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Amistad Week begins today in Montauk
The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation has been there for the Southampton Town community for more than 15 years, providing homes and care for thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals in need. Now, it is hoping the community can return that favor.
Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that in less than a month, the foundation will undergo much-needed repairs to its adoption center at Red Creek Park in Hampton Bays, which will require the temporary relocation of more than 150 animals, over a period expected to last anywhere from two to five months.
During that time, the Southampton Animal Shelter foundation is seeking families and individuals in the community willing to open their homes to foster pets. Volunteers at the shelter point out that fostering has many benefits — it helps the shelter pets decompress and become more adoptable, and gives hope to overlooked pets who never experienced the comfort of a home. It’s also a great way for families and teens to earn community service hours.
The shelter received grant funding through the Town of Southampton for two of the main components of the repairs, which are scheduled to begin on September 2. The grant funding will cover the cost of fixing the floors in the four large kennel rooms at the shelter, which haven’t been addressed in 16 years, and the cost of installing brand new kennels, which are also 16 years old.
The shelter will also receive an updated sewage system.
While those repairs are taking place, the staff and animals will need to completely vacate the building. A temporary shelter will be built in the parking lot, with a tent and kennels, as well as a temporary office building unit. Some of the animals will be housed in that temporary shelter, and a few will be taken in temporarily at Bide-a-Wee, another shelter several miles to the west.
But at last count, SASF Executive Director Chris Teakle said the shelter was home to 40 dogs, 86 cats and 21 rabbits, meaning securing foster homes outside of the temporary facility will be key.
The shelter will continue to operate during the repair project as well, meaning it will need to be prepared to take in any new animals that need a home.
***
The Internal Revenue Service is rescinding some layoffs and seeking to persuade former workers to come back after being fired or pushed out. Those job cuts, including departures from the agency’s operations in Holtsville, had been among the most highly publicized parts of a broad federal effort earlier this year. Billy House reports in NEWSDAY that details of how many job reinstatements might specifically be aimed for the Holtsville office in Suffolk, if any, were not available yesterday from an agency press office in Washington. The IRS also has operations in Nassau County in Bethpage, and an Appeals and Chief Counsel Office in Westbury.
Kristen Thomas, 28, of Farmingville, said she was among hundreds of employees who lost their jobs at the Holtsville operation early this year. She said she is "disgusted" and "appalled" the IRS is now seeking to have some employees come back.
Thomas, who worked as a tax examiner and now works as a waitress, has not received any communication asking her to return.
"But who would do that?" she told NEWSDAY, given the disruption and heartache her job termination caused, at a time she was eight months pregnant.
The initial job termination letter received in February, while she was still a probationary employee, stated the action was being taken because her continued employment was "not in the public interest." Her deferred resignation occurred in early April.
***
The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau is now accepting applications for its Youth Advisory Committee for the 2025–26 school year. Students in grades 7 through 12 who are interested in planning events, engaging in community service, and connecting with peers from different schools are encouraged to apply. Members participate in a variety of service projects such as leaf raking for seniors, toy and clothing drives, fundraising efforts, and meetings with local officials to advocate for youth issues. Areas of focus may include civic engagement, environmental activism, journalism, music, and the arts. Students earn community service credit for their participation.
Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Community Center, 25 Ponquogue Avenue. The first meeting is scheduled for September 9. Preregistration is required but will remain open beyond the first meeting.
Registration is also open for additional Youth Bureau programs, including Youth Court, Youth and Government, and Youth Media Impact, with meetings beginning in October.
To register or learn more, visit southamptontownny.gov/YBactivities or call 631-702-2425.
***
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CONNETQUOT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ISLIP WILL CONDUCT ITS NEXT MEETING IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE OAKDALE-BOHEMIA MIDDLE SCHOOL this coming THURSDAY AUGUST 28TH. THE MEETING WILL COMMENCE AT 7:00 PM FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED MASCOT LITIGATION SETTLEMENT.
Meanwhile, Alex Mitchell reports in THE NY POST that a group of Native Americans is “gravely concerned” that the Suffolk County school is stripping its Thunderbirds team name…and that it sends “a dangerous message” — and they’re threatening to slap them with a lawsuit over it.
Representatives for the national Native American Guardians Association {NAGA} sent a damning letter to the embattled Connetquot School District — its over six decades long school nickname and logo may be removed while a legal battle rages over New York state’s controversial 2023 ban on indigenous imagery and phrases.
“Compliance with this regulation is not ‘progress’; it is cultural censorship and systemic racism,” the NAGA letter, sent days before the beginning of the school year, reads. It added that “whitewashing the historic name would also commit the district to false and discriminatory representations about Native American culture…Far from being derogatory, ‘Thunderbirds’ reflect strength, resilience, and heritage,” the letter continued.
The issue reached a fever pitch this summer as Connetquot, which initially sued the Board of Regents to keep the Thunderbirds moniker, quietly allocated over $23 million for rebranding under a new team name.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon — who ruled in May that only removing icons relevant to one ethnicity is a discriminatory civil rights violation — launched a federal probe into the Connetquot School district in July.
McMahon told THE NY POST last week, “It is a top priority” of the Trump administration to keep Thunderbirds and other Native American team names…“We will not allow New York education leaders to continue violating the Civil Rights Act by inconsistently and unlawfully deeming some national-origin-based mascots as acceptable while determining others are not,” she added.
***
The New York State Gaming Commission yesterday moved to ban "bulk buying" of lottery tickets, hoping to avoid the type of scandal that engulfed the Texas lottery when a gambling syndicate bought 99% of the numerical combinations to win a $95 million jackpot. New York regulators proposed banning attempts to buy up every mathematical combination of a lottery ticket, prohibiting ticket-sales collaboration, mandating lottery sales agents to report bulk buying attempts and suspending an agent’s license if their store or outlet allows a bulk purchase, among other measures. Yancey Roy reports in NEWSDAY that the commission unanimously approved the measures as proposed new state regulations, which means allowing for a public comment period before the rules take effect, likely in October.
"This is really aimed at what happened in Texas," said Brian O’Dwyer, commission chairman.
Some of the proposals also include prohibiting sales terminals from being sold on a temporary basis, banning accepting wire or electronic money transfers and requiring a purchaser to be a "natural person."
But there’s a related issue, too, O’Dwyer noted: Courier companies, or online services that allow players to buy tickets through a phone or other device can move a high volume of tickets. Texas has moved to ban them since the scandal, as have other states.
Couriers are legal in New York. O’Dwyer signaled the commission might consider taking up that subject in the future. "We still have substantial issues to work through in terms of and I want everybody to be aware we’ll take those up at a future time if necessary," stated the New York Gaming Commission chairman.
***
Today is the start of Amistad Week in Montauk, a joint project of the Eastville Community Historical Society and the Southampton African American History Museum, honoring the enslaved people who, in 1839 overthrew their enslavers and brought the ship that had been carrying them north, to Culloden Point in Montauk on Aug. 26,…186 years ago…where they were again captured and brought to trial.
“Amistad Week 2025,” is a compelling series of events in Montauk - today through this coming Saturday - dedicated to history, art, and community. From poignant commemorative ceremonies to insightful film screenings and engaging workshops, the week offers unique opportunities for reflection, artistic expression, and discussions on local and national history.
“We are honored to host a diverse range of programs this August that not only celebrate our rich cultural heritage but also encourage deeper understanding and dialogue about pivotal moments in history, particularly those connected to the Amistad story,” said Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, Executive Director of the Eastville Community Historical Society. “These events reinforce our commitment to preserving history and fostering community engagement through education and the arts.”
For further info visit: aaqeastend.com
***
President Donald Trump yesterday signed an executive order aimed at ending cashless bail in New York State and other jurisdictions by threatening to withhold federal funds if states and cities do not change their policies. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that the executive order comes as Trump looks to ramp up the role of the federal government in local law enforcement.
Trump’s executive order directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide Trump with a list within 30-days of jurisdictions she believes "substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition of pretrial release from custody for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order." The order also directs the White House Office of Management and Budget to identify funds, grants and contracts provided to the jurisdictions "that may be suspended or terminated."
Speaking at an Oval Office bill signing ceremony, President Trump railed against cashless bail.
“‘No cash? Come back in a couple of months, we’ll give you a trial.’ You’ll never see the person again," Trump said.
Jen Goodman, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, in an e-mail statement to Newsday said Trump “has no concept of how the law works in New York."
"His reckless threat to withhold federal funds would only undercut law enforcement and make our communities less safe," Goodman said. "The fact is Gov. Hochul changed New York’s bail laws so violent offenders are held accountable ...The governor also gave judges more discretion to keep dangerous individuals behind bars, and she encourages them to use it.”
The executive order is the latest aimed at stripping federal funding from New York State over policies at odds with Trump’s agenda.
New York’s cashless bail law has been a hot-button issue since it was enacted in 2019 and implemented in January 2020. The law eliminated cash bail for a number of misdemeanor nonviolent offenses, but has since been amended three times to expand the list of offenses and to provide judges with more discretion over imposing bail.
Proponents of the cashless bail law contend cash bail creates a class-based justice system that allows wealthy individuals to be freed from jail as they await their trial, while a disproportionate amount of low-income individuals who cannot afford to post bail remain detained for weeks and months awaiting their next court appearance. Opponents of the law, including Trump, argue the system is flawed, allowing for repeat offenders to be released and potentially commit other crimes.
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By WLIW-FMThe Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation has been there for the Southampton Town community for more than 15 years, providing homes and care for thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals in need. Now, it is hoping the community can return that favor.
Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that in less than a month, the foundation will undergo much-needed repairs to its adoption center at Red Creek Park in Hampton Bays, which will require the temporary relocation of more than 150 animals, over a period expected to last anywhere from two to five months.
During that time, the Southampton Animal Shelter foundation is seeking families and individuals in the community willing to open their homes to foster pets. Volunteers at the shelter point out that fostering has many benefits — it helps the shelter pets decompress and become more adoptable, and gives hope to overlooked pets who never experienced the comfort of a home. It’s also a great way for families and teens to earn community service hours.
The shelter received grant funding through the Town of Southampton for two of the main components of the repairs, which are scheduled to begin on September 2. The grant funding will cover the cost of fixing the floors in the four large kennel rooms at the shelter, which haven’t been addressed in 16 years, and the cost of installing brand new kennels, which are also 16 years old.
The shelter will also receive an updated sewage system.
While those repairs are taking place, the staff and animals will need to completely vacate the building. A temporary shelter will be built in the parking lot, with a tent and kennels, as well as a temporary office building unit. Some of the animals will be housed in that temporary shelter, and a few will be taken in temporarily at Bide-a-Wee, another shelter several miles to the west.
But at last count, SASF Executive Director Chris Teakle said the shelter was home to 40 dogs, 86 cats and 21 rabbits, meaning securing foster homes outside of the temporary facility will be key.
The shelter will continue to operate during the repair project as well, meaning it will need to be prepared to take in any new animals that need a home.
***
The Internal Revenue Service is rescinding some layoffs and seeking to persuade former workers to come back after being fired or pushed out. Those job cuts, including departures from the agency’s operations in Holtsville, had been among the most highly publicized parts of a broad federal effort earlier this year. Billy House reports in NEWSDAY that details of how many job reinstatements might specifically be aimed for the Holtsville office in Suffolk, if any, were not available yesterday from an agency press office in Washington. The IRS also has operations in Nassau County in Bethpage, and an Appeals and Chief Counsel Office in Westbury.
Kristen Thomas, 28, of Farmingville, said she was among hundreds of employees who lost their jobs at the Holtsville operation early this year. She said she is "disgusted" and "appalled" the IRS is now seeking to have some employees come back.
Thomas, who worked as a tax examiner and now works as a waitress, has not received any communication asking her to return.
"But who would do that?" she told NEWSDAY, given the disruption and heartache her job termination caused, at a time she was eight months pregnant.
The initial job termination letter received in February, while she was still a probationary employee, stated the action was being taken because her continued employment was "not in the public interest." Her deferred resignation occurred in early April.
***
The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau is now accepting applications for its Youth Advisory Committee for the 2025–26 school year. Students in grades 7 through 12 who are interested in planning events, engaging in community service, and connecting with peers from different schools are encouraged to apply. Members participate in a variety of service projects such as leaf raking for seniors, toy and clothing drives, fundraising efforts, and meetings with local officials to advocate for youth issues. Areas of focus may include civic engagement, environmental activism, journalism, music, and the arts. Students earn community service credit for their participation.
Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Community Center, 25 Ponquogue Avenue. The first meeting is scheduled for September 9. Preregistration is required but will remain open beyond the first meeting.
Registration is also open for additional Youth Bureau programs, including Youth Court, Youth and Government, and Youth Media Impact, with meetings beginning in October.
To register or learn more, visit southamptontownny.gov/YBactivities or call 631-702-2425.
***
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CONNETQUOT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ISLIP WILL CONDUCT ITS NEXT MEETING IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE OAKDALE-BOHEMIA MIDDLE SCHOOL this coming THURSDAY AUGUST 28TH. THE MEETING WILL COMMENCE AT 7:00 PM FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED MASCOT LITIGATION SETTLEMENT.
Meanwhile, Alex Mitchell reports in THE NY POST that a group of Native Americans is “gravely concerned” that the Suffolk County school is stripping its Thunderbirds team name…and that it sends “a dangerous message” — and they’re threatening to slap them with a lawsuit over it.
Representatives for the national Native American Guardians Association {NAGA} sent a damning letter to the embattled Connetquot School District — its over six decades long school nickname and logo may be removed while a legal battle rages over New York state’s controversial 2023 ban on indigenous imagery and phrases.
“Compliance with this regulation is not ‘progress’; it is cultural censorship and systemic racism,” the NAGA letter, sent days before the beginning of the school year, reads. It added that “whitewashing the historic name would also commit the district to false and discriminatory representations about Native American culture…Far from being derogatory, ‘Thunderbirds’ reflect strength, resilience, and heritage,” the letter continued.
The issue reached a fever pitch this summer as Connetquot, which initially sued the Board of Regents to keep the Thunderbirds moniker, quietly allocated over $23 million for rebranding under a new team name.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon — who ruled in May that only removing icons relevant to one ethnicity is a discriminatory civil rights violation — launched a federal probe into the Connetquot School district in July.
McMahon told THE NY POST last week, “It is a top priority” of the Trump administration to keep Thunderbirds and other Native American team names…“We will not allow New York education leaders to continue violating the Civil Rights Act by inconsistently and unlawfully deeming some national-origin-based mascots as acceptable while determining others are not,” she added.
***
The New York State Gaming Commission yesterday moved to ban "bulk buying" of lottery tickets, hoping to avoid the type of scandal that engulfed the Texas lottery when a gambling syndicate bought 99% of the numerical combinations to win a $95 million jackpot. New York regulators proposed banning attempts to buy up every mathematical combination of a lottery ticket, prohibiting ticket-sales collaboration, mandating lottery sales agents to report bulk buying attempts and suspending an agent’s license if their store or outlet allows a bulk purchase, among other measures. Yancey Roy reports in NEWSDAY that the commission unanimously approved the measures as proposed new state regulations, which means allowing for a public comment period before the rules take effect, likely in October.
"This is really aimed at what happened in Texas," said Brian O’Dwyer, commission chairman.
Some of the proposals also include prohibiting sales terminals from being sold on a temporary basis, banning accepting wire or electronic money transfers and requiring a purchaser to be a "natural person."
But there’s a related issue, too, O’Dwyer noted: Courier companies, or online services that allow players to buy tickets through a phone or other device can move a high volume of tickets. Texas has moved to ban them since the scandal, as have other states.
Couriers are legal in New York. O’Dwyer signaled the commission might consider taking up that subject in the future. "We still have substantial issues to work through in terms of and I want everybody to be aware we’ll take those up at a future time if necessary," stated the New York Gaming Commission chairman.
***
Today is the start of Amistad Week in Montauk, a joint project of the Eastville Community Historical Society and the Southampton African American History Museum, honoring the enslaved people who, in 1839 overthrew their enslavers and brought the ship that had been carrying them north, to Culloden Point in Montauk on Aug. 26,…186 years ago…where they were again captured and brought to trial.
“Amistad Week 2025,” is a compelling series of events in Montauk - today through this coming Saturday - dedicated to history, art, and community. From poignant commemorative ceremonies to insightful film screenings and engaging workshops, the week offers unique opportunities for reflection, artistic expression, and discussions on local and national history.
“We are honored to host a diverse range of programs this August that not only celebrate our rich cultural heritage but also encourage deeper understanding and dialogue about pivotal moments in history, particularly those connected to the Amistad story,” said Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, Executive Director of the Eastville Community Historical Society. “These events reinforce our commitment to preserving history and fostering community engagement through education and the arts.”
For further info visit: aaqeastend.com
***
President Donald Trump yesterday signed an executive order aimed at ending cashless bail in New York State and other jurisdictions by threatening to withhold federal funds if states and cities do not change their policies. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that the executive order comes as Trump looks to ramp up the role of the federal government in local law enforcement.
Trump’s executive order directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide Trump with a list within 30-days of jurisdictions she believes "substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition of pretrial release from custody for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order." The order also directs the White House Office of Management and Budget to identify funds, grants and contracts provided to the jurisdictions "that may be suspended or terminated."
Speaking at an Oval Office bill signing ceremony, President Trump railed against cashless bail.
“‘No cash? Come back in a couple of months, we’ll give you a trial.’ You’ll never see the person again," Trump said.
Jen Goodman, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, in an e-mail statement to Newsday said Trump “has no concept of how the law works in New York."
"His reckless threat to withhold federal funds would only undercut law enforcement and make our communities less safe," Goodman said. "The fact is Gov. Hochul changed New York’s bail laws so violent offenders are held accountable ...The governor also gave judges more discretion to keep dangerous individuals behind bars, and she encourages them to use it.”
The executive order is the latest aimed at stripping federal funding from New York State over policies at odds with Trump’s agenda.
New York’s cashless bail law has been a hot-button issue since it was enacted in 2019 and implemented in January 2020. The law eliminated cash bail for a number of misdemeanor nonviolent offenses, but has since been amended three times to expand the list of offenses and to provide judges with more discretion over imposing bail.
Proponents of the cashless bail law contend cash bail creates a class-based justice system that allows wealthy individuals to be freed from jail as they await their trial, while a disproportionate amount of low-income individuals who cannot afford to post bail remain detained for weeks and months awaiting their next court appearance. Opponents of the law, including Trump, argue the system is flawed, allowing for repeat offenders to be released and potentially commit other crimes.