The Independent 052020 by The Independent Newspaper

May 20, 2020

Arts & Entertainment

Bellone Calling On VA To Lift National Ban

FIVE TOWNS ONE NEWSPAPER

Alec Baldwin: All In On The East End

Alec Baldwin. Independent/ Marco Vacchi

By Bridget LeRoy bridget@indyeastend.com

VOL 27 NO 36 MAY 20 2020

Garden

Alec Baldwin: All In On The East End

Jon Bon JoviAppreciation Isis his forcore the arts message There For You In a normal year, Alec Baldwin — sometimes with his wife, Hilaria, and sometimes with one or two or five kids (with another on the way) — is ubiquitous in these here parts. Whether it’s the Authors Night at East Hampton Library — of which he is the founding honorary chair — or the Hamptons International Film Festival (rebranded as HamptonsFilm), which he co-chairs, or co-hosting “Afternoon Ramble” with Brian Cosgrove on 88.3 WPPB-FM, or other organizations on the East End which he supports, it’s not just his name on an invitation, or a check in the mail, or a quick how-doyou-do at some swank soiree. If you get Alec Baldwin, you really get Alec Baldwin. He’s all in — irrevocably, passionately, and with all of his heart. Or, you might just see him on Main Street, eating pizza, usually with a child attached to him, or in a conversation with Kevin McAllister of Defend H2O, or at a panel discussion for the film festival. But this is not a normal year. Not even close. These days, even the locals will only see him more indirectly — on “Saturday Night Live,” where he has gathered a new generation of viewers with his uproarious impersonation of President Trump, and yet another generation through his wildly popular Instagram account, @alecbaldwininsta, which boasts over 1.6 million followers and features occasional Trump impersonations, lots of family life, and

HOME&

his unwavering support of others, especially those who may have faded in recent years. Baldwin has a soft spot for those who have come before him, and he has done heartfelt salutes to those who have recently left us due to COVID-19, like the East End’s Patricia Bosworth and the American Place Theatre’s artistic director Wynn Handman. There’s also his podcast, “Here’s The Thing,” produced by Sag Harbor resident Kathie Russo for NYC Studios, where Baldwin talks to luminaries from all walks of life — the arts, social activism, and politics. There is so much more, but there is limited space here to recount all of his fame, his philanthropy, his foundations, his family. But now, coronavirus. How has that affected the Baldwins? “I had a few jobs lined up,” Baldwin said. “All very good and exciting in their own way. And, fortunately, in New York. Then — POOF! — all gone. We are out east, homeschooling the kids and trying to keep them distracted from it all,” he said. “Here’s The Thing” has been up and running for over 11 years. Baldwin, one can muse, is a journalist at heart,

in the best sense of the word — he has a natural curiosity about people and why they do what they do, and how to draw them out. Who have been some of his favorite guests, and who would be some of his dream guests? “I suppose Paul McCartney, out of sheer fandom,” he answered. “President Obama. The Pope. Meryl Streep. Jane Fonda. Warren Beatty. Redford. The list is quite long,” he said. His Insta account features very intimate moments of his home life, pieces of news that he finds important, along with his “rants.” It’s a portrait of a life, with warts and all. What is the message, if there is one? “The term is actually ‘rambles,’ as I think rants has a pejorative connotation,” Baldwin replied. “My message varies but, like my podcast, appreciation is at the core. Music, movies, books. I love to share what I have enjoyed.” As far as the pandemic, Baldwin’s said he hoped people “will understand that who the President is and what he or she is capable of can mean life and death in a new way.” But, he’s also heartened, he said, “to see many members of this community come together on behalf of funding

daycare for first responders’ children and food banks. This is an unimaginable nightmare. We all must do what we can.” What does he want the next generation, and the generations after that, to know about the importance of supporting the arts? “Music is what people remember,” Baldwin said. “Scenes from movies. Paintings. Literature. Not bills passed by Congress. The arts get into our blood and heart and soul like nothing else. They’re all that matter in the end.” And if the pandemic magically disappeared tomorrow, what’s the first thing he would want to do? “Eat pizza.”

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“The arts get into our blood and heart and soul like nothing else.” Alec Baldwin

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Letters

Publisher & GM James J. Mackin Executive Editor & Associate Publisher Jessica Mackin-Cipro Executive Editor Rick Murphy

The Independent accepts exclusive letters of 500 words or less, submitted digitally by Friday at 4 PM. The Independent reserves the right to not publish letters deemed slanderous, libelous, or otherwise questionable. Letters can be sent to news@indyeastend.com.

Pool Our Resources Dear Editor, Americans are world-renown for working together in the face of adversity. In that spirit, 70 scientists, economists, medical professionals, etc., co-signed a letter to President Trump regarding the COVID-19 matter. It was delivered to him Tuesday by respected House member Greg Walden (R-OR). Clearly, it’s easy to second guess COVID-19 decisions made to date, as hindsight is always 20/20. Our document is not about looking back, but rather it makes several positive recommendations, going forward. Of course, our letter is also not a comprehensive list of everything needed to be done regarding

Tully’s View

the COVID-19 issue. Rather it is a select short list of our collective, constructive counsel. Six of our considered recommendations are for the President to basically stay-the-course, while 11 are relatively new (or un-enacted) important suggestions. An example of the latter is we are recommending that the President immediately add a professional statistician to the Coronavirus Task Force — and that they become a major player in it. A second example is we are suggesting that the President soft-pedal the COVID-19 vaccine part, and go forth on therapies. Another example is we are strongly recommending that the President put more emphasis on citizens optimizing their immune system — and how easy and low-cost it is to do that. We hope that America will prevail over this pandemic, and come out after this experience Continued On Page 31.

Associate Editor & Web Editor Taylor K. Vecsey Managing & Sports Editor Desirée Keegan Features Editor Bridget LeRoy Senior Writer T.E. McMorrow Copy Editor Lisa Cowley Writers/ Columnists / Contributors Denis Hamill Nicole Teitler Zachary Weiss Dominic Annacone Joe Cipro Karen Fredericks Isa Goldberg Vincent Pica Bob Bubka Gianna Volpe Heather Buchanan Vanessa Gordon Joan Baum Jenna Mackin Vay David Georgia Warner Brittany Ineson Ernest Hutton Head Of Sales Daniel Schock Advertising Media Sales Director Joanna Froschl Sales Manager BT Sneed Account Managers Tim Smith Sheldon Kawer Annemarie Davin John Wyche Art Director Jessica Mackin-Cipro Advertising Production Manager John Laudando

Independent/Irene Tully

Director of Business Development/ Branding Amy Kalaczynski Director of Marketing & Real Estate Ty Wenzel Graphic Designer Lianne Alcon Contributing Photographers Nanette Shaw Kaitlin Froschl Richard Lewin Gordon M. Grant Rob Rich Jenna Mackin Lisa Tamburini Irene Tully Ty Wenzel Justin Meinken Tom Kochie Jan Mackin Bookkeeper Sondra Lenz Office Administrator & Classified Manager Tammy Dill-Flores Delivery Managers Charlie Burge Eric Supinsky Louis Evangelista Published weekly by: East Hampton Media Holdings LLC Subscriptions by 1st Class Mail: $91 yearly The Independent Newspaper 74 Montauk Highway Suite #19 East Hampton, NY 11937 P 631 324 2500 F 631 324 2544 www.indyeastend.com Follow : @indyeastend Email : news@indyeastend.com ©2020 Entire Contents Copyrighted Financial responsibility for errors in all advertising printed in The Independent is strictly limited to actual amount paid for the ad.

May 20, 2020

The Independent

News & Opinion Bellone Calling On VA To Lift National Ban Said if beaches are open Memorial Day, why can’t flags be planted at cemeteries? By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com Independent/Justin Meinken

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is appalled at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ decision to ban groups from placing American flags at national cemeteries Memorial Day weekend. “It’s a perverse situation. It doesn’t make any sense to me,” Bellone told Fox News’ Anchor Eric Shawn May 17 during America’s News Headquarters. “We’ve been at the heart of this and it’s been devastating economically, the

loss of life, but we’ve begun to reopen. If we can do this it will be a real shot in the arm, lift people’s spirits, and send a message that we are coming back as a community, as a state, and as a nation.” The National Cemeteries Administration said in a statement that Long Island has not yet met the state criteria for reopening, which is why limits on social gatherings on Long Island are still in place.

“Families and community members are welcome to visit national cemeteries through Memorial Day weekend and place individual flags on graves to honor friends and family,” the statement reads. “We ask that all visitors adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state, and local health, safety, and travel guidelines.” “We can go to beaches in a safe way Memorial Day weekend, but we

can’t go into cemeteries and place flags at the graves of our American heroes?” Bellone asked during his daily COVID-19 press briefing earlier in the day. “It doesn’t make sense. I’m still hopeful the VA will reverse its decision.” The county executive announced a partnership with more than a dozen local cemeteries last week to place American flags at gravestones. The county Continued On Page 28.

Beaches Will Open Memorial Day Weekend Limitations and protocols put in place to protect residents By The Independent staff State and Suffolk County ocean beaches will be open Memorial Day weekend. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the decision May 15 just as half of the state’s regions began to reopen following a two-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State beaches on the East End, including Camp Hero and Hither Hills in Montauk, Wildwood State Park in Wading River, and Ori-

ent Beach State Park, as well as Suffolk beaches at Smith Point County Park in Shirley and Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton Beach will reopen Friday, May 22. Beaches in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware will also be open, a joint agreement worked out between state officials. Any beach in New York that opens

An East Hampton Town Marine Patrol officer at Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk April 28. Independent/Gordon M. Grant

will only be at 50 percent capacity to avoid overcrowding, which will be controlled at the parking lots — signs will indicate when a facility has reached capacity. Masks will be required when social distancing is not possible. Conces-

sion stands will be closed, and no group activities, like beach volleyball, will be allowed. State pools, playgrounds, and picnic areas will remain closed. Attendants will be added to the bathrooms, which Continued On Page 42.

News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

Jon Bon Jovi Is There For You Rocker sets up new food bank at The Clubhouse in East Hampton By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi create East End Food Bank. Independent/Courtesy Jon Bon Jovi

On Tuesday, May 12, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation opened a new food bank to feed East End families in need. Located at The Clubhouse in East Hampton, Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi, who have a home in East Hampton, have created JBJ Soul Kitchen Food Bank to help local food pantries meet the rising need of those suffering from food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis. “The pandemic has strained food distribution networks around the country, and after hearing from organizations on the ground about its local impact, the need for a food bank on the East End became clear to us,” said Jon Bon Jovi. Three weeks ago, the rocker reached out to Edward Burke Jr and Associates, one of the leading law firms on the East End, to pinpoint an operations location. “The Clubhouse Camp building is a very suitable place to act as a hub for this entity. God bless the Rubentsteins for allowing this to take place. Totally charitable effort on all fronts,” Burke said, who solidified the connection through the family’s son, Matthew Rubenstein. The team successfully contracted with food distributor U.S. Foods, and constructed an association with Island Harvest Food Bank. “No ZIP code on Long Island is immune to hunger and food insecurity, and the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has created a new standard of need, including among people who have never accessed the region’s emergency feeding programs,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of the Island Harvest Food Bank. “We

look forward to working with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in addressing the critical issue of hunger on Long Island’s East End.” It truly takes a village. Through the swift action of the East Hampton Town Board, food arrived at the 5000-square-foot facility on May 11 and pantries were able to load their trucks the following day. The food bank acts as a warehouse for grocery needs — its staff solicits, receives, stores, and distributes large quantities of food and grocery store products to the food pantries, which then place it in the hands of local families. The JBJ Soul Kitchen Food Bank’s goal is to provide food for 5000 individuals a month. Phase two will include pre-made Soul Kitchen meals for the homeless or those without access to cooking facilities, which will utilize The Clubhouse’s kitchen. “My family is so grateful to be included in this,” said Scott Rubenstein, managing partner of The Clubhouse. The awe of trucks and vans filled with food, in only a few days, has elicited hope for a greater good, he said, adding he admires the Bon Jovis’ motivation to help. “They are soldiers, in the trenches with everybody. I’m appreciative to Burke and the Bon Jovis for considering us. It’s exciting, we’ve never done anything like this. It’s another level. That’s the hidden thing out here, there are a lot of people who need help. And now they have hope.” “When most people think about the towns of the East End, they don’t necessarily think about hunger, but for many, it is a reality,” said Dorothea. The

famed family is no stranger to charitable causes. Since its inception in 2006 the JBJ Soul Foundation, a nonprofit based out of Philadelphia, has been addressing homelessness and hunger on localized levels — funding over 700 units of housing and shelters across 11 states and Washington D.C. In 2011, the mission expanded to address food insecurity with JBJ Soul Kitchen community restaurants in New Jersey, serving over 100,000 meals to diners in need. “Since the COVID-19 crisis began, we have seen demand nearly triple from the after-school families and senior populations we serve. Before, we served approximately 70 people on the first Thursday of every month. Now we serve approximately 200 people per week,” said Bonnie Cannon, executive director of the Bridgehampton Child Care Center. “I am so glad to be part of this endeavor.”

Having played an integral role in the JBJ Food Bank, Burke and his sons will also dedicate their time to helping the cause. “It is such a pleasure to be part of this and to see the time effort and the passion that Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea have for feeding the hungry. Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen Foundation is the pocketbook for this incredible gesture,” said Burke. With plans to reassess the need level at the end of summer, it seems Bon Jovi and Dorothea will be around for a while. Rubenstein said, “The only issue I have is that I don’t want to look at Jon’s New England Patriots hat for the next few months. But I love the Patriots, they helped us win the Super Bowl.” Visit www.jbjsf.org or www.jbjsoulkitchen.org to find out more. With additional reporting by T.E. McMorrow.

The Independent

New COVID-19 Testing Location Website Cuomo announces mental health crisis a result of the novel coronavirus By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

New York has rapidly expanded its testing capacity, doubling the goal, from 1000 tests a day February 29 to 40,000 May 17. And now, there’s a new website to find a test near you. Residents can visit www.coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing to see the over 700 testing sites, Governor Andrew Cuomo said during his daily press briefing May 17. A new agreement with CVS Pharmacy brings testing to more than 60 of the company’s locations across the state, each able to conduct 50 or more

tests per day. “We have more sites and testing capacity than we’re using,” Cuomo said Sunday. “That’s a good thing. The more tests, the better for the state, the better for society, the better for your family, the better for you.” Any individual who thinks he or she has a COVID-19 symptom — like a cough, fever, difficulty breathing, loss of smell or taste — or has been in contact with a person known to have tested positive can get a test. “If you have any symptom, get a

Doctor Elizabeth Dufort performs a COVID-19 diagnostic test on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo May 17. Independent/Darren McGee, Governor Andrew Cuomo's office

test,” Cuomo said. “It’s up to you to act responsibly.” The governor announced anyone who would return to work in Phase I of his reopening plan can now also receive diagnostic testing. New York PAUSE has been extended until May 28 for the regions that have not yet met the metrics to begin a phased reopening, including Long Island, which as of the weekend reached five of seven criteria to begin reopening. Once a region meets the benchmarks, it may immediately begin Phase I. Per capita, New York is doing significantly more testing than any country in the world. A chart displaying the percentage of testing by populations shows the state at 7.1 percent, compared to 3.3 percent nationally. Italy is testing 4.9 percent of the population, Canada 3.4 percent, the United Kingdom 2.6, and South Korea 1.4. Compared to other states in the nation, Washington is testing 3.5 percent of the population, California 2.9, Florida and Georgia 2.8, and Kentucky 2.7. “It’s not raw numbers, because we’re bigger than many states, but by percentage, we’re much, much higher,” Cuomo said. “This is a very big advantage for us because testing was originally used to control the virus, and now testing is going to be really helpful in monitoring the virus. We’re all talking about what the spread of the virus will be when you increase economic activity. Well, how do you know what the spread of the virus is? Testing. Testing. Testing.” The governor, admitting his own fears of going to the doctor, getting tests done, and awaiting results, wanted New Yorkers to know the process is quick and painless. “Some people just don’t like to

go to the doctor and don’t like to get tested,” he said. “There’s a reluctance to go to the doctor’s office.” During his broadcast, Cuomo demonstrated how fast the test really is. Doctor Elizabeth Dufort — a pediatric infectious disease specialist in Albany — in the appropriate personal protective equipment, asked Cuomo to keep his head up and close his eyes for comfort, because the test can make you tear up, while she stuck a swab up his left nostril, finishing the test in seconds.

How Are You Really Doing? While intubations, COVID-19 hospitalizations, and deaths are down, the governor said it’s interesting to see how the decline has been relatively flat. Deaths have dropped from 195 May 11 to 139 May 16. “Look how long it takes on the way down compared to on the way up,” he said, pointing to a chart that showed the gross new novel coronavirus hospitalizations over a threeday rolling average from March 20 to Continued On Page 38.

On The Cover “On this Memorial Day, it’s so important to remember that this Betsy Ross creation represents everyone in our great and often troubled nation. Not a select few, but each and every one of us. Especially now, in these deeply troubled times, it is vital to remember and honor the multitude of brave and selfless heroes who put others first and tirelessly gave so much for us all. We will be forever grateful.” — John Alexander, artist

News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

The Independent

Elective Surgeries To Resume In Suffolk Hospitals have thousands of patients waiting By Taylor K. Vecsey taylor@indyeastend.com Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is getting ready to restart conducting elective procedures. Independent/Lisa Tamburini

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced May 16 elective surgeries may be conducted in Suffolk County following a two-month hiatus due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. During his daily COVID-19 briefing, the governor said ambulatory care procedures may also resume in Suffolk and Westchester counties. Nassau was not given the green light. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said during his daily briefing later in the afternoon the announcement is “another positive step forward and another indication that we are moving in a very good direction.” Positive tests in the county continue to rise, but the number of hospitalizations is on the decline. There were 107

new novel coronavirus cases reported on May 18, bringing Suffolk’s total to 38,224. The number of new cases, while still significant, are “a good indication of where we are headed,” he said. That figure did not include the 9925 people who had not previously undergone a diagnostic test, but tested positive for antibodies. As of May 16, the latest date figures were available, 505 people were hospitalized and 169 of them were in the intensive care unit. As of Monday, the number of ICU beds sits at 574, of which 208 are available. This puts Suffolk County — at 64 percent capacity — below New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 70 percent capacity metric for reopening. However, the 901 available of 2949 total hospital beds puts the county

right at that 70-percent metric. On Monday, Bellone reported another six Suffolk County residents have died from COVID-19, bringing the total to 1754. There were also 23 novel coronavirus-positive patients at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead and 136 in the Stony Brook Medicine hospital system, which includes Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. Bellone, a member of the regional control room the governor instituted to oversee the reopening, will be paying careful attention to these numbers as elective procedures begin again, but said he was confident they would not impact the figures much. Hospitals on the East End have not

yet set a date when elective procedures will begin. “Stony Brook Medicine is looking forward to resuming elective surgeries,” said Dr. Todd Griffin, the president of the medical staff. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Stony Brook Medicine has been performing urgent or emergent surgeries in a safe manner. Our freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Center maintains a safe environment for patients and staff delivering surgical care. Many enhanced safety measures are in place to protect patients and hospital staff to limit coronavirus spread. The hospital system is ready with a dedicated team from multiple disciplines to expand surgical services and to ensure safe and effective Continued On Page 29.

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News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

Children’s Inflammatory Disease Affects Heart Northwell Health MD says syndrome linked directly to novel coronavirus By Taylor K. Vecsey taylor@indyeastend.com

New York health officials are investigating at least 120 cases of what they are calling a COVID-19-related multi-system inflammatory disease in children that has killed at least three, including a teen in Suffolk County. Northwell Health’s Dr. Sunil Kumar Sood, the chair of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore who also works at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park, was one of the first physicians to see a trend in the cases. He said he saw the first dozen or so more than two weeks ago. “We first thought we were seeing Kawasaki disease,” which causes inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body, the first sign of which is a prolonged fever, he said in an interview last week. “It is not unknown to us — we see this year-in, year-out, usually a spike every spring and fall.” The disease usually affects children younger than 5. It quickly became apparent the children were much sicker than those with typical Kawasaki disease. Despite being otherwise healthy, patients were being sent straight to the intensive care unit because their heart was affected, he said. Blood tests showed inflammatory markers 10 to 100 times higher than in Kawasaki patients. Antibody tests showed these children had fought off the novel coronavirus, though the actual nose swab test mostly came back negative in the cases Sood saw. Last week, Cuomo said 60 percent of the child patients statewide tested positive for COVID-19, with 40 percent testing positive for the antibodies. In the cases Sood was involved in, 95 percent of the children had antibodies. The age-range is wide, from infants to 21-year-olds, according to the state. The youngest patients Sood personally treated was 2, the oldest 16. The inflammatory disease popped up about a month after the peak of the COVID-19 infections in New York, an important fact, Sood said. Kawasaki disease is known to be a post-infectious phenomenon, the doctor explained. Researchers have never identified the cause or trigger, just that it is a

post-viral disease that occurs a couple of weeks after having a virus. “Maybe this year it’s this virus that’s driving it,” Sood said of COVID-19, adding that no other viruses, like strep or mononucleosis, appear to be going around. “I think the cause is staring us in the face. What other evidence are we going to get? It happened right after and these children show antibodies in their blood.” But this syndrome is not just causing Kawasaki-like symptoms. Some children have experienced a high fever with heart failure, others present severe abdominal symptoms that mimic appendicitis. Doctors are also seeing a vasculitis rash, where inflamed blood vessels cause a reddish-purple skin rash, more common with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, an infectious disease often transmitted by the bite of a tick. Sood said it’s important to note the similarities, especially as tick season on the East End begins. Patients are responding to treatment, similar to that for Kawaski disease or myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, which is an intravenous immunoglobin and aspirin regimen, as well as an IV dose of steroids. “Fortunately, we have not had any deaths in the patients who came to our hospital,” Sood said, but added doctors are “revisiting protocol literally every day.” “Normally children are quite resilient,” he said. “What makes this concerning is there could be involvement of the heart early on; they can rapidly go downhill. I think this is a different from what we normally see in children.” He said the biggest question is when will this wave subside? “Because if this is a wave that is a month behind the big coronavirus curve of cases, then we should start to see a decline parallel to that decline, and that’s good news if that happens,” Sood said. “However, if this continues for a while, this has implications for summer camp, schools, and daycare, because it would mean the virus is still silently spreading around children,” followed four to six weeks later by the inflammatory disease.

The Independent

Future For Gosman’s, Duryea’s, Crow’s Nest Owners discuss 2020 season By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com

Marc Rowan, a leader in the financial world, and Sean MacPherson, a leading hotelier, are preparing to open their hospitality businesses on the East End for what promises to be a challenging, unusual summer season. The Gosman family is planning the reopening of Gosman’s Seafood Restaurant, as well. MacPherson is known for his boutique hotels, such as the Bowery Hotel, the Maritime Hotel, and the Jane in Manhattan. He has had to close them all, for the time being, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are completely shuttered,” he said May 15. The most painful aspect of the temporary closing, for him, was laying off more than 1000 employees. He owns just one hotel he thinks he might be able to open soon: the Crow’s Nest in Montauk. He said the hotel offers unique attributes for reopening in the era of COVID-19. One of the most important, where the rooms are accessed from two outdoor decks, is the three acres of land he has at his disposal. MacPherson would like to utilize the three acres to allow guests to eat and drink while social distancing. He believes that transmission of the disease decreases outdoors. There is some science to back his theory up. “The effects of sunlight, heat, and humidity on viral survival all serve to minimize the risk to everyone when outside,” according to Dr. Erin Bromage, an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. “People have to behave respectfully,” MacPherson noted. “When people wear masks, people keep their distance, then it doesn’t seem to spread.” He also owns Pharaoh’s Cottages to the east of the Crow’s Nest, cottages on Ditch Plains Road he has used in the past for staff, and a secluded house in Ditch Plains. But MacPherson does not want quick turnover at Crow’s Nest. He would rather book guests for a week or two or more and allow time to thoroughly clean and disinfect rooms between stays. Demand is the question: Will peo-

ple come? “We are in a very fluid situation,” MacPherson said. “We have not yet made any commitments.” A key will be getting the restaurant open. That, MacPherson concedes, won’t happen until June or July. Like everyone else, he is watching Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily briefings. The website is open for hotel reservations.

Long-Term Approach Rowan owns three well-known eateries: Duryea’s in Montauk, Lulu Kitchen and Bar in Sag Harbor, and the former Orient by the Sea at Orient Point. The latter has been under construction, and when it opens, will be Duryea’s Orient Point. Lulu is already open for takeout only. That will remain the case for now. Duryea’s in Montauk is open for takeout Thursday through Monday, noon to 7 PM. If it can be safely done, Rowan and general manager Steven Jauffrineau will open the restaurant when the governor gives his okay. The two are taking a long-term approach, creating a business model that can function, if need be, for the next couple of years. The restaurant, when it can open, will be throttled way back. Gone will be the bar area. Those waiting for tables will have to wait in their cars. The mechanics of it all are still being worked out, they said. Tables will be spaced out along the dock to allow social distancing. “Waiters will be wearing facemasks,” Jauffrineau said. “The protocols in place will be tight.” And they will be able to serve those who pull up to one of the dock’s slips, allowing everyone to be a safe distance from one other. The customers won’t even have to get out of their boats. The staff will be greatly reduced. Anyone coming to work from out of state will be required to go into quarantine for 14 days. Rowan owns the former Neptune Motel in downtown Montauk, as well as the former Ann Breyer’s Cottages in the dock area for staff housing.

Duryea’s. Independent/T.E. McMorrow

Temperature checks will be taken before each shift. A maximum of two staffers can room together, and they must work in the same department, during the same shift. While Rowan wants to reduce business in terms of capacity, he warns East Hampton residents, particularly those in Montauk, for what is ahead. “I think the Hamptons and Montauk are going to mobbed.” People aren’t traveling, he said, and they aren’t flying. “It is coming our way. It is going to be really busy, but there must be limits,” added Rowan. Rowan agrees with MacPherson’s assessment on the health aspects of outdoor dining when it comes to “stopping the spread.” Rowan also believes that it is important to allow people who have been cooped up for so long a safe, healthy way to go out and have some fun. “I think people are going to have a really hard time with extended quarantine,” he said. Rowan’s net worth is estimated at over $3 billion. He is the founding partner of Apollo Global Management, which holds many times that amount in assets. He was asked to put his financial cap on for a moment. “To be an investor now is really interesting,” he said about the turbulent stock market. “It is intellectually fascinating.” At the same time, he said, it is important to focus on those who are in need, those who have been displaced by the current pandemic, and those who are fighting on the front lines. Lulu, he said, is treating different hospital workers every week to free meals.

Modified Menu David Piacente, who has operated Gosman’s Seafood Restaurant for nine years, said that the restaurant will be offering takeout and curbside delivery for Memorial Day weekend, from noon to 8 PM. It is a modified menu, with a

Tables will be spaced out along the dock to allow social distancing. “Waiters will be wearing facemasks,” Jauffrineau said. limited wine list. Gosman’s, he said, is now offering “online, contact free ordering to go. Just go to www.gosmans. com.” The online ordering app is on the home page. Gosman’s is initiating a similar regime as Duryea’s in terms of staffing and staff housing. Any staffer who is not local will have to undergo 14-day quarantine. “We have sanitizers all around the place. Workers log in with a temperature check,” said Piacente. Piacente also believes that the expansive outdoor deck will allow for safe social distancing if and when restaurants are allowed to open. “We have tons of space for social distancing,” he noted. Gosman’s will also offer, essentially, a contact-free experience to restaurant customers. They will be able to order and pay for the meal, while seated at a socially distanced table, using their cell phones. Finally, Piacente believes the first step to reopening is simple, yet challenging: getting back the public’s trust.

News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

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The Independent

Deepwater Opponents Will Seek Incorporation Some Wainscott citizens believe town officials caved in for cash By Rick Murphy rmurphy@indyeastend.com

A group of Wainscott residents opposing an offshore energy project will move to incorporate. Members of the Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott, Inc., a group opposed to Ørsted and Eversource Energy’s South Fork Wind Farm project, have been pressuring the owners who want to bring an energy cable onshore at Beach Lane. Wainscott citizens received a letter from Gouri Orekondy Edlich, the chairwoman of the committee, detailing members were looking to secede from the Town of East Hampton. “We have formed an exploratory committee for the incorporation of Wainscott,” the letter read. “Given

multiple once-in-a-generation zoningrelated issues in Wainscott, as well as the town’s continued lack of responsiveness to our community, many of you have encouraged us to exercise our constitutional right to greater home rule. Incorporation as the Village of Wainscott would allow us to exercise greater control over our zoning and provide more responsive services to our community.” Many group members said they feel the East Hampton Town Board and town Trustees, who have to approve a variance for the project, caved despite initial concerns after Ørsted reportedly sweetened the deal with a “benefit package” worth millions of dollars.

Hamlet citizens had talked about seceding two years ago, after a plume emanating from the airport in East Hampton contaminated private water wells. Edlich made it clear the new village would target the offshore wind project as it is currently imagined, citing other less-impactful alternatives that have been uncovered and that Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott members have said the town, trustees and the companies are willfully ignoring. The group has been laying the groundwork for incorporation for almost a year. “Based on the initial findings from public affairs advisors, we have engaged,” Edlich said. “We are now prepared to formally explore the incorporation of Wainscott as a village.”

The Village of Sagaponack incorporated in 2005. It is adjacent to Wainscott and similar in size, spanning 4.6 square miles. It has a year-round population of approximately 350 residents, and more than 1000 part-time residents. Westhampton Dunes incorporated in 1993. East Quogue residents tried to incorporate last year, but the vote failed. Montauk and Bridgehampton have also considered the move at one time or another in recent years. To be eligible, a geographical area must be defined and citizens identified. A petition process culminates with a review of the documents and petition signatures by the town supervisor, who, if he or she finds the paperwork to be in order, announces when a popular vote will take place that decides the matter.

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May 20, 2020

Businesses Prepare

bar that draws a singles scene during the summer, as well as crowds for live music, will be accomplished remains to be seen. One live music venue that is weighing how to open while complying with COVID-19 restrictions is The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. Nick Kraus, a partner at the music hall, said options are still being discussed. “Our first priority is to make sure we keep our staff, musical acts, and customers safe,” he said, “which is why we closed two weeks before the closing mandate was put in place to begin with.” In the meantime, the venue is starting a remote music series beginning Thursday, May 21. Dede Gotthelf, owner of The Southampton Inn, said she is offering full refunds, but also a new pricing package to attract guests. “The Southampton Inn has had to pivot to accommodate the unique concerns for the 2020 season,” she said. “We have numerous inquiries for extended stays for full months,” from June 1 through August 31. Gotthelf added the inn has put in place stringent protocol for its masked and gloved staff, and is sanitizing rooms thoroughly to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements. The Hedges Inn in East Hampton is going a step further, the entire inn is for

COVID-19 or not, Memorial Day weekend is here By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com “We can’t shelter in place forever,” East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said Monday as he prepared for Memorial Day weekend. “We’ve got to adapt.” Hotels like Royal Atlantic Beach Resort in Montauk are accepting reservations online with a non-refundable 50-percent deposit required upfront. Van Scoyoc, who has expressed wariness over a sudden influx of tourists, sent a letter, along with his fellow town board members, to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo asking for clarification on the difference between hotels being classified as an essential business, and the current ban on promoting attractions that would draw a large number of outside visitors. Booking tourists into hotels would seem to be doing just that, the supervisor reasoned. He pointed out May 18 that East Hampton Town’s infection rate was second lowest in the county, only higher than

Shelter Island. Hotels that had not yet opened, as well as bars and restaurants, were still preparing last week, both for the short and long term. The iconic neon lunch sign over The Lobster Roll on Montauk Highway in Amagansett was again drawing crowds this week, though for curbside takeout only. Co-owner Andrea Anthony said if and when she gets the okay to open the restaurant, capacity will be reduced to ensure social distancing. It is unclear whether Montauk’s The Surf Lodge will open. Earlier this month, Jayma Cardoso, the manager of the hot night spot, told The Independent she was considering remaining closed this year. But since then, workers have been seen sprucing up the inside and outside of the site. When asked if there was an opening date, a worker on the grounds said “possibly in July.” How social distancing at a

rent June 1 through Labor Day for $1 million, or $350,000 for one month, though that price is negotiable, according to inn keeper and head chef Jenny Lilja. “I don’t feel comfortable,” she said, bringing guests in during the COVID-19 era. While the grounds are spacious, the interior is not, with narrow hallways. “It is, essentially, a bed and breakfast,” she added. Lilja said she was fully booked for the Memorial Day weekend, then the cancelations began pouring in. Lilja was down to one family who had been coming there for the weekend for years, booking six rooms. When they canceled, the writing on the wall was clear. She would not feel comfortable, she reiterated, booking the normal 2800 to 3000 guests a summer season. How do you keep the staff safe? “It’s daunting, and, frankly, scary,” said Lilja. Hedges Inn has been booked up by large groups in the past for extended stays before, such as film crews, or even private security firms working for some of the well-heeled East Hampton visitors or residents. If no one takes up their negotiable offer, and reservations remain as they are, “We might just call it for the whole season,” Lilja said. Continued On Page 26.

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Underwater Main Needs Replacing, PFAS Spike Hampton Bays Water District, commissioners prioritize projects By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Hampton Bays Water District members will need to foot the bill for additional undertakings should the Southampton Town Board approve putting plans to replace a cracked pipe under Shinnecock Bay out to bid. Town comptroller Len Marchese said taxes would increase another 20 percent. The water district customers just saw a 20 percent hike to cover the costs of the filtration system and tank lamination. “It’s a major capital project,” Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said. “We talked about creating redundancy under Shinnecock Canal so the area east of the canal would have better water pressure, and doing the two at the same time.” The board, acting as commissioners, met virtually with Hampton Bays Water District Superintendent Richard McCuen and Assistant Superintendent James Kappers May 14 to assess upcoming needs. Suffolk County Department of Health Services, under directive from the state, sent a letter to the town declaring the pipe needs to be fixed or replaced by March of 2022, and fines from $7000 to $20,000 would be issued each day thereafter the district is not in compliance. A $6.355 million bond was approved in February for two other urgently-needed projects — an iron and manganese filtration system at Wellfield 4, and the rehabilitation of the Bellows Road elevated storage tank. This Shinnecock Bay pipe has already cracked twice, so Schneiderman

reasoned replacing it would be the wisest decision. H2M Architects + Engineers Department Manager of Water Resources John Collins agreed. The town would need to put the project out to bid and begin designs soon to meet the 2022 deadline. Collins said time will be needed to get the Department of Environmental Conservation waterways, coastlines, and wetlands permit and approval from the Army Corps of Engineers to work under the bay and the canal. The town’s conservation board would also need to review plans. “We have to move forward on this,” Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni said. “It’s affecting the second largest fishing fleet in the state of New York. That part of Hampton Bays is critical to the local economy.” His comments came after Schneiderman brought up the years-long debate over relinquishing management control to the Suffolk County Water Authority. The town is unsure if the previous offer to have its entire customer base cover project costs is still valid. A new capital project would cost district members another $4.6 million. “I have a fiduciary responsibility,” Schneiderman said regarding the possibility of a public vote. “It’s a lot of money for a small water district to absorb, but we need to do this one way or the other.” The commissioners, following board members’ comments, are likely to at least give the green light to put plans out to bid at the last meeting in May.

Independent/James J. Mackin

“We have to show good faith,” Schneiderman said, hoping putting the project out to bid will give the town some leniency in meeting the deadline. To compound financial problems, the water district has seen an uptick in the combined perfluorinated compounds perfluorooctanesulfonic acid — PFOS — and perfluorooctanoic acid — PFOA – in Well 1-3. Three years ago, 76 parts per trillion was detected, above the EPA-issued health advisory limit of 70 parts per trillion for long-term exposure, although not detected once the water passes through the granular activated carbon, or GAC filter. The compounds can cause liver, pancreatic, testicular, and mammary gland tumors; kidney damage; and reproductive problems. Although still non-detect through the filter, the elevated levels are burning through the carbon quicker. The 80,000 pounds of GAC will need to be replaced before next summer, falling almost a year-and-a-half short of its fiveyear life expectancy. It will cost the district roughly $2 a pound for the new carbon to be delivered, and another 10 to 20 cents per pound to remove and destroy the old carbon. That brings the total cost to over $175,000. Work would need to be done in the offseason, and would take three to four weeks.

Councilman John Bouvier said he wants to see if there’s a source for that kind of spike in the compound levels. The nearby Hampton Bays Fire Department may be it. The firehouse was declared a Superfund site in March of 2019. “Are any of these recoverable costs?” Schneiderman asked because of that fact, adding he wants to look into turning off that well in the meantime. “We didn’t do this. This was done to us.” Town attorney Jim Burke said there’s the possibility for reimbursement. “We do have an action against the manufacturers of the products that produced what we feel distributed these contaminants into the groundwater,” he said. “There’s a potential general class settlement down the road.” If the companies are found guilty, it will depend on who is left to and how much they could afford to dish out. To create some temporary relief, one of the biggest water meters in the district, at the Hampton Bays Medical Atrium Laboratory, was replaced. “This meter wasn’t recording low flow,” Kappers said. “It only starts to record when a certain amount of gallons per minute is going through the meter, so we were losing a lot of capital through that Continued On Page 26.

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May 20, 2020

News & Opinion

1919: Influenza Enters Third Wave 1918-19 pandemic killed more troops based here than on battlefield By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com This is part six of an ongoing series on the H1N1 influenza virus that killed 675,000 Americans between 1918 and 1919. We are telling the story, as much as possible, through the words of reporters of the time, from the archives of newspapers . Should old acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind Should all acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne. On January 1, 1919, the headline on the front page of The New York Times announced that President Woodrow Wilson, who had arrived in France one month after the end of what was called The Great War, was leaving Paris to travel to Rome, for more talks, as he tried to craft his vision of a League of Nations, to prevent any future wars. There was no mention of what was known as the Spanish influenza in the headlines or ledes of the paper. The virus, now classified as H1N1 influenza A, was not mentioned, despite the fact that in October 1918, over 16,000 New Yorkers had died after contracting the disease. On page 17, a headline read, “PAGEANT USHERS IN NEW YEAR OF PEACE.” “Artists and Society Folk Give a Glittering Costume Ball at Hotel des Artistes. DOFF MASKS AT MIDNIGHT Festivities at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club and the Automobile Club of America,” the story continued. Society welcomed the New Year of victorious peace with costume and masquerade balls. The largest affair of the evening was the costume ball of the Four Arts, held at the Hotel des Artistes, 1 West Sixty-seventh Street. On page 16, what is essentially an editorial, begins “THE WONDERFUL YEAR.” “The extirpation of military autocracy and the awakening of the international conscience were the great events of the year 1918.” Wilson never gave a speech about “Spanish” influenza, which killed 675,000 Americans. American morale

had to be maintained, first during the war, then during peace, when Communists were on the verge of taking over Berlin, were in the streets of many European capitals, and anarchists and Communists were raging in America. Only on page 17, in the lists of over 125 names in the death notices and obituaries, was the virus mentioned. Though the cause of death is not given in most, the unusual fact that most of the deaths were aged 20 to 50, and that many illnesses were described as sudden, was a telltale sign of the influenza. William Bolger, a lawyer at 149 Broadway, died suddenly at his home in Brooklyn in his 42nd year. “Frank B. Reeve, a wealthy farmer of Riverhead, LI, died on Sunday of pneumonia, following influenza.” William Fitzgerald, “secretary to William Dill, State Motor Vehicles Commissioner of New Jersey, died yesterday” in his home in Patterson. He was 35. Joseph Finn, 46, died in Long Branch, New Jersey. “The secretary and treasurer of the Deal, NJ Board of Health, and former chief of the town’s Fire Department, died at 35.” New York City Detective Harry O’Connor died at Memorial Hospital at 34 years old. The third wave of the pandemic, nationally, and in New York, was emerging.

Children Affected On page 5, on January 14, a story out of Port Jefferson in The Times was headlined, “SEVEN DIE OF INFLUENZA. Sister and Six Charges Victims of Epidemic at Children’s Home.” “Sister St. Denis of the Brooklyn Home for Crippled, Blind, and Defective Children at this place, and six of her young charges died yesterday as a result of the epidemic of influenza that is sweeping through this institution. There are 350 children in the home. At least 250 are ill with influenza. Twenty of the sisters are suffering from the disease. “Twenty-five other children have pneumonia and are in serious condition. “The Rev. John Roex of the Church of the Infant Jesus here, was stricken with influenza yesterday. He had been a constant visitor to the home, aiding the nuns to fight the epidemic,” the article read. The wave was not near cresting. On January 24, Dr. Royal Cope-

According to The New York Times, “The New York Board of Health, which spread the word about wearing masks for protection, said it was better to be ridiculous than dead.” Independent/National Archives

land, New York City’s Commissioner of Health, gave the Times the following advice to stop the spread of the disease: “The person who coughs or sneezes discharges a spray more deadly than bullets or poison gas, unless the mouth and nose are covered by a handkerchief.” Copeland refused, for the entirety of the pandemic, to close public places, schools, or theaters, though he did order the hours of various businesses staggered, to decrease the density during rush hour. On Sunday, January 26, the Times dedicated page 35 to a report from the Surgeon General of the United States, Rupert Blue. For the first time, the American people learned that it was not bullets, but disease, that was causing the majority of deaths of their sons and brothers in the U.S. military, and not “over there,” but right here in their base camps in the United States. “INFLUENZA CHIEF CAUSE OF DEATHS IN HOME CAMPS” “During War Period Diseases Took 32,165 Soldiers in This Country and 18,136 Overseas First Appraisal of Epidemic’s Ravages Made by Surgeon General’s Department,” the Times read. “FROM a death rate of 6.37 out of a thousand in service, mortality from disease in army camps and cantonments in the United States rose to 52.15 a thousand in the last six months’ period.”

Deadliest Week The deadliest week in the base camps was from October 4 through 11, the same time New York City’s numbers of cases and deaths were cresting during the second wave of the pandemic. A total of 5290 soldiers died in U.S. base camps that week. Camp Upton in Yaphank re-

corded 128 deaths. That number was far exceeded by several other camps. Camp Sherman near Chillicothe, OH, recorded 689 deaths from disease that week, Camp Grant, on the outskirts of Rockford, IL, 638, and Fort Meade in Maryland, 438. Dr. Blue was far ahead of his time, advocating for a national health insurance plan.He served as Surgeon General from 1912 to 1920. He was the president of the American Medical Association in 1916 and 1917. On October 5, 1918, The Times had reported: “In Washington, Surgeon General advocates closing all schools, churches, theaters, and public institutions in every community where the epidemic has developed.” The story then quoted Blue: “There is no way to put a nationwide closing order into effect, as this is a matter which is up to the individual communities. In some states, the State Board of Health has this power, but in many others, it is a matter of municipal regulation.” Blue was powerless. It was up to the states and municipalities to fight a national pandemic. In October 1918, Blue had offered the following advice in the Times on protective face masks: “It is important to remember that the disease is spread by breathing germladen matter sprayed into the air by the patient in coughing, or even in ordinary breathing. The attendant should therefore wear a gauze mask over her mouth and nose while she is in the sickroom. Such a mask is easily made by folding a piece of gauze fourfold, sewing a piece of tape at the four corners, and tying the upper set of tape over the ears, the lower set around the neck.” Next week: The Final Wave.

The Independent

Police Chief Court Officer Found Dead Southampton Town Justice staff reeling from employees’ deaths By Taylor K. Vecsey taylor@indyeastend.com

FR EE

IN SP W EC HO TI LE ON H –C O AL USE LT OD AY

Those who work at Southampton Town Justice Court are reeling from deaths of two of their employees, one of whom died at the courthouse. Mark Sidor, the chief court officer, went to work at the court on Jackson Avenue in Hampton Bays on the morning of May 11 and was later found in his office. He died of “an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said by phone last week. No further details were released, as the department is waiting a report from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death. Sidor, 56, worked for the town for slightly more than 36 years. “It is a tragic loss for the police department. We’re all very sympathetic and supportive to the family right now. He was a revered member of the police department, a long-time exemplary officer of the court. He will be sorely missed,” Skrynecki said. He remembered Sidor, a former East Quogue fire chief, as a great family man, a pillar of the community, who was wellliked by all. “I think just about anybody who had any interaction with him, left with a very good feeling,” the chief said. Justice court employees were already mourning the loss of Roxana Flores, a part-time Spanish-language interpreter, who died from complications of the novel coronavirus on May 5. Flores, 47, had worked at the justice court for about 10

years, and was well-regarded by her coworkers. Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said the two deaths have left employees in the small courthouse devastated. “I consider the town a family as well, in a different way, but we are all interconnected. It is hard to lose a member of the town work force — in this case we lost two in a short period of time. We’re grieving as a municipal government but we also want to best support the families of these two employees,” he said. “Our little courthouse has been rocked,” said Barbara Wilson, one of the four sitting Southampton Town justices. “Roxana was a smiling, happy, wonderful person,” Wilson said. She recalled how proud Flores was of her eldest son, who is in college working on a double major. “When she left Costa Rica, this was just a dream and it was a dream realized,” she said. Flores leaves behind a husband and three children, ages 12, 16, and 21. A GoFundMe page created last week, ended on Tuesday, after it raised more than $25,000. Wilson said that Sidor was not only a colleague, but a friend, someone who was there in the best and worst of times. “Mark was our foundation. We’re a little jilted off our foundation.” The court officers are the first people anyone visiting the courthouse sees and

Southampton Town Justice Court is closed to the public during COVID-19. Independent/Taylor K. Vecsey

he set the tone, said Wilson. “No matter who you were, if you were the defendant, if you were the translator, if you were the judge, he treated you with dignity and respect.” “Mark was the justice court,” Wilson said. “He was very professional. He was very balanced. He was one of those people who had a keen sense of what was going on around him. He was ready wherever needed,” she said, adding he was able to

handle whatever came his way and often was able to calm people down when tensions rose. “He was always a shining light in that court.” Though court is closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was there on Monday morning for a meeting with the justices in order to come up with a plan for reopening in a way that made everyone feel as safe from the virus Continued On Page 26.

National EMS Week

Ahead of the holiday weekend, May 17 marked the beginning of National Emergency Medical Services Week, which runs through May 23. “We want to say a big thank you to all the members of our EMS community for the incredible work that you have done throughout the COVID-19 crisis,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. “You are literally on the front lines. You are saving people’s lives each and every day — this is what you do — but this crisis really has put you to the test. It’s put us all to the test, but the way you have performed is absolutely incredible.” In honor of the national recognition, Suffolk County will light the H. Lee Dennison Building blue in honor of EMS workers. Bellone said those who want to share positive stories can do so at ce.suffolkcountyny.gov/dashboardofhope. The theme for this year’s EMS week is “Ready today, preparing for tomorrow.” “I can tell you that the way you have performed, the work that you’ve done, you’ve made it clear to all of us that you are ready for this crisis,” Bellone said. “The way that you’ve changed and reacted and adapted and adjusted to new protocols being thrown at you and changes happening on the fly . . . that you’re able to handle anything. I can’t say enough about the great work that you’ve done.” DK

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Police

May 20, 2020

Police Academy Holds Virtual Graduation

cruits for outside and associated agencies — Daniel Arocho, Connor Drost, and Frank Lapocca will be working for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Tyler Gilbride was hired by the East Hampton Town Police Department; and Olivia Barszczewski and Darren Hinderliter, the Southold Town Police Department. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart presided over the ceremony, which was live-streamed on Facebook. “I want to thank all of the officers and members of the Suffolk County Police Department for what they do for us

Recruits joining East Hampton and Southold departments, sheriff's office By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com Seventy recruits were part of the Suffolk County Police Academy’s first-ever virtual graduation ceremony in front of family

and friends May 8. The 178th class of officers joining department frontlines includes six re-

each and every day,” Bellone said. “This is not the way that we expect to be gathering, of course, but I’m very glad today that we are able to do this ceremony, gathering together to celebrate this achievement. We know the way that we operate and move and do things in our community, and our society has been turned upside down in many ways over the last couple of months as we respond to this global pandemic.” Nearly 60 percent of the graduates have previous law enforcement experience. Of the 70 recruits, 50 are white men, seven white women, 10 Hispanic Continued On Page 30.

Ten Units Damaged At Atlantic Bluffs Fire marshal: Accidental fire ‘gutted’ units By Taylor K. Vecsey taylor@indyeastend.com

Ten of the 56 units at the Atlantic Bluffs Club co-op in Montauk were destroyed by a fire there on May 9, the East Hampton Town sire marshal’s

office said this week. Two buildings, connected by a breezeway, were damaged in the fire, said Continued On Page 30.

Firefighters from three fire departments responded to a blaze at the Atlantic Bluffs Club in Montauk May 9. Independent/Michael Heller

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The Independent

Editorial

JUST ASKING

By Karen Fredericks

When do you think we’ll start returning to the way things were before the shutdown? Rula Beha I’m hoping we'll have some kind of normalcy by the fall, but I’m not sure how that can be achieved. We are so unprepared. We don’t have a vaccine yet. We’re using experimental drugs on the critically ill. And we don’t have any effective drugs to use for those who are moderately ill. It’s so unpredictable. Independent/Lisa Tamburini

A Different Kind Of Battle

Jimmy Hain I think it could be 18 months. We have to consider that if we start reopening very soon, we’re reopening too early, and that could mean there will be a resurgence of the virus. But I’m not a professional in the medical field, so that’s just my guess.

Is it just me?

It’s Memorial Day weekend. In the past, we would write an editorial about the opening of the busy season on the East End, urging visitors to stay safe and promoting respect for our locals, our beaches, our way of life. This Memorial Day, we continue to battle a deadly virus. Food insecurity in our community is at rates we’ve never experienced. And small businesses — the backbone for our community — are struggling. This is not the Memorial Day weekend that anyone would have ever expected. But we will do what humans do: adjust and adapt. We help each other. As we inch closer to reopening our economy, there’s no question that we will have out-of-town visitors who wish to enjoy the beautiful space we call home. But this year will have to be different. It’s not the summer for party hopping or large crowds. The East End will serve as respite and a breath of fresh air for those visiting. We need to treat each other and our public spaces with respect. If you’re going out in public, it’s important to wear a mask. A mask will help stop the spread of COVID-19. By taking this simple action, you can save a life. We agree with Governor Andrew Cuomo when he stated: “When you wear a mask, you say, ‘I respect you’” to health care workers and all essential workers who continue to go to work every day during this very difficult time. We can’t stay at home forever. But in order to reopen parts of our economy, we need to be smart. It is going to take the collective efforts of our community to do this. The more people who wear masks in public, the quicker we can get back to something that resembles what life once was. We must not forget that the meaning of Memorial Day is to honor the brave men and women who died while serving our country. It’s also important this weekend to honor those who have lost the battle in a different type of war. Just as we should plant a flag to honor those who fought and died in battle, we should wear a mask to honor those who continue to fight this pandemic.

Caitlin Baringer-Palmer It’s so hard to predict, but it may be a while. And things may never go back to the way they were completely. Schools will have to reopen, but it’s hard to imagine that happening any time soon.

Ruben Cano I’m guessing around 18 months. The decision about when to reopen schools will have some impact. We’ll need options for parents who must go back to work. Maybe we have kids that have tested for the antibodies go back, but we offer an option to parents to continue homeschooling? This would lower classroom density.

What should we have? Chuck Filet. Hmmm. Lean. Tender. Chuck Filet. Sounds like the name of a Chippendales dancer. UNE

MEN

Karen was chosen Best Cartoonist by the New York Press Association in 2017 and again in 2019. She’s the recipient of multiple awards for her illustration of the international bestseller How To Build Your Own Country, including the prestigious Silver Birch Award. Her work is part of the permanent artist’s book collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

May 20, 2020

Arts & Entertainment Alec Baldwin: All In On The East End

Alec Baldwin. Independent/ Marco Vacchi

Appreciation for the arts is his core message By Bridget LeRoy bridget@indyeastend.com In a normal year, Alec Baldwin — sometimes with his wife, Hilaria, and sometimes with one or two or five kids (with another on the way) — is ubiquitous in these here parts. Whether it’s the Authors Night at East Hampton Library — of which he is the founding honorary chair — or the Hamptons International Film Festival (rebranded as HamptonsFilm), which he co-chairs, or co-hosting “Afternoon Ramble” with Brian Cosgrove on 88.3 WPPB-FM, or other organizations on the East End which he supports, it’s not just his name on an invitation, or a check in the mail, or a quick how-doyou-do at some swank soiree. If you get Alec Baldwin, you really get Alec Baldwin. He’s all in — irrevocably, passionately, and with all of his heart. Or, you might just see him on Main Street, eating pizza, usually with a child attached to him, or in a conversation with Kevin McAllister of Defend H2O, or at a panel discussion for the film festival. But this is not a normal year. Not even close. These days, even the locals will only see him more indirectly — on “Saturday Night Live,” where he has gathered a new generation of viewers with his uproarious impersonation of President Trump, and yet another generation through his wildly popular Instagram account, @alecbaldwininsta, which boasts over 1.6 million followers and features occasional Trump impersonations, lots of family life, and

“The arts get into our blood and heart and soul like nothing else.” Alec Baldwin

The Independent

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The Independent

Gala Season Gone COVID-19 forces nonprofits to reimagine long-held traditions By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

The Hamptons has a world-wide reputation for being a location of means. On the outside, it’s seen as a place of luxury homes and fancy parties, lined by beautiful beaches and noted celebrities. But those on the inside know that part of what makes the Hamptons truly special is its philanthropic community. For decades, Memorial Day weekend has meant the kick-off to roaring summer nights spent gala hopping or cheering former presidents and Hall of Famers from the bleachers at the Artists and Writers Softball Game. Each event raises funds for a charitable cause, some local, some national, sprinkling in the magic of the season and an influx of tourism. As COVID-19 devastates the East End, perhaps one of the hardest felt hits in its wake will be the reality of a socially distant summer. Gala season has been canceled. “We are still on and eager to do our part for our charities. We’re holding out hope that we’ll be able to gather in one way or another. This is the worst rain delay I’ve ever sat through,” said Benito Vila, president of the Artists and Writers Softball Game. The famed AW Softball Game is typically held at the end of August, distributing funds to several charities. While outdoor sporting events are still up in the air, many nonprofits have been forced to cancel. “What we will miss most is the chance for our animals and supporters to come together at our events,” said Scott Howe, executive director and CEO of Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. “There is always such joy at ARF events. Having our animals there makes our mission tangible to people, and they allow us to thank our community in person. That personal connection is what I will personally

The Sofo Gala in 2019. Independent/ Lisa Tamburini

miss, but we are already making plans to communicate in new ways while, at the same time, our work continues and evolves to help people and their pets impacted by COVID-19 and all the ways it has changed our lives.” Elka Rifkin, director of The Watermill Center noted that it’s closed for the foreseeable future. “It is our great hope to re-open as soon as possible to continue to provide time and space for international, national, and local artists to create new work. We are grateful to those who have helped to support us in the past and during this difficult time.” Other canceled events include the Sag Harbor Historical Society gala, Breast Cancer Research Fund Paddle for Pink, and The Surfrider Foundation’s One Ocean Montauk benefit.

Zooming Into The Season Some organizations are making adjustments rather than pulling the plug entirely. For example, The Surfrider Foundation is taking a unique approach to its 18th Annual Surf Movie Night, typically held at Guild Hall, by considering a potential drive-in movie experience. Others have decided to go completely virtual. “We decided to pivot very early from an in-person event to a virtual event because we are truly an essential service. Canceling was not an option, as we are still providing all services to victims of domestic violence and have no choice but to raise money to help our clients continue their path toward healing,” said Ellie Kurrus, vice president of the board of directors at The Retreat. She is also the event chair for The Retreat’s All Against Abuse gala. This year, the gala will open up bidding on Friday, June 12, at 12 PM and it will

remain open until 5 PM on Monday, June 22. On Saturday, June 13, at 6 PM will be the special Zoom Cocktail Party where bidding will be allowed on premier auction items. Loretta Davis, The Retreat’s executive director, said of the organization’s largest fundraising event, “We are so excited to share this incredible experience with our guests. This is a new frontier for The Retreat and we have beautifully enhanced the journey. For the first time, access to the gala will be open to people across the nation. We have some superstar guests who will share their experience with The Retreat and some awesome auction items.” Guests are welcome to party in their pajamas, but gala attire and champagne glasses are encouraged. The American Heart Association’s annual Hamptons Heart Ball will also be held through Zoom on Saturday, June 20. “Through the Hamptons Heart Ball, we have been able to raise funds to further research and education here on Long Island. Of course, there will be a different feel to the event not having it in person,” said event chair Cristina Civetta. “The details really mirror the program portion of how we do our live event. All of our honorees, speakers, emcees, survivors and event chair will all be dressed in their best Hamptons chic and will provide you with a captivating evening that will encompass the mission of the American Heart Association. We are so excited to be having a live auction that evening also.”

A Means For Survival For the vast majority of nonprofits, the summer galas are more than a reason to celebrate — they’re a means for sur-

vival. “The Parrish acted swiftly on modifications to the schedule of several events,” said Susan Galardi, communications director for the Parrish Art Museum. The nonprofit adapted quickly to its digital platform with online programming. While the Summer Family Party remains on schedule for its August date, the highly popular Midsummer Party and Late-Night Party, the museum’s most important fundraiser, has been canceled for July, and it has not been rescheduled at this time. “Despite the achievements in continuing to serve the community, the museum’s closure has led to a 75 to 80-percent reduction in resources, both staff and revenue,” Galardi added. Diana Aceti, director of development at South Fork Natural History Museum, noted the museum’s gala, which celebrated 30 years last July, raises two thirds of the organization’s operating budget. “It is extremely important to raise necessary funds for environmental programs, initiatives, and operational costs.” At present, the annual SoFo gala is scheduled in-person for August 15 with social distancing adjustments in place, but Aceti acknowledged the possibility of having to go digital. “If we host an event online, we will include special surprise guests and other special surprises so that guests can enjoy a dinner, drinks, and a concert. We are brainstorming ideas daily,” she said. The option to go to digital is giving The Ellen Hermanson Foundation a chance it otherwise may have lost — an opportunity to celebrate 25 years. “Twenty-five years is a big achievement and we do not want to let this pass without acknowledging that this is a very big deal for us. We know it is

Arts & Entertainment

May 20, 2020

The Watermill Center benefit 2019. Independent/ Chloe Bellemere

disappointing to have to cancel our inperson fundraiser, but we are confident that we will be able to create a fun, creative, and interactive event while bringing in much needed funds for The Ellen Hermanson Foundation,” Julie Ratner, president of The Ellen Hermanson Foundation said of both the summer gala and Ellen’s Run. “We are grateful for all the professional, courageous, and compassionate heroes who keep us safe while combating COVID-19 on the front line and we are proud to be part of our strong caring and resilient community pulling together to face this challenge with love and support for each other,” added Ratner. Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s annual summer benefit is scheduled for August 1. Barbara-Jo Howard, the hospital’s director of communications and marketing will share news about the gala soon. However, she announced, “Later this year we look forward to beginning the largest campaign in our history; a campaign to build a new state-of-the-art community hospital. With lessons learned from the COVID-19 environment, this will undoubtedly be among the first postpandemic new hospitals in our nation.” Tom Dunn, executive director at Southampton Arts Center, said SummerFest is still in development, “We’re thinking about alternatives, maybe a smaller gathering and some other ways to come together safely as a community.” An announcement is coming in the next few weeks.

Looking At Other Options The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is looking into other options for its annual Hamptons Happen-

ing fundraiser. “To date, the Hamptons Happening raised more than $5 million for the SWCRF and its innovative research that is uncovering why cancer develops and how to treat and prevent the disease that affects 1.8 million Americans annually,” Samuel Waxman, M.D., founder and CEO, Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation said of the event that has been held for 15 consecutive years. “This year, the SWCRF is working hard to create an exciting event that will observe social-distancing measures while bringing the community together. It is grateful to the many chefs, restaurants, wineries, distillers, and fine food purveyors for generously donating their specialties each year, and stands by these businesses and everyone affected by COVID-19 during this difficult time,” added Waxman. The LongHouse Reserve’s summer gala, themed “Exotica,” has been pushed back “until the first possible moment when it’s safe to have it.” Dianne Benson, LongHouse board chair informed that a silent art and design auction will be available in July, “with a portion of the proceeds shared for the first time with participating artists” who have been hit noticeably hard by the pandemic. Other events pushed back to September include the Southampton Cultural Center’s 5th Annual Wine and Roses Gala and Southampton Historical Society’s 11th annual Insider’s View. Some groups have made the difficult decision to cancel their events for 2020 and postpone to 2021: St Judes Hope in the Hamptons and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s Unconditional Love Gala. “While we were all looking forward to celebrating

the 11th Annual Unconditional Love Gala, we have decided to cancel. We feel that this is the responsible thing to do. The health, well-being, and safety of our guests is our top priority. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to making our 2021 celebration even bigger and better,” said Katie McEntee, SASF’s director of adoptions and public relations and junior chair of the gala. Prioritizing the safety of others, East End Hospice is encouraging supporters to host a Pig Roast Picnic and dress up for a summer gala at home while donating to their cause. “Many long-time supporters of these events, as well as new donors, have stepped up to make their gift a straight donation this year. Some have even increased their support because they know the need is urgent right now. Other longtime event supporters are

pivoting to support our COVID-19 Response Fund or make in-kind donations of much needed PPE and other essentials for our staff,” said Mary Crosby, East End Hospice’s president and CEO. The annual Box Art Auction has been pushed to October, following state and Centers for Disease Control recommendations. The famed fireworks over Three Mile Harbor are still planned for July. The Clamshell Foundation’s Great Bonac Fireworks and sandcastle contest are both scheduled and the organization is hopeful that they will go on. “We have the permits. However, the safety and well-being of all is our top priority. We are putting 100 percent of our focus and funds into those in need right now, but remain hopeful the wonderful tradition of the fireworks and sandcastle contest will both happen,” said the foundation’s president, Kori Peters. Founded in 1901, Southampton Fresh Air Home has been through worse than COVID-19 — it endured two world wars, the Spanish influenza, and the Great Depression. For 32 years, the nonprofit’s Grucci fireworks have been a signature touch to its annual American Picnic fundraiser, an event that typically raises over 25 percent of the organization’s annual operating revenue toward programs for physically disabled youths. While the picnic is packed up, the show will still go on. “Thanks to our rich history and continued support by our community, we continue to adapt and persevere during these trying times. We are currently offering virtual programs and activities which provide for a great distraction and socialization for many,” said executive director Thomas Naro. The annual Decorators, Designers, and Dealers event has been postponed to Saturday, August 29.

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's 2019 summer party. Independent/Lisa Tamburini

The Independent

DriveBy-Art Outdoor public exhibition in the moment of social distancing By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com

Laurie Lambrecht. Independent/Richard Lewin

Steve Miller. Independent/Richard Lewin

Andrea Grover and Almond Zigmund. Independent/Richard Lewin

Carly Haffner. Independent/Richard Lewin

Drive-By-Art, an outdoor public art exhibition, was held over the weekend of May 9. All across the South Fork, from Montauk to Hampton Bays, the exhibit provided a way for the community to experience art from the safety of their own vehicles, all while social distancing. Over 50 painters, sculptors, photographers, performance artists, film and video makers, poets, and musicians were involved in displaying a variety of art on their properties, near roads, or on highways. The Drive-By-Art weekend was organized by artist and theorist Warren Neidich. The works each related to this current moment of social distancing during COVID-19. Participants included Suzanne Anker, Brianna Ashe, Elena Bajo, Monica Banks, Dianne Blell, Joe Brondo, Philippe Cheng, Kelly Darr, Jeremy Dennis, Eric Dever, Sally Egbert, Esly E. Escobar, Eva Faye, Eric Fischl, Saskia Friedrich, Robin Gianis, Frank Gillette, Janet Goleas, Carly Haffner, Hiroyuki Hamada, Barry Holden, Alice Hope, Soren Hope, Erica-Lynn Huberty, Bryan Hunt, Joan Jonas, Eileen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Kane Kornreich, Laurie Lambrecht, Steve Miller, Jill Musnicki, Cassi Namoda, Stephen Neidich, Joel Perlman, Toni Ross and Sara Salaway, Matthew Satz, Bastienne Schmidt, Christine Sciulli, Barry Schwabsky, Bruce M. Sherman, Keith Sonnier, Sabina Streeter, Carol Szymanski, Evan Thomas, Susan Vecsey, Ryan Wallace, Lucy Winton, Nina Yankowitz, Darius Yektai, and Almond Zigmund. For more info, visit www.drive-byart.org.

Arts & Entertainment

May 20, 2020

Where And ‘WHEN’ And Why

Independent/ Courtesy Toni Ross

Toni Ross’s installation speaks to tangible loneliness By Bridget LeRoy bridget@indyeastend.com

Drive-By Art, an installation project helmed by Warren Neidich, came to the East End May 9 and 10. One of the most poignant pieces spanned the length of Beach Lane in Wainscott — Toni Ross and Sara Salaway’s “WHEN, 2020.” The installation features a series of folding metal chairs, rooted to the ground exactly six feet apart — a nod to the social distancing created by the coronavirus outbreak. Stenciled on the chairs is a date, beginning with March 15, the first day of the lockdown. As one drives by, somewhere in mid-April, the days disappear, and a series of chairs simply read “April.” As it gets into May, the days dissolve even more, into “Yesterday,” “Today,” and “Tomorrow,” until they end in a jumble of days at the end. Ross came up with the idea while responsibly visiting with friends, one of

her few outings since the PAUSE went into effect. “We were sitting in the backyard, all of us, six feet apart, and it just felt so weird,” she said. When asked to participate in the art project, “I was thrilled to get a chance to work with Warren, first of all,” she said. “But it’s also the first installation I’ve done with my daughter, so it brought us together during this really strange time of separation.” It was Salaway’s idea to anchor the chairs to the ground. “Thank God!” Ross laughed. “With the winds lately, they would have all blown away.” Although Ross says she didn’t have any underlying symbolism in the install, she acknowledged that many people have contacted her about their own interpretations. “It has affected people in ways I didn’t expect or in-

tend,” she said thoughtfully. “When people drive slowly past all those empty chairs, I guess it strikes a chord of tangible loneliness.” Sixty-one chairs represent March 15 to May 10, “the last day of the project,” but then an additional stack of chairs “to imply this will continue.” “We have all lost track of time. Time has taken on a different meaning. We can’t seem to parse what was yesterday from what was last month,” she said. “It’s bizarre.” The work has been donated to the Hayground School, of which Ross is a founding member. The work is on sale, either as a whole or in groups of three, with all the funds benefiting the Hayground Tuition Assistance program. More information is available on Ross’s website, www.studiotoniross. com.

The Independent

MARKET PAGE By Zachary Weiss

Cruisin’ Your new set of wheels for that Sunday afternoon

With the summer season right around the corner and our potential to gather on the beach remaining in flux, the best way to enjoy your time outside is with a new

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Arts & Entertainment

May 20, 2020

HAMPTON DAZE By Jessica Mackin-Cipro

What The Past Few Months Have Taught Me jessica@indyeastend.com @hamptondaze It’s been a strange few months. It’s gone fast and slow, all at the same time. At times I’ve leaned in and gone full Grey Gardens, while at other times I’ve felt like I’m thriving, living my most productive life. I question a lot. Like, will I even know how to socialize when this is over? If it is, in fact, ever over. I think mixed feelings about all of this are normal. I’ve missed baby showers, birthdays, and weddings. I’ve missed my friends and relatives and co-workers. I’ve seen people lose loved ones, or feared they might. I’ve feared losing the ones I love every day since the virus hit. I’m also so grateful for this time spent with my family, all together in a small house. And I cannot wait to hug the ones I’m not quarantined with. I’ve seen the best in humans, doing everything in our power to help those less fortunate. I’ve seen our community come together. I’ve watched health care workers put on a brave face and battle a scary world. I’ve clapped and cheered for essential workers. I’ve seen so many acts of heroism that have brought tears to my eyes. I’ve seen hospitals in our city fill with New Yorkers on their death-bed. I’ve seen stacked bodies in refrigerator trucks. These are not sights we will soon forget. My birthday next week is canceled and I have nothing to complain about.

I’ve worked long hours for at least 75 days straight and have nothing to complain about. I’ve felt guilty complaining about little things while so many people have it so bad right now. I’ve realized that our health is really all that matters. I’ve learned that I need less in life to be happy. I’ve gotten in touch with my domestic side and learned how to make a low-carb banana bread (email me if you’d like the recipe!). Banana bread is not something I would have had any interest in B.C. (Before Corona) and I’m not even sure who I am anymore. I never thought I’d be so content sitting, having a cup of tea, and listening to the sound of birds or watching a deer in my yard, but here we are. Mother Nature has also had a chance to get some beauty sleep. I’ve missed the ability to travel, to get up and go, while I’ve also learned that it’s perfectly fine to just sit still. I’ve had dreams about being at restaurants. And nightmares about being in the city. But what I would give to have strangers climb over me in a ride-share heading downtown for a day of work at The Wing followed by happy hour with friends. I’ve seen horrible injustice in our country and the world. I’ve watched a nation come together, only to become more divided. I’ve read battles on Facebook that made me sad for the future.

I’ve seen Tik Toks that give me hope for the future. I’ve watched social media bring people together like never before. How did they do this in 1918 when you couldn’t Zoom with family members across the country? I’ve been frightened. I’ve been scared of dying. I’ve been afraid to enter a grocery store. I’ve sanitized my food deliveries. I’ve sanitized my sanitizer. I’ve also never realized how truly enjoyable food could be. Meals have far too often been an afterthought. I’ve been grateful for our farm stands and local purveyors for providing delivery options that I found to be the safest way to shop. I’ve been angry at those I didn’t think were doing what was right for the greater good — those not wearing masks or taking it seriously. I’ve had anxiety and I’ve cried when I didn’t understand why this was all happening. I’ve seen others through tough times without the ability to really be with them. I’ve cried for New York City and felt like a traitor for leaving. I have anxiety about the amount of dust that is probably in our apartment right now. It feels like a lifetime ago when I got off a plane from Miami on March 1 and decided to quarantine. I thought it would be over in a few weeks if we all just stayed home. I was wrong. I’ve learned that nothing will ever be what it was, but we will be OK.

I know that this won’t be the Memorial Day weekend we’ve always known on the East End. But this week we’ve tried our best to pay tribute to the spirit of Memorial Day weekend on the East End in this issue. We hope we can give our readers an escape with our features and interviews. We hope we can keep you informed with the news that is so important right now. Please stay safe and healthy.

The Indy Playlist

We've started a Spotify where we will feature weekly playlists of randomly selected songs for you to enjoy. Here's week #1. Find us @indyeastend. Runaway: Yeah Yeah Yeahs Everyday: A$AP Rocky ft. Rod Stewart, Miguel, Mark Ronson The Way We Get By: Spoon Future Starts Slow: The Kills Do You Realize: The Flaming Lips Yesterday: The Beatles New York: St. Vincent The Killing Moon: Echo & the Bunnymen When My Time Comes: Dawes Underwater: RÜFÜS DU SOL Tomorrow Never Came: Lana Del Rey ft. Sean Ono Lennon Go Outside: Cults This Is The Day: The The All Of Me: Billie Holiday Ain't No Man: The Avett Brothers Tighten Up: The Black Keys

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Discovering New Avenues Sag Harbor Main Street merchants navigate together By Zachary Weiss There’s a certain happenstance that comes most Saturdays when locals and weekenders alike find themselves on Main Street in Sag Harbor picking up lunch. They tend to wander through the rows of shops selling summer wares, flexing their purchasing powers every step of the way. It’s what drew Sunswell, a local men’s ready-towear brand founded by husband and wife duo Craig and Carrie O’Brien, to take over a prime location at 66 Main Street, formerly the site of Marty’s Barbershop for over 50 years. “In early October, we connected with the landlord,” Carrie recalls. “He turned out to be an amazing guy and local business owner who was super invested in having a tenant in place that suited the vibe of Sag Harbor. He was very specific about that fact, and we spent some months getting to know one another. I think this is a special thing about our town — people who love Sag Harbor want to protect it, and it was just the right fit all around.” With the lease signed, and fellow swimwear brand Fair Harbor brought in to collaborate on the space, plans were set for a booming summer of sales. Enter COVID-19, leaving Main Street merchants in a sea of uncertainty, as they can no longer count on the revenue spike during the summer season, but David Brogna, vice president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce and owner of In Home Sag Harbor, insists that retailers must forge on. “The merchants of Sag Harbor are part of a scrappy legacy of the sea,” Brogna said. “Just like those who saw the village through its ups and downs from whaling through manufacturing, we are survivors who will adapt, because we love our village. While this has been a particularly hard hit for many, we are working through it and uncovering every avenue to maintain the vibrant nature of Sag Harbor’s small businesses.” For some, like women’s accessories and ready-to-wear brand Frances Valentine, a new avenue includes the introduction of curbside pickup and home delivery of its stylish goods

that range from jewelry and handbags to beautifully embroidered home textiles. Eager to please its clientele, other shops will likely follow suit. “I would guess this is the norm while we are all required to social distance, but long-term, I don’t think so,” the company’s president, Elyce Arons, mused. “I think we will slowly ease into our enjoyable habits over the months, but having curbside pickup does provide more flexibility for customers in the future.” For other brands without a robust online customer base, the Sag Harbor Partnership has pledged to underwrite a “Virtual Main Street” initiative, which will promote virtual offerings while some stores remain closed. Final details and a dedicated website are still in the works. Though in what appears to be the bright side of this rapid adjustment process, merchants have never been more unified. “We’ve been calling them The Sag Harbor Retailers Zoom Sessions,” Patricia Reed, co-founder of boutique Matriark, told us of her informal digital group of about 30 fellow retailers. “I always felt a great sense of camaraderie in Sag Harbor, but I think we are all navigating these difficult times with even more things in common. So, it makes sense to think about working as a community and help each other. I opened Matriark last year, so I had not met a few of the retailers up until now, and I think it’s true to others as well. It’s been nice to know them, even if it’s just via Zoom,” said Reed.

Patricia Reed, co-founder of Matriark. Independent/ Courtesy Matriark

Sunswell Founders Craig and Carrie O'Brien. Independent/Mark Schafer

Independent/Courtesy Frances Valentine

Arts & Entertainment

May 20, 2020

KISS & TELL By Heather Buchanan

Basements, Boyfriends And Venus in retrograde kissandtellhb@gmail.com

Some people have used this time to tackle projects like painting the spare room, fixing up a home office, or completing an intricate jigsaw puzzle. I decided, for my project, it would be a good time to finally clean out the basement. I had some trepidation about the physical part of the process, steep stairs and heavy boxes and dust everywhere, but vastly underestimated the emotional repercussions. Jung would have a thing or two to say about metaphorically cleaning up your dark subterranean spaces. There are items you are well aware of, like the Christmas decorations you unearth every year or the rack where you semi-annually switch summer to

winter wardrobe, and maybe a ski outfit you bring up every so often. There are some pleasant surprises of things you have been looking for, like a favorite sweater, or clips from early published writing, or an important legal document you’d been trying to find. What you don’t anticipate are the boxes that were purposely buried and meant to be forgotten. That’s where the danger lies. Remembrances of ruined romantic relationships. What I failed to realize as I went on this archeological dig was that Venus had just gone retrograde. We may be familiar with Mercury in retrograde, which wreaks havoc on communication, but Venus is the planet of love and,

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in retrograde, brings emotional distress as she literally takes your love life backwards. It is a time for more of an internal reflection to deal with unresolved issues and conflicts. Astrologically speaking, the universe is bringing up the worst and biggest changes in your life and forcing you to sit with them, alone, undistracted, in your basement, in cobweb covered yoga pants. Bam. Hidden behind the tax documents and old stereo equipment and belly dancing skirt was the box marked “personal.” This is when I should have reached out to my retired therapist in Florida and asked if she could be an emotional support flashlight. Looking through the old photographs was one thing, but the letters were another. Younger people may only have an electronic emotional footprint, and while they may torture themselves deciphering past texts and trying to read between the emojis, there is nothing as powerful as someone’s actual handwriting. As I hauled the box into the living room and started to take out all the remnants, I began an uncomfortable stroll down memory lane, like walking barefoot on pebbles. On the good side, I realized I have been lucky enough to be truly loved by a number of men. On the other, the amount of drama and be-

trayals was astounding. Some details, of course, I remembered, but others felt like I was experiencing them for the first time. I don’t think of myself as an overly dramatic person, but as I lined up these experiences it started to read more Tolstoy than “The Little Engine That Could.” The time warp turned into a bit of trance and it wasn’t until I was on my seventh dump run with a tear-soaked mask that a kind young man said, “Uh, Ma’am, you’re bleeding.” I looked down at my hand and saw where I had cut it on the glass from a picture frame I had smashed. Damn that Venus. I could have just thrown out all these pieces of my past. But instead I tried to find a way to put this puzzle together, looking at what fit, what the patterns were, and where there were gaps I just couldn’t fill. Once I sorted out the mementos, I put them in a box, a new one. I didn’t bury it in the darkest corner but instead placed it on a well-organized shelf. With all the clutter and mess and cobwebs cleaned out, there was room to breathe. It was time to come up out of the basement into the light with lessons learned and contemplate a new romantic future. Maybe I’ll even put on that belly dancing skirt again. But after Venus gets out of retrograde.

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The Independent

INDY SCENE By Norah Bradford

Hamptons Season Memorial Day 2020 Primer While it might feel a strange start, we are at the beginning of the first summer of the new decade. Things can only get better, and in the meantime, let’s remind ourselves of the gurus whose guidance we need and the chic eateries offering delivery. Create the scene from your home while ordering in the best taste of the Hamptons.

Sushi roll with crab and avocado at Union Sushi & Steak.

The Carryout

Claude’s at the Southampton Inn has been re-envisioned for summer 2020 where guests can choose from a brandnew, locally sourced menu now offering all-American picnic baskets as well as its classic Claude’s carryout. One of the new dishes this season is a Herbed Baked Brie: baked and sprinkled with thyme and rosemary, served with walnuts, pears, crackers, and baguette slices. www.southamptoninn.com T-Bar Steak and Lounge Southampton, like its sister restaurant on the Upper East Side, offers guests innovative contemporary American cuisine. It is a new spin on the classic upscale steak house. The menu features a wide range of dishes, ranging from renditions of classics, to refined and inventive plates which can be ordered for takeout or delivery. www.tbarnyc.com The instant-hit restaurant Union Burger Bar enters its second season. Enjoy both the high-quality burgers and delectable milkshakes from Ian Duke and Chef Scott Kampf. Union Burger will likely be one of this summer’s go-tos for those seeking the ideal take-out meal to enjoy at home or anywhere. There's also its adjacent new restaurant, Union Sushi & Steak. www. unionburgerbar.com

The At Home Experts With many charity events having been rescheduled or even postponed until next summer, there are still ways to help those in need. Philanthropist and author of “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give,” Jean Shaﬁroff sees a pandemic as no barrier to helping others, having recently donated 10,000 meals to the

Jean Shafiroff. Independent/Patrick McMullan

Heart of the Hamptons Food Pantry as well as to COVID-19 related fund drives by the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. “There is always much you can do aside from making direct contributions online. Volunteering to call prospective donors is a worthy task which can help those in real need, now.” www.jeanshafiroff.com Larry Scott, the founder of Lawrence Scott Events is well-known for his exceptional, one-of-a-kind dinner parties to celebrate the most special events. As this summer will have more private and at-home, socially-responsible events, Larry’s skill — and advice — is even more relevant. Three of the best of Larry’s Golden rules for planning to party at home this summer include: choose your guests well, quoting Lewis Carroll “That which causes the failure of party is not meat, nor drink, but conversation;” “Cocktails come first,” and “Plan something to surprise guests.” www.lawrencescottevents.com Fitness model, sponsored athlete, and personal trainer Nikki Walter has a strong passion for health and wellness shared with her daughter Addison, to help change people’s lives through their virtual health & wellness advice online, and their company, Clean Eating Parties as well as health movement called #ruralfit — just in time for summer 2020. www.nikkiwalter.com

T-Bar in Southampton. Independent/T-Bar

A Larry Scott event image. Independent/Maike Schulz of Gruber Photographers

Nikki Walter. Independent/Nikki Walter

Claudes All American Picnic. Independent/Southampton Inn

HOME&

Garden Real Estate Super Duo Leverage Their Art & Design Background Why Cee Scott Brown and Jack Pearson pivoted to tech realty powerhouse Compass

Lee Skolnick Getting To The Church

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Jack Pearson, Jeremy Dunham, and Cee Scott Brown

REAL ESTATE DUO LEVERAGE THEIR ART & DESIGN BACKGROUND Why Cee Scott Brown and Jack Pearson pivoted to tech realty powerhouse Compass By Ty Wenzel â&#x20AC;˘ ty@indyeastend.com

Jack Pearson and Cee Scott Brown have been known as one of the most successful Hamptons real estate teams for almost 13 years. Collectively they have over 45 years of success in the luxury side of the industry. They surprised the sector when they moved from Corcoran to tech-savvy Compass last November.

Are you both local to the region?

They have produced over $1 billion in sales volume and have earned respected real estate awards, including multiple year Top Team stamps and have been members of the elite Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council for many years. The last few years have seen an accumulation of over half a billion in sales volume and more than 400 deals, and they continue to beat the industry average for days on the market to contract. Indy caught up with the duo to learn more about them and why they made the move, which was a real coup for Compass.

Jack Pearson: I am from St. Louis, but have lived full time in the Hamptons for the last 23 years. Before that I lived in New York City for 10 years.

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Cee Scott Brown: I moved out to Sag Harbor full time in 1994. I am originally from Washington state. My parents were cattle ranchers; I grew up on a ranch in Brownstown, WA.

How did you come to be on the East End? CSB: I moved to New York City in 1977 to accept an internship position at MoMA. I spent over 20 years in the arts in New York at MoMA, as director of Holly Solomon Gallery, then Viart Corporation, then director

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HOME & GARDEN • REAL REALTY

of Creative Time, working with visual aids, the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression, and lastly running Art Matters Foundation and the Art Matters catalog. When I left NYC, one of the partners of Allan Schneider Associates approached me to ask if I would be interested in becoming a broker with the preeminent real estate company in the Hamptons at that time. I went to Mexico for three months, came back, and jumped in, learning everything about real estate. JP: I worked in the fashion industry for Neiman Marcus as a fashion merchandiser and vice president.

The Hamptons real estate community was surprised when you joined Compass after such a long and successful tenure at Corcoran. CSB: Both Jack and I and our associate, Jeremy Dunham, could see that what Compass offers is the future of real estate. No more doing business the old school way. One of the biggest reasons was Compass’s tech tools built by a team of over 500 engineers. We were further compelled to make the move after several interviews with management, including Robert Reffkin. Compass succeeds when its agents succeed, so there are many aspects of Compass that do just that, make sure agents are successful and grow their businesses. JP: We wanted to be a part of an innovative company — a real estate tech company. We were blown away by the engineering team at Compass and all the tools they create for agents. We are also excited to be with a new national company providing an amazing referral network.

Do you separate regions, is that why being a part of a team is successful for you? CSB: Jack and I work out of two different ofﬁces. Jack is in Bridgehampton and Jeremy and I are in Sag Harbor. This affords us as a team the ears and eyes of agents both east and west. Being located in two different towns also allows us to split up who’s the lead agent on each listing. Of course, we all work everywhere, but sometimes the geography breakdown makes a lot of sense. JP: We have wide reach to all ends and sides of the Hamptons.

You’ve recently added Jeremy Dunham to the team. CSB: Jeremy is a wonderful part of our team. We brought him on as we began exclusively marketing Watchcase Factory Sag Harbor, and his role has been constantly evolving. He is our team’s rental manager, which at this point in time is a considerable undertaking. Jeremy lives in East Hampton, Jack lives in Bridgehampton, and I live in Sag Harbor, so we each have community ties Hamptons-wide. JP: Jeremy was my tennis pro and wanted to enter real estate. We set him up and trained him as an ofﬁce administrator to learn the systems and vocabulary of real estate, and then hired him as part of our team a year later. He has amazing sales and communication skills that make him a valuable addition to our team.

You have secured a combined $1 billion in sales volume since you

M Y L2 0 20 RA EA R ,E A L2 T0 Y

began. What’s your secret? CSB: Jack comes from the fashion industry and I come from the arts. Our portfolio of listings is in large part reﬂective of our aesthetic and design backgrounds. We are also both good listeners, which is key to being a successful broker. We also are very careful about what properties we elect to represent. We feel that it is important to be 300 percent behind any given home or property or seriously consider not taking it on. We love what we do, and we strive to do it well. JP: Excellent customer service, intuition, communication, and teamwork.

How has the quarantine affected your business in other ways? CSB: Our team has been working virtually and remotely — all the time together. We have weekly calls, and we are all included on emails and texts. I think that all walks of business are ﬁnding out that working from home is doable and can be productive and successful. That, along with an obvious trend for dense urban dwellers looking for more space and fewer people, will have a positive effect on places like wine country and the Hamptons. We are experiencing August crowds in April/May, and not just rentals. People are seriously considering moving out of cities to be where they can enjoy their environment, spend more time with their families, take evening walks on the beach or hikes in the mountains, and still be working and making things happen. JP: It has made us the broker shepherds; to make deals, we have to coach and massage all elements of the deal to have them go forward.

Have you seen a sharp rental uptick since the quarantine? CSB: Most deﬁnitely. JP: Spring is the new summer, and rentals are on ﬁre.

How is marketing your clients and customers different at Compass as opposed to anywhere else? CSB: The Compass tech platform enables brokers to operate more efﬁciently. The work of the engineers is uplifting and encouraging and, best of all, working! JP: The virtual marketing tools that save time, artiﬁcial intelligence software, and graphics brand marketing like no other.

Any advice to buyers or renters? CSB: Keep calm. Keep safe. Keep sane. We’re in this together and we will do what we can to be of assistance. JP: Be prepared to pay full price for competitive and a lack of product.

What would you tell a seller to do in order to sell their homes? CSB: Let us make some aesthetic recommendations (too much/too little) and listen to our pricing recommendations, which are based on what an appraiser would use. If it doesn’t appraise, it won’t sell. JP: It’s a great time to sell. We have done 11 transactions in the last nine weeks. To reach Cee Scott Brown and Jack Pearson, email ceejackteam@compass. com or call 516-457-7111.

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Deeds

Min Date =4/11/2020 Max Date = 4/17/2020

Source: Suffolk Research Service, Inc., Hampton Bays, NY 11946

Featured For Sale 15 Dogwood Street Montauk

$1,599,000

Web ID: H346855

Susan Ceslow Lic. R.E. Broker

631-668-6565 631-335-0777 susan.ceslow@ elliman.com

Area

Buy

Sell

Price Location

BRIDGEHAMPTON

Horowitz, J & A

Falkowski & 1089 Head

3,100,000

724 Butter Ln

US Bank Trust N.A.

Reed, C by Ref

701,306

688 Bridgehampton Sag&001

Wai, A & Han, S

Maffei, L

1,195,000

116 Beckys Path

Krieger, K & Pappas, D

Durels, S & L

1,200,000

8 Worchester Ct

Fluker, E & Destra, F

Canemaker, J &Kennedy

1,400,000

32 Halsey St

CALVERTON

Rusin, B & R

Markman, C

299,000

219 Fox Hill Dr

Bodden, C & Bodrogi, D

Wright, D

575,000

338 Fresh Pond Ave

Stein, J & L

Gallo, J & J & C

475,000

381 Deep Hole Rd

CUTCHOGUE

Tsambiras, Schroer & Ka

Endemann, F&N Trusts

632,500

495 Eugenes Rd

Todaro, D

Rimor Development LLC

727,900

Harvest Pointe, Home #64

Shannon, J

Rimor Developement

722,880

Harvest Pointe, Home #66

EAST HAMPTON

Farez, J & Santi, M

Azaria Marketing LLC

565,000

37 Harrison Ave

Sener, A & S

Four Bees Realty

999,500

52 Jonathan Dr

Bonnett, R & Keren, B

McDonald, K & P

770,000

10 Valley St

Regenstein, D

Meotti, M

2,506,250

4 Ruffed Grouse Ct

21 Maidstone LLC

Derrig, M & D

5,400,000

21 Maidstone Ln

Rabin, S & Winslow, J

Hope, J

3,825,000

26 Dunemere Ln

EAST QUOGUE

Vasconez, C

Gurley, B & S

962,500

75 Corbett Dr

Kober, S

Hudson, C & T

460,000

143 Spinney Rd

GREENPORT

Scavelli, L & I

Brehm, J

920,000

1010 Maple Ln

327 Hospitality Group

Fabrizio Real Estate

750,000

212 Front St

124 Main Street LLC

Harvey, J & Heffernan, J

895,000

124 Main St

HAMPTON BAYS

HB Beach House LLC

Scannelli, J by Exr

1,230,000

23A Oakhurst Rd

Offerman, J

Grimes, S & K

930,000

16 Starboard Rd

Ramirez, L & Hernandez

WH Equities Ltd

500,000

16 Shore Rd

Deutsche Bank Trust

Acevedo & Garcia by Ref

613,957

36 Homewood Dr

Pacho, L

Willingham, J

365,000

14 Bellows Terr

New Mayfield LLC

Gutierrez, G

655,000

107 Lynncliff Rd

Citigroup Mortgage

Kamp, A by Ref

684,327

18 Yale Dr

Capria, R & M

Citigroup Mrtg Loan

362,250

18 Yale Dr

MATTITUCK

Dunbar, R & B & D

Wiwczar, C

529,500

440 Cox Neck Rd

Lindsay, M

Steele, K & J

204,450

720 Cottage Way

MONTAUK

Newton-Haydon, H & J

Dacuk, S & D

885,000

4 Gladstone Pl

REAL REALTY

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Deeds Featured For Sale 10 Kettle Hole Road Montauk

$1,650,000

Web ID: H347748

Mary Lappin Marmorowski Lic. Assoc. R.E. Broker

631-668-6565 631-433-4412

mary.lappinmarmorowski@ elliman.com

Area

Buy Sell

Price

Location

QUOGUE

Bouchard, M

Jones, J, V, P & F

900,000

42 Jessup Ave

Jones Hollow Managemnt

US Bank National As

696,359

52 Scrub Oak Rd

RIVERHEAD

Seasmoke Properties

Sinchi Dream Realty

300,000

240 Priscilla Ave

Kawaller, K & D

Bohling, J

332,500

53 Point Rd

Jadonath, R & N & G

Starter Holdings Corp

675,000*

24 Tyler Dr

Berman, E & M

Hartill, J

172,000*

15 Josie Ct

Ruiz Salan & Vargas Chuc

Moore, P

485,000

152 Old Farm Rd

MTGLQ Investors LP

Roa & Castiblanco by Ref

876,469

171 Rabbit Run

33 Philip StreetCorp

Langhorne, A by Admr

201,000

33 Philip St

Seasmoke Properties

Sinchi, I

200,000

1223 W Main St

Chavez, J & Serafico, J

Yakaboski Jr, G

360,000

1299 W. Main St

Melp LLC

Daw Realty Riverhead

325,000

1240 W Main St

SAG HARBOR

Greene, K & Y

Long Pond Property Mgnt

2,125,000

55 Cedar Point Ln

SHELTER ISLAND

Stehling & CorcoranSte

Schmitt, L Trust

675,000

7 Brander Pkwy

Town of Shelter Is

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor & Casertano

1,650,000

4 Nostrand Pkwy

1 Daniel Lord Road

Armstrong, D & S

630,000

1 Daniel Lord Rd

SOUTHAMPTON

Alvarez, V & M

Tilson, A & E by Dvs

685,000

54 Widener Ln

Osmundson, C

Lesta, S Trust

625,000

3 Beechwood Dr

Merchan, M

Citzens Bank N.A.

500,000

9 West Neck Rd

Kantt, M & Avellaneda, M

Shoji Homes LLC

2,800,000

p/o 134 Hills Station Rd

Yadgarov, R

LI Builders Corp

820,000

21 Eastway Dr

Shackleton, A

Pugliesi, R & S

768,500

21 Little Neck Rd

Mahoney IV, T & Chien, E

Sheerin, P &D by Exr

1,715,000

22 Cobblefield Ln

WADING RIVER

Munoz, S

Blake, S & Tureski Blake

365,000

28 Locust Rd

WAINSCOTT

Bouckoms, Casey & Hayes

Rothberg, B

995,000

29 S Breeze Dr

Agree LP

Wainscott Retail LLC

9,240,000

368 Montauk Hwy

WESTHAMPTON

Geller, D

Wasiak, J & L

835,000

18 Willowood Ct

Normile, J

Evans, L

549,000

138B Montauk Hwy

WESTHAMPTON BEACH

Jameson Partners LLC

Olsen, D

1,570,000

40 Griffing Ave

*Vacant Land

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Georgiana B. Ketcham Licensed Real Estate Broker

THE INDEPENDENT

MAY 20, 2020

631/749-0800 Fax: 631/749-0033 www.ketchamproperties.com 90 South Ferry Road Shelter Island, NY 11964-530

Associate Brokers: Paul Mobius, Louise Poleshuk Salespersons: Jon Westervelt, Bob DeStefano, Eileen Ceccarelli, Brett Poleshuk, Jennifer Ketcham Olsen, Maria Caccese, Joy Bausman, Ed Bausman May 21, 2020 Greetings to all our clients and customers, Happy not so Happy Spring!! The flowers that the April showers brought us, are certainly brightening our spirits during these extremely difficult times. Welcome May flowers!!!!!!! Fortunately our "Summer of 2020" rental season is going strong with late summer rentals. It seems many of our traditional summer happenings have either been cancelled or postponed. None the less, it seems many are being positive and have signed up for rentals both short term and monthly. Seems many of our wonderful organizations and restaurants have kicked the "Mighty Pandemic" in the butt, and come up with alternative programs that will keep us "social distancing" and thru the magic of cyber space technology. Now that the better weather is upon us, we see sail boats and fisherman out on our bays, we see golfers walking and keeping their distance, we see hikers and bikers, and walkers and talkers enjoying the fresh air, whether the sun is shining or not...........what a wonderful island!! Check out our web site Ketchamproperties.com or Out East, for all of the latest rental and new listings. Be part of our upcoming and stress free season, call any one if our sales agents or brokers. Their cell phone numbers are on their listings. Stay safe, stay kind, and be nice; because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to be nice. And a shout out to all of our first responders, our Shelter Island Town Board, keeping us current and safe, and our churches who have really done a terrific job reaching out to their parishioners. Most sincerely,

Georgiana B. Ketcham

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MAY 20, 2020

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THE INDEPENDENT

Getting To The Church

Lee Skolnick A soaring space, a new monograph, and plans for affordable housing By Bridget LeRoy â&#x20AC;¢ bridget@indyeastend.com

Independent/Courtesy Lee Skolnick

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MAY 20, 2020

INDYEASTEND.COM

HOME & GARDEN • REAL REALTY

t’s easy to imagine that when you’ve been in the architecture business for 40 years, you might get into a design rut of sorts. But no one could accuse Sag Harbor resident Lee Skolnick of SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership of resting on his laurels.

With a monograph being published this summer, “SKOLNICK Public/ Private;” an upcoming accolade as Hamptons Cottage & Gardens’ 2020 Innovator award winner (previous winners include Richard Meier and Robert A.M. Stern); and the much-ballyhooed new Sag Harbor cultural center, The Church, under his belt, the Long Island AIA Lifetime Achievement Award winner discussed some of his past projects, both private and public.

MAY 20, 2020

the sanctuary,” he said with something approaching reverence — “each piece is 50 feet long. The whole frame is exposed, it was covered up. You have this tremendous spiderweb with the beams exposed.” Adding a staircase and a glass elevator, however, is “thoroughly modern,” Skolnick said. “It’s really clear what is old and what is new, and it creates a kind of frisson which honors both the past and the present.” The monograph, “SKOLNICK Public/Private,” soon due for release, is what we used to refer to as a topsy-turvy book, with two covers. One features the private residences the ﬁrm has designed, the other, the public places; 14 projects in all.

Skolnick, along with his partners Jo Ann Secor and Paul Alter, has covered a wide spectrum of design, from ground-up projects like the Children’s Museum of the East End, to The Church, which was a reimagining of a building, and everything in between. His work is global and famous and totally original.

“My practice has always been schizophrenic and somewhat confusing to people,” he said, smiling. “I do all these houses, and my clients will see ‘museum’ in a magazine, and they’ll ask, ‘It says Skolnick, but that’s not you, right? And the same thing with our cultural clients, they’ll see a house in Architectural Digest, and they’ll say, ‘You don’t do houses, do you?’ So, this book is somewhat unique. I picked projects that tell the story of our evolution.”

“What’s interesting, for me, in terms of my narrative, is that The Church is like a synthesis of all the things I’ve been doing out here for 40 years, because I’ve been doing a lot of homes with artists, but I’ve also been doing all these of community projects,” Skolnick said. “And here is a project where Eric and April and I have worked together doing something for the community” he added, referencing April Gornik and Eric Fischl, the philanthropic married couple who are both artists and socially active in Sag Harbor.

Some current projects include a restoration on the Cedar Point lighthouse, and at LongHouse Reserve, where Skolnick is a first vice president. “I recently designed a master plan and education pavilion for the organization.” His first job in the area was renovating the PollockKrasner House and Study Center in Springs, “when Helen Harrison first took over there, because it was not handicapped accessible.”

He said it was the right time for the project, as community is so important. “Nobody planned this, but it’s symbiotic that the community will come back together at some time, in venues and places like this one.”

So, he built some ramps? “Yeah, basically,” he said, chuckling. “Some ramps and a porch. A lot of my ﬁrst work out here was porches, bathrooms, closets,” he shrugs, a modest man.

“I’m a musician; that was always my first love,” he said. He studied music theory at What were the triumphs college, along with other and pitfalls of working on an liberal arts subjects like older building, for someone cinematography. “I had this who is better known for his existential crisis. But then soaring modern edifices? “It’s I took an elective course in Independent/Courtesy Lee Skolnick a trifecta,” he said, laughing, architectural theory and “because on the one hand, the history, and it was the proverbial building has passed through several hands over the last few years, so lightning strike. I read that to be an architect, one has to know temporary owners had started to adapt it, and some work had been everything. You have to synthesize it into what you do, and that just done, but it didn’t really have anything to do with our plans and what was so appealing.” we wanted to do.” “I think the thing that hooked me on architecture,” he continued, “is What intrigued him as an architect, he said, is that The Church “is a that you end up with something physical. It impacts people’s lives, and found object. You have to respond to a found object. It’s not like an maintains itself over time. Whether you’re doing a home for someone empty piece of a land. It’s not ‘What do I want to say here?’” His vision, and you want to capture the essence of their lives, or whether you’re instead, needs to morph into the building that is already standing. doing something for the community, you want to enhance the lives of people on a larger scale.” “You see this a lot in Europe,” Skolnick said. “Palaces, cathedrals, convents, you name it, where someone has come in and inserted “Right now, having had some time to reflect out here, I’ve become something very contemporary without compromising the integrity very interested in affordable housing,” said Skolnick, who added that of the historic structure. One of the great architects who was known he’s been in some exploratory discussions with the Powers That Be. “I for this was Carlos Scarpa; he did these tremendous interventions in think the biggest crime is that the people who grew up out here can’t historic buildings, and I really took a cue from that, because the whole afford to live out here, and the people who work out here and serve dialogue becomes ‘what’s old is old; what’s new is new.’” all of us have to drive 50 miles in traffic every day just to get to their jobs. It’s a crushing need,” he said, and “I want to present something to But it’s a whole new level at The Church. “The timber frame had never the towns to elevate the discourse. It’s the one glaring need out here.” been exposed,” Skolnick said. “It had plaster walls, a plaster ceiling.” Uncovering the trusses — “oak timbers, solid oak timbers that span To learn more, visit www.skolnick.com.

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HARMONY

Organize your way to a more serene environment

Independent/Courtesy Home Harmony

By Jessica Mackin-Cipro â&#x20AC;¢ jessica@indyeastend.com

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MAY 20, 2020

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ill Paitchel’s company Home Harmony offers professional organizing, serving New York City and the East End. The goal is to clear out clutter while creating an organized and serene environment for clients. Some of the services she provides are clutter management, paper management, move management, home renovation, downsizing, and home staging. “Over the years, we have expanded the services we offer to meet our client needs,” said Paitchel. “Clutter is an ever-growing challenge that often results in our homes being taken over by our possessions.” More than ever, during the time of COVID-19, our homes are our sanctuaries. Indy caught up with Paitchel to discuss her company and share a few tips.

Tell us a little about Home Harmony. Home Harmony is a professional organizing company serving the East End of Long Island and New York City. We partner with our clients to successfully complete their in-home organizing projects, while providing solutions to keep it organized. At Home Harmony, we work with clients to create a more harmonious and serene environment and a plan to keep it that way.

How did you get started and what brought you to the East End? My first career was in global investment management, working in large financial firms and then in my own consulting practice, located in New York City. In 1999, we built our home in Bridgehampton. Having been summer people for many years, in 2016 my husband and I decided to take a break from the city and live here full-time.

MAY 20, 2020

It gave us an opportunity to decide what we wanted our life to look like going forward. I’d always enjoyed organizing my own home and those of family and friends. That led me to start Home Harmony.

Why is having an organized home so important? Your home is your sanctuary, a welcoming place in which to enjoy time with family and friends. Living in a home that’s organized reduces stress and brings about a feeling of wellbeing. Clearing clutter and ﬁnding the right place for your possessions will make your life less stressful. You’ll know where things are when you need them and have more open space in which to live.

What are a few tips you’d give to our readers spending more time at home due to COVID-19? We’re all spending more time at home and it is a great opportunity to get things done. If there is a lot of organizing work to do, accept that it won’t all get done in one day. Build momentum by starting with a small project, which could be cleaning out a junk drawer or organizing a linen closet. In your closet, hang all your clothes with the hangers placed in the same direction. After wearing the clothes, put them back on the hanger and turn it in the opposite direction. Wait a couple of weeks and then see which clothes you’re not wearing. You can then decide to start wearing them or give them away. Speaking of hangers, I like the black velvet hangers that can be purchased at The Container Store. The clothes stay on the hangers better and they’re narrow and don’t take up as much space as wooden hangers. For more information, visit www.ﬁndhomeharmony.com.

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MAKING SCENTS

HARLOW + BENTLEY INVOKES MEMORIES BY CANDLELIGHT By Nicole Teitler • nicole@indyeastend.com

Jacquline Farjam grew up on Long Island until she was 18 years old, that’s when she moved to Los Angeles to study fashion design and business management at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Then, in 2006, she and two friends started a fashion blog. They traveled around the country, covering runway shows, which eventually led to the development of an online luxury shopping experience company that supported independent artisan jewelry designers. With all of the experience and knowledge under her belt, in 2014 she began working for Alice + Olivia in Manhasset and East Hampton as a personal wardrobe stylist. Still, she wanted more — her own candle company to be speciﬁc. That’s when Harlow + Bentley was born.

How did the idea for Harlow + Bentley come about? Candles have always been a part of my life. I’ve realized how transformative candles can be for our wellbeing and how much peace they bring people by allowing them to live in the moment. It allows you to set the mood for whatever the occasion, whether you’re hosting a dinner party, want to relax at home, or a romantic night.

Independent/Harlow + Bentley

Lighting candles at social events or when guests are over also brings forth a particular ambiance that creates a connection between people and a zone of comfort and a positive environment for everyone. I came up with

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the name Harlow + Bentley during one of my brainstorming sessions. I just loved how it sounds.

What’s the speciﬁc connection to the East End? When I lived in Los Angeles, I would go back to New York and spend time in the Hamptons, attending many social events and enjoying beach life. Now, I live in East Hampton every summer and fall. I’m not sure which I love better. There’s the feeling of the summer excitement in the air and running into familiar faces in town, and the crisp fall days and nights having a glass of wine in Cittanuova in East Hampton when the crowds lessen in September. I just love it there. The Hamptons always seem to feel like what I describe “a big-small world.” So many people come and go, yet when you stick around long enough, you see many familiar faces over the years like clockwork. Acquaintances whose faces you see walking down the street become friends, those friends become like family over the years, and it’s just lovely. The East End is where I do a lot of my business. When I created the brand Harlow + Bentley, some of my biggest supporters were the owners and buyer at Whites Apothecary. I’ll eternally be grateful to have had them in my corner since the beginning.

How does Harlow + Bentley connect to the community itself?

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We’re proud product sponsors for over 300 VIP guests and attendees at the annual Social Life Magazine St. Barths event hosted by supermodel Christie Brinkley. The feedback we got and support from the East End and city crowd was wonderful and those individuals continue to order today. As business expanded out east, we have offered many of our shoppers delivery right to their doorstep during the summer and early fall seasons. I personally do candle consultations and we enjoy assisting our customers in choosing the right scents for their homes and their businesses over email, or calls as well. Our mission is to provide a luxury R & R environment for our clientele with our quality offerings. Our client base also loves to set up private at-home candle shopping events with their friends and family. We have fun with it, and it is deﬁnitely an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. We truly enjoy being such an integrated part of the community and having such a supportive energy from the community behind us.

Describe your candle making process. Every scent in the line is well thought-out and tested by bringing it to markets across New York for feedback from our customers. Each scent has a unique blend of fragrances that are exclusive to our brand. In addition, we like to say we have a “scent for every nose.” This means that we covered many main scent variations, whether you are a fan of ﬂoral scents, beach house/fresh linen scents, vanilla baked good scents, masculine scents, sweet scents, scents reminiscent of holiday and spring ideals. There is a scent for everyone to enjoy.

The scents sound relaxing. Which are your favorites? My personal favorite scents are No.1 White Tea and Ylang Ylang, or the No.4 Sandalwood and Patchouli, which I very often burn together. The soft ﬂoral notes of the No. 1 combined with the natural earth tones and warm amber in our No. 4 candle is just so soothing to me. Each scent is reminiscent to me for various reasons. For example, the crisp

MAY 20, 2020

and touch of soft sweetness in the scent of No.5 Rosé Musk scent reminds me of the notes of summer nights with a glass rosé sitting by the beach. The No. 2 Cotton Blossom and Citrus scent smells like fresh summer linens and beach notes. No. 3 Bourbon and Vanilla reminds me of swanky jazz nights in NYC. Each scent has its own personality.

What inspires new fragrances? My inspiration behind the different scents are the places I’ve been and the stories I’m trying to tell. We have several main signature scents that are always available, as well as our seasonal scents, but we’re also launching six new collections that will be available for purchase online.

Do you have a favorite story you associate with a particular scent? There are too many to choose from, but recently a friend of mine reached out after receiving the Gardenia candle and what she told me made my heart melt and it was a good reminder of why I started Harlow + Bentley. My friend left me a voice message in tears telling me how the Gardenia scent brought back memories of her grandmother and how that candle was so special to her. These are the types of moments that make all the hard work worth it. Listening to her recall this is the type of moment in my business that makes all the hard work I put in so incredibly rewarding. Giving someone some much needed R & R with our products and linking them to good memories from their past really warms my heart and makes me love what I do even more. Harlow + Bentley is currently offering 15 percent off entire orders using discount code “SUPPORTSMALLBIZ.” See the entire collection at www.harlowandbentley.com and be sure to follow on Instagram @harlowandbentley for upcoming scents.

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THE ROUNDTREE

SPRINGS UP IN AMAGANSETT Hotel at the former Gansett Green Manor opens June 1 BY ZACHARY WEISS

To some, it was known at Gansett Green Manor, a stalwart from an era gone by that maintained a robust business as a popular wedding venue. Come last July, it found new ownership in Sylvia Wong and the WTI Inc. real estate group, who acquired the property for $6.175 million. Now, after six months of updating, the property plans to opens its doors on June 1 as The Roundtree. Just a stone’s throw from downtown Amagansett, where weekenders flock to shops and watering holes, the hotel will offer five cottages, and a combination of 10 rooms and suites housed throughout a 100-year old barn and main house, starting at $595/night on weekdays this summer, while weekend rates start at $795/night. Wong called discovering the property serendipitous. “I passed on this property initially as it was smaller than what we were looking for, but it stayed on my mind because of its beautiful setting, near the ocean and yet in the midst of farmlands, but I was also intrigued by the history. It was the homestead of one of the first four families that settled in Amagansett,” she related. “I happened to have a free day on a Saturday in March 2019, so I hopped on the Jitney to come out east to take a look. I fell in love with the tranquility of the place immediately. It was so peaceful and quiet, yet walkable to the beautiful village center. It feels like an undiscovered gem surrounded by

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nature,” Wong said. Like the nearby Reform Club and The Baker House, The Roundtree feels as if you’re staying at a friend’s beach cottage, albeit with maid service, and strikes a chord of modern design not seen in competitor properties. “Everything at The Roundtree, from furniture pieces to the ceramics in the guest rooms, was carefully selected as if they were for our own homes,” Wong said. “We want this to be a happy place where guests can relax and recharge.” A former executive at IBM Corporation and a seasoned traveler, she looked to her past experiences to shape the property’s concept, calling for, what she describes as, “genuine hospitality and understated luxury.” However, some details from the Gansett Green Manor still remain, including the lemonade stand. “When my 10-year-old nephews stayed there last year, they set up a lemonade stand at the front of the hotel to raise funds for a charity that focuses on children’s cancer,” she recalls. “They managed to raise several hundred dollars and felt really good about the whole experience. I am sure this wonderful memory will stay with them forever, so that planted the seeds for our Lemonade Stand program. We hope the program will give the children of our guests or local residents the opportunity to do good and build their entrepreneurial skills at the same time, and experience ﬁrst-hand the joy and fulﬁllment of doing good.”

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Independent/Courtesy Roundtree

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T�� R �� B�� E��

Independent/Ali Gogas

The importance of painted wings in the garden

By Bridget LeRoy • bridget@indyeastend.com

to carry their nectar and pollen.

Part V of a series on homesteading; growing and preserving your own food, raising animals for wool and milk, foraging, and more.

Ali Gogas of Swallowtail Farms in Mastic Beach explains why she got into farming butterﬂies and growing vegetables.

Imagine being a farmer, but every single year your crop disappears.

“I started growing veggies and herbs ﬁve years ago,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to eat something you’ve grown, so each year we’ve built additional beds so that we can grow more and more. One of the things I’ve learned is to grow the things you like to eat, and one of my favorite foods are dill pickles, so two seasons ago I decided to add in cucumbers and dill, and that’s where the butterﬂies come in.”

Now imagine that’s the plan. Butterﬂy farmers in Suffolk County are a scarce but passionate crew, dedicated to protecting and proliferating the pollinators with the painted wings.

Dill is like crack to butterflies, apparently. Butterflies “play an important role in pollinating flowers, particularly flowers that have a strong scent, are red or yellow in color, and produce a large amount of nectar,” reads the website sciencing.com. In fact, butterflies (and hummingbirds) can see the color red — which bees can’t do. Therefore, red and orange plants rely on butterflies

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“I’m a lifelong animal lover and a former animal rescuer, so when I discovered the caterpillars on my dill plants, I needed to know more about them,” Gogas continued. “I didn’t mind them eating the dill. I was excited to have more pollinators in my gardens!”

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Independent/Ali Gogas

As it turned out, the Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars were fun to watch. Apparently, not just for humans, as Gogas discovered that they were a delicacy savored by wasps. “I decided to make more of an effort to keep them safe until the next stage of their development. I started moving the large caterpillars into a large bin covered with netting and placing dill cuttings in there for them to eat. I would move the chrysalises into another container to keep them safe until they emerged. It was really fun to document their life cycle, and the butterﬂies are beautiful,” she said. A Swallowtail can overwinter in its chrysalis, Gogas explained. This past winter, she had over 40 in her shed. “Six have emerged so far this spring, with hopefully many more to come as the weather gets warmer,” she said. This year, Gogas constructed a large bed solely for dill, and screened in a portion of it “for the caterpillars to eat and grow without being eaten by predators.” Plus, butterﬂies symbolize change and growth, a fact not lost on those who farm them. “Sometimes we need to change ourselves before we can truly emerge,” Gogas said. Monarchs, those orange and black beauties, are luckily making a comeback after an enormous dent in their population, but they are still long-distance migrators that need a place to rest and feed. Monarchs migrate from Canada and North America to Mexico during the

winter, and luckily for them, there are official registered “Monarch Waystations” peppered throughout the country, including many on the East End. Planting butterfly attractants, like milkweed, butterfly bush, and other plants — along with using natural products on your lawn and garden — can help those big butterflies continue to feed, grow, and pollinate. According to Catherine Meinhold of Brookhaven, “I started raising Monarchs with my kids one summer after visiting a butterfly house. As I learned more I felt compelled to be part of the movement to save the species, and now I also raise them as part of my job as a children’s library assistant,” she said. “I am perpetually fascinated by the transformation process and it brings me joy to fuss around my garden growing the right plants for them, searching for eggs and caterpillars, and releasing the butterflies, while playing a tiny part in education and conservation.” For those who want to know more about what to plant to attract these beauties, www.monarchwatch. org offers helpful information, and locally there are registered Monarch Waystations at the Riverhead Free Library, the Eastern Campus of Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead, South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton, the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum, and the Ecological Culture Initiative in Hampton Bays, which can be visited and observed as the butterflies begin to emerge and fly.

“Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man.” Vladimir Nabokov C-23

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STAY HOME IN STYLE

WESTMINSTER TEAK WEATHERS THE STORM By Nicole Teitler • nicole@indyeastend.com

Teak is an eco-friendly design choice by default due to its weather withstanding durability, making it a timeless investment. Indy caught up with Mal Haddad, vice president of Westminster Teak, who oversees all new product development and design for Westminster. Products in its outdoor furniture line sit in our own backyard, or shall we say, Gurney’s Resorts backyard, to the far stretches of the globe, with new furniture designs coming out as early as fall of 2020.

Though I come from both an engineering and business background, I’ve always been passionate about design, and having the factory as the backbone of the company brought me even closer to my motivations in bringing good design within reach of more people.

Independent/Courtesy Westminster Teak

How did you get into the business?

I joined Westminster Teak about 12 years ago when our paths, the owner of the company and I, crossed while I was running my own teak furniture gallery. Sharing the same vision and work ethic, it made sense to make the switch after we got to know each other a little better.

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How did Westminster connect with Gurney’s Resorts? We’ve provided them with some of their outdoor and spa/poolside furniture in the past and still do. I believe the owner and CEO of Westminster Teak, Jim TenBroeck visited and had the opportunity to meet with the area manager at Gurneys. We make it a point to ensure that our customers’ needs are met, not only at the point of sale, but to continue serving them in any after-sales services they may need. Providing a quality and long-lasting product does come with the responsibility of establishing relationships that are just as long lasting. It’s all about building relationships.

Are there any other notable clients? Many of our clients are designers and architects, such as Brady Design, Zoe Feldman, and the like, who’ve used our furniture in many of their beautiful projects, both commercial and residential. We’ve also worked directly with clients in the area such as Manhassett Bay Yacht Club, Gardiner’s Bay Country Club, and Equinox.

What countries are in your distribution network? Though our main market is the continental USA, our products have been installed in some of the most prestigious resorts, hotels, and residences in Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, and as far as Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia.

How does teak, as a material, compare to other furniture types? Product knowledge is key in understanding the investment value proposition a beautifully crafted piece of teak furniture brings. Unlike many other hardwoods in its category, teak is a durable hardwood with dense grain and high natural oil content, qualities that afford it little or no care. It’s the material of choice for its sheer beauty and dependability. Its high oil and silica content make it highly resistant to rotting, warping or splitting, allowing it to withstand the extremities of weather including sun, rain, and snow. For these unique properties in its strength and stability, teak has been for centuries, and still is, the enduring material used in ship building, and of course furniture making. The high natural oil content also means it has a comparatively very low coefﬁcient of thermal expansion, i.e. it does not expand or contract, warp, split, or crack, in humid environments, in contact with water, or even when submerged (in water) over extended periods of time.

What’s the maintenance on teak? Because of its high resistance to the extremities of weather, teak truly needs very little care. Untreated, natural teak will weather to a handsome soft-silvery patina within a year or so, depending on the amount of sun and weathering it is being exposed to. This will not in any way compromise the structural integrity of your furniture as the change of pigment is only on the surface. The rate of weathering is dependent on the climate and extremities of the weather in your area.

You have so many different collections on your website. What ties them together? Timeless design and our unrelenting commitment to quality has been the hallmark in our furniture collections. By default, timeless design is good design. And, it can only come from being passionate with every detail of the craft, from concept to completion.

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Since teak is a material that lasts a very long time, the furniture design should project a sense of permanence. It should resonate the idea of form and function, and how we live with the furniture, cherished over generations. Good design should be as relevant now as it was 50 years ago, and 50 years from now, long after trends are forgotten.

Tell us about your eco-friendly practices. Plantation teak is the essential raw material, so we are, by default, a green company. Today, we are both SVLK and Forest Stewardship Council certified, ensuring transparency and traceability of the origins of the wood used in our furniture. As a company that supports the global green movement, we believe it is not only critical as a manufacturer to be environmentally responsible by using teak from sustainably harvested plantations but also to be socially responsible toward both the indigenous people working in the plantations as well as the skilled artisans and employees working in our factories. All the teak used in the manufacture of furniture are from sustainably harvested, credibly certified plantations under the strict management of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. Our factory was the first to join Nusa Hijau, the Indonesian Chapter of the Global Forest Trade Network, an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund. It was created to eliminate illegal logging, improve the management of threatened forests, and promote biodiversity and the livelihoods of the people that depend on them.

Has the COVID-19 economy affected business? Broadly speaking, there has been little change from the viewpoint of our customers. Thankfully, Westminster has been able to keep all our employees during these troubling times. Both our warehouses and customer service reps are fully operational. The pandemic has compelled us to make some adjustments in certain aspects of our business in our warehouse operations, primarily in our shipping and furniture ﬁnishing departments in following recommendations from our healthcare authorities. We have taken every step to ensure the safety of both our staff and customers. We are very fortunate that it has not affected us in the way it did many other businesses. Though we have our showrooms and places where our furniture can be seen, we’ve always been primarily an online business. Sales suffered in the early part of the pandemic when it ﬁrst came to public knowledge. However, when the shelter-in-place order was mandated, it started to sink in in the minds of people that they’re going to be stuck at home quite a lot longer than they’d originally thought. Travel plans are canceled and reimagining the outdoors at home became a reality.

Describe your ideal summer afternoon in social isolation, relaxing on one of your pieces. Laying in the Horizon Chaise Lounger with a good book and a tall cool drink, if I was by myself. That would be ideal. But with kids around, it would have to be the Maya conﬁgured with the Maya Chaise so I can stretch out and hang with the family. See Westminster’s full product line at www.westminsterteak.com.

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8 PINE ISLAND $12,000,000

13 GOOSE POND CIRCLE $2,700,000

1 RICE GATE CIRCLE $2,775,000

5 COPP LANDING $5,950,000

Bedrooms: 4 / Baths: 4 / Half Baths: 1

Bedrooms: 4 / Baths: 5 / Half Baths: 1

Bedrooms: 4 / Baths: 4 / Half Baths: 2

Bedrooms: 6 / Baths: 5 / Half Baths: 3

This sophisticated 56-acre estate lies on a private island offering expansive views of the salt marshes and is connected by a causeway to Spring Island. Its unique architecture seamlessly blends Lowcountry vernacular with Japanese influences. It’s a true work of art.

Sitting on 3.33 acres, this “Story Book House” captures remarkable views of the Colleton River and offers easy enjoyment with a dock already in place. The main residence provides a gracious, open floorplan and details the luxury of quality and craftsmanship.

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Ways to Avoid Ticks While you are out in our parks and nature preserves, remember that ticks aren’t adhering to CDC and Department of Health guidelines for “social distancing.” It has been a very mild winter and the ticks are out there looking for their first blood meal of the season. Our “help line” nurse and physicians have already seen an increase in tick bites this year. We don’t want any co-infections with COVID-19 and Lyme disease! Get the facts. Protect yourself and your family.

Keep off the grass! Stay on the asphalt or pavement. Walk in the center of the path, avoid tall grass, or avoid the woods all together.

Tick checks twice a day. Do a thorough check at night, and then again the following morning. Check the kids and your pets, too. And check for ticks all year long, Ticks are often alive and well after the first frost.

Tuck and cover. Tuck your pants into your socks and spray your skin and clothing with repellent. (Preferably ones with DEET, permethrin or picaridin.) Most ticks get access to you on your shoes and socks, so don’t forget to spray them, too. Spray shoes outdoors with permethrin on the first of the month during tick season (April through August).

No pets in the bed. Ever! You love your cats and your dogs. So do ticks. So don’t sleep with your pets, don’t even invite them up on the couch. They’ll forgive you (especially if you give them treats).

Dry your clothes, before you wash them! When you come in from the outdoors, put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes. Don’t wash them first! Ticks survive, and even thrive, in a water bath.

Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center Visit EastEndTickResource.org or call our helpline at (631) 726-TICK Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is an equal opportunity employer.

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Arts & Entertainment

May 20, 2020

PRESENTED BY

#INTHISTOGETHER

DISCOVERTHEHAMPTONS.NET

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The Independent

OLD DOGS, NEW TRIPS By Vay David & John Laudando

The Roads Less Traveled Travel finds that aren’t as crowded

An iconic view of Slovenia’s Lake Bled. Independent/John Laudando

olddogsnewtrips@gmail.com In early April, reports showed air quality in 85 world cities had improved significantly. Why? Fewer cars are on the roads, air traffic has lessened, and nonessential businesses have been closed. In Venice, the canals have had so little boat traffic, jellyfish can be found swimming in newly clear waters. People living in Punjab, India, discovered they could see the soaring peaks of the Himalayas for the first time in 30 years, and animals around the globe are appearing where humans normally roam. Lions lounge on roads in South Africa and goats wander empty streets in Wales. Those of us who love to travel can support this trend by not planning trips to the usual bucket list of grand cities. When travel bans lift, let’s go off the beaten path for places that are just as fabulous but not so crowded. Here are some ideas. Montenegro: Consider Kotor, a coastal town on the Adriatic. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the old city was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and is filled with medieval architecture and historic monuments. The city walls rival those of Dubrovnik — they are over four kilometers long and lead up to the fortress of Saint Ivan. Montenegro itself is only about as big as Connecticut, so day trips from Kotor to explore the

country would be a breeze. Slovenia: Slovenia, in Central Europe, is smaller than New Jersey and easy to explore. It can claim perhaps the most photographed site in Europe — Lake Bled, formed by glaciers, fed by hot springs and adorned with a church-topped tiny island. Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, is a pastiche of baroque facades mixed with 20thCentury architecture. Many bridges, including a Dragon Bridge and the famous Triple Bridge by native Jože Plečnik, span the curving Ljubljanica River that undulates through the heart of its old city. Nothing is too far from anything else in Slovenia, and there are astounding caves and castles to discover throughout the country. Hamburg, Germany: Hamburg boasts everything including a profusion of museums and galleries, fun boutiques, and more canals than Venice and Amsterdam combined. Like Amsterdam, it has its red-light district, famous for trendy nightclubs featuring live music and dancing. On Sunday morning, the Fischmarkt, a massive outdoor market, takes on its own party atmosphere, and is full of stalls with fresh fish to peruse while drinking steins of beer and eating delicious sausages — all on the picturesque riverbank of the Elbe.

Toulouse, France: Have a hankering for Paris? Why not go where Parisians go when they want to escape the city? Toulouse, in the South of France, is often called the Pink City, so-named because of a preponderance of redbrick buildings. The city has five Michelin-starred restaurants, and some famous regional delicacies include cassoulet, foie gras, sausages, and Roquefort cheese. And wine, of course. Another UNESCO World Heritage site is Toulouse’s Canal du Midi, a “mind-boggling work of 17thCentury engineering” that formed part of a canal system linking the Mediterranean to the Adriatic.

a colorful vision of reflecting canals dotted with swans and lined with historic buildings. You’ll see lots of iconic windmills, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Leiden’s street market is the place to find fish, flowers, cheese, and interesting people to watch. (Leiden is just a quick ride to Amsterdam and its wonderful museums, especially the Van Gogh; spending time there would be hard to resist, but at least you can use mass transit to get there.)

Cappadocia, Turkey: It looks like something from a fairy tale, with a wondrous and surreal landscape of naturally formed rocks, hills, valleys, and soaring chimney shapes, all awash in hues of pink to clay. You can even stay in a hotel or dine in a restaurant that has been carved from caves. The most adventurous and breathtaking way to see this region is as a passenger in one of the hundreds of hot air balloons that drift above Cappadocia as the sun rises.

Puglia, Italy: Located in the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia is one area of Italy that hasn’t been subjected to hordes of tourists. Bright turquoise seas, golden sands, and flourishing olive groves are only part of its charms. Like Cappadocia, Puglia also is blessed with an area of amazing, unusual sights — Trulli houses. In the Itria Valley, mysterious stone buildings with conical roofs are all around. Alberobello is home to the highest concentration of Trulli in Puglia and is, unsurprisingly, one more UNESCO World Heritage Site. Puglia also has charming villages, colorful food markets, and a practically endless number of artisans you can visit.

Leiden, Netherlands: Only a half-hour train ride from Amsterdam, Leiden isn’t widely visited by tourists, but go there in the spring and fall to find

All of these places possess their own charm and beauty, but up closer and with fewer people to wait in lines with than in London, Paris, or Rome.

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Arts & Entertainment

May 20, 2020

Southampton Arts Center Drive-In Movie

This event will also serve as a food drive benefiting the vital local food bank, Heart of the Hamptons. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable items to donate. “We are excited to work with Southampton Arts Center to launch drive-in movies in the village. We applaud SAC’s founding co-chairs Simone Levinson and J. Whitney Stevens, Tom Dunn, Amy Kirwin, and Godfrey Palaia for responding quickly and safely,” said Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren. “This will be a phenomenal event for our community and we are proud to be part of it.” The Independent has also joined on as a media partner for this event. Reservations are required to ensure safe, contactless entry. The lot will open at 7:30 PM, with the film beginning at sundown. The audio will be accessed on the FM dial. Attendees will be expected to stay in their cars and follow physical distancing guidelines. Cars should have no more people than available seat belts. Admission is $50. The rain date is Sunday, May 24. For tickets, visit https://sacdriveinraidersofthelostark.bpt.me.

Indiana Jones film at Coopers Beach, a Heart of the Hamptons benefit By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com

Southampton Arts Center will kick off Memorial Day weekend with a drive-in movie experience: a screening of the 1981 Steven Spielberg classic “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” It will all happen at sundown on Saturday, May 23, at approximately 8:30 PM in the Coopers Beach parking lot in Southampton Village. The evening is made possible by the generosity of Simone and David Levinson. “Embarking on our eighth year, Southampton Arts Center provides artistic and cultural programming to bring our vibrant community together and support the economic vitality of our village,” said Simone, SAC’s found-

ing co-chair. “After two months of isolating and separation, we are delighted to host this drive-in movie and food drive as a nostalgic feel-good event to enjoy with family and friends, as we safely re-emerge from this tumultuous time together.” Now that drive-ins have been deemed an acceptable form of public entertainment, SAC worked quickly to organize this event to celebrate the unofficial start of summer. In the film, Harrison Ford plays the intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones. He tries to beat a band of Nazis to a unique religious relic, which is central to their plans for world domination.

Virtual Entertainment Compiled by Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

‘Life Animated’

Sip And Watch

Hamptons Doc Fest will stream “Life Animated,” by Academy Award-winning director Roger Ross Williams starting Wednesday, May 20. Visit www.hamptonsdocfest.com.

Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center will have a virtual viewing club Sip and Watch with Pop Fiction Women as they watch the first season of “Dead to Me” on Thursdays through June 4. Register at www.whbpac.org.

WHBPAC Movies Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center has movies available on its website for a fee through May 31: “The Woman Who Loves Giraffes” and “Corpus Christi.” Available through June 15 is “The Whistlers,” and through June 16 is “Once Were Brothers.” Go to www.whbpac.org.

Friday Flashback Every Friday, HamptonsFilm will have a new film you can find on online streaming platforms, and at the same time share a YouTube video of one of its conversations related to the film. HamptonsFilm also has links to its Now Showing series available every Monday online. Visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

‘The Disaster Artist’ East Hampton Library will stream “The Disaster Artist,” starring James Franco on Friday, May 22, at 6 PM. Free. Visit www.eastendlibrary.org.

Sag Cinema at Home Sag Harbor Cinema presents films to watch remotely with “Down and Out In America,” “Band of Outsiders,” and “Our Mothers.” See them at www.sagharborcinema.org.

Jazz Inspired Judy Carmichael’s NPR radio show, “Jazz Inspired,” is now online. Go to www.jazzinspired.com.

Author Talks BookHampton in East Hampton will

‘The Goonies’ In Mattituck, on Wednesday, May 27,

have virtual events Friday, May 22, at 12 PM with John Grisham and Roxanne Coady followed by a book club discussion with Sue Monk Kidd “The Book of Longings” at 3 PM and a 5 PM conversation between Colin Bertram and Wendy Lubovich. On Saturday, May 23, will be Florence Fabricant talking about “The Ladies’ Village Improvement Society Cookbook” at 5 PM. Get the links at www.bookhampton.com.

Friday Nights Live Friday nights, Parrish Art Museum presents new live-streamed, partially pre-recorded programs of talks and tours. On May 22 at 5 PM will be a talk on Saul Steinberg with Chief Curator Alicia Longwell, photographer Daniela Roman, and scholar Andreea Mihalache. Head to www.parrishart.org.

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there will be a drive-in movie sponsored by Cedars Golf Club and Movies in the Moonlight. “The Goonies” will screen at the Strawberry Fields Fairground. Gates open at 7:30 PM and the film begins after dark. It is a free event open to all. If you are able, donations can go to Community Action Southold Town to help community members in need.

‘Primavera’ The Neo-Political Cowgirls welcome everyone to join “Primavera,” an interactive, mythical celebration of spring in theatrical scavenger hunt form. Head to www.npcowgirls.org for more.

Virtual Variety Show On Saturday, May 23, at 7 PM, Our Fabulous Variety Show presents a virtual variety show through Zoom. Head to www.ourfabulousvarietyshow.org.

Rites Of Spring On Saturday, May 23, at 2 PM, the Rites of Spring Music Festival will host a “music and tell” with “Discovering Mrs. Rossini,” led by Ashley Galvani Bell, soprano. Visit www.ritesmusic. org.

Guild Hall

Virtual Songwriting

Guild Hall in East Hampton will be posting new content every day taking a look back at some of the great moments in its history of arts and education programming. Go to www.guildhall.org.

On Tuesday, May 26, Fred Raimondo is hosting a virtual songwriting circle from 7 to 9 PM. Register at www.whbpac.org.

Open Mic Night On Friday, May 22, East End Arts will have a Facebook Live open mic night at 7 PM. Visit www.eastendarts.org for more information.

Sip And Sing Every Friday at 5 PM, Bay Street Theater will host a virtual sing-along broadcasting via Zoom right to the comfort of your own home. To receive the Zoom link, go to www.baystreet.org and sign up for the newsletter.

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The Independent

RICK’S SPACE By Rick Murphy

Do I Look Like A Tomato To You? A chameleon . . or Rick? Independent/Courtesy www.chameleonacademy.com

Adventures in the Garden of Weird rmurphy@indyeastend.com Weekend gardeners are all the same. We get out all of our stuff ready to plant, and that first glorious weekend in May the veggie garden takes shape. Those tomato seedlings sure look healthy, you say. You think they are itching to get into the ground with that fertilizer and potting soil and climb to the sky. Sometimes we put the stakes in right then and there, thinking, before we know it, those babies will be six-feet high. Don’t do it. Don’t plant them. I learned the hard way. Papa taught me a long time ago putting a tomato in the ground too early is like leaving your junior prom date

out in the rain for two hours. There she soaks, her corsage dripping wet while she sulks and she plots the ways she’s going to get her revenge. Papa always had a spring in his step Memorial Day. Even if it wasn’t sunny and warm, he knew his babies were ready to go on their own. They’d go into the ground early that morning — beefsteak, heirloom, cherry, plum — along with some marigolds and basil. Papa used to say water is size and sun is sweetness. So, every night he’d survey his babies but never micromanage them. They had to have good drainage in case it rained a lot. If the sun was really strong, they would get a little extra water — in the evening, always in the

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evening. But one summer, Papa got sick and had to spend a lot of time in the hospital. My mom and her sisters tried to set up the garden as best they could but it never looked the same. It gave off a weird vibe — it was creepy, like a haunted mansion overrun with ghosts. We had slugs on the tomato plants, giant things the size of zeppelins. (When Papa finally got home, he would pour a glass of beer on a table near the tomatoes and the slugs would spend the entire night slowly dragging themselves to their final resting place. More than a few old slugs in Sag Harbor went out more or less the same way.) The most terrifying moment of my life occurred that summer. I was about five. I used to cut through the garden on Howard Street in Sag Harbor in the morning on the way to Mashashimuet Park. It was pretty hairy in there, between the wasps and bees and runaway grape vines. I got creeped out and started running. Then, I stumbled and crashed down on a tomato plant. Luckily, the fruit was spared, but I cracked a vine in half. Anyhow, I kept going. I ended up under a tree waiting out a rainstorm. My eye caught something moving just under my chin. Then it emerged. Slowly, a form seemed to rise from the shirt as if it had been embedded in it, and its color started changing from yellow to a sickening reddish greenish hue. The most grotesque creature

I could ever imagine, shaped like a lizard, started crawling toward my neck. Suddenly a tongue flickered, and the thing, now multi-colored, opened its giant mouth like an alligator might. I began thrashing it, knocking it to the ground, but it seemed to disappear in thin air. I stomped the earth to no avail until exhausted. I ran home, hysterical. As I learned later, this fascinating thing was a chameleon, animals that looked like prehistoric monsters and could make themselves any color or shape. They would inhabit sickly tomato plants and given time, devour them leaf by leaf. They could take on the appearance of anything in the garden, and blend right in with a branch or a stick. That night I told my big brother the sordid tale. He shut the light and pretty soon sleep set in. Only then did he reveal his secret: yes, a chameleon could mimic any living creature, take over any identity. He knew, he said — because it had happened the summer before to him. He thought he had run away from it as well, but the opposite occurred. I screamed and ran down the stairs, begging Papa to spray my big brother with soap water. He just kept laughing, a sinister laugh that penetrated my soul. It’s been a pretty cruddy May, what with the virus and the cold and all. But a lot of people are coming here anyway. They think once they set their roots in the warm sun, they will be safe.

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Arts & Entertainment

The Independent’s

Kids’ Zoom

WHO: Kids from all towns on the East End are invited to participate. The first 20 to sign up from each grade division will receive a Zoom link to participate. DIVIDED BY GRADE: 3rd and 4th 5th and 6th 7th and 8th The winner and runner-up from each grade division will compete against each other in the Final.

HOW: Each grade division will be hosted as a private Zoom meeting for participants only. The Final will be an open Zoom meeting for the public to watch. HOST: Bridget LeRoy DATES: Wednesday, June 3rd at 10:30AM

FINAL: Monday, June 8th at 10:30AM (winner and runner-up from each grade division) Winners and runner-ups from each grade division will receive gift cards from BookHampton and John’s Drive-In Sign up by emailing your name, town, and 2019/2020 grade to events@indyeastend.com Sponsored by BookHampton and John’s Drive-In.

(3rd & 4th graders)

Thursday, June 4th at 10:30AM (5th & 6th graders)

Friday, June 5th at 10:30AM (7th & 8th graders) *grade of 2019-2020

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The Independent

READING OUR REGION By Joan Baum

DAY L DAY AL ORI RIA MEM MEMO KEN END WEE WEEK

MOVIE NIGHT

AT C O O P E R ’ S B E A C H ! Presented by Southampton Arts Center

(1981 • PG • 115 min.) Made Possible by the Generosity of Simone and David Levinson

SATURDAY, MAY 23 • 8:30 PM

$50 PER CAR

Space is limited. Visit SouthamptonArtsCenter.org to make your reservation and ensure a spot! Southampton Arts Center would like to thank Mayor Jesse Warren and the Southampton Village Trustees for their support of this event.

Location: Cooper’s Beach Parking Lot 268 Meadow Lane, Southampton Parking Lot Opens at 7:30 PM Film Begins at 8:30 PM Rain Date: Sunday, 5/24

25 Jobs Lane, Southampton 631.283.0967 southamptonartscenter.org #SouthamptonArtsCenter

Media Partner:

The Hidden Hamptons Lubovich releases guidebook of 111 ‘must not miss’ places In 2018, Southampton artist and writer Wendy Lubovich joined the 111 Places illustrated guide book series with “111 Museums in New York That You Must Not Miss (2018)” and now, with Springsbased photographer Jean Hodgens, she offers “111 Places in the Hamptons That You Must Not Miss.” The timing could not be better . . . or worse. Memorial Day weekend is the start of the Hamptons summer crunch. But because of COVID-19 (which has already advanced the influx of visitors), getting to many sites will prove problematic at best, if not impossible. Still, the pleasure of 111 books is that they can be read as short digests of people, places, and events that have made regions memorable. Started in 2008, 111s now include hundreds of truly handy books — at 5” x 8” they fit neatly in the hand, the heavy stock paper ensuring easy grasp, and the format of text on the left, color photos on the right guaranteeing fair play for places known and to be discovered. The series, which covers areas all over the country and the world, is designed, the website notes, for “locals and experienced travelers.” As to the name, 111, the publisher Emons Verlag, based in Cologne, Germany, states that 11 is considered good luck (the annual carnival celebrations in Cologne begin on November 11 at 11:11 AM), and why not add another digit, making it offbeat enough to attract attention? The publisher emphasizes the “special qualities” of 111s that set them apart from other tourist guides: they feature “hidden places, stories, and neighborhoods that unlock the destination’s true character, history, and flavor.” That often means, to judge from the Hamptons edition, touting not just historical figures associated with certain sites, but contemporary celebs. Authors choose the locations and try to connect them to literature, music, art, culture, and folklore. In the case of “Hamptons 111,” which covers both the North and South Forks, selections include bars, beaches, streets, farms, restaurants, vineyards, specialty shops, gardens, hangouts, and more. A couple of caveats: For locals, some of the lore may be familiar or dubious, especially when anecdotes, lively as they are, rule

the one-page text, as in Einstein’s connections in Southold or buried treasure on Gardiner’s Island. (The text does not make clear that the island is not open to the public.) As for Springs General Store, the old gas pumps may be iconic, but the building itself has been featured in a lot of artwork, and prices now hardly reflect a “working-class neighborhood.” Though “Hamptons 111” has attractive off-season photos, the book’s focus is signaled by its cover — summer hues and swimsuit divers. An alphabetical table of contents points the way in, though the overall arrangement evinces no discernible pattern, as with the bookends, for example: # 1 (67 Steps Beach, in Greenport: “stairway to heaven”) and # 111 (Wyandanch Lane, in Southampton, “the most beautiful road”). It’s clear that Lubovich was “bewitched” by the wonderful places she went, “a dream assignment.” Her prose, more poetically adjectival than typical for a tourist guide, gives the book a personal, though on occasion awkward, spin. Of the fish farm on Cranberry Hole Road she writes, “Coiffed, this place is not.” And the photographs, while impressive as color compositions, don’t always enhance the text: # 3 The American Hotel Bar, “Sag Harbor’s most civilized spot”? Coopers Beach, the one to go to if you have only one day and one beach to see? But it’s pandemic time, and “Hamptons 111” contains enough goodies that can be explored.

May 20, 2020

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Dining Come Out Of Your Shell

Independent/ Courtesy Clam Bar

The Clam Bar is open for takeout and local delivery By Hannah Selinger

You know summer has officially arrived in the Hamptons when you feel the actual thrum — a physical vibration — from the Napeague stretch, the spit of land connecting Amagansett with Montauk. It’s there that you’ll find a series of restaurants, staggered like wayward cards in a deck. Back in the old days, Cyril’s, the last of the bunch, was the entrée to Montauk, a loosely regulated party scene where you could get an extremely strong frozen drink and hang out on the side of an actual highway in the middle of summer, across the street from the beach, but, really, worlds away. Cyril Fitzsimons died just a few weeks ago, and the stretch is changing, just like everything else. But the old Clam Bar still exists, and, like every summer, it is now open for business. Here’s the thing I’ve heard most often about the Clam Bar: cash only, whispered under the breath, an annoyance, even though there was an ATM on premise. Cash is a burden sometimes, but you’ll be glad to know that you won’t have to worry about it this year, in the era of takeout and delivery. The Clam Bar’s new business model permits the use of credit cards, thank you very much. Whether that standard continues when the restaurant returns to its regular, in-person business model remains to be seen, but, for right now, we’ll take what we can get. The new incarnation of an old favorite opened its doors on Friday, May 15. In normal years, the weekend before Memorial Day weekend is the weekend of the Montauk Music Festival, and, some might offer, the unofficial start

to the summer season. But there are no festivals right now, and even the weather feels unseasonable for summer. So, in the spirit of doing things differently, the Clam Bar will facilitate your seafood bonanza by bringing your favorite foods to your car, or, if you’re fortunate enough to live in the town of East Hampton, right to your house. Orders can (and must) be placed online, and curbside pickup patrons will be alerted by text or call when their meals are ready. Like many restaurants, the Clam Bar has pared down the menu — for now, at least. It includes a New England clam chowder, lobster salad roll, lobster salad over a house salad or kale Caesar, grilled tuna sandwich with fries, fish and chips, grilled tuna over salad, tuna bites, clam strips, shrimp cocktail, steamers, and a lobster BLT for right now, though the menu will likely evolve as the season progresses. Beer and wine are also available. Guests can order wines by the bottle, as well as the Montauk Watermelon Ale, the Montauk Summer Ale, the Montauk Pilsner, and the Montauk Wave Chaser IPA. In the meantime, the restaurant

will operate Friday through Monday, 11:30 AM to 6 PM, with additional hours added in the future. It is not, after all, a true summer in the Hamptons without the Clam Bar experience (to my mind, that includes a plate of steamers, but I’m a native New Englander), so we can all begin the mental shift to warm weather, snowfall in May notwithstanding. If you opt for curbside delivery, there’s no harm, of

course, in taking your lobster roll (and steamers, for Pete’s sake!) by car to the nearest dune, where you can create your own case for social distancing. There are few opportunities for a perfect table with a view in the Hamptons, but here’s a chance to snag your own, born of circumstance, I suppose, so not all circumstances yield bad outcomes. A lonely dune, it turns out, can make a most lovely dining table.

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The Independent

GuestWorthy Recipe: Alejandra Alonso Rojas Tortilla Española By Zachary Weiss

Who: Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Womenswear Designer

Instagram

@alejandraalonsorojas

Rojas’s Guest-Worthy Recipe Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelet)

Why? “This recipe brings me home! The Spanish omelet is a classic. We would always have it on Fridays at home growing up. You can have it at room temperature or from the fridge, so I would grab a piece after school, a bite for dinner, or after I came home at 3 AM from a party with my friends, that’s when it tasted the best!”

Ingredients 1/2 c olive oil 4 medium-sized potatoes 7 eggs Salt to taste

Independent/Courtesy Alejandra Alonso Rojas

Directions Peel the potatoes, wash them, and slice them in half. Tip: using a mandolin to slice the potatoes will allow the potatoes to fry evenly and save you time. Heat the oil in a large nonstick pan. Once the pan is heated, begin to fry the potatoes. Tip: use the pan cover to cook them faster and break them in little pieces as they cook. This will allow the potatoes to mix nicer with the egg later. Fry until the potatoes are a bit golden. Drain the oil from the pan. Leave the potatoes in the pan for at least five to seven minutes, to rest. Beat eggs with salt to taste. Pour the potatoes into the egg mixture, and mix well. Let the mixture sit for five minutes, so the potatoes soak up all of the egg.

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Preheat a pan with a teaspoon of olive oil. Pour the potatoes and egg mixture into the pan, using a spatula to make sure the borders do not stick to the pan. When you see the borders a bit cooked, nice yellow/golden color, it’s time to flip. To flip the omelet, grab a plate a bit larger than the pan, turn off the stove, put the plate over the pan, and grab the pan by the handle with cooking gloves. Put the other hand on the plate and turn it. Cook the other side for a couple of minutes, as it should not be over cooked. To remove from the pan, place a clean plate on top of the tortilla and flip again onto the plate. Serve and enjoy!

Dining

May 20, 2020

B21

RECIPE OF THE WEEK Chef Joe Cipro

Lemon Curd With Macerated Berries And whipped cream Serves 4

Ingredients (curd) Zest from one lemon Juice from 3 lemons 6 Tbsp butter 2 whole eggs 1 egg yolk 1/2 c granulated sugar

Directions Whisk the sugar, lemon juice, eggs, and lemon zest in a sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in the butter and cook over medium heat, whisking often until the curd is thick. Then cool in the fridge wrapped in plastic.

Ingredients (berries) 1 pt raspberries

1 pt blueberries 1 pt strawberries (washed and cut) 1 pt blackberries 1/3 c granulated sugar Juice of one lemon

Directions Mix everything gently and store in the fridge wrapped in plastic.

Ingredients (whipped cream) 1 c cream 1/3 c powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions Whisk ingredients together until thick, either by hand or preferably by using a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer.

Independent/Jessica Mackin-Cipro

Meals for

Heroes providing high quality meals to the brave ﬁrst responders that are working to keep our community safe and healthy.

Help lessen the burden on our ﬁrst responders. Gift them a restaurantquality meal for $35, vouchers will be issued to our local heroes at EMT stations, East Hampton Police department and Southampton Hospital. These vouchers will not expire and can be used on or off duty, to provide a great take away meal anytime they like.

Meals can be contributed by phone: 631-527-5372 website: highwayrestaurant.com or direct message through their Instagram: @HighwayHamptons

Please consider a meal donation.Together we will keep the community strong People and companies who donate will be recognized in The Independent newspaper.

in partnership with

B22

The Independent

Food & Beverage News By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com

Carbone Adds Delivery

Join us for

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND The Maidstone Hotel is offering great rates for rooms of all sizes, including cottages & suites. Please call 631-324-5006 for reservations or check out www.themaidstone.com.

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Green Hill Kitchen & Que

Carbone, the famous Italian spot in Greenwich Village, has launched Carbone Hamptons, a delivery service. Those who sign up will receive a package filled with a collection of dishes, a weekly special, and homemade sauces, as well as antipasti like cauliflower giardinia, cheese, breads, salami, and more. The program costs $500 per week with a commitment of four weeks. Each delivery is enough for two meals for four people. According to the Major Food Group’s Instagram “Each week we will deliver a limited number of dinner packages designed for you to prepare at home for you and your family. We will be taking orders on a first come first serve basis and encourage you to sign up soon.”

Green Hill Kitchen & Que is offering Heat & Eat ‘Que Kits, to complete your Memorial Day weekend. Patrons may choose their choice of three proteins and three sides, including options for vegans. Fun add-ons are also available and include $15 house bottles of wine, $20 pints of Matty’s Margaritas and $3 cans of beer. The Heat & Eat ‘Que Kits are available for takeout and delivery and delivery is available anywhere on the East End. The restaurant is currently open daily from noon to 6 PM and orders can be placed by visiting https://bit. ly/2Z65UWD or by calling the restaurant directly at 631-477-4900. It also offers same day delivery to the Hamptons. Orders must be placed by 2 PM.

Duryea’s Lobster Deck

Claudio’s Crabby Jerry’s in Greenport is open seven days a week from 11:30 AM to 7 PM serving takeout, dockside grab and go for boaters, and is doing delivery. Claudio’s Pizza is also open seven days from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, same offerings as above. Menu items include Claudio’s Famous Baked Clams, mahi-mahi tacos, steamed lobster, snow crab legs, New England clam chowder, lobster roll, crab cake sandwich, fried clams, chilled lobster cobb salad, and a farmers market salad. A new specialty of the house is the One Pot Wonders section of the menu. Diners can take home such familysized classics as a local clam bake or a crab boil, among other options. And for those who miss Claudio’s famous frozen cocktails and other specialty drinks, it offers a selection of libations including the Crabby Colada and canned wines and local beers. Visit www.claudios.com.

Duryea’s Lobster Deck in Montauk will reopen for the 2020 season on Thursday, May 21, offering takeout, curbside, and dockside pickup. Takeout will be offered from noon to 7 PM Thursday through Monday. Curbside pickup will take place at Duryea’s Farmer’s Market, adjacent to the Lobster Deck. To place an order, visit www.duryealobsters.com.

The Beacon The Beacon in Sag Harbor will open for its 22nd season of business on Thursday, May 21, for curbside takeout. Orders will be taken between 3:30 to 7 PM and may be placed by calling the restaurant directly at 631-725-7088. Guests may pick up their orders between 5 and 7:30 PM on Thursday and Monday and from 5 to 8:30 PM Friday through Sunday. The restaurant plans to be open seven days and add lunch service in early June. Visit www.beaconsagharbor.com.

Claudio’s

18 Park Place East Hampton 324-5400 Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner Take Out Orders

Dining

May 20, 2020

B23

Fabricant And Brody Discuss LVIS Cookbook BookHampton hosts virtual conversation By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com

The LVIS Cookbook; Florence Fabricant. Independent/Courtesy LVIS, Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Acclaimed food writer Florence Fabricant will be in conversation with BookHampton owner Carolyn Brody on Saturday, May 23, at 5 PM, discussing “The Ladies’ Village Improvement Society Cookbook,” virtually.

The book consists of a collection of 100 recipes for everything from entertaining to everyday life. Recipes are by LVIS members as well as renowned chefs and celebrities with a Hampton presence like Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, Hilaria Baldwin, Alex

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Guarnaschelli, and Eli Zabar. You’ll also find recipes from local figures such as farmers and vintners. Fabricant, who has authored 12 cookbooks, paired up with LVIS to create the book, which was published in early April.

LVIS is a 125-year-old nonprofit established for the preservation of historical landmarks, parks, greens, and trees in East Hampton and the surrounding area. To register, visit www. bookhampton.com.

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The Independent

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News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

One Woman’s Mission To Help Others A story of recovery and faith leads to The Retreat By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com One in three women suffer from some form of abuse in their lifetime. It can happen at different stages in life, and from those you might not expect: a parent, a friend, a lover. In 1979, Barbara was just a normal church-going 17-year-old living on Long Island. She always saw the best in people, trusted her faith, and exerted the kindness she observed in her own mother’s heart. Young and full of hope, she believed in love. She met John at a party — the man who would become her first husband. “He seemed larger than life. Very handsome, and charismatic,” Barbara said. “He asked me to dance.” Early on, she began to notice John drank excessively, but attributed it to his bad-boy charm. It wasn’t until further along in the relationship that she discovered his addiction to alcohol and drug abuse. “One day, he showed up at my house. He said he loved me and needed me,” Barbara said. “He shared his heart with me, and I saw how much pain he was in.” At only 21 years old, John had been in trouble with the law and faced years of rejection from people in his immediate circle. Barbara said she wanted to help. Eventually, she met John’s mother, who lived out of state, and she placed a tremendous burden on Barbara’s shoulders. “She asked me to take care of her son,” Barbara said. “I thought that it was my responsibility as his lover and then, [later on], his wife.” As a Sunday school teacher, the responsibility came naturally, but it wasn’t one for which she could have ever prepared. John’s co-dependence with drugs only spiraling downward, and he turned to Barbara as an emotional and physical punching bag. “I couldn’t understand it myself, so

I couldn’t articulate what was happening to my family,” she said. “Unhealthy, controlling partners have a common thread of behavior, which is to isolate those they are trying to control.” Forty years ago, it was taboo to talk about domestic issues. “There was no discussion in school about abusive relationships and there were no signs around town there was help from places like The Retreat,” Barbara said. “You did not ask for help or talk about problems.” The violence continued. Rooted in power and remorse, abuse is a cycle of stages that dwells in fear, shame, and denial. “Insidious is the perfect word to explain how abuse can happen to anyone,” Barbara said. “It is subtle and progressive, and when you love someone, you see the best in them; you believe in them. A denial builds that is so real that you cannot see the truth. I made excuses for his behavior because there were always alcohol and/or drugs involved. And I did leave a few times, and went back with the promises that things would change.” But things never changed. Then Barbara found out she was pregnant. That perspective of being a mother shifted everything. So she reached out to a friend who had been through a similar situation, and sought professional help. “We cannot change anyone else,” she said, “but we can change our response to the way others treat us.” When her daughter was only 3 months old, Barbara attempted to break free of the abuse. Then, John tragically passed away. Barbara turned inward. She began to listen to advice from Oprah, an abuse survivor, and followed gratitude practice, which she’s kept up for 25 years. That’s when she became involved with The Retreat’s New York City location. She has since become a voice for hope with The Retreat on the East End for over 13 years. She believes it’s her heart’s calling.

Barbara is a champion of survivors rights and has shared her experience, given survivors the opportunity to heal through journals that she has donated, and is always willing to offer classes on self care and reduction of stress," said The Retreat Executive Director Loretta K. Davis. "She has a positive message to deliver and promotes prevention education in the community to stop the cycle of violence. We are so lucky to have Barbara as one of our talented and dedicated volunteers, and an honest and inspiring spokesperson. In 2007, she began sharing what she calls her “Story of Hope” at The Retreat’s shelter, a harbor for women escaping abuse. Each survivor receives a journal and is encouraged to write down her experiences, working through emerging, painful memories. “I tell them they will look back and see how courageous they were reaching out for help and how they changed their life’s course . . . like Barbra Streisand sings, ‘what’s too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget,’” Barbara said. “It is up to them to decide what they want their story to be.” Barbara admits that, at times, she revisits her past, questioning why she kept going back. “In truly accepting my past for what it was and lovingly forgiving myself for my choices, I was finally free to be able to live the rest of my life,” Barbara said. “Being kind to the young girl with the huge heart that was able to love and forgive, the girl who did her best to help someone.” She recites the Serenity Prayer during moments of unrest. Her faith helped keep her strong, repeating “faith not fear” and “this too shall pass” during times of struggle. Barbara is now happily married to her second husband, who adopted her daughter 33 years ago, and together they now have three children and two grandchildren, with a third on the way. They all know about her past.

She is still focused on being a friend and beacon of light for women at The Retreat. “It’s such a spiritual thing for me as I sense something familiar in them,” Barbara said. “I make myself vulnerable to them, a door opens for an immense connection because, unless you have been through some form of abuse, you cannot really understand it.” Acknowledging how much has changed in 40 years, she still admits there is more to be done to lift the stigma of domestic abuse. She encourages other women, “You can be an overcomer, too. You’re not alone and deserve to be treated with love and respect,” she said. “If one cannot find the strength in themselves to ask for help, I say do it for your children.” She is writing a book, “Finally Free — Emerging with Strength, Beauty, Gratitude and Grace,” a spiritual self-help memoir of her journey back from abuse. Barbara is courageous in sharing her story and so generous with her time," said The Retreat Development Director Kim Nichols. "For anyone dealing with the aftermath of an abusive relationship, it can be easier to speak with someone who has also been through trauma. Barbara offers insights and tools for survivors. She is an invaluable resource for The Retreat and for the East End. During a pandemic, it’s important to reach out for counseling and try to change your environment if you find it is or has become abusive. Some states have expected to see, and some, like Wisconsin, and the Illinois domestic abuse hotline, as reported in The New York Times last week, have confirmed a spike in related calls and incidents, and even suicides related to abuse. “Community is a huge part of our health and wellbeing,” Barbara said, “which means staying connected to all our social interactions.” For information on The Retreat and for other resources visit www. theretreat.org.

The Independent

Lag B’Omer Photos by Richard Lewin On Tuesday, March 12, the Montauk Firehouse parking lot was the starting point for the “COVID-19 Heroes” 50-car procession that cheered and honked from Montauk to Southampton, organized by the Chabad Centers of the Hamptons and the Chabad of Southampton Jewish Center on the day called “Lag B’Omer.” It was a way of saluting and thanking our heroes, the East End fire and police departments, and the staff at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for their selfless service in this difficult time.

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News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

Aerial Salute Photos by Lisa Tamburini On Friday, May 15, an aerial salute to those working on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic was presented by The New York Air National Guardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 106th Rescue Wing, based out of Westhampton. An HC-130J search and rescue plane and two HH-60G search and rescue helicopters took off from the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard base. The first stop along the way was Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (pictured), followed by East Hampton Healthcare Center, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, St. Charles Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital, Nassau University Medical Center, and several others.

East Hampton Testing Site Photos by Richard Lewin and Gordon M. Grant On Friday morning, May 15, at the Pantigo Place ball field parking lot, the East Hamptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 testing site opened for business. Over 60 people were tested on the first day. On site was East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, East Hampton Village Deputy Mayor Barbara Borsack, and Sheila Rogers, director of the East Hampton Healthcare Foundation. The drive-up testing facility will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays, and operated by Hudson River Health Care.

The Independent

I was laid off from my full-time job writing for a TV series on the morning of March 12. The company pulled the pandemic plug and a producer interrupted the first shot of the morning to tell an entire cast and crew on location on the streets of the South Bronx to go home. That’s a wrap. Laid off. See you when the plague lifts. It’s an odd feeling knowing that you had nothing to do but head home as the big doors to the universe were swiftly closing. I’d been taking the LIRR, a subway, and city bus to get to work every day, wearing gloves but not yet a mask. I wasn’t cavalier. I washed my hands as often as I could. I tried to keep my hands away from my face. But when your job actually shutters, reality sets in. People are dying. Don’t be one of them. Go home. Soon ambulance sirens would be wailing across the city and out to the burbs and across America. I returned to the production studio in Manhattan, picked up some papers, and then used my Metro Card to get a ticket from a machine for a cross-town city bus. I let three other people board before me. I then climbed through a rear door with my hands in my pockets, trying not to touch a pole, a seat, a door, my face, or another human. I sat in the rear of the bus looking at people who boarded on the stops before I reached my destination to transfer to the subway. I shouldered through the doors, off the bus, and descended the subway stairs, swiping my card again, and nabbed an uptown subway. I stood with my back on a door and exited at Penn Station.

The trip seemed longer than usual with death swirling in the air. I kept thinking if one person coughs or sneezes on me, I could get the virus. Please not today, not before I made it home. I dodged people until I caught the LIRR and when I got home, I slammed the door. In the 60 odd days since, I have not left my house. Like tens of millions of Americans, I settled in and watched the news until it started making me ill. With stress. And sadness, despair, fear, and rage at the lack of preparedness of our national leaders to respond to the basic needs for personal protection equipment for our gallant first responders and medical workers and ventilators and hospital beds, and offering instead insane magical thinking about injecting bleach, touting snake oil cures, and outright lies about the availability of testing.

When I got hungry between episodes, I had chicken Marsala with roasted potatoes and broccoli delivered from a local Italian joint, paying with a debit card, adding a generous tip for the brave delivery guy who left the order outside the door after ringing the bell. I’d already become so lazy that it was a pain in the butt to walk to the front door and take the food in. After sanitizing the bag and wrappers and washing my hands and then dousing them with alcohol, I’d eat and hit Next Episode and let my little machine tell me stories that had nothing to do with COVID-19. My son, 20, home from his shuttered upstate college, ran to the chain drug store and stocked up on soda, chips, cookies, ice cream, peanut butter cups, dark chocolate, and other essentials for lazy bastardry. Days dimmed to nights as I watched six seasons of “Bosch,” the terrific Amazon Los Angeles cop series starring Titus Welliver, who is wonderful in the title role based on the excellent novels of Michael Connelly, who shares my love of Hieronymus Bosch, the 14th-Century painter of bizarre, near-psychedelic hellscapes and saints with faces like gargoyles. “Bosch” became so addictive that my clock turned upside down. I watched all night till the birds sang and slept into the afternoon. It was like getting jet lag from being a lazy bastard.

TV Writer Netﬂix Binges

From Bed To Couch

After a lifetime working in daily newspapers and then college teaching and writing for an historic TV cop drama, I now had little to do — except write for this coveted space every two weeks and read and watch TV and learn all over again the great art of being a lazy bastard. To pass the untold free time ahead and avoid the insatiable 24-hour furnace of cable news, I opened my laptop in bed and watched Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple streaming services. I lost myself in season two of “Babylon Berlin” on Netflix, retreating into the dance halls and crime scenes of Berlin between WWI and WWII, a multi-episode murder mystery with great characters, twists, turns, action, and cliffhangers.

I made protein shakes and coffee for breakfast, had pizza and salad delivered for lunch, and chicken tenders and fries sent from another restaurant. I then moved all the way from my bed to the couch and watched a few seasons of “Bordertown,” about a Finnish cop swept up in engrossing cases on the Russian border that span three and four episodes, often ensnaring his family in the treachery and the homicides. Two seasons of “Ozark” reminds you how talented Jason Bateman is as an actor and director until wall-to-wall hillbillies creeped me out. So, I watched “The Valhalla Murders” that took me south of the border, and then was mesmerized by a terrific performance by Amy Ryan in “Lost Girls” about the close-to-home mur-

Underwater Main

complex, especially. Some homes will also see new meters. Those getting a changeout will be notified of the likely increase in water bills. A well rehabilitation program is also being constructed.

vived by his wife of 27 years, Daryn, and his children Alixandra McMahon of Bridgehampton, Courtney Sidor of Sag Harbor, and Lucas Sidor of East Qugoue, and two grandchildren, according to an online obituary. The losses of Sidor and Flores are compounded by the fact that members of the staff can’t console one another, the judge said. “We just can’t be there like we want to be,” she said. “And we still have to do our job. I know that Mark would want us to do that . . . but

SAND IN MY SHOES By Denis Hamill

Lazy Daze A Netflix, Italian takeout bender denishamill@gmail.com

Continued From Page 18.

meter.” He said the district has already seen higher, and accurate consumption rates. “We should effectively be able to pay for that meter this year with the accurate readings,” he said. A water meter replacement program is in the works — as many in the district are 30 to 40 years old — for large commercial businesses and an apartment

Court Officer

Continued From Page 20. as possible. “That’s what he was concerned with.” He also loved being a father and a grandfather, Wilson said. Sidor is sur-

dered girls of Gilgo Beach. Just by ignoring the news — except for the daily fireside chats from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which is news we all could use — allowed me to re-watch the great Helen Mirren in a few seasons of “Prime Suspect.” On Sunday nights, I watched “Columbo” on Me TV and I watched endless reruns of “SVU” on USA and ION, reminding me of how lucky I am to be associated with this great show. And then I inclined through “The Banker” and “Defending Jacob” on Apple. I tried watching the Netflix doc on Joe Exotic but I kept rooting for the tigers to devour every unlikable character involved. I switched to “Money Heist,” which is fun and 13 episodes long.

Italian Food And Movies Every day I ordered something new from my Italian place — eggplant, chicken Francaise, chicken parm and pasta — and I mixed these up with HBO’s “Homeland” finale, “The English Game,” “Freud,” and an odd film called “Curtiz” about Michael Curtiz, the miserable human being but great director of “Casablanca.” I have become so good at this lazy bastard act that I watched all four episodes of the really well done “Unorthodox” in one night. And then pigged out on the compelling “Giri/Haji,” a limited series about a Tokyo detective traveling to London to find his estranged brother for a Yakuza murder. Watching this all the way through was like flying to Japan, as it turned my clock back to normal hours. It’s been two months of take-out Italian and movies and mini-series and lying around the house like a lazy bastard. I haven’t had this much lazy time since those Sunday afternoons waiting for supper on my mother’s couch. I was getting really good at doing next to nothing. Then last week I got a call from my boss. “Rumor has it we’ll be going back to work at the end of May,” he said, which made the clicker drop from my hand. Yes, I’ll be working from home — no LIRR, subway, and buses any time soon. But I’ll have to get out of bed early in the morning, get my lazy buns off the couch, and move all the way to the kitchen table to sit at my laptop and get to work. Writing for a TV show. it’s going to be hard without him.”

Businesses Prepare Continued From Page 17.

She commented in support of Van Scoyoc’s letter to the governor asking about hotels attracting tourists into the community, increasing the risk of spreading the disease. “We are very lucky to live where we do.” Nicole Teitler contributed reporting.

News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

LIPA To Vote On Community Choice Aggregation Rule change would allow municipalities to get closer to enactment By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Long Island Power Authority Director of Communications Sid Nathan said “LIPA will recommend our board of trustees vote to approve Community Choice Aggregation at our meeting on Wednesday and welcomes the opportunity for community leaders to make energy choices they believe are appropriate for their constituents.” That’s music to Southampton Town Councilman John Bouvier’s ears. The May 20 vote is on a proposal that provides a framework to allow Long Island communities to purchase energy from a wholesale supplier. Southampton, and the towns of East Hampton and Brookhaven have expressed similar interest. “We have eight steps to get to where we want to get,” Bouvier said. “All of this is for us to assure ourselves that CCA will actually deliver to us what we want, and what we want is lower rates on a fixed price and the access to renewable sources of energy.” The state Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act declared critical standards for the environment — 70 percent renewable electrical power supply by 2030. Southampton’s goal is to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. “We see the CCA as a big step toward that,” Bouvier said. Joule Assets, Inc., a state-certified Community Choice Aggregation administrator, was selected by Southampton in October 2019. The town was the first municipality on Long Island to award a contract to an administrator, having unanimously adopted the enabling legislation in November 2018. The move was a crucial one, allowing bid soliciting from energy suppliers with the goal of creating renewable electric energy purchasing options — be it wind, solar, or tidal — to provide a lower price per kilowatt hour than currently being offered by the Long Island Power Authority. PSEG Long Island will continue to be responsible for delivering the power to customers and ensuring that the electric grid remains safe and reliable, Nathan said. “We have the third or fourth high-

est rate per kilowatt hour of any municipality in the nation — Long Island in particular,” Bouvier said. “It’s important that whatever we do, we end up being able to give our consumers a fixed price — a contract over 10 years or something like that — where they know what their bill is going to be.” Community Choice Aggregation would be an opt-out program. It’s been successful in Westchester County, and is in operation in four other areas outside the LIPA region. Lynn Arthur, energy chair of the Sustainable Southampton Green Advisory Committee, said over 100 state municipalities have passed enabling legislation. “But for us here, because we have this strange structure with LIPA, it’s not as easy to accomplish,” Bouvier said. “We need to get the data.” He said there’s been conflict interpreting what consumption is. “We have one of the highest residential HERS — Home Energy Rating System — ratings of any municipality in the state, actually nationally, so our consumption that we measure is pretty flat, if not declining,” Bouvier said. “But LIPA projections or forecasts are much different than what we’re seeing on the ground. We need to confirm that, and one of the ways to do that is to engage in Community Choice Aggregation so we’re able to see what our consumption is at the meter — have that data shared with us.” Arthur said aside from significant public support, all six state utilities outside the LIPA region filed the same tariff on August 5, 2016. “Almost three years in the making, the tariff would be ground-breaking and a victory for Long Islanders,” Arthur said. “The tariff enables a competitive market for electricity on Long Island and a choice Long Islanders do not have today. The next hurdle will be price.” If LIPA passes the rule change to allow for the program, Joule Assets can begin soliciting bids. The hope is to incentivize local renewable power production. A letter to LIPA board members from the town more than doubled its

The Roussel family — 12-year-old Olivia, Sustainable Southampton Green Advisory Committee member Helen, 14-year-old Harry and 12-year-old Annabelle with signs made of recycled cardboard asking LIPA to approve a Community Choice Aggregation program. Independent/Doug Kuntz

goal, receiving 1000 local signatures. “I think it’s reflective that people are tired of opening their electrical bills and seeing these increases,” Bouvier said. “Just because ‘Hampton’ is at the end of Southampton doesn’t mean we don’t have a whole lot of residents that live paycheck to paycheck and are hardworking citizens hit with these bills that I think are sometimes prohibitive. Plus, we’d be producing power that’s not polluting the planet.” State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, who created a Community Choice Aggregation Task Force that Bouvier sat on, have been vocal about their support, as well as the New York State Department of Public Service and environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation. “When a community, or municipality, is given a choice of how and what types of energy it wants to purchase, the combined buying power of those cus-

tomers — both residents and businesses — is impactful,” Fleming reiterated. “And if workable for municipalities on Long Island, the model may offer the opportunity for savings as well as choice.” Pursuing Community Choice Aggregation could, if nothing else, signal to LIPA towns are committed to sustainable power sources, and push the company toward renewable power sources. On March 20, The New York Times reported the closing of the state’s last coal-fired power plant, Somerset Operating Company, citing the COVID-19 pandemic made it too expensive to run. “I think the LIPA board sees the writing on the wall — that clearly this is where we’re going and this is what we have to do for all sorts of reasons, from climate change to people’s pocketbooks,” Bouvier said. “I don’t see a downside here unless we can’t contract in a way that helps our consumers. I think this is the wave of the future.”

The Independent

Restaurant Workers Aid AFTEE Effort helps pantries meet a growing staffing demand By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com To help East End food pantries meet the growing staffing demand created by the increased numbers of clients served, restaurant workers and other employees earning paychecks under the federal government’s Payroll Protection Plan are stepping in to lend a helping hand. The initiative created under All For the East End’s Feed the Need Campaign utilizes restaurant workers from Sabrosa Mexican Grill in Water Mill and employees from Southampton Youth Services to help volunteers at Heart of the Hamptons food pantry. The pilot swap program, which started this week, is expected to be expanded to other areas, with additional restaurant and pantry partnerships coming soon. “While New York is temporarily shut down, Sabrosa is happy to partici-

pate in this program,” said restaurant owner Donna Andreassi. “The Sabrosa team is committed to helping our community and this will allow us to do our part to help those in need at this difficult time.” Two workers from Southampton Youth Services will also participate. “We know these pantries are tapped out — many of their volunteers are elderly and are forced to stay home, while we have employees earning paychecks who are more than able and willing to step up,” Southampton Youth Services Executive Director Scott Johnson said. “This is a no-brainer.” The new program began May 12 at 10 AM with workers loading grocery bags, returning on Wednesday for pantry distribution day at Heart of the Hamptons in Southampton.

Lift National Ban

Bellone wrote a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie with the request after the National Cemetery Administration’s decision to suspend group flag placement. Suffolk County is home to more veterans than any other county in New York. Each year since 1995, thousands of volunteers have placed American flags at hundreds of thousands of gravesites Memorial Day weekend at Calverton National Cemetery and Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale. Those efforts are currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a total of 15 local ceme-

Continued From Page 6.

will work with local Boy Scout troops and veteran organizations to conduct the group flag placement at non-veteran cemeteries Saturday, May 23. “This plan demonstrates that we can safely conduct group flag placements to honor our veterans while protecting the public health,” Bellone said. “We are hopeful that the Department of Veterans Affairs will assist our efforts by donating flags that would otherwise be used for suspended activities at national cemeteries.”

TREE SERVICE

Southampton-based Heart of the Hamptons food pantry bags packed with groceries ready to be distributed to those in need. Independent/Courtesy Heart of the Hamptons

“We are eager to see how this all works out,” Heart of the Hamptons Executive Director Hilton Crosby said. “We are so grateful for the cooperation from so many businesses and organizations.” Restaurant owners and other business owners who would like to help staff the pantries should email info@ aftee.org. All for the East End, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012, is working to support the nonprofit commu-

nity through its Feed the Need Campaign, addressing food instability and related issues spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization’s fund in the Long Island Community Foundation, along with its advisors, manages the grant process to ensure transparency and administers disbursements. For more information or to donate, visit www.aftee.org or email info@aftee.org.

teries across 10 townships have agreed to partner with the county to honor fallen heroes. Participating cemeteries include St. John the Evangelist Parish Cemetery in Riverhead, Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary Cemetery in Southampton, Shaarey Pardes Accabonac Grove Cemetery in East Hampton, First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold, and Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery in Dering Harbor. “While the weekend is the traditional kickoff to the summer season, what Memorial Day weekend is really about is honoring the men and women

who have sacrificed for our country,” Bellone said. “That is important, and it is important that we always talk about that and instill that in our kids and instill that in the next generation.” The Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency is working with local Boy Scout troops to identify the sites for flag placement and with the Suffolk County Department of Health to implement safety measures that meet the current guidance from the state and federal government. Among the safety measures is a six-foot separation for flag pick-up and mandatory face coverings.

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News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

Sag Harbor Names Jeff Nichols Superintendent

The Sag Harbor Union Free School District Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the appointment of Jeff Nichols as the district’s next superintendent of schools May 11. The acting superintendent and current Pierson High School principal’s promotion went into effect Tuesday. Nichols has led high school staff the past 20 years, serving the district since 1997. Under his leadership, Pierson was recognized as an International Baccalaureate school for developing students’ intellectual, emotional, personal, and social skills; produced multiple Intel Science Competition award recipients — semifinalists and finalists — and continued to support and maintain excellence in the arts. He shares the same goals of board and community members to educate the whole child to his or her fullest potential. The district said in a statement his commitment is evident by the fact that Pierson graduates have gone on to attend highly-regarded colleges and universities or pursue vocational career goals with the skills needed to be successful. “Over the years, Jeff Nichols’s commitment to put students first has earned him the trust of students, parents, colleagues, and community members alike,” said Sag Harbor Board of Education President Jordana Sobey. “He possesses a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility, along with a heightened awareness of education issues both locally and on a national level, and has demonstrated the ability to view the future through the lens of a leader. His institutional knowledge of our school district and positive relationships with our community will continue to be a critical asset as he transitions into his new role.”

During the past six months, Nichols assumed the position of superintendent twice, first as acting superintendent during November and December 2019, prior to the January retirement of Superintendent Katy Graves, and again as interim superintendent in April 2020, in both cases while continuing to serve as high school principal. Graves first left her post to have surgery, and then to assume a new role as executive director of the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton. During both instances, Nichols served his dual leadership roles without additional compensation. “I have had the pleasure of knowing and working closely with Jeff Nichols for more than 20 years. I am so pleased he has been appointed superintendent,” said Sag Harbor Elementary School Principal Matt Malone. “He is a thoughtful leader who approaches his responsibilities with great care. His intelligence, experience, and proven ability to lead here in Sag Harbor will enable him to help us all continue to do great things for the children and the entire community.” Peter Solow, a teacher, parent, and former board of education member, has also known Nichols for more than 20 years, and said observing the new superintendent from his own variety of roles has helped him see Nichols from different perspectives. “During his tenure as Pierson principal, we have seen a continual improvement in our educational program and the positive transformation of our school due to his leadership and his aspiration to make things better,” Solow said. “From his personal experience, he possesses an understanding of the organizational history of the district. I am confident that he

has the capacity to effectively deal with the unprecedented challenges we face today. His thoughtful leadership and performance over the past weeks have been exemplary. In this context, the appointment of Jeff Nichols to the position of superintendent is a relief, because I believe he will provide continuity and stability in a time of profound uncertainty. I am confident that he will also provide reassurance for our students, the district, and our community.” Nichols, in addition to serving as superintendent of schools, will temporarily remain principal of Pierson High School. This will allow the district to minimize disruption to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nichols entered into a five-year contract — publicly available — with his annual compensation increasing from $233,435 during the 2019-20 school year to $265,000. The district anticipates certain cost savings by having him fill both roles while the fight against the novel coronavirus continues and distance learning remains in effect. “Especially because, like everyone else, we are in these unchartered pandemic waters, Mr. Nichols is a great choice by the board of education to be the superintendent,” said teacher Jim Kinnier, who is head of the teachers’ union. “He knows the students, teachers, and staff. He knows the community. As we move forward, his calm, fact-based decision-making will help the district survive and thrive. All members of the team will come together and make this historic time a positive one.” Pierson Middle School Principal Brittany Carriero said Nichols serves as a model for how to effectively lead a school by always putting the children first and never seeking the spotlight. “Through both good times and bad, he has led our school community in a calm and thoughtful manner,” said Carriero, who added it’s been an honor to work with and learn from the new superintendent the past seven years. “In times of uncertainty, it is a comfort to have someone so effective at the helm. Sag Harbor is a tight-knit community that will benefit from a superintendent with his institutional knowledge. He possesses excellent communication skills and

Elective Surgeries

geries that were postponed because of the COVID-19 epidemic,” he said. “Many of them in Suffolk and Westchester.” After two weeks, Northwell hospitals resume what Battinelli called “urgent surgeries,” such as cancer-related procedures that if delayed more than two or three months he said could result in long-term, negative health implications for patients. “But before any are performed, all patients will be required to undergo presurgical COVID-19 testing to ensure they

are free of the virus,” Battinelli said. “The most significant challenge for Northwell at this point is ensuring the public that its hospitals and outpatient facilities are safe, and that those who have medical concerns get them addressed immediately.” Bellone said the move will help stimulate another area of the economy impacted by COVID-19. “This is another important milestone,” the county executive said in a May 17 press briefing. “Every day we’re seeing signs of positive things. We know

Current high school principal’s promotion unanimously approved By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Continued From Page 10.

care is delivered to every patient to meet their health care needs.” David Battinelli, the chief medical officer at Northwell Health, which runs Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead and several other hospitals on Long Island, said the governor’s announcement was welcome news. “Northwell alone has a backlog of well over 10,000 urgent and elective sur-

Pierson High School Principal Jeff Nichols was promoted to Sag Harbor school district’s superintendent. Independent/Sag Harbor Union Free School District

utilizes them to problem-solve issues in a collaborative fashion. I look forward to seeing the Sag Harbor schools continue to grow and thrive under the strong leadership of Jeff Nichols.” Nichols’s appointment was the culmination of a lengthy and in-depth search process, which began in fall 2019 conducted by School Leadership, LLC, a highly-regarded national professional education search firm. Subsequent to meeting with the board of education and soliciting input from administrators, teachers, parents, and community residents, School Leadership presented the board of education with a pool of qualified candidates for consideration. After analyzing and discussing the qualifications of each candidate and conducting a rigorous interview process, the district said it became abundantly clear that the candidate possessing the qualities the board and community were seeking in the next superintendent was someone who was already known and respected by the community. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the board of education for the confidence they have shown in me,” Nichols said. “I enjoy working in Sag Harbor and consider it a privilege to work with administrators, faculty, and staff who are talented and dedicated to preparing our students for the future. I feel especially fortunate to work with students who are kind, compassionate, and willing to work hard to achieve their goals. We have much to be proud of and I look forward to a future filled with new opportunities for success.” elective surgeries need to happen, we know that COVID-19 has caused this delay in medical procedures that, while maybe not crisis emergency procedures, are procedures that people need, and we’ve always known that it’s important to work those back into the system. The fact that Suffolk County has now reached a place where we can get those procedures back on track . . . It’s certainly positive for the economy as well for the budgets of hospitals.” Desirée Keegan contributed reporting.

The Independent

Wind Farm Flop? South Fork project plans, court proceedings delayed due to COVID-19 By Rick Murphy rmurphy@indyeastend.com The South Fork Wind Farm project planned off Montauk Point is going to be delayed indefinitely. Independent

The owners of South Fork Wind Farm admitted this week the project is not on schedule. It was originally designed to provide power in 2022, which would be used to ease a peak power shortage sometimes experienced on hot summer weekends. “South Fork Wind will very likely be delayed due to federal permitting approval delays and COVID-19, which has impacted our ability to carry out key surveys both on and offshore,” said Meaghan Wims, a spokeswoman for Deepwater parent companies Ørsted and Eversource Energy. A New York State Public Service review, called an Article VII, has also been postponed because of the novel coronavirus. “We anticipate a formal update from the federal government on our permitting timeline,” Wims said, “which will inform our project schedule.” The federal review of the project has

stalled until the company can satisfactorily address Bureau of Ocean Energy Management concerns to determine how it may affect the commercial fishing and shipping industries. Another obstacle is financing. Ørsted, which bought Rhode Island-based Deepwater Wind, then sold half its company to Eversource Energy, intends to use federal tax credits to help finance offshore projects planned for the New England corridor, including the South Fork Wind Farm. But tax subsidies for wind energy are also drying up. The massive outlay of COVID-19-related stimulus money makes Washington D.C. lawmakers hesitant to fund new sources of energy. Wims said the company does not comment on its financial affairs. Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott, Inc. is also pressuring the companies, who want to use Beach Lane in Wainscott as a landing site for its off-

shore cable. The group threatened litigation to stop the cable that would have to hook up with a PSEG plant once ashore. There’s plenty of speculation the utility company is preparing for that to happen elsewhere on the East End should the citizens group prevail in court. But the utility remains steadfast in its commitment to the wind energy industry and its projects with Ørsted. “The South Fork Wind Farm is in an advanced stage of development,” said Long Island Power Authority Director of Communications Sid Nathan. “We remain committed to ensuring the project is completed to benefit Long Island and the South Fork with a cleaner, more cost-effective and resilient source of energy that meets the increased consumer demand.” The Wainscott group demanded in court detailed plans the utility may have drawn up for an alternate site, including online diagrams, sources of supply, in-

terconnection, transformation, and voltage levels for the substations and related transmission facilities. It also requested LIPA indicate the voltage level, age, and conductor type and size of the circuit, which runs along the Long Island Rail Road between the Amagansett and East Hampton substations. Chief Administrative Judge Anthony Belsito sided with PSEG. “The request is overbroad in that it is not possible to identify with specificity the information Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott wants provided in order to determine its relevance or xlikelihood for leading to relevant information,” he said. The group’s “motion to compel PSEG to provide system diagrams for all the substations within the eastern part of Long Island is denied.” The group intends to pare down the amount of material requested and resubmit.

Police Academy

gency room staff at Stony Brook University Hospital a week before graduating to show their support and thank workers for their dedication to public health. “I think it’s fair to say that none of us expected to find ourselves in the situation we are in today. Nevertheless, as a department, we adapt to any challenge,” Hart said. “These are anything but normal conditions. I appreciate your commitment. This noble profession is not an easy one.” She highlighted the national importance of the work the officers will be doing, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis, and thanked them for taking this firstassignment fight head-on. “As law enforcement officers, you will undoubtedly bear witness to horrific moments within the human experience,” Hart said. “Many of you will be first on-scene to initiate CPR and provide life-saving measures to gunshot victims. You will provide comfort and security to those broken and injured. You will protect the weak from domestic violence, and shield children from unspeakable harm. You will be a strong shoulder, and a listening ear to our aging elderly population. There is anxiety and uncertainty, and our residents will look to you for guidance. You will be a voice of calm and reassurance as we work through this cri-

sis together. You are prepared to answer the call. Welcome to your moment.” During the live stream comments poured in from family, friends, and others who just wanted to thank the recruits for their hard work and dedication — both to this point and for what lies ahead. “Very proud of you all,” Marilyn Untener wrote. “Stay safe.” “This is the best police force in the United States,” William Hempworth said. “God bless you and your family.” “Stay safe brother and sisters,” Nancy Dougherty said. “It’s a great job.” Bellone reiterated how a police officer’s job is unlike any other. “This is a job where you literally, on a daily basis, are going into a world of unknowns,” he said. “You do not know what you will face when you walk outside that door, but you’re willing to accept risks, and have your safety put at risk in order to protect others in the community — people you don’t even know. That is an extraordinary act of public service.”

six were in the back building, which is perpendicular to the road. As previously reported, the fire started when a maintenance worker was grinding metal brackets for a fireplace screen he was installing in a common room. The fire was deemed an accident, and spread quickly, in part, thanks to a sliding glass door that was open to the ocean breeze. The four units in the front, including the common room, suffered fire, smoke, and water damage, while the six in the back suffered some fire and residual water damage. The units will likely need to be gutted, Baker said, though there is the possibility one of the buildings will need to be knocked down. Though the two buildings are adjoined by an open stairwell covered by a roof, they are independent of each other, with their own basements, Baker said. He could not provide a dollar figure on the estimated damage. “Everybody’s got their own insurance company,” Baker said, “and then the organization has an overall insurance company.” The property’s certificate of occupancy dates back to 1982, though Baker said management had just completed renovation work, where new siding, decking, and exterior stairs were installed.

Continued From Page 21.

men, two Hispanic women, and one Asian man, according to the department. This class had no African Americans. The group completed 30 weeks of academy training, which began October 21, 2019, and received more than 1000 hours of instruction on topics including law, emergency medical training, domestic violence, mental illness, cultural diversity, and terrorism. They began their field training this week. “It is a grueling experience in many ways — they put you to the test, without question — but they are preparing you for what is ahead, and that is joining what is one of the greatest law enforcement agencies anywhere in this world,” Bellone said, adding a number of members also served in the military. “To those who served — as we recognize today, Victory in Europe Day — you are part of that legacy of service to our country. As our military protects us around the world, it is the men and women of this police department who protect us here at home.” During the COVID-19 pandemic the recruits supported others who are fighting the novel coronavirus around the clock. They delivered food to emer-

Atlantic Bluffs

Continued From Page 21. fire marshal Tom Baker, who investigated the blaze said after he was able to get into the buildings for the first time. Four units were in the front building, which is parallel to Old Montauk Highway, and

May 20, 2020

Letters

Learned A Lot

Continued From Page 4. stronger than ever. Our belief is that if we pool our resources and work together constructively, it’s likely that will happen. John Droz, Jr.

Good Representatives Dear Editor, As most people know, each year the people of East Hampton School District get to vote on the proposed budget for the upcoming school year. After schools were closed due to the pandemic, the May voting date was postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday, June 9. Voters will receive a copy of the proposed budget in the mail. As also happens each year, the community will vote for people to serve for the next three years on the board of education. This year, two seats are to be decided. Two incumbents, John Ryan and Jackie Lowey, are each running to serve another term. I have decided that I will also run. I believe that both John and Jackie are good board members but I have 40 years of experience in public and private education and have three years of serving on the EH board. I served as board president during my third year. I believe that the voters should have a real choice and thus decided to become a candidate. If John and Jackie get chosen, they will be good representatives for our taxpayers. However, I believe I am more qualified. In fact, if all three of us were graduating from Harvard this year, one of them would be graduating cum laude, the other would be graduating magda cum laude and I would be graduating summa cum laude. Please make sure you remember to vote on the budget and for two of us to represent you. George Aman, Ph.D.

Dear Editor, It has been 10 weeks since we admitted our first COVID-19 positive patient. Since then we have learned a lot about this disease. As of today, more than 78 percent of our hospitalized patients testing positive for COVID-19 have been discharged well. Our applied learnings have benefited all our patients, non and COVID positive alike. Since the start of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis, our Emergency Department continues to safely provide care for all emergency cases. Recently, many medical institutions have begun reporting that patients who wait or fail to seek emergency care for critical non-COVID conditions may experience fatal or long-term complications. Anyone requiring emergency care, particularly those suffering with nonCOVID symptoms such as those related to cardiac disease, stroke, or other acute ailments or series injuries, should not hesitate to come and get immediate treatment. We are safely triaging patients inside our ED. All patients wear masks and staff uses appropriate PPE. Any patient suspected of COVID-19 symptoms is isolated. Those who test positive are cohorted in designated areas. There has been no known case of a patient contracting COVID-19 while visiting the hospital. The hospital is a safe and highly sanitized environment with a rigorous disinfecting protocol deployed by the environmental services team trained to apply advanced technologies, including UV-C lights and EPA approved disinfectants. The hospital does continue to postpone elective surgeries. Since the stay-at-home order went into effect, some patients originally scheduled for low acuity surgeries may be experiencing a worsening of symptoms that may lead to future morbidity or serious long-term complications that

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can negatively impact quality of life. It is important that patients remain in contact with their surgeon to review if surgery is now required. Those who are approved will be given the latest CDC and DOH directives including COVID testing within 72 hours of surgery. Elective surgeries and screening will commence only with the Governor’s approval and will be scheduled in compliance with New York State Department of Health and CDC directives. General Updates:` Since early May, the hospital has been experiencing a flattening of the curve in the number of hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients. The external triage tents outside Parrish and the Emergency Department have been removed. In early April, the hospital had increased bed capacity from 94 actively staffed beds to 184 and expanded the ICU from 7 to 21 beds. Currently all remain accessible. While never reaching full capacity, the hospital does have the ability to add more beds should the need arise. Parrish Memorial Hall is still being reserved for potential patient overflow, if necessary. Thank you for all you have done to support us. We are proud to be a part of this community and to serve you. Please know that we are always here for you. Take good care and be safe. Robert Chaloner CAO Frederic Weinbaum CEO Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Editor's Note: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on May 16 that elective surgeries can resume in Suffolk County.

Team-People Dear Editor, Wars are fought and won synergistically by a compounded submergence of focus that’s rooted in population diversity. Team effort is and will continue to be the common denominator

for winning! Together, we are steadfast in standing toe-to-toe with COVID-19, but are overshadowed by a substantial percentage of people around the world who seem to care less. Not distancing or wearing masks and gloves or protesting against the grain with nonsense, ultimately compromises the health and safety of everyone. These actions show no congruence to teamwork and undermines wholehearted efforts of millions of healthcare workers and frontline business employees who are sacrificing their lives daily with a purpose for the betterment! The preemptive doubt or questionable pursuit by political officials to ajar the gateways of COVID’s wrath by reopening the economy should have sufficed. The precious gift of life should always epitomize a leader’s decision-making while cautioning the imminence of probable acceptable death counts. Pressure from constituents and public rallies should not be the persuasive driver, but in the midst of an election year, even politicians are vulnerable in their stature. Many Americans died in a 48-hour period as COVID blew its nostrils through the first economical door opening! Where does the responsibility lie? Is it a default of poor premature governmental decision making or the actions of a hyperactive social frenzy that disregarded this monster virus? The effervescent beauty of surviving in the land-of-the-free has always been grounded in an unspoken guide to an ambiance of Team-People! Clearly, the current monologues of social voice and marquee displays of discourse shed a true picture of imperfect harmony. Moving forward, the inspiration for us is the trust and obedience factor towards social distancing becoming our stronghold, that will sound a trumpet for a callto-arms against COVID, shouting: together we win, but divided we fail! Dr. Dennis Walter Smith Sr., D.C.

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The Independent

North Fork THE

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‘Thank You For Being Our Heroes’ Law enforcement brass salute Peconic Bay Medical Center staff By Taylor K. Vecsey taylor@indyeastend.com

Law enforcement officials saluted healthcare workers on the afternoon of May 14 with a “Thank You Parade” for the Peconic Bay Medical Center employees working tirelessly through the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade was part of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office show of appreciation for the hard-working men and women on the front lines. Several of its vehicles, including specialized ones like the BAT (Blood Alcohol Testing) vehicle and the MRAP, its Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected Vehicle, were driven by the Riverhead hospital’s front entrance on Roanoke Avenue, where dozens of healthcare workers and other hospital employees stood, and Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. was on hand to give his personal thanks, as well. State police motorcycle units led the parade under a giant American flag hanging from between two Riverhead Fire Department ladder trucks. Sheriff’s deputies and correction officers, many of whom work a short distance away at the Suffolk County jail in Riverside, waved as they passed the hospital employees, all wearing masks. Some used their vehicle’s loudspeakers to say “thank you.” The Riverhead Police and Fire Departments also had vehicles in the parade. The sheriff spoke briefly to the group in the garden outside the en-

A Suffolk County sheriff deputy drove by Peconic Bay Medical Center as part of the salute to health care heroes. Independent/Taylor K. Vecsey

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s office brought out some of its official vehicles. Independent/Taylor K. Vecsey

trance. “We cannot thank you enough for being our heroes,” who have reported to work “day after day, leaving your families and treating the patients and helping their families along the way. We love you. We honor you. God bless you, and thank you very much.” “I guess we all know we could, and would, in some of the most trying times,”

Andrew Mitchell, the CEO and president of Peconic Bay Medical Center, said of how everyone rose to the occasion during the pandemic. “The teamwork that went on between all of the different disciplines is a testament to this clinical leadership behind me,” he said, looking at some of his top-level staff. “And the inspiration came not

only from our patients, but from people like the sheriff and the community as a whole, who came out to say ‘thank you’ and support us, and with that I say ‘thank you’ to all of you,” Mitchell said to the crowd. Earlier in the day, the sheriff’s office also participated in a parade at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson.

News & Opinion

May 20, 2020

Not Too Late To Save East End 2020 Census?

The census, taken every 10 years, is essentially a two-step process. In 2019, a master address list of all residences in America was finalized, according to the Census Bureau. This past March, using that address list, the bureau was scheduled to contact each residence, to determine who, if anyone, was living there. For 95 percent of the country, including almost half the East End, this initial contact was done successfully by mail. Census forms have been completed, nationally, for 59.5 percent of all residences in the country, as of May 16. Most were completed online at my2020census.gov. What happened to the other five percent, though, is the critical problem for the East End. These are areas that the Census Bureau has determined receive their mail predominantly via post office boxes. Since the Census Bureau can’t match physical addresses to the PO boxes, it uses a program called Update-Leave, in which all contact with a residence is made in-person by a census taker. This person-to-person program

An East Hampton councilwoman urges kickstart to process By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com

The regional director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Jeff Behler, said May 15 he believes the 2020 Decennial Census on the East End of Long Island can be completed successfully by the end of the year, despite the fact that in some areas, like Amagansett, Bridgehampton, and Hither Hills in Montauk, the count has never started. Field operations were put on hold because of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March.

On Friday, East Hampton Town Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said she is advocating for the town to kickstart the process. Burke-Gonzalez is particularly concerned that an undercount in this particular census, the effect of which will be felt for the next decade, would coincide with future funding in a post-COVID-19 recovery. The numbers dictate where billions of dollars are spent each year.

started on March 15, Behler said, only to be shut down, along with the rest of the nation, two days later. The impact on the East End’s five towns is staggering. As of May 16, East Hampton Town’s response rate was only 24.5 percent, Southampton’s 31, and Southold, 33.1. Riverhead, which is mostly direct mail contact from the census bureau, was at 50 percent, while Shelter Island, where the only form of contact the Census Bureau uses is Update-Leave, was in single digits, just over eight percent. On the South Fork, almost all residences in areas like Sagaponack (9.9 percent), Amagansett (4.7), Bridgehampton (11.1) and Hither Hills (10.5) have never been contacted by the Census Bureau.

New Recruits According to Behler, once Long Island is moved into the Phase I reopening stage by Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Census Bureau will resume its field operations. Continued On Page 43.

Rotaries Donate Flowers To Hospital Employees ELIH staff thanks volunteers for kindness and support By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com North Fork rotary club members came together to donate hundreds of flowers to the entire staff of Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital May 8. Riverhead Rotary Club member Mary Hughes, a Peconic Landing employee, initially reached out to the hospital regarding the donation, and coordinated with the rotary clubs of Greenport, Southold, and her own to recruit volunteers to distribute the plants. Multiple Rotarians from each club donated their time to distribute truckloads of orchids, hydrangeas, and other blooms to hospital staff from Eastern Long Island Hospital’s employee parking lot. The volunteers braved drizzly weather conditions from 7 AM to 7 PM,

North Fork rotary club members present orchids, hydrangeas, and other flowers to staff members at Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital. Independent/Courtesy Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital

and brought not only the flowers, but a great deal of joy, the hospital said in a statement. “Our local Rotarians have always been a great source of support for our hospital,” Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Paul Connor said. “We thank

Riverhead, Greenport, and Southold rotary clubs for generously donating these plants, their time, and many smiles to our heroes.” “The Rotarians appreciate the health care workers so much,” Hughes said. “It was such a satisfying event — to see them smile and being

thought of.” For more information about how to aid Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital and the Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation in the fight against COVID-19, call 631-477-5164 or email elih_donations@stonybrookmedicine.edu.

The Independent

Sports Athletic Association Forms Task Force Organization mulls COVID-19’s impact on upcoming fall sports season By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has selected three Suffolk County members to serve on a COVID-19 Task Force. Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs, incoming second Vice President Tim Mullins, and New York State Athletic Administrators Association Executive Director Jim Wright will help examine potential impacts of the novel coronavirus on the fall 2020 season. Mullins and Wright are also athletic directors — Mullins for the Bayport-Blue Point School District, and Wright for the South Huntington School District. Task force members were selected

by NYSPHSAA President Paul Harrica with input and consultation from Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas. “The goal of this task force is to bring together a group of experienced administrators and professionals to examine potential impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the upcoming school year,” Harrica said. “And to provide guidance and recommendations to the 11 sections of NYSPHSAA.” It’s comprised of NYSPHSAAmember executive directors, superintendents, principals, and athletic directors, in addition to representatives from the NYSAAA and state Education

Will State Aid Cuts Affect School Sports? Some athletic directors believe team offerings will remain unchanged By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Noting the unpredictable nature of the federal government’s pandemic response, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for more federal aid last weekend to embattled states. While the government has moved swiftly to help businesses and provide needed medical supplies, he said other fronts have been ignored, and added schools across the state could be looking at a 20 percent cut in state aid. While many western Long Island schools that rely heavily on that aid have announced

athletic programs could end up in the crosshairs, most officials on the East End believe, as it stands now, their districts will be in good shape. “We don’t get much aid from New York State – I think we only get around $1 million,” Southampton Athletic Director Darren Phillips said. “I am not sure how it will impact us, but cutting any sports has not come up as a concern with cuts in state aid.” Sag Harbor Athletic Director Eric Bramoff said because everything is

Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs, incoming second Vice President Tim Mullins, and New York State Athletic Administrators Association Executive Director Jim Wright have been appointed to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s COVID-19 Task Force. Independent/Courtesy Section XI, and Bayport-Blue Point and South Huntington school districts

Department. It is anticipated the committee will meet for the first time in late May or early June. “At this time, we are planning to start fall sports on August 24,” Dr. Zayas said. “With the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, I want to make sure we are prepared to focus attention on

keeping student-athletes engaged in their school communities and active, while also abiding by Department of Health and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s guidelines. We must have innovative and creative thoughts to provide beneficial participation playing experiences for students.”

changing so rapidly, he can’t even attempt to speculate. “We are preparing for many different outcomes,” he said. “The administration and the school board will have to make many decisions over the next year that will have a direct effect on the athletic program. Even though athletics are important, at this time they are not the first priority, and they shouldn’t be.” Westhampton Beach Athletic Director Kathleen Masterson said her district’s outlook is currently positive, but went on to say it depends if more cuts are to come. East Hampton and Hampton Bays athletic directors did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Cuomo said May 10 the current impact on the state’s financial plan is about $61 billion. Back on April 20 he stated New York was already in a more than $10-billion hole. “Almost every state has a significant financial problem because of the loss of revenue due to the economy,” the governor said. “Our economy was

doing great, really great in this state.” To compound the problem, the state’s COVID-19-related expenses will cost an additional $5 billion annually over the next two years. “All this hospital work and testing,” Cuomo said. “We then have essential state agencies that are operating that have also taken a tremendous financial loss, like the MTA, which operates subways and buses, and collects revenue from tolls when people go over bridges and through tunnels.” Ridership is down 92 percent. The Port Authority of New York is also seeing tremendous losses at airports. The governor said New York alone would need about $35 billion this year to compensate for novel coronavirus-related losses. “The economic impact is beyond anything that any state can deal with,” Cuomo said. “If the federal government doesn’t help the states, then you’re forcing the states to cut funding.” Local government and hospitals could see similar cuts in state aid.

Sports

May 20, 2020

Hamptons Offshore Invitational Canceled Boat raffle benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island still on By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Scott Horowitz was looking forward to the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Hamptons Offshore Invitational. The Shinnecock Marlin & Tuna Club-hosted event benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, and Horowitz, a Town of Southampton Trustee, is on the organization’s board of directors, was president of the Shinnecock Marlin & Tuna Club for 10 years, and founded and is chairman of the annual fishing tournament. “Unfortunately, I had to make a decision on this for safety,” he said. “This is a big blow to the local economy

and also to the charity.” Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island’s mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported, oneto-one relationships that change their lives for the better. Horowitz said that while the tournament has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sayville-based White Water Marine, a longtime partner and event sponsor, secured a boat — a 2020 Sportsman 232 Open Center Console fishing boat — for the annual raffle. Tickets are $100, and only 1000

CHIP SHOTS By Bob Bubka

Live Golf Is Back And a Memorial Day ‘thank you’ bobvoiceofgolf@gmail.com

As Memorial Day approaches and we celebrate the arrival of the summer season under very trying conditions, we should all reflect on the tremendous sacrifice so many military men and women have made to preserve our freedom and our way of life. There are many reasons that I believe that growing up on the East End was one of the greatest gifts of my life. Early memories of my East End summers were highlighted by three big events: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Those three milestones have not changed, but what has completely changed is my perception of the time in between them. Growing

up I always had the feeling the time from Memorial Day to Labor Day was an eternity. Now, it just feels like a long nap. Thankfully, the long wait for live golf on television is over. It has seemed like an eternity but, who’s counting? I think it’s been 15,598 minutes between the last shot at The Players and the first tee ball at the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match at the Seminole Gold Club in Florida. I guess I’ve been counting, but mainly because golf is not only my passion, but because reporting on it has been my career. The heart, soul, and goal of the TaylorMade Driving Relief charity game

A 2020 Sportsman 232 Open Center Console fishing boat is being raffled off for Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island. Independent/Courtesy Scott Horowitz

will be sold. Horowitz, who has raised over $2 million for the cause, is hoping to raise the full $100,000. “This year we are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19,” a letter signed by Horowitz and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island Chief Executive Officer Mark Cox read. “Let’s come together as a community by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island during these difficult times

and sell every raffle ticket we can.” Visit bbbsli.org/event/2020-boatraffle-ticket for more trailer package information and to purchase raffle tickets. You can also email Director of Development Meredith McCaslin at mmccaslin@ bbbsli.org. A photo of the ticket stub or stubs will be emailed, instead of mailed to a purchaser. Cox will be hosting a live ticket drawing on August 23 to announce the winner.

was to raise a lot of money for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Nurses Foundation to help fund the fight against COVID-19. Yes, playing golf again was fun for the players and for those watching at home, but it was nice to see that over $5 million was raised. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 5 Dustin Johnson teamed up against 27th-ranked Rickie Fowler and 21-yearold sensation Matthew Wolff, who has what looks to be a really weird, but effective golf swing. But yes, this starstudded group was a little rusty. It might be said that the biggest star of the day was the golf course. Seminole Golf Club has always maintained its privacy and this was the first time the public had been able to see this exclusive masterpiece. Seminole came to be in 1929, the brainchild of the extremely wealthy E.F. Hutton, who selected none other than Donald Ross to work his magic on this wonderful piece of property along the Atlantic Ocean in Juno. On the East End, we know a little bit about nationally-known exclusive golf clubs. Leading the way would be Southampton’s Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and National Golf Links of America, and East Hampton’s Maidstone Club — all great courses that boast a very select membership roster. Seminole takes great pride in flying well below the radar. This masterpiece was such a great test that Ben Hogan would show up a month prior to the Masters

to get his game ready for Augusta. It was very common also to see Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Bing Crosby among other famous names taking on the Seminole challenge. Our own East Hampton summer resident and renowned golf architect, Rees Jones, is also a member. According to Seminole folklore, there are three things needed in order to be considered for membership — a single-digit handicap, well known social and professional connections, and deep pockets. The most recent highprofile member is new Tampa Bay Buckeneers quarterback Tom Brady. Seminole is also a golf-only club, not a country club. The food options are limited by design. There’s no breakfast or fancy fine-dining dinner, just lunch — which by the way is not nearly as great as lunch at National Golf Links. Back in the late 1940s and early ‘50s the head professional was 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon. In fact, Harmon’s son Butch learned to play golf at Seminole when he was only 6 years old. Of course, Butch is now a well-known, well-respected golf coach and was Tiger Woods’ first coach when he turned professional. As a side note, more and more courses are opening up for walkersonly play. It seems the shortage of toilet paper in this country has been replaced with the scarcity of golf pull carts. In honor of all those who served this great nation, we say thank you. Stay safe, be well. This too shall pass.

The Independent

EAST END TASTE By Vanessa Gordon

Feel Good Out East Tune in to your body, mind, and soul By Vanessa Gordon Where did all the ice cream go!? We may have all done our essential visits to the local grocery stores recently and noticed how empty those freezer shelves were. Trust me, I was a bit disappointed when I did not see my favorite Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked FroYo in stock. But let that be a sign of how we can better approach our day-to-day routine. Drawing our focus into a wellrounded wellness routine may be more important than ever. Leap back into wellness with tips from notable Hamptons-based fitness trainers and nutritionists that may provide a stable base for beginning and maintaining your feel-good journey. These tips are meant to be fitting for everyone of all ages, including the youngest members of your family.

Nutrition What is that first step we could take? Nutrition expert and wellness coach Sarah Wragge recommends drinking water, and plenty of it. “The first thing to do is drink water. I cannot stress this enough,” she said. “A lot of the times we are hungry is because we are dehydrated. Drink water, and then decide what you really need.” Next, create a super-food base. “Get your greens in,” Wragge said. “I prefer to drink them first thing in the morning as a fresh green juice. This creates alkalinity in the body and will kill those sugar and comfort food cravings.”

Wragge also swears by the 80/20 rule: 80 percent plants, 20 percent protein. “I am currently obsessed with lentils, because they are a plant-based protein that offers 18 grams of protein in one cup,” she said. And, ice cream is OK, in moderation. “My sweet treats are Simple Mills pancake mix and NadaMoo! dairy-free rocky road ice cream,” Wragge said. For those young, picky eaters she believes in exposing them to better versions of foods they are used to eating, like healthier versions of pasta and pancakes. “For pasta, try Jovial brown rice pasta instead,” Wragge said. “A staple of my family is Jovial pasta with Rao’s tomato sauce. We add Kite Hill almond milk cream cheese to make it like a vodka sauce. Yum!” For me and my family, I start by not purchasing sweets and treats when out at the grocery store. It seems they make their way into my home no matter what, like when they are gifted by friends and relatives. I also started infusing my water with mint leaves, sliced cucumber, and sliced fruit. It is so much fun to pair these new flavors with a great workout indoors. My children also love being junior tastetesters with these new water infusions.

Mind Our thought process is what leads our daily habits. Reset your habits to make sure they are beneficial to you and your mental wellbeing. One way to start, for

example, is with a little tune. Kristin Sudeikis, the founder of the dance cardio class FORWARD_Space in New York City calls on music to energize, calm, and inspire. “I love dancing around to DJNice when he spins on IG Live, and also tuning into live classes on the FORWARD__ Space Virtual Hub,” Sudeikis said. “I truly love vibing with the different styles and personalities of each instructor.” A great film is another option, especially for winding down after a busy and fulfilling day. “Watch films that inspire or uplift your spirit,” Sudeikis said. “I have personally enjoyed watching the movie ‘Booksmart,’ directed by Olivia Wilde, and the Netflix documentary ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama.”

Body Now is the time to physically leap into your wellness routine and maintain that velocity — dedication leads to results. Remember, we have to earn those treats. Barry’s Bootcamp trainer and Hamptons local Connor Miller has some thoughts on how to get started. “Take this time out of the physical gym building to enjoy what’s around you,” Miller said. “There are so many beautiful places to run, bike, or paddleboard. This crisis has also created a boom in virtual content, so your access to amazing trainers has never been greater.” In addition to Miller’s recommendations, mix up your exercise routine with an assortment of sessions focused on cardio, weights, and flexibility. Get your whole family involved, put on some fun music, and have fun running and jumping about the backyard or safely indoors. Remember to consult your physician before beginning a new fitness or diet regimen.

Soul Finding your inner peace and calm may be much easier than you’d imagine. It is

also incredible to witness the positive effect just five or 10 minutes of solitude, uplifting thoughts, and meditation has on an individual. I recommend a morning meditation of 10 minutes to clear the mind and create a focus for the day. For the evening, sleep meditation has personally made a world of difference in my focus and inner peace. I find myself going to bed relieved of overwhelming thoughts that may crowd my subconscious. When the day has ended, make those last moments before bedtime all about you. “When lying down at night just before you fall asleep, begin to name 10 specific things or moments of gratitude from the day that remind you of things to appreciate in life,” Sudeikis said. “Guided meditations by Dr. Megan Poe on our virtual hub, or quantum physicist Joe Dispenza on YouTube are also nice to help unwind the mind and slow down from the day.” ** Next week, I will share some of my favorite healthy-packed meals across the Hamptons, and why you should be enjoying them, too! Share your feel-good tips, personal wellness and fitness journey, and nutritious meals by tagging @IndyEastEnd & @ EastEndTaste on social media. We will be resharing our top picks!

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Biet Simkin. Independent/Courtesy Biet Simkin

By Nicole Teitler

Please, Just Sit There Celebrity meditation leader Biet Simkin offers calming insight to COVID-19 nicole@indyeastend.com

“Don’t Just Sit There: 44 Insights to Get Your Meditation Practice Off the Cushion and Into the Real World,” is a book by Biet Simkin. As I prefer to call it, it’s “The Meditation Book for People Who Mock Meditation Books.” I discovered the celebrity meditation leader last summer when she held a group session at Urban Zen in Sag Harbor. At the time, I had no idea who she was. I joined the practice out of simple curiosity, rather than a desire to meditate — call it journalistic intuition. A group of women, and a few men, filled the room as Simkin guided us through stages of crying, yelling, stomping our feet, periods of total silence, and eye-gazing. It was emotionally exhausting, and liberating. Just like that, my perception of meditative practices shifted entirely. Months later, I read Simkin’s book. It was as though I heard a crack in my universe. For the first time, I was being told that meditation was about getting off my ass and making physical changes to achieve a higher state of being. This former rebel chick from Queens’ practice, which focuses as much on outward habits as inward ones, instantly became relatable. Chapter by chapter, Simkin’s words echoed in my mind as I journaled my way through. When it comes to meditation, she essentially advises readers to shift gears rather than going into a neutral

state. Her book acted as a roadmap to my personal development journey, pointing out the signs but leaving it up to me to read them. Since we’re all enduring perhaps one of the greatest changes in our lifetimes, I reached out to Simkin for her take on the COVID-19 pandemic, and how she’s adapting.

Perception is such a big part of handling change. What’s your pandemic perception? It’s a strange time. For those of us not on the front lines and not [sick] in the hospital, we’re in a prison or monastery right now. That’s kind of what it feels like. If someone asked me if I’d like to go to prison for two years, I would have definitely said no, but I’m benefitting greatly from it. [In the book] my “law of payment” says we are currently paying for something. Who we walk out of this as in two years is the person that we’ve been trying to become. How can we use this time to truly allow ourselves to be made?

It almost sounds like you’re enjoying this time. I don’t like it, I just want to say that. Some people are like, ‘I love this quarantine. I can really hear the birds chirping and the Earth healing.’ And I get it, but also there are a lot of freedoms that have been taken

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from us. I got an email from SoHo House and I missed when I could go and see people. My ideal spiritual awakening is meant to be while shopping at Barneys or while lying on the rooftop of the Petite Hermitage in LA. But you can’t do any of that right now, so this is a much less glamorous version of my fourth way practice.

So how has your practice changed? I’ve made a commitment to not complain while this is happening. That’s not to say I don’t cry or get in bad moods or sad or angry. All of that happens, but complaining is a very specific recipe. It’s literally saying ‘I wish things were this way but they’re not, so I’m annoyed.’ That, I’m not doing, and that’s been really helpful. Take this as a complaint diet.

How do you cope with those sad moments you mentioned? When a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, there’s a period when it totally melts down into soup and is then transformed. I feel very much like we are being melted

down. I often also repeat the mantra: ‘I am being worked on’ right now. For some of us, especially those of us on a spiritual pursuit, we want to be in this spiritual place all the time. Sometimes we forget that it’s not easy to work on us when we’re in that position. Just like an artist needs to manipulate its medium, sometimes it needs to be changed. I am not clear with how the universe will make me useful. But the truth is that I’ve been quite useful to the divine just like this — a weird, broken human.

Your vision is relatable. How do you view your own practice? It is the rebel’s guide to meditation. My meditation and spiritual practice is not about giving up your desires or your belongings. That’s the interesting thing about fourth way — it’s enlightenment under the conditions in which you are. So, if the conditions change or worsen, your work is still the same. For more information about Simkin and her book, visit www.bietsimkin.com.

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TIME magazine, the share of Americans reporting serious mental distress was reported to be 38 percent from those 18 to 29 years old, 37 percent from those 30 to 44, and 25 percent from those 45 to 59. “It doesn’t even discriminate by age,” Cuomo said. “It’s a multiple of what it’s ever been.” He urges people to ask each other not just how are you, but “How are you really?” “‘How are you doing?’ It’s almost a rhetorical question — a throwaway,” Cuomo said. “‘How are you really?’ means let’s get to a different depth in the question and a different depth in the answer.” The Mental Health Coalition has launched a website www.howareyoureally.org, along with the hashtag #HowAreYouReallyChallenge to get people to discuss and open up about the challenges they’re facing. “You can’t be fine. It’s not a trite

Continued From Page 8.

May 16. On day 78 of dealing with the national crisis, the governor noted the mental toll COVID-19 has taken, which he believes doesn’t get talked about enough. “With the trauma we’ve gone through, you could say 78 days is a long time,” Cuomo said. “We’ve been so anxious about the day-to-day. Don’t underestimate the trauma that this has created for people — out of the blue comes this virus, something we’ve never seen before; you’re living a science fiction movie. It’s been incredibly anxiety-producing, traumatic, disturbing. We’ve felt it all along and seen evidence that this is creating a mental health crisis.” According to a study he cited by San Diego State University and Florida State University, which ran in

answer. We’re going through hell,” Cuomo said. “How are you when you’re going through hell? You’re not good. I’m anxious. I’m stressed. I’m nervous. I’m afraid. We’re not comfortable talking about that. That’s not the normal social back-and-forth . . . This is nothing to be ashamed of ever in life, but especially now.” The state has a support hotline — 1-844-863-9314 — which the governor said has seen tremendous response. Additional mental health resources are available www.headspace. com/ny.

Will Summer Camps Open? With the new Kawasaki disease-like inflammatory illness reported in children, New York state is still deciding whether camps will open this summer. “We’re coming up with guidelines,” New York Budget Director Robert Mujica said. “With the new cases

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that were arising with children, we’re relooking at those guidelines. Other states around us were also moving to open summer camps — they’ve also slowed down that process. We do have guidelines for childcare, but as far as camps, like sleepaway, how you do that in the context of new cases?” He said a decision will be released before summer camps are scheduled to open — generally around the end of June. “This issue . . . I think is very important,” Cuomo said, citing the 120 cases being investigated of the illness in New York. “I don’t believe it’s only 120 children. I believe this is a syndrome we are just discovering. We were told children were not affected, and we’ve been operating under that assumption. This is tricky because the facts change.” This issue could influence the probability of school buildings remaining closed in the fall.

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May 20, 2020

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Beaches Will Open

Southampton Town’s Plan

Southampton Village

In an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Town of Southampton will implement a phased reopening and staffing of beaches this summer. Beginning May 23, Ponquogue, Sagg Main, and Long Beach will operate on weekends. They will be staffed with lifeguards and beach attendants. Restrooms will be open and concessions will operate as takeout only. No picnic tables or benches will be available. Permits are required at all beaches and access roads beginning May 23. Residential and non-residential permits will be sold at the three beach locations on weekends beginning Saturday. Beach permits applications are available on the town’s website, and existing 2019 beach permits are valid through June 30. No daily permits will be sold until further notice. Beach operations will be assessed weekly with the hope to staff more beaches on weekends in late June, the town said, and to operate seven days a week in July. This phased-in plan is subject to change as conditions warrant.

Southampton Village residents will be issued parking passes for local beaches in time for Memorial Day weekend, but daytrippers will not be allowed, at least in the short term. The board adopted Phase I of a multilayered gradual reopening plan last week. Mayor Jesse Warren said each household will be issued up to three permits. “The goal here was to limit transactions and protect our workers in the booth,” Village Trustee Andrew Pilaro said. He is also mindful though that daytrippers provide “a bump to businesses and restaurants.” Residents must provide a copy of a valid car registration and a copy of their tax bill. Summer visitor permits will only be available to individuals renting for 30 days or longer, at a cost of $450. Local non-village residents within Southampton’s fire or school district can buy a permit for $250. Senior citizens and veterans pay a discounted rate of $175. “We love these amazing beaches we

Continued From Page 6.

will be cleaned regularly; hand sanitizer will be made available; and additional lifeguards put in place so they can stagger locations on the beach. Extra staff will also aid beachgoers finding spots to ensure groups are abiding by the six-foot separation. “When in a spot, there is no need for face covering,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. “When going to other areas away from your spot is when you’ll be putting face coverings on. Added lifeguards will ensure people remain socially distant in the water, and extra staff members will be continually cleaning bathrooms in protective gear. The staff will also have their temperatures checked on a regular basis.” Bay beaches will not open on Memorial Day weekend, he said. The ocean beach at Shinnecock and bay beaches like Meschutt Beach County Park in Hampton Bays will open later in the season.

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have,” Bellone said. “This virus has taken so much from us — we couldn’t allow it to take our ability to go to the beach this summer. For kids who don’t have playgrounds and don’t have pools right now and don’t have movies . . . we have to have something for them to do and the beaches are the places we can do that.” If the public does not comply, the governor said beaches will be closed immediately. “How this goes is up to all of us,” Cuomo said. East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said May 18 he anticipates Ditch Plains, Atlantic, and Indian Wells beaches and their restrooms will be open this weekend, however, was scheduled to be made official May 19, he said. Check this story online at www.indyeastend.com for updates. Municipalities have until Wednesday, May 20, to decide whether to open beaches under their control for the holiday weekend. If they choose to open, they must adopt the state requirements at a minimum. Desirée Keegan, Rick Murphy, and Taylor K. Vecsey contributed reporting.

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East End Census Continued From Page 33.

However, beginning field operations doesn’t mean that census takers will immediately be deployed. He said the bureau has been in weekly contact with those already recruited and trained for the Update-Leave operation, to assure they feel comfortable going out into the field. New census takers will be recruited as well. The Census Bureau has adapted its training program to meet social distancing rules from COVID-19. New recruits will meet once, three or four at a time, in a space where social distancing is possible, Behler said. “We will swear them in, give them their device and paperwork, then send them home. All their training will be done online,” he said. The bureau has obtained hundreds of thousands of masks for census takers. There will be no direct contact with residents in the first phase of UpdateLeave. Instead, a pouch will be left at the entrance to the residence containing information about completing the census form online, by mail, or by phone. The number for those who speak English is 844-330-2020, and Spanish, 844-4682020. “The phone lines are staffed from 7 AM to 2 AM eastern time. The rush for phone calls has passed, so I have been hearing that someone is answering quickly, no wait times. And any day is great to call,” Behler said. Once these pouches are distributed, the operation will shut down again until the next phase for the decennial, called Non-Response Follow Up, which goes by the acronym NRFU. That operation was supposed to start last week. It has been pushed back to August 13.

Time Is Wasting All this is well and good, Burke-Gonzalez said, but time is wasting. The further East End response rates fall behind the national one, the harder it will be to get an accurate count. Burke-Gonzalez has years of experience in direct marketing. One possible solution, she believes, is for the town to target each post office box in all of East Hampton with a postcard. The postcard would explain the problem in a couple of sentences, then offer a simple solution to those with internet access: log on to my 2020census.gov, enter your address, and complete the census form. Tax assessment rolls could also be used as well, with a mailing to each property owner’s address. Burke-Gonzalez, who is the town board’s liaison for the 2020 Decennial, said she would be discussing possible solutions at the town board’s May 19 virtual meeting.

Counting the homeless is also a major challenge. Behler conceded that, every day that goes past April 1, census day, it becomes more difficult to determine who was living where. Normally the count of the homeless, which is done through a variety of homeless-related agencies and services, such as shelters and mobile food providers for the indigent, is completed in late March. Given the movement of people caused by COVID-19, the Census Bureau is currently adjusting its methodology for counting that segment of the population. New York City is also a major crisis zone for the census. Areas of the city, such as East Elmhurst and Corona in Queens, have been devastated by COVID-19. “What worries me, in New York City, is that we have so many people who have left. Whether they went out to Long Island, or they went to upstate New York, or Florida.” The city is far behind the rest of the country in response rate. The NRFU operation will be key in getting an accurate count for both the East End and the city. The good news, Behler said, if anything can be construed as good news during a pandemic, is that the Census Bureau knows where the problem areas are, in terms of response, and can field census takers accordingly. New York City contains neighborhoods that speak multiple languages. In hiring its census takers, the bureau made sure that each language in each area could be spoken by at least some of those hired for the neighborhood, Behler said. In both the city and on the East End, the bureau is relying on its partnership program. These are community members, “trusted voices,” Behler said, that are essential in the census process in helping people understand and complete the census. The challenge for the Census Bureau will be to reconstruct where residents should have been on April 1. For example, if someone temporarily moved to a second house in Montauk in March, but normally would have been in Manhattan as of April 1, that is where that person should count themselves. The same is true for students. At the same time, a census form for the second house should be filled out, indicating that it is a second house. Person-to-person contact is part of the census process, especially for NRFU. Social distancing will be the rule. Come August, a census taker will knock on a door the bureau believes it has not received a response from, then step back six feet. The COVID-19 world presents a challenge to completing the census, but, Behler believes, it is a challenge that can be met.

Present Present

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Donate to “Feed the Need” at www.aftee.org

The Independent

Superior New Construction, Renovation, Restoration

As we all reflect at this time in our world, this pandemic has brought serious concerns to us all! My team and our families will always strive to meet the schedules and needs of our precious clients including those who have left their businesses and homes to do their best to comply with suggestions that we need to observe. We are all in this together! My family, our company and team are faithful that we will soon turn the page on this virus that has changed and disrupted and alarmed every aspect of our lives and families. Please know that we are here for you through this stressful time and following the breakthrough!

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