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Montauk Renovation Long Overdue

After 25 years in which no major investments were made at the Montauk School, the district’s school board will put a $38 million bond on the May ballot, seeking community approval to bring the aging facility into the modern era.

The Mast-Head: Not-So-Private Chat

The Washington dipsticks who discussed apparently classified United States military planning on an unsecure chat app before a March 15 attack on Yemen’s Houthi militants must not have been familiar with teenagers.

The Shipwreck Rose: Bats and Barn Rats

One of the superstitions I have acquired with age is that I do believe houses and belongings acquire something from the generations who have been there before.

Gristmill: A Ladder Up

At the Byron Young Fish Passage.

Many Hands Make Montauk St. Patrick's Day Parade Work

The Montauk Friends of Erin might make it look like it’s all fun and games when they step off from the Montauk Firehouse at noon Sunday for the 63rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but it takes the hard work of legions of volunteers to pull it off. 

Amagansett Principal Is Reinstated

Thirteen and a half months after being placed on paid leave following accusations that she stole a $25 gift card meant for another staffer, the Amagansett School principal, Maria Dorr, returned to work Monday, cleared of all charges and “as passionate as ever about creating a school culture where respect, growth, and achievement flourish,” she said in a statement. 

Guestwords: Joy and Misery on Wheels

My husband and I took long, life-affirming cycling trips, until one day everything changed.

Tariffs Are Sobering News for Liquor Stores

It’s not clear when, or if, President Trump’s European alcohol tariff will ever go live. Nonetheless, the threat is looming over South Fork wine and liquor retailers, who have been forced to react to the uncertainty. 

Once More Unto the Invasives at Springs Park

East Hampton Town completed a pilot invasive species removal project at the 42-acre Springs Park on March 18. The park was closed while the work was being done, and town employees who spent the day guarding the gates estimated that 80 people had to be turned away. 

Planners Want Deeper Analysis on Wainscott Commercial

The Wainscott Commercial Center will be required to provide more environmental analysis of its planned 50-unit industrial park near the western gateway to East Hampton Town, after a unanimous vote by the town planning board last week.

Shinnecock Travel Plaza Paused

In January, when the Shinnecock Indian Nation received confirmation from the U.S. Department of the Interior that its sovereignty extends to the territory known as Westwoods, Lisa Goree and her colleagues on the tribal council should have been able to breathe a bit easier. Instead, they find themselves in fight mode all over again.

Montaukett Recognition Advances

A bill to reinstate New York State recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation, introduced by Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, has passed the Assembly in a unanimous vote. It has now been delivered to the State Senate, where it needs to pass before it reaches the desk of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has twice vetoed similar bills, most recently in December. 

East Hampton Star Shines at Better Newspaper Contest

Durell Godfrey, The East Hampton Star’s longtime staff photographer and a fixture at community events from Montauk to Southampton, has once again been named one of New York State’s top photographers. At the New York Press Association’s annual conference last week in Saratoga Springs, The Star’s newsletter also repeated in winning first place in the Best Newsletter category, capping a successful awards season for the paper. 

Career Fair Pairs Teens With Employers

East Hampton High School hosted its annual career fair Tuesday morning, introducing students to businesses looking for help as the summer season swiftly approaches, and giving students headed into the world of work after graduation a chance to find an opportunity locally. 

Montauk School Pitches $38.4M Renovation

At a meeting last week, Joshua Odom, the school principal and superintendent, talked about what the district hopes to accomplish with the project, fielded questions about the high price tag, and explained the need, noting that the school has “not had a significant investment since 2000.” 

Accolades for Amagansett

SCOPE Education Services honored three people connected to the Amagansett School at its annual school district awards dinner on Monday at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Russell Schaefer, a bus driver, was recognized with a support staff award, Maureen Cooper, a teacher’s assistant, got an award for teacher service, and Kristen Peterson, a school board member, was honored with a school board service award. 

Springs Notebook: Students Tackle Big Topics

Recently, one of Emily O’Reilly’s many projects has kicked into action for eighth graders at Springs School. Mrs. O’Reilly is the eighth-grade English teacher, and she is revered for her creative project ideas. All eighth grade students composed a speech about a topic they were passionate about, tackling things like book banning, economic inequality, and teen mental health. 

The Way It Was for March 27, 2025

From tales of underwater archaeology off Montauk to a $2.5 million drug bust at the Tanger Outlet, it happened here.

Officer Greene Named ‘Top Cop’

The Emergency Services Building was crowded with Blue at Friday’s East Hampton Village Board meeting, which featured Police Chief Jeff Erickson handing out awards and a promotion. Mayor Jerry Larsen also took part, handing out a new Top Cop award, which he said will be an annual event. 

On the Police Logs 03.27.25

Police and firefighters responded to Apaquogue Road following a call of a gas leak on the morning of March 18. They arrived to find a landscaper who told them he’d struck a gas line in the road while digging a hole.