Community News, September 16

The Concerned Citizens of Montauk will host its second annual picnic on Saturday, September 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Fort Pond House in Carol Morrison Park on Second House Road. Bring your own picnic to the event which is a celebration of a CCOM founder, Carol Morrison, and the organization’s work in saving Fort Pond House and improving water quality in its namesake pond.

The day before, Friday, September 17, CCOM will host a water quality educational kiosk at the Montauk Farmer’s Market, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There you can learn about CCOM’s water quality programming and get information about its bacterial and harmful algal bloom water testing program and floating wetlands project in Fort Pond. An expert will be there to answer questions about the East Hampton Town and Suffolk County septic replacement program.

CCOM has also recently launced a public awareness campaign, “Save Montauk’s Waters,” to increase the community’s understanding of water quality issues, as well as methods of remediation. As part of the campaign, there is a petition at preservemontauk.org.

East Hampton Village will celebrate its centennial with a lineup of events from Friday through Sunday, September 24 through September 26. On Friday at 11 a.m., East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen will be joined by village trustees, and religious leaders, who will bury a time capsule at Village Hall to be opened at the village’s 200th anniversary. The celebration will continue with a historic discussion featuring Juliana Lester, Hugh King and others at Herrick Park at 2 p.m. Both of the daytime events are free and guests attending the discussion are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

On Friday evening, a gala and casino night will be held at the Maidstone Club starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $350 and may be purchased on the village’s website. Proceeds from this event will go to the East Hampton Village Foundation and will help fund new construction at Herrick Park.

On Saturday, September 25, a Children’s Fair will be held at Herrick Park, starting at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., walk over to Main Street for the centennial parade, followed by a music festival at 2 p.m. at Herrick Park. Through the afternoon and into the night, five local bands will take turns on the stage.

The last day of the celebration, on Sunday, brings a classic car show at 11 a.m. to Herrick Park, and later in the day, at 4 p.m. a softball game pitting the Maidstone team against the Bonackers. The East Hampton Fire Department will be there selling food cooked on the grill.

For more information, visit easthamptonvillage.org.

Caroline Cashin is the force behind a fun fundraiser for Project MOST set for Saturday, September 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. The outdoor 1K Kettlebell Swing Challenge will be held at the Community Learning Center at the Neighborhood House on Three Mile Harbor Road and it is open to all. Participants will have an opportunity to submit a swing combination of their choice. Kettlebells can be provided with advance notice. For details, go to projectmost.org.

The Bridgehampton Museum grounds, on Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton, will be the place to view vintage and collector cars gathered for “Cars & Coffee,” hosted by The Bridge, on Sunday, September 19, from 9 a.m. to noon. Enthusiasts are invited to bring a vehicle to display. For more information, email info@thebridgehamptons.com.

Starting on Friday, September 17, and every Friday thereafter, the Philosophy Group will meet at the Hampton Library on Main Street in Bridgehampton from 10 a.m. to noon. This year, discussions will focus on postmodernism, which brought a new wave of art and architecture and a new political approach to education, sociology, psychoanalysis and politics itself. For more information, contact Susan Pashman at susanpashman@gmail.com or 516-242-6980.

Next Saturday, September 25, look for the very first East End Car Show to benefit the Suffolk County Boy Scouts Trailblazer District and the Children’s Museum of the East End. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., dozens of vehicles — all makes and models, from the classics to the custom — will be on display for casual fans and gearheads alike to appreciate, admire, and enjoy on the grounds of CMEE, located on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. If it rains, the event will be postponed to Sunday. Admission is $15 per adult, $5 per child ages 17 years and under. To show your car, the registration fee is $30. Go to cmee.org for details.

ARF’S Pet Food Pantry will be open for both donations and distribution of pet food on Saturday, September 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at Petco in the Bridgehampton Commons. Donations of cat food are especially needed.

For more information, visit arf.org.

“Dream With Me” is the celebratory title of The Choral Society of the Hamptons’ fall concert honoring its longtime musical director and conductor, Mark Magnini, who has led the group for 20 years. The selections for this concert span three centuries, from Handel to Bernstein, with a couple of contemporary surprises along the way, and were chosen by Mr. Magnini. The performance will be held on Saturday, September 26, at the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church.

In addition to its own members, the Choral Society will be joined by soloists and accompanied by the South Fork Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Song-A Cho. Since its founding the 1946, the Choral Society of the Hamptons has developed a repertoire of music by all the great choral composers, and attracts members from across the East End.

In keeping with current COVID protocols, a limited number of seats are being sold, in advance only, and proof of vaccination is required. Masks will also be required for entry.

Tickets are $35 and will be available by reserving online at choralsocietyofthehamptons.org or at the Romany Kramoris Gallery on Main Street in Sag Harbor.

The South Fork Natural History Museum is hosting another Adopt a Patch/I Love Vineyard Field Work Day, this one on Saturday, September 25, at 9 a.m. Adopt a Patch brings together volunteers to help eradicate the invasive olive shrubs in the museum’s fields. Each volunteer is allotted a section of the field (their “patch”) where they will cut back any new sprouts at least once a month during the growing season; repetitive cutting eradicates this noxious plant. A grant from the Bridgehampton Association was used to purchase the needed tools.

For more information or to confirm attendance, contact Dai Dayton at 631-745-0689.

The 20th annual Car Show to benefit the Water Mill Village Improvement Association was held last Saturday, September 11. Throughout the day, over 550 spectators came out to admire the 116 cars that showed up. Spectators voted on the top three cars for People’s Choice awards, which went to the following cars: First place, a 1962 Chevy Impala SS, owned by Tom Federico; second place, a 2019 Morgan, owned by Steve Vella; third place, a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, owned by Greg Miller.

Many sponsors helped make this event a success, as did Charlie Corwith, Todd Tureski and Dave Hawke.

The Southampton History Museum will hold the first-ever Hampton Flea & Vintage Market on Sunday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum on Meeting House Lane. This curated show will include vendors showing the best in one-of-a-kind and high-quality vintage clothing, collectibles, and handmade goods.

For more information, visit southamptonhistory.org.

The Christian Science Reading Room at 70 Cameron Street in Southampton is open as a quiet place to study, Tuesday and Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A garden is available to enjoy and all are welcome.

For more information, call 631-283-5772

The Rogers Memorial Library continues to offer a full calendar of events, although many are accessed virtually. Registrants will be contacted by e-mail with log-in information prior to the event. To register for a program, visit the library’s calendar of events at rogersmemorial.librarycalendar.com or call 631-283-0774, extension 523.

Among the upcoming programs is a talk by Professor Val Franco titled “Aboriginal and Contemporary Art of Australia” on Monday, September 20, 11 a.m.

Bill Schulman, a lifelong Yankees fan who wrote the columns “Collecting Memories” and “Where Are They Now” for Yankees Magazine, will present (in person), “Pinstripes and Tales: Stories the Yankees Told Me” on Wednesday, September 22, at 6 p.m. After interviewing nearly 120 former Bombers, he will relate some of the more interesting stories the players told him. If you are a Yankees fan — or a baseball fan in general — this is a program you won’t want to miss.

The RML Clothing Swap (in-person) is set for Saturday, September 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to all, community members can donate unwanted clothing and accessories and trade them for new ones. To participate, bring five to 10 items of clothing, clean and in good shape, and prepare to “shop.” To drop off your items ahead of time, please call 631-283-0774 ext. 523 or e-mail programs@myrml.org.

Registration not required.

The library is also looking to hear your pandemic story to record the memories of our residents, and collect the history of the pandemic in Southampton for future research and generations. Visit myrml.org/covid-19-archive to upload photos, videos, audio files, word documents, or artwork sharing your COVID-19 and quarantine experiences.

Although the Hampton Bays Civic Association did not hold its annual Family Fun Day, it did set the Rubber Duckies, submitted in advance, afloat for the race. This year’s winners were Style Marble, first place; Rapid Recovery, second; and Peconic Physical Therapy, third.

Half the fun of the ducky race is seeing how the ducks are “dressed.” This year the best decorated duck awards went to Isabella Taylor, first, for Mermaid; Weber & Grahn, second; Aitana Garcia, third.

The Hampton Bays Beautification Association will hold its 35th annual Garden Party Fundraiser and Chinese Auction on Saturday, September 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at Oakland’s Restaurant in Hampton Bays. Tickets are $60 in advance and $65 at the door, and will include a sheet of tickets for the auction.

For more information, email president@hbba.net.

The Hampton Bays Public Library will host a one-day driver safety course on two dates: Saturday, September 25, and Saturday, October 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $28 per person. Register via email, dvalle@hamptonbayslibrary.org, with Defensive Driving in the subject line.

Celebrate the first day of fall with an evening hike through the forest at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, September 2, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Participants will look and listen for nocturnal creatures, and enjoy some night vision activities. Reservations required at least 24 hours in advance; payment required at time of reservation. The cost is $10 for members, $20 for non-members.

For details about this and other programs offered by the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, go to its website, quoguewildliferefuge.org.

The Westhampton Presbyterian Church will be holding a Scrap Metal Drive on Saturday, September 25. Everyone is invited to drop off all types of metal, steel, copper, aluminum, old appliances, air conditioners, etc. at the church, located at 90 Meeting House Road, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Call the church office at 631-288-2576 for more information.

Farther Afield

Group for the East End, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Suffolk County Parks are partnering on a community beach cleanup at Cupsogue Beach County Park on Saturday, September 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers may sign up for a one-hour time slot, and there is a maximum of 30 participants per time slot. Clean-up supplies will be provided, but it is recommended to bring your own gloves.

For details, email treynolds@eastendenvironment.org or education@amseas.org.

The Mobile/Manufactured Homeowners Association of Suffolk Inc. is hosting a meeting on Saturday, September 25, at 10:30 a.m. at Riverhead Town Hall to help with tenant management problems in mobile home parks. A resident may attend one meeting at no cost before paying annual dues to become a member. For more information, call Peter Baldwin at 631-513-9385.

The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is holding the 23rd anniversary 5K Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness on Sunday, September 26, this year, in person. The fundraiser will be held at the Riverhead location of Tanger Outlet Center, which sponsors the event. Participants can pre-register on the NFBHC website or register from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. on walk day. The walk begins at 9 a.m.

The registration fee to participate in the 5K Walk is $25 if paid by September 24 and $30 if paid after that date or on the day of the event. The first 300 entrants will receive a gift bag.

Walkers are encouraged to gather pledges of support from friends, family and colleagues. Top fundraising awards will be given in the following categories: Young Adult (ages 13-19), Adult, Breast Cancer Survivor and Business/Team. Team captains must register team members, send in names and registration fees by September 19, and submit pledge money on the morning of the event.

For more information, call 631-208-8889 or e-mail nfbreasthealth@gmail.com.

The Town of East Hampton is offering weekly one-hour tennis clinics for students at the Amagansett Youth Park on Abrahams Path. New York State mandated COVID-19 guidelines will be followed and classes could be canceled at any time due to health concerns. The clinics are for those in second grade and up. Go to ehamptonny.gov for details and to register.

Our Fabulous Variety Show will offer bilingual ballet and tap with Anita Boyer and teaching assistant Jaelyn Hernandez starting this Saturday, September 18, at the Neighborhood House in Springs, as part of its partnership with Project MOST.

A ballet and tap class for children ages 3 to 5 will be held from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., and will be taught in Spanish and English.

For more information, or to register, visit projectmost.org.

The Southampton Youth Bureau is currently searching for new members to join its “Teen Views on the News (TV-ON)” program. Participants will learn how to conduct interviews and create stories for local TV. The program is held on Thursdays, beginning September 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Community Center, 25 Ponquogue Ave. TV-ON is open to students in grades seven to 12 and community service credits are available. For more information, call (631) 702-2425 or visitsouthamptontownny.gov/youthbureau.

The bureau is also accepting registrations for its “Youth and Government” program, a national program that involves teens in state-organized, model-government programs. Students in grades nine to 12 will have the opportunity to practice experiential civic engagement and learn about the democratic process. Youth will discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of New York State and will get a chance to attend the state conference with youth from across New York.

The Southampton Youth Bureau’s Youth & Government program is held on Wednesdays, beginning September 22. The first meeting will be held at the Flanders Youth Center, 655 Flanders Road, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All other meetings will be at the Hampton Bays Community Center. For more information, call (631) 702-2425 or Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni at (631) 287-5745.

The Montauk Library has been given $47,000 in state aid for library construction funds, secured with help from New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. The funds will enable the Montauk Library to install staff and patron workstations throughout the library.

The funds are from $14 million in capital funds for public library construction and broadband infrastructure projects provided in the 2020-21 state budget.

A recent survey showed a documented need for public library construction and renovation projects totaling more than $1.5 billion. Over half of the over 1,000 public library buildings in communities across New York are over 60 years old. Another one-third are more than three decades old. Many of New York’s local public libraries are unable to accommodate users with disabilities, are energy inefficient, cannot provide internet and computer and other electronic technologies to users because of outdated and inadequate electrical wiring. Many do not have sufficient space to house the library’s expanding collection, address the need for adequate meeting room, or provide for public access computers.

Project activities and expenditures eligible for funding from the State Aid for Library Construction Program include financing construction of new library buildings, construction of additions to existing buildings, and the renovation and/or rehabilitation of existing space. Projects may include roof replacement, purchase and installation of alternative energy resources, new HVAC systems, windows, doors, lighting systems, electrical upgrades, and construction of new or replacement of old walkways and parking lots. Broadband infrastructure projects are also eligible. New furniture, shelving and equipment, including computer equipment, may be purchased for new or newly reconfigured or renovated space. Renovations designed to provide accessibility for patrons with disabilities are a high priority.

In the 2021-22 state budget, the Legislature provided $34 million for projects that will be announced in Summer 2022.

The Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) announced that Krista Nickols and Patricia Tang Golumbic, real estate advisors with Serhant and Brown Harris Stevens, respectively, have joined the nonprofit organization’s Board of Trustees. Both Ms. Nickols and Ms. Tang were elected unanimously by the board and begin their three-year terms immediately.

“We’re thrilled with the addition of Krista and Patricia to the board,” said Jock Percy and Carolyn Pressly Ryan, the Co-Chairs of CMEE’s board. “They each share our passion for community service and unwavering commitment towards under-served families on the East End.”

Ms. Nickols brings over 15 years of experience and expertise — both in the financial/investment sector and in New York City real estate sales. Ms. Tang, a former founder and managing partner of a boutique real estate law practice, has represented major financial institutions, buyers and sellers in real estate sale and financing transactions. According to a press release issued earlier this week by CMEE officials, both women are eager to share their financial and business knowledge and help ensure that the museum continues to meet the vital needs of children and families impacted by ongoing pandemic. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in the spring of 2020, CMEE has operated a food pantry serving nearly 1,000 people every month, offered virtual educational programming and online support groups, and has increased its cleaning and safety protocols for visitors.

“My children love coming to CMEE,” Ms. Nickols said. “But when I learned that during the pandemic, CMEE had pivoted to a food bank for the local community, I knew I wanted to get involved. No family should have to face food insecurity. I found it inspirational that a place that provides so much joy for families in good times could also provide hope during difficult times.”

“When my twins were younger, the Museum gave me a super fun, contained, safe space to spend the day with them,” added Ms. Tang. “During lockdown, I followed CMEE on social media and really took notice of all the community outreach. I knew that I wanted to get involved and become part of CMEE.”