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Devon Yacht Club Plans Major Redo

As evidenced by the book-size Planning Department memo that delves into all the nooks and crannies, the private 400-member Devon Yacht Club's proposal to redevelop its site on Abram's Landing Road in Amagansett is a complex one.

Changes Proposed at Gun Club as Court Case Continues

In an attempt to clear up what it has described as “considerable confusion” about its lease agreement with East Hampton Town, the Maidstone Gun Club last Thursday sent a letter to the East Hampton Town Board proposing improved safety features and oversight at the facility.

Changes Coming to Montauk's Turkey Trot

John Rooney, East Hampton Town’s superintendent of recreation, told the town board on Tuesday that the popularity of the Montauk Run for Fun race each Thanksgiving Day, proceeds of which are donated to the town’s food pantries, has caused logistical difficulties and increased costs, thus decreasing the amount that can be donated.

Committee Wants Gas in the Past by 2025

If the East Hampton Town Board adopts a recommendation put to it on Tuesday by its energy and sustainability advisory committee, then by Jan. 1, 2025, all new construction or large renovations in the town will have to be electric throughout. That includes heating and cooling systems, hot water heaters, and stoves. The action is intended to speed the transition from fossil fuels to green renewable energy sources.

School Enrollment Likely to Drop in East Hampton

Enrollment in the East Hampton School District is expected to decrease by 210 students over the next five years, a drop of about 12 percent from current enrollment levels. The analysis is tied to plummeting birth rates in Suffolk County over the last five to 10 years, particularly on the South Fork, where the rate is expected to remain low as the cost of housing suitable for families remains high.

East Hampton Town’s Finances Get Top Rating

A July 31 financial assessment and opinion issued by the Moody’s financial rating agency in advance of a debt sale by East Hampton Town determined that the town’s finances are “very healthy” and that “leverage and fixed costs are quite moderate.” Moody’s maintained the town’s Aaa rating, the highest it issues.

Two G.O.P. Fund-Raisers Coming Up

Two Republican Party fund-raisers will happen on the South Fork this week.

On the Police Logs 08.17.23

A Lily Pond Lane homeowner lodged a civil complaint on Aug. 8 against a contractor “who had not been removing his shoes as he’d been instructed to do.” The contractor agreed to abide by her rules in future. A few days later, a manager at Stop and Shop reported two customers arguing over the price of watermelon on Friday afternoon and asked that police intervene.

Guards Having ‘Unusually Busy Summer’

Lifeguards were busy on East Hampton beaches in the last week, with rip currents and marine life matching up with heavy crowds. “We made 16 saves between Aug. 7 and Aug. 14,” said Drew Smith, the head lifeguard for East Hampton Village. “We’ve had an unusually busy summer.”

A Met Show in Retreat Boutique Windows

“Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” ran from May to July at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and featured about 200 dazzling creations from the late fashion designer’s legacy. A piece of that show now lives on at the Retreat Boutique in Bridgehampton.

To Minimize Wind Farm's Risk to Birds

A 2021 American Bird Conservancy model estimated that 1.17 million birds are killed by wind turbines in the United States annually, though nearly all turbines in operation at present are on land. A spokeswoman for the South Fork Wind farm’s developers said this week they have conducted extensive research in crafting measures to minimize risk to birds when the offshore wind farm is operational.

And the Wind Farm Foundations Are In

Installation of the 13 monopile foundations that will support the South Fork Wind farm’s 12 turbines and offshore substation is complete, the wind farm’s developers, Orsted and Eversource, announced last week. Additional foundation components, including platforms and anode cages, are also being installed.

A Closed Bridge and a Clogged Main Street

From the still-shuttered Cranberry Hole Road bridge to dead trees on Napeague to traffic on Main Street, the Amagansett Citizens Advisory Committee had a lot to talk about on Monday night.

Item of the Week: Lost Generation at the Maidstone Cabanas

This photograph from The East Hampton Star’s archive shows a group of eight lounging on the beach in front of the Maidstone Club cabanas. They look as if they escaped from an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, and the photo captures the spirit of a summer beach day.

Volunteer English Teachers Needed

Two weeks after opening registration for the new school year, Ruta27, an English-language program for adults, already has 60 students enrolled and expects more than 200 by the time evening classes start on Sept. 12 at East Hampton High School. To help meet the demand, the nonprofit is looking for volunteers interested in teaching English.

Kids Culture for August 17, 2023

The Hamptons Observatory and the South Fork Natural History Museum are teaming up for a summer stargazing party on Wednesday. Plus: arts and crafts, a practice SAT exam for teens, summer reading celebrations, story time, and more for kids and teens.

Man ‘Did Punch and Shatter’

East Hampton Town police charged a Montauk man with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, following an Aug. 8 incident at Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa.

Richard Ekstract, Publishing Executive

Richard Evan Ekstract, a magazine publisher who founded Hamptons Cottages and Gardens, a noted art collector, and a real estate developer, died on Aug. 7 at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. A part-time resident of the South Fork for many years, he was 92.

Gladys W. Collier, Bridge Grand Master

Gladys Whitridge Collier, a national duplicate bridge champion who twice represented the United States at the World Bridge Championships and was one of the top players on Long Island and in the country, died at home in East Hampton on June 27. She was 101.

Mario Stutterheim

Mario Jose Stutterheim of Amagansett, a classical music announcer at WQXR, WNCN, and WBAI in New York City for over 40 years, died on July 10 at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Quiogue. He was 82.