On the Ferry
Amagansett
July 13, 2026
To the Editor:
The scene: the Shelter Island Ferry. You’re in the driver’s seat of a car parked in the front row, on either the left or right side. The ferry docks, the safety gate rises, the middle car is waved forward and off. Easy. Then the attendant turns to the left or right vehicle. I can’t be the only person who’s wondered, “Really? I’m going to clear the entrance without scratching the side of my car?”
The attendant casually twirls an index finger while motioning forward with the other hand. It’s the signal to turn the steering wheel, hard. You’ve got this.
And here’s the thing: We all do it. Without hesitation trust a stranger with our car. With our employer’s car or truck. With vehicles that seem impossibly large. With, sometimes, cars that are near priceless in rarity, value, or both.
In these divisive times, it’s a refreshing moment of faith that our fellow man means us only the best. Someone far brighter and soulful than me will have to figure out how to extend that moment off the ferry and into other aspects of our lives and shared spaces.
Until then, see you on the ferry.
SAUL DENNIS
Huge Success
Montauk
July 13, 2026
Dear David,
Since 1980, the Friends of the Montauk Library have been running a July Fourth weekend book fair to raise money to support our fantastic library. For many years, it was on the Montauk Green, and many fondly recall those days. For the last 11 years, the book fair has been at the library. We have always been overwhelmed and thankful for the support of so many people.
This year, we had an unusual challenge: For the first time in recent years, the July Fourth weekend actually included the legal observance of the holiday, and the library was closed on Saturday. But, even on their day off, the staff of the library, which helps us every day in every way, showed up big time to support us. Denise DiPaolo, the library director, her right hand, Lucille Lenahan, and Brit Mansir, tech wizard extraordinaire, all came in to help us.
While the book fair is only open two days, it takes months of preparation and an army of volunteers. Almost 40 volunteers chipped in this year at a time of year when people want to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
Our raffle, run by Pat Shea with the invaluable support of Tom Carroll and a large team, is very popular and brings many people to the event. We sincerely thank the wonderful businesses of Montauk that support us by donating gift certificates and other wonderful prizes.
We are enormously grateful to all those who attend our book fair. No matter the weather, people come. Many are locals and many are visitors just looking for something fun to do in Montauk on the holiday weekend.
Thanks to all who have made this, our 46th year, a huge success in support of our amazing Montauk Library.
SALLY KRUSCH
President
Friends of the Montauk Library
Bad Corn?
East Hampton
July 13, 2026
To the Editor,
Has anyone noticed how bad the “local” corn is at the farm stands this year? I am consistently getting ears that are far from sweet, and frequently dry or immature, from several stands. I wonder if there was a weather problem. It’s also clear the stands are not pulling out stock that’s a day or more old. And (this is an ongoing problem) there is zero effort to keep unknowing city dwellers from stripping off the tops in a misguided effort to see where the kernels are, I guess. There used to be signs at the stands asking people not to do it, as it exposes the kernels to oxidation and diminished sweetness and freshness.
Hoping as we get further into the season things will improve.
STEPHEN ADOLPHUS
Never Forgotten
Boonsboro, Md.
July 5, 2026
To the Editor,
I need help trying to find Alice Cary. She was my high school sweetheart, and after I went into the Marines in 1970, we continued to see each other until her parents prohibited me from calling and talking to her, I have never forgotten her and would love to see what happened in her life. Please help me. I have reached out on social media but have had no luck.
Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated. Last I knew she lived on Accabonac Road in East Hampton.
RICKY CONTRERAS
Back on Track
Springs
July 13, 2026
To the Editor,
On July 3, I needed to call Springs ambulance because of an allergic reaction that caused me breathing difficulties. It took only minutes for them to respond and give me the utmost care and get me back on track.
After a visit to the East Hampton emergency room, I recovered and am doing great.
My thanks to the Springs ambulance for their professional aid to me. Thanks to Joe and all his staff for everything.
Sincerely,
CURT CHAPMAN
Neatly Packed
Amagansett
July 1, 2026
To the Editor,
How do you know that you are in the Hamptons?
People fastidiously clean up after their dogs, then take the bags, neatly packed with dog poo, and leave them just about anywhere.
So cool.
ROBIN SCHORE
Of Astronomy
Springs
July 13, 2026
Dear David,
When Neil deGrasse Tyson introduced Charles Liu at an event at Guild Hall this spring, Dr. Liu did a cartwheel to come onto the stage. He proceeded to entertain and educate throughout the panel discussion on all matters of astronomy.
We are incredibly fortunate that Dr. Liu will be here Tuesday to speak at the East Hampton Library at 7 p.m., presented by the Hamptons Observatory and the library. As are all our events, this is free to the public, but please register on our site, hamptonsobservatory.org, under “Events.”
Please come.
SUSAN HARDER
Two Percent Milk
East Hampton
July 10, 2026
Dear Editor:
The recent decision to bring whole and 2 percent milk back to school lunches is a step backward for school nutrition.
Many children, especially students of color, are lactose intolerant, while others simply don’t need dairy to maintain a healthy diet. At a time when nutritious plant-based milks are widely available, expanding dairy options instead of embracing more inclusive choices makes little sense.
School nutrition programs should reflect today’s students, not yesterday’s assumptions. Plant-based options better serve diverse dietary needs while also addressing the ethical concerns associated with modern dairy production. If we’re serious about creating school meals that promote health, inclusion, and compassion, it’s time to stop treating plant-based options as an afterthought.
ELIJAH HANNESBURG
Brash Signage
East Hampton
July 13, 2026
Dear David,
I’m writing about the brash electronic signage and lighting in the storefronts in the villages. The biggest culprits are the real estate windows, with each individual photograph and listing framed and lit with that brash lighting. It’s so unsightly and creates an eyesore on the otherwise tasteful and beautiful main thoroughfares of the villages.
I suspect I am not the first person to notice this. I’m not sure what, if anything, can be done, or where to even start. So, I’m throwing this out there in the hope that others might feel the same.
Thanks for reading.
PAULA DAVIS
Another Option
East Hampton Village
July 14, 2026
Dear David,
The East Hampton Star’s July 2 editorial “Beer, Two Ways” about the building of a brewery on Toilsome Lane compelled us to share our thoughts with your readers.
As members of a farming family whose roots in East Hampton stretch back nearly 400 years, we have watched our village and town change in many positive ways and in some ways that give us pause. The Dayton family has always believed we are not simply owners of the land, but stewards for the next generation.
This is why we respectfully urge our village and town boards and our fellow residents to carefully consider the proposed brewery, bar, and restaurant development complex. While we appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit of the owners, Chris and Jay Diamond, and understand their desire to realize the value of their property, we believe there is a better path that honors both private property rights and is in keeping with the character of East Hampton.
The Toilsome Lane Farm Restaurant and Brewery is, in reality, a commercial entertainment enterprise. It will necessarily bring increased traffic, noise, lighting, and activity to an area that has been only a peaceful residential neighborhood. Toilsome Lane is a narrow road with no sidewalks and little potential for pedestrian pathways at that location.
Fortunately, there is another option.
We encourage the Diamonds to work with the village, the town, and our land preservation programs to sell the development rights or even the property itself for preservation. Such an arrangement would compensate the owners fairly and equitably while ensuring that this land remains protected for future generations. It is a solution that respects the investments the owners have made while also honoring the public commitment to preserving our quality of life in East Hampton.
In the 1990s, our family placed the development rights to portions of our land with East Hampton’s Community Preservation Fund. We continue to feel it was the right thing to do to protect our village and our neighbors in perpetuity.
East Hampton has long been a leader in preservation efforts because previous generations understood that preservation is not “anti-business,” rather it is an investment in our future. The decisions we make today will shape our community long after we are gone. As a lifelong and longtime resident of East Hampton (and a former member of the design review board for 37 years), we believe our greatest legacy is not what we build today but what we choose to preserve for tomorrow.
We respectfully urge our village and town boards to pursue every possible option for land preservation of this property.
Sincerely,
SHERRILL AND JANET DAYTON
Loud and Clear
Amagansett
July 13, 2026
Dear David,
I want to thank the voters in District 12 who took the time to vote and place your trust in me. Your support is deeply appreciated, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee.
What I’ve heard from many residents throughout our town, especially in District 12, is concern about our water quality, affordable housing, rising taxes, the future of our senior center, and quality-of-life issues. These are some of the many challenges our community faces, and as a Democratic Committee member, I will ensure your voices are heard loud and clear within the Democratic Party.
Thanks again for the support.
Sincerely,
VICKI LITTMAN
Genocide Continues
East Hampton
July 13, 2026
To the Editor,
I recently reread Tom Perrotta’s novel “The Leftovers,” published in 2011. For those who haven’t read it or could use a reminder, the Rapture occurs, and a vast number of people worldwide simply vanish, in a single moment, into thin air. Not everyone who disappears is particularly good or saintlike, which adds to the confusion. Of those who remain, some attempt to go on as if nothing much has occurred: They continue to have pleasant dinners out at a nice restaurant, a beer with the guys, the weekly manicure. But there is also a group that forms, called the Guilty Remnant. And the Guilty Remnant wants people to remember that something is very wrong. In fact, through disruptive and intrusive behavior, they insist on it.
I was thinking of “The Leftovers” the other day when I was a witness to the social action that occurred at Lulu in Sag Harbor on July 5. The activists, including East End for Peace and Justice, are a group of people saying, “Wake up!” Wake up: Over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with the United Nations verifying that over 21,000 of those killed are children, with many more Palestinians missing, injured, or maimed.
Nothing excuses what Hamas did on Oct. 7, 2023, the 1,200 killed and hundreds kidnapped, the terrible trauma suffered by the families and loved ones, as well as the trauma of the entire country. But also, nothing excuses the brutal response of Netanyahu’s government.
Many Jewish groups have acknowledged that Netanyahu’s government has been and is committing genocide, including B’Tselem, Jewish Voice for Peace, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, and IfNotNow. The action Sunday was one in a long line of civil disobedience this time aimed at increasing attention to the fact that the genocide continues to this day.
Remember, regarding civil disobedience: Abolitionists were upsetting slave owners since the late 1600s. Civil rights activists in the 1960s inconvenienced and upset people who supported segregation (including those out for a meal at white-only diners) Gandhi’s sit-ins were highly disruptive to people attempting to go about their daily lives. Apartheid activists in South Africa deeply upset those wishing to maintain the status quo. And all those inconvenient, disruptive actions helped lead to some measure of human rights redress.
East End Peace and Justice clearly state that their overarching goal is peace and justice — for all people, everywhere. Their efforts to achieve this should be appreciated and applauded.
GINNY ST. JOHN
Covering Fire
Amagansett
July 11, 2026
To the Editor:
Last Sunday night, I acted as legal observer at a demonstration at Lulu’s, a restaurant owned by the rogue billionaire Marc Rowan. The demo, planned and executed by an interfaith group including Jewish folks, targeted Mr. Rowan’s lawless and chaotic role in three levels of contemporary political controversy. Local: his gutting of East Hampton, via the endless expansion of Duryea’s without permits or variances. National: his gutting of the University of Pennsylvania and national academia, via the forced adoption of MAGA measures canceling academic freedom. International: his prospective gutting of Gaza as a member of the sardonically named “Peace Board,” tasked with implementing a sort of Disneyland ethnically cleansed of Palestinian people.
The action, which was fully recorded both by the participants and by guests in the restaurant, contained a “people’s mic” rendition and chants expressing criticism of Mr. Rowan for his extraordinary destructive role on all three levels. What it did not contain was any antisemitism. The claim that it did originates from people who know better — and are lying to you — to lay down covering fire for Mr. Rowan and for Israel.
I am not writing to them, as they are beyond dialogue or influence; however, I believe there is a much larger demographic of people being conned by them.
I am always encountering people who remind me of Jewish family and friends from my Brooklyn neighborhood — educated, thoughtful people who seem to lose their minds when anyone shouts, “antisemitism!”
I submit that our values and education, the fact that our folks have most often been the target of mindless mob behavior, should give them pause. Take a moment to think and analyze before they join the hue and cry. In this case, they should watch the video of the actual words said and make a judgement as to whether they hear any bias, or anything about religion at all. Then consider the football they are being tricked into carrying down the field. In this case, not only are they supporting censorship and retaliation for unpopular free speech; they are helping to lay down covering fire, to provide immunity for a lawless billionaire, who has already done so much to harm democracy, in East Hampton and America.
And remember also that civil disobedience has always been directed exactly there — at members of the power hierarchy acting to harm us and not being held accountable.
For democracy in East Hampton and everywhere,
JONATHAN WALLACE
Focused on Actions
Sagaponack
July 13, 2026
Dear Editor,
On July 5, I participated in a protest inside of Lulu Kitchen & Bar in Sag Harbor. Here are a few reasons why.
Marc Rowan, the owner of Lulu Kitchen and Bar, was appointed by Donald Trump to the so-called Gaza Peace Board. The board includes no Palestinians and has made clear its intention to continue ethnic cleansing.
A reconstruction plan was presented by Mr. Rowan to turn demolished Gaza into a playground for international investors. Mr. Rowan spearheaded the drafting of a proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education distributed by the Trump administration to nine universities threatening to withhold presidential funding to those refusing to sign on to right wing governance and policy reforms.
And anyone who reads The East Hampton Star has likely been following Mr. Rowan’s yearslong battle with East Hampton Town in relation to Duryea’s restaurant, as he continues to ignore local laws and disregard residents and the surrounding environment.
This week there have been numerous claims of antisemitism in relation to our protest, including a letter that came out from Rabbi Dan Geffen of Temple Adas Israel, which described a meeting with local law enforcement, representatives from the Anti-Defamation League, and public officials from multiple towns.
Aside from the fact that the majority of us are Jewish and have worked for years fighting racism and all forms of bigotry, our protest had zero focus on Mr. Rowan’s identity. We were focused on his actions and their impact, both locally and around the world.
On July 5 we nonviolently shared a message that billionaire genocide profiteers are not welcome to run businesses in our communities.
In addition to being violently pushed out by the restaurant’s manager, I was assaulted in Lulu Kitchen and Bar by an angry customer. I was thrown across the floor and continue to have head and neck pain. I am Jewish. Was that an act of antisemitism against me?
If people want to claim that it was antisemitic for us to protest against Mr. Rowan’s actions, because Mr. Rowan is Jewish, does that mean that Jewish people can’t be held accountable for our actions? Does this apply to all Jewish people? If you are Jewish and anti-Zionist, is it then acceptable for people to say antisemitic things to you? Like, for example, when someone from a local group, that now identifies as East End Jews for Israel, called my Jewish friend and Palestine solidarity activist a “demented ghetto Jew”? For the record, the term “ghetto Jew” is an old trope against less-assimilated, working class, poor, Yiddish-speaking Jews by wealthier and more assimilated Jews.
At our weekly Palestine Solidarity vigil in Sag Harbor Held by East End for Peace and Justice, we have endured harassment for nearly three years from the East End Jews for Israel group. In addition to personal attacks, they yell out racist and explicitly violent things about Palestinian people. For example, we have heard numerous times that they hope Gaza is “obliterated” or “flattened.” Regardless of whether or not a Palestinian person is present at the vigil at that moment, this is hate speech. This is genocidal. And this is language that is shouted out into the air in Sag Harbor Village regularly.
Where are the clergy letters for Palestine? Where are the meetings with public officials about ending our complicity in genocide? Instead, this past Sunday, the mayor of Sag Harbor made a point to stand with the East End Jews for Israel rally, as they continued to harass and continued to spew anti-Palestinian, genocidal rhetoric into the public.
My commitment to social justice is inextricably tied to my Jewishness. I will always oppose antisemitism. Unfortunately, I believe that we will continue to see a rise in antisemitism, primarily as a result of the actions of Israel. But I am disturbed that the focus has shifted once again to antisemitism where there was none.
There is a live-streamed genocide happening right now against Palestinian people. There continues to be flagrant Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism in this country and right here on eastern Long Island. Either you are against racism and you include Palestinian people or you are not against racism. Period.
Sincerely,
ELLA ENGEL-SNOW
Should Be Ashamed
North Haven
July 13, 2026
To the Editor,
Jim Vrettos (“Our Best Chance,” June 29) showcases his disdain for the Jewish people and Israel. Try as he can, this modern-day kapo leans heavily into the election of New York City Zohran Mamdani as a bromide for the Jewish citizens of New York City. He is dead wrong. Mr. Mamdani is an antisemite to his bones and any Jew who voted for him should be ashamed. Here are some examples:
He has repudiated the definition of antisemitism promulgated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, “a certain perception of Jews which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, their property, institutions, and the State of Israel.” He has been a proponent of the incendiary phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalize the Intifada,” these calls being connected to ongoing demonstrations and violence directed at Jews.
He did not unequivocally condemn the harassment by anti-Israel demonstrators outside the Park East Synagogue, who were attending a Zionist organization forum that assists Jewish immigration to Israel. Mr. Mamdani’s team criticized the synagogue, describing the event inside as a violation of international law, this aside from the fact that this demonstration impeded access to the synagogue in violation of law.
He is an avowed anti-Zionist and has embraced a Palestinian-first policy. He has indicated support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement. He has not said that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state.
He has wrongly described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, which it is definitionally not. When he has espoused this view he is shamelessly joining the ignorant and bigoted pro-Palestinian groups who delight in bastardizing the Holocaust.
He has strongly condemned United States military aid to Israel. He told a panel discussion in 2023, “We have to make clear that when the boot of the N.Y.P.D. is on your neck, it’s been laced by the I.D.F.”
He has vowed to direct the New York City Police Department to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters New York City.
He has, as a state assemblyman, supported legislation known as the “Not on Our Bill,” aimed at stripping the tax-exempt status of New York-based not-for-profit organizations that funded Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Mr. Mamdani obviously sees a foreign policy agenda in his mayoral portfolio, albeit one directly entirely at Israel.
He has vowed to rename the Ed Koch Bridge (also known as the 59th Street Bridge). Mayor Koch, of recent memory, was a Jewish politician who strongly identified with Israel and proudly claimed his Jewish heritage. There are many other examples as well.
So, for Mr. Vrettos and others, with their heads in the sand, be assured that as an antisemite, Mayor Mamdani is the real deal.
DAVID SAXE
East End Jews for Israel
Dangerous Times
East Hampton Village
July 10, 2026
Dear East Hampton Star,
We are not living in normal times. Not remotely. I watch and read various news sources and have gotten tired of pundits telling me “Oh, we’ve been here before,” or, “We are getting used to all of this and we shouldn’t be.” This is a lot of (insert your favorite expletive here).
The problem is that We, the People don’t have the kind of power we ought to. We don’t have proper advocacy when it comes to getting rid of dangerously bad leadership.
There have been many points in this current presidential administration where there should have been the possibility to replace our insane, uncaring, incompetent leadership. Congress could have and should have impeached President Trump (again) long ago. And even before that, if the elections boards of a few states had had the guts to do it, they had the cause and means to leave him off the ballot in the 2024 presidential election, which would have kept him from being elected in the first place. Everyone should be familiar with the reasons why, so I won’t elaborate.
The killing of yet another law-abiding United States resident by immigration agents, this time in Texas, is just the latest tragedy in a sea of millions which have been directly caused by the actions of the president of the United States. And the two other branches of our government have shown that they are of the same mind and level of competence when it comes to keeping him in check.
Most Republicans are scared of the president. Others, sadly, totally agree with his policies. Democrats are having trouble getting their act together — nothing new, of course — and are struggling with the fact that they are being painted as Marxist Communists. We may be looking at a new era of McCarthyism and, believe me, we don’t need that on top of everything else.
My father enlisted during World War II to fight for both democracy and decency and against the fascist dictators who were trying to take over the world. Through him, I met plenty of people who were dragged before Congress during the McCarthy hearings, so I’ve heard the stories from the mouths of people who were there and experienced it directly.
I miss my father immensely, but I have to be glad that he didn’t live any longer than he did or he would have seen the country he believed in and fought for in so many ways turn into all the things he hated most.
So, none of this is normal. And though bits and pieces of it have happened before, it was never all of it at the same time. I really wish things were different and that there were something I felt I could do but, like so many of you reading this, I feel totally helpless. I still hope that we can gain some sanity in the midterms, but even that is threatened at this point. We live in dangerous times.
I close by saying that I remember the bicentennial in 1976 very well. It was a joyous time in so many ways, and though there were still problems, they were ones which we were overcoming — or so we thought. For this 250th Fourth of July, I just didn’t feel like celebrating. I still feel patriotic. I still believe in the country I was born and raised in. But it’s hard to celebrate when the current administration is doing its best to destroy more than two centuries of progress.
Okay, that’s enough. Sorry for being Eeyore. And, as always, thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
MATT HARNICK
Guns to Crazy Folks
East Hampton
July 7, 2026
Dear David,
Great news over the weekend for people adjudicated to be mentally ill who have been frustrated in their efforts to buy a gun! Donald Trump just rolled back a slew of regulations on gun buying, including the obstacles to selling guns to crazy folks. He apparently feels that our mentally ill citizens are not well-enough armed. Unlike his stance on voters being required to show up and show identification, he also killed the requirement to go to a gun store and fill out a form. Now you can do it online.
Over the holiday weekend, there were at least 43 people killed in mass shooting incidents around the country, from California to Texas to Mississippi to South Carolina. Thanks to Donald Trump, more of our mentally ill will be able to participate in this popular sport of shooting innocent bystanders.
I doubt Trump really wants more wanton violence in the streets. He’s just willing to put up with it if it gleans a few votes from the wacko-for-weaponry faction. My guess is the mentally ill don’t vote at a high rate anyway, so maybe it was just another way to get some laughs while trolling the libs.
DON MATHESON
On the Ballot
Montauk
July 13, 2026
Dear David,
Paying full attention to the primaries, I pray all legal voters — Democrats, Republicans, conservatives — pay close attention to the candidates that are on the ballot,
It seems the so-called Democratic Socialist Party is in control. Therefore, wake up. Do plenty of thinking.
If you love and care for America, vote. Let’s make America a safe place to live in.
In God and country,
BEA DERRICO
Cost of Living
East Hampton
July 9, 2026
Dear Mr. Rattray,
The Mission One statement goal posted on Chris Gallant’s website is “Lowering the Cost of Living on Long Island.” To accomplish this goal Mr. Gallant proposes to reduce student debt burdens by expanding income-based repayment, protecting public service loan forgiveness, and refinancing high-interest federal student loans.
Mr. Gallant also proposes to support working families through expanded child tax credits and child care affordability programs so young families can stay on Long Island. Where does Mr. LaLota, his Republican opponent for Congress, stand on these issues?
In 2023, Mr. LaLota voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which ended the federal student loan repayment pause, required the resumption of all federal student loan obligations, and set federal spending limits on student loans. Mr. LaLota explained that he voted for this act because of its high cost to the federal government.
If Mr. LaLota were really concerned about government spending, then how can he defend his vote this past year to allocate $180 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
In 2025, Mr. LaLota voted for Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Center on Poverty and Social Policy estimated that with the changes made to the child tax credit as a result of this act, more than one in four children (28 percent), or 19 million children, would become ineligible for the full credit in 2025 because their family income is not high enough to qualify.
You can vote for Mr. LaLota, who has voted to limit federal spending on student loans and reduce the number of families eligible for the child tax credit, or you can vote for Mr. Gallant, whose Mission One is to ease student debt burden and expand the child tax credit. The difference is clear. The choice is yours.
SALVATORE TOCCI