In Your Neighborhoods, July 23

As we continue to discuss how we can further equality and support diverse communities across the United States, the Southampton Arts Center has partnered with the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, the Eastville Community Historical Society and the Southampton African American Museum to host its first ever “Unity Fest,” inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and celebrating the African American and Afro Indigenous culture on the East End and beyond.

On Sunday, July 26, the western grounds of the Arts Center, located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton Village, will host a variety of multi-culturally-owned and run businesses and organizations and will celebrate unity through music, speeches, food, art and a special screening of the 2017 documentary, “Killer Bees,” which explores the Bridgehampton community through the lens of the storied Bridgehampton Killer Bees basketball team. The event, which is free and open to the community, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the film screening from 7:40 to 10 p.m.

While the weather forecast appears favorable, in the event of rain, Unity Fest will be moved to Saturday, August 1.

The event will open with a welcome address by Arts Center Executive Director Amy Kirwin, Southampton African American Museum Executive Director Brenda Simmons and Eastville Community Historical Society Executive Director Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, and will feature other speakers throughout the day.

A community art banner will be available for guests to create art on and write messages of hope, courtesy of Fisher Signs, and will be displayed in one of the arches at the front of the SAC on completion. Information booths and food stands promoting locally owned businesses and nonprofits will also be part of the fun.

Live music, featuring Certain Moves, Dwayne Kerr on jazz flute, Winston Irie and the Selective Security Band, Yacouba Sissoko on the Kora and Project Vibe, will be performed on the lawn and on the stage, culminating in the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” performed by Tanisha Wingfield-Highsmith at 7:40 p.m., shortly before a pre-screening panel discussion about “Killer Bees.” That session will be moderated by Dr. Grier-Key and feature a panel including Ms. Simmons, Willie Jenkins and filmmakers Orson and Ben Cummings.

The screening itself will begin at 8:40 p.m. and is free, however space is limited and advance reservations are encouraged: brownpapertickets.com/event/4636776. For those unable to attend the screening, “Killer Bees” is available for viewing on Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Attendees will be expected to wear face masks and follow social distancing guidelines throughout the event.

For more information, visit southamptonartscenter.org.

The Board of the Hampton Bays Civic Association is going to have its third virtual monthly meeting on Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m.

Covid Coping is the theme of this month’s virtual meeting exploring aspects of opening the Hampton Bays downtown area, restaurants, parks, recreation areas, budget implications for Hampton Bays residents and the status of fall school reopening.

The discussion will feature a panel including New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., Hampton Bays Superintendent of Schools Lars Clemensen and Southampton Town Director of Housing and Community Development Diana Weir. Each will discuss Covid Coping within their domain offering measures that propose a safe return the Hampton Bays lifestyle.

For more information or to submit a question, visit hbcivic.org/contact, or call 631-723-6956.

The East Hampton Artists & Writers Charity Softball Game board announced this week it has decided to postpone its 2020 game, which was scheduled for August 15 at Herrick Park in East Hampton Village.

“We held on to the hope of our having a game for as long was we could,” said board President Benito Vila. “We’re postponing until next year. Maybe then, we’ll play two. Our not being able to assure the health and safety of fans and players made the decision an obvious one for us. The board had been planning on having the 2020 game take on the socially distanced, picnic-like feel of the original 1948 game, but recent events locally and nationally caused everyone involved to reconsider that approach.”

The game’s most recent beneficiaries have been four local non-profits who provide vital human services to the community: East End Hospice, The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center, Phoenix House Academy and The Retreat. Those essential service providers have each seen an uptick in demand for services, as the East End copes with the immediacy of child care, domestic violence, drug abuse and death during the pandemic.

To sustain the charity’s fundraising this year, the board has launched a GoFundMe site with the goal of raising $30,000 for its beneficiaries. The site allows online donors to pick a team to make a donation.

“We can’t play, but we can still help our neighbors,” explained board treasurer and game videographer David Brandman. “The need for the charities we support has never been greater. We’ve set up this donation link so our players and fans, so our whole community, can help us help them, while cheering on their team. The side bringing in the most money will be the home team at next year’s game.”

To donate, visit charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/2020-challenge-east-hampton-artists-v-writers.

The New York Marine Rescue Center announced this week that it released eight sea turtles on Wednesday, July 15. The turtles were all in rehabilitation from the 2019 cold stun season.

Each year, in late October and early November, sea turtles are found stranded on beaches across Long Island due to cold stunning, a condition similar to hypothermia that results in the turtles becoming lethargic and buoyant, in need of immediate attention. According to the rescue center, last year, on November 9, its team responded to the first of 85 sea turtles stranded on Long Island due to cold stunning, including several from the East End that were returned to the ocean last week.

The Eastville Community Historical Society will celebrate its 35th anniversary weekend with its Old-Fashioned Fish Fry, the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser of the year, with take-out available on Saturday, July 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Eastville Heritage House, 139 Hampton Street in Sag Harbor. The $25 donation includes dinner, beverage and a dessert.

For more information, visit eastvillehistorical.org.

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation is celebrating 25 years of changing lives and saving lives with a virtual Summer Gala on Saturday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. The Foundation is proudly honoring Cristina Cuomo, Kristen Dahlgren, Patti Askwith Kenner and Edyle O’Brien. Gala Co-Chairs are Jean Shafiroff, and Jodi Wasserman. The evening will feature comedy powerhouse Jessica Kirson, Broadway star Tovah Feldshuh as RBG and Emcee Lucas Hunt. Proceeds provide funding for the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center. Register for a complimentary admission link, make a donation or purchase a sponsorship at ellenhermanson.org. Advanced Registration required. For further information: info@ellensrun.org or 212-840-0916.

The Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) is delighted to host a Virtual Trivia Night Fundraiser in support of its COVID-19 response efforts on Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m., via Zoom.

“With CMEE temporarily closed and in-person fundraisers on hold this summer, the Museum’s need for financial support is more crucial than ever,” said Steve Long, the museum’s president. “Hosting a Virtual Trivia Night is one of the playful — and safe — ways we’re able to accomplish that.”

Hosted by the East End’s premier Quizmaster, Paul A. Johnson, the evening’s questions have been tailored to ensure that everyone — experts and beginners alike — will be able to showcase their smarts.

Tickets are $20 per player. For more information or to register, visit cmee.org.

The Southampton Board of Education promoted Franklin Trent, the district’s senior security guard, to director of school safety on July 10.

“Over the past several years, Mr. Trent has proven himself to be a leader dedicated to the safety of our district,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nicholas Dyno. “We are pleased to promote him to director of school safety.”

Since joining Southampton in 2018 as a senior guard, Mr. Trent has been responsible for the daily supervision of all district security guards and ensuring that the district’s security measures are operational.

He previously served as an administrator at Little Flower Children’s Services and as the principal of operations and a facilities manager at Community Education Partners. He was also a parental accountability coordinator with the Department of Human Services in Georgia, where he worked with the judicial system to provide an alternative to incarceration for those held in contempt.

Mr. Trent is an alumnus of Southampton High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

“I look forward to this opportunity,” he said. “I have a vested interest in contributing to the safety and welfare of the children in the community.”

i-tri girls announced earlier this month that it received a Sports 4 Life grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF). The Sports 4 Life program, co-founded by the WSF and espnW, supports organizations that provide developmental youth sports opportunities to girls of color to help them develop in four foundational areas: leadership, self-esteem, confidence and perseverance — with the expectation that growth in these areas will also support girls’ physical and emotional health and academic success.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges, i-tri is adapting to continue serving girls through its programming. It completed our first virtual season, and based upon the success of that program, it introduced its first-ever Summer Program, which is a virtual empowerment and fitness program that meets once a week for five weeks and has welcomed middle school girls from across the country to experience i-tri.

“i-tri is so grateful for the support of Women’s Sports Foundation and their partner espnW through the Sports 4 Life grant,” said Theresa Roden, i-tri’s founder and chief visionary officer. “This funding will support i-tri in growing our program — bringing us closer to our goal of making i-tri available ANYWHERE for ANY GIRL who needs us.”

i-tri joins the 2020 class of Sports 4 Life community partners that includes 25 organizations in 14 states including Washington D.C., representing 23 different sports. All together, these programs are expected to serve more than 7,700 middle and high school girls.

For more information, visit itrigirls.org.

The Montauk Library, 871 Montauk Highway in Montauk, has launched a Hometown Heroes Storytime lineup to honor the many members of the Montauk community that have stepped up to provide support and services for those in need during COVID-19. To view, visit montauklibrary.org/hometown-heroes-storytime.

Southampton Little League has announced it will host its 2020 baseball summer clinic for boys and girls, ages 8 to 14, at Downs Family Park on Flying Point Road in Water Mill. Participants will be guided in baseball fundamentals during the six-week series, which will be held Thursdays, July 23 through August 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The cost is $125 for the six-week clinic. Visit southamptonlittleleague.com/register for more information.

The Town of East Hampton has announced it will host free intermediate through advanced swimming instruction for kids, beginning on Monday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at Montauk’s East Lake Beach. Classes will run Monday through Friday through August 7 and instructors will evaluate children at the first session to determine their level. Pre-registration is required: call 631-324-2417 or visit ehamptonny.gov.

The Southampton Town Parks and Recreation Department will begin its second and third sessions of its Summer Fun Playground Program in late July and early August, offering a two-week playground program to children who are Southampton Town residents and were in second through sixth grades this past school year. Each program will be staffed by counselors who will organize active and quiet games and special events at Red Creek Park, 102 Old Riverhead Road West in Hampton Bays, from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. The fee is $50 per session and the next two sessions run from July 27 through August 7 and from August 10 through August 21. Visit southamptontownny.gov/parks for more information.