Puppet Programs

    The Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre in Sag Harbor is offering up a tulip-y tale on Saturday: “The Adventures of Princess Spring Blossom.” Michelle Beshaw, a Brooklyn puppeteer, brings the story, which is about the adventures of the denizens of Tulip Forest during a spring festival. Performances are at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and tickets cost $10, $9 for grandparents and members, and $5 for children under 3.

    The theater also offers puppet play groups on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:30 a.m., when children under 3 (and their grown-ups) can stop in for songs, games, and a Minkie the Monkey puppet show. The cost is $15 for members, $25 for drop-ins.

    A “messy and fun” Tot Art program filled with projects for the 2-to-4-year-old set happens on Friday mornings at 10:30.

Hats Off to Dr. Seuss

    The East Hampton Library will celebrate spring today at 4 p.m., when those 4 and older can make springtime scenes using colorful tissue paper for a collage.

    Celebrating Dr. Seuss is de rigueur in March (his birthday was on Friday), and the library will honor Theodor Geisel with a special “Hats Off to You” story time on Saturday from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Listeners 3 and up have been invited to wear their favorite hats and make a craft.

Multicultural Festival

    Visitors will be transported around the world at tomorrow’s multicultural festival at Pierson High School in Sag Harbor from 6 to 9 p.m. They can feast on international specialties while dancing to the music of various countries.

    The suggested donation for admission is $5, which goes toward the gardens at the schools in Sag Harbor and also to a nonprofit international organization called charity: water, which focuses on providing safe drinking water to people in developing nations. For those who want to recreate the experience without the crowd, a multicultural cookbook will be available for purchase.

Idol Hands

    Hamptons Idol is returning for its sixth year on March 17. The Southampton Youth Bureau will hold this singing and dancing competition from 7:30 to 11 p.m. that day. The price of stardom, or rather watching it, is $10 plus a nonperishable food item. For additional information, the Youth Bureau can be reached at 702-2425. Its Web site is southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau.

    The East Hampton School Board slogged through over three hours of a budget workshop on Tuesday night in anticipation of coming up with a hard tax levy number that the state is expecting from all schools in New York by today.

    “We’re not going to pierce the cap,” Laura Anker Grossman, the school board president, said. “We feel that we can stay within the levy and have a curriculum that supports our children.”

    She was referring to exceeding the 2-percent cap on tax levy increases. To exceed that cap requires approval by 60 percent of district voters, an 11th-hour move to which some school districts may have to resort.

    Isabel Madison, the district’s business administrator, took the board and audience through the equations, which added up to a tax levy amount for East Hampton residents of $44.88 million for a proposed 2012-13 budget of $63.22 million. It was still too early to unravel the tax rate per $100.

    The tax levy increase, on paper, shows as 4.431 percent, but this is allowed under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s cap, since there are many exemptions to the law, including a district’s debt service and capital construction projects, along with building and bus leases, if they apply.

    East Hampton’s debt service is $6.54 million per year.

    Charles Soriano, the assistant superintendent, presented a line-by-line budget pertaining to his office. It showed overall a decrease from $1.2 million in 2008-9 to $917,781.38 for 2012-13.

    Approximately $90,000 was saved by moving programs traditionally held at the Ross School back to the new art wing of East Hampton High School. Dr. Soriano told the board that the savings would be moved into staff development.

    “The state provides the standards to follow,” he said. “But standards are not curricula. Teachers should write curricula based on their experiences, so it’s personal to this school, to this area, and it means something to the students. That’s the gold standard for how it should be done,” he said.

    The board, and some audience members, said that the additional $90,000 for staff development was a good idea. One audience member said she didn’t think it was enough.

    “You’re right,” Dr. Soriano said. “In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t, but I’ve just increased it by almost $100,000, so I’m elated.”

    With that exception, along with new textbooks that are necessary in the elementary and middle schools, the board looked at ways to cut, including purchasing its celebratory sheet cakes for less that $165, and 1,000 lanyards for identification badges for under $1,000.

    “I know it’s just nickels and dimes,” said Jackie Lowey, a board member. “But there’s a cultural shift that has to happen in this district.”

    Patricia Hope, another board member, agreed. “We want to be able to say to the community that we are cutting everything we can,” she said, adding incredulously, “A thousand dollars for string?”

    The anecdotal story is this: Cole Porter was sitting in Sardi’s when — quite separately — the famous evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson walked in, followed by Texas Guinan, the celebrated saloonkeeper and actress (known for coining the term “Hello, suckers!”). From this odd combination, Mr. Porter came up with the main character in “Anything Goes,” Reno Sweeney.

    Another story is that Vinton Freedley, the producer, pitched the story — which takes place on an ocean liner — to Porter after spending months living on a boat to avoid his creditors.

    Either way, the perennial Broadway favorite makes its way to the East Hampton High School stage this weekend.

    Featuring some of Mr. Porter’s most well-known songs, like “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Friendship,” “Easy to Love,” and the title song, the production can be seen in the auditorium tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 3. The public is invited to attend. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and children under 12.

    A group of approximately 20 East Hampton High School students departed last Thursday for the Harvard Model Congress in Cambridge, Mass., where they took on different roles in government for four days. About 1,500 students from across the country participated.

    The East Hampton students included Jen deGroof, Sarah Johnson, Nadia Barcenas, Mary Jernigan, Collin Kavanaugh, Nicole Daniludis, Elias Van Sickle, Mario Mayorga, Melanie Mackin, Laura Perez, Sarah Talmage, Mike Burns, Andrew Davis, Cesa Cabrera, Skye Marigold, Courtney Bennett, Nick Zablotsky, and Aoife Forde. They had to assume the role of a senator, congressman, or other member of government, giving them a chance to expand their points of view and understanding of government.

    Harvard Model Congress gives high school students the opportunity to learn how government functions and about current world issues. Students served on a variety of different congressional committees from a mock Agriculture Committee to a Homeland Security Committee, among others. They engaged in open debates, caucuses, trials, press conferences, and testimonies, giving them a better education on the political process.

    Students also got to meet people from all over the country, to practice public speaking, and much more. Harvard Model Congress also has programs on the National Security Council, the District and Supreme Courts, and lobbyists, teaching student delegates how each of these plays a role in the government.

    The East Hampton students had a chance to visit Harvard University and sit in on classes and to visit Boston.

—

    Alissa Clermont was also a participant in the Harvard Model Congress.

The Doctor (Seuss) Is In

    Lorax lovers and others are invited to the Amagansett Library on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, who was born on March 2, 1904.

    Those who attend the 3 p.m. event will have a chance to read some books by the author of “The Cat in the Hat,” and make Seuss-inspired crafts.

Stages Winter Workshops

    Young thespians will have a chance to hone their skills this winter. Stages, a Children’s Theatre Workshop, is offering a variety of winter programs, including a performance workshop, for young actors ages 8 to 18.

    The program, which starts Monday, will culminate in a full-length musical on May 4. Rehearsals will be held three times a week.

    Younger actors will also have a chance to shine in Stages’ creative drama workshop, beginning on Tuesday and geared toward the 6 to 9-year-old crowd.

    Stage mothers and fathers can register their children by phone at Stages, which is in East Hampton.

Afternoons at Ross

    The Ross School is hosting a series of after-school events starting this week that are open to students of all schools and run the gamut from art to knitting to farm animal care. The programs, for kids in kindergarten through high school, include clay workshops, acting, chess for beginners, robotics, hip-hop dance, horseback riding, and more.

    A full list of offerings can be found on the school’s Web site, ross.org.

Reluctant Dragon

    All Hands Productions, a visiting puppet troupe, will bring the story of “The Reluctant Dragon” to Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre in Sag Harbor for two performances on Saturday.

    Loosely based on the Kenneth Grahame book, this production uses puppets to tell a story about friendship and understanding.

    Performances will be held at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Goat’s performance space at 4 Hampton Street. Tickets are $10, $9 for members and grandparents, and $5 for children under 3.

Making Books

    Joyce Raimondo, an art educator and author, will lead kids ages 4 and up in a bookmaking class at the East Hampton Library tomorrow afternoon.

    After viewing some unusual handmade books, participants will be invited to create their own, featuring pages that turn in different directions with creative folds.

    Advance registration is required for the program, which runs from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Art Show and Sale

    On Saturday and Sunday, Pierson High School is offering the public an opportunity to buy art by some of the East End’s most renowned artists, all for $100 each.

    The exhibit of works on paper by professional artists will feature the art of John Alexander, Bill King, Rick Gold, Lynn Matsuoka, Pamela Topham, Lucille Colin, Blair Seagram, Elaine McKay, Kathryn Solow, Peter Solow, Josh Dayton, April Gornik, Joe Pintauro, Randall Rosenthal, and many more.

    Organized by Peter Solow, the event will help raise money to support the Pierson students’ artist trip to Italy in April, which this year boasts 23 participants.

    The show will run both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    The ongoing lawsuit between the East Hampton School District and Sandpebble Builders, the contractor originally hired to manage the recent multimillion-dollar renovation of the district’s three buildings, turned ugly this week, with each side agreeing they would see each other in court.

    After a school board meeting and budget workshop last week, where a line item upping anticipated legal fees from $150,000 last year to $350,000 for 2012-13 brought incredulity from board members, the district’s attorney, Kevin Seaman, issued a statement blaming Sandpebble for the impasse.

    “The Board of Education has for a great many months at this point sought to generate settlement negotiations between its attorneys and the attorneys representing Sandpebble,” the statement reads. “These efforts have been to no avail as the position of Sandpebble’s attorneys, as recently as Feb. 6, 2012, is that they will not entertain any settlement figure that is not ‘in excess of $2.9 million’.”

    Mr. Seaman noted that the case had been in and out of the courts for four years, costing the district some $2.3 million in legal fees. Sandpebble had been contracted to oversee construction, but the project increased in scope and a different contractor was brought in. The company initiated litigation in 2006, claiming it had been fired illegally and suing for $3.75 million.

    In a swift response from Sandpebble, Victor Canseco, its owner, wrote, “I am shocked at the irresponsibility of the school board in the misrepresentation of information about its case with Sandpebble. After having lost in court — notwithstanding spending $2 to $3 million dollars in legal fees — the district is now trying to paint my company in a false light in the public’s eye.”

    While Mr. Seaman wrote that the school board is “extremely disappointed that it is not able to generate a settlement,” Mr. Canseco responded, “This is a situation where elected officials will say or do anything to divert attention from the budget reconciliation issues which they face as well as distance themselves from responsibility for what happened.”

     Mr. Canseco wrote that he had met with the former school board — which, with the exception of Laura Anker Grossman, the school board president,  is now made up of new members — over a year ago and made a confidential settlement offer which he claimed was rejected.

    The $2.9 million figure Mr. Seaman’s referred to comes from a report several months ago that Sandpebble might settle with the district for that amount. At this point, however, the district and Mr. Canseco seem to agree on only one point:  In Mr. Seaman’s words, “the district will have no choice other than to continue to expend legal fees through the discovery process leading to what will ultimately be a trial on the merits of the legal contentions of both the district and Sandpebble.”

    It’s a pretty good week for Cameron Yusko. Not only has the East Hampton High School senior been chosen as News 12 Long Island’s scholar athlete of the week (to be shown after 5 p.m. on Tuesday), but also, just prior to this week’s school break, he was named valedictorian of the class of 2012.

    “I’m feeling great,” he said. “It’s a great honor. I’ve been working pretty hard to be valedictorian for a long time, and it’s nice when hard work pays off.”

    Tania Uruchima, who heads to Swarthmore in the fall, will be the school’s salutatorian at commencement ceremonies on June 23. Last fall, Tania was recognized with a Hispanic Heritage Month award for commitment to the community coupled with academic achievement. Her grade point average hovers between 96 and 100; Cameron’s unweighted G.P.A. is 98.5.

    Ruth Uruchima and Luis Uruchima are Tania’s parents, Cameron’s parents are Kelly and Jeff Yusko of Wainscott.

    Cameron will start at Duke University in September. A story by Jack Graves in the sports section of this week’s Star outlines his many achievements.

    For the rest of this vacation week, Cameron is taking it easy. “I’m enjoying the time off,” he said.

For Teen Writers

    The first in the series of a writing workshop for teens will begin tonight at the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor and continue each Thursday through March 29 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

    Participants will be guided to develop a body of original work, and will revise selected pieces for publication. Snacks will be provided to attendees, who should be between the ages of 13 to 18. Prior registration is not necessary.

Kids Culture

    The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center has implemented a series of workshops for children, with the intent of building self-confidence and self-expression. Everlette Taylor, an educator and executive of Kid2Kid, leads the programs, which include games, character-building exercises, poetry, music, theater, creative writing, and debate teams. A light breakfast and snack will be served at the workshops, held on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., with a $5 donation.

    Space is limited to 15 children, on a first-come, first-served basis. The center is on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.

Frogs at Playhouse

    Frogs and Friends is the title of this week’s Sima at Sea storytelling program for children of all ages at the Montauk Playhouse Community Center on Sunday at noon. Narrated by Sima Freierman, the program promises imagination as the guest of honor. Afterward, there will be crafts and treats in the senior nutrition center that are provided by the Playhouse, Cultural Care Au Pair and the Kiwanis Club of East Hampton.

    An idea to turn a 40-acre field off Old Stone Highway into parking for 100 cars met with concern at Monday night’s Springs School Board meeting.

    Michael Hartner, the district’s superintendent, referred a “very amicable” meeting he had with East Hampton Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson, Police Chief Eddie Ecker, and Scott Lynch, the town superintendent of highways.

    At that meeting, Mr. Hartner said, the East Hampton Town representatives “shared the opinion that the school needs to add parking.” The current situation, with cars lining the roadside near Pussy’s Pond, is not favored by the town.

    “Pussy’s Pond is a park area, not a parking area,” Mr. Hartner said.

    Another major concern expressed to Mr. Hartner was the “car line” — parents lined up to pick up their children — which often extends beyond Ed Hults Lane and well into the oncoming traffic on Old Stone Highway.

    To accommodate a parking lot, a new road would need to be added to access Old Stone Highway, and the current configuration would be changed, so that Ed Hults Lane could serve as the car line only.

    Mr. Hartner suggested the school should “get a couple of contractors to give us an idea of what it might cost.”

    “It could be a proposition in May,” said Kathee Burke Gonzalez, the school board president.

    Not everyone agreed. Michelle Grant, a Springs parent who is also a teacher in another district, said, “If a proposition is going up, it should be for classrooms, not for parking spaces. I’m a little nauseous about this,” she said.

    “We’re talking about safety,” said Kim Notel, the school’s D.A.R.E. police officer.

    “I don’t think 100 kids in a gym is safe either,” countered Ms. Grant.

    Others expressed concern over the cost, especially given the fact that the district is looking for programs to cut in order for the district not to exceed the newly mandated to 2-percent cap on tax levy increases.

    “I think Springs residents would rather see cars parked on the street a little while longer while we come up with a sustainable plan,” said Carol Saxe Buda, a Springs resident.

    “Parking and traffic safety is something that the district has struggled with for years,” Mr. Hartner said on Tuesday. “We can’t just shrug it off and tell the town, ‘Sorry, we have bigger fish to fry.’ When they raise issues like this, we have to take it seriously.”

    A school board budget workshop is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

    Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. Mark Twain’s famous quote could have applied to the first budget workshop session for the East Hampton Union Free School District. Although district residents, parents, staff, and faculty have had plenty to say in the past, the East Hampton School Board began slogging through the proposed 2012-13 budget line by line on Tuesday night to a cold and empty boardroom.

    One of the largest changes is a whopping 133-percent rise in the cost of lawyers, a $200,000 addition, for the 2012-13 proposed budget.

    “It kills me,” said Jacqueline Lowey, a school board member. “It just kills me.”

    When asked by other members to elaborate, Ms. Lowey said, “I feel that the new board members inherited this train wreck.”

    “To say that this has been handled poorly in the past is akin to saying that Japan had a little windstorm,” she said.

    The additional fees are due to the district’s ongoing legal battle with Sandpebble Builders, now in its fourth year.

    “We are being bled to death by a contractor at the expense of our children,” Ms. Lowey said.

    “And we have tried in every way possible to settle this,” added Laura Anker Grossman, the school board president. Alison Anderson, another board member, said that the district is planning to release a statement in the very near future.

    “It’s unfortunate that this is totally out of our hands,” said Liz Pucci, another board member.

    There was some discussion about the superintendent’s salary, which was put in the proposed budget at $200,000. Richard Burns, the interim superintendent, is paid substantially less than the former superintendent, Raymond Gualtieri, whose salary at the time he retired was $256,976.

    The district is currently searching for a superintendent, and a few of the board members expressed concern at starting with so high a number. But it was decided to leave the number as is for now, until the budget workshops progress, with a placeholder to go back and change the number if needed.

    During the course of the evening, several cuts were made, too: an $80,000 secretarial job will not be reposted now that the most recent employee has vacated the position, and $64,000 has been saved in the audit department. A Metropolitan Transit Authority payroll tax, which has been eliminated for this year, will save the district $106,837.

    The next budget workshop is scheduled for Feb. 28.