Covid-19 continues to disrupt local tradition, with the Montauk Friends of Erin's St. Patrick's Day parade, gala, and grand marshal's lunch the latest victims of the pandemic. The Friends had announced plans to hold the parade on March 28, a Sunday, but yesterday, about five weeks out, word came of its cancellation. The 2020 parade had met the same fate.

Stony Brook University Hospital and Stony Brook Southampton Hospital have been named leaders in LGBTQ health care equality for 2020 by the National LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Index of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

A new Covid-19 testing site in Montauk is expected to begin operation next week and will be open every day. “Knowing that we’re trending in a positive way toward summer, the state will be looking for negative tests” in order for weddings and other large gatherings to be held safely, East Hampton Councilman David Lys said.

With a winter weather advisory in effect until Friday night, East Hampton and Southampton Towns closed all town facilities early on Thursday and East Enders were being warned to stay off the roads.