Beauty events are big this season. Following Renee Stern’s (of Renee Stern Cosmetics) visit to White’s Pharmacy two weeks ago to discuss eye colors, Rebecca Underdown of the McDermott family in East Hampton hosted the East Coast launch of her Essencia organic skin care line at Coastal Home in Bridgehampton last Thursday.

    Ms. Underdown, who now lives and works as an acupuncturist and skin rejuvenation therapist in La Jolla, Calif., said in a release that, “The nation is facing a demand for holistic skin care.” Many companies claim to offer organic products, but are actually using fillers, preservatives, and synthetics while marketing their wares as organic, she said.

    Ms. Underdown’s Essencia products are made from ingredients from New Zealand and Hawaii, “without using additives or chemicals.”

    Still in the realm of beauty, Friday brings Erika Katz, a Southampton resident, to BookHampton in Southampton at 5 p.m. with her book, “Bonding Over Beauty: A Mother-Daughter Guide to Self-Esteem, Confidence, and Trust.” During the book signing Ms. Katz — a beauty and parenting expert who has appeared on “The Doctors,” “Fox News Live,” and the “Today” show, among other television shows — will offer a free back-to-school beauty demonstration.

     A former child model and actress, Ms. Katz has appeared in over 100 commercials, print ads, and films. Now the mother of a “tween” girl, Ms. Katz writes a popular beauty blog, beprettygirl.blogspot.com, for moms with daughters in those preteen and just-teen years.

    On Saturday, Erica Domesek, the author of the “P.S. I Made This” book, will be at Ruschmeyer’s on Second House Road in Montauk from 3 to 6 p.m. for a do-it-yourself day of beauty in a summer-camp setting.

    Ms. Domasek’s motto is “I see it. I like it. I make it.” Her Saturday interactive workshop will have attendees “beauty crafting” hair wraps, nail art, and personalized makeup cases. Guests will also get goodie bags with products from Maybelline New York, Garnier, and essie. The event is free, but those planning to come are asked to R.S.V.P. to [email protected]..

AMAGANSETT

M. Martin to M. Cantu-Bonzani, 88 Leeton Road, .17 acre, June 22, $1,460,000.

MONTAUK

Caparro Second Family to C. Payne, 8 Royal Oak Way, 1.05 acres, July 11, $375,000.

E. and A. Watral to M. Densen, 193 East Lake Drive, .83 acre (vacant), July 15, $1,300,000.

L. and C. Warren to J. Silvera, 20 Duval Place, .51 acre, June 15, $620,000.

NORTHWEST

E. and H. Goodstone to A. Klinger and S. Wagner, 3 Angiedon Court, May 27, $1,475,000.

M. Montgomery to J. and B. Punturo, 668 Hand’s Creek Road, .59 acre, July 13, $660,000.

SAG HARBOR

R. Copelon by executor to Stella Luna Land Trust, 1645 Millstone Road, 8.31 acres, July 1, $925,000.

W. and E. Carey to N. and A. Fleishman, 39 Hillside Avenue, .57 acre, July 12, $650,000.

M. Axer to K. Temple, 195 Northside Drive, .98 acre, July 7, $1,150,000.

R. Tortora to Quercus Stellato L.L.C., 26 Oakland Avenue, .36 acre, July 20, $3,200,000.

SPRINGS

R. and L. Duryea to P. Leitner, 4 Malone Street, June 9, $490,000.

A. and T. Collins Trusts to Town of East Hampton, 43 Briarcroft Drive, 3.5 acres (vacant), June 21, $585,000.

T. Collins II to Town of East Hampton, 44 Briarcroft Drive, 3.4 acres (vacant), June 21, $585,000.

D. Bruno and B. Bennett to Roseberry Real Estate, 132 Water’s Edge, 1.7 acres, July 21, $155,000.

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Data provided by Suffolk Research Service of Southampton

AMAGANSETT

E. Laffey to J. and T. Novogratz, 30 Laurel Hill Lane, 1.66 acres, July 22, $2,750,000.

O. Jadwat to 25 Golf Club L.L.C., 25 Golf Club Drive, 1.75 acres (vacant), July 21, $729,000.

F. Naib to Yinz Partners L.L.C., 33 Whalers Lane, 2.03 acres, July 29, $9,690,000.

EAST HAMPTON

I. and F. Carter to J.J.J. Enterprises L.L.C., 145 Springs-Fireplace Road, .09 acre, June 21, $250,000.

O. Gardiner to Crossroads Atlantic, 130 Route 114, .92 acre (vacant), June 29, $600,000.

O. Gardiner to Crossroads Atlantic, 124 Route 114, 20.2 acre (vacant), June 29, $1,500,000.

M. Gray to M. Tseng, 68 Sherrill Road, .2 acre, June 20, $200,000.

R. Weisbach to J. and C. Weinberg, 96 Cove Hollow Road, .54 acre, July 22, $1,450,000.

EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE

K. and B. White Trusts to 16 Terbell Lane L.L.C., 16 Terbell Lane, .94 acre, July 25, $4,850,000.

MONTAUK

V. Darenberg Trust to V. and D. Carillo, 52 Fairlawn Drive, .42 acre, July 28, $620,000.

A. Pisto by executor to K. and L. Zegar, 18 Coolidge Road, July 27, $931,000.

NORTHWEST

S. Herman to J. Rubidge and G. Kao, 7 Semaphore Road, 1.1 acre, July 29, $945,000.

Kiedaisch III and K. White to S. Patel and H. Stambuk, 11 Monument Lane, .63 acre, July 28, $745,000.

SAG HARBOR

Imagine Properties to R. and A. Trumpler, 50 Terry Drive, .23 acre, July 20, $621,777.

J. and S. Swobodzinski to R. Tortora, 3 Redwood Road, .48 acre, July 22, $1,332,500.

NOYAC

P. Hansen to A. Aronson-Vaughan, 11 Trout Pond Road, .39 acre, July 28, $355,000.

SPRINGS

D. Depke to L. Brandman and D. Madigan, 119 Norfolk Drive, .44 acre, July 27, $465,000.

WAINSCOTT

M. Israel to M. Lyons, 111 Sayre’s Path, .26 acre (vacant), July 27, $375,000.

A. Montoya to C. Logan, 119 Sayre’s Path, .9 acre, July 15, $2,250,000.

R. and E. Cohen to T. Boerkoel, 19 Elisha’s Path, 1 acre, July 15, $2,400,000.

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Data provided by Suffolk Research Service of Southampton

EAST HAMPTON

251 Pantigo Road L.L.C. to Fleetwood and McMullan, 251 Pantigo Road, .25 acre, Aug. 1, $1,250,000.

MONTAUK

G. Roth to A. and L. Fuschetto, 278 West Lake Drive and Lot 35, 1.55 acres, Aug. 5, $1,350,000.

NORTH HAVEN

D. and J. Stack to S. Lattuga, 46 Robertson Drive, 1.9 acres, July 21, $1,100,000.

SPRINGS

C. and M. Todaro to R. and J. Leavy, 11 Norfolk Drive, .52 acre, July 29, $480,000.

WAINSCOTT

55 Town Line Road to 55 Town Line Development, 55 Town Line Road, 8.31 acres, July 27, $5,150,000.

Data provided by Suffolk Research Service of Southampton

    Plum TV, which is based in Miami but operates a station in the Hamptons along with seven other high-end markets in the United States, began what Robbie Vorhaus, a spokesman for the company and a Sag Harbor resident, called a “massive restructuring” last week, letting go 50 of its 85 employees across the country with almost no notice.

    “There were major layoffs in order to preserve the brand,” said Mr. Vorhaus.

    The day after Labor Day, the Plum TV station on Martha’s Vineyard shut down its operations and laid off all four of its full-time employees after a conference call with Tom Scott, the co-founder of the brand, who also founded Nantucket Nectars.

    “The Hamptons station will stay on air,” Mr. Vorhaus said. “And for anyone watching Plum TV in the Hamptons, there will be no change.” Plum Hamptons, however, has also suffered its share of layoffs. “Some people who have worked for Plum locally have lost their jobs,” Mr. Vorhaus said. “The greatest expense in running a company, along with the greatest talent, comes from people.”

    “We had to let some very talented people go to preserve the brand,” he said.

    Plum jumped headlong into the print world this year with a glossy magazine on the East End and in Miami. Now that “the season is over,” said Mr. Vorhaus, print will be taken out of the picture, possibly permanently.

    Jerry Powers, the company chairman and co-founder, resigned at the end of August. Mr. Powers admitted in a published report having had gambling debts in excess of $1 million, but said they had been paid, and that his reason for leaving was the debts accrued by Plum, not by him. The company’s president, Rob Gregory, has also left, to take a job with Newsweek magazine. Mr. Scott will continue as chairman.

AMAGANSETT

R. Marshall and W. Georgi to Windansea L.L.C., 296 Cranberry Hole Road, .75 acre (vacant), July 27, $750,000.

R. Brown Jr. to B. Mayer, 25 Wyandanch Lane, .09 acre, Aug. 1, $690,000.

EAST HAMPTON

P. and D. Bach to H. Levy and D. Pratt, 62 Huckleberry Lane, Aug. 4, $950,000.

S. Sherwood to F. and K. Blanco III, 4 Old Schoolhouse Lane, 1.84 acres, July 28, $1,850,000.

E. Ship to R. Schwartz and N. Garson, 55 Ely Brook Road, 1.4 acres, July 29, $840,000.

E. Granath and B. Goldberg to S. Goldberg Trust, 202 Treescape Drive, July 22, $407,333.

C. Browne by executors to Chavez and Chavez Arellan, 4 Morrell Boulevard, Aug. 5, $455,000.

MONTAUK

A. Maegli and M. Marozas to R. and V. Petersen, 236 Edgemere Street, 8.86 acres, Aug. 5, $169,500.

Marie Acquisitions to S. and D. O’Reilly, 72 Benson Drive, Aug. 8, $675,000.

NAPEAGUE

C. and K. Vila to M. D’Arrigo, 80 Leeton Road, .17 acre, July 22, $950,000.

NORTH HAVEN

E. Werner to K. and B. McLaughlin, 33 Payne Avenue, .55 acre, Aug. 9, $965,000.

SAG HARBOR

K. McLaughlin to G. Lynch, Division Street (vacant), Aug. 9, $442,500.

W. Adam by executor to R. McMaster, 22 Bayview Avenue, .15 acre, Aug. 4, $752,500.

C. and L. Browngardt to 52 Suffolk L.L.C., 52 Suffolk Street, .2 acre, Aug. 9, $975,000.

SPRINGS

C. and C. Corso Jr. to S. Martinez and K. Fulmer, 121 King’s Point Road, .4 acre, July 27, $345,000.

D. and B. Bennett to J. and K. Barile, 11 Briarcroft Drive, .95 acre, Aug. 2, $940,000.

J. and J. Rivkin to C. Morris Sherman L.L.C., 968 Fireplace Road, 10.2 acres, July 25, $4,650,000.

A. and S. Haiman to J. and M. Garafola, 60 Shadom Lane, .82 acre, July 28, $690,000.

WAINSCOTT

D. Weir to H. Somerville, 7 Clyden Road, .52 acre, July 29, $690,000.

Data provided by Suffolk Research Service of Southampton

    Pumpernickel’s Deli on Pantigo Road in East Hampton — founded and owned by Dianne Payne, who has been behind the counter taking orders and shooting the breeze with her customers for 16 years — is closing its doors at the end of the business day tomorrow. Those with a hankering for an Erik, Nicole, Christina, or Erin sandwich (named after Ms. Ryan’s four children) might want to visit in the next 48 hours, or they’ll have to go cold turkey on the Ovengold turkey.

    Ms. Payne has trouble talking about tomorrow without choking up. “When I started here, their [Nicole and Erik, her twins] noses were just under the counter,” she said. Now, with Erin and Christina both living upstate, one expecting a baby and one with a toddler, Ms. Payne tries to look at the bright side. “That’ll be the bonus,” she said. “I’ll be able to visit more often.”

    Ms. Payne lost her lease and found out suddenly that she had to vacate the premises by Oct. 1 for a new renter who was coming in.

    She didn’t want to talk about that — “I’m emotionally overwhelmed” — so instead she concentrated on the happy memories.

    “The school bus would stop right outside,” she said. “That was so great for a mother of four. The kids would run in and do their homework in the back.”

    All the kids have taken a turn at the deli as well. “Pumps was our second home,” said Nicole Payne. “We are sad to see it go because of all the memories and friends we have made there.” But, she added, “the book is not closed. We are just moving on to the next chapter.”

    Ms. Payne swore to herself growing up that “I would never, ever own a deli. I grew up in a deli and I knew how hard it was.” Her father, Fred Lutzen, ran Lutzen’s Restaurant in Wainscott and the Dutch Motel, but before that, when Ms. Payne was growing up, he had delicatessens in Massapequa and East Chester, N.Y.

    In a farewell letter to her customers, “who have become our friends,” Ms. Payne said, “We are so sorry to have to say goodbye. Like a huge neighborhood kitchen table, we’ve been a part of your weddings, graduations, baby showers, and watched your children go through school, off to college, and become young adults. We’ve been honored to share in the blood drives, Wounded Warrior project, Fisherman’s Fair, food pantry, senior citizens, and so very many wonderful benefits.”

    “Through our tears (which are many),” she wrote, “we thank all of you for your support and friendship over the past 16 years.”   

Solar Home Tour

    Renewable Energy Long Island is coordinating visits to three South Fork houses on Saturday as part of the National Solar Tour and Green Buildings Open House.

    The Matheson house at Manor Lane South in Springs uses a photovoltaic system to generate power, along with other green features. The Kalfaian house on South Delrey Road in Montauk has been solar powered since the early 1990s, and the James house in Montauk on South Flagler Street uses both solar and geothermal systems.

    Visitors can take self-guided tours of the houses between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be information about each house and educational materials about solar and renewable energy, and the owners will be on hand to answer questions throughout the day.

    Those interested can obtain a free visitors pass at RELI’s Web site, renewableenergylongisland.org.

Chamber Lunch

    Those who plan to attend the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce’s Oct. 12 lunch at the Living Room at c/o the Maidstone have until Wednesday to make their reservations.

    Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman will be the guest speaker. Tickets cost $50 and can be reserved with Marina Van, director of the chamber. The lunch will begin at noo

    Bonnie Schnitta, the founder and president of SoundSense on Newtown Lane in East Hampton, has been awarded a patent for a “sound-focusing mechanism and method of estimating acoustic leakage of an object and method of estimating transmission loss of an object” — in short, the dB focus tube — the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration has announced.

    Dr. Schnitta created the device after years of fieldwork as an acoustical engineer and as a result of her frustration that there was not an effective, easy-to-use item to facilitate testing during acoustical installations.

    The dB focus tube is a small, portable acoustic testing mechanism that can be taken any place where disturbing noise needs evaluation — multifamily units and home theaters, for example. It works even during loud construction activity, getting an accurate reading without interrupting work.

    The purpose of the dB focus tube is to help installers, architects, and engineers find acoustic leakage points in walls, ceilings, and floors. The newly patented device can be employed to test HVAC ducts, pipes, windows, and doors for acoustic and thermal leaks.

    Because of the dB focus tube, SoundSense has been named a 2011 New York Enterprise Report small business awards finalist. The awards ceremony will be held on Sept. 21 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

    SoundSense is an acoustical consulting company offering acoustical design, material sales, and installation. In a statement, Dr. Schnitta said her mission is “to make this a quieter world where we are not disturbed by noise, as well as a world where we can hear each other better.”

    The Corcoran Group’s second-quarter real estate market report was recently published and shows numbers are up slightly this year over the same time last year.

    Several pricey deals in Southampton Village and on North Haven increased the quarterly sales figures over last year’s. For example, in Southampton Village the dollar amount was more than double the number from 2010’s second quarter — $127.8 million versus $54.2 million — although there were only two more house sales this quarter as compared to the same quarter last year.

    According to Corcoran’s report, “There is a fair amount of traction in the markets at the very high end and then in the lower end, with the middle price points less robust. Demand is still there but buyers are not rushing into sales by any means. As a result the market is mostly dependent on sellers who are willing to price their properties based on recent comparable sales.”

    Commercial properties have seen “a return of activity,” although vacant land — even though they aren’t making it anymore — seems to hold less interest for buyers.

    Taking the South Fork as a whole, Corcoran reports a 20-percent increase in the volume of house sales over last year’s second quarter, from $707.8 million to $850.8 million. Southampton Village had the highest increase, 136 percent. Wainscott had the lowest: 2010’s second quarter showed sales of $34 million, with this year’s number at $9.89 million, a decrease of 71 percent.

    Of other hamlets and villages, Montauk had a 6-percent increase but two fewer sales, Sag Harbor and North Haven together had a 60-percent increase in sales volume — 38 compared to last year’s 30, and Bridgehampton was up 29 percent, with only two more sales but a $41 million jump.

    East Hampton Village and Amagansett, as well as East Hampton Town over all, saw dips in sales of less than 10 percent.