The contract for the sale of the Springs-Fireplace Road property where the East Hampton School District plans to build a much-discussed bus depot has not yet been signed by East Hampton Town, as it awaits the results of a required State Environmental Quality Review Act study. Jonathan Heidelberger, the district’s attorney, explained the reason for the delay at an East Hampton School Board meeting Tuesday evening. 

The delay, according to Richard Burns, the district superintendent, makes it unlikely that the necessary public vote can be held this fall, with May a more realistic goal.  

 In its initial phase, the study is a coordinated effort by the Suffolk County Water Authority, the East Hampton Town Board and Highway Department,  and other authorities. The town will defer signing the contract until the report is public. Once signed, the school district will declare itself the lead agency in the process and will have 45 days to carry out further environmental and safety studies. 

“We’re bound,” Mr. Heidelberger said, referring to the district’s commitment to purchase the land. He remained hopeful that the deal would be formalized by the end of the month.

Happy Birthday, H.A. Rey

Saturday marks the 119th birthday of H.A. Rey, creator of the beloved Curious George character. The Amagansett Library has invited children ages 3 to 8 (siblings and family members, too) to stop by between 3 and 4 p.m. Saturday, to celebrate with party hats, treats, and, of course, stories starring Curious George.

Musik and Big Trucks at CMEE

Kids will have the chance to explore and interact with some of the massive machines, such as emergency vehicles, construction and farming machines, that share our roads and keep the East End moving as well at the Children’s Museum of the East End’s third annual Big Truck Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission is $14; members get in free. 

Marlene Markard from Markard Music for will lead a Musikgarten program for children 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays starting next week. The 12-week program uses music from around the world as a backdrop and cultivates music literacy through dance, movement, singing, instrument exploration, tonal and rhythmic patterns, active listening, and imaginative play. It will meet weekly from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. and is for children and a caregiver. The cost is $310, $290 for museum members.

Parents with younger children between 3 months and 5 years old can join a 10-week Wiggle and Giggle program presented by Music Together by the Dunes on Fridays from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., beginning Sept. 22. The program aims to provide a nurturing environment for children to learn basic music competence through play. It will run through Dec. 22. The cost is $250 for children under 5 and their parent or caregiver. A 40-percent sibling discount is offered. Registration is online at mtbythedunes.com.

Writing, Reading, Fun

The East Hampton Library will offer high school seniors free individual college essay help and feedback during writing conferences with an experienced tutor on Mondays through Oct. 2. Students can schedule half-hour sessions between 3 and 5 p.m. on those days. 

Joan Dupont, the author of the picture book “Philippe the Black Sheep,” and Ellen Shire, its illustrator, will do a dramatic reading from the book on Monday from 4 to 4:45 p.m. at the library. The book is described as the story of a lamb “with artistic ambitions.” 

Another round of Snap Circuits electronics programs for ages 7 and up will start on Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. Kids will construct circuits that light up, sound off, and power an accessory. Additional sessions will be on Oct. 3, Oct. 4, and Oct. 18. Participants need not attend all four. 

Children 4 and older can discover the art of Picasso and other painters who used facial features to create imaginative portraits and then create their own portrait collages in a program on Friday, Sept. 22, at 3:30 p.m. 

Advance registration is requested for all programs. 

Soccer, Tennis, or Basketball, Anyone?

Soccer players in first through sixth grades should grab their cleats and register for East Hampton Town’s upcoming youth season, which will run from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4. Saturday games are at 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon, and 1:15 p.m. at the Stephen Hand’s Path field in East Hampton. The cost is $45 for the season, and registation is at the field on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon or at the East Hampton Town Parks and Recreation Department behind Town Hall weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tennis clinics begin this week at the Youth Park on Abraham’s Path. Clinics for first through third grades will be on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and for fourth through sixth graders on Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. through Oct. 21. The cost is $45 for the season.

A free basketball clinic will be held at the Youth Park on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. for kindergarteners through third grade and from 5 to 6 p.m. for fourth through sixth graders. This weekly clinics begin next Thursday and end on Oct. 19.

Teen Ink in Sag Harbor

Eighth through 12th graders can explore writing outside of the classroom in a teen writing workshop at the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor starting on Tuesday. Sessions will include writing prompts, discussion of craft and technique, and constructive group critique. Participants will develop a body of original work and will revise selected pieces for publication and performance. Free pizza will be included to keep the creativity flowing. Those interested have been asked to email [email protected]. Sessions run from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 31.

Children ages 6 to 12 can meet real butterflies and learn about local species and their habitats at the library on Saturday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Ahoy, Montauk Mateys!

In celebration of Saturday’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day, kids can walk the plank at the Montauk Library for some pirate fun from 2 to 3 p.m. They will learn about Montauk’s historical connection to Captain Kidd, and pirates ages 5 and up can create their own treasure map and treasure chest and go on a treasure hunt for gold in the library. 

Next Thursday is World Peace Day and to help promote peace and kindness, crafty kids ages 4 and up can stop by between 4 and 5 p.m. to make dream catchers, kindness rocks, and recycled peace signs. Registration is required as space is limited.

A limited number of spots are available for 3 and 4-year-olds looking to join the early learning program at the Neighborhood House in East Hampton. Classes run weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and will continue until June of next year. The monthly fee is $360. 

The Neighborhood House is at 92 Three Mile Harbor Road. Registration information is at 631-324-0175 or by email to eh­[email protected].

Schoolchildren diagnosed with dyslexia will now receive a specific classification when schools develop individualized education plans for them, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. announced after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law dyslexia legislation co-sponsored by Mr. Thiele. 

The bill will inform school districts about the unique educational needs of students with dyslexia and other related disorders in order to better help them succeed in school. 

One in five children in this country is affected by dyslexia, a language-based learning disability that makes word recognition, spelling, and reading difficult. School districts, however, Mr. Thiele said, “have been reluctant to reference dyslexia and other related disorders when developing” individualized education plans. “In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance to clarify that there is nothing in the [Individuals With Disabilities Education Act] that would prohibit the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in evaluations. . . . This bill will help inform school districts and BOCES about the educational needs of students with dyslexia, so that early interventions and services can be provided to help these children become proficient readers.”

Although the bill takes effect immediately, it does require the state to develop its guidelines for schools consistent with the federal requirements and issue them sometime during the current school year.

At an Amagansett School Board meeting on Tuesday, School Superintendent Eleanor Tritt announced that the kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school had placed second on a list of the best elementary schools in Suffolk County, complied by Niche, an online service that ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts across the nation. 

The findings, based on statistics and “millions of opinions” from students and parents, according to Niche’s website, are categorized regionally, statewide, and nationwide, including subcategories such as diversity, teachers, and safety. A comprehensive report card on each school is available on the website.

Ms. Tritt also noted that Amagansett was ranked 47th out of 2,450 elementary schools in New York State. According to Niche, the tiny school ranked 662nd when compared to elementary schools across the country.

Southampton received the number-one ranking as the best school district in Suffolk. Its high school was ranked fourth in the county, and the Southampton School District was ranked the second best place to teach in New York State.

Among other local schools, East Hampton High School was ranked 13th in Suffolk County and 102nd statewide. The Bridgehampton School District placed 67th on a list of the “most diverse” schools in the state, while Sag Harbor was ranked 26th of the best school districts in the county. Montauk’s elementary school was ranked 27th, while its middle school took the ninth spot in Suffolk.

Also countywide, the John M. Marshall Elementary School and the Springs Elementary School were ranked 67th and 115th, respectively.

The East Hampton School Board has received a contract of sale from East Hampton Town for the potential purchase, for about $2 million, of property on Springs-Fireplace Road where a school bus depot would be constructed.

The initial site for the depot was on the Cedar Street edge of the high school campus. It drew such a roar of neighborhood ire, in particular from a group called the Cedar Street Committee represented by Jeffrey Bragman, that the board began looking elsewhere. The Springs-Fireplace property is along a mostly industrial stretch of road.

 In an email yesterday, J.P. Foster, the school board president, said, “We plan on holding a special meeting next week to vote on the contract. Our district clerk will send out a notice if that is the case. We are moving forward.”

Coding, Music, More

Computer coding is becoming a must-have skill for today’s kids. Classes at the East Hampton Library on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. will teach the basics and more in a fun setting for students entering sixth through ninth grades.

Evan Gottfried’s Family Music Extravaganza will liven up the library on Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. with a high-energy musical adventure and interactive show for kids from infancy to age 8 (but older siblings are sure to be entertained as well).

On Monday, from 11 to 11:45 a.m., children 5 and over can take part in Storytime Yoga with Susan Verde, a kid’s yoga instructor and children’s book author. Kids 4 and up will make mobiles inspired by the sea in a workshop on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The library will show its appreciation to high school volunteers who have offered their help throughout the year with a party during this month’s young adult after-hours gathering tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be outdoor fun and games, including badminton, kickball, croquet, and mini-golf. In case of rain, the party will move indoors for a movie.

Also on the schedule for high school students this week are a seashell candle workshop using all-natural ingredients on Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. and a sand art class on Friday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 5 p.m.

To help prepare for SAT tests, part of the college application process, a free practice test is being offered at the library on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Advance registration is required for all events.

Ichthyologists in Training

Children ages 8 and over can learn about ichthyology (the branch of zoology that deals with fish) at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Crystal Oakes, a marine biologist, leads the class, which culminates in the dissection of a specially prepared perch. There is a $15 fee per fish.

On Sunday at 10 a.m., Eleni Nikolopoulos, a nature educator, will teach families about summer’s disappearing vernal pools, which are home to salamander larvae and tadpoles in the spring months.

Advance sign-up is suggested for all programs.

Dog Show at Guild Hall

As part of Guild Hall’s KidFest series, Johnny Peers will bring his Muttville Comix to East Hampton on Wednesday at 5 p.m. with a slapstick comedy dog show for all ages. This entertaining team of rescue mutts has even appeared at the White House! The cost is $18 for adults, $14 for children, or $16 and $12 for members

Prior to the dog show, children 3 and up can create their own musical instrument in a workshop at 4 p.m. The cost is $10, $8 for members.

Magic in Montauk

Amore, an award-winning magician, will use trickery, comedy, and music to deliver a message about libraries and the importance of reading in an interactive show for all ages at the Montauk Library on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Evan Gottfried’s Family Music Extravaganza will head to Montauk on Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m.

Registration for both events is required, as space is limited.

Pizza Night

The Children’s Museum of the East End is joining Amber Waves Farm on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for pizza night at the farm in Amagansett. In addition to picking toppings for a personal pizza that will be cooked in a custom, wood-fired copper oven, families can also take a tour of the farm. The cost is $50. Members of the museum or the farm get a $10 discount. Registration is online at cmee.org.

Camps and Puppetry at Bay Street

There are two opportunities for young thespians to channel Shakespeare’s characters at the Bay Street Theater this month. A weeklong Shakespeare Mini Mainstage camp for ages 9 to 12 will run from Monday through Friday, Aug. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $475. A Speaking Shakespeare teen master class will be held on Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $125. Registration forms are available online at baystreet.org.

The Goat on a Boat series of puppet shows continues at Bay Street next Thursday when the Tanglewood Marionettes presents “Sleeping Beauty” at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $15.

Wild Things in Southampton

A Baby Loves Disco family dance party will be held at the Southampton Arts Center on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Live D.J.s will blend classic disco tunes with today’s favorite pop sounds in a party for toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents.

Goat on a Boat’s ongoing series of puppet shows continues at the center today at 4:30 p.m. when Steven’s Puppets present “Rumplestiltzkin.” For ages 3 to 10, the show features original hand-carved wooden marionettes from the 1930s made by the company’s founders.

At 5:15 p.m. today, the Quogue Wildlife Refuge will talk about the fascinating world of birds of prey while offering an up-close and personal view of the creatures. The refuge is a 300-acre nonprofit nature preserve housing permanently injured wildlife that require human care to survive.

Andrea Cote, an artist, will work with kids 8 to 12 and their adults to create mythical creatures during an art workshop tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.

All events are free.

According to the Springs School’s website, excavation of the school’s septic system continues, and progress — as far as locating leaching pools — has been made. Debra Winter, the school’s superintendent, writes that all work will be completed by the end of August.

“Work on the school’s septic system has begun,” the school says, “and at the end of the first week of excavating, a total of 11 pools were uncovered. Nine have been raised with chimneys, two are being evaluated to determine if they are part of the system, and two broken pipes have been repaired. All pools have been pumped out. The pumps, which are not reparable, will be replaced by similar pumps. The control panel is operational and will operate with new pumps.”

As advertisers are reminding us, it’s time to go shopping for back-to-school supplies. Yet, for many people across the country, financial constraints make such shopping sprees impossible.

On Wednesday, at the lower campus of the Ross School, in Bridgehampton, the UJA-Federation of New York’s Supplies for Success program will hold its 16th consecutive backpack assembly, during which volunteers will pack thousands of backpacks with donated school supplies to be delivered to local children in need of a hand to start school on a positive note.

“No parent should have to choose between food on the table or notebooks and pencils,” said Mindy Richenstein, a Sagaponack resident and the program’s founder and chairwoman. “It’s so important that kids walk into school with their heads held high, with all the tools they need to feel confident and hopeful rather than anxious and ashamed,” she said.

The UJA-Federation is an international Jewish service organization established more than 90 years ago. The Supplies for Success program is in its fifth year on the East End. Last year, more than 11,000 backpacks were filled in eight locations, including four on Long Island.

At last year’s Ross School event, volunteers filled 2,000 backpacks with age-appropriate supplies, including binders, folders, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, rulers, sharpeners, notebooks, and loose-leaf papers. “Everything a student needs to get the school year started,” Ms. Richenstein said.  The stuffed backpacks were given to children in Springs, East Hampton, Riverhead, Hampton Bays, and Southampton, as well as to the Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services last year. They were also distributed to the Retreat, the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center, and other nonprofit organizations.

Wednesday’s backpack-filling event will be held at the Ross Lower School field house, 739 Butter Lane, Bridgehampton, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is open to children and adults of all ages and donations of $18 per backpack have been suggested.

Art Meets Nature

Andrea Cote and her 9-year-old son, Nathan, will lead families in an Art of Science workshop on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. The mother-son team will teach participants to use tools and pigments from nature to create art. 

Al Daniels will head up a seining excursion for families on the shores of Noyac Bay on Sunday at 10 a.m., giving people a chance to see the variety of marine life that inhabits our local waters.

Advance registration is requested for both programs.

Tails and Talons

Tara is all ears when it comes to listening to kids read. A certified therapy dog from Pet Partners, she will be at the East Hampton Library today from 4 to 5 p.m. to help first through fifth graders who struggle with reading. Pick a favorite book and sign up for a 15-minute session with Tara.

On Saturday from 9:30 to 1 p.m. high school students preparing for their ACT exams can take a free practice test. Space is limited and registration is required.

Kids ages 5 to 11 can have fun creating with Legos and meeting new friends at Monday’s Lego Club from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

On Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the magician Alexo will bring the thrill of illusion as well as his magical animal menagerie for some midday wizardry at the library in a show suitable for all ages.

More magic is scheduled on Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. with Snap Circuits, an electronics program for ages 7 and up. Kids will construct circuits that light up, sound off, and power an accessory.

On Wednesday kids 3 and older can have their faces painted at the library from 2 to 4 p.m. Ages 4 and up will make soft felt sculptures with a sea creature theme on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Next Thursday, a birds of prey program for ages 4 and up will offer a chance to meet an Eastern screech-owl, a great horned owl, a barn owl, and a red-tailed hawk at 3 p.m.

Advance registration is required for all events.

3-D and Coding in Sag Harbor

Seventh through 12th graders can learn how to create a 3-D file using Tinkercad, an online 3-D design and printing app, from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor. The library has some laptops available, and kids are invited to reserve one or take their own.

Younger kids 6 to 12 can join the Coding Club today at 5 p.m., where they will learn some of the basics of computer coding. No experience is necessary for this self-paced club. Laptops are provided.

A Summer Reading Club party tomorrow from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. will be open to all children who participated in the summer reading program. The Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre will provide the entertainment.

With a Bang!

Guild Hall’s KidFest program will finish with a bang on Wednesday at 5 p.m. with Bam! Percussion, a comedy-drumming production with a cast of cartoon characters who speak their own language. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $14 for children, $16 and $12 for members.

During an arts and crafts workshop before the production, at 4, kids 3 and up can create their own musical instruments. The cost is $10, $8 for members.

The Power of Words

Clowning and puppetry will take audiences on a word play adventure through the alphabet complete with a visit to a word zoo full of surprises at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on Saturday, when Good Hearted Entertainment presents “Word Play” at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $15.

Bay Street’s final teen Masterclass, Speaking Shakespeare, will be offered on Monday from noon to 3 p.m. for ages 13 to 18. Intended to help young actors interpret and speak Shakespearean verse, this workshop will culminate in a pre­sentation of the students’ work on the Bay Street Theater stage for family and friends. The cost is $125 and advance registration is required.

Family Fun in Southampton

A painting party for ages 8 and up with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County — an educational program promoting a wide range of topics from wellness to sustainable agriculture — is scheduled for tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Southampton Arts Center on Job’s Lane. The cost is $30 and advance registration is required.

Next Thursday, Wonderspark Puppets will take children 3 to 8 on a “Wild West Mystery” ride at 4:30 p.m. The 30-minute show is free.

Seashells and Reptiles

Kids 7 and up can learn about Long Island mollusks with Tonito Valderrama, an environmental artist and educator, on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Montauk Library. Students will decorate seashells to create a beach-inspired mobile.

Next Thursday afternoon at 4, kindergartners through sixth graders will meet some of Long Island’s native reptiles and amphibians and learn how they get around during a program presented by the South Fork Natural History Museum.

Advance registration is requested for both programs.

Make Art at the Parrish

Families can drop in to the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to take a tour of the galleries and create art through hands-on activities, using art materials and techniques inspired by the works on view. All ages must be accompanied by an adult. The tour and open studio are free with museum admission, which is $12 for adults and $9 for those over 65. Students, members, and children under 18 get in free.

Two workshops are offered next week. A three-day sculpture workshop for ages 10 and up will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $100, or $75 for members, and space was still available as of yesterday.

Children 7 and older will explore a variety of mediums in a two-day art workshop on Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $190, or $150 for members, and advance registration is a must.

Golden Eagle Art Camps

For the next two weeks, the Golden Eagle art store in East Hampton will be offering weekday mini art camps at its Studio 144 on North Main Street. Kids 6 to 11 will get an introduction to a variety of mediums that may include drawing, painting, printmaking, or sculpture, from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, Sept. 1. The cost is $190 for all five days or $40 for a single session. Registration is at 631-324-0603.