Many Causes for Celebration
To mark the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of East Hampton Village, a series of celebrations will take place in the summer of 2020, Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. announced at Friday’s board meeting.
In a statement recounting the history of the village’s formation, Mr. Rickenbach noted that on Sept. 25, 1920, residents voted, by a margin of 166 to 57, to break away from East Hampton Town. “Needless to say, we have all reaped the benefits of this vote,” he said.
To plan the commemorative festivities, the mayor said he had appointed a centennial anniversary committee, with Barbara Borsack, a trustee, as co-chair.
In another cause for celebration, Mayor Rickenbach said that “we’re in the final throes of construction at the new Five Corners roundabout,” referring to the intersection of Route 114 with Buell and Toilsome Lanes. On Tuesday, Becky Molinaro Hansen, the village administrator, confirmed that asphalt and striping work as well as the installation of signs will be finished by the end of this week. A guardrail, she said, will be installed after Labor Day.
“It will be much improved over the previous condition that existed there,” the mayor said, before offering some driving advice to his fellow citizens. “Just remember to follow the signage and keep to the right.”
The Very Rev. Denis C. Brunelle, the rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, introduced the Rev. Leandra Lambert to board members at the meeting. Ms. Lambert began serving as an assistant to Mr. Brunelle on Aug. 1. “I’m very delighted to be here in East Hampton, and to see how my gifts can contribute to this community,” she said.
The board gave notice that public hearings will be held on Sept. 21 regarding proposed laws to regulate the distribution of magazines and other “handbills,” prohibit smoking and vaping on village property, and prevent businesses from providing single-use plastic straws unless specifically requested.
At the July 31 board meeting, during which the plastic straw regulation was introduced, Mayor Rickenbach pointed out that juice boxes, which often come with a plastic straw attached, might complicate the law’s enactment. On Friday, Linda Riley, the village attorney, said that juice boxes would be exempt from the legislation.
In other business, the board signed off on a request from the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce to use Herrick Park as the site of a fall festival on Oct. 20, and milling and paving work was approved for Maidstone Avenue, Medway, Gingerbread Lane, Race Lane, Conklin Terrace, and the Main Beach upper parking lot.
The donation by John Moss of 100 hand-colored postcards of Home, Sweet Home was accepted into the Home, Sweet Home Museum collection.
The board accepted the resignation of Richard Balance as a member of the Ambulance Association. “I’d just like to mention that Rich was a member when I joined the association in 1990,” said Ms. Borsack. “We appreciate his service for all these years.”
The resignations of Karen Lockard Collins from the planning board and Carolyn Preische, who has been a member of the Design Review Board since 1992 and served as chairperson for nine years, were also accepted.
In hiring news, the board accepted Kenneth Pinillos and Jason Redlus as new members of the Ambulance Association on a probationary status. Jonathan E. Pharaoh was accepted as a new member of the Fire Department’s Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, and Nicholas J. Arkinson was accepted to Engine Company No. 5.