Home Health Products

    For those in need of compression stockings, orthopedic supplies, mobility aids, or other similar items, Peterson Physical Therapy in East Hampton now can provide them, saving customers from having to drive west in summer traffic. Peterson has a state-of-the-art facility at Franklin Triangle, at the corner of Skimhampton Road and Montauk Highway, where one-on-one physical therapy is available.

Driving Service

    Looking for a fun time out at a favorite restaurant or club but worried about driving home? Main Beach Drivers is a new luxury car service company that offers to drive customers, in their own vehicles, to wherever they ask. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Prices start at $40 an hour, with a minimum three-hour commitment. Drivers are required to pass a thorough screening prior to being hired. More information can be had by e-mailing [email protected].

Free Ride at “The End”

    Hamptons Free Ride — an electric shuttle that debuted last summer, offering a free and ecologically friendly way to get to the beach and back in East Hampton Village — has expanded, now with service in Montauk.

    The shuttle will make three stops along Main Street and four along South Emerson Avenue at the main town beach, near the Sloppy Tuna, and at Atlantic Terrace. Each cart holds five passengers and is fueled not only by electricity, but also by the colorful advertisements on its sides.

Second Retreat Boutique

    People looking for gently used items can now sort through the wares at the Retreat Boutique Too at 30 Park Place in East Hampton. It joins the Retreat’s flagship store in the Bridgehampton Commons.

    The Retreat, a nonprofit organization that provides domestic-violence services, turns clothing, furniture, and other household goods into tax deductions for donors and treasure for shoppers. The new location is only paces from the Ladies Village Improvement Society’s Bargain Box, another thrift store in East Hampton Village.

New Hardware Store

    A new hardware store has opened on the Wainscott strip, next to Pet Hampton. Independently owned by Juan Carlos Diaz, it sells pool supplies, home improvement aids, garden tools, and more, all housed in a 3,000-square-foot space. The store has long hours for builders — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

A Salon Pops Up

    Warren Tricomi, a Manhattan hairstylist, will open a salon today at 64 Park Place in East Hampton. Hair and nail services, makeup application, eyebrow sculpting, tinting, and facial waxing will all be available, as will men’s haircuts, offered by James Palese.

AMAGANSETT

F. Simon by executor to J. and J. Galluzzo, 74 Bluff Road, .37 acre (vacant), April 25, $775,000.

EAST HAMPTON

D. Calle and M. Burstein to W.B.H. East Hampton, 3 Laura’s Lane, .8 acre, March 27, $1,185,000.

EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE

W. Hack and P. Trust by executor to H. and S. Lippman, 112 Georgica Close Road, 1.9 acres, March 30, $4,650,000.

MONTAUK

P. Kyriakides by executor to F. Sportelli, 78 Soundview Drive, .41 acre, May 31, $765,000.

Ickovic, Milia, and Schuma to D. Farrell, 26 Foxboro Road, .4 acre, April 19, $600,000.

B. Bowers to S. and F. Blyskal, 236 Edgemere Street, April 14, $222,500.

NORTHWEST

C. Breiterman to S. and A. Kastrati, 5 Patriots Lane, .46 acre, April 24, $395,000.

D. and R. Hobert to E. Jacobs, 13 Dering Lane, April 20, $2,200,000.

SAG HARBOR

County of Suffolk to Sand Land Corp., 537 Middle Line Highway, 3 acres, April 19, $86,000.

D. Shay to J. Daly, 310 Division Street, .65 acre, April 12, $1,900,000.

SPRINGS

J. and D. Tessitore to A. Beatty, 31 Wildflower Road, .92 acre, April 20, $630,000.

A. Azoulay to R. Lerner and J. Bresler, 46 Briar Croft Drive, .93 acre, April 26, $1,500,000.

R. and H. Herrlin to J. Lecourt, 176 Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek, 1.5 acres, April 20, $1,442,500.

Data provided by Suffolk Research Service of Southampton

Shoe Designer in Town

    Edmundo Castillo, a well-known and award-winning shoe designer whose creations grace the closets of many celebrities, will be the guest of honor at JoanMarie in Bridgehampton on Saturday.

    “We are thrilled to host Edmundo Castillo at our boutique,” Marisa Borghi, the owner of the store, said in a release. “Not only are his shoes beautifully crafted, but they are designed for women who truly love to have fun with fashion.”

    Mr. Castillo will showcase his latest collection of wedges, espadrilles, and stilettos from 3 to 6 p.m. Guests will also enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. JoanMarie is located at 2462 Main Street.

Summer Chic Boutique

    With one store already opened last year in Palm Beach, Michelle Farmer Collaborate is now focusing on the South Fork, and has opened a store on Bridgehampton’s Main Street. The 1,100-square-foot shop offers a platform for resort-wear fashion and accessory designers. While mostly women’s fashions are featured, there is also some men’s wear and children’s clothing.

    Ms. Farmer, who grew up in exotic locations around the world, spends her summers in Bridgehampton. She has spent the last decade designing jewelry influenced by her time living in St. Barths and St. Maarten. Her work has been featured in dozens of magazines, said a press release.

    Ms. Farmer will launch her own collection of linen and silk resort wear this summer, along with showcasing the designs of others like Love Shack Fancy, Lauren Gabrielson, Anika Brazil, and more.

Alan Schnurman Gets Real

    Alan Schnurman, who has spent four decades as an attorney and South Fork land developer, is joining Saunders and Associates, a local high-end real estate firm, as a broker.

    According to a statement from the company, Mr. Schnurman retired last year and traveled the world; however, he felt a strong desire to go back to work. His passion for real estate — he bought and developed two Bridgehampton parcels, Ocean Highlands and Sagaponack Greens — brought him to Saunders. He has held a broker’s license for the past 10 years.

    Mr. Schnurman will start as a senior vice president in the firm’s Bridgehampton office.

Radio Real Estate

    John Christopher, who is a senior director and associate broker at Brown Harris Stevens’s Sag Harbor office, will be the host of a new radio show, “Realife,” which debuts tomorrow on 88.3 WPPB FM.

    “Realife” covers topics of interest relating to real estate on the South Fork and will feature local guests, including John v.H. Halsey of the Peconic Land Trust, Candace Vorhaus, a feng shui expert, and attorneys from the Dayton Ritz and Osborne firm.

    The show will air each Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Bling on Wheels

    Joey Wolffer is back home in the Hamptons, and so is her Styleliner — a converted former potato-chip bus that is filled with designer accessories and jewelry, both from Ms. Wolffer’s own signature jewelry collection and those of other designers.

    This is the third summer for the Styleliner, which can be found at Wolffer Estates on Sagg Road on Fridays and Sundays, and at the Southampton Social Club on Saturdays. Ms. Wolffer will also run a pop-up shop at Guild Hall this summer beginning June 30, and will park the truck at various locations for spontaneous accessory parties as the season continues.

    Additional locations and events can be found on the Styleliner.com Web site.

Law Firm Opens New Office

     Phillips Nizer, a prestigious 85-year-old law firm with offices in Manhattan, Garden City, and Hackensack, N.J., will open a branch office at 34 Pantigo Road.

    The office will be led by Andrew Goldstein, senior counsel and member of the firm’s corporate and business law department and securities and private placement practice.

    Mr. Goldstein is chairman of East Hampton Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals and the Village Preservation Society, as well as a board member of the East Hampton Healthcare Foundation and the Group for the East End.

    Phillips Nizer in East Hampton will offer services in commercial and corporate transactions, litigation, matrimonial, environmental, domestic and international trust and estate planning, and more.

    “Our present clients will now enjoy expanded and more convenient service,” said Mr. Goldstein, “and we hope new clients will come to discover our distinguished team of lawyers.”

Haweeli Recognized

    Steve Haweeli, the founder and president of WordHampton Public Relations in Springs, will be a guest of honor at the 2012 Long Island Hospitality Ball. 

    A showcase of the region’s top restaurants, wine and spirits brands, nightclubs, entertainers, hotels, and catering halls, the gala raises money for the American Cancer Society.

    Mr. Haweeli serves on the boards of the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce and Suffolk County Community College’s culinary arts program, where he is a guest lecturer.  He is responsible for the creation of Long Island Restaurant Week, Hamptons Restaurant Week, and Long Island Restaurant News.

    The gala will be held on June 18 from 7 through 11 p.m. at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Other 2012 gala guests of honor are Tony Greco and Larry Romer.

A Correction

    An article in last week’s paper about a cleanse offered by the Juicy Naam, incorrectly stated the daily price of the cleanse, according to Giuliana Torre, the business’s founder and owner. Although the Juicy Naam Web site lists a daily price of $150, which was reported in the article, the actual price, Ms. Torre said, is $100 per day.

   Joseph A. Gaviola of Montauk has been appointed the chairman of the board of directors of Suffolk Bancorp, the parent company of Suffolk County National bank, the second largest independent bank on Long Island.

    “I am very proud to be entrusted with this position,” he said on Tuesday morning on his way to catch a flight to Chicago. A member of the board since 2004, Mr. Gaviola, who owns Gaviola’s Market in the harbor area, has risen through the ranks and was previously vice president of the board.

    Before moving to Montauk full time, Mr. Gaviola was an executive in the mining business. He is now a member of the Montauk Lighthouse board of directors, and is the director of finance for the historical landmark. He was vice chairman of the East Hampton Town Budget and Finance Committee when the town found itself in financial disarray several years ago.

    Mr. Gaviola also served for five years as a member of the East Hampton Town Planning Board and was a founding member of the Montauk Harbor Association and was a director of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce. In 1987, he started an annual surfcasting tournament, which, over time has raised $125,000 in scholarship money for local children.

    Mr. Gaviola joined the bank’s board in 2004, “and in the past eight years has developed a keen understanding not only of banking, but of our marketplace as well,” Edgar F. Goodale, the former chairman, said in a release. Mr. Gaviola’s experience as a small-business owner gives him insight into the bank’s customers, Mr. Goodale said.

    “I am honored about the appointment and excited about the future and challenge of this institution,” Mr. Gaviola said.

    Since the New York and European media have outed Montauk as the “it” place to be, several new stores have opened and others are raising their visibility. One of those is Melet Mercantile. Owned by Bob Melet, it’s in a rambling warehouse on Shore Road. Although it is now entering its fourth year, not too many people knew about the shop — until now — and that’s only because Mr. Melet finally allowed an interview.

    His clientele is small and exclusive, he said, which “keeps it tighter. I have an amazing clientele. It’s an awkward spot but that’s what makes it more of a discovery. When people find us, they come in and say, ‘Wow.’ ”

    The space is cavernous, and the eye doesn’t know where to look first. Mr. Melet and Veronique Zanettin, a prop stylist and set designer who works there, encourage browsers to take their time with the inventory — mostly vintage items — a scavenger’s dream. There are rare books, racks of clothing, art, vinyl record albums, jewelry, textiles, framed photography, and cords of beads that can be used as necklaces or bracelets.

    “I love beads,” Mr. Melet said, as is evident from the ones that dangle from his neck. He scouts most of them on his many travels around the world. The beads he sells are from a Native American tribe that disappeared a long time ago. They come in colors of pale and dark blue, turquoise, white shell, and ivory. Some of them date back to the 1770s, including one Mr. Melet wears on his neck. He said it’s over 2,000 years old. One strand was found in the bottom of an old clay pot purportedly used by a tribe.

    On a back wall is a curved ramp with skateboards arranged by age from the 1940s to the 1980s. Next to them is a surfer’s pinball machine, the likes of which are no longer made. It goes for about $2,000, but you could have a tough time buying it, as Mr. Melet said it’s one of the few things in the store he might be reluctant to sell. He had another, similar, one, which sold just weeks after he acquired it. He still regrets selling it, he said, especially now that his 9-year-old daughter, Sunny, has taken up surfing.

    Another item he might not sell is a work by Willem de Kooning that is signed by the artist. “When you ask me if I have a hard time parting with things, that’s the one piece that comes to mind,” he said, nodding at the framed piece.

    Hanging on a north-facing wall is a signed Andy Warhol print and a surfboard that was owned by the artist Julian Schnabel, which Mr. Schnabel gave him in a nonchalant manner. “I was helping him move some things from under his porch, and this was one of them. He said, ‘Do you want that?’ And of course I said yes.” But don’t rush in to buy it, as it is the one item in the store that is definitely not for sale.

    Mr. Melet runs a showroom on Wooster Street in SoHo in Manhattan. His clients encouraged him to open a place out east, he said. “It was an easy transition.”

    His employees from the SoHo showroom are expected to arrive in Montauk today or tomorrow, meaning the business will soon be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. After Labor Day, it will be open by appointment only through October.

T-Shirts and Crack Pie

    Also new in the hamlet is a store for Peter Moore’s Local Knit, a T-shirt business that he runs online. It features newly designed logos for longtime East Hampton and Montauk businesses, 21 in all. When he started it, Mr. Moore got in touch with the businesses he features and an agreement was reached that gives him the rights to use their names while they receive a percentage of sales. His business is in Summer Guest, a space next to Joelle Klein’s Share With on Main Street that she, well, shares with a brand-name company each summer.

    The storefront has given him more visibility, and he has been busy since he opened. “Memorial Day was a monster,” he said. “We’re reordering as quickly as we can.”

    He has added new products, such as children’s T-shirts. He features some of Ms. Klein’s items as well. New to his inventory are handmade bracelets from Germany and some from Turkey that close with miniature silver shackles, the type used on sailboats. “They really work for Montauk and the beach,” Mr. Moore said. Leather belts with clamshell or oyster shell buckles from Cape Cod are also offered.

    As far as the T-shirts are concerned, Mr. Moore said he has tried to stay with the more well-known establishments and has even had to turn down some that wanted his representation. “I have no more room for any more,” he said, standing in front of a display of shirts framed in driftwood on a white wall.

    The shop is now open Thursdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be open daily by the end of the month.

    For those with a sweet tooth, Momofuku has opened in a small space between Cynthia Rowley’s shop, the one with the grass growing from its roof, and Pizza Village. The pop-up is the sixth dessert bar owned by David Chang, a chef, and run by Christina Tosi, a pastry chef. It is easily accessible from a back entrance near the downtown beaches or by walking through Ms. Rowley’s clothing shop.

    It was the clothing designer’s idea to open a Momofuku there, said Joshua Corey, Ms. Tosi’s business partner and the location manager. “She thought it would liven up the business,” he said, sipping a cup of iced coffee.

    Customers belly up to the dessert bar for cookies, slushies, cake truffles, pie by the slice, including Ms. Tosi’s “crack pie,” which has an oatmeal crust and a gooey, butter custard-filled pudding that is said to be addictive, and a whole bunch of other goodies. The stand will be open daily in summer from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

    And the Atlantic is now where Cromer’s used to be at 805 Montauk Highway. Owned by Scott Fleming, the grocery store offers fresh and precooked seafood, as well as steaks, chicken, fish tacos, and fresh flowers and produce. It will soon sell chicken, lobster, and seafood pot pies, breads, and soups.

    “I don’t think there’s a better soup on the East End,” Mr. Fleming said of the one his chef will be making. The Atlantic is open Thursdays through Mondays, with extended hours in summer.

   How do you know you’re getting old? When the sight of young people lining up all night to buy a pair of sneakers leaves you shaking your head in wonderment.

    That is exactly what occurred at Sneakerology, located beneath London Jewelers just off Main Street in East Hampton, on Friday night, when word got out that a rare Nike sneaker — only 18 pairs — would be available the next morning. A line formed of approximately two dozen hopeful customers.

    The shoe, a Retro Jordan 4 in turquoise and black with orange highlights, is a “quick strike,” or very limited release, according to Sneakerology’s manager, Joe Karl of Montauk.

    The sneaker retails for $180, but it still drew a young crowd, 16 and up, “whose parents would let them be here,” from as far away as Nassau County and as early as 10 p.m., 12 hours before opening time. “At least there was nice weather,” said Mr. Karl.

    The term for these footwear fanatics, he said, is “sneakerheads,” who follow blogs, posts, and Web sites dedicated to the release of new shoes.

    “The day before, we got quite a few phone calls,” Mr. Karl said.

    By 10:30 a.m. all the Jordans had been sold. Those who were unable to claim a pair walked away gracefully.

    “They know the process,” said Mr. Karl.

   Before Nancy Cervantes moved to the United States from Peru in 1985, she attended school for design, but dangerous conditions in Peru led her and her husband, Carlos, to leave their country. “We decided to come here, start a new life in a nice country,” Mr. Cervantes said on Saturday at his wife’s shop in Noyac, Nancy’s Tailoring.

    Ms. Cervantes had been sewing all her life, and her background in design initially took her to work with fashion designers in New York City. She created wedding dresses for Mansala Galina and samples for Mark Montano before he moved to California for his television show.

    From the fashion shows at Bryant Park, Ms. Cervantes came to Sag Harbor, where she raised two children, who graduated from Pierson High School.

    Four years ago, she opened her own tailoring shop in the Berkshire Court complex on Noyac Road. Having her own business is a dream come true, she said, and she is grateful to have nice customers, and new ones every day.

    She does alterations of all kinds for men, women, and children. Whether it is a dress, suit, or jacket that needs letting in or letting out, summer whites, Halloween costumes, or holiday fashions, she stays busy all year long. Last week, she was busy altering prom dresses. The week before that it was Communion dresses. Wedding gowns are always a part of her work, too, she said, and her experience with them helps brides-to-be trust her.

    Many of her customers ask her opinion on wardrobe choices and proper fit, she said. She guides them toward clothes that are right for their bodies, offering a clean and comfortable setting for her clients and friends or family members who might accompany them.

    Her husband initially worked in carpentry, but now he works mostly with her, helping to construct custom pillows, cushions, and upholstery. The couple can sew leather, fix belts, and repair some shoes and bags, as well.

    Customers come to her by word of mouth, and many clients of the doctors  with offices in Berkshire Court use her services, but she also advertises in local papers and has a Facebook page and Web site, Nancytailoring.com.

    With a hem costing around $15, and waist adjustments in the $20 to $25 range, her services are accessible to all income brackets; however, she said she serves many who are very wealthy, including celebrities such as an in-disguise Richard Gere. She regularly tailors vintage clothing purchased on eBay by a woman who she said lives in a castle in Switzerland. Some customers bring in six to eight pairs of jeans at a time, some with $2,000 price tags still on. Ms. Cervantes is often asked to alter expensive designer dresses, as well.

    “Everyone wants things today,” she said, and she does her best to accommodate them. “They will come back,” she said. The shop is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and off-hours by request.

AMAGANSETT

N. and B. Myerson to D. and W. Moskowitz, 920 Montauk Highway, 1.94 acres, April 11, $4,050,000.

T. Nesbitt by administrator to Amagansett Estates, 103 Montauk Highway, 2.54 acres, April 4, $1,425,000.

H. Purcell by executor to How About Here L.L.C., 69 Atlantic Avenue, .97 acre, April 12, $2,500,000.

EAST HAMPTON

W. Dowling by heir to Town of East Hampton, 291 Three Mile Harbor Road, .24 acre (vacant), March 31, $45,000.

N. Kane to J. Ryan, 44 Talmage Lane, .56 acre, March 31, $2,672,500.

A. Felter to C. and L. Wingate, 63 Huckleberry Lane, April 9, $735,000.

EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE

S. Collins Trust to A. Schwaer, 42 Toilsome Lane, .48 acre, April 12, $910,500.

MONTAUK

J. and C. Bloecker to J. and A. and J. Castelo, 121 Tuthill Road, .2 acre, April 13, $500,000.

V. Montemarano to P. and M. Toomey, 5 Galton Place, .5 acre, March 30, $635,000.

Wennstrom and Kurki Suoni to G. Glasser, 3 Fort Lane, 1.8 acres, April 5, $1,725,000.

NORTHWEST

T. and R. McLoughlin by executor to R. and C. Antoneck, 3 White Pine Road, 1.9 acres, April 6, $975,000.

P. Corso to W. Wackerman, 2 Jason’s Court, 1.2 acres, April 4, $701,000.

S. Kelly-Garbarini to M. Nelson and J. Rash, 49 Whooping Hollow Road, .46 acre, April 5, $675,000.

NOYAC

M. O’Leary to J. and J. Morris, 4083 Noyac Road, .38 acre, April 11, $475,000.

SPRINGS

Duck Creek Marina to Town of East Hampton, 30 Squaw Road, 4.7 acres (vacant), Aug. 8, $1,350,000.

U.S. Bank National to L. Winslow and K. Marino, 19 7th Street, .18 acre, March 30, $275,000.

A. Thomas to J. and A. Furfaro, 2 Rosemarie’s Lane, 1.07 acres, April 4, $483,000.

 Data provided by Suffolk Research Service of Southampton

C. Wonder in Southampton

    C. Wonder, with a flagship store in SoHo, is opening a pop-up store at 5 Main Street, Southampton, and kicking off the season with a family-friendly weekend celebration.

    Those visiting the lifestyle store on Saturday and Sunday will be treated to temporary C. Wonder tattoos, a candy bar and balloons, a spin of the Wonder prize wheel, and, from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday only, an ice cream social.

    The store plans to hold events throughout the summer, including a book series, D.J. and dance parties, complimentary candy and balloon days, and it will offer an electric Smart Car delivery service.

Two Come to Saunders

    Saunders and Associates, a real estate firm, has added two new brokers to its roster, Sandra Griffin and Kimberly McElrath.

    Both were previously with the Corcoran Group. Ms. Griffin is a Southampton resident and an award-winning broker with 30 years of experience in handling deals throughout the South Fork.

    Prior to her work with Corcoran, Ms. McElrath spent 13 years at Prudential Douglas Elliman. She lives in Southampton Village and specializes in that area. Both new brokers will work out of Saunders’s Southampton office.

    Saunders now boasts 85 agents and more than $1 billion in exclusive listings in the area.

Barry’s Bootcamp

    Barry’s Bootcamp, a Los Angeles-based fitness company, will offer classes starting this weekend in Wainscott.

    According to its Web site, “Our incredible workout is enhanced by the most current music, easy to handle equipment, night club lighting, urban decor, and the most qualified trainers, who happen to look like movie stars.”

    The Wainscott studio can accommodate up to 40 “bootcampers” per class, and will feature a rotating schedule with some of the company’s best-known trainers from around the country.

    Individual classes cost $32, and there are discounts when packages are purchased.

East Hampton Babysitters

    Kevin Reynolds, a retired New York police officer and a massage therapist, has started a new business, East Hampton Babysitters. All candidates — and he has over 100, he said — are subjected to a thorough application and investigation process.

    “We offer tender, loving, conscientious care for babies and children, providing a safe and secure environment,” said Mr. Reynolds, who is the father of two daughters, Molly and Hunter, and lives in Springs.

    Potential clients have been encouraged to contact the company soon to set up their summer baby-sitting needs. A Web site, easthamptonbabysitters.com,  offers more information.

Pool Party

    The Southampton Inn is kicking off the season with a Memorial Day Weekend barbecue and pool party on Saturday.

    The inn will receive guests poolside from 3 to 5 p.m. with food and drinks prepared by OSO Restaurant on site.

    Visitors have been invited to explore the inn, at 91 Hill Street, and stroll through its five acres of gardens.

   What despises sunlight and garlic and feasts on meals of blood? The ghoulish and ubiquitous tick, and Brian Kelly of East End Tick Control, which has been in business for 15 years, is the area’s own personal Van Helsing.

    May is National Tick Awareness Month, and even as it draws to a close, the little parasites are kicking into high gear, according to Mr. Kelly. “It’s definitely worse after the mild winter,” he said. “In the last five or six years, the ticks have become really bad. It’s a constant, uphill battle.”

    In the old days, there seemed to be only big brown dog ticks around. But then deer ticks rode into town — on deer, of course — and brought the rampant Lyme disease, which last year infected over 2,500 New Yorkers.

    If not treated quickly, Lyme leads to a host of nasty ailments, starting with flu-like symptoms and progressing to paralysis and heart disorders, with many other ailments in between. The deer-tick nymph, which transmits Lyme disease, is microscopic in size and hard to find. People infected with Lyme sometimes develop a bull’s-eye-shaped rash around the site early on. But here’s the thing of it: Sometimes they don’t. That’s when the disease can progress and become more difficult to treat.

    Other ailments include human monocytic ehrlichiosis, with symptoms similar to Lyme. There is also babesiosis, a malaria-like disease spread by ticks. And only recently has the medical profession discovered that a tick’s saliva can cause an allergy to red meat, which may have gone undiagnosed for years.

    Now there’s a new bloodsucker to worry about, the Lone Star tick, which earned that designation by the small white dot on the female’s back. “It was discovered in Montauk a few years ago, and that’s the only place it was found around here,” Mr. Kelly said. “Now it’s in Southampton, Moriches — it’s unbelievable. They’re outnumbering the deer ticks.”

    The East End Tick Control Web site, which offers a woozy-making slide show of embedded and engorged ticks in various states of blood lust, features a “real-time tick risk-assessment” chart. The risk right now is high, since May is the time when adult ticks are “questing for a blood meal before laying their eggs.”

    According to Mr. Kelly, ticks mate and then lay eggs — 3,000 to 6,000 at a time — on deer. “A deer can carry thousands of ticks,” Mr. Kelly said, serving as a sort of singles bar that ends in orgies of blood-feasting and baby tick-making.

    Mr. Kelly’s company is the only firm of its kind, although many landscapers and exterminators now offer tick control services as an add-on. It’s not the same, he said. “They’ll say, ‘We do ticks,’ but they don’t have the same knowledge of where the ticks are. You can’t just spray the lawn. Ninety percent of the ticks are elsewhere on the property.”

    Although the products used by East End Tick Control are environmentally friendly, many of Mr. Kelly’s customers have been requesting an organic alternative. “It’s hard,” he said. “The organics just don’t work as well as the synthetics. But we’re trying.” In fact, he has been manufacturing a new product, called Tick Guard, which features a proprietary blend of natural oils. “The early tests are looking very good,” he said. Some organic oils that have worked, for ticks and mosquitoes, include peppermint and garlic. “They really hate the garlic,” said Mr. Kelly.

    Another new treatment, called the fourposter, is being tested on Shelter Island. Mr. Kelly described the deer-feeding stations in the pilot program. “When the deer goes to eat the corn, there are these rollers, like paint rollers, on either side of the bucket, and they spread a substance on the deer’s neck,” he said. “It’s like Frontline, but for a deer.”

    Surprisingly, Mr. Kelly himself has never had Lyme disease, so prevalent on the East End. “I get tested every year,” he said. 

    He recommends common sense to keep ticks at bay. “Keep your yard nice and clean,” he advised. “It makes a tremendous difference to keep the grass cut short and let the sunlight hit the yard.”

    Sunlight and garlic oil being used to control ticks? Can tiny wooden stakes be far behind?