Just five days after the class of 2026 graduated, the East Hampton School Board was already looking ahead. At its first meeting of the new school year on July 1, the board took up several key items, including extending the contract of Adam Fine, the superintendent, through 2031.
C.C.O.M. Wins Major Coastal Resilience Grant
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit created by Congress in 1984, has awarded Concerned Citizens of Montauk a $323,000 grant to address coastal resilience in Montauk and on Napeague. It is the largest grant the nonprofit has ever been awarded.
July 9, 2026
In Haiti, a Note of Grace in Dark Times
The Wings Over Haiti School in Ranquitte stands two stories high, with eight classrooms and 130 students who follow a STEM-based curriculum. That so much has been accomplished there while violence and evil stalk the land underscores the resilience of this unlikely human chain that yokes Haiti and the East End.
July 9, 2026
Police & Courts
A man caused a disturbance at the 7-Eleven in Montauk around 4 a.m. on Monday, an employee reported to police, saying that the man “partially ate” two Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches before putting them back on the counter and refusing to pay.
Jul 9, 2026
A Southampton man who was arrested Sunday night faces two felony counts and several lesser charges after a boat he was operating struck a stone jetty in Sag Harbor Bay, seriously injuring two of his passengers.
Jul 9, 2026
Hotel Tax Money a Boost for Lighthouse
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Monday amending the New York State tax law to stipulate that $250,000 of Suffolk County’s hotel and motel taxes be appropriated to help maintain and operate the Montauk Lighthouse.
Jul 9, 2026
Incremental Progress at the Building Department
Richard Normoyle, the chief building inspector, detailed the organization of the greatly expanded department (it’s nearly doubled in size in the last year, to 19 approved positions) and said it would be fully caught up on the permit backlog by the end of the year, five months ahead of his May estimate.
Jul 9, 2026
Government
Two weeks after the heavily contested Democratic primary election, absentee and early mail ballots have been counted, and the results have been finalized. Spoiler alert: They’ve barely changed since election night.
Jul 9, 2026
At Guild Hall’s first Hamptons Institute program of 2026, founders of the Indivisible movement promoted bottom-up, grassroots, local activism in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Jul 9, 2026
After the removal of two large trees estimated to be more than 100 years old on a residential Newtown Lane property where a house was recently demolished, Mayor Jerry Larsen said this week that he will discuss with the village board possibly amending the code to require a permit to remove trees.
Jul 9, 2026
Chris Gallant, who won the Democratic primary election last week and will face Representative Nick LaLota in November, calls CD-1 “a very flippable district.”
Jul 2, 2026
Arts
Monumentality in Montauk
Now at The Ranch in Montauk, a showcase for innovative large-scale sculpture, are Nancy Rubins’s “Friends of Pluto,” Matt Johnson’s “Meditating Figure,” and Paul McCarthy’s “Sisters.”
Jul 9, 2026
Featured in “Looking” at the Bridgehampton Museum are portrait paintings by Rainer Andreesen, photographs by Christophe von Hohenberg, and sculpture by Oscar Molina.
Jul 9, 2026
Philip Hartman came to the Sag Harbor Cinema to show his 1986 film “No Picnic,” a love letter to the Lower East Side that is having 12-week run at Manhattan’s Film Forum.
Jul 9, 2026
A busy week at Guild Hall brings contemporary dance, Second City comedy, a chamber music ensemble, a panel on the media landscape, and an artists’ conversation.
Jul 9, 2026
Villages
An East Hampton Tradition: St. Luke’s Summer Fair
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s annual summer fair — its 140th! — happens on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Beach Signs for the Instagram Era
New signs were installed last week at the three lifeguarded East Hampton Village beaches: Main, Georgica, and Two Mile Hollow. They were designed by Emma Edwards, the 21-year-old owner of Dama Creative Solutions.
Baking Lobsters, Raising Money for Life-Saving Station
The Amagansett Life-Saving and Coast Guard Station Museum’s 10th annual lobster bake fund-raiser happens on Saturday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Sports
Long Island Books
Food
News for Foodies 07.09.26
Omakase is coming to the East End at LDV at the Maidstone and Gurney’s in Montauk, and Lion’s Nook is open at the former Rowdy Hall.
Jul 9, 2026
South Fork Somm: Sparkling Wine for Your Sparklers
With July 4th on the horizon, The Star’s sommelier turns her attention to sparkling wines, with options including a great value from New Mexico and Champagnes that won’t break the bank.
Jul 2, 2026
News for Foodies 07.02.26
There’s a pop-up farm and artisans market coming to Sagaponack, daily beverage specials at Lobster Roll, a happy hour at Gosman’s, and small pies from Loaves and Fishes.
Jul 2, 2026