A man was rescued three miles southwest of Montauk Wednesday free-floating in the ocean with no life jacket. The one thing the man did have — an emergency position-indicating radio beacon — allowed Coast Guard Station Montauk and the Air National Guard to locate and save him.
Larsen Supporters Launch Write-In Effort for Supervisor
“I don’t know how to respond,” Jerry Larsen said after hearing about the effort taking shape a little over a week after his Democratic primary loss to Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “I don't want to discourage them, but I’m not actively campaigning."
July 2, 2026
Worst Drought in Many Years Hits East End
One of the worst early-season droughts in recent memory is hitting the East End just as a heat wave and July 4th crowds, expecting wall-to-wall greenery and willing to expend precious water resources to meet those expectations, converge on the area.
July 2, 2026
Police & Courts
A man caused a disturbance at the 7-Eleven in Montauk around 4 a.m. on Monday, an employee reported to police, saying that the man “partially ate” two Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches before putting them back on the counter and refusing to pay.
Jul 9, 2026
A Southampton man who was arrested Sunday night faces two felony counts and several lesser charges after a boat he was operating struck a stone jetty in Sag Harbor Bay, seriously injuring two of his passengers.
Jul 9, 2026
Hotel Tax Money a Boost for Lighthouse
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Monday amending the New York State tax law to stipulate that $250,000 of Suffolk County’s hotel and motel taxes be appropriated to help maintain and operate the Montauk Lighthouse.
Jul 9, 2026
Incremental Progress at the Building Department
Richard Normoyle, the chief building inspector, detailed the organization of the greatly expanded department (it’s nearly doubled in size in the last year, to 19 approved positions) and said it would be fully caught up on the permit backlog by the end of the year, five months ahead of his May estimate.
Jul 9, 2026
Government
Two weeks after the heavily contested Democratic primary election, absentee and early mail ballots have been counted, and the results have been finalized. Spoiler alert: They’ve barely changed since election night.
Jul 9, 2026
At Guild Hall’s first Hamptons Institute program of 2026, founders of the Indivisible movement promoted bottom-up, grassroots, local activism in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Jul 9, 2026
Chris Gallant, who won the Democratic primary election last week and will face Representative Nick LaLota in November, calls CD-1 “a very flippable district.”
Jul 2, 2026
Three years after the Cranberry Hole Road bridge in Amagansett was deemed structurally deficient and closed to all traffic, the Long Island Rail Road has awarded a contract for its reconstruction, which is expected to start by early 2027.
Jul 2, 2026
Arts
Monumentality in Montauk
Now at The Ranch in Montauk, a showcase for innovative large-scale sculpture, are Nancy Rubins’s “Friends of Pluto,” Matt Johnson’s “Meditating Figure,” and Paul McCarthy’s “Sisters.”
Jul 9, 2026
Featured in “Looking” at the Bridgehampton Museum are portrait paintings by Rainer Andreesen, photographs by Christophe von Hohenberg, and sculpture by Oscar Molina.
Jul 9, 2026
Philip Hartman came to the Sag Harbor Cinema to show his 1986 film “No Picnic,” a love letter to the Lower East Side that is having 12-week run at Manhattan’s Film Forum.
Jul 9, 2026
A busy week at Guild Hall brings contemporary dance, Second City comedy, a chamber music ensemble, a panel on the media landscape, and an artists’ conversation.
Jul 9, 2026
Villages
U.S. World Cup Loss to Belgium ‘Worst Ever’?
World Cup fever gave way to malaise Monday night when the United States Men’s National Soccer Team disappointed fans with a spectacularly bad 4-1 loss to Belgium.
In Haiti, a Note of Grace in Dark Times
The Wings Over Haiti School in Ranquitte stands two stories high, with eight classrooms and 130 students who follow a STEM-based curriculum. That so much has been accomplished there while violence and evil stalk the land underscores the resilience of this unlikely human chain that yokes Haiti and the East End.
Schaefer Named Village Employee of the Year
Kevin Schaefer, crew leader in the Department of Public Works, was named the village’s first Employee of the Year at an organizational meeting on July 1.
Sports
Long Island Books
Food
News for Foodies 07.09.26
Omakase is coming to the East End at LDV at the Maidstone and Gurney’s in Montauk, and Lion’s Nook is open at the former Rowdy Hall.
Jul 9, 2026
South Fork Somm: Sparkling Wine for Your Sparklers
With July 4th on the horizon, The Star’s sommelier turns her attention to sparkling wines, with options including a great value from New Mexico and Champagnes that won’t break the bank.
Jul 2, 2026
News for Foodies 07.02.26
There’s a pop-up farm and artisans market coming to Sagaponack, daily beverage specials at Lobster Roll, a happy hour at Gosman’s, and small pies from Loaves and Fishes.
Jul 2, 2026