In 1898, three boats gave chase to what was thought to be the largest whale ever seen along the coast. And more from the history-rich pages of The Star.

This week’s theme? The locals’ lament.

Howard M. Epstein, an editor and publishing executive who was president of Facts on File, a news digest and reference publishing company, from 1975 until 1990, died on March 1 in Manhattan of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 96.

Patricia A. O’Brien, a bookkeeper who lived in Sag Harbor for almost 50 years, died on Dec. 28 at home in Rockaway, N.J., after a brief illness.

John George Burkle Jr., lately of Springs, a former TWA air freight supervisor at Kennedy Airport, died of heart failure on Feb. 5 at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. He was 73.

Empty Bowls, a fund-raiser for Project Most, happens on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Post 419 with dine-in and takeout options.

When the Algonquin whispers to you.

The Sag Harbor School Board has called a special meeting for Thursday night at 6:30 to update the community on the proposed purchase of land on Marsden Street for a sports field.

The final score was 58-53 in favor of Chapel Field Christian of Orange County over Bridgehampton's Killer Bees on Tuesday night in a New York State Class D semifinal boys basketball game. It reminded Ron White, the Bees' head coach, of last year's game — same opponent, same playoff round, same outcome.

In lyrical prose, a Pulitzer winner explores the wages of modernity by way of a small island off Maine.

In a move expected to accelerate the installation of innovative/alternative septic systems in critical South Fork areas, the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University and the Peconic Land Trust have partnered to bring in a new watershed manager focusing on the areas surrounding Georgica Pond and Sagg Pond in Sagaponack.

An artist, award-winning chef, and longtime curator at LongHouse Reserve, Wendy Van Deusen has launched the Women's Art Center of the Hamptons to support women "thinkers and makers."

A mini-retrospective of films by Douglas Sirk, whose 1950s Hollywood melodramas have influenced many important filmmakers, will be at the Sag Harbor Cinema, along with paintings by Sabina Streeter that have been inspired by his films.

Assembled from the floors, walls, and tables of his studio, Matthew Kirk’s transformational artworks, now at Halsey McKay, assume shapes that refer to natural phenomena and man-made objects.

Coming to Bay Street: Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning play that blends Chekhovian characters into a contemporary comedy.

A new Parrish Art Museum exhibition celebrates Latin migrant workers with colorful wooden figures, plus a talk about Frida Kahlo with the artist's grandniece and the museum's director.

The Southampton History Museum is showing "gilded icons" from Samuel L. Parrish's collection of secular and religious copies from the 19th century.

An open rehearsal at The Church, Madoo talks pair landscape architects with architects, rock at the Suffolk Theater, blues from Jake Lear at the Masonic Temple, and Judy Carmichael strides at Lincoln Center.

Sculpture and fresco at Keyes Art, printmaking workshops coming to The Church, botanical paintings at Estia’s Little Kitchen, Toni Ross weavings in NoHo, Cornelia Foss in Manhattan, and Paton Miller will open his studio.

East End Food Market brings hundreds of shoppers and more than 45 vendors of everything from food and local wines and beers to jewelry, knives, houseplants, and much, much more to Riverhead every Saturday morning through April.