the two sides “very far apart,” according to one labor leader.

The talks broke shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday and are expected to reconvene at 10 o'clock this morning — just 14 hours before a strike deadline.

Asked if he thought a deal could be made with such little time left on the clock, Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said “I hope so.”

"What I can say is, at this point, the parties are very far apart,” Sexton said upon leaving the MTA’s Manhattan headquarters with other union leaders. "But we look forward to meeting with them tomorrow, and we'll take it from there.”

Earlier in the day, the two sides noted incremental progress during yesterday’s marathon negotiations.

***

The Petrocelli hotel plan got a warm reception from members of the Riverhead Town Board yesterday and is headed for a public hearing next month on the site plan and special permit application.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that officials reviewed the proposed 94-room downtown hotel from town square master developer J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square, a limited liability company whose managing members are Joe and John Petrocelli.

Joe Petrocelli and other representatives of the development company presented plans for the five-story hotel proposed for 117–127 E. Main St., adjacent to the planned town square and East End Arts campus, during the Riverhead Town Board’s morning work session.

The revised proposal increases the hotel room count from 76 to 94 rooms while removing the previously planned 12 condominiums. The fifth floor will now be built out as 14 suites with balconies or terraces instead of the condominium dwelling units, VHB environmental planner Christiana Kastalek told the board.

The proposal calls for construction of a 69,738-square-foot mixed-use building on an approximately half-acre site. The building will contain:

• a 116-seat restaurant with bar and outdoor terrace,

• a coffee shop,

• nearly 2,900 square feet of retail space,

• hotel lounge and fitness facilities,

• and 94 guest rooms, including 14 suites. Developer Joe Petrocelli described the project as critical to maintaining momentum for the broader downtown redevelopment effort.

The Riverhead Town Board is expected to schedule formal public hearings on the hotel site plan and special permit applications for June 10. Project representatives said they are also seeking a foundation permit to allow construction work to begin as soon as approvals are obtained. “We’re ready to go,” Petrocelli told the board.

***

East End Police Departments will participate in the statewide May 2026 “Click It or Ticket”/“Buckle Up New York” campaign, which runs from this coming Monday, May 18 through Sunday, May 31, police have stated in a media release.

During the two-week mobilization, officers will be conducting fixed and roving safety restraint details focused on seat belt and child restraint compliance.

Police cited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics indicating seat belt use has saved more than 345,000 lives since 1975, and that in 2024 there were 9,758 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes. The national seat belt use rate in 2024 was 91.2%, police said.

For more information, residents can visit www.safeny.ny.gov.

***

Ticks take over lawns and yards across Long Island in the warm spring and summer months and stick around into the fall. And like many of us, they enjoy dining al fresco.

Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that many homeowners have turned to professional pest control companies to spray their yards to eliminate or at least control the tick population. Others prefer to tackle it on their own with store-bought tick killers and repellents.

While not all tick bites cause diseases, such as Lyme disease, or trigger the red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome, public health experts urge Long Islanders to be wary of these hearty arachnids, many of whom survived this past winter under the cover of snow.

"I think most people come in contact with ticks in their yards ... and yards can be risky areas," said Scott Campbell, Suffolk County’s chief entomologist, who oversees tick surveillance. "People have a tendency to take precautions if they are going for a hike, but not if they are in their backyards."

The first step is figuring out if you have ticks in your yard and where they are.

"Not everyone has to spray," Campbell said. "You really have to assess the problem."

Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, an entomologist based in Babylon and associate director at Cornell University’s Integrated Pest Management program, suggested a simple DIY approach. Take a light-colored piece of flannel and attach it to something like a broom handle and sweep it across the grass to look for ticks.

"The flannel is really a perfect substance, because the tick is kind of tangled up in there, and they don't fall off easily," she said.

***

Nancy Remkus, who grew up in Sag Harbor and has been minister at the First Presbyterian (Old Whalers’) Church in Sag Harbor over the last five years was chosen recently to receive a Suffolk County “Champion of Diversity” Award.

Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker chose Remkus as the “Champion of Diversity” award recipient for Suffolk County’s District 2. Remkus opted to receive recognition at this coming Sunday’s service at 10 a.m. in the Old Whalers’ Church.

Welker and her assistant, Cheryl Rozzi, will be on hand to present the award. The church will host a reception following the service downstairs in the social hall.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that Nancy Remkus was a beloved teacher at Sag Harbor Elementary School for more than 30 years. She created the school’s popular morning program, where students and their families start each school day by gathering in the gymnasium and singing a selection of songs.

***

Two weeks before the unofficial start of summer — traditionally the season of high water use across Long Island — the state has issued a drought warning for Nassau and Suffolk counties.

"Dry conditions and below-normal precipitation on Long Island have prompted DEC to ... issue a drought warning in Nassau and Suffolk counties," Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a statement yesterday. "We are encouraging all Long Islanders to practice water conservation to protect the region’s valuable sole source aquifer water supply."

Both counties had been on a drought watch; a drought warning is the second of four ranks, from watch to warning to emergency to disaster.

Long Island has received 4 inches less rain than normal over the past three months and 9 inches less than normal over the past six months, per the NYSDEC statement.

Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that abnormally low precipitation depletes the groundwater and the surface waters, such as streams and lakes, that are fed by groundwater.

Long Islanders use on average 140 gallons of water a day, per person, about 55% more than the national average of about 90 gallons, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Last August, during a drought watch, water use did not decline significantly even as the Suffolk County Water Authority pleaded with its customers to conserve water.

A drought warning doesn’t carry mandatory restrictions. But water suppliers are asking residents to take extra care with their water consumption in the coming weeks.

"With Long Island under a drought warning, Suffolk County Water Authority is urging all customers to be mindful of their water use and take the preservation of our water resources seriously," authority spokesman Daniel Dubois wrote to Newsday yesterday. "Outdoor lawn watering is one of the biggest drivers of demand on our system," he said. Customers should observe the odd/even watering schedule, he added.

Other suppliers encourage residents to use "smart" sprinklers, which monitor the soil for moisture before watering, and observe the ban on watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when much of the sprinkler water evaporates before reaching the lawn.

Outside of a slight chance of showers this morning, rain is not in our east end forecast until next Thursday morning when a 40 percent chance of showers is indicated.

MTA lead negotiator says deal to avoid strike is within reach

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's lead negotiator said yesterday a deal to avoid a commute-crippling Long Island Rail Road strike was within reach, as the transit agency put a $134 million offer on the table that would pay workers "all of the money that was requested," and that the unions have budged from their previous demands.

The MTA, however, is relying on a lump-sum payment to meet some of the unions' demands. A union source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, said the unions would not accept a deal made up of a one-time payment.

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that progress in the talks, acknowledged by both the MTA and the unions representing about half of the LIRR’s 7,000-member organized labor force, came as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged both sides to "find a middle ground" to avoid disrupting the commutes of 270,000 daily railroad riders. A strike could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. this Saturday if no deal is reached.

Following a Manhattan bargaining session, MTA chief negotiator Gary Dellaverson offered new details of management’s latest offer at a news conference at the authority's headquarters. He said the compensation package worth — $133,788,000 — is "the exact same amount" as a proposal recommended by White House mediators.

That recommended settlement would have paid workers 4.5% raises in the fourth year of their contract. The unions have demanded 5%, but Dellaverson said the unions, for the first time in recent negotiations, "actually made a move" at Wednesday’s bargaining session.

"All of the money that was requested is now on the table," Dellaverson said. "I believe firmly that a deal is present. It’s available. It’s doable. And we should reach it tomorrow."

In the event of a strike, the MTA is encouraging commuters to work from home if possible. Those who can’t will have to drive to work or rely on limited public transportation options, including shuttle buses running between six locations on Long Island and two subway stations in Queens.

***

The public will get its first look this morning at long-anticipated plans for the Petrocelli hotel proposed for the Riverhead town square.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Riverhead Town Board members are expected to review plans for a 94-room hotel filed by J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square LLC at today’s work session at 10 a.m. in Riverhead Town Hall.

The application calls for construction of a five-story, 69,738-square-foot hotel building at 117–127 E. Main St., adjacent to the planned town square and East End Arts campus.

Plans submitted to the town show the project would include a 116-seat restaurant with bar and outdoor terrace overlooking the riverfront, a coffee shop, nearly 2,900 square feet of retail space, hotel lounge and fitness facilities and 94 guest rooms, including 14 fifth-floor suites with balconies or terraces.

The “Peconic River Hotel” proposal replaces an earlier concept reviewed during the town’s downtown revitalization environmental review process that included 76 hotel rooms and 12 condominium units.

The plan represents one of the most significant vertical development projects tied to the town’s broader downtown redevelopment initiative, which includes construction of a new public town square, flood mitigation improvements and a planned parking garage.

Among the most significant are questions involving sewer and water system capacity.

Parking and traffic operations are also expected to be key discussion points during this morning’s Riverhead Town Board work session.

***

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Southold Flotilla holds its annual National Safe Boating Week event in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this coming Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities to promote safety on the water will include paddlecraft & safety equipment, knot tying, and life ring toss. Free vessel safety checks will be given on the water in Greenport Harbor.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that U.S. Coast Guard statistics show drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities in 2024, and that 87 percent of those who drowned were NOT wearing life jackets.

The NY State Annual Report reflects that the most common cause of accidents is collision between boats. “With over 60,0000 registered recreational vessels in Suffolk County, boaters must be constantly aware of what is happening,” said Andrew Tarantino, Division Commander, Eastern Long Island. “Auxiliary safety classes point out the changes in the laws, as well as best practices to keep boating safe and fun.”

Learn more as the U.S. Coast Guard celebrates Safe Boating Week in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

***

Tired of delay, an Amagansett property owner has sued the East Hampton Town Building Department after five months of waiting for a building permit to construct a house on Bendigo Road.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that the East Hampton Town Building Department has been in the spotlight for much of the past year, having battled a backlog, a handful of lawsuits and staff turnover — all as the district attorney’s office conducted a bribery investigation, and ultimately, charged two staffers.

Highly credentialed Principal Building Inspector Richard Normoyle, who came on board with the Town of East Hampton after 30 years of experience in municipal building operations last September, has looked to right the ship and told the Town Board this week that he has a one-year plan for cutting down the backlog, which right now stretches back to September.

The goal is to cut the wait time down to three months by January 1 and reduce the wait time for smaller, accessory permits down to two weeks. By May 1 of next year, Normoyle is targeting a four-to-six-week wait for permits. Staffers are wrapping up applications from September; they are about to dive into October, November and December, which they plan to have worked through by mid-July.

“We’re all aware of the challenges we’re facing, and this board has been tremendously supportive of rebuilding this department,” Normoyle told the Town Board at a work session on Tuesday.

But the department is now faced with another lawsuit, this time concerning that very same application backlog that has been the subject of much scrutiny.

Dominating the conversation about moving forward, is expanding the department with extra staffing, which Normoyle says will be critical for getting additional eyes on applications and keeping pace with the rate of applications. East Hampton Town officials have been working with Suffolk County Civil Service on that, with the current ask being two new plans examiner positions.

Normoyle has also been quick to sing the praises of the new staffers. “The department is expanding and changing and growing…The more we expand, the more we train, the more we deal with the architects, the faster things move, and this only increases our momentum as we continue down this path,” said East Hampton Town’s Principal Building Inspector Richard Normoyle.

***

The Long Island Rail Road, America’s busiest passenger rail service, will be forced to shut down on Saturday if transit officials and workers cannot come to terms on a contract and avert a strike.

Stefanos Chen reports in THE NY TIMES that five unions representing more than 3,500 workers — including engineers, signalmen and machinists — about half of the LIRR’s unionized work force - are preparing to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, if they don’t receive bigger raises than they are currently being offered. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that runs the railroad, has said such an increase could lead to higher fares, higher state taxes or service cuts.

A strike on the Long Island Rail Road, which carries more than 270,000 passengers a day between Long Island and New York City, on average, could cause chaos for travelers with few other options. Many commuters cannot work remotely and rely on the service.

The threat of a strike comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, seeks re-election later this year. The governor, who lost Long Island in the last election, is being challenged by the Nassau County executive, Bruce Blakeman, a Republican with close ties to the region.

Ms. Hochul said at a news conference yesterday that she did not want a strike, but that the unions’ salary demands could jeopardize the M.T.A.’s finances at a time when the authority is finally on stable ground.

“I’m not willing to ask Long Islanders to pay unnecessary fare hikes or higher taxes,” she said. “So we have to be ready for whatever happens.”

"Both sides must continue to negotiate in good faith toward a deal at the table. Now, I've directed the MTA to do just that, to negotiate in good faith, and they are," Hochul said. "But they need a partner."

Following a Manhattan bargaining session yesterday, MTA chief negotiator Gary Dellaverson offered new details of management’s latest offer at a news conference at the authority's headquarters. He said the compensation package worth — $133,788,000 — is "the exact same amount" as a proposal recommended by White House mediators.

Dellaverson said the MTA’s latest offer, which has been revised several times in the last week, would be the same financial outlay in the fourth year of workers’ contracts as mediators recommended. But because it would consist of lump-sum payments, rather than wage increases, it would be more affordable for the MTA in the long run, and not a precedent for negotiations with other, larger transit unions, he said.

A union source told NEWSDAY that workers wouldn't accept a lump sum payment alternative.

***

The Riverhead Business Improvement District Management Association - BIDMA - is rolling out a new branding and marketing strategy aimed at positioning downtown Riverhead as a year-round destination centered on arts, culture, walkability and its waterfront character.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the effort announced publicly this week, includes a new mission statement, updated branding language and a marketing strategy focused on attracting visitors, businesses and investment to the downtown district.

The BIDMA’s new mission statement promotes downtown Riverhead as “the nexus of the East End” and emphasizes its “historic character and arts culture” along with “sustainable economic investment,” “authentic community experiences” and “year-round vitality.”

BIDMA Executive Director Melissa Martin recently described downtown Riverhead as “the authentic soul of the East End” and “a walkable riverfront junction where craft culture meets historic grit.”

The BIDMA oversees the downtown business improvement district, which includes portions of Main Street and surrounding downtown areas of Riverhead.

More information is available at downtownriverhead.org.

***

The final Express Sessions event for spring 2026 focused on what the Southampton Town Board’s recent approval of the purchase of land to anchor a sewer system for the Hampton Bays business district could mean for the future of the hamlet — for better and worse.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the panel compiled for last week’s discussion included Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore, Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, Town Planning and Development Administrator Janice Scherer, Hampton Bays Chamber of Commerce President Christine Taylor, Hampton Bays Civic Association Vice President Michael McCullough and Hampton Bays community activist Gayle Lombardi.

The panel and members of the sold-out audience at Cowfish restaurant offered competing views about what a sewer system would or could mean for downtown Hampton Bays and ranged widely to discussions about the hamlet business district’s broader woes and a wide range of possible other ways to boost the economic prospects of the hamlet.

Supervisor Moore and the other Southampton Town officials defended the town’s purchase of a 31-acre property next to the town’s Jackson Avenue campus and its plans to use about 6 acres of the land to construct a sewage treatment and water discharge system. The plan is the subject of a lawsuit by the property’s sole neighbor.

The proposed location, adjacent to the town’s transfer station and separated from residential neighborhoods, had been one that many in Hampton Bays had called for years ago. Councilwoman McNamara acknowledged that she’d thought it was a poor choice because of the distance from the business district, but when engineers looked closely at the details they determined it was actually very well suited for a sewer system plant.

Critics have said that freeing downtown properties from the current constraints of Suffolk County Health Department wastewater limits could lead to an explosion of new development. Supporters say they hope that is exactly what will happen.

Making it possible for new development to grow in the downtown is crucial to sustaining Hampton Bays vitality and keeping it a desirable place to live, proponents of the sewer plan say.

Chamber of Commerce President Taylor said that without a major boost to the business climate in the downtown, it is doomed to gradual deterioration even from what it is now. “Hampton Bays is not the Main Street you’re going to walk down just to window shop. People go to the hardware store and leave. The stores are struggling,” Taylor said. “A lot of our business owners are over 55 years old. They’re tired. They’re looking for younger blood to come in and revitalize.”

Trump war with Iran causes daily expenses to rise significantly for Long Islanders

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

A potential Long Island Rail Road strike could have a “catastrophic” impact on local economy and employees’ ability to get to work sites, shops and offices. The region could see a daily loss of $70 million in economic activity, according to past analysis adjusted for inflation. Local employers, both large and small said they are weighing contingency plans on how to get employees to job sites.

Victor Ocasio reports in NEWSDAY that the Long Island Rail Road transports more than 270,000 weekday riders each day, and a strike would disrupt the local economy and create ripple effects on businesses that rely on rail access, business leaders and economists said. Businesses, from restaurants and hospitals to retail, construction and tourism, could stand to lose tens of millions in economic activity, experts said.

“The LIRR is an economic lifeline for Long Island and a critical artery for the entire downstate economy,” said Stacey I. Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group. “A strike could create immediate disruptions for hundreds of thousands of commuters and employees.”

Steven Kent, chief economist for the Long Island Association said, “We on Long Island have not experienced this kind of disruption for a very long time,” said Kent, an associate professor of economics at Molloy University’s School of Business. The LIRR last went on strike in June 1994. The next LIRR strike could start this coming Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

While businesses in certain professional services, such as accounting, the legal field, or IT support, have tools in place for remote work following the pandemic, many industries, including construction and retail don't, Kent said. Many workers will still need to travel within Long Island or to the city "whether the railroad is working or not."

As a result, Long Island's highways may become even more gridlocked, leading to lost productivity even for businesses with local staff, Kent said.

Kristen Porciello, vice president of operations at the Hotel Indigo in Riverhead said the loss of any modes of transportation ahead of Memorial Day weekend posed a risk to hotel stays. Industry officials said it could also slow the collection of hotel and motel taxes.

“This is our busy season. This is the season that people come out for,” Porciello said. “Anything that could stop that could hurt bookings.”

***

Gasoline prices on Long Island and in the metropolitan area overall rose a whopping 33.9% last month compared with a year ago as the war with Iran continued to disrupt oil production and transportation.

That was the fastest rate in nearly four years — and followed March’s 18.2% increase in the cost of gas.

James T. Madore reports in NEWSDAY that the surge in pump prices led to higher inflation overall in the metro area and nationwide last month with the consumer price index rising at its quickest pace in three years. The index was released yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The acceleration of war with Iran which began Feb. 28, has reversed the year-over-year decline in the cost of gas seen in January and February, as well as in much of 2025.

Prices on Long Island have continued to climb this month. The average price of a gallon of unleaded was $4.53 yesterday, up from $4.35 on May 1, according to AAA.

Economists predicted more of the same at least in the short term, with some saying inflation will peak next month.

"Shoppers face a costly summer ahead," said John A. Rizzo, an economist and Stony Brook University professor, adding the higher gas prices coincide with the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported goods.

"Businesses are passing on the import taxes directly to customers. At the same time, high oil prices and summer gas fees are making it pricier to ship food and store goods," which leads to increases in retail prices, Rizzo said.

The overall consumer price index for the 25-county region, including Long Island, rose 4.6% last month compared with April 2025. That was the fastest pace in three years.

***

Riverhead High School’s honor music students returned home from Philadelphia with some of the top honors awarded at the Music in the Parks festival earlier this month. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the R.H.S. wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, chamber orchestra and chamber choir all earned superior ratings at the regional competition, with the wind ensemble and jazz ensemble each being named best overall in their categories.

The wind ensemble captured first place and Best Overall Concert Band, while the jazz ensemble earned first place and Best Overall Jazz Ensemble honors. The chamber orchestra also took first place with a superior rating, and the chamber choir earned second place with a superior rating.

Two Riverhead High School students also received individual recognition for their performances. Senior Christian Seymour was named Best Overall Jazz Soloist and junior Jarell Gilliam earned Best Overall Vocalist honors.

“This trip was an extraordinary experience for all involved, one that showcased the dedication, talent and hard work of our student-musicians,” said jazz ensemble director Crystal Crespo.

***

The Town of East Hampton yesterday adopted legislation barring its police from cooperating with federal authorities on civil immigration enforcement.

Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that the East Hampton Town Board voted unanimously to approve the bill during its meeting on Tuesday. The new law prohibits town police from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in civil immigration enforcement. The measure allows town police to cooperate in criminal cases or when officers are presented with a judicial warrant.

East Hampton Town officials framed the measure as a step to strengthen public safety by reinforcing trust between members of law enforcement and immigrant communities. About 27% of the town's population is Hispanic or Latino, and about 23% are foreign-born, according to U.S. census estimates. The percentage of "documented" foreign born East Hampton residents has not been officially published.

Advocates have said the threat of deportation can deter residents from reporting crimes or cooperating with police. The legislation bars the Town of East Hampton from entering into 287(g) agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which allows police departments to partner with ICE on immigration enforcement. Such agreements have been used in Nassau County, where local detectives have been deputized to assist federal agents.

Latino and immigrant neighbors are “part of the fabric of East Hampton,” Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said before the vote. “I want them to hear this clearly: You are not alone and you belong here. You should not have to choose between your health and your fear.”

In response to East Hampton Town’s adoption, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to Newsday that ICE has had “tremendous success” when working with local law enforcement.

“Partnerships with law enforcement are critical to having the resources we need to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country…When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with ICE, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities,” the I.C.E. spokesperson said. “Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE.”

The new East Hampton Town legislation follows a period of heightened illegal immigration enforcement nationwide by the Trump administration including on Long Island.

New York State lawmakers are looking to ban municipalities from entering 287(g) agreements statewide. President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has threatened to “flood the zone” with immigration agents if New York passes those bills.

***

Two of the most prominent commercial real estate properties in downtown Sag Harbor Village are officially under new ownership. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the U-shaped building at 2 Main Street — sometimes referred to as “Fort Apache” — which is currently home to K-Pasa and Yummylicious, and 22 Long Island Avenue, the former home of the 7-Eleven, were purchased last week by Mavik Capital, a New York City-based real estate investment firm.

Mavik is now the sole owner of the properties, but has been involved in them for several years. Mavik was one of the original lenders when developer Jeremy Morton purchased both properties in 2024 for a total of $30 million.

After making the purchase, Morton presented grand plans for the properties to the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board, looking to extend an existing second floor at both buildings.

But the fate of those buildings has been in flux for months, after the news, earlier this year, that Morton had defaulted on more than $5 million in loans, many that he had personally guaranteed, and had failed to pay various local contractors as well.

Mavik closed on a deal last week to assume full control of the two properties. While details of the company’s plans for the buildings have yet to be released, the company has hired local attorney Denise Schoen of Adam Miller Group and local architect Chris DiSunno, signaling a desire to engage in a thoughtful way with the community.

A press release sent from Adam Miller Group outlined the approach the company plans to take in its ownership of the buildings.

“As the gateway assets to the Village, Mavik is focused on delivering a thoughtful, community-focused approach by engaging local expertise to help shape the project’s vision,” the release stated. “Mavik has confirmed it will transition to a new architect and has engaged Christopher DiSunno, a Sag Harbor/East Hampton native with a deep understanding of the town’s character.”

***

Learn more as the U.S. Coast Guard celebrates Safe Boating Week in Greenport’s Mitchell Park this Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

***

Long Islanders have been feeling the sting of rising grocery prices since annual average grocery inflation in the New York metro area, including Nassau and Suffolk, hit a 48-year high of 10.2% in 2022. Price growth slowed afterward, but grocery inflation has recently accelerated to levels not seen in years. Tory N. Parrish reports in NEWSDAY that from March to April, inflation for groceries, or "food at home," in the NYC metro area was 1.5%, the biggest monthly increase since July 2022, when it was 2.5%, according to data published yesterday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Grocery inflation in April compared to the same month last year was 5.9%, the biggest annual increase since April 2023, when it was 6.1%.

War with Iran, as of Feb. 28, has disrupted fuel shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and is the biggest factor in recent grocery price hikes, said Adam Kamins, senior regional economist at Moody’s Analytics, an economic research provider in Manhattan.

Diesel fuels the trucks that transport food and the machinery used on farms, while petroleum byproducts are used to produce fertilizer.

“I expect that what we’re seeing now, it may not be the new normal [in terms of prices], but it’s pretty close at least for the rest of this year,” Kamins said.

Among the different food categories, fruits and vegetables had the biggest year-over-year price growth in April, 11.8%, in the metro area.

That is partly due to extreme cold weather in Florida and other parts of the United States this past winter into spring, which reduced crop production, said Tom Jackson, economics manager at S&P Global Market Intelligence, a market information provider based in Manhattan.

Higher labor costs and fewer workers at farms due to heightened immigration enforcement were other factors, he said.

Overall grocery prices in the New York metro area are now 26% higher than they were in April 2020, the month after the COVID-19 pandemic began leading to temporary business shutdowns and home quarantines.

Despite higher grocery prices, farmers are not seeing increased profits due to rising expenses. About 5.8 cents of every dollar spent on groceries goes to farmers, down from 7.4 cents in 2014 according to Faith Parum, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Hochul says she's committed to help prevent LIRR strike

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Every day on average, half a million vehicles cross the Queens-Nassau border on the region's major highways — the Long Island Expressway, the Northern State and Southern State parkways.

Peter Gill and Alfonso A. Castillo report in NEWSDAY that shutting down the Long Island Rail Road, if a possible strike becomes a reality this coming Saturday, and sending at least a portion of the 270,000 daily weekday riders to their cars is expected to put a serious strain on roadways connecting Long Island and the city.

Robert Sinclair, of AAA Northeast, said the strike has the potential to make roadways between the city and Long Island "extremely crowded."

"All the roads going west are [already] jammed during a normal rush hour — and this is going to be extremely abnormal," he said.

Commuters and transportation experts see a potential gridlock situation. However, they say, the impact can be difficult to predict and could be less severe if people adjust commute times, to avoid peak rush hour, or work from home.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s strategy to survive a potential LIRR strike next week relies on most commuters working from home, and those who can’t making do with limited options to get between New York City and Long Island, including buses and their own cars.

The MTA will have shuttle buses going from six LIRR stations — including Bay Shore, Huntington, and Ronkonkoma in Suffolk to and from Queens locations.

MTA chief financial officer Jai Patel said between 165 and 275 buses could be secured for the contingency plan, costing the MTA $325,000 to $550,000 per day.

Still, MTA officials have acknowledged the shuttles won’t be able to accommodate all riders of the busiest commuter railroad in North America, so they have been encouraging employers to allow workers to telecommute.

***

Gov. Kathy Hochul said yesterday she’s committed to getting LIRR workers a "deal that is going to prevent a strike" just five days away.

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that Governor Hochul, in Manhattan Monday, said she and her team are "immersed in the details" of the ongoing labor negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five unions representing nearly 3,500 LIRR workers. If unresolved, the unions have said they will go on strike beginning Saturday, shutting down the nation’s largest commuter railroad and displacing about 270,000 daily riders.

"I am involved," said Hochul, who oversees the MTA and appoints many of its board members. "We just want to make sure that New York is affordable for everyone and make sure, as they negotiate, that they get the deal that is going to prevent a strike. I’m committed to that."

After failing to reach a deal at a pair of negotiating sessions last week, both sides returned to the bargaining table in Bethpage yesterday for negotiations overseen by the National Mediation Board.

A union coalition spokesman said Monday's bargaining session ended with no settlement and little progress made. He said both sides are set to meet again Wednesday.

In a statement, the MTA said it made "a revised proposal" during yesterday's talks, but offered no details of the latest offer.

Yesterday, Michael Sullivan, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, said the MTA strategy is to "deflect, distort, dither and denigrate" even as the strike date grows nearer.

"It’s time for management to get serious about negotiating wages," Sullivan said in a statement.

Hochul said among the issues her office is tracking is "what can be afforded" and "what sets the pattern for other unions."

***

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed incumbent East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez in her ongoing Democratic primary race with challenger Jerry Larsen, the mayor of East Hampton Village, according to a release sent out by East Hampton Democrats. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Burke-Gonzalez and Larsen have been locked in a heated contest for the Democratic Party ballot line, the winner of which will be decided in the primary election on June 23. Since the local Republican Party has not put forth a candidate for East Hampton Town supervisor ahead of the filing deadlines for the November election, the winner of this year’s primary will have a straight shot at the town’s top office.

Intrigue has surrounded the race from the outset, as Larsen has challenged the established local Democratic Party by backing a separate slate of candidates for seats on the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee and drawn the ire of Suffolk County Democratic Committee officials.

Governor Hochul’s announcement yesterday endorsing Kathee Burke-Gonzalez stated in part, “Kathee knows how to work with partners at every level of government and bring resources home for the people she serves…I’m excited to keep working with Kathee to build on that progress and deliver even more for East Hampton and for New York.”

***

The man who was shot and killed by Southampton Town Police officers on Sunday had slashed and stabbed his mother more than 40 times inside her Northampton home before he was shot, Town Police Chief James Kiernan said at a press conference yesterday. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the 28-year-old, identified as Steven Eastwood, had already stabbed his mother multiple times when three officers arrived at the well-kept Topping Drive home on Mother’s Day.

When officers entered the home, they found Eastwood standing over his mother with a knife. He ignored their orders to drop the knife and began walking toward the officers, who Chief Kiernan said backed away from him in an effort to draw him away from his mother and deescalate the situation.

But, instead, the son suddenly turned back toward his mother and began stabbing her again.

“Faced with an ongoing, deadly assault, officers discharged their service weapons, striking Mr. Eastwood, and immediately stopping the attack,” Kiernan said. “Emergency medical services personnel from Flanders Northampton Ambulance responded to the scene and pronounced Mr. Eastwood deceased.”

Kiernan said that more than one of the officers fired their guns, but did not say how many shots were fired. He has not identified the officers by name, but said all three are receiving trauma counseling.

The victim, whom police have not named, was taken by Suffolk County Police medevac helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she underwent surgery. She remains in serious condition and has not regained consciousness, Kiernan said, as of the last update shared with police.

The victim had called police at 2:43 p.m. Sunday and said that her son was at the home, highly intoxicated and acting violently. Police officers were already en route to the address when the woman called 911 again and said that her son was threatening her with a knife.

Chief Kiernan said that the officers involved in the shooting were wearing body cameras and that the footage from the incident will be released at a future date. The shooting is being investigated by the New York State attorney general’s office, as is protocol for all officer-involved shootings.

This appears to be the first time a Southampton or East Hampton Town police officer has shot and killed anyone.

***

A code change that would link employment and housing underwent public debate last week as a string of speakers came out in force to question an East Hampton Town Board move that would, if passed, establish and enumerate the standards for employer-owned housing developments. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that all such developments, if the code were approved as currently written, would have to be built in both an affordable housing overlay district and a limited business overlay district, which would ensure proximity to workplaces. Units would go to moderate-income families or individuals — that is, those who earn within 130 percent of the area median income, which is around $142,000 for a single person. Rent also would be capped at 130 percent of fair market rent.

Such developments would require a special permit. Tenants also would have all rights and protections provided by New York State’s tenant laws.

These proposed changes came on the heels of a pitched 79-unit decentralized, condominium-style workforce development on Three Mile Harbor Road that popped up late last year — and quickly fizzled out in the face of firm opposition from the public and an East Hampton Town Board that questioned the oversight structure.

This shadow loomed last Thursday as the Town Board unveiled the set of workforce housing code changes. The crux of the legislation, on top of what is listed above, would mandate that a third-party management company come in to oversee the units.

What this code change would do, practically, is pave the way for private developer Kirby Marcantonio’s 47-unit, condominium-style plan for workforce housing on Pantigo Road. Units will cost $700,000 to build, so the cost for businesses to buy would end up being north of that number. Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, for one, has been outwardly supportive of this development.

Next steps will have the East Hampton Town Board return the code changes to a work session for further discussion. There, town officials will likely discuss whether to make any changes to the draft code and whether the board’s support weathered the public hearing.

***

The League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork will welcome Andrea Goldsmith, president of Stony Brook University, as guest speaker at its 49th annual meeting this coming Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. at Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton.

Goldsmith, appointed president in August 2025, will discuss the university’s vision, provide updates on programs at the Southampton campus, and speak about the new “Future Scholars” initiative involving five local school districts.

An engineer and telecommunications researcher, Goldsmith previously served as dean of engineering and applied science at Princeton University and spent more than two decades on Stanford University’s engineering faculty. In 2020, she became the first woman to receive the Marconi Prize for telecommunications research.

Sunday’s meeting will also include the League’s annual business session, election of officers, adoption of the 2026-27 budget and presentation of the Betty Desch Student Leadership Award and the Carrie Chapman Catt Award.

RSVPs are being accepted by email, lwvhsinf@gmail.com.

That’s this Sunday at 2 p.m. in Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton.

***

More than a decade after southern pine beetles were first discovered in Long Island’s forests, hundreds of thousands of conifers have died — a sight that has become vivid this spring as deciduous trees have leafed out and greened up. Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that roughly 5,000 acres of pine barrens, a globally rare ecosystem, have been infested, according to foresters at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, dramatically altering the landscape.

While foresters fear some of the pine forest will be lost for good, they also are finding reasons for guarded optimism. In Rocky Point, a pilot program started five years ago to thin the pines provides a strategy for slowing the beetles' spread.

"For all the damage it's doing, I think it's finally making people realize that these forests need to be managed," said Kathy Schwager, an ecologist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, which is surrounded by pine forest. The pine beetle crisis demanded better forestry practices, Schwager said, especially targeted thinning and burning, which mimic the natural cycles of wildfire that sustained the pine barrens for hundreds of years. Over time, those efforts should make these ecologically sensitive woodlands "more resilient to the southern pine beetle."

Long Island’s pine barrens — about 50,000 acres of relatively intact pine and mixed pine and oak woodlands — had grown dense after decades of fire suppression. That density, experts say, provided a tempting target for the beetles.

The tiny insects — each about the size of a single chocolate sprinkle, as DEC forester John Wernet described them — feed on the inner bark of pines and the fungi the beetles bring with them, and they use chemical signals called pheromones to call others to a healthy food source. Where trees are closely spaced, the signals are more easily received, bringing reinforcements in such huge numbers that the tree cannot fight the infestation.

In a more open woodland, pheromones disperse and the insects lose their way. Each tree also has fewer near neighbors with which to compete for sunlight, nutrients and rain, leaving them healthier and more able to defend against pests.

Fire policy began to shift by the 1990s, and when the pine beetle started ravaging the area in 2014, state foresters began spot suppression — cutting infested trees — as well as thinning healthy trees to open the canopy and slow the spread. And they began setting prescribed fires to clear some of the dense understory.

Over time, though, forests in Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley and elsewhere in Suffolk will most likely be dominated by oaks, and some parts of Long Island’s thousand-year heritage of rare pine barrens will disappear. experts tell NEWSDAY.

Record-setting retail transaction closes in Water Mill

Mon, 11 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Southampton Town police shot and killed a man armed with a knife on Sunday afternoon after officers responded to a call of a "violent" disturbance in a family home, Suffolk County police said in a statement last night. Peter Gill and Janon Fisher report in NEWSWDAY that Southampton Town police said they received a call at 2:43 p.m. yesterday from a resident on Topping Drive in the hamlet of Northampton about "an escalating violent domestic situation."

When officers arrived at the home, they found the son actively stabbing his mother. The unidentified man was shot and killed by officers with the Southampton Town Police Department after he refused to put down the knife, according to sources and police.

A woman suffered serious injuries, Suffolk County police said, and she was taken to Stony Brook Hospital. Three Town of Southampton police officers were also taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries, but were treated and released.

"Officers secured the scene and an investigation is ongoing with the Suffolk County Police Department," Southampton police spokeswoman Det. Sgt. Gina Laferrera said in an earlier statement. "There is currently no danger to the community."

State troopers and Southampton police blocked off Topping Drive Sunday afternoon with yellow crime scene tape.

Greg Mastronardi, whose parents live across the street, said he and his wife witnessed the shooting.

Mastronardi said that he saw a man come out of the house with a knife in his hand.

"The cop was telling him, 'drop the knife, drop the knife' several times. He didn't comply," he added.

The police officer was about 10 feet from the stairs leading up to the porch of the home — where the man was — when the officer opened fire, Mastronardi said.

The wounded woman is confined to a wheelchair and was described by neighbors as a quiet woman who suffered years of domestic abuse. She had triplet boys, with at least two of them suffering from mental illness, WABC reported.

The woman, who was not identified, made at least one 911 call yesterday, stating she had become afraid of her son, sources added per THE NY POST.

The New York State Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation is conducting "a preliminary assessment of the matter," a spokeswoman said.

By New York State law, the attorney general's office must investigate all fatal police-involved shootings.

***

Extensive habitat restoration and trail improvements have been completed at the 100-acre Broad Cove Preserve in Aquebogue.

Broad Cove Preserve, one of the largest remaining tracts of open space in the Peconic Estuary, was added to the New York State Birding Trail this spring.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the site includes more than 8,000 feet of frontage on Terry Creek and Broad Cove in Flanders Bay, an embayment within the Peconic Estuary, an Estuary of National Significance. It is home to a broad array of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, the federally endangered northern long-eared bat, osprey and eastern wild turkey, and it lies within the Atlantic Flyway for migrating birds, officials said. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation this week announced the habitat restoration and trail improvements, which included invasive species removal, restoration of native habitat, trail realignment and expansion, and improvements to waterfront access and wildlife observation areas.

A new trail also provides access to a waterfront viewing area overlooking Flanders Bay, where a Chronolog Station — part of a citizen science project led by Peconic Baykeeper — has been installed.

Additional benches and observation points were added throughout the preserve to support birdwatching and quiet enjoyment of the property.

Representatives from DEC, Peconic Land Trust and conservation organizations, along with local elected officials, gathered at the preserve this past Thursday to celebrate the environmental improvements and the site’s recent addition to the New York State Birding Trail.

***

Tuesdays with Tom at North Fork Audubon heads to Calverton Ponds Preserve tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. for a chance to spot Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow, Osprey, and Red-tailed Hawk, along with a variety of ducks and other migrating songbirds during peak migration.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that you are invited to join North Fork Audubon for a spring bird walk at Calverton Ponds Preserve, where they will explore freshwater ponds, woodlands, and open habitats during peak migration.

Registration is required.

To register visit northforkaudubon.org.

That’s tomorrow morning - Tuesdays with Tom - from 8:00 AM to 10 AM at Calverton Ponds Preserve, Old River Rd, Manorville, NY 11949

***

Two cornerstone retail properties in Water Mill have been sold for a combined $39 million, setting a new record for the largest retail transaction in the history of the Hamptons. As reported on 27east.com, the blockbuster sale, which closed last week, includes Water Mill Square, located at 670 Montauk Highway, and The Mill, 760 Montauk Highway. Together, the two centers represent 84 percent of Water Mill’s gross leasing area.

The properties were sold by Vault Development Partners, led by Robert Zecher and Benjamin Rinzler. The transaction was brokered by Hal Zwick and Jeffrey Sztorc of the Hamptons Commercial Real Estate Team at Compass.

Water Mill Square features a 20,500-square-foot retail and office center situated on 2.26 acres, and has a mix of service, food, and lifestyle tenants. Neighboring property The Mill spans 29,314 square feet across 3.66 acres and is currently undergoing a repositioning to introduce new food concepts, curated outdoor elements, and experiential retail, according to a press release issued by Compass last Wednesday, May 6.

Last year, Zwick and Sztorc were behind a $30 million sale of commercial properties along the Sag Harbor waterfront.

The massive retail assemblage in Water Mill was finalized in 2023 when Zecher led the acquisition of The Mill to pair with Water Mill Square, which Rinzler’s family has owned for years.

“This portfolio has been a cornerstone of the Water Mill community for years, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see it evolve into such a vibrant retail destination,” Zecher stated.

***

Hundreds of Long Island Rail Road union workers and supporters this past Saturday stood together and vowed to "walk together" if the failure to negotiate what they consider a fair contract with the MTA forces them to go on strike in a week's time.

Alfonso Castillo and Joe Werkmeister report in NEWSDAY that the crowd of more than 400 rallied at the Massapequa train station one week out from what would be the railroad's first strike in over 30 years. Despite only representing about half the LIRR's union work force, the five unions involved in the contract fight presented a unified front, with support from other labor leaders and Long Island elected officials from both parties.

"This fight is about dignity. It's about respect. And it's about protecting the standard of living of hard working railroad families," Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, told rallygoers — many wearing red "LIRR Bargaining Coalition" T-shirts and holding signs with messages including "No contract, no work."

After three years of failed negotiations, the unions, which together represent about 3,500 LIRR workers, say they are prepared to strike on May 16 if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — the LIRR's parent organization — does not agree to their demands for a 5% raise in the fourth year of their contract. Both sides have agreed to raises of 3%, 3% and 3.5%, respectively, in the first three years of a new deal, which would be retroactive to 2023.

Sexton called it a "break-even agreement" that would barely allow workers to keep up with the growing cost of living. The monthly increases in the Consumer Price Index for the metro area have ranged between 2.5% and 4.5% since March 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Rank-and-file railroaders in the crowd expressed anxiety over potentially walking off the job and forgoing their paychecks but said they were buoyed by the large show of support, including from the MTA's largest labor organization, the Transport Workers Union, which represents 40,000 city bus and subway employees.

MTA spokesman Tim Minton dubbed it "the first-ever 'Rally for a Fare Hike' " because paying the unions the raises they demand could force the MTA to raise rates to cover costs.

***

Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski honored Sonia Spar as the 2026 Champion of Diversity for Suffolk County’s First Legislative District at a ceremony at the Southold Town Board’s meeting last week at the Peconic Lane Community Center. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the honor celebrates Ms. Spar’s “decades of tireless advocacy, multicultural leadership, and her extraordinary ability to bring together residents, institutions, and government in service of a more equitable and inclusive community,” according to Legislator Doroski.

A longtime Southold resident originally from Colombia, Spar has dedicated her career to building bridges of understanding across cultural, linguistic, and civic boundaries.

Since 2023, she has served as Southold Town’s Spanish-Speaking Community Service Liaison, connecting multilingual residents with local government services and ensuring equitable access to information and civic participation. Her work is grounded in cultural humility, trust, and a firm belief that strong communities are built through meaningful engagement.

In accepting the honor, Ms. Spar reflected on those who paved the way for her work and called on the community to remain engaged.

“I stand on the shoulders of extraordinary people who are no longer with us,” she said. “Their courage created room for conversations that were not always easy but were necessary.”

Ms. Spar has been a longstanding member of the Southold Anti-Bias Task Force and had served on the Hispanic Advisory Board to the Suffolk County Executive, bringing the perspective of Suffolk County’s growing Latino community to the highest levels of county government.

***

From housing to daycare, utilities and other needs, it costs more to live on Long Island than in most places.

James T. Madore, Jonathan LaMantia and Tory N. Parrish report in NEWSDAY that for many Long Islanders, the strain isn’t coming from one major expense, but from everything at once — housing, property taxes, electricity, transportation and childcare all running higher than in much of the rest of the country.

Data from Manhattan-based Moody’s Analytics indicates that Long Island’s cost of living exceeds the national average by 32% when accounting for spending on housing, food, utilities and transportation.

Economists cite a host of reasons for why prices are so much higher in Nassau and Suffolk counties, including proximity to New York City, high demand for a limited supply of commodities by a large population, many layers of government, and residents’ expectations for a high quality of life.

“Long Island’s high prices have to do with the attractiveness of the area and the scarcity of housing,” said Juan Carlos Conesa, co-chair of Stony Brook University’s economics department. “Any commutable suburb next to a strong, lively city is bound to be more expensive.”

The squeeze shows up across nearly every part of a household budget — but some costs stand out more than others. For example: the brutal housing market.

The median price of a single-family home in Nassau, at $849,000, is more than twice that of a typical American home, and Suffolk isn’t far behind at $700,000, according to March sales data from OneKey MLS. Of course the price of an East End home is much higher still.

Local renters also face a disparity in housing costs. Long Island renters pay about 70% more than the national average, according to CoStar, an Arlington, Virginia-based provider of real estate data.

The average monthly asking rent on Long Island was $3,030 across all unit types as of April 30, ranking fourth nationally behind only the New York City area (minus Long Island), San Francisco and San Jose, said Jared Koeck, associate director of market analytics at CoStar.

Trump border czar threatens to "flood the zone" if Hochul passes ICE limitations

Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

MTA managers, making their case against Long Island Rail Road unions' demands for 14.5% raises over four years, say LIRR employees threatening to strike are already the highest-paid railroad workers in the nation.

But LIRR labor leaders argue both their pay and negotiating position are warranted given the high cost of living in New York and recent raises given at other railroads across the country. And they're prepared to walk off the job May 16 if their terms aren't met.

In response to questions from Newsday about how they determined LIRR workers are the highest paid in the United States, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority cited numbers showing wages at four key LIRR positions exceeded the median of the next five largest American commuter railroads.

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that signal inspectors had the biggest difference among the union positions threatening to strike, according to MTA figures. Their $50.89 top hourly pay in 2025 was 20.7% higher than the $42.17 median at the five other railroads — Metro-North, NJ Transit, Boston’s MBTA, Philadelphia’s SEPTA and Chicago’s Metra. The smallest difference was for LIRR locomotive engineers, whose $54.81 top hourly pay was 3.4% above the $53 median earned at the other railroads. The MTA has told mediators that median pay was $131,212 in 2024 for employees in the five unions. When including fringe benefits such as health insurance, the average compensation was $200,427 in 2024. For locomotive engineers, the highest paid, it was $241,397.

"They are the highest-paid railroad workers in the nation but have refused the same significant wage increases the vast majority of their colleagues accepted," MTA chief labor and employee relations officer Anita Miller said in a March statement.

LIRR union leaders said those figures give an incomplete picture. They noted for one position some other railroads pay more. Locomotive engineers at Metro-North and Amtrak can earn $59 an hour — $4 more than the LIRR, according to information provided by the unions.

More broadly, the unions say LIRR workers’ pay reflects the cost of living in the metropolitan area, which is among the highest in the nation.

When accounting for cost of living, and for special pay outside of regular wages — including for receiving special training — the unions have said several other railroads pay more. Those include Metro-North, NJ Transit, Baltimore’s MARC, Northern California’s Caltrain and Southern California’s Metrolink, the LIRR unions said.

Unions say recent raises given at other railroads were as much as 7%.

If no agreement is reached, LIRR unions are threatening to walk off the job Saturday, May 16, at 12:01 a.m.

***

Employees at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma racked up more than $1 million in overtime in each of the past two years, a Newsday analysis found, costs that climbed amid a struggle to hire and retain security guards.

The Town of Islip, which runs the airport, paid more than $1.2 million in overtime for 75 airport employees last year, up from $1.09 million a year earlier. In 2023, the town paid $944,017 in overtime.

Sam Kmack reports in NEWSDAY that airport security guard staffing has fallen over the past several years. Islip Town employed 18 security guards at the end of 2019, and by the start of 2025, nine were employed, according to data provided by the town. Islip ended last year with 17 guards, following a mid-year push to boost staffing levels. The average base salary for a security guard last year was $67,469, town payroll records show.

Overtime pay in 2025 for a single guard reached a high of $110,154, records show. The airport's top five overtime earners were all within the airport's security division, and two guards more than doubled their salaries through overtime. Newsday obtained Islip's payroll records under the state's Freedom of Information Law.

Islip Town officials say federal minimum staffing requirements, and struggles to recruit and retain guards, contributed to the rising overtime expense.

***

Tomorrow morning, Peconic Landing in Greenport will host its 20th Annual John May Mile and 5K Race to benefit the Greenport Fire Department.

The John May Mile and 5K fundraiser is open to runners and walkers of all ages and fitness abilities, offering both a relaxed mile-long walk and a more challenging 3.1-mile run. Registration and stretching begin at 7:30 a.m. at Brecknock Hall with the race and walk to start at 9 a.m. Runners and walkers may register at: www.peconiclanding.org/JMM.

The family-friendly event features a barbecue lunch, raffles, and more.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that since inception in 2005, the annual John May Mile and 5K has raised over $400,000 to support the local first responders. The most recent event in 2025 contributed a total of $28,570, helping to purchase and maintain rescue equipment vital to keeping Greenport Fire Department volunteers safe while responding to emergency calls.

Following the race will be an awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on the back lawn of Brecknock Hall.

To register as a runner or vendor, visit www.peconiclanding.org/jmm.

***

The possibility of preserving the Peconic Farms property on Peconic Bay Boulevard in South Jamesport is off the table, a spokesperson for Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine told RiverheadLOCAL yesterday.

The owner of the 9.6-acre parcel, who had been negotiating with Suffolk County to sell the land for preservation as open space, notified the county real estate division late Wednesday that they were no longer interested in selling the land to the county, according to the county executive.

“This is a missed opportunity to preserve more farmland on the North Fork,” Romaine stated.

A portion of the site had been farmed, though the property was slated to be preserved as open space.

The owner has decided not to sell the property to Suffolk “as is their right,” Romaine said, adding, “We remain open to any further discussions in the future.”

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the potential sale became a subject of local controversy last week, when County Legislator Greg Doroski asked the Riverhead Town Board to partner with the county in the acquisition by managing the property after its transfer to the county. It would be preserved as open space for passive recreation uses, he told Town Board members at last week’s work session.

Riverhead officials balked at the idea of recreational uses on the site, expressing concerns that it would be opened up to people from all over Suffolk seeking beach access. The parcel borders town-owned land along East Creek but does not have any direct access to the waterfront.

Residents in an adjoining neighborhood also objected to the idea of recreational uses on the property. They said they would support an open space purchase without any recreational uses.

The Riverhead Town Board on Tuesday adopted a resolution supporting an open space acquisition conditioned on there being no recreational use of the site as county parkland.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin expressed disappointment that the acquisition may not happen.

“I’m disappointed that this wasn’t able to happen,” Halpin said. “I totally respect the owner and their decisions, but I hope that myself and our Town Board can always be open to working with the county and landowners” to preserve land.

***

President Donald Trump's border czar has threatened to “flood the zone” with immigration agents if New York State passes bills to limit local coordination with the federal government's crackdown.

New York seems ready to do so anyway.

“I don't take well to threats,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said yesterday. "We’re going to pass what we think is important to protect New Yorkers.”

Vaughn Golden and David Propper report in THE NY POST that Border czar Thomas Douglas Homan “schooled” Hochul Wednesday night as the New York governor looks to reduce local cooperation with ICE. Homan claims the Democrat NYS chief executive is only hurting the migrants she’s trying to help.

The Trump administration’s top immigration official hit back at Hochul as the pair got into a war of words this week over the possibility of federal agents surging into the Empire State.

The governor said she was “not asking” for more ICE agents to crack down on illegal migrants Wednesday – only for Homan to respond hours later on Fox News: “Well, Governor Hochul, I’m not asking either.”

Homan’s threat of more manpower comes as Hochul and state lawmakers near a deal — that would be included in the delayed state budget — to dramatically curtail how much local law enforcement and jails can work with ICE. If ICE agents can’t work with jail officials in certain New York counties that have agreements with the federal government, Homan stressed the feds will find other ways to track their targets down.

“She wants to end the partnership we currently have which means now we’ve got to send a whole team to look for a criminal that we could arrest in the safety and security of a jail, which is safer for the officers, safer for the aliens, certainly safer for the communities,” he told Fox News host Laura Ingraham. “So you’re forcing us into the neighborhoods to find this person, which means we lost the efficiency of the jails that you want to lock us out of, now we have to send a whole team to find this person so of course we’re going to increase manpower – a lot.”

Albany Democratic legislators also want all law enforcement in the state to stop communicating with ICE unless a person has been criminally charged with a felony or misdemeanor. ICE won’t be able to rent beds in local jails under the NYS Legislature’s proposed series of sanctuary policies, leading detained migrants to be shipped to other parts of the country, Homan said.

The governor again made clear yesterday that she did not want more of an ICE presence in the state. “They’re going to backtrack on that as a threat to me, trying to threaten the governor of the state of New York, and I don’t take well to threats. They’re going to find that out,” Hochul said, noting she has not directly spoken to Trump or Homan since this latest rift. “We’re going to pass what we think is important to protect New Yorkers.”

***

It has become an article of faith in the New York State Capitol that when Gov. Kathy Hochul enters the Red Room on the building’s second floor to announce a budget agreement, the deal is actually far from sealed.

This year was no different.

Benjamin Oreskes reports in THE NY TIMES that despite declaring that “today is the day” to announce an agreement on a $268 billion state budget, Ms. Hochul yesterday acknowledged that several key initiatives — including a new tax surcharge on multimillion-dollar second homes in New York City — had been agreed on in principle, but that the details still needed work.

Even the top-line figure had not been finalized.

New York’s opaque budget process, which starts in January with the State of the State address and is supposed to be completed by April 1, has become far more than a negotiation over a fiscal document.

Governors have tended to use the budget to wedge in legislative priorities, wielding their leverage over billions of dollars to get their way.

Ms. Hochul has embraced this practice. And, in a re-election year, she wanted to convey to voters that she intended to stand up to President Trump’s immigration crackdown, help out New York City and lower costs for everyday New Yorkers.

She made that case yesterday at a news conference flanked by several of her top aides. Notably missing were the leaders of the State Assembly and Senate.

The Assembly speaker, Carl E. Heastie, said on Thursday that it was “very premature” of the governor to say a deal had been reached. He would not even say that the Legislature had agreed to the $268 billion figure.

***

East End Arts and DXA Studio unveiled a conceptual redesign yesterday for the organization’s East Main Street campus that would raise and relocate its historic buildings to protect them from flooding while creating a more accessible arts and gathering space in downtown Riverhead. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the presentation, delivered at the Riverhead Town Board work session, outlined a first phase focused on elevating the buildings to street level and reorganizing the campus layout while preserving all of the historic structures.

“This first phase is about protecting the historic buildings that have defined East End Arts for decades while creating a campus that is more accessible, connected and central to Riverhead’s new downtown,” East End Arts and Humanities Council Executive Director Wendy Weiss said.

The Town of Riverhead owns the East End Arts property. Through a grant-funded study, the town engaged DXA Studio to work with the East End Arts Council to develop a vision for the site.

The project is tied to the town’s larger flood mitigation and downtown redevelopment efforts surrounding the new town square, hotel and residential development now under construction nearby.

“The reason we are working on this project is because we knew we needed to move the buildings at East End Arts up and out of the floodplain so they do not wash away,” Community Development Administrator Dawn Thomas said during the meeting. “The idea became, where should they go?”

The north end of the site, fronting on Main Street, is to be raised to street level. Currently, it sits several feet below the grade of the street.

“By bringing the buildings closer to street level and reorganizing the site, the plan improves visibility, pedestrian access and connections to the surrounding public realm,” East End Arts and DXA Studio said in a joint press release issued after the work session.

East End Arts last fall moved its administrative offices and instruction space to a town-owned building at 406 Griffing Avenue, adjacent to Riverhead Town Hall.

Weiss told the Town Board yesterday that the arts council would begin construction today on its temporary gallery space at 48 W. Main St. That space, she noted, is across the street from its existing 11 West Gallery, located on the ground floor of Peconic Crossing at 11 W. Main St. The new temporary gallery will open with East End Arts’ Detour VII exhibition on Saturday, June 13.

“We’re working really hard in the meantime so that we’re not just waiting for this to happen,” Weiss said. “We want to keep things going.”

Town of Southampton in roll out new mass alert system

Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Corporal punishment and harsh discipline during toilet training against toddlers and preschool-age children that went unreported to the state.

Young children left without competent supervision and staff who failed to immediately inform parents of serious incidents.

Day care centers that failed to conduct criminal or sex offender background checks for new hires, in violation of state guidelines.

Robert Brodsky reports in NEWSDAY that these are just some of the nearly 100 allegations leveled against seven Long Island day care centers that state officials report are now at risk of losing their license to continue operating.

Meanwhile, another four local childcare facilities had their license revoked and were forced to shutter in recent months after serious health or safety violations were documented by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, a Newsday investigation found.

None of the nearly dozen Long Island day cares that have found themselves under scrutiny from the state are on the east end. Overall, the day cares cited represent just a small fraction of the 2,133 childcare providers on Long Island.

But to the families of children enrolled in these facilities, typically ranging in age from infants to as old as 12, the alleged violations raise questions about the businesses' safety protocols and offer doubts whether they'll continue to operate moving forward.

"The safety and well-being of all children in Office of Children and Family Services-licensed childcare programs is our top priority," said Daniel Marans, a spokesman for the agency. "To achieve these standards, we work diligently to ensure enforcement is fair and proportional across the state, creating a pathway back to good standing for childcare providers that fully comply with OCFS’ remediation plans."

In Suffolk, five day care businesses are at risk of revocation, records show.

They include Dazzling Tots Daycare in Mastic, Kiddie Academy of Farmingdale, The Learning Experience in Northport, Snuggles Day Care in Copiague, and Vanessa Little Blessings Daycare in Coram.

***

An off-duty Quogue Village police officer who struck and killed a Hampton Bays woman with his personal vehicle will not be charged with a crime following a review of the case by New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation.

Robert Brodsky reports in NEWSDAY that Margaret Lucey, 89, was crossing Ponquogue Avenue walking west in Hampton Bays shortly before 11 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2024, when she was struck by officer Jon Stanton’s Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck as Stanton made a left turn from Good Ground Road, authorities said.

Stanton remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, the report said.

Lucey was taken by Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance to Southampton Hospital where she died from her injuries, Southampton Town police said.

Two months after the accident, the AG's office announced that it was launching an investigation of the crash, which is mandated under a 2021 state law for deaths involving on- and off-duty police, peace officers and correction officers.

Yesterday, James' office released her 11-page report into the incident which "concludes that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Officer Stanton committed a crime when he caused Ms. Lucey’s death."

The investigation, the report states, included review of a 911 call, footage from nearby security cameras, an interview with a witness and photographs from the scene. The investigation, the report said, found no evidence that Stanton was speeding, distracted, impaired by drugs or alcohol or driving in a reckless manner.

Stanton, who was hired by the Quogue Village P.D. in February 2022 and is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, immediately requested an ambulance, the report states, and began performing life-saving measures.

***

Suffolk County legislators approved at least $3.9 million to settle police-involved lawsuits so far this year, including $3 million to the estate of an emotionally disturbed man, Walter Kellogg, who was allegedly shot and killed by a police officer outside his Shirley home.

Lawmakers also approved $600,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed the same officer assaulted a Shirley woman in 2012.

Internal affairs cleared the officer of wrongdoing in those incidents but he was terminated on other charges in 2022.

Michael O'Keeffe reports in NEWSDAY that the Suffolk police Internal Affairs Bureau cleared former Officer Frank Santanello of wrongdoing in the 2018 fatal shooting of Walter Kellogg, but the Suffolk County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee, which must sign off on large settlements, authorized $3 million to settle the estate's federal lawsuit at its March 3 meeting, according to the panel's minutes.

Internal affairs also cleared Santanello in the alleged assault and false arrest of Jessica Roger, also of Shirley, in 2012. But the Ways and Means Committee approved a $600,000 settlement to end her federal lawsuit in January.

Santanello, the target of 25 civilian complaints and four administrative investigations, joined the Suffolk County Police Department in April 2002. He was placed on suspension without pay in April 2021, and an arbitrator upheld his termination in June 2022, internal affairs bureau records reviewed by Newsday show.

***

The Town of Southampton is rolling out a new mass alert system that it says will be able to more efficiently alert large numbers of residents and town employees to emergencies, public safety threats, weather alerts or information about blocked or closed roadways and extended traffic delays.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that Southampton Town’s new system — which residents are being asked to sign up for now — will allow the town to send text messages to thousands of numbers at once and allow the town to target information by hamlet or neighborhoods or specific clusters of town facilities.

To sign up for the new text alerts, residents need only send a text saying “SouthamptonNY” to 38276 and they will be enrolled in the alert system. The town has also set up a specific notification for news related to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in June, which you can enroll in by texting OPEN26 to 38276.

The need for the new system became apparent, Southampton Town officials said last week, during the Westhampton Pines wildfire in spring 2025 when conflicting information about whether an evacuation had been ordered sowed confusion and panic in neighborhoods near where the fires were raging.

The town’s current emergency alert system, NotifyMe, is only able to send text messages to fewer than 200 individual numbers at a time, so broader alerts and information messages are sent via email. But town officials acknowledged that emails are often not viewed as immediately as text messages are.

More than 500 town employees have been enrolled in the alert system already, which will allow the town to notify those who work in specific buildings, or groups of town facilities, about information relative only to their locations.

For mass emergencies, the system will also be able to access lists of residents who have signed up for CivicPlus alerts about town activities and events.

Ryan Murphy, Southampton Town’s emergency management coordinator said the town will be starting a broad public outreach to encourage residents to sign up for the alerts in the coming weeks.

***

Designs for a facelift for the off-the-beaten-path Town Lane sculpture park in East Hampton include seven parking spaces and a gravel walkway access point, essentially establishing official access for the public.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that in 2006, East Hampton Town officials bought the easily overlooked 5-acre parcel of land, located at 173 Town Lane for around $1 million for the purpose of showcasing sculptures by Sasson Soffer, which are still present on the unkempt property. Those sculptures remain on display in the park.

The idea behind the work that town officials plan to undertake, the initial stages of which are being funded by the Sasson Soffer Foundation, is to beautify the park itself and provide access to and from for the public, which is currently lacking. A walking path will be made of pressed gravel.

“The town's Land Acquisition and Management Department has maintained the meadow by annual, or as needed, mowing,” said East Hampton Town Land Acquisition Principal Environmental Analyst Andy Gaites. “Proposed improvements to the park, which are to be donated by the Sasson Soffer Foundation at no cost to the town, include driveway improvements, addition of a parking area, ADA compliant pathways, benches and native plantings.”

Contractors working on behalf of the Sasson Soffer Foundation are planning to begin removing vegetation this month, so long as all the paperwork gets put in place. East Hampton Town officials say the plan is to begin parking preparations in July.

***

The bodies of two missing fishermen who both apparently drowned after falling out of a kayak were found in western Shinnecock Bay early yesterday morning.

Southampton Town Police have identified the men as Daniel Villa, 25, of Southampton and Juan Carlos Penaranda, 43, of Quogue.

As posted on 27east.com, the pair had ventured out together on a two-man kayak from the south pier of the old Ponquogue Bridge at about 8 p.m. Tuesday night to go fishing. They had paddled west into Shinnecock Bay from the old bridge pier, a popular area for striped bass fishing.

Police were notified at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday by concerned family members that the men had not returned. Southampton Town Police Marine Patrol began a search of the bay with the help of Southampton Village Police, New York State Troopers, the U.S. Coast Guard and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The body of one of the men was found about 4 a.m. beneath the Ponquogue Bridge. The second body was found on a shoreline north of the foot of the bridge a short time later.

Southampton Town Police are investigating the incident and have turned the bodies over to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner to confirm the cause of death. Police have asked that anyone with information about the incident call detectives at 631-702-2230.

***

As Suffolk County attempts to preserve nearly 10 undeveloped acres in South Jamesport, Riverhead Town officials are debating the benefits of environmental protection over costs to taxpayers, beach access and impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the county is considering buying vacant land on the south side of Peconic Bay Boulevard just west of the Riverhead Town-owned East Creek Marina. Preservation would block development at the 9.6-acre flood-prone site, which has approvals for a four-lot residential subdivision.

Suffolk County officials have asked Riverhead to partner on the project by agreeing to manage the site for passive recreation, which Legis. Greg Doroski (D-Mattituck) suggested could include a small gravel parking area and walking path. Riverhead Town Board members agreed to back the preservation effort. But some expressed reservations about the long-term cost of managing the property and non-Riverhead residents using the site to reach nearby town beaches.

The Riverhead Town board approved a resolution Tuesday expressing support for the county’s preservation bid. It includes a caveat that the town wants the property protected “as open space without improvement,” according to town documents. Town board members said they plan to continue negotiating a potential management agreement with county officials.

The acquisition would be funded by Suffolk County’s Drinking Water Protection Program, a 0.25-percent sales tax that funds environmental initiatives including land preservation.

Councilwoman Joann Waski said she would have preferred the property be preserved as farmland.

Her top concern, she said, is expanding public access in a quaint residential area.

“I would rather see this developed with five, $1 million homes than see a parking lot … that would mean that people from all over Suffolk County would be coming here,” she said during an April 30 work session after Doroski first pitched a management plan.

Doroski disagreed that the property would become a “hot spot” and said any public access to the site should be the “lightest touch.”

The legislator said the clock is ticking on a rare opportunity to preserve property near the wetlands and warned that delays could jeopardize the effort. He said the landowner, Peconic Farms LLC, is pursuing plans to build houses at the site while waiting for the county to make an offer.

Other town board members raised concerns over annual maintenance costs for which Riverhead taxpayers would be responsible.

Councilman Bob Kern said if preserved, the land would come off the tax rolls. "Every piece of land that we preserve, we get zero taxes," he said Tuesday. "You really need to be cognizant of that when you're screaming for preservation."

Price of gas continues to rise for Long Islanders

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

On Long Island, the number of households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits…known as SNAP…has grown since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Experts say the spike stems from the region's cost-of-living crisis that has made housing unaffordable and can make food an afterthought. More affluent households seeking food assistance might not meet the lower-income federal eligibility requirements for benefits, and recent changes to SNAP work requirements means thousands of Long Islanders could soon lose access to the program.

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that SNAP, the nutritional support program formerly known as food stamps, has long served as a financial pulse of sorts that measures economic hard times. Experts say more households are turning to the program. Yet, they are quick to point out that the program is not a panacea for food insecurity in the region.

In 2020, on average each month, 59,020 households in Suffolk County used the benefit. By 2025, Suffolk County had a monthly average of 78,923 households using the program, representing a roughly 34% increase, according to state data.

SNAP benefits often go to the elderly and children on Long Island. In September, roughly 20% were in that age group in Suffolk, according to data from the state. Children represented about 31% of beneficiaries in Suffolk.

For households on SNAP in Suffolk, the median income was $70,330, with a margin of error of about $7,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey one-year estimates.

Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, which is tasked with helping people sign up for SNAP, said the hunger assistance program today amounts to a subsidy people increasingly depend on — albeit one that many earn too much to tap.

A few decades ago, she said, a middle-class family looking to move to Long Island to try and live the suburban dream could afford rent and food costs, likely never thinking they would need financial support.

"And so those people who may have never thought about a safety net program or a public benefit program before, they are now being faced with having to take advantage of these programs in order to ensure that their family just has…foundational stability," Baird-Streeter told NEWSDAY.

***

Preservation of a 9.6-acre property adjacent to a town-owned marina and beach in South Jamesport was endorsed by the Riverhead Town Board yesterday.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the board unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday afternoon supporting Suffolk County’s proposed preservation of the Peconic Farms parcel on Peconic Bay Boulevard. The resolution contained a qualifier held out by board members as essential to their assent: “as Open Space without improvement or development.”

The vote followed days of public debate and mounting pressure from residents over the future of the property at 1161 Peconic Bay Blvd…which Suffolk County is considering acquiring through its Drinking Water Protection Program. Board members emphasized yesterday’s resolution does not finalize any agreement with Suffolk County but signals willingness to continue discussions over potential management terms.

As a condition of the acquisition, the county is asking the Town of Riverhead to partner in the project by assuming management responsibility for the site, including “passive recreation uses” at the property, such as a walking trail and a gravel parking area. That condition triggered opposition from town officials, who said they feared such uses, if allowed, would lead to use of the site by out-of-town residents to gain beach access for fishing, swimming and other activities, with negative impacts on the character of the surrounding residential community.

As he introduced the resolution, Riverhead Town Councilman Ken Rothwell acknowledged the board had received “an overabundance of emails and phone calls” about the proposal.

“We very much want to protect [the property] from development,” Rothwell said.

***

ReWild next teams up with Group for the East End for a talk on “The Impact of Lawns” on Thursday, May 7…that’s tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue.

A talk on lawns by gardener Corn Schmid will address why these grasses have become ingrained into our collective consciousness, culture, and even laws. Mr. Schmid will discuss the myths, facts, functions, and impact of one of America’s largest crops, as well as alternatives specific to our region.

Corn Schmid’s expertise in plant ecology comes from years of experience working in the nursery industry and as a gardener in New York City and on the East End.

Registration is required as space is limited.

For more information, contact Group director of outreach Taralynn Reynolds at taralynn@thegroup.org.

That’s “The Impact of Lawns” at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue tomorrow from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

***

Neighbors of East Hampton High School are opposed to the district’s $64 million bond proposition due to the lights that will be placed on the turf field neighboring their homes. Desirée Keegan reports on 27east.com that Kate Gibbons, who said she was speaking on behalf of herself and her father, Ed Cullum, who could not attend the meeting, expressed disappointment over the district’s decision to include the lights in the bond, saying they will not only disrupt her and her family’s quality of life, but could lower property values and force the family to sell their home.

“Disappointment doesn’t capture my true feelings,” she said during yesterday’s Board of Education meeting. “Your decision to put stadium lights on the existing turf field that runs along our family property is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.”

Five generations of Cullums, she explained, have lived on her East Hampton property over the last 100 years, and have been neighbors to the high school since it was built in 1970. Gibbons said she began a seven-year process in 2002 to build her house on her family’s land.

“This was the way I could remain in this community that I grew up in and was teaching in,” she said, adding that she’s been an educator at John M. Marshall Elementary School for 32 years.

“To say that the lights will not impact us is just not true,” she said. “The lights will impact us. And it‘s not only the lights on the field that are a concern for us, it’s all the other things that come along with {night-time} events.”

Ms. Gibbons pleaded with the board through tears to reconsider, stating she…is trying to understand the need for stadium lights — questioning why the baseball and softball fields and tennis courts do not also need lights.

According to Gibbons, Superintendent of Schools Adam Fine said during a recent meeting between him and her family that there would not be enough room for bleachers around another centrally-located turf field away from EHHS neighbors.

***

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline climbed 31 cents in the past week, spiking to an average of $4.48 per gallon yesterday, according to AAA, hitting the wallets of drivers after rising 50% since the war with Iran began.

As reported by The Associated Press the main reason drivers are paying more at the pump is because of the global energy crisis caused by the Iran war. The price of crude oil, which is the main ingredient in gasoline, has been climbing for most of the past two months because the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil normally passes, has effectively been shut, and oil tankers have been stranded there unable to deliver crude.

Many drivers were hopeful in mid-April, amid signs that the conflict could be winding down, and gasoline prices fell daily for almost two weeks.

“After the announcement of the initial ceasefire, there was kind of optimism that this really could be the beginning of the end of the conflict,” said Rob Smith, director of global fuel retail at S&P Global Energy. “And so crude prices came down correspondingly, gasoline spot prices followed, and so on and ... the retailers lowered prices as well.”

But as the war continued, gasoline prices reversed course and began increasing again.

“There’s a fundamental shortfall that will exist globally or fundamental struggle to meet that demand that will drive up price,” Smith said. “No matter what a government says or what any market person thinks, there is a true kind of upward pressure that’s being exerted on prices every day the Strait of Hormuz is constrained. And it is still severely constrained.”

The longer the flow of oil is constrained through the Strait of Hormuz, the higher prices will go, and the longer it will take to get back to normal, Smith said.

***

Twelve Long Island hospitals scored an A grade for patient safety among the 2,800 healthcare centers reviewed nationwide, according to a new report released today.

Celia Young reports in NEWSDAY that the nonprofit watchdog organization, The Leapfrog Group, rated 23 Long Island hospitals based on how well they protected patients from accidents, infections and injuries. Six hospitals scored B. Three hospitals scored C, Nassau University Medical Center received a D, and one was not assigned a grade, according to Leapfrog.

The ratings can help Long Islanders determine where to get care, said Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president for health initiatives at the Manhattan-based Community Service Society of New York.

"The No. 1 thing you want when you're looking at a hospital is to make sure that the quality of care, the standard of care [and] the safety of care is top notch," Benjamin said. "That's where Leapfrog's ratings really excel."

In Northwell Health’s network, Glen Cove Hospital, Huntington Hospital, Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, Plainview Hospital and Syosset Hospital all received A grades.

Also scoring A grades were St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Flower Hill Village, St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown and Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre in Catholic Health’s network.

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital did not receive a grade, but the hospital network plans to submit data for Leap Frog’s survey this fall, said Kim Mele, vice president of quality and regulatory affairs at Stony Brook Medicine.

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook University Hospital both received C grades. Eric Morley, the chief quality officer for Stony Brook University Hospital, noted that other organizations, such as U.S. News & World Report, have given the network’s hospitals high marks.

"We are incredibly dedicated to improving patient safety, and we think we will see tremendous improvement," said Dr. Eric J. Morley, chief quality officer for Stony Brook University Hospital.

***

With the national fight over mid-decade redistricting in high gear, Democrat Party leaders are trying to ensure that states under their party’s control work to create new congressional district lines to counter efforts by Republican-led states.

That push brought Representative Joseph D. Morelle of New York to the State Capitol in Albany yesterday to deliver a simple message for state lawmakers: They must urgently work to draw more favorable maps that help Democrats prepare for the 2028 elections.

Benjamin Oreskes and Nick Corasaniti report in THE NY TIMES that Mr. Morelle, a Democrat who spent more than two decades in the New York State Assembly, met with Gov. Kathy Hochul and the leaders of the State Senate and Assembly. He returned to his old stomping grounds at the behest of his boss, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader who also represents New York and sees the state as a focal point in his plans for the next phase of the redistricting wars.

On Monday, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Morelle announced the creation of the New York Democracy Project, a redistricting initiative meant to counter Republican redistricting in Texas and a recent Supreme Court decision that makes it more difficult to use the Voting Rights Act to challenge a legislative map on racially discriminatory grounds.

“I wanted to make sure that we underscored how important this is,” Mr. Morelle said, noting that the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais “is going to have wide-ranging impacts for Black Americans.”

Without the protections of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that effectively banned racial gerrymandering, a new era of aggressive partisan redistricting is set to begin. Already, states across the South are aiming to redraw their maps to give Republicans an advantage heading into elections later this year.

But the real battle over maps will ignite next year, with no state bound by the primary calendar and legislators given more time to try to work around state laws limiting their ability to gerrymander.

Despite Mr. Morelle’s call for urgency, change in New York seldom happens quickly — and, in this case, cannot for statutory reasons. Whatever officials decide, any redistricting bill would need to be first passed by New York State lawmakers in two consecutive legislative sessions, and then be approved by voters in a referendum. Leaders in New York are currently contemplating how far they want to go in changing the state’s Constitution, which currently includes a slew of anti-gerrymandering provisions.

“Our process is more cumbersome than other states,” said Governor Hochul, a Democrat, who reiterated that New York cannot sit on the sidelines amid this national fight.

Microplastic levels in drinking water not a required test

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Microplastics have been found in bodies of water all over the globe, from the Arctic to the Caribbean Sea to Long Island Sound. They can leach into groundwater from those waterways, and from septic systems and cesspools, or from rainwater runoff that collects particles from streets or landfills.

And they make their way into our bodies from the food we eat and the water we drink, whether from the tap or bottled in plastic.

Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that it's not clear if microplastics and the even smaller nanoplastics are in Long Island's drinking water, in part because testing is not required, and there's no standardized test.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last month it will consider regulating microplastics — particles that can be smaller than a grain of sand, or even microscopic — as a contaminant in drinking water.

California is the only state that requires testing for microplastics, and had to develop new ways to test for them.

“The New York State Department of Health is closely watching the rapidly evolving science on microplastics and supports the addition of microplastics to the sixth candidate contaminant list,” Marissa Crary, spokesperson for the NYS Department of Health, wrote to Newsday in an email. At the moment, however, “no widely available standard method exists for evaluating microplastics in drinking water.”

Tests conducted by the Suffolk County Water Authority found no detectable microplastics in its samples, probably because water drawn from an aquifer is somewhat protected from plastic contamination.

“I can’t think of an issue that hits closer to home for American families than the safety of their drinking water,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in announcing the move to regulate microplastics as a contaminant in drinking water.

Water suppliers in the United States are not required to test or filter for microplastics, "which is why this is important," Judith Enck, president of the nonprofit Beyond Plastics and a former EPA regional administrator, told Newsday.

There are no guarantees that this first step will lead to anything. Last month the EPA declined to regulate any of the contaminants from the previous list, issued in 2022. And the administration also is trying to weaken regulations on PFAS in drinking water established by President Joe Biden.

The EPA is required to name at least five possible drinking water contaminants every five years and to study their presence in drinking water, their health effects and whether they ultimately should be regulated.

***

A county effort to preserve a nearly 10-acre parcel of vacant land on the south side of Peconic Bay Boulevard in South Jamesport has run into resistance at Riverhead Town Hall.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the property, part woodland and part fallow farm field, is located between a residential subdivision and the town boat ramp.

Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski met with the Town Board at its work session Thursday to discuss preservation of the site as open space. Doroski said the county wanted the town to partner in the acquisition by agreeing to maintain the site for passive recreation use.

That got pushback from board members, who said they’d prefer to see a development rights purchase rather than outright acquisition, so the property could be farmed. Some members objected to its conversion to county parkland, expressing concern that the use could be disruptive in a quiet residential area. Others voiced concerns about the cost of establishing and maintaining amenities like the walking trail and gravel parking area suggested by Doroski.

An appraisal of the property has been completed, Doroski said. If it moves forward, the county would make an offer to the property owner, which, if accepted, would then require approval by the full Legislature.

But the deal would stall without the town’s participation, he told Riverhead officials.

The Suffolk County Legislative committee was scheduled to discuss preservation of the site during its executive session yesterday. However, the discussion was postponed.

***

The Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center at Stony Brook / Southampton Hospital will hold a discussion on all the latest information about tick-borne diseases tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. in the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library.

Registration required.

Tomorrow’s program is sponsored jointly by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, and the Tick Resource Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

All attendees will receive a free tick removal kit and a tick disease handbook.

***

A portion of the brand-new dune at Ditch Plains in Montauk took the brunt of the winter, eroding by about a dozen feet, but East Hampton Town officials have a plan to fill in the damaged gaps with fresh sand. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that one stretch of the new dune, located due west of Ditch Plains’ western parking lot, got the most battered over the course of the winter, and that is where town officials are planning to jump in and give the wall of sand a facelift.

There the face of the dune, which would otherwise be lined with freshly planted beachgrass, has been fully peeled off, and the sand itself has receded. Elsewhere, the beachgrass remains, and the dune, in all other stretches, has successfully weathered its first winter.

Where town officials expected to see the erosion was in the center portion of the beach at Ditch Plains, which is where the brunt of erosion has been felt in the past, like with the storms that battered the area in the winter of 2024. But the erosion instead was felt west of there, between the parking lot and the bluffs. Drone photos suggest the sand was peeled back about 10 or so feet.

This restoration project has its roots in that brutal string of storms a few years back, when the storm surge breached the dune and pushed up beyond the houses that line the coast. The impacts were uncovered not long after, as it became known that the storms dwindled the beach and the dunes to the point of near nonexistence — or down to the hardpan, a beneath-the-sand layer of clay.

Montauk has been front of mind for the East Hampton Town Board, as the severe weather events continue to roll through the area, sweeping away sand and highlighting the need for long-term planning. Among these initiatives was the approval of a 30-year agreement, part of the Fire Island to Montauk Point, or FIMP, project, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York State government that put East Hampton Town officials on the hook for around $27.6 million, or 15 percent of the total cost, over that span of time.

But for the immediate future, as FIMP measures continue to inch forward, Ditch Plains will be the main beneficiary of the town-led stopgaps against erosion.

***

Over the past year, lawmakers across New York State have proposed protest buffer zones around houses of worship in response to vitriolic protests.

Both New York City and Nassau County passed laws meant to protect worshippers from harassment near religious institutions. Suffolk County officials, state legislators and a Long Island congressman are pushing their own versions.

Steve Hughes reports in NEWSDAY that proponents, including Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, argue that buffer zones balance the need to protect people from harassment while also allowing protesters to exercise free speech. They point to a jump in hate crimes across the state, including a sharp increase in reported cases of antisemitism.

But civil liberties groups and other critics argue that buffer zones infringe on freedom of speech and break with established legal precedent. On Friday, a group of labor unions, including 1199 SEIU and the New York State Nurses Association, sent a letter to state leaders voicing their opposition.

The unions argue that the measures are so broad they would effectively criminalize picketing activities outside certain buildings and subject unionized employees to potential felony charges if they come too close.

State Sen. Sam Sutton, D-Brooklyn, who is sponsoring a buffer zone bill in the State Legislature, said during a March rally that he believes the state could balance the right to protest and the right to pray. He said he does not see them as competing values.

"We will protect our communities, we will defend our civil liberties, and we will uphold the values that make this state strong," Sutton said.

But Justin Harrison, senior policy counsel with ACLU of New York, said the proposed state law is far too broad since it would apply to everyone, including protests that a church or clinic might support. The proposal makes no difference between places that might want a buffer zone and those that don’t, he said.

"You’re capturing a lot of constitutionally protected protest," he said. "These laws are going to be used to single out people with an unpopular message. And they’re going to be used to sweep those people off the street."

***

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman crept up by 3 percentage points with six months until the November gubernatorial election, according to the latest poll from the Siena Research Institute.

Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the poll found the incumbent Democrat leading Blakeman, a Republican, 49% to 33%, a 16-point lead, up from 47% and 34% respectively in March.

"Six months out, voters are largely in their partisan lanes," Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a released statement. "Three-quarters of Democrats are with Hochul. Three-quarters of Republicans are with Blakeman. And independents tilt toward Blakeman by two points, down from seven points in March."

The survey also found President Donald Trump’s ratings continue to drop, even among Republicans.

Overall, just 34% of New Yorkers surveyed approved of the job he is doing, while 64% disapproved, down from 37% and 61% in March.

Further, 71% of Republicans approved of the job he’s doing compared with 84% in March as the Iran war began to rage.

"The drop in Trump’s favorability and job approval ratings is not because of Democrats; they overwhelmingly continue to view Trump unfavorably and strongly disapprove of the job he’s doing," Greenberg said. "No, it’s Republicans."

The poll surveyed 806 registered voters from April 27 to April 30. The margin of error was 4.2%.

***

It’s rush hour on the Southern State Parkway, and Jacob Kraniak's hands are not touching the steering wheel and his feet are not on the pedals.

Instead, eight cameras and an onboard computer accelerate, brake and turn his 2023 Tesla Model Y along a stretch of highway known as Blood Alley, near where an alleged drunken driver recently killed two elderly people in a five-car collision. A few minutes later, it glides through an intersection on Sunrise Highway in Copiague, where crashes killed three pedestrians over 11 months — including a 15-year-old student.

Peter Gill reports in NEWSDAY that some futurists and technology enthusiasts like Kraniak, a cybersecurity professional from Ronkonkoma who blogs about electric vehicles, believe autopilot-like features and fully driverless cars will play a major role in reducing crashes in places like Long Island. Driverless taxis are already picking up passengers in a dozen American cities, and the companies that own them claim they are safer than cars with human drivers.

Although the U.S. traffic fatality rate is still much higher than in most other wealthy countries, it has come down significantly over the past 50 years — a development experts often attribute to safety technology like three-point seat belts, air bags and other factors.

Today, besides driverless cars, new features are emerging that can detect alcohol in a car's air, or use GPS to limit a vehicle's top speed based on the zone it is in. What role could all this new tech play in reducing deaths and serious injuries?

"Cameras and the computers will never get tired. They'll never get distracted. They're never going to get drunk at the wheel," Kraniak said.

During a roughly 50-minute drive with Newsday, his car in "Full Self Driving (Supervised)" mode handled some tricky situations successfully as he kept his hands inches from the steering wheel while an internal camera monitored his eye movement, making sure he was paying attention. But the vehicle also made three mistakes that required him to intervene. In the most serious incident, it pulled out of a parking lot and nearly merged into a moving SUV on a local street. Kraniak grabbed the wheel and braked; the other driver blared their horn. Kraniak pointed out that his Tesla runs a legacy version of the software; newer versions, released a year and a half ago, run only on newer models.

Per NEWSDAY, every 7 minutes on average, a crash causes death, injury or significant damage on Long Island.

Chronic absenteeism remains high in Long Island schools

Mon, 04 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Chronic absenteeism in Long Island schools remained stubbornly high in 2024–25, despite efforts to get students back into the classroom following a surge in absences during the pandemic. Lorena Mongelli and Arielle Martinez report in NEWSDAY that in Nassau and Suffolk combined, 17.3% of students in public schools were chronically absent, meaning they missed 18 or more class days during the school year compared to 17.6% the year prior, according to a Newsday analysis of state data. While that is lower than the nearly 20% absenteeism rate in the 2021–22 academic year, when all New York schools reopened for full in-person learning, it still exceeds the 11.4% rate in 2018–19.

The figures reflect a nationwide trend, with education experts saying schools throughout the country have struggled to boost attendance rates in recent years.

Research has shown that persistent absences can be detrimental for students, leading to gaps in proficiency and increasing the risk they will drop out of high school. Studies have also found that such absences disrupt learning even for students who attend regularly because academic content needs to be reintroduced.

Experts say a variety of factors are to blame for the high rate of absenteeism, including a shift in how parents value in-person learning since remote instruction became more commonplace during the pandemic. Local educators also cited student mental health issues, general disengagement with school, work priorities and, in some districts, anxiety about immigration enforcement amid the Trump administration’s crackdown.

In 42 states and the District of Columbia, 23% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25 compared to 24% the year prior, according to Nat Malkus, senior fellow and the deputy director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative-leaning research organization that tracks chronic absenteeism nationwide.

New York’s chronic absenteeism rate was 27% in 2024–25 versus 27.3% the year prior. according to Newsday’s analysis.

Twenty-nine of Long Island’s 124 districts had an absenteeism rate higher than 20% in 2024–25. The Hempstead district had the highest rate, at 49%, followed by Central Islip at 39.7%, according to state data.

***

The chronic absenteeism rate in Long Island public schools dropped slightly in the 2024-25 school year, from 17.6% the year prior to 17.3%, according to a Newsday analysis of state data. The figure was lower than the nearly 20% absenteeism rate seen during the pandemic but still higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 11.4% rate in 2018–19.

Lorena Mongelli and Arielle Martinez report in NEWSDAY that a couple of east end school districts showed improvements in their absenteeism rate, which counts students in first grade and older who are enrolled for a minimum of 10 instructional days and attend at least one of those days.

Bridgehampton dropped 9.6 percentage points, to 19.5%, in 2024–2025.

The district’s interim superintendent, Brigid P. Collins, said, “The decrease in attendance issues is a combined reflection of our strengthened communication efforts and deeper family engagement.”

She said the district sends attendance letters and implemented the ParentSquare notification system, which sends immediate alerts about student lateness and absences.

The Amagansett school district, which had less than 100 students last school year, lowered its rate by 8.4 percentage points to 21.8%.

Superintendent Michael S. Rodgers said the district “has made a strong, collective effort to build a more positive and engaging school culture for the students, staff, and families.”

“This includes incorporating more hands-on projects, experiential learning opportunities, and field trips that connect classroom instruction to real world experiences,” Rodgers said.

Cecelia Leong, vice president of programs at the national nonprofit Attendance Works, said some schools are having success by building relationships with students and families and ensuring students feel welcome, accepted and safe.

“Those consistent things that build a sense of belonging and relationship are really important,” Leong said.

***

A coalition of fire response entities and other partners will host an open house at Flanders Community Center, 655 Flanders Road, Flanders on Tuesday, May 5…that’s tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m. to solicit public input for the Southampton Central Pine Barrens Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a plan that will help residents of western Southampton Town learn how to best protect their families and homes from wildfire hazards.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that tomorrow’s meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the Community Wildfire Protection Plan {CWPP} and provide comments to help create the plan. Officials at the beginning of the meeting will offer a brief presentation about the CWPP program. Attendees can then learn more details about the CWPP from local experts at tables with topics including Resilient Landscapes, Safe and Effective Fire Response and Fire Adapted Communities. There will also be a table at which attendees can leave comments.

Tomorrow’s open house is at Flanders Community Center starting at 6 p.m.

***

Southampton Village officials have unveiled a plan to build a downtown sewage treatment facility, a proposal they say is critical to improving water quality and allowing new apartments.

Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that the sewer plant would be in the village's business district, behind its police headquarters on Windmill Lane. But a group of residents have objected to the plan because it requires the village to turn a dog park there into leach fields, where treated wastewater is released into the ground. The village plans to build a new dog park down the street.

Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger said the plan is a breakthrough in the long-running effort to build a sewer system following a lengthy search for a suitable site.

“We realized that after years and years of the village existing here with basically only cesspools and septic systems, we’re just really polluting our groundwater and our bays and lakes and shoreline,” Manger told NEWSDAY.

Toxic blue-green algal blooms are prevalent in water bodies in and around Southampton Village, according to a recent Stony Brook University water quality report. That includes Lake Agawam, the 65-acre lake in the village's center.

Sewers and advanced septic systems can prevent those blooms by reducing the nitrogen from wastewater that goes into the ground, environmental advocates and village officials contend. Manger said the hope is for the plant to open by 2030.

However, building the sewage treatment plant as currently proposed would require moving Lola Prentice Dog Park down the street.

Five residents who live near the park have sued to block the plan to convert it into leach fields.

The Southampton School District gifted the park property to the village in 1962. In 2019, a judge ruled in a separate court case that the property could only be used for recreational and educational purposes. The plaintiffs are asking the court to prevent the village from using it now to build a sewer plant.

A separate petition by the same plaintiffs asks the court to find the Village of Southampton and its trustees in contempt for violating the 2019 ruling and the court's injunction.

***

Relief is on the way for more than a dozen Long Island oyster farms after an icy, brutal winter damaged equipment and wiped out many growers' inventories. Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that fourteen oyster farms will receive $3 million in state funding to upgrade infrastructure and boost production, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Saturday. The infrastructure grants can help fund new docks, equipment and other tools to support aquaculture farms, state officials said.

The funding is part of a second round of awards through the Long Island Aquaculture Program. Farmers said the timing couldn't be better after a deep freeze caused an estimated $2.4 million in losses across the region. New York State officials awarded an initial $1.2 million to 17 businesses to expand and upgrade equipment last October.

On Friday morning, Matt Ketcham of Peconic Gold Oysters was still hauling up decimated cages from his plot in Cutchogue Harbor.

"I had a section of my farm that we call 'iceberg alley' now," Ketcham said in an interview. "I'm still pulling up crushed stuff, broken stuff, stuff that was dragged through the mud. I need a lot of new cages."

Ketcham said he plans to use part of his grant to invest in an ice machine and, over time, save money on a crucial element of his business.

Aquaculture, he said, "is a type of farming that requires a ton of capital investment and a ton of reinvestment even just to grow your sales a little bit."

He added, "Something like this helps us a lot."

Other awardees include West Robins Oyster Co., Hampton Oyster Co., Davy Jones Landing, Oysterponds Shellfish, Lucky 13 Oysters, East Hampton Oyster Co., Scrimshaw Enterprises, Hart Lobster Co., Thatch Island, North Fork Big Oyster, Jeffrey M. Kraus, Dune Fishery and Little Ram Oyster Co., according to a news release from the governor's office.

The awards range from $111,702 to $250,000, according to the governor's office.

"Long Island's historic seafood industry is second to none, helping to strengthen local food supply chains, bolster our state's economy, and upholding a legacy of excellence and dedication to industry," Hochul said in a statement. She noted that the program is intended to support aquaculture farmers so "they can continue to thrive for years to come."

***

The Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center at Stony Brook / Southampton Hospital will hold a discussion on all the latest information about tick-borne diseases this coming Wednesday, May 6 at 4 p.m. in the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library.

Registration required.

Medical Entomologist Dr. Scott Campbell, Chief of the Arthropod-Borne Disease Lab at Suffolk County’s Department of Health Services, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, will discuss the medically important tick species on Long Island, their biology, habitat, the pathogens they transmit, and the best strategies to prevent tick bites in adults and children. This program is sponsored jointly by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, and the Tick Resource Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. All attendees will receive a free tick removal kit and a tick disease handbook.

***

New York State lawmakers are nearing a deal that would prohibit counties from signing cooperation agreements with federal immigration and customs agents, restrict those agents from going into “sensitive” locations such as schools and churches without a judicial warrant, and establish a right to sue federal officers for constitutional violations. Yancey Roy reports in NEWSDAY that the provisions would be included in a final budget deal Gov. Kathy Hochul, the State Senate and Assembly are working to finish, over a month after it was due.

Of the several high-profile issues that have stalled negotiations — especially climate and insurance laws — lawmakers are closest to finishing the policies on migrants, a source with knowledge of the talks said.

Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) have held a steadily increasing number of three-way talks on the budget in the past week, including Friday morning, a sign of increased urgency.

Though they haven’t finalized climate talks, two likely compromises have emerged: State regulations for meeting the transition to clean energy sources would be finished in 2028, instead of this year under current laws and instead of 2030 as Hochul proposed.

Also, the “soft” goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 would become a “hard” goal written in statute, Senate and Assembly members have said.

On migrants, Governor Hochul and her fellow Democrats who control the NYS Legislature have never been very far apart.

Last Wednesday, Heastie told reporters the leaders and Hochul had finished “95%” of the immigration legislation, especially curbing the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

“I think we all want to deal with the aggressiveness, or the overaggressiveness, let’s say, of ICE. But we also understand that there should always be due process,” Heastie said.

One element of the package that likely won’t be included that progressive lawmakers and immigration activists wanted was to ban local law enforcement from sharing any information with federal agents regarding an individual until after that person was convicted of a crime.

The likely deal won’t include that provision — but will give locals leeway to enact such a policy on their own.

Southampton Town says Riverside can expect new sewer district to be active by late 2029

Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Long Island business leaders yesterday expressed concern of the potential economic impacts from an LIRR union strike, while also warning that unprecedented raises for railroad workers could be "unsustainable." Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that leaders from seven Long Island business advocacy and economic development groups, in a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, expressed their "deep concern regarding the negative economic impact of a potential strike" by five Long Island Rail Road unions.

The leaders noted that the strike, which could begin May 16, would come a week before Memorial Day as Long Island enters its peak tourism season.

"The railroad takes tens of thousands of New Yorkers each week to Long Island beaches, golf courses, and wineries," they wrote. "Thousands of small businesses rely on summer tourism to survive."

The business groups also expressed concern that "unprecedented raises to the minority of the LIRR workforce will be economically unsustainable for a mass transit system with chronic fiscal woes." The labor organizations represent about half the LIRR’s union workforce.

The letter was authored by representatives from the Association for a Better Long Island, the Long Island Association, the Hauppauge Industrial Association of LI, the Long Island Builders Institute, the Long Island Contractors' Association, the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island and Discover Long Island.

Hochul spokesman Sean Butler said the governor's position is that "a strike would hurt LIRR workers and riders alike. It is critical that both sides come to the table and negotiate in good faith."

Asked to comment on the letter, MTA officials pointed to remarks made Wednesday by the agency's chief financial officer, Jai Patel. In the event of a strike, Patel said, "Riders will be frustrated, the local economy will struggle and trust in our service will erode."

***

Just in time for summer, East Quogue got a new Christmas tree last week.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the blue spruce tree that has served as East Quogue’s public Christmas tree for many years was getting bare and suffering from needlecast and residents had recently begun talking about a replacement after the winter, resident Christine Grant said.

The Town of Southampton created a hamlet park district last fall, which directs funds from development project fees to a kitty for beautification projects. But buying a new Christmas tree would have tapped the bulk of the fledgling park district’s funding.

Two residents, Cathy Zambetti, and her husband, John Picone, stepped in and instead offered to cover the cost of purchasing a new tree. Grant and her husband, Chris Connolly, who own Aspatuck Gardens, were able to source a 20-foot Norway spruce from a North Fork tree farm and got Southampton Town Parks & Recreation staff to remove the old tree and excavate a hole for the root ball of the new one.

That’s when the small town stuff really kicked in.

The tree arrived on a rainy morning last week and proved to be so heavy that the equipment the town brought to move it into place couldn’t lift it.

“So we did the classic Mayberry, small-town thing: We texted our friend Michelle Meduski, who knows everybody in town,” Connolly said. “She knew a company who had an excavator and they came right over and it turned out that they were East Quogue people, so it was pretty cool how it all worked out.”

***

The Town of Southold is holding an Environmental Expo and Repair Café with the North Fork Environmental Council (NFEC) tomorrow from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the town’s Peconic Lane Recreation Center.

The public can bring their household items — including small appliances, clothing, toys and bicycles to be repaired, and their knives to be sharpened. “It’s a great community event, with neighbors helping neighbors to make things work again, with the added bonus of keeping those things out of the waste stream,” said Margaret deCruz, the NFEC Repair Café chair.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that numerous environmental organizations will also have tables at tomorrow’s event. Compost coaches from the Long Island Organics council will give demonstrations and offer tips on how best to compost at home, and organizations ranging from Group for the East End to the Peconic Baykeeper, Peconic Estuary Partnership, ReWild North Fork and UpSculpt will also offere information and inspiration on how to preserve our local natural resources.

Tomorrow’s Environmental Expo and Repair Café is from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Peconic Recreation Center, 920 Peconic Lane, Peconic, NY 11958.

***

Southampton Town gave residents of Riverside a look at some of the practical aspects of its new $44 million sewer district this week. The town’s consultants say they anticipate the system coming online in late 2029 or early 2030.

Funding the Riverside Wastewater Recovery System has been a project in the works for more than a decade, and it has been seen as a necessary tool in the revitalization of this neighborhood across the Peconic River from downtown Riverhead. The neighborhood, however, is in the Town of Southampton.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that investment within this community has stagnated in recent years, in part due to the inability to install more septic systems in an area with a high water table adjacent to the river.

The sewer district received a major boost in the fall of 2025, when it received $19 million in funds through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Consultants working with Southampton Town on the sewer system outlined some of its features for the crowd of residents who gathered at the Flanders Community Center Wednesday night. Many had been asking the town to come talk to them since it began redesigning some elements of its 11-year-old Riverside Revitalization Action Plan last year.

The sewage treatment plant has been downgraded to 290,000 gallons per day of effluent from an original 800,000 gallons.

The latest plan for the neighborhood, as presented by Paul Knight of the firm Historical Concepts, calls for allowing the construction of an estimated 532 housing units, ranging in style and sized from 450 to 1,200 square feet, along with 198,000 square feet of commercial space.

Mr. Knight shared potential scenarios for commercial space in which 72,000 square feet could be offices; 45,000 could be retail; 15,000 could be restaurants and 20,000 could be a grocery store, with smaller portions of square footage available for gyms and dance studios, cafés and delis and bars.

The engineering firm Arcadis is asking Riverside residents to fill out a detailed survey about their existing septic systems and other engineering aspects of their homes, to help them get a better idea of how each home will tie into the system.

The survey is expected to be posted soon online.

***

A few years ago, North Haven Village officials orchestrated a move of the village’s historic old schoolhouse — for decades located on a piece of land at the corner of Payne Avenue and Ferry Road — to its current location on the property of North Haven Village Hall.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the village-owned land that the schoolhouse had been on has been vacant since then but won’t be for much longer.

At the last Village Board meeting, North Haven Mayor Chris Fiore and his fellow trustees unanimously approved a resolution to put that property up for sale. Before they could even list it, the following day, a potential buyer reached out with a cash offer of $1 million for the property.

Mayor Fiore said that putting the property up for sale essentially amounted to a no-brainer for the village…pointing out that the sale of the property represents a smart financial investment at a time when the village could really use one.

For the second straight year, the Village of North Haven has been forced to pierce the state’s cap on tax levy increases, with a 10 percent rise in property tax in store for residents this year.

“We have been advised the sale of the former schoolhouse property could generate in excess of $1 million. This will guarantee our fiscal safety for years to come.”

***

The Dandelion Festival at KK’s The Farm in Southold this Sunday is on a mission to spread the word about the benefits of the dandelion leaf, flower and root, and its vital role as early season food for bees and other pollinators.

Stop down any time between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to learn more.

EAST END BEACON Editor Beth Young and Climate Local Now columnist Mark Haubner join a panel discussion at the festival at 11:30 a.m.

There will be workshops, farm tours, live music, kids crafts, dancing and hula hooping.

Bring a picnic.

The event is free.

Dandelions will make you wise this Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at KK’s The Farm on Main Road in Southold.

***

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Wednesday ruling limiting the use of race in creating congressional district maps will not impact New York’s current map, but the decision reignited calls among Democrats for state lawmakers to move forward on a plan to amend the state Constitution to allow for mid-decade redistricting. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that the conservative-majority court in a 6-3 ruling struck down a majority-Black district in Louisiana, ruling that it was an "unconstitutional racial gerrymander." Proponents of the district argued that it was created to comply with the Voting Rights Act, which prevents the creation of electoral maps or voting procedures that discriminate against minority voters.

Florida on Wednesday became the latest Republican-led state to approve a new redistricting map, while a number of Democrat-led states including California and Virginia are moving ahead with their own redistricting efforts.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Democratic lawmakers have been pushing to amend the state Constitution to allow for mid-decade redistricting, but the amendment effort is a two-year process to ultimately put the issue before voters in November 2027. The issue is not expected to come before lawmakers for a vote this year until the Legislature approves the state budget.

Hochul, in a statement Wednesday, vowed to push ahead with the redistricting effort.

"New York has always led the fight for voting rights and we’ll lead again," Hochul said. "I’m working with the Legislature to change New York’s redistricting process so we can fight back against Washington’s attempts to rig our democracy."

Jeffrey M. Wice, an election law professor at New York Law School, told Newsday "no congressional districts in New York will be impacted by today's decision." But he said it could impact how districts are drawn for state and local offices in 2030, when the U.S. Census is released and state officials use the population data to apportion districts.

Wice said New York’s Voting Rights Act passed by the legislature and signed into law by Hochul in 2022 is not impacted by the court’s ruling and still offers a level of protection from discrimination.

MTA claims large rate hikes would be required to meet LIRR worker demands

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Paying Long Island Rail Road workers the raises they're demanding to avoid a strike could lead to service cuts, job reductions, or fare hikes as high as 8% — twice the usual rate, MTA officials said yesterday.

But LIRR labor leaders, who met with Metropolitan Transportation Authority managers for an impromptu bargaining session Wednesday, blasted the figure as baseless, and maintained the MTA can afford to pay workers a fair wage without digging deeper into riders' pockets to pay for it.

MTA officials also released new details of their strike contingency plan, which now includes shuttle buses serving five Long Island locations.

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that the MTA and five labor organizations representing roughly half of all LIRR union workers are locked in a contract dispute that could result in the first railroad work stoppage in more than 30 years beginning on Saturday May 16. The two sides have agreed on the terms of the first three years of a deal, with raises totaling 9.5%, as has already been accepted by most MTA unions.

The LIRR unions still holding out want a fourth year at 5%. The MTA has offered between 3% and 4.5%, depending on contract concessions.

Paying Long Island Rail Road workers the raises they demand in order to prevent a strike next month could lead the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to hike fares by 8% in 2027, cut jobs, or slash service, officials said.

Ahead of a potential May 16 LIRR work stoppage, officials released new details of a strike contingency plan, including rush hour shuttle buses running between five locations on Long Island and two Queens subway stations.

An impromptu negotiating session between LIRR labor leaders and MTA managers yesterday ended with no settlement, but with plans for further talks.

Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that MTA officials recently laid out what they said were the potential consequences of acquiescing to the demands of the five unions, which represent locomotive engineers, electricians, machinists, signal workers, and ticket clerks. Because, other unions — including those representing more than 40,000 city bus and subway workers — would expect the same terms as those given to the 3,400 LIRR workers in the contract dispute, transit officials said giving in to them would cost the MTA an extra $200 million a year. MTA Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel said, "The entire MTA, and not just the Long Island Rail Road, has to pay for this somehow.”

Kevin Sexton, national vice president of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and a spokesman for the coalition of five unions, called the threat of an 8% fare hike "absolute, unadulterated, shameless fear mongering."

Sexton said the MTA's figures are "not based in fact" and are disputed by federal mediators who have reviewed MTA's finances.

Members of the five unions threatening to strike made on average $122,443 in 2024, the latest year available, according to a Newsday analysis of payroll data.

With the May 16 deadline drawing nearer, MTA officials yesterday began warning riders directly of a potential railroad shutdown, including through a new website, mta.info/lirrstrike, which includes information about a plan to help commuters get to work and back without trains running.

***

Two Southampton High School juniors are helping bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace by playing a key role in launching a new Business Advisory Council aimed at expanding career opportunities for students.

Working alongside Director of Counseling Martha Tuthill, student ambassadors Cameron Kieffer and Jack D’Italia have helped establish the initiative, which focuses on strengthening connections between the Southampton School district and the local business community.

As reported on 27east.com, since the start of the school year, the council has hosted two meetings with more than 20 local business leaders, working to increase student access to career information, internships and job opportunities while enhancing career education programs.

Ms. Tuthill said the initiative is just beginning. “The council can only grow from here, and the plan is to build upon it every year,” she said.

Looking ahead, the students are working to launch a business club in fall 2026 to further expand opportunities for their peers.

Local business leaders interested in participating can contact Tuthill at mtuthill@southamptonschools.org

***

Almost everyone in Sag Harbor — from village government leaders to the heads of community nonprofits and advocacy groups, small-business owners and landlords, and more — agree that the village is at a tipping point, similar to the identity crisis it experienced around 2008, when the specter of CVS arriving in Sag Harbor led to code changes to protect the village’s character. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that there’s a sense of urgency, bordering on panic at times, and a feeling that immediate steps must be taken to ensure that the Village of Sag Harbor doesn’t succumb to the same fate as its neighbors to the east and west, East Hampton Village and Southampton Village, where the downtown becomes a ghost town during the months outside of Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. The re-opened and restored Southampton Playhouse has enlivened Hill Street in Southampton.

What can and should be done to help ensure Sag Harbor can continue to lay claim to its longtime moniker as the “Un-Hampton,” is a debatable topic in the village. Nowadays one might rightfully refer to Sag Harbor as SAG-HAMPTON.

With Target set to open in Bridgehampton this fall, the problem gets bigger. A not much longer drive to an area with free and abundant parking becomes an almost irresistible option for local shoppers.

Bob Weinstein is the co-president of Save Sag Harbor. He spoke about the irony of the situation the village now finds itself in, nearly two decades after the rise of Save Sag Harbor as an organization.

“I sort of joke that Save Sag Harbor, which has been at the forefront of protecting the scale and authenticity and charm of the village, maybe we’ve been too successful,” he said. “What used to be the un-Hampton is now so desirable, but all the things that make us so desirable could be lost so easily if the village goes from being Sag Harbor to Sag Tropez.

“If everyone doesn’t come together, the things that we love will be lost, due to its popularity, and then the popularity will also be lost,” he added.

Weinstein is a big believer in the value of shopping locally. “I sound like an old hippie saying this, but there’s power in the people,” he said.

***

New York Governor Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking to pass a bill that would require the drivers of “super-speeder” vehicles to install speed-limiting devices. Its fate is tied to state budget negotiations with the Legislature, which has so far failed to pass the measure. (The NYS Legislative 2026-27 budget is now a month overdue.)

Stefanos Chen reports in THE NY TIMES that a driver must be caught on camera speeding 16 or more times in a single year — or more than once a month — to qualify as a super-speeder. In New York City, that designation currently includes about 14,600 vehicles.

The device, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance, is a small box affixed to the dashboard that uses GPS to identify the speed limit — 25 m.p.h. or less on most local streets, and higher on highways — and caps the driver slightly above it. The driver may temporarily override the device, in certain circumstances, with the tap of a button.

Proponents say the program could lead to a big improvement in street safety, where other interventions have failed. Critics argue that the technology is invasive and could endanger drivers if it malfunctions or if they need to speed up suddenly, though similar devices have been used successfully elsewhere.

“Suspending the license doesn’t do anything,” said Emily Gallagher, a state assemblywoman representing parts of Brooklyn, who backs the super-speeder bill.

Many repeat offenders will continue to drive, she said, so the aim should be to limit the harm they can cause.

***

Riverhead Rotary’s 30th annual East End Garden Festival runs May 3 to May 10 at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead.

The event which starts this coming Sunday features a giant plant sale, with proceeds benefiting Riverhead Rotary Charities, Operation International and Peconic Bay Medical Center.

A raffle will also be held with a top prize of $10,000, second prize of $3,000, third prize of $1,000 and two additional prizes of $500. Raffle tickets cost $100 each, and sales are limited to 300 tickets. Winning tickets will be drawn Wednesday, May 27, 2026. If fewer than 300 tickets are sold, prizes will be proportionate to the number of tickets sold. Winners do not need to be present to win.

***

The Town of Southampton will be paid $850,000 by the organizers of the U.S. Open Golf Championship for police and other expenses incurred during this year’s tournament in Shinnecock Hills. Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that the payment will reimburse the estimated cost of town police, traffic control, safety enforcement officers and other town staff during the event, said Ryan Murphy, Southampton’s public safety and emergency management administrator.

“It's a considerable amount of resources that go into it,” Murphy told Newsday yesterday. “The town provides a rather large police presence for the event ... as well as the traffic and making sure that things flow through the area.”

The Southampton Town board approved a "consideration agreement" between the town and the U.S. Golf Association, which runs the tournament, at its meeting Tuesday night.

The board also approved a no-cost agreement with Suffolk County, which will contribute police, emergency services and equipment to help the event run smoothly, Murphy said.

The U.S. Open, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments, was last held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in 2018. The event caused traffic congestion on many Southampton roads.

Murphy said the town has been planning for the event with the USGA since the fall. The U.S. Open is expected to bring a daily peak attendance of about 40,000, USGA staff have said.

This year’s tournament is scheduled for June 18-21, with practice rounds beginning on Monday June 15.

The U.S. Open has a long history at Shinnecock Hills, a private course founded in 1891. It has been played there five times, including the second U.S. Open in 1896. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted in Southampton again in 2036, along with the U.S. Women’s Open Championship.

In preparation for this year’s U.S. Open, Southampton has eased short-term rental restrictions, and the Long Island Rail Road is increasing service on the Montauk Branch. A temporary second platform is being built at the Hampton Bays station. A makeshift station is under construction at Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus, within walking distance of the course.

In addition to the Southampton payment, the USGA will pay Riverhead Town $150,000 to use runways at the Calverton Enterprise Park for parking. Attendees will be screened there before being shuttled to Shinnecock Hills.

Trump war with Iran continues to raise cost of living for Long Islanders

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Gasoline prices on Long Island rose more than 12 cents a gallon over the last week, pushed by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has choked oil exports from the Persian Gulf, as well as seasonal factors, according to AAA.

By Monday morning, the auto club put the average price per gallon at just under $4.13. Gas Buddy put the average at $4.09, the highest in 12 months, though well off the $5.05 highest average price the AAA recorded for the region in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The national average has dropped since early April and was $4.11 on Monday, according to AAA. Here on the east end stations were charging over $4.20 per gallon in Water Mill and points east.

Nicholas Spangler reports in NEWSDAY that gas prices — advertised on almost every commercial road — are key to consumer confidence, especially on Long Island, where there are more cars than households. Crude oil cost is the major driver of retail gasoline prices, and it has surged since the start of the Iran war because of disruption to production and shipping of oil and gas in the Persian Gulf. The threat of Iranian attacks on shipping has essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s daily crude diet passed before the war’s start.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s last available short-term energy outlook, from April 6, predicted retail gasoline prices would peak at $4.30 in April and average more than $3.70 this year, but that outlook assumed that war would not continue into May and that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would gradually resume.

***

The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton is looking to undertake a $4 million basement renovation to make way for a new Infant center, building on the success of the program for infants launched at the center last year.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that to get the renovation project off the ground, the center, which provides child care and early education for infants and toddlers in East Hampton, is eying a $3.5 million grant from the NYS Office of Childhood and Family Services, which will be awarded to an early childhood center within the state for either new construction or a renovation.

What the renovation project calls for is an overhaul of the center’s underutilized basement space as part of a three-phase project.

If the center does not receive the grant for the renovation, it will pursue the project through other means. But the grant would serve to expedite the process overall.

“We're still going to go ahead, and what we'll do is we'll probably break up the project into three different areas,” said Tim Frazier, Executive Director. “We'll probably put the elevator in first, and then we'll look at the renovation on the outside, then the renovation on the inside.”

The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center is one of only a few early education centers in the region that offers a structured and educational infant program.

***

Montauk, the home of the lighthouse, is about to see its name in lights on Broadway. Daniel Bubbeo reports in NEWSDAY that yesterday, Manhattan Theatre Club announced that Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee Laura Linney will star in the world premiere of "Montauk," a new drama by David Hare at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre next spring. The play is described as "a visceral portrait of two artists with violently different approaches to art and life." Linney will play a writer who becomes infatuated with a passionate artist who is "a stubborn titan of Long Island abstraction," according to the announcement.

Montauk has history as a refuge for artists including Andy Warhol, who lived in the oceanfront estate Eothen in Montauk.

Eothen is Greek for "from the East" or "from the dawn.

***

Suffolk County officials are pointing to the Navy’s cleanup of the Bethpage plume in Nassau County as a precedent — and warning they expect the same urgency in Calverton, where county testing shows contamination from the former Navy-owned Grumman manufacturing site continues to move through groundwater, surface water and fish habitat while federal cleanup efforts remain largely in the study phase. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that at a community meeting last night, County Executive Ed Romaine made clear Suffolk is no longer willing to wait.

“We are not without options,” Romaine said, emphasizing the county’s size, population and resources as he warned the county is not willing to tolerate indefinite delay from the U.S. Navy.

The contrast with Bethpage is hard to miss. There, after decades of delay and denial about groundwater contamination from a former Navy/Grumman site, the Navy and Northrop Grumman in 2020 agreed to a $406 million cleanup plan to halt the spread of a massive groundwater plume that had already polluted public water supply wells, according to the Associated Press.

That is the model Suffolk officials and environmental advocates say should now apply in Calverton: a former Navy/Grumman site, migrating contamination, public-water impacts, years of delay — and, eventually, an engineered containment plan funded by the responsible parties.

Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said the stakes are high because Nassau and Suffolk have only one drinking water source: the sole-source aquifer.

“It’s very important to understand what’s going into that aquifer, what’s going into our groundwater, our surface waters,” Pigott said.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin said after last night’s meeting that the Navy must move beyond discussion.

“It’s time for the Navy to take accountability and begin action,” Halpin said. “They need to formulate an action plan and clean up our water so people have clean drinking water. It’s a basic human right.”

***

The mother of 8-year-old Thomas Valva, who reached a $9 million settlement with Suffolk County after her son died from being forced to sleep in a freezing garage in Center Moriches, could soon see the agreement scrapped and instead be forced to take the case to trial, a federal judge said yesterday during a brief but contentious hearing.

Nicole Fuller reports in NEWSDAY that U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan, who recently took over the case after Valva's mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, refused repeated requests from her lawyers to sign the required documents to finalize the settlement, issued an ultimatum from the bench in federal court in Brooklyn.

"There will be no settlement unless the plaintiff [Zubko-Valva] files an infant compromise motion," Cogan said, referring to the required motion that he said must be approved by a judge in settlements involving minors.

If Zubko-Valva doesn't sign off on the motion in 30 days, the judge said, "Then the only other option is, we're going to trial."

Zubko-Valva rejected an earlier proposal for distribution of the settlement, which called for her to receive $2 million immediately and for trusts in the amounts of about $2 million apiece to be established for her two surviving sons, Anthony and Andrew.

The remaining $3 million would have been set aside for Zubko-Valva's attorneys. Her former attorney, Jon Norinsberg, has argued he is entitled to be paid. But Zubko-Valva has argued that neither her current attorney nor her previous one are entitled to any of the money, despite her signing agreements with each that stipulated they would be paid a portion of any settlement reached.

8-year-old Thomas Valva was killed on Jan. 17, 2020, by his NYPD officer father, Michael Valva, and Valva's then-fiancee, Angela Pollina, who forced the boy to sleep in their unheated Center Moriches garage, and starved and beat him. Thomas died from hypothermia.

Valva and Pollina were both convicted of second-degree murder and are serving sentences of 25 years to life in upstate prisons.

***

The Town of Southampton will host a community discussion of the Riverside Water Resource Recovery Facility this evening at 7 p.m. at the Flanders Community Center, 655 Flanders Road, Flanders.

Attendees will receive the latest updates on the Riverside project, learn what an E-One grinder pump looks like, and hear information about its installation and operation from the vendors at Site Specific. Southampton Town’s consulting engineers and architects will also be available to answer questions and gather community feedback.

Community participation and input are encouraged as the Town of Southampton works with residents toward the future of Riverside.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Flanders Community Center.

***

Years of independent ground and surface water testing by Suffolk County shows that a far more extensive plume of industrial chemicals is spreading beyond the former Grumman site in Calverton than the U.S. Navy has acknowledged. Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the findings, presented by the county at a forum in Manorville last night, show the hazardous and in some cases carcinogenic chemicals are migrating directly toward the Peconic River, putting the entire estuary at risk.

Residents, environmental advocates and local officials have grown frustrated by what they say is the U.S. Navy moving too slowly to confront the full extent of the pollution. The Navy is "dragging their feet," said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

Navy officials did not participate in yesterday’s forum, though a Navy representative was in the audience taking notes.

The 6,000-acre former Grumman site was used to build and test fighter jets from 1954 to 1996.

Last night's meeting struck an urgent tone among nearly 100 residents who filled a conference room at the Manorville Fire Department.

Kelly McClinchy, a Manorville resident who led a grassroots effort to get public water main extensions, said the fight for clean water was "just the beginning."

About 120 properties have been connected to public water in nearby residential areas using more than $22 million in federal, state and local funding.

"We think we’ve gone over this hurdle, but we’re not there yet. What caused us to need [clean water] ... hasn’t been addressed sufficiently," McClinchy said.

Recent tests that revealed high levels of PFOS in freshwater fish in nearby Swan Pond have intensified concerns, and led Suffolk County last month to ban fishing in the waterway.

Esposito said the Navy had data about fish in Swan Pond for more than a year before sharing it with Suffolk County.

"Their actions have been unconscionable and basically criminal. They let people eat toxic fish," Esposito said.

Navy spokesman David Todd pushed back on the county’s findings, saying it could not verify if their data meets federal guidelines.

"Sampling and analysis conducted by the County is not subject to the same rigorous data quality standards," Todd wrote in an email to Newsday.

Todd said the agency is investigating PFAS contamination at the site and "has begun efforts to stop PFAS migration and reduce surface water concentration" near Swan Pond.

More updates will be provided at a June 9 Restoration Advisory Board meeting, said the Navy spokesman.

Village of East Hampton first to pass law to boost ICE accountability

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The Long Island Rail Road will begin summer service schedules on May 18 on the Montauk, Long Beach and Ronkonkoma lines — including more weekday trains to Montauk. Peter Gill reports in NEWSDAY that separately, beginning May 11, some midday weekday trains on various branches will see their departure times adjusted by a few minutes to accommodate maintenance work and accessibility upgrades outside of rush hour.

All the changes will be viewable on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s TrainTime app later this week, according to the LIRR.

Beginning Monday, May 18, the 5:13 p.m. train from Penn Station to Speonk — which normally runs to Montauk on summer Thursdays and Fridays — will continue on to Montauk, making all stops Mondays through Fridays throughout the summer. Likewise, the 11:37 a.m. and 4:18 p.m. trains on Sundays (Mondays on holiday weekends) from Montauk will operate through to Penn Station.

The additional summer weekday trains to Montauk were first rolled out last summer. They are in addition to the Cannonball trains that offer express service to and from the South Fork on summer weekends.

"As we head into the busy summer season, we’re expanding service to give customers more flexibility," said LIRR President Rob Free in a statement yesterday.

Regarding the north fork, midday weekday train service east of Ronkonkoma to and from Greenport will resume on May 11; it had been substituted with busing for several months for track maintenance.

***

The New York attorney general, Letitia James, on Friday sued to block the Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $73 million in highway funding for the state.

The lawsuit, which A.G. James filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, asks the court to overturn the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision and to restore the funding. Samantha Latson reports in THE NY TIMES that the Department of Transportation said last week that it would withhold financial support because New York refused to revoke commercial driver’s licenses it said were issued illegally. Ms. James said the trucking licenses were in compliance with state and federal regulations and only issued to people with legal status.

“New Yorkers depend on safe, reliable roads and bridges to get to work, take their kids to school and keep our economy moving,” Ms. James said. “The administration cannot promise funding to our state and then abruptly yank it away.”

Last week, the Transportation Department said it would also withhold an additional $147 million in future funding. The federal aid funds road maintenance, safety improvements and infrastructure. The attorney general said the aid block could interfere with “critical” transportation projects, increase costs and effect local economies across the state.

“I promised the American people I would hold any state leader accountable for failing to keep them safe from unvetted, unqualified foreign drivers,” said Sean P. Duffy, the U.S. transportation secretary, in a statement. “I’m delivering on that promise today by refusing to fund Governor Hochul’s dangerous, anti-American policies. My message to New York’s far left leadership is clear: Families must be prioritized on American roads.”

The trucking licenses have been part of a protracted battle between New York and the department for months. Mr. Duffy said in June 2025 that the federal government would audit state licensing practices because millions of people entered the United States illegally, leaving the truck licensing system vulnerable to exploitation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit released in December found that 107 of New York’s commercial driver’s licenses were issued illegally out of 200 sampled records. The agency said the state issued commercial licenses to foreign drivers without providing evidence that it had verified the driver’s legal status.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Friday that the department’s claims were false and that the blocking of federal funds was “political payback.”

***

Beth Young in EAST END BEACON reports that that there are 3 important civic gatherings this evening:

The League of Women Voters of the Hamptons will host a program titled “Learning About Serving on Your East Hampton, Southampton and Shelter Island Town Board Advisory Committees” this evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the East Hampton Library, at 159 Main Street. The program will include LWV members from the three towns speaking about how to participate on the town advisory committees, when they meet, what the committees’ responsibilities are, and what they’ve accomplished. For more information, visit lwvhsinf.org

The Mattituck and Cutchogue Civic Associations host a joint public forum on “The State of Mattituck-Cutchogue Schools” this evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Veterans Park, on Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck. Find Out More.

The Hampton Bays Civic Association meets this evening at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Senior Center. They’re expecting to hear from a septic system installer about grants available for new septic systems, and from a member of the Southampton Town Board about local issues.

***

The Village of East Hampton has become the first municipality on the East End to enact a law, drafted by OLA of Eastern Long Island, Inc. (Organización Latino Americana), that is meant to boost accountability in the event of federal immigration action.

What the blueprint drafted by OLA aims to do, primarily, is establish a series of procedures and training programs that would help deter the impersonation of federal officers and adopt local requirements for reporting enforcement activity up and down the chain, with the goal of making that information publicly available. The purpose is to boost public safety and accountability and clarify the place that local governments occupy in the event of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, raid.

Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that East Hampton Village officials adopted a version that is stronger than the final version that OLA is promoting. This is primarily because the village law, unlike OLA’s draft, blocks village officials from entering 287(g) agreements, which essentially allow local and federal officers to work in partnership for immigration detentions. OLA removed this provision, thinking that blocking 287(g) agreements could be a stumbling block, after receiving feedback from local officials.

Another point where East Hampton Village officials gave the law extra teeth is in blocking federal officials from accessing data from the village’s Flock, or license plate reader, cameras. Data that has not been flagged in connection with a criminal investigation will be deleted within 30 days.

East Hampton Village officials enacting the law, which was drafted via a collaboration between OLA and former NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele, came right on the heels of a public hearing, held on April 22, during which OLA advocates spoke up.

Of the 10 twin forks towns and villages with a police department, East Hampton Town and East Hampton Village have been spearheading the OLA law, while others are continuing discussions with OLA about what the law will entail.

OLA Legal Advocate Erika Padilla said the law is not about hindering federal enforcement but protecting the safety and integrity of the local community. The law will provide a simple, common sense solution, Padilla said.

The East Hampton Town Board, which lent support to the law after a discussion on April 7, plans to hold a public hearing on May 7.

***

The Town of Southold struck two words from its zoning code in a move officials say could spur more accessory apartments and boost affordable housing on the North Fork. Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the change approved April 21 allows accessory apartments to be built in new detached structures on residential property. Previously, Southold Town law required accessory apartments be built in “presently existing” structures including garages, barns and storage buildings.

The town board approved the change as part of a broader effort to update zoning laws to encourage accessory dwelling units in a competitive, expensive housing market.

Southold’s Zoning Board of Appeals, which reviews applications to build accessory apartments, supported the change.

Leslie Weisman, the board’s chair, said the town removed a roadblock and could allow residents to have tiny homes on their properties.

Weisman cited a recent denial on a property where a homeowner sought to build a detached apartment for their son to live in. “We couldn’t say yes, because it was not existing,” Weisman said in an interview.

Adding affordable housing is a key priority in Southold’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan. The need is dire, Weisman said.

“Enrollment in our public school systems on the North Fork [is] dwindling dramatically,” Weisman said, noting that young families cannot afford to live in the region. “We’re going to lose generational vitality if we don’t do something about housing.”

The Town of Southold is considering tapping its Community Housing Fund to provide no-interest loans to homeowners looking to build accessory apartments.

***

A Riverside Wastewater Forum at Flanders Community Center is scheduled for this coming Wednesday evening April 29 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Southampton Town representatives will discuss the latest on Riverside’s Water Resource Recovery Facility in an informational program for the community.

That’s this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in David W. Crohan Community Center, 655 Flanders Road, Riverhead, NY 11901.

***

New York school leaders have until today to file their 2026-27 budgets, but for many it’s a guessing game as negotiations over the state budget — including billions of dollars in school aid — continue in Albany. Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that public school district leaders say they can only estimate how much state funding they’ll receive as they look to balance the state’s contribution with what they need to raise from taxpayers.

At the same time, many schools are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of everything from health insurance to utilities, and some are having to make cuts based on those estimates, school leaders said.

“When the legislature and governor can’t finalize the budget, it is extremely difficult for us,” Hampton Bays schools Superintendent Lars Clemensen told Newsday. “It keeps a community in limbo for important things that we deliver for our kids during a school year.”

NYS lawmakers last week passed a sixth budget extender as discussions over the more than $263 billion proposed budget continue nearly a month after the April 1 deadline. A vote for a seventh extender is slated for today.

Negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and Democratic legislative leaders, are still largely divided over policy issues, including Hochul’s plans to push back the state’s climate goals, reduce car insurance costs by targeting fraud, and ease environmental reviews that can delay building projects. They also are discussing ways to increase protections for immigrants from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a tax on second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more. Hochul and all 213 legislative seats are up for election in November.

More than $39 billion in school aid has yet to be negotiated, according to legislative leaders.

School districts’ budget votes aren’t until May 19, but their budget processes are outlined in state law with strict deadlines. Military ballots had to be mailed out by April 24. And districts must file what’s known as a “property tax report card” with the state Education Department by today.

Districts have “had some practice” with late state budgets, said Robert Lowry, deputy director for the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

Budgets have been late the last four years under Hochul, though not as late as in 1997 and 1999 when they ran into August.

Hampton Bays Public Schools, which has 1,930 students, is staying within its tax cap with a $69 million budget that cuts three teaching positions and downgrades an administration position, all through attrition, Clemensen said.

State aid makes up about 20% of the district’s budget, he said.

"It makes sense to play this conservatively, mitigating how much reserve funding is used because it takes multiple years to build that back,” he said. “You assume a little bit lower so that anything extra, you’re in a better position.”

Rotovirus on rise on Long Island, and nationwide

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The confessed serial killer, Rex Heuermann, told family members that the woman whose body was found in a wooded area in North Sea was indeed the first murder he committed and the only one that was not planned ahead of time.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that in a documentary released yesterday on the streaming service Peacock, Heuermann’s wife and daughter recounted conversations they had with him last summer in which he admitted to them to have killed eight women between 1993 and 2010.

The first, they said he told them, was Sandra Costilla, whose body was found in a small section of woodlands off Fish Cove Road, just north of Noyac Road.

His wife, Asa Ellerup, says in the documentary that he told her he killed Costilla, who was a sex worker he had hired and arranged to meet over the phone, inside an SUV he owned at the time, a two-tone blue Dodge Ramcharger.

“He said he killed Sandra Costilla in the Dodge — that was his first murder, before I married him,” Ellerup says in the “The Gilgo Beach Killer" fourth and final episode.

Heuermann would have been 29 in November 1993, when Sandra Costilla, 28, disappeared. Her body was discovered by two Southampton waterfowl hunters early on the morning of November 20, 1993.

“He said ‘The first one, I had no idea I was going to kill at the time, I just randomly did it,’” therapist Alison Winter, tells the documentary cameras, after speaking with Heuermann, with Ellerup, in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverside in August 2025.

Costilla’s murder had been the earliest one that Suffolk County Distirct Attorney Ray Tierney’s office had linked to Heuermann since 2024, when a new examination of DNA evidence in cold case murders following Heuermann’s 2023 arrest linked him to the decades old Southampton case.

Costilla’s body was found, still partially clothed. Her body had been mutilated but was not disremembered, like many of the other victims, and only feint effort had been made to avoid the body being found.

“She was lying on her back with her arms outstretched over her head — her legs were uncovered, a shirt was pressed over her head,” Tierney said at a press conference in 2024, the day he announced the new charges against Heuermann. “The victim suffered numerous sharp force injuries, 25 in all, which we believed were post-mortem.”

Neither the D.A.’s office, nor the documentary, has shed any light on how Heuermann arrived at the small plot of undeveloped land in North Sea as the disposal site for Costilla’s body. The other bodies of his victims were found in dense brambles off a remote stretch of the Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach and in the woods of the Long Island Pine Barrens in Manorville.

***

There will not be a Republican Party candidate for East Hampton Town supervisor for the second straight election cycle, giving the winner of this year’s highly contested Democratic primary race a straight shot at the town’s top office. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen has, for months now, been running a challenge against incumbent Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, who was formally endorsed for a third term by the established Town Democratic Committee in January.

Besides running a fiery campaign for town supervisor, Larsen has been backing a push to reshape the local Democratic Committee in his image by unseating the lion’s share of the 38 sitting committee members and putting his allies in their place.

Throughout the campaign, Larsen has defended his political identity from establishment Democrats who say the Larsen-backed slate of committee candidates is sprinkled with longtime Republicans who appear to have switched their registration to wrest power from the local ruling party.

Larsen said of the Republicans failing to nominate a candidate that “the election is really decided in June for the foreseeable future.”

Burke-Gonzalez, in November, won reelection for a two-year term, in another uncontested general election, but a New York State law, which lined up local elections with the national calendar, truncated her term to one year – and put her right back on the campaign trail.

This week, Larsen wrote off the possibility of him running with a third party, which would have been possible in the event of a Burke-Gonzalez win in the June primary election: “Democrat only,” he told The East Hampton Press.

The candidates, Burke-Gonzalez and Larsen, will face off at a debate at LTV Studios in Wainscott on May 13 at 6 p.m. Express News Group Consulting Editor Joseph P. Shaw will serve as the moderator.

***

North Fork Scouts are busy this year making Southold a better place, starting just steps from the side door to Town Hall. Mattituck High School Junior Madison Tomaszewski is planning a Celebration Garden in a neglected space just outside of Southold Town Hall as part of her Gold Award project, while Brendan Boyle of Southold is placing first aid stations at a number of preserves throughout the town as an Eagle Scout project.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that regarding Madison Tomaszewski’s Celebration Garden, Southold Supervisor Al Krupski told Town Clerk Denis Noncarrow to get ready for a slew of applications for weddings at Town Hall.

“Quite a few weddings take place here already,” he said. “This serves as an example to younger girls, to see the kind of things they can do to help the community.”

Regarding Brendan Boyle’s project, Southold Land Management Coordinator John Sepenoski told the Southold Town Board this week that Boyle’s first aid stations will be placed at Ruth Oliva Preserve in East Marion, Arshamomaque and Pipes Cove preserves in Greenport, Paul Stoutenburgh Preserve in Southold, Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue and Laurel Park in Laurel.

***

Suffolk County sheriff’s deputies are testing out high-tech guns that will be mounted on police car bumpers to fire GPS darts onto suspects’ vehicles’ during high-speed chases.

The new technology, known as StarChase, already led to the tracking and arrest of a drunk driver who refused to pull over, authorities announced yesterday.

Brandon Cruz reports in THE NY POST that the program was launched several weeks ago and is being piloted by the department’s DWI enforcement unit — the first agency in the county with access to the tech.

“We have seen dozens of people try to evade arrest causing dangerous situations for themselves, our officers and the community at large,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. “With our DWI team equipped with the StarChase GPS technology, it will help them apprehend subjects during high-risk events by safely giving our officers access to their real-time location, speed and direction,” the sheriff said. Once a driver makes it clear they have no intentions of pulling over, police are authorized to shoot the adhesive GPS tag onto the back of the fleeing vehicle, authorities said. It isn’t clear what the dart guns’ maximum range is.

The dart then latches onto the car, giving officers and dispatch the ability to monitor the target’s real-time location, speed and direction without having to chase them through the streets.

Once the driver believes they got away and comes to a stop, the tracking officers are then able to swoop in and make the surprise arrest.

The system, according to officials, boasts an 85% success rate across a range of offenses — from drunk driving and stolen vehicles to human trafficking and narcotics — and could possibly find itself implemented in police vehicles across the county to use beyond DWI enforcement.

With the new pilot program launching just weeks ago, Suffolk County joins neighboring New York City and Old Westbury cops in Nassau County who both implemented the tech back in 2023.

***

The president of the LIRR expressed optimism yesterday that a deal could be reached to avert a railroad union strike less than a month away. Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that ahead of a planned virtual conference with LIRR labor leaders Monday, Long Island Rail Road president Rob Free said he "absolutely" believes a settlement to the three-year-long contract dispute is within reach.

The two sides have already agreed on raises totaling 9.5% over the first three years of a new contract — terms already accepted by most Metropolitan Transportation Authority union workers. But the five LIRR labor organizations are demanding a fourth year at 5%. The MTA has countered with an offered 4.5% raise in the fourth year of the contract, but tied it to productivity increases and work rule givebacks.

"We want to talk to them. We're almost there," Free said at a Jamaica news conference. "Three years we're in agreement on. We're talking about a fourth year, and I don't think we're that far apart in what the raise would actually be."

The five labor organizations embroiled in the contract dispute represent nearly half the LIRR’s union workforce, including locomotive engineers, signal workers, machinists, ticket agents and electricians.

The unions have said the 15% in total raises they’re seeking is necessary to keep up with the rising cost of living, and with raises given to other union workers throughout the railroad industry. The LIRR’s offer, the unions have said, would amount to a pay cut.

Free said Wednesday that paying higher-than-expected wages would create added costs in the MTA’s operating budget, which is funded in part through riders’ fares. "Who’s going to pay for it?" Free asked.

Jeff Klein, general chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 589, the union representing LIRR electricians, said he, too, remains optimistic that a deal can be made, but believes that raises for workers should not be "an unexpected operational expense."

"The MTA should not expect its workforce to subsidize its many inefficiencies by accepting a lower standard of living," Klein said.

***

Shiloh Piano and Cello Duo presents Touch the Sky Taking a Journey Through Song this coming Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4:15 p.m. at the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton.

Shiloh is the premier piano and cello duo on Long Island, and they will take you on a journey through various musical genres, performing their unique arrangements of popular songs. From the melodic strains of Danny Boy to the fun and edgy Theme from Mission Impossible, Shiloh will take you on an exploration of musical tones and textures. Genres include traditional music, jazz, hip hop, pop, film scores, anime, country, and good old rock and roll—all presented “Shiloh-Style.”

Registration is required for this event.

To register go to rogersmemorial.librarycalendar.com

That’s this Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Rogers Memorial Library, Southampton, N.Y. 11968

***

Rotavirus, the highly contagious disease that can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea in babies and young children, is on the rise on Long Island, the rest of the metropolitan area and nationwide. Doctors warn children infected can get so dehydrated they may need to go to the hospital for intravenous fluids. Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that earlier this year, federal health officials dropped the rotavirus vaccination from the list of recommended childhood vaccines, a move that infectious disease experts said could cause fewer parents to get the vaccine for their babies in the coming years.

Before 2006, when the latest vaccine became available, rotavirus resulted in up to 70,000 hospitalizations and 20 to 60 deaths a year among children, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the percentage of positive rotavirus cases in the northeast United States was 9.6% for the week ending April 11. That’s higher than the previous two years around the same time. Experts said rotavirus usually appears in the spring but there are several factors that could lead to a rise in cases this year.

"During the long winter, kids spend more time indoors,” said Dr. Asif Noor, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at NYU Langone—Long Island, adding he has seen an increase in cases across the hospital system that mirrors the regional and national trend.

"Rotavirus comes on pretty quickly and spreads pretty quickly," Noor said.

The virus is passed through an infected person’s stool which can be present in microscopic amounts on hands, hard surfaces and even food, according to the CDC. Family members can easily pick up the virus from children in the home.

"It can be found in your stool two days before your diarrhea onset and up to 10 days after your initial symptoms,” said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. "So you go back to school, go back to work, the kids go back to day care and they are still infectious.”

Good hand hygiene can help but it’s not enough to stop the spread of the disease, the CDC said. The rotavirus vaccine, which is dispensed in oral drops, is given two months after birth and then given one or two more times before the age of 6 months, depending on the formulation.

Nachman said the rotavirus vaccine is 98% protective against severe illness, and 96% protective against hospitalization and emergency department visits.

An increase in vaccine hesitancy and the Department of Health and Human Services decision earlier this year to leave it off the list of recommended vaccines for children may cause a "catastrophic” number of cases next year and beyond, she said.

Tick-borne illnesses on the rise across all of Long Island

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Since the early 1980s, Long Island has become a hotbed for ticks and an epicenter for the diseases they can carry, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis and more recently, alpha-gal syndrome, the meat allergy sparked by a tick bite. Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that predicting whether this will be a "bad" tick year is difficult because population is driven by factors such as weather, vegetation and availability of hosts — such as deer and mice — to feed on, said Scott Campbell, Suffolk County's chief entomologist.

Every year, he oversees tick surveillance in Suffolk to see which species are in the environment and which pathogens they are carrying.

"I’ve never seen a shortage of ticks," Campbell said. "You still have to take precautions whether you are in contact with one tick or 100 ticks."

But there are some signs it will be a busy season

Snow, blanketed Long Island this winter, can insulate ticks from cold temperatures.

"The question is always, 'It's been a terrible winter — will there be fewer ticks?' " entomologist Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann told members of the Adirondacks Club's Long Island Chapter at a meeting this month. "We were snow covered for a whole month at least. That means the ticks and all the insects that are under the snow are buffered from the very cold."

Ticks can be active when the temperatures are about 37 degrees or higher. They are less likely to survive in dry conditions, whether they are extremely hot or cold.

Gangloff-Kaufmann said an abundant acorn season, called an "acorn mast," two years ago may also foretell a tough tick season because it can lead to a burst in the mouse and chipmunk population. Mice are a common reservoir for disease.

7:06am - 7:07:30am

Are tick-borne illnesses going up?

"The trends are up for everything you measure," said Nicole Baumgarth, director of the Lyme and Tickborne Diseases Research and Education Institute at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. "The question is whether [tick-borne diseases] are being diagnosed more, or are they more prevalent?" Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that emergency department visits for tick bites have been rising. For the most recent week in April available, 168 out of every 100,000 visits to emergency departments in the Northeast were for a tick bite, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the same week last year it was 107 out of every 100,000 visits.

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's Tick-Borne Disease Clinic in Hampton Bays has received a steady stream of calls and appointment requests over the last two weeks.

"We're starting to see more tick activity and more tick bites," said Dr. Andrew Handel, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Children's Hospital who has a focus on tick-borne illnesses. "I expect in the coming weeks to start seeing cases of tick-borne diseases."

Researchers in the United States and Australia spent years piecing together the mystery of why some people were developing an allergy to meat. Scientists at the University of Virginia found a "range of evidence" by 2010 to link it to the bite of a lone star tick, and specifically a sugar molecule in the tick's saliva that can cause an overactive immune response.

Dr. Erin McGintee, an allergist and immunologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Southampton, started diagnosing cases on Long Island around 2011 and has treated more than 1,000 patients with the allergy since that time.

McGintee, an alpha-gal expert, said cases were once more common on the East End of Long Island but now show up in patients from various places including Port Jefferson, Islip, Stony Brook and Smithtown.

"It's following where the deer are going and the lone star tick is spreading," she said.

Lisa L. Colangelo reports in NEWSDAY that wildlife experts believe much of Suffolk County’s large tick population can be attributed to the warming climate and a growing wildlife population, in particular white-tail deer that provide a food source and mode of transportation for ticks.

The region's deer population, almost wiped out at the start of the 20th century due to over hunting and other issues, rebounded in recent decades due to conservation efforts and the lack of natural predators.

"The deer population on Long Island exploded," said entomologist Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, associate director at Cornell’s Integrated Pest Management program. She is based in Babylon.

Scott Campbell, Suffolk County's chief entomologist, said the deer on Long Island are moving westward as their numbers grow and they search for food.

"Decades ago, people in Huntington, Smithtown, Islip didn’t have problems with ticks," said Campbell. There's less food for deer in forests, so they "come into residential areas to feed on the arborvitae or plantings in our yards and they bring those ticks with them."

If you do have a tick bite, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's Tick-Borne Disease Clinic recommends taking a photo of it, removing it with pointy tweezers, and placing it in a container of alcohol. This will kill the tick and preserve it in case it's needed later to be identified and tested for bacteria that causes disease in humans.

Not all ticks carry bacteria and viruses that cause disease, but removing one quickly lowers the chance of transmission. Watch for symptoms including fever, headache, swollen joints and a rash, and follow up with your health care provider.

***

A white-tailed deer with rare nearly all-white coloring has been frequenting a grassy yard on eastern Long Island.

A resident, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect the animal and whose exact location Newsday is keeping private, said the deer started showing up in his backyard, which borders a wooded area, in December, and he began snapping photos.

Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that the deer has a genetic trait called leucism, which causes a loss of pigment. Deer with leucism can be nearly all white, like this one, or spotted like a pinto pony — a variation commonly called piebald. The condition can affect nearly any animal, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish.

Leucism is the result of a recessive gene, so both parents must carry that gene in order to produce a leucistic fawn. Only about 1% of deer have this trait, according to The Nature Conservancy. It’s different from albinism, also a genetic mutation, which results in a complete lack of melanin. A leucistic deer will still have dark eyes, nose, and hooves.

Leslie Lupo, a wildlife biologist at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Stony Brook office, said she’d never seen a deer with leucism on Long Island.

This rare Long Island animal seems content to browse on tender spring greens, the east end resident said, sometimes alone and sometimes accompanied by a more conventionally attired companion.

"I was and still am very fortunate to see this deer," the man told NEWSDAY. "I realized how lucky I am when something that rare chooses your yard to feel safe in."

***

Frustration with the slow pace of progress in the cleanup of the former Grumman superfund site in Calverton has residents and government officials fed up. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that in a grassroots effort, members of the Calverton Restoration Advisory Board, community members and county and town officials have scheduled their own meeting outside of the Navy’s twice-annual cleanup updates in order to receive data obtained through an investigation by Suffolk County health department officials. The meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 28 at the Manorville Fire Department headquarters.

At the last Calverton Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting on Feb. 10, the Navy would not allow Suffolk County health department staff to present well-testing data they’d collected over the prior year.

Calverton RAB member and clean water advocate Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said the county sampling was requested through the RAB, the data collection was completed, and members expected it would be shared as part of the Navy’s public process.

Addison Phoenix, the Navy’s current project manager for the Calverton site, said that Navy representatives and contractors are authorized to discuss “Navy-generated data associated with the environmental restoration program.”

Esposito called that decision “very unhelpful,” because it undermined the idea of agencies working together in partnership. Further, she said, the information would “educate members of the public” and “add to the understanding of what is a concern and what is not a concern” as a result of groundwater contamination at the site and a plume of contamination that has been migrating off-site.

Members of the RAB are appointed by the Navy to provide citizen input on the environmental cleanup and restoration of the former military manufacturing and testing facility. Its meetings are intended to provide the community with periodic updates from the Navy on the status of its investigation and cleanup/restoration efforts — as well as an opportunity to give the Navy feedback and ask questions.

The first Calverton RAB meeting was convened on April 28, 1998. The most recent meeting held in February was the Calverton RAB’s 62nd meeting.

The flyer being circulated by organizers of the April 28 community meeting bluntly states that the Navy has been dragging its feet for decades and “it’s time for accountability and action NOW!”

This coming Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Manorville Fire Department headquarters, 16 Silas Carter Road, Manorville.

More info available on line.

***

In order to ensure effective communications during emergencies, the Southold Fire Department would like to install a wireless tower at its Baywater Avenue substation.

The Southold-Peconic Civic Association is hosting a community discussion about the Southold Fire Department’s planned wireless tower and Southold Town wireless rules this coming Saturday at 10 a.m. at the fire department substation, 650 Baywater Avenue in Southold.

The Southold Peconic Civic Association was founded in 2022 to preserve and enhance the unique hamlets of Southold and Peconic by promoting civic engagement, ensuring residents are given a forum to learn, consider and act upon issues that affect our north fork communities.

That discussion is this Saturday at 10 a.m. In the Southold Fire House on Baywater Avenue.

***

Noise complaints linked to flights at East Hampton Town Airport in Wainscott have dropped by more than 61% over the past four years, a sharp decline as the number of overall flights also fell, according to a new report. Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that aircraft noise complaints fell for four straight years — from 47,096 in 2021 to 18,169 in 2025. The number of flights logged at the airport declined by nearly 22%, from 32,298 in 2021 to 25,252 last year.

Flights at the airport spiked in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic, which saw people forgo international trips and travel to the Hamptons instead, East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said.

The steep drop holds across most aircraft types, including helicopters, which remain the largest source of the noise complaints. Helicopter operations generate about twice as many complaints as fixed-wing aircraft, according to the data.

For years, residents in Wainscott and across the East End have complained about incessant flight noise. Amid a debate on whether to close the airport, the Town of East Hampton has tried to set new rules to curb noise, but those efforts have been thwarted by lawsuits.

Recent measures targeted at noise reduction, including designated flight routes and a nighttime curfew — both voluntary — may be contributing to the shift, officials said this week. They took the decline as an encouraging sign.

Councilman Ian Calder-Piedmonte said, “…I'm encouraged … that there has been some improvement, and I also appreciate that it seems like there's a lot of voluntary compliance.”

Matthew Simon of HMMH, an aviation consulting firm based in Burlington, Massachusetts, presented the report to the town board during a work session on Tuesday.

Simon said most complaints occur during peak air traffic periods, particularly in summer and during high-traffic travel windows such as Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings, as well as Monday mornings.

Many of the complaints stem from a relatively small number of households, Simon's data showed. While most residents filed only a handful of reports over the past five years, a limited number of households filed hundreds or even thousands of complaints.

Among the skeptics, Teresa McCaskie, who lives on the North Fork in Mattituck, said the drop reflects apathy rather than meaningful improvements.

“There’s a reduction in complaints because many people have given up,” McCaskie, who attended the presentation, told Newsday.

Shifting flight routes is only a temporary solution because “eventually somebody is going to be suffering from the noise,” said McCaskie, chairwoman of Southold Town’s Aircraft Noise Committee.

Barry Raebeck of Wainscott, who leads a group that advocates for restrictions at the airport, said he knows people who recently sold their homes because they lived under the flight path and couldn’t stand the noise. Most flights don’t occur overnight, making the curfew practically “non-existent,” he said.

The findings come as the airport remains the focus of a long-running debate. The Town of East Hampton attempted to close the public airport in 2022 and reopen it as a private facility, a move that would have given officials more control over air traffic and noise. The effort was met with lawsuits from aviation interests and adverse court rulings. The town remains in litigation.

New scientific findings show worsening coastal water conditions

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Commercial landscaping companies and governments on Long Island would be eligible for rebates to transition from gas-powered to electric lawn care and snow removal equipment, under a bill passed by the New York State Legislature.

"Gas-powered landscaping equipment emits a stunning amount of air pollution, not to mention the noise that blights communities across the state," Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the bill, told Newsday in a statement. "This bill will make it easier for New York's landscaping companies to transition to cleaner, quieter equipment."

The proposed legislation — which also applies to nonprofits, universities and school districts — would set up a state rebate program for battery-powered equipment, including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, tree trimmers and snow blowers, as well as batteries and chargers. The bill aims to "reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce noise pollution," according to the legislative language.

The rebate amount would be set by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, and be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The funding would come from existing revenues controlled by NYSERDA.

Keshia Clukey reports in NEWSDAY that the State Senate yesterday passed the bill by a 54-8 vote, and it was approved by a 99-42 margin in the Assembly on Monday. The measure will now head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, whose office said she would review the bill.

Assemb. Scott Gray (R-Watertown) was among those who voted against the measure.

"If the product is appealing and the marketplace is doing a good job trying to move the product along, I think government is the last...entity that should step in and put its fingers on the scale in a private marketplace and try to drive customers to a certain product," Gray said on the Assembly floor.

Gray also cited concerns over the use of taxpayer dollars for the program as well as with the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

Statewide, over 69 communities, including several on Long Island, have adopted laws to ban or restrict the use of gas-powered equipment, Assemb. Steven Otis (D-Port Chester), the bill’s sponsor said on the Assembly floor.

The bill also would save taxpayers money by lowering costs for school districts and municipalities purchasing new equipment, Otis said.

Long Island business and landscaping groups favor a rebate program as business owners struggle to meet new municipal restrictions along with the rising cost of gas and oil.

***

Southampton School District parents who wish to enroll their children in the elementary school’s dual language program must attend an upcoming informational session and sign a one-year commitment letter by May 15 to gauge interest, as part of a series of expected changes to the curriculum’s format.

In the event that more students want to participate than there are seats, a lottery will be held on May 20, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Fatima Morrell.

“The whole program is not changing,” Dr. Morrell said during a Board of Education meeting last night. “We do have to think a little bit more systemically, though, about how we use our teachers to get the best for our kids. And I think there were some serious concerns about our program.”

Michelle Trauring reports on 27east.com that a nearly two-hour-long presentation and discussion dominated last night’s meeting, eliciting questions and feedback from board members, parents and students alike. A deeper dive into the proposed changes — some of which are being brought on by decreased enrollment — will be discussed at pre-K informational sessions this coming Friday, April 24, at 8:30 a.m. and on Monday, April 27, at 2 and 6:30 p.m., and kindergarten through third grade sessions on Thursday, April 30, at 8:30 a.m. and Wednesday, May 6, at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

For over 20 years, the dual language program has been a pillar of strength in the district, Morrell said. The Spanish Embassy’s Ministry of Culture, Education and Sports recognizes each of Southampton’s schools as an International Spanish Academy, or ISA, which “implement a Spanish-English dual language immersion curriculum with the support, consultancy and recognition of the Ministry,” according to its website.

Southampton is the only district in the state with this designation, reported Dr. Brian Zahn, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

However, Spanish and English teachers said they often find themselves competing for time, and families also are lacking information about the program. Some parents agreed, saying that they don’t fully understand how the program works and want the ability to choose whether it’s the right fit for their children.

Addressing School Board President Zach Epley, a parent and new Southampton home owner said, “You're saying you're giving us choice, but if we go to a lottery, you're taking away that choice from us, that choice that we've worked very hard for, to sacrifice and be part of this very expensive community.”

***

The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau will host two upcoming events showcasing local young talent, including the 2026 Hamptons Got Talent competition and the 23rd annual Battle of the Bands.

Hamptons Got Talent is scheduled for Friday, May 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Westhampton Beach High School. Eleven local middle and high school students will perform in front of a panel of professional judges, competing for prize packages that include gift certificates from Bay Street Theater, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Hampton Theatre Company, Dream Recording Studios, Edgewater Restaurant, Guild Hall and Hampton Coffee Co., among others.

Audience members will have the opportunity to win giveaways and vote for a People’s Choice Award. Admission is free and open to the public.

So, Hamptons Got Talent is scheduled for Friday, May 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Westhampton Beach High School.

The Southampton Town Youth Bureau is also accepting applications for its 23rd annual Battle of the Bands competition, scheduled for Friday, June 5, from 8 to 11 p.m. at Ponquogue Beach in Hampton Bays, with a rain date of June 12. Bands interested in participating must submit applications and demo recordings by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026. Submissions can be mailed or delivered to the Southampton Youth Bureau, 655 Flanders Road, Flanders, NY 11901.

For more information, call the Southampton Youth Bureau at 631-702-2425 or visit southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau.

***

New scientific findings presented yesterday in downtown Riverhead point to worsening threats in Long Island’s coastal waters, including harmful algal blooms, low-oxygen zones and environmental conditions that promote dangerous bacteria, according to Stony Brook University coastal ecologist Christopher Gobler.

Speaking on the Peconic River boardwalk in Riverhead, ahead of Friday’s annual State of the Bays symposium to take place at Stony Brook University in Southampton, Gobler said water bodies across Long Island failed to meet state and federal water quality standards last year and that 2026 is already off to a troubling start. He had a map of Long Island on display depicting “dozens and dozens of locations in our estuaries and our harbors and our bays and our lakes and our ponds” that didn’t meet water quality standards in 2025.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that among the most serious concerns are harmful algal blooms in both freshwater and marine waters, shellfish closures tied to paralytic shellfish poisoning and low-oxygen “dead zones” that harm marine life.

Gobler said three Southold water bodies are currently closed to shellfishing because of paralytic shellfish poisoning and that the western half of Shinnecock Bay is also closed.

Gobler said nearly three dozen Long Island locations are also experiencing hypoxic conditions, with dissolved oxygen levels below the state standard of 3 milligrams per liter.

“Every hour that a water body spends below three milligrams per liter is an hour that is doing harm to marine life,” said Professor Gobler.

The annual State of the Bays symposium is scheduled for this coming Friday in Stony Brook Southampton’s Avram Theater at 7 p.m. The event is free to attend and open to the public. For more information and to reserve free tickets, visit the Stony Brook Southampton website.

***

The Town of East Hampton and the Village of East Hampton are advancing legislation to bar police from cooperating with federal agencies on civil immigration enforcement — becoming the first East End municipalities to back the proposal.

The proposal would also require police departments to notify newly created task forces about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities if their officers were called to respond to a raid.

Alek Lewis reports in NEWSDAY that the two municipalities are the first to support a "public safety and accountability” bill originally drafted by Organización Latino Americana - OLA of Eastern Long Island, Inc. - a Latino advocacy nonprofit based in East Hampton. Drafting the proposal was also assisted by former NYS Assemb. Fred Thiele, an OLA board member. OLA has been lobbying East End municipalities that have police departments to adopt the proposal since early February.

“It's an important step in reassuring the public that our police department is doing the right thing,” East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen said in an interview. “The last thing we want is local police being involved in immigration ... because if people can't trust the local police to report crimes, then things are going to turn bad in the community.”

The East End, home to a large Latino immigrant population, has seen ICE raids as President Donald Trump’s administration ramped up deportation efforts last year.

Both East Hampton proposals would ban Section 287(g) agreements between the Department of Homeland Security and local police departments. Those agreements allow ICE to partner with local law enforcement on certain immigration enforcement activities. Nassau County has deputized 10 Nassau police detectives as ICE agents and rented jail cells to ICE under such an agreement. A ban on those agreements is also being pushed by Democratic state lawmakers.

East Hampton Village trustees will hold a hearing on their bill today. The East Hampton Town board has scheduled a May 7 hearing on its bill.

Both proposals acknowledge the federal government’s authority to enforce immigration laws and do not prohibit local police from cooperating with federal officers in criminal matters or when presented with judicial warrants.

***

East Hampton Town officials are planning to buy the land beneath Pathfinder Day Camp for $7.25 million, with the goal of licensing the land out to keep the space as an affordable summer camp on town-owned property. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that seated on an idyllic peninsula that juts out into the western side of Fort Pond in Montauk, Pathfinder is a camp that dates back over 50 years, to 1964. East Hampton Town officials do not yet know whether the land will be under the stewardship of Pathfinder once the sale is finalized, but they say the goal is to keep a summer camp on the property — with a town-approved licensee overseeing operations.

What the purchase will do, once finalized, is link three pieces of town-owned land to form a contiguous, 11-acre sprawl of town property on the peninsula. The land that houses Pathfinder, located at 134 Second House Road, would be in the middle of that stretch.

Flanking either side of the land are two separate pieces of town-owned land. One, the Carol Morrison Park, spans 4 acres and is located directly to the east. This land is also home to the Fort Pond House, which is used for educational and cultural purposes. The land itself is meant for outdoor recreation. This property has been owned by the town for 15-plus years.

To move forward, East Hampton Town officials approved a resolution for the addition of Pathfinder’s Second House Road address to the Community Preservation Fund plan for a public hearing on May 7. Another public hearing, this one regarding town officials buying the property, will also be held on that same May 7th date.

***

Port of Egypt Marine, a marina that was established as a fishing station by the Lieblein family 80 years ago on a stretch of Route 25 between Southold and Greenport, has been sold to Hinckley Yachts. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the acquisition of Port of Egypt “strengthens Hinckley’s presence in one of the country’s most active boating regions, while extending its ability to deliver best-in-class service, maintenance and support across a broad range of vessels, all to the Hinckley standard,” said Hinckley Yachts in a statement, adding that the purchase “brings together Hinckley’s nearly century-long heritage in yacht building and service with Port of Egypt Marine’s 80-year legacy as a family-run marina on Long Island’s East End.”

The Liebleins will still be involved as partners in the property, according to Hinckley Yachts, which announced the sale yesterday, and the Port of Egypt name will remain, along with the restaurant on the property, A Lure. Existing slipholders will be able to stay and there will be no changes to dockage for the season.

“In Hinckley, we found a partner who truly understands what makes Port of Egypt special,” said Port of Egypt General Managers Will and Yvonne Lieblein. “Their commitment to craftsmanship, stewardship, and service reflects the values we have upheld here over eight decades and gives us great confidence in what comes next. We are proud of what we’ve built, and excited to see it thoughtfully enhanced and carried forward.”

Hinckley Yachts is a nearly century-old boatbuilding company with roots on Mount Desert Island in Maine, where the Hinkley family got its start servicing local lobster boats and yachts of summer residents in 1928.

Monitor Clipper Partners, a private equity firm in Boston, is currently the majority owner of Hinckley, which is now known for small luxury motor yachts with lobster boat-style “downeast” lines, including the 36-foot Picnic Boat. It also builds sailboats, most notably the Bermuda 40. The company still manufactures its boats in Maine.

Hinckley Yachts says it plans a significant investment in the Port of Egypt property, including “the conversion of a 24,000-square-foot cold storage facility into heated, year-round storage to support world-class yacht maintenance.

Hinckley says Port of Egypt will now become “a central hub within Hinckley’s growing East Coast network serving the East End, including the Hamptons, Shelter Island, and the North Fork, as well as key boating communities across Connecticut and the broader Northeast."

In 2025, Port Of Egypt had celebrated 65 years as a dealer of Grady-White boats, beloved by North Fork fishermen since 1960. The marina was the oldest Grady-White dealer in the world. The new company will no longer be a Grady-White dealer.