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Bits and Pieces 08.24.23

Charlie Parker celebration and Greek drama workshop at Bay Street Theater, piano master concert and American Songbook show at LTV, auditions at Hampton Theatre Company, classical concert series at LongHouse, violin recital at Perlman Music Program.

East End Eats: Vin Sur Vingt is Swoon-Worthy

The new Vin Sur Vingt Bistro in Sag Harbor has terrific French food, a creative wine list, efficient service, lively ambiance, and, for "the Hamptons," reasonable prices.

News for Foodies 08.24.23

The co-founders of Carissa’s Bakery will speak at The Church, a rosé celebration at Wolffer, a white day at Si Si restaurant, sparkling wine and potato chips on the North Fork, tomato madness in Sagaponack, and a new brew.

Fireworks Light Up Main Beach on Saturday

Main Beach will be the place to be on Saturday night when the East Hampton Fire Department hosts its annual fireworks show. The Sag Harbor Community Band will provide the music for the evening, starting at 7. Fireworks will be set off at dusk.

Governor Hochul Hails the Restored Montauk Lighthouse

“When you think about a country that could be defined as divided, you come out here and it reminds you of our great history,” Governor Hochul said at a ribbon-cutting Wednesday in Montauk to celebrate the completion of several restoration projects strengthening and preserving the iconic 18th-century structure.

Recipes 08.17.23

Pan Con Tomate
    Now is really the only time you should try this recipe. The quality of your tomatoes is very important. Catalan pan con tomate is a simple tapa that can be assembled in minutes. This is more of a guideline than a recipe.

Kids Night Out Is Friday

Our Fabulous Variety Show's first Kids Night Out is Friday, giving school-aged children a chance to have fun while parents and guardians "get a night off" themselves.

Bonac Hoops and Tennis Coaches Are Hired

The East Hampton School Board at its meeting Tuesday night rehired Bill McKee to coach the high school’s varsity boys basketball team and brought in Matthew Shimkus to coach the varsity girls tennis team.

Donor Steps Up for Wainscott School: Art, Music, Gym to Return

An anonymous donor has pledged $54,500 to the Wainscott School so that the cash-strapped district can reinstate "specials," which are classes such as art, music, gym, and technology. Facing an austerity plan after the failure, twice, of a tax-cap-busting budget, Deborah Haab, the district superintendent, said it "will make a tremendous difference in the day-to-day operations, especially for the students, and the school itself."

Even Out Of Drought, Water Worries Persist

Better use of the aquifer, and an appreciation of it as an existential resource, could help mitigate the vicissitudes of nature when it comes to the health of our water supply, and the Suffolk County Water Authority is at work on both fronts.

NOAA's Hurricane Forecast Intensifies

The Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, now predicts a 60-percent chance of between 14 and 21 named storms, of which six to 11 could become hurricanes, and two to five of them major hurricanes. An outlook issued in May predicted just a 30-percent likelihood of an above-average hurricane season.

Eyeing a Covid Uptick

Covid-19 cases have been increasing across New York State in recent weeks, with a new Omicron subvariant to blame. The good news, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital said this week, is that even among people who are admitted with Covid, it has not recently seen patients who are in need of intensive care treatment.

Food Insecurity and Waste: Law and Real Estate Firms Into the Breach

East Hampton Town is a place of both abundance and scarcity, an extreme example of the widening gap between rich and poor. But a new initiative, Hamptons Pantry Pickup, aims to connect the two, in a sense, while simultaneously reducing waste and providing for those in need.

Prosecutors Taking Hard Line on D.W.I.s

Prosecutors in both Suffolk County and town court systems are turning up the heat on drunken drivers, leaving them with little room to plead down their charges.

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.