Sylvester Manor Receives Grant for Attic Restoration Project
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Stephen J. Kotz on Aug 12, 2025
Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island has received a $100,000 grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The... more
You’d never know by the chronic whine of gas-powered leaf blowers that they’re banned in the Town of Southampton through the summer. After a morning with stereophonic leaf blowers, I called Town Hall to check that they were actually banned. Yes, they are — and there’s an SOS complaint on the town website to report leaf blower noise. It requires a photo, address and business name. I assumed the town would remind them of the ban. Instead, SOS inquiries were closed without follow-through, because it was too late. They need to “catch them in the act.” Council member Michael Iasilli ...
by Staff Writer
John Avlon was correct about “the stakes of the 2024 election were so high for our country and community” [“Frustrated? Here Are Three Things You Can Do,” Viewpoint, Opinion, July 3]. The voters in that election cycle rejected “chaos and corruption, the assault on democracy and the rule of law” that was perpetrated by both the Obama and Biden administrations. They weaponized the intelligence agencies, the Justice Department and the FBI to go after their political opponents. There is the real threat to democracy. In President Donald Trump’s first seven months in office, we have witnessed gasoline prices dropping, inflation ...
by Staff Writer
Anne Surchin brilliantly explored luscious vocabulary to slam the ever-tiresome “modern farmhouse” oxymoron — black windows be damned [“How the New Opulence Shapes the East End’s Architectural Landscape,” Form & Function, Residence, 27east.com, August 6]. Thank you for calling out “form and function,” most especially by referencing Levittown in an article with the word “opulence” in the title. Well done. Charles Grubb Bridgehampton
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After reading Fred W. Thiele Jr.’s article [“Choices Matter — So Where Are They?” Observations from Long Beach, Opinion, August 7], I felt the need to respond. In sports, it’s not uncommon for people to understand what a generational talent is: an athlete that is so rare that they define a generation. They are almost bigger than the sport they play and become global icons. Well, the same happens in politics. There are generational politicians who define a generation. We have been blessed on the East End to have had several: Perry Duryea. John Behan. And Fred Thiele. I do ...
by Staff Writer
I am sorry that a long-scheduled family event caused me to miss the recent public discussion by the leadership of The Sag Harbor Express, focusing on the centuries of history of the paper and its critical role in our community. From those I have spoken with who attended, and from the write-up of the event in The Express [“Sag Harbor’s Legacy of Local Journalism Told Through the Story of The Express,” 27east.com, July 28], it appears that it was a thorough and thoughtful session. It certainly invites serious consideration by the community of the role of our hometown paper at ...
by Staff Writer
We don’t have too many people in the trade parade; rather, we have too many cars [“The Jam We’re In,” Editorial, August 7]. Limit all vehicles to two occupants. Do a survey at the east end of Sunrise Highway, counting the vehicles, and counting the vehicles with just one occupant, and count the number of vehicles with two or more occupants. See what this produces. I bet around 80 percent of the vehicles have just one occupant. Joseph Chiarello Hampton Bays
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On Friday, August 1, President Donald Trump fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, a nonpolitical, well-respected labor economist. Why was she fired? Because her agency published data that showed U.S. employment growth is slowing. The president didn’t provide any specific alternative data. It seems he couldn’t tolerate that someone in his administration would publish information showing that his economic policies may not be working well. Trump posted on social media: “The Economy is BOOMING under ‘TRUMP.’” (His capitalization.) Several former BLS commissioners, even those who served under Republican administrations, said the firing was groundless. Unfortunately, ...
by Staff Writer
As we all know, traffic during the vacation season is a chronic problem in the Hamptons. It could be my imagination, but it seems this year is worse than others. I have some suggestions I think are worth considering. Town deliveries to restaurants and markets (especially in Sag Harbor) should be encouraged during the morning hours, especially deliveries from the Corner Bar up through Division Street, where there is no center lane. Infrastructure work (with the exception of emergencies) could be rescheduled for the offseason. Several times this summer, Noyac Road, notwithstanding the usual trade parade traffic, has been closed ...
by Staff Writer
This November, voters can elect three outstanding candidates for office: Sara Topping, Jimmy Mack and Hannah Pell-O’Farrell. These dynamic Southampton residents are extraordinarily prepared to serve on the Southampton Town Board of Trustees. Multifaceted, Trustees are stewards of the town’s shoreline, waterways, marshes and bottomlands. These candidates bring commitment and strong resumes to protect this natural beauty. An early climate activist, Sara participated in a group bike ride from New York City to Washington, D.C., aiming to raise awareness among government leaders about rising sea levels on Long Island. More recently, when The Press reported that some Town Trustees got ...
by Staff Writer
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Stephen J. Kotz on Aug 12, 2025