Author Information

David E. Rattray
Editor

631-324-0002
editor@ehstar.com

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Articles by this author:

  • The Mast-Head: A Shift in the Tide

       These end-of-August weeks can be both relaxing and frenetic, at least around the newspaper office and on the home front. On the one hand, the constant barrage of publicity pleas and self-promotional requests has died down. Yet on the other, with the kids out of camp and parents working, there is a sudden imperative of finding them things to do.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Dance Party Permit Called Flawed
    The gathering, billed on the Web as Electronic Beach, appeared to have violated a number of conditions of its town permit and drew complaints about noise from beachgoers and residents
    By: David E. Rattray
  • The Mast-Head: Checking Out the Strand

       Up early Saturday and Sunday looking for waves worth surfing, I made an informal survey of beach conditions following what had obviously been two wild nights on the sand. Almost everywhere in town, the beach garbage cans had filled to overflowing, and people had left their trash in the general vicinity.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • The Mast-Head: Bezos Goes to Washington

       Waiting in the San Francisco Airport departure lounge late Sunday into Monday morning for a delayed flight home, I noticed that of the couple hundred people hanging around only a handful were reading a good, old-fashioned book. Oh, folks were reading, of course, or looking at something or other, but the majority were using some kind of handheld device or computer. I saw no one reading an actual, hard-copy, dead-tree magazine or newspaper at all.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • The Mast-Head: Drinking and Driving

       No one in our household, nor at Russell and Fiona Bennett’s place up the way, heard the sirens Saturday night.
        It was a little after 10 p.m. when, according to a police report, a drunken driver flipped his BMW convertible, injuring himself and two passengers. We did not know about it until much later, when my sister sent us an e-mail saying she had heard of it on Facebook.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • L.V.I.S. Fair Saturday

    Topping the weekend’s agenda here in the village must be the Ladies Village Improvement Society fair on Saturday, the organization’s 117th, by the way. The gates at 95 Main Street open at 10 a.m. One can also enter via a gate in Herrick Park near the basketball courts.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • The Mast-Head: The Blame Game

       We have met the enemy and it is us. That is the conclusion I reached this week as summer 2013 began to reach full fever pitch.
        Here’s my epiphany: Those of us who consider ourselves local like to think it is folks from away who need a little attitude adjustment. Perhaps they do, what with their expressions of entitlement, boorishness, and piled-on demands, but frankly, it is those of us who should know better by dint of living here year round who really have no excuse.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Fishy Layout
    Essentially a retrospective in paper and maquettes, a major show of work by Alice Aycock is on view at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill though July 13.
    By: David E. Rattray
  • The Mast-Head: Gone, Not Forgotten

       Unfortunately perhaps, East Hampton Bowl was just the kind of place you did not think about much — or miss until it was gone. This dawned on me as I was driving west on an errand early Sunday. One word on the classic road sign said it all: Closed.
        East Hampton Bowl had been shuttered at the end of June after 54 years. My first thought was of my son, Ellis, who is 3. He had been there a few times but would in all likelihood never be there again. It was a melancholy moment.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • The Mast-Head: Do It Yourself 101

       We were two weeks without a functioning washing machine, and not one of the local repair companies with which I had left messages had called me back about service. It seemed odd.
        We had been going to the in-laws to use their washer. For us, a family of five, plus beach towels at this time of year, that made for a lot of trips, missing items, and an all-around headache. Something had to be done.

    By: David E. Rattray

Blogs by this author:

  • Free Admission at Town Marine Museum (News)

    Looking for something to do to get out of the house or pry those kids away from the electronic devices? The East Hampton Historical Society’s Marine Museum on Bluff Road will be open with free admission from Saturday through Jan. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on New Year’s Day.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Coming Up in East Hampton Village (Villages)

    Santa in Spanish
    A Spanish and English-speaking Santa will greet children and hand out gifts outside Waldbaum’s market on Park Place on Christmas Eve between 5 and 7 p.m.

    Hanukkah Opening at Vered
    "Paintings of Hope," an exhibition of work by Haim Mizrahi, an East Hampton artist, will open at Vered Gallery in East Hampton on Saturday at 6 p.m. The evening will include a candle lighting and songs with Chabad of East Hampton in celebration of the fifth night of Hanukkah.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Friday's Outlook: Rain and a Brush From Arthur (Archive)

    Here is what we know about Hurricane Arthur and the outlook for Independence Day and beyond. There is a 100-percent probability of heavy rain from an unrelated system until about sunset Friday. Hurricane Arthur is expected to pass to the east of Montauk Point, close enough that near-tropical storm-force wind gusts are expected for the region late Friday.

    Rain and a chance of lightning will end after dark Friday, but not before as much as three inches could fall. The National Weather Service has issued warnings of flooding in low-lying areas and roadways.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Trustees Results: Little Change (Politics)

    Doing a quick spreadsheet from board of elections numbers, it appears that the makeup of the East Hampton Town Trustees is largely unchanged. Two newcomers have won seats: Brian Byrnes, who previously sought a seat as trustee, and Dennis Curles.

    The top nine are the assumed winners:

     

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Overton Sees Early Lead in Voting (Politics)

    An hour after the polls closed, Carissa Katz, The Star's managing editor, reported from the Dems election night HQ in Rowdy Hall that with 7 of 19 districts' numbers brought in from the polls, unofficially, Fred Overton was in the lead for town board. Following him were Kathee Burke-Gonzalez , Job Potter, and Dominick Stanzione in the race for two open seats.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • South Fork Choices for Long Island Restaurant Week (Food)

    A handful of South Fork eateries are taking part in Long Island Restaurant week, which runs through Sunday.

    In East Hampton, the 1770 House, Fresno, and the Living Room @ c/o the Maidstone are offering the $27.95, three-course price fix deal. Southampton's Nammos Estiatorio, red|bar Brasserie, and Southampton Social Club are in, as is Fresh Hamptons in Bridgehampton and Noyac's Bell & Anchor.

    Participanting restaurants offer three or more choices for each course. Reservations have been suggested.

    About 150 restaurants have signed on Islandwide.

    By: David E. Rattray
  • Democrats Have Registration Edge (Politics)

    East Hampton's Democratic candidates have a sizeable registration edge going into Tuesday's voting, according to numbers from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

    According to the Suffolk County Board of Elections, of the 16,116 registered voters in the town, 6,375 were listed as Democrats, compared to 4,043 Republicans.

    By: David E. Rattray