Concerned Citizens of Montauk has appointed Kay Tyler, who previously served as the organization’s director of development and marketing, as its executive director.

The New York State Public Service Commission has once again ruled against Sag Harbor Village, in a last-minute denial of the village’s request to rehear its July decision allowing KeySpan Gas East Corporation to lease the so-called “gas ball lot” to the developer Adam Potter. The lot, at 5 Bridge Street in the village, contains 93 parking spaces.

More than half of the Springs School’s students are receiving Medicaid or SNAP benefits, allowing the district to qualify for federal financial assistance to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students as well as other grant opportunities for the cash-strapped school district.

A unique collaboration among students, teachers, and parents at the John M. Marshall Elementary School and the Springs School resulted in the sending of 430 handmade holiday cards to active service members of the United States Armed Forces.

For kids in need of winter vacation activities, the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton has a lineup of all-ages, nature-oriented programs between Tuesday and Friday, Dec. 29, that promises active, educational fun in Vineyard Field, behind the museum. Plus: arts and crafts, holiday movies, and more for kids and teens.

Harper Davidson, an 11-year-old Springs School student, won first place in the vault event at a recent gymnastics competition.

Robin Murphy was elected Dec. 12 to the office of fire commissioner in the Bridgehampton Fire District. Voters also overwhelmingly approved changes to the Length of Service Award Program.

Shortly after 8 p.m. on Dec. 9, on Abraham’s Path near Asa’s Path in Amagansett, a town police officer pulled over a black 2011 BMW with temporary Alabama license plates and “an exhaust system that was modified to amplify sound.” It resulted in felony D.W.I. charges, one of two such incidents here in recent days.

A 35-year-old resident of Flower Hill, a small village in Nassau County, was seen starting a fire and then cleaning up ash behind the power station off Old Stone Highway in Springs on the afternoon of Dec. 11. A police officer ticketed him for an illegal “open burn.”

Aidan Corish and Bob Plumb were spooked by draft legislation introduced before an affordable housing workshop that would create an Affordable Workforce Housing Zoning District “floating zone,” with one calling it “a powerful and potentially damaging tool.”

Newsday announced that Emma McGrory, a senior midfielder on Bonac’s playoff field hockey squad, has been named to its 12-player all-Long Island team, and tiny Bridgehampton High’s boys basketball team beat Riverhead — a rarity.

Colin Mather has plunged on New Year’s Day for years, jogging the 1.6 miles to the ocean at the end of Beach Lane with whoever shows up at his Wainscott shop. His plunges have been more low-key than those at East Hampton’s Main Beach, but this year will be different.

Padel, a racket sport new to America, but not to Mexico, South America, and Europe, will be added to the East Hampton Indoor/Outdoor Club’s list of offerings come the spring.

Pat Mansir, who served three terms on the East Hampton Town Board and had a reputation reflecting her “willingness to think for herself,” died on Dec. 10 of complications of heart disease. She was 77.

David Marshall, who had served as the assistant basketball coach at the Ross School under Kelly McKee in his retirement, died of cancer on Dec. 12 in Southampton. He was 69 and had first been diagnosed about 20 years ago.

Andrew Strong, described by his family as “a father who found his greatest contentment raising his three children, a husband married to his best friend and soulmate, a beloved friend, and a lawyer who fought for justice, human rights, and freedom,” died of a heart attack on Dec. 11 in The Hague. Formerly of East Hampton, he was 43.

Grace McTurk of Montauk, “the last of the old guard,” her family said, died in her sleep on Dec. 11 in Viera, Fla. She was 104 and had not been ill.

From The Star’s photo archive, this Christmas card sent by Lion Gardiner (1878-1936) and Ida S. Loomis Gardiner (1881-1973) shows the Gardiner House on Ocean Avenue covered in snow.

Tidings of comfort and joy from The Star of yore to you, dear reader.

It’s The Star’s holiday mailbag.