The opening of bay scallop season in state waters on Nov. 3 was a particularly sad day for me. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension will conduct a bottom trawl survey from Smith Point Inlet, in Brookhaven Town, to Montauk Point. It is scheduled to begin on Monday and continue through Nov. 23. 

The East Hampton Town Board held two public hearings on its 2026 preliminary budget last week: one to allow it to pierce the state-mandated 2-percent cap on tax levy increases, and the other on the details of the budget itself. 

The East Hampton Town Building Department, which cut its hours in August, closing to the public on Wednesdays to attack a backlog of applications, announced another change. Building inspectors are now available at the counter and by phone from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, including Wednesdays.