Temperatures on Long Island hit the triple digits yesterday, with a slightly cooler, but still sweltering day, predicted for today.

Long Island MacArthur Airport hit 100 degrees at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, the first time since July 22, 2011, and only the eighth time in history since records began in 1963. It was the hottest-ever June day in Islip, according to Newsday TV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen.

Today is the third day of the region's heat wave before relief comes with storms tonight that usher in highs tomorrow barely surpassing 70 degrees.

Heat indexes, heat combined with humidity, will go as high as 97-102 degrees for much of Nassau and Suffolk today, according to the National Weather Service's heat advisory. Some east end coastal locations will have slightly cooler heat indexes, between 95 and 100°F.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a news release last night, said that New Yorkers should set their air conditioning at 76 degrees.

Yesterday, the hottest of this week’s three-day heat wave, saw a recorded temperature of 100.4 degrees at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach as of 2:15 p.m., the weather service said.

According to Newsday's Von Ohlen, some of the other high temperatures Tuesday as of 2 p.m. included: Shirley at 99, Montauk at 97, Farmingdale at 97, and East Hampton at 94.

"This was a perfect, unique setup to get these temperatures," Von Ohlen said. "We did not get the sea breeze that normally cools Long Island ... which is why Montauk saw the upper 90s, which is very rare."

An air quality alert has been issued for Long Island and the metro area from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, when excess amounts of ozone are expected due to the hot weather. The air quality for Long Island Tuesday was considered to be unhealthy for sensitive groups due to the ozone.

***

Long Island schools closed early or took other measures to keep students cool yesterday, as temperatures hit triple digits in some areas of Nassau and Suffolk .

The heat wave continues today, with real-feel temperatures around 100 degrees predicted for most parts of Long Island.

Some schools had already scheduled half-days for the rest of the week — the final week of the school term.

Maura McDermott reports in NEWSDAY that many classrooms in schools across Long Island lack air conditioning. A heat wave "definitely impacts the work environment and the learning environment" in those classrooms, said Robert Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. But, he said, "Schools have always had plans for hot days in June and hot days in September," including the use of misting fans and moving classes to cooler parts of the building.

A new law that takes effect Sept. 1 will require public schools to take action when classroom temperatures climb too high.

The law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December, mandates that schools take steps such as using fans and pulling down blinds when interior temperatures hit 82 degrees. When room temperatures reach 88 degrees, schools would need to move students and staff to a cooler space or send students home, under the law.

However, Vecchio said the state law also "presents new challenges," especially in areas that are lower-income or have smaller tax bases.

Adding air conditioning "can be very expensive and very complicated due to the size and age of buildings," he said. Without voter approval for massive investments in cooling systems, he said, in some schools the mandate "can lead to the loss of instructional time."

On Tuesday, Hochul acknowledged that some school districts have not approved funding for air conditioning and are seeking flexibility in enforcing the new policy. She encouraged districts to use budget surplus funds to purchase air conditioning before seeking additional funding from the state.

***

Two weeks after President Donald Trump returned to power, the Republican leaders of Nassau County vowed to help him with his immigration crackdown.

Luis Ferré-Sadurní reports in THE NY TIMES that they were among the first local government leaders in the United States to announce a partnership between their Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to conduct immigration arrests during Mr. Trump’s second term. Across the nation, hundreds of other police agencies forged similar agreements, jump-starting a crucial part of Mr. Trump’s agenda: enlisting local law enforcement to boost deportations.

Yesterday, the New York Civil Liberties Union sued Nassau County and its Police Department, arguing that the partnership was unlawful.

The lawsuit, the first of its kind in New York State, says that the agreement between the county and the federal government violates state law, undermines protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and promotes racial profiling.

If successful, the suit could threaten similar or future agreements in New York. Two other counties that lean conservative — Broome and Niagara — signed partnerships with ICE this year, joining Rensselaer County, which has had a pact with federal immigration authorities since 2018.

“It’s a recipe for racial and ethnic profiling,” said Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “It’s a devastating attack on fundamental rights for the Police Department in Nassau County to be behaving like ICE.”

Chris Boyle, a spokesman for Bruce Blakeman, the Republican county executive and Trump ally who unveiled the partnership in February, said on Tuesday that Mr. Blakeman “is confident that all measures taken to protect communities in Nassau County are legal and properly authorized.”

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of ICE, cast the lawsuit against the partnership — which is known as a 287(g) agreement — as “baseless.”

“Allegations that 287(g) agreements with local law enforcement encourage ‘racial profiling’ are disgusting and categorically FALSE,” she said in a statement. “Our 287(g) partners work with us to enforce federal immigration law without fear, favor, or prejudice, and they should be commended for doing so.”

However, Right Rev. Lawrence Provenzano, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island disagrees saying, "The 287(g) agreement undermines our ability to serve our communities, especially immigrant families who now live in fear of being detained or disappeared."

The 287(g) Program began during President Bill Clinton’s tenure but gained newfound popularity during Trump’s first term. No new partnerships with ICE were signed during President Joe Biden’s tenure.

Suffolk County has not joined the 287(g) Program.

The suit comes as Long Island, where immigrants account for about one-fifth of the population, has experienced a visible increase in ICE activity in recent weeks. Immigration activists say they have compiled reports of ICE officers detaining people at supermarkets, delis, home improvement stores, parking lots and food pantries.

President Donald Trump’s weekend order for a U.S. military strike on Iran sparked debate on Capitol Hill yesterday over the legality of the operation conducted without prior congressional approval. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that Suffolk County’s two House Republicans — Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota — defended Trump green-lighting Saturday's bombardment of three nuclear-enrichment sites in Iran, arguing he acted within his authority as commander in chief. Congressional Democrats expressed support for U.S. ally Israel and for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, but argued Congress should have been notified before the United States launched a potentially war-inducing mission. Congressman LaLota (R-Amityville) in a statement to Newsday said Trump’s order was “necessary and lawful” and reflected “a broader pattern of U.S. presidents using military force in the Middle East without first securing congressional authorization.”

“Like his three immediate predecessors, President Trump exercised his constitutional war powers for limited, high-impact operations,” said LaLota, who represents the east end and is a U.S. Navy veteran.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), following retaliatory strikes from Iran aimed at a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday, said he requested a classified briefing from the Trump administration and demanded administration officials “lay out exactly what measures they’re taking — right now — to keep our servicemembers safe.”

“The law requires the Trump administration to consult with Congress,” Schumer said in a statement. "The Constitution demands it. And the American people — especially the families of those in harm’s way — deserve nothing less.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on the Trump administration to “fully explain to the American people the rationale for this military action and a strategy to avoid being mired in another Middle Eastern war.”

“No further military actions should be allowed without proper congressional approval,” Gillibrand said. “Avoiding further escalation is essential to the peace and security of Israel, the U.S., and our partners in the region. I urge the president and Iran to pursue a diplomatic resolution to this conflict.”

***

Parishioners came pouring out of St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead Sunday evening after the weekly Spanish-language mass. The sanctuary was packed — as it is every Sunday evening — with a standing room-only crowd. Those who exited by the front doors plucked a rose from the floral arch that graced the walkway there, and greeted friends and neighbors, as usual. Then, they did something very unusual. They picked up signs they’d placed alongside the rectory building before mass and assembled on St. John’s Place for a walk and rally to support immigrants. Outside the church, they were joined by other community members in solidarity with the cause. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that carrying signs and small American flags, a crowd of about 275 people lined up behind two women carrying a very large American flag. Jessica Ruiz, director of St. John’s social parish ministry and food pantry, led the crowd in a popular chant as the march stepped off: “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido… El pueblo unido jamás será vencido…” (“The people, united, will never be defeated.”)

The marchers continued chanting as they walked around the large downtown block between St. John’s Place and Northville, in a loop around the Riverhead Fire Department headquarters. They included people of all ages— from at least one tiny infant in her mother’s arms to elderly people walking with canes or riding in wheelchairs. They were joined on the walk by the Rev. William Brisotti and St. John’s pastor, the Rev. Larry Duncklee. An audio cart near the rear of the line played John Lennon’s “Imagine,” as the walkers made their way back to the church.

The messages on the signs they carried were clear and simple, expressed on numerous handmade paper signs, nearly all in English: Stop the raids. Stop the deportations. Hardworking immigrants make America great. Families belong together. Families matter. We love immigrant community. Stop ICE abuse. I’m walking for my Dad. Hate won’t make us great. Hope is stronger than fear.

***

The Town of Southold has opened its Community Center at 1170 Peconic Lane in Peconic as a cooling center, with the building open to the public looking for respite from the heat from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Riverhead Town has also opened its senior center at 80 Shade Tree Lane in Aquebogue as a cooling center today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Riverhead’s beaches are also now fully operational, with attendants and lifeguards on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both towns are urging anyone facing a heat-related medical emergency to call 911. Suffolk County has also extended hours at Smith Point and Cupsogue Beaches through 7 p.m. today and tomorrow for enhanced safety for those looking to cool off at the ocean.

Denise Civilettil reports on Riverheadlocal.com that an air quality health advisory is in effect for the Long Island and metro New York regions today, too. The Air Quality Index is expected to reach 119 across Long Island and 101 in the metro New York region.

A UV alert is also in effect today. The UV index is expected to be 10, which is the upper end of the “very high” designation. A UV index of 11 and above is considered “extreme.”

Per the weather.com forecast: Abundant sunshine today. Near record high temperatures across the east end. A high of 94F in Southampton. 98 degrees in Riverhead. 97 in Mattituck. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Humidity 48%

The NYS Department of Education has denied the Massapequa school district’s request for an extension to comply with a ban on Native American mascots, names and imagery, citing a lack of “good cause” effort, state officials said in a letter Friday.

“The District’s extension request reveals that nothing whatsoever has been done to eliminate the use of its 'Chiefs' name, logo or mascot,” state officials wrote in a letter to the district. “Indeed, at times, the Massapequa School District has suggested that it has no intention of complying with these regulations."

Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that the state cited as an example a recent fundraiser held at Massapequa High School that raised $10,000 for the district’s legal fight against the mascot ban. In an emailed statement Friday, the Massapequa school board said the "ban on Native American names and imagery is blatantly discriminatory and a clear violation of civil rights. We remain confident that we will prevail in federal court and see this unconstitutional regulation struck down.”

The state Board of Regents in 2023 banned the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos in public schools and had set a deadline of June 30, 2025, to comply. The mandate affected 13 districts on Long Island, most of which have taken steps to comply with the regulation.

The Massapequa, Wyandanch, Wantagh and Connetquot districts had challenged the mandate in federal court, seeking to either keep their names or nullify the state regulation. A federal judge ruled against the districts in March.

The Wantagh, Wyandanch and Connetquot districts filed appeals. The Massapequa district, whose mascot is a Native American in a headdress, has filed an amended complaint.

***

A Virginia woman was arraigned Saturday in connection with the hit-and-run of a prominent real estate agent who was found lying in the road early Thursday morning in Hampton Bays.

Arielle Dollinger and John Asbury report in NEWSDAY that Amanda Kempton, 32, was arrested by Southampton Town police Friday in the death of Sara Burack, 40, of Southampton. Police said Kempton was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in which a fatality occurred, which is a felony.

Kempton's attorney, William Keahon, of Hauppauge, said outside Southampton Town Justice Court on Saturday that it was "very foggy" early Thursday morning, when Burack was struck on Montauk Highway.

Keahon said surveillance video showed Kempton driving on the highway when Burack appeared in the roadway holding a suitcase at 2:45 a.m. He said his client was in the righthand lane and not speeding or weaving.

He said Kempton told detectives that "she thought she hit a construction cone."

Keahon said he did not know the source of the video, which was shown to him by the assistant district attorney.

Suffolk County District Attorney's Office spokesperson Tania Lopez declined to comment Saturday.

Keahon said there were no illegal substances found in his client's car and that the accident did not involve alcohol.

Kempton was arraigned Saturday morning and released on $200,000 bond, Keahon confirmed.

According to Keahon, Kempton attended George Mason University in Virginia and has a background in marine biology. “She’s going to fight very hard with me on this case,” Keahon said. “I believe she’s innocent.”

Police have said that a 911 caller reported an injured woman seen on Montauk Highway around 2:45 a.m. Thursday near Villa Paul Restaurant, west of Springville Road.

Burack was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she died from her injuries Thursday afternoon, police said.

***

Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger defeated challenger Ed Simioni to win reelection on Friday night. Manger received a total of 622 votes, while Simioni, who ran against Manger halfway through his first two-year term as village trustee, collected 510 votes.

As reported on 27east.com, Rob Coburn, who challenged two incumbent trustees, had the most votes of the five candidates, garnering 655 to win a seat on the Village Board for the first time. Roy Stevenson, won reelection as trustee for a third term, collecting 654 votes, just one less than Coburn.

In Westhampton Beach this past Friday, incumbent Trustee Rob Rubio won reelection to a sixth, two-year term, and Chris Rizzo won his first two-year term.

Rubio received 176 votes; Rizzo received 155.

***

The Fordham Tick Index, which gauges the risk of encountering ticks outdoors in the New York area, redlined last week.

It put the risk at 10 on its 10-point scale and added this advice: “If you’re thinking of taking a hike, consider going to a movie instead.”

James Barron reports in THE NY TIMES that the tick situation this summer really is that bad, said Thomas Daniels, the director of Louis Calder Center in Armonk, N.Y., a division of Fordham University. And it was predictable, said Joellen Lampman of the Cornell Integrated Pest Management program, because there was a bumper crop of acorns in 2023, more than acorn-eaters like deer, mice and squirrels could gobble up.

The rich diet carried them into 2024, when “they had more litters and larger litters,” she said, citing research by Richard Ostfeld of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y., “so we had more mice running around, more deer and all the things that love to eat the acorns.”

And the year after that? “An explosion of the things that eat the things that eat the acorns — ticks,” Lampman said, adding: “This is that year.”

Only the deer tick carries Lyme disease. But deer ticks can carry four other pathogens, Daniels said. The other types of ticks can also transmit diseases.

The health department suggests using an insect repellent with a product label that says it is effective against ticks, not just mosquitoes. It says that the synthetic insecticide permethrin can be applied to clothes or shoes, but not skin.

The health department says to check for ticks when you come in from outside and to remove them immediately. It also suggests bathing or showering as soon as possible after coming inside, ideally within two hours, and putting the clothing in the dryer for 10 minutes on high heat to kill any ticks you may have picked up.

Ticks can also infect dogs and sometimes cats. The health department says to check with your veterinarian about flea and tick repellents.

***

Despite three new Long Island species joining New York’s list of endangered and threatened species, all hope is far from lost.

Here on the East End, there is one comeback story of note: the osprey, according to Bob DeLuca, the president of Group for the East End, which had a major hand in saving the bird from potential extinction.

Michelle Trauring reports on 27east.com that the osprey decline began in the 1950s and accelerated through the 1970s with the increased use of DDT, an insecticide that resulted in eggshell thinning, causing them to be more easily crushed during incubation. In 1976, the apex predators were listed as endangered in New York State, only rebounding in the early 1980s after DDT was banned.

In 1983, the level of concern for ospreys was downgraded to “threatened,” and by 1995, there were 230 breeding pairs on Long Island. Four years later, the white-bellied birds were downgraded once more, this time to species of special concern, which is the osprey’s current status.

This summer, Group for the East End is conducting its triennial osprey monitoring program, visiting approximately 500 osprey nests across the East End, from East Hampton, Riverhead and Shelter Island to Southampton and Southold. Alongside expert birders and volunteers, the organization has documented roughly 200 nesting pairs so far as part of phase one, which ran from Memorial Day weekend through early June.

Phase two will begin in July, when they return to the same nests to look for fledglings. This data will be compiled and shared with New York State, which keeps track of the local population.

“Our last monitoring year was 2022, so it is exciting to see how many nesting pairs are back now three years later and what areas within the East End they congregate in,” explained Jen Skilbred, senior environmental specialist at Group for the East End. “Visiting their nests is always interesting, as well. The same pair will return to a nest every breeding season, adding sticks, grass, and whatever else they can find, so the nests can become quite large. It’s also a good reminder to make sure we don’t litter or our old fishing line and plastic bags may end up as a dangerous addition to an osprey nest.”

For more information and answers to common questions, such as what to do if an osprey nests on a home structure, or if a nest appears to be in danger, visit thegroup.org.

Cash reserves held by Long Island school districts climbed to nearly $3.64 billion during the 2024-25 academic year — up 12% from last year, Newsday found in a review of state financial records.

About a fifth of those reserves, or $785 million, were "unrestricted" funds — that is, money that can be spent at districts’ discretion. New York State law bars districts from stockpiling this money beyond an amount equivalent to 4% of their annual operating budgets.

Newsday found that 19 Long Island school districts had accumulated unrestricted cash surpluses above the state’s legal limit — the same number as last year.

There are no penalties for violations of the law regarding unrestricted cash reserves.

John Hildebrand and Michael R. Ebert report in NEWSDAY that districts’ cash surpluses are a hot-button issue in this region, where taxpayer advocates contend that such money should be applied to tax reductions rather than sitting in banks. School taxation in the region accounts for more than 60% of homeowners’ property-tax bills, which rank among the nation's highest.

School officials insist, on the other hand, that these funds serve as an essential hedge against inflationary cost increases, economic downturns or potential losses of federal and state school aid.

The prospect of losing state aid is a key concern this year for both state and local school officials, as negotiations now underway in the U.S. Congress could lead to cuts in funding for Medicaid. Costs of that health program are shared by federal, state and local authorities, raising the possibility that any cuts on the federal level would have to be made up by New York State. That could then mean less money available for state financial assistance to schools.

***

Southampton Town police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who police said struck and killed a prominent real estate agent who was found lying in the road early yesterday in Hampton Bays.

John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that police said Sara Burack, 40, of Southampton, was struck by an unknown vehicle that sped away from the crash, which occurred before 2:45 a.m. Thursday on Montauk Highway. Police said Burack died from her injuries Thursday afternoon.

Burack was a former real estate agent for Nest Seekers International, a Hamptons and New York City-based real estate agency of high-end properties. She was also featured in the Netflix series "Million Dollar Beach House," set in the Hamptons.

A 911 caller reported an injured woman seen on Montauk Highway at about 2:45 a.m. yesterday near Villa Paul Restaurant, west of Springville Road in Hampton Bays.

Police said Burack was transported by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Detectives and a New York State Police accident reconstruction unit were investigating the crash.

Police did not provide a description of the driver or the vehicle.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 631-702-2230 or 631-728-3400.

Burack left Nest Seekers more than a year ago but stayed in close contact with former colleagues and friends, said Geoff Gifkins, the Hamptons regional manager for Nest Seekers.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends," Gifkins said in a message. "Please be kind and respectful as this is a tremendous loss to her parents and close friends."

***

Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton invites you to their GRAND REOPENING CELEBRATION tomorrow afternoon from 2pm to 4pm…with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30pm on Saturday.

RML promises food, fun, and festivities for all ages. Plus, a door prize and giveaways.

Explore the NEW BOOKMARK CAFÉ – Study rooms – Tech Lab – Teen Space – updated family room – and more.

That’s tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm at the Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Road in Southampton Village.

***

The Shinnecock Nation sued the Town of Southampton in federal court this week over a threat by the town to bring a new legal action if the tribe uses its land in Hampton Bays as parking for this Saturday’s Palm Tree Music Festival.

But while the suit was sparked by a letter from the town about using the nation’s land there for concert parking, the legal arguments presented by the tribe’s attorneys carry far wider implications for the tribe’s plans for a gas station, hotel and, potentially, a casino at the property.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the Shinnecock’s attorneys seized on a June 12 “cease and desist” letter from Southampton Town Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy to the organizers of the music festival addressing the plans to use part of the tribe’s property, known as Westwoods, for staff parking during the music festival, which is taking place on the Shinnecock Territory in Southampton tomorrow afternoon and evening.

But in arguing that the town should not be able to block the tribe from using the property as temporary parking, the nation’s attorneys said the federal court should prohibit the town and New York State from exerting any regulatory authority over the Westwoods property – ever.

Pointing to a letter from a U.S. Department of the Interior official in January that ordered the Westwoods property to be logged in federal rolls as “restricted fee” lands, the tribe’s attorneys said that federal law is the only authority over such lands owned by sovereign Indigenous nations and that the town trying to impose its regulations is unconstitutional.

Late Wednesday, after a three-hour conference in federal court, Southampton Town Attorney Jim Burke said the town had "agreed to work with the promoters (and the) Nation for the use of the Westwoods property for the parking."

But a tribal lawyer, Tela Troge, said that won't impact the federal suit.

"We are seeking to permanently enjoin the town from asserting any zoning for any reason at Westwoods," she wrote in a message to Newsday.

***

The New York State Legislature agreed to expand the powers of the state to investigate "deceptive, unfair and abusive" acts by businesses including predatory lenders, debt collectors and scammers nationwide that impact New Yorkers even if the company is located outside New York.

Supporters say the law is necessary in part because Republican President Donald Trump effectively ended the work of the federal consumer protection agency.

But opponents warn that the measure adopted this week would give too much power to Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, who has investigated Trump and his businesses and opposed his acts as president.

Michael Gormley reports in NEWSDAY that the measure now goes to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature into law or veto.

"Too many New Yorkers are being taken advantage of by mortgage servicers charging unnecessarily high fees, debt collectors stealing Social Security benefits, and health insurance companies with unfair billing practices," James said in a statement Wednesday. The measure will "close loopholes that make it easy for New Yorkers to be cheated out of their time and hard-earned money."

The Democrat-led Assembly gave the bill final legislative approval late Tuesday after a sometimes sharply partisan debate. The State Senate approved the bill Friday.

Assemb. Edward Ra (R-Garden City South) argued Tuesday on the Assembly floor that the bill was too vague and expansive for elected attorney generals.

He said Democratic attorneys general seem to say, “‘I’m the next governor and I’m going to pursue the cases that set me up best for that.’"

Ra said insurance companies, real estate firms and other companies have opposed the measure.

"We’re concerned this will be another thing that will make New York State a more difficult place to do business," he said.

***

East End Jazz, which is working to bring new audiences to experience the love of jazz, will hold a free concert this evening at 6 p.m. on the New Suffolk Ballfield, sponsored by the New Suffolk Civic Association.

Led by Olivia Foschi on vocals, Gil Goldstein on keys, Iris Ornig on bass, and Jonathan Mele on drums, the band will also feature incredible budding jazz musicians from the New Suffolk community.

Join the New Suffolk Civic Association on the New Suffolk ball field with a blanket and a picnic for an unforgettable evening of music!

East End Jazz is a women-led non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the community together through jazz education, concerts, and workshops. To learn more about East End Jazz visit: www.eastendjazz.org

***

State Assembly wrapped up its work for the year, joining the Senate, which had gaveled out last week. This period was full of intense fights and expensive lobbying efforts over actual life-or-death issues, including legislation to permit terminally ill New Yorkers to end their lives and a bill regulating pet insurance.

Then there was the equal opportunity bill aimed at those who imbibe, with lawmakers passing legislation to “recognize and promote New York State-labeled liquors, beer, cider and mead in the same manner as wine.” And a distinctly unrelated measure allows crossbows to be used “for the taking of big game in any area long bows are permitted.”

Governor Hochul will now spend the rest of the year sifting through these proposed laws and haggling with legislative leaders over whether to sign, tweak or veto them.

One noteworthy bill addresses artificial intelligence.

New York has moved quicker than most states, with elected officials passing a package of bills to regulate the most advanced form of A.I. models. If Governor Hochul signs the legislation, larger companies using these models would have to formulate safety plans, which would then be published in some redacted form to give the public some insight into the safeguards.

The companies would also have to disclose “major security incidents” that include instances when the models steal or engage “in behavior other than at the request of a user.”

In the run-up to passage of the package, large technology companies lobbied intensely to have it killed. In the 11th hour, a stipulation requiring a third-party audit of this technology was stripped from the bill.

Even so, proponents of the law held it up as a victory and the first of its kind in the United States.

Southampton Village Police are warning residents and visitors that there will be increased police presence and possible traffic tie-ups over the weekend ahead of the anticipated “Billionaires Lane Shutdown” protest tomorrow.

As reported on 27east.com, Southampton Village Police said that travel delays, temporary road closures and parking restrictions can be expected throughout the day on Saturday as more than 300 protesters have said they plan to flood into the village and block access on Meadow Lane, the posh oceanfront roadway home to a number of ultra-rich summer residents.

The protestors plan to gather at Coopers Beach in the early afternoon and march down the roadway from there to the home of the late David Koch, owner of Koch industries and a major Republican Party donor, and back.

Tomorrow’s protest march is expected to last about two hours, from 2 to 4 p.m., but the convergence and departure of the protestors can be expected to cause traffic congestion over a longer period.

Southampton Village Police Captain Christopher Wetter said, “The safety and security of our residents, visitors and local businesses remain our top priority. As such, community members can expect an increased police presence throughout the village to help ensure a safe and orderly environment…All motorists and pedestrians are urged to follow the directions of law enforcement personnel, remain alert to closures and exercise caution due to the anticipated increase in traffic.”

***

Protesters on Long Island and across the country will take to the streets Saturday in “No Kings” rallies nationwide to coincide with a military parade commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary that falls on Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. June 14 is also Flag Day.

“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance,” according to organizers. “From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like.”

Regarding tomorrow’s demonstrations, Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Kevin Catalina stated, "We’re in contact with our partners in LA and around the country to share intelligence of the tactics that have been used, and we are abreast of what is happening throughout the country…"As a result of that, we will be prepared for this weekend. We expect everyone to obey the laws. We respect people’s right to protest peacefully and lawfully. We’ll have our officers enforcing all laws and we’ll be ready for protests."

No Kings events on the east end tomorrow include:

East Hampton

East Hampton Town Hall grounds

97 Main Street, East Hampton

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southampton

Coopers Beach

2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hampton Bays

Macy's

190 W. Montauk Highway

10:30 a.m. to noon

Sag Harbor

11 a.m. to 12 noon at Steinbeck Park.

Riverhead

The Riverhead No Kings rally, organized by the Riverhead and Southampton Democratic Committees, will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in front of the Suffolk County Supreme Court at One Court Street, Orient 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“We will be gathering in Orient Village to march around the block to make fun of the wannabe king on his birthday! Bring signs and noisemakers and wear costumes: ridicule him to the best of your ability!”

***

The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center, in partnership with the Long Island Housing Coalition and community partners, will host an East End Community Housing Summit tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton

Saturday's event will focus on housing challenges and solutions across the East End. Community members are invited to engage in critical discussions, share their experiences, and learn about ongoing housing initiatives. Experts will be available to provide insight and resources that address housing equity and access in our region.

“As long time Chair of the Southampton Housing Authority and ED of The Center for more than 17 years, I know all too well about the severe lack of affordable housing on the East End,” said The Center’s Executive Director, Bonnie Michelle Cannon, in announcing the summit. “I am proud that The Center is able to host this important event. Please come and learn. Tell your friends and family. There will be many experts on hand to offer valuable advice.”

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

RSVP here

***

U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota, the Republican from Amityville who represents the 1st Congressional District which includes the east end and another Republican colleague changed their votes yesterday, saving an endangered House bill that slashes more than $9 billion from PBS, NPR and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Bahar Ostadan reports in NEWSDAY that the house narrowly voted to pass the bill, which aims at clawing back money previously allocated to USAID and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR, PBS and thousands of public radio and television stations nationwide...among them WLIW. The move crystallized Trump’s executive order to cut federal funding for NPR and PBS, and his efforts to dismantle USAID.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson had been engaged in a lengthy conversation with LaLota on the House floor before Thursday's vote.

LaLota, along with fellow Republican House member Don Bacon of Nebraska, changed their votes to yes, propelling the final tally to 214-212.

Nearly every Republican voted in favor of the funding cuts, including Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport). Four Republicans in the House voted against the bill and no Democrats voted in favor.

The bill will now advance to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it only needs a simple majority rather than the 60 votes usually required from the 100-member chamber. This rule falls under the so-called rescissions request, where presidential administrations can ask to cancel funding that has already been allocated.

A federal judge ruled in March that Trump’s dismantling of USAID violated the Constitution, blocking the Department of Government Efficiency from making additional cuts.

NPR is available on WLIW-FM on Long Island and WNYC in New York City. PBS television stations serving Long Island include WNET and WLIW/21.

***

Rep. Elise Stefanik and Gov. Kathy Hochul faced off over New York’s migrant crisis during a fiery congressional hearing on sanctuary policies — as the congresswoman aggressively asked the governor about high-profile migrant crimes.

Vaughn Golden reports in THE NY POST that Stefanik…a Republican who represents upstate New York's 21st congressional district…is eyeing a run against Hochul in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Governor Hochul said the state has helped US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement remove over 1,300 criminal migrants since she became governor in 2021.

Hochul renewed the state’s controversial sanctuary policy, first defined under an executive order by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It bars state employees from asking about someone’s immigration status other than in situations such as criminal investigations.

Many localities around the state such as New York City have their own, often more rigorous, sanctuary policies.

Throughout the hearing Hochul tried to argue both that New York has indeed been cooperating with ICE to deport criminal migrants, but also that the federal immigration raids and crackdown on protestors in LA are a “flagrant abuse of power.” “My views on immigration are simple and direct, our nation needs secure borders, our nation needs comprehensive immigration reform from this body, and our state laws dictate that we cooperate with ICE and criminal cases,” Governor Hochul said yesterday in Washington, D.C. during a U.S. congressional hearing.

***

Hundreds of “NO KINGS” rallies are planned for tomorrow across the country including Long Island and New York City.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said a large presence of police would deter illegal or violent behavior and would be "working as our peacekeepers."

"You have a point of view, great, this is America, and you can express it," Romaine said, "but you can't express it through violence or property destruction. That's not right. That's the wrong way to go about it.

On the east end “NO KINGS” rallies are expected in Riverhead, Orient, Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, Southampton and East Hampton.

***

When “NO KINGS” demonstrators gather for their rally at Coopers Beach in Southampton tomorrow they might want to take a moment to appreciate America’s NUMBER ONE beach.

For Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a Florida-based university researcher and beach and sand devotee who is the director of the laboratory for coastal research at Florida International University, puts Coopers Beach at the top of his 2025 list of the best beaches in the United States.

Main Beach in East Hampton took fifth place in the rankings

But it was the tranquility, safety and an out-of-town vibe, to go along with soft, quartz sand, that earned Coopers Beach its No. 1 ranking.

Often referred to as Dr. Beach, Leatherman tells NEWSDAY, "When you go out to the Hamptons, it's sort of like going out into the countryside compared to Manhattan. You got beautiful small towns there, but the beach itself is really pristine," he said, adding that it was "very safe" with "great lifeguards."

(With a heavy Southampton Village police presence tomorrow, Coopers should be even safer.)

"There’s no pollution there," he said of the Southampton beach. "The water is crystal clear and clean."

Aidan Johnson reports in NEWSDAY that since 1991, Leatherman has named his top 10 beaches using 50 criteria, including "water and sand quality as well as safety and management."

The Southampton beach is not without its flaws, Dr. Beach said. The sand at Coopers is grainier than he'd like and the $50 daily parking rate is pricey.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee today as the Republican-led panel investigates Democrat-led states with so-called sanctuary immigration policies that limit state cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Hochul will appear alongside Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota in a hearing that comes as the Trump administration has ramped up its mass deportation campaign with recent worksite raids across the country.

Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R- Ky.) called for today’s hearing months ago — issuing a letter to Hochul, Walz and Pritzker in April, requesting they appear before the panel for questioning.

Hochul spokesman Avi Small said in a statement to Newsday: "Gov. Hochul has voluntarily agreed to appear before the committee and will reiterate what she’s said dozens of times: New York cooperates with federal immigration officials to deport violent criminals, but absolutely does not support cruel actions that tear families apart or rip children away from their parents." Comer, in a statement released Monday, accused "reckless sanctuary states like Illinois, Minnesota, and New York" of "actively seeking to obstruct federal immigration enforcement."

New York currently has a patchwork of laws and executive orders that limit the state’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, unless a judicial warrant or judicial order is provided.

In his April 10 letter to Hochul, Comer specifically raised issues with a 2017 executive order signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo that prohibits state employees from providing information "to federal immigration authorities for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement, unless required by law."

***

The Southampton Town Board this week officially adopted a battery of town code amendments that redirect the town’s allowances for the installation of battery energy storage systems, or BESS, that greatly restricts the size of systems and where they can be employed to store electricity.

Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the board approved amendments that repealed all of the current, more permissive regulations regarding BESS facilities in Southampton Town code since 2020, replacing them with stringent new constraints that ban the systems from residential areas, cap their size at a fraction of what’s already been proposed by developers, and put in place an exhaustive set of safety requirements and fail-safes intended to head off some of the predictions of conflagration and toxic smoke threatening the health of residents raised by critics of the technology.

The new rules are also so punitive that it is unlikely that anyone will bring new BESS proposals to the town in the foreseeable future, industry experts have said — something town officials have gone out of their way to say is not their intention in crafting the code amendments.

The vote on the amendments, which was unanimous by the five members of the board, comes some 20 months after the Southampton Town Board enacted a moratorium on approvals of any BESS facilities amid outrage over a proposal for a large battery system in Hampton Bays that was on the verge of being green-lighted.

***

In the summer of 2001, Brian Wilson made two memorable appearances on Long Island…at Jones Beach Theater in Nassau County on Tuesday July 24th...and a day earlier on the East End at the ALL FOR THE SEA concert on the grounds of Southampton College.

Following the Southampton show and through the next week, folks across the south fork spoke admiringly about how a supposedly burnt out Beach Boy delightfully delivered one Brian Wilson masterpiece after another.

A small sampling of his 25 song set-list from that Monday evening performance nearly 24 years ago includes everlasting favorites such as California Girls, I Get Around, Help Me Rhonda, Fun Fun Fun, and God Only Knows.

***

A school district on Long Island estimates it’ll spend $23 million to erase its “Thunderbirds” team name — as it’s forced to comply with a state ban on Native American logos and imagery. Alex Mitchell reports in THE NY POST that Connetquot, whose baseball team recently won the Suffolk County championship, has been in quiet communication with the state of New York and expects to entirely phase out its longtime moniker by March of next year, according to documents obtained by The Post.

“The District has invested significant funds in larger-scale athletic costs at the high school and middle schools without the Thunderbirds name or imagery,” Superintendent Joseph Centamore wrote to Dave Frank, assistant commissioner of the NYS Department of Education.

“These costs included the replacement of turf fields, indoor gym floors and equipment, and other fixtures, as well as repainting projects throughout the schools totaling $23,620,000,” he said in the letter, dated May 6. Connetquot will also have to spend “an additional $323,470.42” on “scorers’ tables, cheer equipment, wall pads, scoreboards, additional uniforms, and certain banners and signage.” The Thunderbirds, which use no relevant imagery, shares its name with a Canadian Hockey League team based outside Seattle and an Air Force demonstration squadron that performs at Jones Beach. The Connetquot School District has been fighting in court since 2023 with fellow Native American-named districts on Long Island, including Massapequa, Wantagh and Wyandanch. However, a chief justice dismissed the suit in March, but only Massapequa amended its complaint to keep the fight going. President Trump intervened in April, declaring “LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!” and ordered Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to investigate the issue at a national level. She recently visited Massapequa. The Connetquot School district was granted a year’s extension last week.

***

An air quality health advisory has been issued for today covering Long Island and NYC Metro regions due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced yesterday. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that elevated fine particulate levels have been reported across areas of New York State due to smoke from more than 200 wildfires that have raged in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan since early last month, burning more than 2.3 million acres as of last week, according to the government of Canada. Outdoor air quality levels are predicted to be greater than an air quality index value of 101 for fine particulates today in the New York City and Long Island metro regions, according to the advisory, reaching 101 in the Long Island region and 107 in the NYC Metro region today. An AQI of 101-150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. The air quality index for Long Island yesterday was 70 for fine particulate matter and 87 for ozone. Both values are considered moderate. The AQI value for ozone today is forecast to reach 93. Ozone is produced by summer heat as a result of emissions from vehicles and smokestacks. Those emissions typically migrate to Long Island from out of state sources, the DEC said. The counties covered by today’s air quality health advisory are New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam. A toll free air quality hotline, 1-800-535-1345, has been established so New York residents can stay informed on the air quality situation, the DEC said.

***

The Nationwide “No Kings” rallies planned throughout the country during the president’s military parade in Washington, D.C. this Saturday will include several on the East End. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that rallies are being planned in Riverhead, Orient, Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, Southampton and East Hampton.

Organizers of the Riverhead rally said Tuesday that more than 700 people had already RSVP’d.

“On June 14 — Flag Day — Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” says the No Kings organization in describing its nationwide day of protest.

The Riverhead No Kings rally, organized by the Riverhead and Southampton Democratic Committees, will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday in front of the Suffolk County Supreme Court at One Court Street. The Hampton Bays rally will be held at the Macy’s shopping center from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. The Sag Harbor rally will be held at 11 a.m. at Steinbeck Park. The East Hampton rally will be held at 11 a.m. at East Hampton Town Hall. The Southampton rally, “Shut Down Billionaire’s Lane, No Kings!” will be held at Coopers Beach from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

***

A six-year survey of humpback whales that are increasingly lingering in the waters off Long Island found almost 90% carried scars from entanglement in fishing ropes or nets. A smaller but still significant number, particularly young whales, had been wounded by ship propellers.

Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that researchers from Stony Brook University used drones to take images of the whales swimming off the South Shore, which allowed them to capture a more comprehensive view of the animals’ bodies than is generally possible when taking photos from a boat.

Entanglements from commercial fishing gear and vessel strikes in shipping lanes are thought to be the leading causes of whale mortality on the East Coast.

"It's sobering to realize how often these animals are interacting with fishing gear," said Lesley Thorne, the director of the Thorne Lab at Stony Brook University’s marine science department and the lead scientist on the study. And "even more sobering," she said, "was the proportion of juveniles that had evidence of vessel strike scars."

Thorne cautions that once a wound has healed, it’s hard to know where these whales, which migrate between the Caribbean in winter and as far north as Labrador, Canada, in summer, got entangled or injured by a propeller.

She found no evidence that offshore wind developments were implicated in these deaths.

As humpbacks spend more time near the busy port of New York, researchers believe they are at greater risk of ship strikes.

The entanglements Thorne documented, on the other hand, may well have happened in waters far from Long Island, possibly in the whales' traditional feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine.

Lobster harvesters have been collaborating with conservationists and manufacturers to test remote-controlled pop-up traps, which are already being used in the Gulf of Maine

A video is circulating on social media of a group of uniformed, armed men outside of the Community Housing Innovation complex at 629 W Main St. in Riverhead Tuesday morning. Ana Borruto & Nicole Wagner report in the Riverhead News-Review that local news outlets reported the men approached the homeless shelter early yesterday, wearing vests that read “U.S. Marshal.” The individuals, who were allegedly looking for someone at the shelter, reportedly did not identify themselves or present any credentials, and did not present a search warrant when asked for entry, according to RiverheadLocal…which in an update reported that Riverhead Town Police said late Tuesday afternoon that they have confirmed that the action earlier yesterday at the men’s shelter on West Main Street was not an action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Capt. Danielle Willsey said the action in the video circulating on social media was not immigration-related. She said she could not provide information as to which law enforcement agency was at the site of the West Main Street shelter this morning.

“ICE does not have to tell us when they’re in the area,” Captain Willsey said. But she confirmed that those officers were not from ICE. Minerva Perez, OLA Eastern Long Island executive director, said in response to the increase of alleged ICE activity happening on Long Island, the organization launched a rapid response action plan called Operation Stand and Protect to aid East End neighbors who may “fall prey to ICE agents.”

OLA is in the process of setting up a 24-hour hotline at 631-500-5001 for people who are in need of assistance. Interested volunteers who want to get involved in OLA’s rapid response initiative are encouraged to fill out a short google form online: tinyurl.com/OLARapidResponse.

***

“See the ability, not the disability.”

That was the motto at East Quogue School last Thursday, when faculty and staff hosted the inaugural Abilities Day at the kindergarten through sixth grade school.

Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that a committee of roughly 20 staff members at the East Quogue School worked together over several weeks to put together the action-packed day, which also included an evening event, after seeing the nearby Westhampton Beach School District put on a similar event last year. The Westhampton Beach Elementary School has hosted what they call “Sensory Day” (with an accompanying evening program) for the past three years. The idea originally came from physical education teacher Connor Davis, who also teaches the adaptive and unified phys Ed classes in the district.

The East Quogue PTA also had a big role in their day, providing funding for all the necessary supplies.

The purpose of Abilities Day is simple but profound — to teach children to appreciate the different and unique abilities many people have, rather than focusing on their disabilities, and to also gain a greater awareness of and appreciation for the things they’re able to do every day that they likely take for granted.

“It’s really important to highlight the learning styles of all the kids, and for them to understand that just because someone might be learning something in a different way doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” school social worker Erin Brady said.

***

The Southampton Youth Bureau hosted the 22nd annual Battle of the Bands contest last Friday, where five teen bands duked it out on stage at Ponquogue Beach in a night that showcased local young talent.

Daydream, a four-piece rock band based in Riverhead, took home first place for the second year in a row.

Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Daydream, came on stage and immediately launched into their set with Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u.” Led by a brooding riff by bassist Dylan West and the soaring vocals of lead singer Lilou Zugmeyer, the song proved to be a crowd favorite.

Daydream’s four-song set showcased a band that was not only playing at a high level but also confident on stage. West and guitarist Lucas Magnnozzi crossed the stage to swap places with each other multiple times, while Zugmeyer shone through with powerful vocals, particularly during their closing song, “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence.

After the winning bands were announced, Daydream returned to the stage for an encore of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet, ending the night on a high note.

***

In a relatively short time span for Albany, the Medical Aid in Dying bill went from stuck in third gear to a fast-track passage by the New York State Legislature.

Now, the action will shift to back-channel wooing of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who hasn’t given any clues whether she will sign or veto it.

Yancey Roy reports in Newsday that advocates and opponents were weighing next steps yesterday, one day after the State Senate gave final passage to the controversial end-of-life bill that opponents call physician-assisted suicide.

"The fight is not over," Assemb. Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale), the leading legislative advocate of the bill, told Newsday.

On that, opponents agree.

"All our hope lies with the governor," Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, said.

As with any legislation approved by the NYS Senate and Assembly, the legislature in practice has until the end of the year to formally advance the bill to the governor. When that happens, the governor has 10 days to sign or veto.

Monday’s Senate vote — the Assembly voted in April — was the culmination of a decade of work by lawmakers and scores of activists.

The bill would allow a "mentally competent, terminally ill adult," age 18 or older, who has a prognosis of six months or less to live, to request self-administered, life-ending medication from a physician. The measure also would provide certain protections and immunities for the prescribing health care providers, for example, for not resuscitating qualified patients who have self-administered the mediation.

No Republican in either house supported the bill. Most Democrats did, although there were exceptions including Long Island, Sens. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury), and Assemb. Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont).

***

"Independency: The American Flag at 250 Years," is a unique exhibition of flags and historic objects at the Southampton Arts Center through July 19.

Flags in the collection of lawyer, historian, writer, producer and East Ender John Monsky date back to 1775 - a banner for General George Washington.

Mary Gregory reports in NEWSDAY that Monsky's collection is expansive and extraordinary, including objects from America's earliest days through the Apollo missions and beyond. Viewers of his presentations at Carnegie Hall or last year's PBS special "The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day” have seen some of the flags he's collected on screen. Now the actual objects, as rare and fragile as they are, are right before viewers' eyes.

"It's such an important collection," said Southampton Arts Center’s executive director Christina Mossaides Strassfield, who co-curated the show with Monsky. "I love the opportunity to make history come alive," she said, explaining why she offered Monsky the entire museum to show his flags. While individual flags have been lent to a variety of prestigious institutions, the collection had never been displayed in its entirety.

Many of the flags raise spirits; others are touchingly poignant. "We're not being political," Strassfield said. "The flag means hope. We're a democracy and we're imperfect, but were always trying, striving to do better." Strassfield's favorite piece is a strip of red, white and blue, taken from the flag Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted on the moon.

There will be a talk on June 21 by Monsky, revealing the stunning and tragic stories behind the stars and stripes. He chose to end the exhibition with a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald, "America was a willingness of the heart." Monsky encourages everyone to come in, adding, "Come with some time on your hands so you can take this trip through American history ... You feel the sacrifices of the boys on Omaha beach, on Utah Beach. You see America trying to birth this republic. You see the 13-star flags that were flown as a celebration at the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. And when you get to the end, you feel this willingness of the American heart."

It's an emotional journey. Strassfield promises, "We'll have the tissues out."

WHAT "Independency: The American Flag at 250 Years"

WHEN | WHERE Through July 19, 12-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane. (A curators' talk with John Monsky and Christina Strassfield will be held at 5 p.m. on June 21. To attend, register at the center's website.)

For more information visit southamptonartscenter.org.

***

The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center, in partnership with the Long Island Housing Coalition and community partners, will host an East End Community Housing Summit this coming Saturday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton

This event will focus on housing challenges and solutions across the East End. Community members are invited to engage in critical discussions, share their experiences, and learn about ongoing housing initiatives. Experts will be available to provide insight and resources that address housing equity and access in our region.

“As long time Chair of the Southampton Housing Authority and ED of The Center for more than 17 years, I know all too well about the severe lack of affordable housing on the East End,” said The Center’s Executive Director, Bonnie Michelle Cannon, in announcing the summit. “I am proud that The Center is able to host this important event. Please come and learn. Tell your friends and family. There will be many experts on hand to offer valuable advice.”

A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

RSVP here.

***

The 70th Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival will tee off another North Fork summer - today through this weekend at Strawberry Fields Fairgrounds in Mattituck. This is the Lions’ main fundraiser for the year, and it has raised more than $1 million for local and national causes in its seven decades.

“Every dollar we make is given right back to either the local community or we give back to American Cancer Society,” said festival chairman David Dominy. “We give away all our money to some form of charity, whether that is helping people who are hungry, helping in a national disaster environment or also helping out local families.”

Amanda Olsen reports in The Riverhead News-Review that according to its website, on June 16, 1955, only a little more than three years after the club’s founding, the Mattituck Lions Club celebrated its first Strawberry Festival and this year will be the Club’s 70th.

Back in ’55, for a total of six hours, Ed Buchak, the first festival chairman and fellow club members entertained about 1,000 guests.

“The community members rally around the festival, from the folks who come out on Wednesday night to help us hull the strawberries to people who are friends and family of the members who are volunteering their time from over the course of those five days,” said Dan Kelleher, media and publicity director for the Mattituck Lions Club. “I think that makes it a little bit unique in terms of some of the other festivals that are out there, that the community really rallies behind it.”

The 2025 Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival opens this evening with “Hulling Night” when admission is free and locals gather to remove the stems and leaves from nearly 100,000 berries to be used in the shortcake, virgin daiquiris and other treats available at the festival. There will also be live music and a talent show tonight.

Per NEWSDAY:

MATTITUCK LIONS CLUB’S 70th ANNUAL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

5-10 p.m. June 11-12

5-11 p.m. June 13

11 a.m.-11 p.m. June 14

11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 15

1105 North Rd. (Rte. 48), Mattituck

COST June 11: free; June 12-15 : $10 per person (fathers get in free on Father’s Day with one paid child); June 14 from 4 to 11 p.m. (adults and children 5 and up): $20. Rides and games are not included in the admission price. Pay One Price ride bracelets are $30-$40.

More information at mattituckstrawberryfestival.com.

Long Island addiction-treatment providers said yesterday that a congressional spending bill's $880 billion in proposed cuts, largely to Medicaid, and more than $1 billion in proposed trims to the federal budget, could lead to closed substance abuse programs and reduced services.

Organizers from several Long Island organizations gathered Monday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- N.Y.) to call on Congress to reject the Medicaid cuts in the proposed spending bill, which has already passed in the Republican-controlled House and awaits consideration by the GOP-majority Senate.

"It would devastate us," said Ann-Marie Foster, president of the Phoenix House, which operates 300 beds at residential treatment centers at four Long Island locations, with about 95% of those served on Medicaid. "We would significantly have to reduce service and potentially close programs," Foster said.

John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that Congress is still negotiating with President Donald Trump on his budget bill, which is expected to come up for a vote in September and calls for cutting $1 billion from SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which could freeze grants for addiction centers and Narcan overdose treatment, Schumer said.

"Devastating Medicaid cuts proposed by the Republican leadership in the House are taking direct aim on Long Island and at the worst possible moment," Schumer said. "Now the cuts would slash funding that goes directly to addiction treatment, mental health services and recovery support."

The $880 billion in cuts in the spending bill are to fund about $4.5 trillion in billionaire tax cuts, Schumer and other Democrats said yesterday.

Schumer said the potential cuts could affect 600,000 Long Islanders enrolled in the federal health care program.

***

The state budget adopted last month fails to adequately account for threatened federal aid cuts estimated at more than $10 billion that could also more than double the number of New Yorkers without health insurance, according to a budget analysis by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Michael Gormley reports in NEWSDAY that the $254 billion budget adopted in May, a month late, increases spending by 5.2% and continues a trend of significant growth since 2019, DiNapoli said yesterday.

"The stakes are high for New York if the cuts being discussed in Washington occur," DiNapoli said Monday. "The state needs to do what it can to stabilize finances, build reserve funds, focus on efficient service delivery and develop a strategy for how to contend with federal changes."

DiNapoli also said that while Gov. Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature took some measures to prepare for federal aid cuts planned by President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress, "the state needs to do what it can to prepare in a transparent manner before our options are even more limited."

Hochul’s budget spokesman, Tim Ruffinen, said the budget is sound and the state is prepared to face deep cuts from Washington. Those cuts would have to be approved by the U.S. Senate and withstand expected court challenges.

***

The grounds of the East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society will be the location for the organization’s annual fair this coming Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Among the activities will be a carousel, roving magician, pony rides, silent auction, a plant sale, vintage clothing and other vendors, food trucks and raffles.

The LVIS grounds are at 95 Main Street in East Hampton Village.

Admission is free.

Go to lvis.org for information.

East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society is celebrating its 130th anniversary!

***

In recent months, the New York State Capitol has been a stage for Gov. Kathy Hochul to sell an agenda she believes will win her re-election next year. It has also been a key backdrop in the drama surrounding who will challenge her. Benjamin Oreskes and Grace Ashford report in THE NY TIMES that the latest to do so is Representative Elise Stefanik, a powerful Trump loyalist who, during a rare appearance in Albany yesterday, sounded less interested in doing the president’s bidding and more intent on carving her own political path.

She blasted Ms. Hochul as the “worst governor in America” whose “pro-criminal agenda” made New Yorkers less safe by “putting violent criminals and illegals first and law abiding New Yorkers last.”

Ms. Stefanik, a six-term congresswoman, castigated the legislative actions of New York Democrats as “anti-worker, anti-family, anti-farm, anti-small business, anti-manufacturing and anti-law enforcement.”

The remarks appeared to preview Ms. Stefanik’s campaign themes if she runs. But they also misrepresented Ms. Hochul’s views in claiming that Democrats had rejected common-sense reforms to the bail laws and refused to lower taxes. Ms. Hochul has repeatedly strengthened the state’s bail laws, expending considerable political capital to do so. And while this year’s state budget increased taxes on businesses with payrolls of $10 million or more a year to fund public transit infrastructure, it cut taxes for smaller businesses and households making less than $323,000. The budget also drastically expanded the state’s child tax credit.

Still only 40 years old, Ms. Stefanik, who represents a district that stretches from just north of Albany to the Canadian border, has long been a rising star in the Republican Party.

Elected at just 30 years old as a moderate, she transformed herself after President Trump won in 2016 and has served as one of MAGA’s most ardent defenders.

Ms. Stefanik has not publicly declared her intention to run for governor, but has said she is “honored” to be considered for the role and will make a decision in the coming months.

***

Long Island addiction-treatment providers said yesterday that a congressional spending bill's $880 billion in proposed cuts, largely to Medicaid, and more than $1 billion in proposed trims to the federal budget, could lead to closed substance abuse programs and reduced services. John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that organizers from several Long Island organizations gathered Monday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- N.Y.) to call on Congress to reject the Medicaid cuts in the proposed spending bill, which has already passed in the Republican-controlled House and awaits consideration by the GOP-majority Senate.

Schumer said the potential cuts could affect 600,000 Long Islanders enrolled in the federal health care program.

U.S. Rep Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) said in a statement Monday that the spending bill before the Senate "protects Medicaid services for vulnerable populations — it doesn’t cut them. As for the President’s budget proposal, it’s just that — a proposal. ... Sen. Schumer is deliberately spreading falsehoods to scare people into thinking they’re losing their health care. It’s dishonest, it’s dangerous, and it’s exactly what’s broken in Washington."

Steve Chassman, executive director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), asked yesterday, "When people are sick, do they have the right to get well? There are 26 million Americans right now living in long-term recovery from substance use disorders. There are too many Long Islanders, New Yorkers and Americans who have incurred great loss. These proposed cuts will sling us back to where we were 5, 10,15 years ago."

***

The Southampton History Museum’s Carriage House Thrift Shop will reopen for the 2025 season this coming Saturday, June 14.

Operating every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., through October 4, the shop offers visitors and residents a chance to discover unique treasures while directly supporting local history education. Located on the grounds of the Rogers Mansion Museum Complex at 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton, the seasonal shop has a variety of art, vintage jewelry, books, postcards, and treasures of all kinds. New items arrive every week. All proceeds from the thrift shop directly support the museum’s educational programs, which bring Southampton’s history to life for students and community members.

Go to southamptonhistorymuseum.org for more information.

***

The Southold Town Board is seeking public comment at its 7 p.m. meeting this evening on its framework for awarding subsidies for affordable housing developers through its new Community Housing Fund.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the fund’s coffers are filled through a new half-percent real estate transfer tax, paid by buyers of property in the Town of Southold. Southold is currently working on the best ways to use this funding, guided by a Community Housing Plan adopted in 2023. The funds could be used for projects like the proposed 12-unit redevelopment of the former Capital One bank branch on Love Lane in Mattituck.

Town Planner Mara Cerezo has been working since last year on developing a set of guidelines for how the subsidies will be awarded, with a base subsidy augmented by several other features of the project.

The proposal would provide base subsidies of $55,000 per unit. Bonus subsidies would be awarded based on a percentage of the base subsidy for several different elements, including deeper affordability, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, septic upgrades, a diversity of unit size, home ownership, environmental sustainability and proximity to public transit.

The additional subsidy for adaptive reuse — the redevelopment of existing buildings — would be the largest, at 50 percent or $27,500 per unit.

This subsidy for housing developers is just one component of the Community Housing Plan. It can also be used for down payment assistance, maintenance of existing affordable housing stock and construction of accessory dwelling units.

Southold Town Board members said at their May 28 work session that the subsidy framework could be updated in the future if it isn’t working as currently designed.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon will join local officials at Massapequa High School today to make an announcement related to the findings of an investigation into the NYS Board of Regents' ban on Native American imagery in public schools, according to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's office. Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that the U.S. Department of Education launched the probe last month to determine if the state Department of Education's threat of withholding funds from the Massapequa district if it did not change its mascot violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, it said. The department initiated the investigation after President Donald Trump publicly expressed support for the district as it fights to keep its nickname, the "Chiefs," and its mascot.

The state Board of Regents in 2023 banned the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos in public schools. The regulation affected 13 districts on Long Island; nine have taken steps to retire their mascots and names. The state has said that school districts that do not comply with the ban by June 30 risk losing state aid or facing the removal of school officers.

A federal judge in March ruled against Massapequa and three other Long Island districts — Connetquot, Wyandanch and Wantagh — that had sought to either keep their names or nullify the state regulation.

The Massapequa school district filed an amended complaint last week in its ongoing challenge to the ban.

Secretary McMahon is expected to tour Massapequa High School during her visit today.

In a letter to the community, Massapequa school officials said McMahon "will visit select locations to participate in important conversations and observe how our students and educators are engaging in meaningful work centered on real-world skills, leadership and lifelong learning...Friday’s visit is an opportunity to share the incredible stories of our students, staff and community, and to highlight how our commitment to excellence ensures that every child thrives."

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.

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New York State Attorney General Letitia James and law enforcement officials from 15 other states sued the Trump administration this week, seeking to block millions of dollars in cuts to National Science Foundation programs. Maura McDermott reports in NEWSDAY that the cuts imposed on research and diversity programs “will devastate critical STEM research at higher education institutions,” the NYS attorneys general said in the 38-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday.

James said in a statement, “This administration’s attacks on basic science and essential efforts to ensure diversity in STEM will weaken our economy and our national security.”

Under the Trump administration, the foundation has cut grants aimed at increasing the numbers of women, people of color and people with disabilities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

The National Science Foundation said in a statement on its website that the work it supports “should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups. Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities.”

It also said it would support science and engineering projects “that focus on protected characteristics when doing so is intrinsic to the research question and is aligned with Agency priorities."

The state attorneys general lawsuit seeks a court order blocking the cuts to indirect costs and diversity programs.

In addition to New York, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Washington.

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The daily pay for jurors is set to increase on June 8 from $40 to $72 — the first such hike in New York State in 27 years as the court system attempts to keep up with inflation and make serving more economically feasible. Robert Brodsky reports in NEWSDAY that the state budget increases by 80% the per-day wages for New Yorkers serving as jurors.

Trial and grand jurors who receive their regular wages from their employer during jury service are not paid by the state.

In a statement, Joseph A. Zayas, chief administrative judge of the New York State Unified Court System, which advocated for the increase, said the hike was overdue.

"The juror per diem payment has not been increased since 1998," Zayas said of legislation signed by then-Gov. George Pataki raising the rate from $15 to $40. "Considering the sacrifices that persons serving on juries are routinely asked to make, the value of their service, and the importance of juries reflecting a fair cross section of the community, it is good public policy for the state to ensure that juror compensation is periodically adjusted."

As was the case in the past, companies with 11 or more employees must pay employees the daily rate for each of their first three days of jury service. If jury service continues past three days, and employers do not pay the wage allowance, the state will make the payment.

Employees of companies with 10 or fewer workers who are not paid their regular wages will be paid the daily allowance by the state for each day of jury attendance.

Funding for the wage increase will be borne by the Judiciary’s annual budget, officials said.

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As the Southold Town Board unanimously approved a one-year extension of a moratorium for hotel development applications on Wednesday, the board is continuing to weigh an application for an exemption from that moratorium from the developers looking to build an 81-room hotel on the site of the former North Fork Bank headquarters on the Main Road in Mattituck. Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski said the board has “a lot to consider here” before taking a vote, which could occur as soon as the board’s next meeting June 10. “We have an applicant looking for relief, and we are considering this seriously,” he added.

Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the “Mattituck Hotel” project, proposed by the Cardinale family’s Limited Liability Companies, has been controversial for years — a 2018 proposal called for 200 rooms, and another iteration unveiled two years ago proposed a 121-room resort motel, with an indoor water park. It was roundly rebuked by residents of Mattituck. In 2024, the applicants brought a new proposal, working within the footprint of the existing building, to the Southold Town Planning Board, but it has not proceeded due to the moratorium, in place while the town works to update its zoning code.

On Wednesday evening several residents of Mattituck spoke against granting a waiver for the new proposal citing traffic issues. But, Supervisor Krupski said the plan is “quite scaled back” from what the applicants originally proposed, and that “what’s being asked is not to approve it, only to be allowed to apply” to the Town of Southold’s Planning Board, which would review the project. He added that the Town Board had earlier in the meeting approved about 100 weddings in Southold, implicating that those wedding guests would need places to stay.

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The Southampton History Museum says it plans to sue the Town of Southampton over the recent redrawing of tax maps on property at Conscience Point, which the museum’s attorney claims was an “unconstitutional, fraudulent” seizure of land and part of a “conspiracy” to protect the Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery from being evicted by the museum. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that in a May 19 filing in Suffolk County Supreme Court, the Southampton History Museum’s attorney filed a notice of claim — the legal precursor to a lawsuit — saying that members of the Southampton Town Board, the town attorney, an attorney for the shellfish hatchery and other town officials had conspired to convince county officials to redraw the tax maps, giving the town ownership of the land where the hatchery stands.

“These acts constitute … fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud … breach of fiduciary duty, slander of title, conversion, negligence, wrongful interference with property rights, trespass, and an unconstitutional taking and deprivation of property without due process,” the notice of claim says.

The new map shows the Town of Southampton as the owner of the southern parcel, closest to North Sea Road, which contains a public boat ramp and a dirt parking lot where the hatchery building stands. The Southampton Colonial Society, the parent organization of the Southampton History Museum, is shown as owning only the northern portion of the property, comprised mostly of wetlands, and a trail to the historical marker commemorating the first landing of European settlers on the South Fork in 1640.

In late April, the Suffolk County Real Property Tax Service Agency issued a new tax map that divides the land at Conscience Point in North Sea into two parcels — one owned by the town, one by the museum.

Southampton History Museum attorney, Sheila Tendy said the museum will be filing the lawsuit referenced in the notice of claim within the next 90 days.

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New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, a member of the Agriculture Committee, recently welcomed committee Chairwoman Donna Lupardo of Binghamton to the North Fork for a tour of local farms and agricultural sites. The tour highlighted the region’s diverse farming operations and the challenges facing East End agriculture.

Southold Town Supervisor Albert Krupski led the tour last Friday and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio joined for the first leg, which included visits to Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, 8 Hands Farm in Cutchogue, Little Ram Oyster Company in Southold, Oysterponds Farm in Orient, and a U.S. Geological Survey test well site in the Oysterponds School District.

“This tour was an excellent opportunity to showcase the East End’s unique and vital agricultural economy to Chair Lupardo,” said Schiavoni. “Our farms are leaders in innovation and sustainability, and they play a critical role in feeding our communities and protecting our environment.” Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo of the 123rd Assembly District represents the Southern Tier in Albany.

Both Lupardo and Schiavoni are Democrats.

***

A New York school district was mired in a pitched battle over its Native American mascot.

The school board in Lancaster, a small district near Buffalo, had voted to banish its “Redskins” imagery and nickname. But parents protested that the mascot was a source of pride. Teachers arrived to class sporting outfits with the logo. And students regularly ran into reminders of the old mascot in classrooms, gyms and locker rooms.

The year was 2015.

Troy Closson reports in THE NY TIMES that the school district was accused of violating students’ civil rights when it persisted in showcasing the mascot, and the U.S. Education Department opened an investigation. The imbroglio eventually ended with an accord between the district and the federal government to halt the use of the mascot.

A decade since the battle began in Lancaster, the elimination of Native American mascots from public schools has re-emerged as a contentious political issue, and New York again finds itself at the center of a firestorm. The state has required districts to abandon mascots that appropriate Native culture, or risk losing funding.

But this time, the federal government’s stance is very different.

The Education Department recently began a civil rights investigation into the state’s mandate to banish certain mascots after the Massapequa School district on Long Island refused to forgo its decades-old “Chief” mascot, a Native American man wearing a feathered headdress.

Today, the federal education secretary, Linda McMahon, is expected to visit the district to announce whether by restricting the use of Native mascots, the state violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits recipients of federal funds from engaging in discriminatory behavior based on race, color or national origin.

The Trump administration’s approach to the issue reflects a stark shift in the application of federal civil rights protections, legal experts said, and illustrates the transformation of the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, which is charged with investigating complaints and ensuring an equal opportunity to education for the nation’s children.

Over the past decade, Long Island’s dangerous roads have taken a steep toll — through crashes, injuries and deaths. Between 2014 and 2023, more than 2,100 people were killed and 16,000 seriously injured, according to a Newsday analysis. But beyond the personal devastation, there’s a staggering financial cost.

This burden includes everything from car repairs and replacements, to hospital and health care expenses to legal and administrative fees, lost time and wages, and bills insurance companies won’t cover, according to personal injury attorneys, accident survivors and researchers interviewed by Newsday.

The cost of car crashes can be devastating for victims and their families — but it doesn’t stop there. Communities also bear the cost. In 2023, crashes on Long Island generated at least $3.4 billion in losses, according to Ted Miller, a leading researcher in crash economics and principal research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, which is based in Beltsville, Maryland.

For Newsday’s Dangerous Roads series, Miller calculated Long Island’s crash-related costs based on fatalities, injury severity and vehicle damage. He adjusted for the region’s per capita income and New York’s cost of living. His estimates are conservative, drawn from publicly available data.

Rising costs of car ownership — especially insurance and repairs — have compounded the economic toll of crashes, experts said. High insurance rates are a key factor in the growing number of uninsured drivers in New York State, leaving crash victims financially exposed.

The greatest financial costs of crashes are those resulting in death. Each fatality typically costs society around $1.6 million, largely due to loss in work, household productivity and legal costs, according to Miller’s research for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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A push to establish a park district in East Quogue is being led by a hamlet resident and community organizations with a desire to help beautify Main Street and have more local control of the hamlet’s green spaces. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the initiative is being led by East Quogue resident Christian Connolly, along with the support of the East Quogue Civic Association, Beautification Committee, Civic Advisory Committee and Historical Society.

The main goal of the park district would be to rejuvenate the hamlet’s Main Street by having more consistent maintenance. Currently, the Southampton Town Parks and Recreation department is responsible for maintaining the Village Green, the plantings on Main Street and the hamlet’s other green spaces, though Connolly argues that their maintenance has fallen short, with the rest of the work falling to volunteers. In 2017 Southampton Town officials agreed to fund improvements for Main Street in East Quogue.

“Parks and Rec does a great job, but they’re spread thin,” he said. “They’ve got to open up the beach this time of year, they can’t pay attention to detail like we believe our parks group can do.”

The park district would be classified as a special improvement district, which would be supported by taxpayers who live within the district’s boundaries. Taxpayers would pay a yearly amount based on how much their property is assessed at. Based on a budget of $75,000, which is the amount Connolly is seeking, a property assessed at $500,000 would pay $16.30, a $750,000 property would pay $24.45 and a million dollar property would pay $32.60.

To form the district, the Southampton Town Board would hold public hearings to determine if it’s in the public’s best interest to approve the district. From there, the board would need to adopt a resolution that would include a map with the boundaries of the district, estimates of the cost of improvements and how these will be financed.

If a majority of voters within the East Quogue district boundaries vote against establishing the district, despite the decision of the Town Board, the district would not be formed.

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The Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton announces that the main library building will RE-OPEN to the public today!

You are invited to check out all the exciting changes at the Library (and maybe some books too, while you're at it). Plus a tech class, some earth friendly fun, the book shop sale and more.

The Rogers Memorial Library’s first home, a Victorian Gothic building on the corner of Job’s Lane and Main Street, was built in 1895, and opened to the public in March 1896.

100 years after the creation of the original Rogers Memorial Library - on November 3, 2000, the New Rogers Memorial Library opened at its current location, 91 Coopers Farm Road in Southampton Village.

In celebration of its silver anniversary the “new” R.M.L. is completing a major restoration.

Nowadays, the main library and Cooper Hall encompass 26,500 square feet, serve from 12,000 to 40,000 people year-round and its grand re-opening is today!

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The Montauk School District must start again after voters last week shot down a plan for the district to take out a $38 million bond to fund school renovations. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that the plan came about after school facilities received an “unsatisfactory” grade by New York State officials. If approved, the measure would have seen a new gymnasium, a new science classroom and designated spaces for elementary and middle school students, among other improvements. The gymnasium had the highest price tag at $12 million. In all, the planning process took about two years. However, in a vote on May 20 — which drew record turnout — Montauk voters rejected the measure, 361-318. Voters also shot down — in a vote of 342-334 — a proposition for $2.9 million for a new HVAC system, among other capital projects. Additionally, the Montauk district budget passed by a narrower margin than the surrounding districts, with the $24 million budget drawing a vote of 403-280. In the wake of the vote, the Montauk School Board of Education held a workshop for next steps and reevaluation.

Separately, on Friday, May 23, Montauk Superintendent Joshua Odom spoke out about the rejection to The Press Newspaper Group. In the future, the district will likely pursue another bond for renovations, “the size of which is yet to be determined,” Odom said. It’s up to the Montauk School Board to determine what projects will move forward and “what will be cut,” Odom said. Many parts of the project will need to be “reimagined” to move forward. As for whether the gymnasium will be included in future renovation plans, Odom said “that is the $12 million question.” “Our gym right now has a lot of character,” he said. “I love that space. Actually, it’s a gym-a-torium. It’s our gym, it’s our stage, it’s our performing arts center. It’s very much the community hub of our school. It is small. The ceilings are low. It’s not appropriate for all middle school sports. As it stands, Montauk School students eat in their classrooms. Constructing a new gym would have allowed students to eat in the old gym, he said.

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Every seven minutes on average, a crash causes death, injury, or significant damage on Long Island. As reported in NEWSDAY, a leading researcher places the tangible costs of medical care, work loss, property damage and more due to crashes on Long Island in 2023 at $3.4 billion. A national study measured the lifetime societal cost per crash fatality at $1.6 million. Personal injury attorney Michael Mosscrop of Franklin, Gringer & Cohen in Garden City said many Long Islanders also carry too little insurance coverage.

New York requires $50,000 in no-fault coverage and $25,000 in liability coverage. But many drivers do not raise those minimums. In serious crashes, that often leaves victims with no financial recourse beyond immediate medical costs — especially when the at-fault driver lacks additional coverage or assets.

But car crashes on Long Island don’t just affect the people involved in a wreck.

Ted Miller, the principal research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, found “society at-large absorbs” three-quarters of economic impact from the crashes — from taxes used to pay for emergency responses and rebuild roads to insurance premiums paid for by policyholders in the region, whose rates might go up even if they don’t get into crashes.

That's why Miller argues that residents should be concerned about the fiscal stakes around road safety even if they haven't crashed or lost someone.

“Because you’re paying for it,” Miller said. “It’s coming out of your pocket and you should care about that.”

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The Wainscott Heritage Project will hold several events designed to engage the community, preserve local history and celebrate the cultural character of Wainscott.

The first is this coming Sunday, June 1, at 4 p.m. titled “Historic Preservation Myth Busting.” It’s at LTV Studios. Tara Cubie, preservation director at Preservation Long Island will offer an informative look at the realities of preservation.

Sunday’s event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments and a Q&A to follow.

Reservations are encouraged.

That’s this Sunday at 4 p.m. in the LTV Studios in Wainscott.

For more information and reservations visit ltveh.org/preservationmythbusting

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The Quogue Wildlife Refuge holds a special place in the heart of so many East Enders who have taken their children there to see the birds that seek refuge on the Old Ice Pond or to quietly walk or snowshoe through the seven miles of trails into the heart of the Dwarf Pine Plains, or to practice yoga or hear nature presentations in the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center overlooking the pond. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that this year, the Wildlife Refuge is embarking on a campaign to renovate and expand the Nature Center, which is now crammed with work spaces for its growing staff, for care of animals, a gift shop and a large, wood-paneled community gathering space that juts over the pond, where visitors feel like they’ve traveled not just to the center of an ecosystem, but also back in time.

The Nature Center was built in 1970. Aside from a 1979 update adding handicapped-access bathrooms, a kitchen and a classroom, little about the building has changed since the 1970s, as the Refuge’s staff has burgeoned to nine full-time, year-round people.

Refuge’s Assistant Director, Marisa Nelson said the refuge hopes to “honor the history and maintain the coziness” of the first floor gathering space. “It has the most beautiful view, and feels like a lodge, with a stone fireplace and the great views of the Old Ice Pond. This room will structurally stay the same, but we will be taking down the 1970s paneling and updating it.”

The building is expected to be (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) LEED-certified.

Anyone can visit the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, which is open 365 days a year, free of charge, and it receives about 150,000 visitors each year.

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge has already raised or received pledges for more than $2.8 million toward the $3.5 million renovation, and is expecting to soon receive bids from local contractors, with the hopes of beginning construction this fall and finishing by the summer of 2026.

For more information, visit quoguewildliferefuge.org.