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SouthamptonFest begins tonight, through Sunday
Social media companies operating in New York must start reporting content moderation policies to the state beginning this week as required by the new Stop Hiding Hate Act passed by the legislature last year, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced yesterday. John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that the measure...which was signed into law in December — seeks to ensure social media companies are "more transparent and accountable" for content posted on their platforms, according to the attorney general’s office.
"With violence and polarization on the rise, social media companies must ensure that their platforms don’t fuel hateful rhetoric and disinformation," A.G. James said in an e-mailed statement announcing the start of the reporting date mandate, adding: "The Stop Hiding Hate Act requires social media companies to share their content moderation policies publicly and with my office to ensure that their companies are more transparent about how they are addressing harmful content on their platforms."
Officials said key requirements in place as a result of the act include: that social media companies must publish terms of service "in clear, accessible language and provide contact details for user questions"; that platforms must "clearly describe how users can report violations of the terms of service"; and, that companies must "detail the potential actions they may take against policy violations" — and said those actions include "removing posts or deprioritizing their visibility."
In biannual reports, the attorney general’s office said, social media companies must also provide specific data, including: the total number of posts "flagged with potential policy violations," the total number of posts "on which the company took action" and "details on the specific actions."
Social media companies that fail to post terms of service or that fail to submit a required report — and, companies that file "a materially incomplete or misleading report" — face a potential civil penalty of up to $15,000 per violation per day, the attorney general’s office said.
The goal of the act is to have social media platforms define their guidelines and protocols related to "hate speech or racism, extremism or radicalization, disinformation or misinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference," the attorney general’s office said, adding the additional goal is to have those companies define how they enforce those policies.
***
The 13th annual SouthamptonFest fall festival begins in Southampton Village this evening and runs through this Sunday. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the festival starts with the annual Rotary Club Kickoff Party tonight at the Southampton Cultural Center on Pond Lane, also known as Concer’s Way. That party includes music and dancing and supports Southampton Rotary, a longstanding service organization in the community. Thanks to a new partnership between the Southampton Rotary and the Southampton Association, the cost to attend the party will be covered for local merchants, as a token of appreciation for their support and hard work. There’s a full schedule of events this weekend in Southampton Village geared around art, music, food and entertainment. Like last year, a portion of the festival proceeds will benefit the restoration of the World War I Memorial in Agawam Park, a historic community landmark first dedicated in 1923. SouthamptonFest is made possible through the support of main sponsors Northwell Health, Peter Marino Art Foundation and the Southampton Association, along with The Southampton Press, Lake Agawam Conservancy and many other local shops, restaurants and vendors, and the Troop 58 Boy Scouts. For a full list of events and offerings, visit SouthamptonVillage.org.
***
The Springs Fire Department will celebrate its 60th Anniversary tomorrow, with activities at the Springs Firehouse at 179 Fort Pond Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Then tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Springs, the second annual SpringsFest will be celebrated on the grounds of Parsons Blacksmith Shop on Parsons Place.
SpringsFest is free.
Real East End Brass, an ensemble made up of local music educators, will perform a free concert. At an intermission, David Cataletto will sing sea shanties. Hugh King, the “town crier,” will give a history lesson. The blacksmith shop will be open — with a blacksmith inside. Food trucks will be on site, Springs Brewery will have beer available for purchase and around 15 craft vendors will be present. Last year, at the inaugural event, there was a crowd of about 350 people. With the social media promotion surrounding this year’s event and delightful weather forecast for Saturday, even more bonac are expected tomorrow. For further info visit heartofsprings.org.
***
With the delayed dredging of Mattituck Inlet in mind, the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association will hold a public forum on “What is the Future of Bailie Beach and the Mattituck Inlet” this coming Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mattituck Park District’s headquarters at Veterans Beach on Peconic Bay Boulevard.
Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has delayed navigational dredging of the Mattituck Inlet originally slated for this fall to the fall of 2026, but Mattituck Park District representatives, concerned about the dire state of the beach to the east of the inlet, are rallying the community behind a more expansive dredging project.
The last time a major dredging of the inlet was conducted by the Army Corps was in 2014, when they dredged about 100,000 cubic yards of sand from within the inlet, from shoals just outside of and to the west of the inlet and from Breakwater Beach, where the sand was accreting, placing the sand on Bailie Beach, which was starved of sand due to the presence of the jetties.
The Army Corps, which built the jetties at the mouth of the inlet about 100 years ago, maintains the federal navigation channel into Mattituck Creek, which contains recreational marinas, working fishing docks and numerous docks on private property. At the time it was constructed, the Army Corps specified that it would need maintenance every seven to 10 years.
With the delayed dredging announcement in mind, Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association will hold a public forum on “What is the Future of Bailie Beach and the Mattituck Inlet” this coming Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Mattituck Park District’s headquarters at Veterans Beach on Peconic Bay Boulevard.
Southold Town Trustees Glenn Goldsmith and Nick Krupski, Mattituck Park District Trustee Kevin Byrne and Stony Brook School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Henry Bukiewicz will discuss the potential for a catastrophic breach that could destroy the inlet, and what the public can do to make their federal leaders aware of the importance of the inlet to the community.
***
The Long Island Expressway’s sound barrier system will be repaired along a Suffolk County stretch to help buffer surrounding communities from noise pollution, state transportation officials said yesterday. Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the $8.9 million project will swap out the barrier’s worn planks from the Nassau / Suffolk border at Exit 49 (State Route 110/Broadhollow Road) east to Exit 57 (State Route 454/Veterans Memorial Highway) meaning there will be construction on the L.I.E. through the Towns of Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown for the next couple of years. Work is set to begin over the next few weeks and go on until late 2027, per the New York State Department of Transportation.
"By restoring the sound barrier system, we’re enhancing both the livability of surrounding neighborhoods and resiliency of the highway infrastructure," Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez stated yesterday.
The project will remove the deteriorated planks and others that have been weakened due to crashes and other occurrences, the department said. In its place, workers will install wood planks "that are supported by steel posts and are designed to provide long-lasting durability and performance."
Construction will occur only in repair areas and will be conducted primarily off the roadway to reduce disruptions to traffic, officials said.
***
The National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers will hold the National Mental Health Conference on the East End tomorrow on the campus of Stony Brook Southampton. It’s a collaborative initiative uniting community-based organizations, professionals, and advocates to advance mental wellness for all.
Mental health is a critical issue that affects individuals, families, and entire communities. Across Long Island and beyond, people face persistent barriers to accessing mental health care — from stigma and systemic inequities to provider shortages and cultural disconnects.
Participants on Saturday will engage in dynamic sessions focused on trauma-informed care, culturally responsive practices, and mental health equity — all while earning Continuing Education (CE) credits for eligible sessions.
That’s The National Mental Health Conference on the East End tomorrow at the Stony Brook University / Southampton campus.
For further information and registration visit naprhsw.com/conference
***
Big stars such as Sydney Sweeney, Elizabeth Olsen and Ethan Hawke will join lesser-known filmmakers from around the world at this year’s Hamptons International Film Festival. Rafer Guzmán reports in NEWSDAY that it’s another balancing act from the festival, which begins its 33rd edition today, as it tries to pull in viewers with sneak peeks of prestige Hollywood titles ("Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Nuremberg"), maintain its awards-season influence and still make room for smaller films that may lack star power and major-studio muscle.
"Hollywood doesn’t really make many films for adults at a sizable budget," said David Nugent, the festival’s chief creative officer, adding that he and his colleagues spend the year looking for such movies in the hopes of bringing them to the Hamptons. These days, he notes, "There are less to choose from, but I think we’re playing an important role in that ecosystem."
Among the 2025 Hamptons International Film Festival movies is ON THE END…about a Montauk mechanic embroiled in a life-upending legal battle with the Town of East Hampton….a locally filmed, fact-based drama.
Other films of note are ETERNITY, ASK E. JEAN, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, THE SECRETS WE BURY, NUREMBERG, THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and more.
That’s The 33rd annual Hamptons International Film Festival today through Oct. 13 at various venues in East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Southampton.
Further information available at hamptonsfilmfest.org
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By WLIW-FMSocial media companies operating in New York must start reporting content moderation policies to the state beginning this week as required by the new Stop Hiding Hate Act passed by the legislature last year, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced yesterday. John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that the measure...which was signed into law in December — seeks to ensure social media companies are "more transparent and accountable" for content posted on their platforms, according to the attorney general’s office.
"With violence and polarization on the rise, social media companies must ensure that their platforms don’t fuel hateful rhetoric and disinformation," A.G. James said in an e-mailed statement announcing the start of the reporting date mandate, adding: "The Stop Hiding Hate Act requires social media companies to share their content moderation policies publicly and with my office to ensure that their companies are more transparent about how they are addressing harmful content on their platforms."
Officials said key requirements in place as a result of the act include: that social media companies must publish terms of service "in clear, accessible language and provide contact details for user questions"; that platforms must "clearly describe how users can report violations of the terms of service"; and, that companies must "detail the potential actions they may take against policy violations" — and said those actions include "removing posts or deprioritizing their visibility."
In biannual reports, the attorney general’s office said, social media companies must also provide specific data, including: the total number of posts "flagged with potential policy violations," the total number of posts "on which the company took action" and "details on the specific actions."
Social media companies that fail to post terms of service or that fail to submit a required report — and, companies that file "a materially incomplete or misleading report" — face a potential civil penalty of up to $15,000 per violation per day, the attorney general’s office said.
The goal of the act is to have social media platforms define their guidelines and protocols related to "hate speech or racism, extremism or radicalization, disinformation or misinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference," the attorney general’s office said, adding the additional goal is to have those companies define how they enforce those policies.
***
The 13th annual SouthamptonFest fall festival begins in Southampton Village this evening and runs through this Sunday. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the festival starts with the annual Rotary Club Kickoff Party tonight at the Southampton Cultural Center on Pond Lane, also known as Concer’s Way. That party includes music and dancing and supports Southampton Rotary, a longstanding service organization in the community. Thanks to a new partnership between the Southampton Rotary and the Southampton Association, the cost to attend the party will be covered for local merchants, as a token of appreciation for their support and hard work. There’s a full schedule of events this weekend in Southampton Village geared around art, music, food and entertainment. Like last year, a portion of the festival proceeds will benefit the restoration of the World War I Memorial in Agawam Park, a historic community landmark first dedicated in 1923. SouthamptonFest is made possible through the support of main sponsors Northwell Health, Peter Marino Art Foundation and the Southampton Association, along with The Southampton Press, Lake Agawam Conservancy and many other local shops, restaurants and vendors, and the Troop 58 Boy Scouts. For a full list of events and offerings, visit SouthamptonVillage.org.
***
The Springs Fire Department will celebrate its 60th Anniversary tomorrow, with activities at the Springs Firehouse at 179 Fort Pond Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Then tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Springs, the second annual SpringsFest will be celebrated on the grounds of Parsons Blacksmith Shop on Parsons Place.
SpringsFest is free.
Real East End Brass, an ensemble made up of local music educators, will perform a free concert. At an intermission, David Cataletto will sing sea shanties. Hugh King, the “town crier,” will give a history lesson. The blacksmith shop will be open — with a blacksmith inside. Food trucks will be on site, Springs Brewery will have beer available for purchase and around 15 craft vendors will be present. Last year, at the inaugural event, there was a crowd of about 350 people. With the social media promotion surrounding this year’s event and delightful weather forecast for Saturday, even more bonac are expected tomorrow. For further info visit heartofsprings.org.
***
With the delayed dredging of Mattituck Inlet in mind, the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association will hold a public forum on “What is the Future of Bailie Beach and the Mattituck Inlet” this coming Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mattituck Park District’s headquarters at Veterans Beach on Peconic Bay Boulevard.
Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has delayed navigational dredging of the Mattituck Inlet originally slated for this fall to the fall of 2026, but Mattituck Park District representatives, concerned about the dire state of the beach to the east of the inlet, are rallying the community behind a more expansive dredging project.
The last time a major dredging of the inlet was conducted by the Army Corps was in 2014, when they dredged about 100,000 cubic yards of sand from within the inlet, from shoals just outside of and to the west of the inlet and from Breakwater Beach, where the sand was accreting, placing the sand on Bailie Beach, which was starved of sand due to the presence of the jetties.
The Army Corps, which built the jetties at the mouth of the inlet about 100 years ago, maintains the federal navigation channel into Mattituck Creek, which contains recreational marinas, working fishing docks and numerous docks on private property. At the time it was constructed, the Army Corps specified that it would need maintenance every seven to 10 years.
With the delayed dredging announcement in mind, Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association will hold a public forum on “What is the Future of Bailie Beach and the Mattituck Inlet” this coming Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Mattituck Park District’s headquarters at Veterans Beach on Peconic Bay Boulevard.
Southold Town Trustees Glenn Goldsmith and Nick Krupski, Mattituck Park District Trustee Kevin Byrne and Stony Brook School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Henry Bukiewicz will discuss the potential for a catastrophic breach that could destroy the inlet, and what the public can do to make their federal leaders aware of the importance of the inlet to the community.
***
The Long Island Expressway’s sound barrier system will be repaired along a Suffolk County stretch to help buffer surrounding communities from noise pollution, state transportation officials said yesterday. Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the $8.9 million project will swap out the barrier’s worn planks from the Nassau / Suffolk border at Exit 49 (State Route 110/Broadhollow Road) east to Exit 57 (State Route 454/Veterans Memorial Highway) meaning there will be construction on the L.I.E. through the Towns of Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown for the next couple of years. Work is set to begin over the next few weeks and go on until late 2027, per the New York State Department of Transportation.
"By restoring the sound barrier system, we’re enhancing both the livability of surrounding neighborhoods and resiliency of the highway infrastructure," Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez stated yesterday.
The project will remove the deteriorated planks and others that have been weakened due to crashes and other occurrences, the department said. In its place, workers will install wood planks "that are supported by steel posts and are designed to provide long-lasting durability and performance."
Construction will occur only in repair areas and will be conducted primarily off the roadway to reduce disruptions to traffic, officials said.
***
The National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers will hold the National Mental Health Conference on the East End tomorrow on the campus of Stony Brook Southampton. It’s a collaborative initiative uniting community-based organizations, professionals, and advocates to advance mental wellness for all.
Mental health is a critical issue that affects individuals, families, and entire communities. Across Long Island and beyond, people face persistent barriers to accessing mental health care — from stigma and systemic inequities to provider shortages and cultural disconnects.
Participants on Saturday will engage in dynamic sessions focused on trauma-informed care, culturally responsive practices, and mental health equity — all while earning Continuing Education (CE) credits for eligible sessions.
That’s The National Mental Health Conference on the East End tomorrow at the Stony Brook University / Southampton campus.
For further information and registration visit naprhsw.com/conference
***
Big stars such as Sydney Sweeney, Elizabeth Olsen and Ethan Hawke will join lesser-known filmmakers from around the world at this year’s Hamptons International Film Festival. Rafer Guzmán reports in NEWSDAY that it’s another balancing act from the festival, which begins its 33rd edition today, as it tries to pull in viewers with sneak peeks of prestige Hollywood titles ("Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Nuremberg"), maintain its awards-season influence and still make room for smaller films that may lack star power and major-studio muscle.
"Hollywood doesn’t really make many films for adults at a sizable budget," said David Nugent, the festival’s chief creative officer, adding that he and his colleagues spend the year looking for such movies in the hopes of bringing them to the Hamptons. These days, he notes, "There are less to choose from, but I think we’re playing an important role in that ecosystem."
Among the 2025 Hamptons International Film Festival movies is ON THE END…about a Montauk mechanic embroiled in a life-upending legal battle with the Town of East Hampton….a locally filmed, fact-based drama.
Other films of note are ETERNITY, ASK E. JEAN, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, THE SECRETS WE BURY, NUREMBERG, THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and more.
That’s The 33rd annual Hamptons International Film Festival today through Oct. 13 at various venues in East Hampton, Sag Harbor, and Southampton.
Further information available at hamptonsfilmfest.org