'Welcome To Wainscott' Signs Unveiled

The Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee officially unveiled “Welcome to Wainscott” hamlet signs on Saturday, following its monthly meeting at the Wainscott Chapel.

Members of the committee were joined by Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc and Councilwoman-Elect Kathee Burke-Gonzalez as they pulled the tarp from the two colorful signs placed along Montauk Highway. The “Welcome to Wainscott” signs, which were donated by the Wainscott CAC, stand at the south side of the highway at Town Line Road heading east, and just west of the Highway Diner and the Veterans of Foreign Wars on the north side of the highway heading west.

CAC Co-Chair Rick Del Mastro praised the committee for its efforts in getting the signs and thanked Mr. Van Scoyoc, who he said has played a big role since being appointed as the committee’s liaison.

Mr. Del Mastro said that the committee has evolved over the years and has become very effective in getting things accomplished. “Everyone gets involved. Everyone has a role to play,” he said. “We’ve made a difference in our hamlet. You can only do that when you have the right people in place.”

The signs, which cost a combined $4,000, are a permanent marker of the borderlines of the tiny hamlet, which as of the last census had a population of just 650.

Since the signs, which were installed by the East Hampton Town Highway Department, sit on state property along Montauk Highway, Highway Superintendent Stephen Lynch filed an application with the state for permission to put them there. The Highway Department also wrapped the signs in tarps so the committee could do an official unveiling ceremony.

Mr. Del Mastro said that he was appreciative of the cooperation the committee received from town and from Mr. Lynch. “He’s done a great job, not only in our hamlet but throughout East Hampton,” he said of Mr. Lynch.

The signs come on the heels of another Wainscott beautification effort. Recently, brightly lit and colorful holiday trees were placed at points on the roadside along Montauk Highway. CAC Co-Chair Jose Arandia, who led the effort to get businesses owners to agree to be access points for electricity to light the trees, said the response from the business community was overwhelmingly positive. “Every single business owner said how wonderful it was,” he said.

The holiday trees had special significance since, until this holiday season, Wainscott had not been included in the town’s budget for the holiday adornments.

Mr. Van Scoyoc said that he’s pleased with the committee’s work on both the hamlet signs and the holiday trees, and he’s glad that he has been able to help. “It gives people the appearance that you’re entering a hamlet,” he said of Wainscott. “It’s a small step, but it’s a step.”

The Wainscott CAC is now celebrating its 30th year, according to Mr. Del Mastro. The committee holds meetings on the first Saturday of every month in the Wainscott Chapel on Main Street in Wainscott.