William R. Anderson, a Marine Corps veteran who was actively involved in his Laureldale, Pa., community, died at his home there on Oct. 26. The former East Hampton resident was 76 years old and had kidney failure.

Far be it for a newspaper to encourage its readers often to turn on the television, but this is an extraordinary time in the history of the United States.

For the most part, the now-mandated low-nitrogen septic systems being installed on eastern Long Island work as promised. The big if is whether they will deliver on the environmental improvements.

In March, the swallows come back to the cliffs of Capistrano, and in November the scallops come back to the dredges in the Peconic Bays and the suppers of the salivating. Until they don’t.