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Southampton Town To Start Southern Pine Beetle Task Force

Southampton Town officials are working on starting a task force to combat issues caused by southern pine beetles, tiny insects that wiped out thousands of trees on the South Fork... more

27Speaks: A Losing Battle To Beat Back The Southern Pine Beetle

27east.com · 27Speaks: A Losing Battle To Beat Back The Southern Pine Beetle Welcome to ... 25 Sep 2021 by Staff Writer

Police Reports For Week Of September 23

SAG HARBOR — The owner of a boat docked on Long Wharf contacted Village Police on September 12, around 10:30 p.m., to report that three females had entered his boat and were taking pictures on the deck without his permission. The man told police he was watching television in the lower cabin when he heard loud talking and laughing. Police spoke to the women who told them they had made a mistake by getting on the boat without permission. After the owner denied pressing charges, they were advised to stay off his boat — or any other boats they did ... 24 Sep 2021 by Staff Writer

DWI Arrests For Week Of September 23

Manuel J. Yunga Pani, 46, of Sag Harbor was arrested on Sunday, September 19, at 12:15 a.m. According to Sag Harbor Village Police, they received reports of a motor vehicle accident involving a car and a parked vehicle on Main Street and when they arrived on the scene they said they found Mr. Pani rummaging through the driver’s side compartment of his car and that he told them he had struck the other vehicle avoiding a deer. Police said they believed him to be intoxicated and that he performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He was held for morning arraignment ... by Staff Writer

Westhampton Beach Shuts Out East Hampton/Pierson In A Game Of Rebuilding Girls Soccer Programs

The East Hampton/Pierson and Westhampton Beach girls soccer team met in East Hampton on Wednesday ... 23 Sep 2021 by Drew Budd

Flanders Man Injured In Industrial Accident

Southampton Town Police and emergency responders deployed for the second time this week to a Flanders Road locale. At around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22, they were called to the scene of an industrial accident at the junkyard at 2055 Flanders Road. Mickey Mujsce, 74, was cutting a vehicle in half when it fell on him. Staff was able to remove him from under the vehicle. He was transported to an area hospital by Flanders Volunteer Ambulance, according to police. Flanders firefighters also responded to the scene. Earlier this week Flanders Road was closed for three hours following a ... 22 Sep 2021 by Kitty Merrill

Resignation Of Popular Gym Teacher Is Bittersweet Note At Sag Harbor Board Of Education Meeting

At a short and efficient Sag Harbor Board of Education business meeting on Monday night, there was mostly good news to report early in the school year, with just one announcement that was more of the bittersweet variety. Superintendent Jeff Nichols was pleased to report that every one of the district’s 62 employees was in compliance with state regulations related to COVID, either because they had been vaccinated or were fulfilling testing requirements as outlined by Suffolk County Department of Health guidance. Mr. Nichols said that 22 employees are not currently vaccinated, but said some are in the process of ... by Cailin Riley

Village Board Approves Food Pantry Law Over Objections

The Heart of the Hamptons food pantry proposed at a former village ambulance barn on Meeting House Lane came much closer to fruition Tuesday night as the Southampton Village Board adopted a law that cuts out a special exception to allow food pantries in the village. The Village Board voted following public hearings in which a number of Meeting House Lane residents and property owners spoke out against allowing a food pantry at that location. Anton Borovina, an attorney representing a group of neighbors opposed to a food pantry in that location, questioned the legitimacy of the board’s actions. “There ... by Brendan J. O’Reilly

All Hands On Deck

The southern pine beetle is so named because this insect, the size of a grain of rice, was long found exclusively in southern regions. But as climate change has taken its toll, this pest has continued a northward march, including infesting the Long Island Pine Barrens. Since the southern pine beetle was first found on Long Island in 2014, it has claimed tens of thousands of trees. On the South Fork, where pitch pines and other susceptible trees are prevalent, the pine beetle can easily find victims. The damage is changing the face of the region in an irreversible way. ... by Staff Writer

Sag Harbor ZBA Adjourns Schiavoni Request For Moratorium Waiver After Objections Raised

A month ago, the Sag Harbor Village Zoning Board of Appeals seemed ready to grant the Schiavoni family an exemption from a moratorium on most waterfront projects in the village. The building freeze was first enacted last year as village planners began work on a new waterfront zoning district to better guide future development. But on Tuesday night, after two attorneys representing neighboring property owners raised objections, the ZBA adjourned the request until its October 19 meeting. David Schiavoni and his parents, Gabe and Diane Schiavoni, have proposed a new building at 31 Long Island Avenue under the name VACS ... by Stephen J. Kotz