Bridgehampton community notes

We have seen more than enough mayhem the world over in the past decade to have become at least partially inured to horrors like the terrorist attacks that took place in far-away India last week. To most Americans, India might as well be halfway across the universe, let alone halfway around the world.

But what happened closer to home at a Long Island shopping mall on Friday, where a temporary worker was trampled by stampeding shoppers desperate for the chance to buy a flat-screen television on sale, hit hard and gave us a lot to think about. So unnecessary, so mindless. Yet another reason to stay as far away from malls as possible this Christmas.

You know it’s nice to live in a small town far away from the madding crowd (at least during the winter) when someone lets slip that a local nursery, in this case, Marders, has agreed to plant trees and shrubs at the temporary home of the Hampton Library. If you have been out here more than a decade, you’ll remember that the converted barn the library is making do with while its main building is renovated and expanded, is the former site of Marders, which has long since moved to larger and more impressive digs on Snake Hollow Road.

Check out the new plantings—and a transplanted evergreen from the old building—when the library holds its annual tree lighting and holiday open house from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Thanks to the Bridgehampton Lions Club, Santa Claus is again expected to make an appearance and visit with children. In addition, the Bridgehampton School Band will be on hand to play carols before the lighting ceremony.

The library’s 11th annual Book Angels program starts on Saturday and will run through December 19. Participants select a paper angel from the library tree and shop for a book for the child described. You simply tape the angel to the book and return both to the library for wrapping by December 19.

Also on Saturday, the Bridgehampton Association will hold its annual Holiday Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parish house of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church. The event will feature handmade wreaths, a variety of tasty foods, including homemade sauces, jams and preserves, handmade goods and many other gifts. Proceeds go to local charitable organizations.

One other holiday reminder for you: The Bridgehampton Village Improvement Society is seeking sponsors to help underwrite the cost of the Christmas trees it places on Main Street. The suggested donation is $75. If you want to help beautify the business district, send your donation to BVIS, P.O. Box 872, Bridgehampton 11932.

Remember, the Bridgehampton Historical Society is raffling off a fully restored 1984 black Jeep CJ7, which has been parked on the lawn of the Corwith House. Only 500 raffle tickets, at $100 each, will be sold. The drawing will be held on December 12. Proceeds will be used to help pay for the restoration of the Nathaniel Rogers House, the society’s future headquarters at the corner of Montauk Highway and Ocean Road. If you want to buy a ticket, call 537-1088.

Other than that, it’s shaping up to be a pretty quiet December in Bridgehampton.

In other library news, a tour of the library’s website will be offered on Saturday at 1 p.m. Participants will learn about the many things you can do on your computer from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have an internet connection, including searching for books, placing holds and renewing items; downloading audio books, music and videos; taking language classes and, my favorite, getting homework help. The class is free but registration is required and you have to be a library cardholder.

Librarian and historian Julie Greene will offer a Genealogy and Historical Database demonstration in which she will show participants how to search the Federal Census, on Thursday, December 18, at 5 p.m. This class is free but registration is required.

The Film Appreciation Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. to watch a film and discuss it. Next up is “Il Postino” (or, “The Postman”) in Italian with English subtitles, on December 17.

There will also be a regular Friday Matinee, at which recently released foreign and independent films, will be shown. “Days and Clouds,” in Italian with English subtitles will be shown at 2 p.m. on December 12.

Librarian Jill Burdge will lead a Great Books discussion group, which will meet the third Monday of the month at 10 a.m. In December, the group will discuss “Antigone.”

For kids, the library will offer a Recycled Light Bulb Craft on Saturday, December 13, at 1:30 p.m. Participants have been asked to bring in a burned-out light bulb (with no cracks) to use to paint a holiday scene.