So what do the East Hampton Town Trustees actually do? That might be among the legitimate questions voters here will ask themselves as they look at the intimidating section at the far end of the ballot on Nov. 7, the one with 18 names. Voters need to play close attention, since all nine of the trustee positions come up for election every two years.

The answer is that the trustees, working with other town, state, and federal agencies, set policy on much of East Hampton’s bay and ocean beaches. They handle mooring and dock matters in some of the inland waters. They issue land leases at Lazy Point in Amagansett and operate marine sewage-collection boats in Three Mile Harbor. Lately, they have taken an active role on water quality, supporting data collection in trustee waters. They do not have jurisdiction in Montauk, having lost authority in the 19th century.

The decision about whom to support for trustee should be based on the candidates’ experience, desire to learn and listen, and respect for civility. Unfortunately, in years past, some voters have simply chosen people based on their last names, or by which among them seemed to have the most Bonacker cred. This is a mistake: As environmental problems mount — including the overarching threat of climate change — East Hampton deserves the best trustees possible, not simply those who are bubbier-than-thou or prone to getting too much of their information from online conspiracy mongers. 

Voters need to pay close attention, since all nine of the trustee positions come up for election every two years.

Political affiliation matters relatively little once someone is sworn in as a trustee. Where it may count, however, is in the selection of the trustees’ clerk. If the Republicans get a majority, Diane McNally, an incumbent and former clerk, would almost certainly be returned to the post. If so, it would be largely up to her to rein in the bickering that has preoccupied the trustees, in which she often played a role.

As a whole, the Republican more than the Democratic candidates have avoided talking about the warming climate or even sea level rise. This is evident from their refusal to see the Deepwater Wind offshore turbine project as part of a greater attempt to shift to renewable energy sources in order to reduce carbon emissions. The Republican trustee hopefuls say they favor land-based solar installations, but offer no specifics and look askance at a private company that is willing and able to rapidly deploy offshore turbines. 

Moreover, as the ostensible stewards of much of the town’s shores, the trustees would be looking backward if they did not make coastal resiliency in the face of a fast-changing climate a top priority. This is the single most important argument for retaining a Democratic majority, which is more willing to confront a looming problem that will directly impact the waters and beaches that the trustees are sworn to protect.

Though a number of the other candidates deserve close looks, in alphabetical order, our picks for trustee are John Aldred, Joe Bloecker, Francis Bock, Brian Byrnes, Rick Drew, Jim Grimes, Ms. McNally, Bill Taylor, and Susan Vorpahl.

Starting with Mr. Aldred: He is the former head of the town shellfish hatchery and, as such, deeply involved with water quality and the marine ecosystem. He can be prickly to a fault, but on balance his knowledge would make him a valuable addition to the trustees.

Mr. Bloecker is truly a man of the community. He is tireless in his involvement with the Montauk Friends of Erin and almost never missed a meeting in his three earlier terms as a town trustee. As a Montauk resident, house builder, and former commercial fisherman, he would bring a valuable point of view to deliberations. We disagree, however, with his opposition to an annual beach-driving permit and hope that, if elected, he might come to see the utility of getting a better measure of control on who is using this fragile and increasingly crowded resource.

We urge a vote for Francis Bock because under his current leadership as clerk, the trustees have improved critical relationships with other regulatory authorities. He has also successfully pushed for holding meetings at Town Hall, where they can be televised for broadcast on LTV. Though petty political disputes still mar discussions from time to time, his term as clerk has been an improvement. He is patient and attempts to make sure that all sides are heard.

Brian Byrnes is another incumbent among our picks. He has distinguished himself by his affable nature and dedication to many community causes. He has been a member of the East Hampton Disability Advisory Board and Amagansett Fire Department and volunteers for the East Hampton Food Pantry. He is a strong advocate for trustee authority and history, particularly as it relates to state usurpation of local rights.

Rick Drew, a first-term trustee, is emerging as one of the panel’s most valuable members. He is even-tempered and has both technical know-how from his information-technology career as well as experience on the water both professionally and recreationally. As issues such as sea level rise and water pollution present ever-greater challenges for the trustees, his perspective would continue to prove invaluable.

Jim Grimes is a puzzle in some ways. While he can be disruptive at times, he is knowledgeable on environmental matters and does his homework. When he is playing Mr. Nice Guy, things go well; when he is not, watch out. In a second term as trustee, voters should expect that he would try to be on his best behavior. His background as the owner of a native plants and landscaping business, as well as as a Montauk resident, add useful dimensions to trustee affairs.

In terms of longevity as a trustee, no one among the present group comes close to Diane McNally. She first became the trustee clerk in the early 1990s and is a staunch advocate for tradition and the trustees’ unique authority. As a member of a nine-person board hers will be an important perspective even if she is not in the leadership role. 

 There has been some controversy about Mr. Taylor, who was suspended from his position as the East Hampton Town waterways manager in a dispute about alleged unauthorized removal of fences at Georgica Pond as a hurricane approached in 2016. A former harbormaster, he has from time to time skirted the line between advocate and regulator. However, his abiding familiarity with town government, state regulations, and the environment makes him a valuable resource for the trustees. With Mr. Bock, he was a key architect in remaking the trustees into a group that can produce meaningful action rather than the noise that had characterized previous terms. Past dustups aside, he is a dedicated trustee and should be returned to the post.­

Susan Vorpahl freely admits that she accepted the nomination to run as trustee to honor her father, the late Stuart Vorpahl Jr., who was a trustee at one time and was the trustees’ conscience for nearly his entire adult life, whether in office or not. Her father’s legacy all but assures she will win as trustee on Nov. 7. She will have big shoes to fill, but we believe that she will be up to the task.

The time for pretending that East Hampton — and the world — has not changed is over. We believe that these candidates are the best choices to lead the town trustees forward.

The East Hampton Village Board has moved closer in recent weeks to allowing highly managed hunting as a means of reducing the number of deer. This is a brave position. Opponents of deer hunts, while perhaps few in number, are vocal and unyielding. 

Hunting is the only population-control method consistently shown to work, however, and it has been used as an environmental management tool for decades. Once skittish and rarely seen, over recent years deer have come out of the woods to live among us. Their proximity to populated areas has put them into harm's way, most notably the unknown but very high number killed and injured while crossing roads. 

Police are frequently called now to dispatch deer that are unable to move but still alive after striking a vehicle. Drivers must deal with the costs and their insurance companies, as well as painful emotions, often among young passengers, that linger after such an incident. Then there are the deer that get tangled in fences or, now, end up trapped in open, abandoned foundations or at houses under construction. 

Though their fans argue against a correlation, tick-borne illness has spiked here along with the deer. Among the newer problems is a life-threatening allergy to red meat caused by the bite of the lone star tick. This was all but unknown until relatively recently. Deer have also altered the natural environment, removing the forest understory and preventing seedlings, other than those they find distasteful, from growing. Once upon a time, it was impossible to see more than a few yards into the woods; now the nearly revealed topography interrupts the view. Anyone who tells you otherwise just isn't paying attention.

Shooting wildlife is unthinkable for some. We get that. However, with the situation out of balance as it is, killing, or culling as the current euphemism goes, seems inevitable. Humans have kicked the world out of balance and, unfortunately, it falls to us to do what we can to restore and maintain natural habitats, not just for one charismatic animal, but for all species. Many village residents agree; a recent mailed survey found that an overwhelming majority was okay with hunting as a control method.

Make no mistake, East Hampton's burgeoning deer population has come at a cost. As much as we enjoy seeing deer, their presence on our lawns or dead and injured on the side of our roads is an obvious indication that something is very wrong. It is good that the East Hampton Village Board is willing to admit this and consider all options.

Voters expressed themselves loud and clear on Election Day, as Democratic candidates enjoyed huge wins, including governorship in Virginia and New Jersey and in many other contests. In East Hampton, it was the same, with Peter Van Scoyoc and nearly the entire Democratic slate winning strongly. In Southampton, forgetting for a moment the politically mercurial Jay Schneiderman’s re-election as supervisor, voters rejected a Republican incumbent, instead awarding seats on the town board to two Democrats.

As he did in races elsewhere in the country, President Trump cast a shadow across the polling places. The East Hampton Republican Committee chairman posed for a photo with a cardboard cutout of the president during an inauguration celebration in January, which helped set a negative tone. This was going to be a hard fight anyway for a variety of reasons having nothing to do with a deeply unpopular president. For one, registered Democrats now outnumber Republicans in East Hampton Town in 18 of the 19 election districts. But in off-year elections like this, turnout plays the biggest role, and Democratic voters, and those energized by their dismay about the country’s direction, had an edge for that reason as well.

Digging into the numbers in East Hampton, Mr. Van Scoyoc’s win on Tuesday rivaled that of the outgoing Supervisor Larry Cantwell’s re-election two years ago, when hundreds of thousands of dollars in airport-related money that went to Republicans outraged many voters.

It also did not help that the Republicans’ standard-bearers here had counted on their experience outside of elected office. Asked to select town board members, East Hampton voters have generally favored candidates who came up through the ranks of public service on the many appointed town boards or committees.

The past three election cycles in East Hampton have been difficult ones for the Republican Committee and its chairman, Reg Cornelia, who said he would step down at the end of the year. Monolithic government, even at this level, carries great risks, however, and it is important that the G.O.P. rebound by recruiting popular centrist residents to carry its message forward.

Giving Tuesday came and went here this week with myriad pitches floating in electronically and a few coming to the old-fashioned mailbox. Guild Hall went a step further, trying a live event streamed on Facebook from noon to midnight. During the day, Guild Hall staff went before the camera to talk about what they do. East Hampton Village Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. stopped by. Music and readings came later on. With the help of a video feed made possible by the LTV technical staff, viewers were able to join in on and off during the day, and a dozen or two were hovering when we watched.

Guild Hall’s was the most technically sophisticated fund-raising approach of the season; a final accounting of how the live stream did financially will take some time and be instructive. However, taking a look behind the scenes and getting a feel for the people who make it all happen was productive.

The sheer number of local organizations to which year-end donations could be made is staggering. They range from the very small, like Elsa’s Ark, which primarily aids stray and feral cats, to the very large, like Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and the big arts institutions, like Guild Hall, the Parrish Art Museum, and the LongHouse Reserve. In between are many worthy institutions, such as the Montauk Playhouse, the public libraries, Meals on Wheels, East End Hospice, and the several historical societies.

Guild Hall shined a light on its own role in the community by taking its message online for half a day and half a night. It also helped remind viewers of the many choices they have when the charitable urge strikes.

It has been an exciting couple of weeks for South Fork history buffs. A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence with a strong East Hampton connection sold at auction upstate on Saturday for $1.5 million plus fees. Southampton Town officials are considering a historical designation for part of the hamlet of Bridgehampton. And in East Hampton Town, there is movement on new rules that would protect landmark houses from demolition.

The town plan is modeled on one implemented recently in East Hampton Village. It gives certain homeowners the right to build an additional residence on a property in exchange for lasting protection for a historical structure on the same site. This seems a fair tradeoff. Owners would be able to expand without having to build on to a lovely old existing house in a way that would diminish its significance. So far 13 property owners have been positive in response to the town’s outreach.

As much as any other factor, our history has made us what we are as a community. To the extent that brick-and-mortar reminders of the past can be preserved, they should be. This plan is a good way to begin to do that.

East Hampton Town’s decision to remove a horse barn on land it bought in Amagansett in 2014 has raised a bit of skepticism. Though some might consider tearing down a barn wasteful, it is the right decision.

The parcel, 19 acres on the north side of Montauk Highway bordered by the Long Island Rail Road tracks, is just east of the hamlet’s downtown. Until its purchase with money from the community preservation fund, the property was under review for a 79-unit luxury development. After the town took title, various ideas were floated for its use, but none could be settled upon, with the poor quality of its soil a deterrent for farming. As time went on, the barn, not all that well constructed to begin with, began to decay.

When voters authorized the community preservation fund in 1998, the understanding was that the money, from real estate transfers, was to be used for open space acquisition for environmental, agricultural, and recreational reasons and to reduce the eventual buildout of East Hampton, countering losses of natural habitat as well as limiting the ultimate number of residences and commercial structures. A secondary purpose was historical preservation. A year ago, East Hampton voters also approved the use of up to 20 percent of annual C.P.F. income for water quality improvements.

As an aside, consensus on the official name of the property is yet to come. The Connecticut developer called the project 555, a nod to its address and that the rental of the apartments would have been limited to those 55 and older. Its previous owner called it Ocean View Farm, though nothing much had grown there in quite some time. The bid specification for the barn’s removal refers to it as the Putnam site, referring to the corporate name of the would-be Connecticut developer. 

Razing the barn makes financial sense for the town. The cost of maintaining the building in its present condition is not obviously legal under the community preservation law. Leasing it to a private party as a horse stable or for storing farm equipment would also appear to be prohibited, but were that legal it might bring its own set of problems for officials. To the extent that some of the wood and windows could be reclaimed, town officials should try to do so. However, removing the barn and planting the area with a cover crop, at least for the time being, is the right approach.

We strongly support the property’s use as an active public space. A walking path on the periphery has been envisioned, leaving room for the annual Soldier Ride convergence there and other worthy events. Another appealing use would be for a portion to be set aside for community garden plots. If the town goes ahead with the massive and arguably necessary new medical facility on Pantigo Place, the ball field there could be relocated to the Amagansett site. There are plenty of good options. Getting rid of a horse barn, which under the best of outcomes would benefit few residents, is just the beginning.

If for self-interest alone, homeowners and businesses should jump on a new energy efficiency program sponsored by PSEG Long Island. In an effort to meet peak demand, while at the same time reducing everyone’s utility bills, free power audits are being made available. It is as simple as phoning 800-567-2850, making an appointment, then setting aside a couple of hours while your house or business is evaluated by a certified energy inspector. 

Participants get back a detailed report with a range of options for cutting electricity use and making upgrades. The program also can provide information about rebates, financing options, and separate options for low and moderate-income households. Businesses can get free LED lighting conversions. But that’s not all, as they say on TV. 

Residential and commercial utility customers can receive free Nest-brand “smart” thermostats if they join a program to allow their summertime air-conditioning to remotely be set down a degree or two at times of peak grid demand, but just for up to 10 times a year. Customers who already have Nest thermostats get $250 if they sign up. Another offer is a rebate to replace pool pumps with energy-saving models that can reduce electricity use by up to 80 percent. There’s a cash bonus for installers, as well.

It is, of course, not all about the money. Reducing demand is part of a multipronged strategy to eliminate the pollution-causing diesel generators deployed in East Hampton to meet summertime needs and also slow the South Fork’s unsustainable growth in electricity use. It starts with a phone call to the number above or by filling out a form at longislandgreenhomes.org. Do it today. It really matters.  

We hope that the several people who spoke in opposition to a proposed affordable apartment complex in Amagansett were outliers rather than representative of a majority of hamlet residents. If they were an indication of wide sentiment, this town is in more trouble than we had supposed.

At an East Hampton Town Planning Board meeting earlier this month, preliminary plans for a 38-unit development were presented by the East Hampton Housing Authority. The apartments would be arrayed among 10 low buildings. Rents would be low, starting at $1,425 for a one-bedroom and topping out at $2,400 for a three-bedroom unit, the latter about $1,000 less than a rock-bottom year-round rental of a house in East Hampton Town.

The need is indisputable. Cost of living is among the most common complaints in East Hampton. This makes life especially hard for people at the low end of the wage scale, as well as some retirees. The scarcity of worker housing is a huge issue and it has helped create a year-round hiring nightmare for many businesses. So, too, has the high cost of living been tied to the hollowing out of necessary volunteer services, with fewer young men and women coming through the ranks of our social institutions and available to become firefighters or ambulance personnel.

Concerns were raised by members of the planning board and people in attendance at the Nov. 15 meeting about four commercial spaces in the proposed apartment complex. These objections may be warranted and should be considered carefully. However, the alarms focused on the project’s effect on the Amagansett School should be understood for what they are: overblown and exclusionary if not immoral.

If anything, the Amagansett School would benefit from a few more students. In recent years, its enrollment has been minuscule, with fewer than 10 children in some of grades, while neighboring Springs School classrooms are filled to capacity. For example, enrollment in the Amagansett first grade was 6 students last year; in Springs it was 77. It also needs to be said that the Springs student population was 56 percent Latino in 2016, while in Amagansett it was only 13 percent. 

It is understandable that a few parents might want to preserve the private-school feeling provided at the Amagansett School. One-on-one personal attention is great for kids as they progress. However, it is an affront to the community as a whole for some residents to suggest that new affordable housing is fine as long as it is built elsewhere.

The 38 apartments, should they be built, would be of clear benefit. School taxes might rise a bit, but the money could be found to accommodate a modest boost in enrollment. It also should be noted that despite the school’s size it has three administrators.

Yes, the project, especially its impact on traffic and whether the commercial spaces are really necessary, should get close scrutiny. But, in our opinion, its effect on the Amagansett School would be beneficial.

East Hampton Town officials have a real problem on their hands as a deadly pine tree infestation rages in Northwest Woods. Officials hope to get private property owners’ permission for crews to take down trees under attack by the southern pine beetle at the town’s expense. But, as residents of the affected area learn that they will be responsible themselves for the hefty cost of disposing of the downed trees, some may balk at allowing the town access.

Residents’ hesitation about allowing the town onto their land may increase as huge piles of 80-to-100-foot-long logs become visible off Swamp Road, for example. Property owners who already allowed inspectors and crews to do their work are now stunned to find out they are on the hook for thousands of dollars of unanticipated costs. This could well lead some to refuse to cooperate, which has the makings of a massive headache. 

Unless many more trees are taken down quickly, the beetle could spread beyond the relatively small area it is now known to affect. Already, East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell has declared a state of emergency in order to free money for tree cutting. Cooperation from landowners is essential, but getting that cooperation will be difficult if the personal cost for removal or chipping them in place is prohibitive.

The town rationale about why it cannot pay to help remove trees from private property does not sound quite right. A town attorney said on Tuesday that to do so would violate a state prohibition on government “gifts” to individuals. How this squares with the town’s generous new septic rebate program, for example, was not explained.

If there is a genuine environmental crisis unfolding, which it appears there is, then it is surely in the public interest that money be found to assure public participation in the effort. The weak answer that the town can do nothing more than take down the trees cannot be the end of the discussion if the remaining pine forests are to be saved.

It is good that the town may waive log and brush fees at the recycling center for property owners in the affected area, but it will likely have to do much more before the infestation is contained.

By now, we have all had our flu shots, right? Well, not exactly. According to federal government statistics, less than half the adults who should get the influenza vaccine each year actually do so. For children, the rate is better, but far from ideal.

Flu shots help protect us from the highly contagious, debilitating illness that can have severe complications in some portions of the population. Children, pregnant women, and those 65 and older are at particular risk, as are those with chronic lung conditions. At best, flu can knock you down for a couple of days, at worst, it can kill.

The shots are inexpensive and available widely, including at large pharmacies, walk-in clinics, and doctors’ offices. If you haven’t yet — and especially if you are in one of the at-risk groups — please consider getting a shot right away. Remember: The flu is contagious so you will be helping others as well as yourself.