Grind

The Hamptons Observatory has invited people to reach for the stars on Monday when it hosts a virtual evening with the accomplished amateur astronomer David H. Levy.

Medium or high levels of the enterococcus bacteria were reported in 12 of the 20 water bodies tested by Concerned Citizens of Montauk last week. Tests of the Benson Drive Culvert on Lake Montauk, East Creek on Lake Montauk, and Fort Pond Bay off Tuthill Road showed extraordinarily high levels of bacteria.

After many recent gloomy days, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy what should be nicer weather coming up.

A show of works by the late Gahan Wilson opens Thursday, and the Sag Harbor Community Band has an upcoming performance.

Gosman's Fish Market is offering a chance to take home a jewel of the sea — a giant pearl, discovered last November while Gosman's chefs were opening clams for New England chowder. It will be raffled off this month to raise money for the Montauk Food Pantry.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation is soliciting input from the public as it embarks on a new study of the impact of sand mining on Long Island's groundwater.

Medium or high levels of the enterococcus bacteria were reported in 10 of the 25 water bodies tested by Concerned Citizens of Montauk last week, with extraordinarily high levels found in Montauk at a site by Navy Road on Fort Pond Bay, the Benson Drive Culvert on Lake Montauk, and East Creek on Lake Montauk, and in East Hampton at the Northwest Creek culvert.

After the isolation of the pandemic, "we all feel like we need to unite," Nia Dawson said, and so she has organized an East End Interdependence Day for Sunday, the Fourth of July, to celebrate unity and highlight food justice.

A relatively quiet weekend is ahead for the East Hampton Library, which has returned its self-service Starbucks coffee and tea machine to the main lobby. It had been removed when the Covid-19 pandemic first spread across the nation. The cost is $1 for those who supply their own mugs; $2 for those who don't.

The Hampton Classic has released the poster for this year’s event, designed and photographed by the equine photographer Shelli Breidenbach. The poster was to have announced last year’s big annual horse show, but the event was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week the number of water bodies in Montauk and Amagansett with harmful levels of enterococcus bacteria increased, according to Concerned Citizens of Montauk, and a harmful blue-green algae bloom was in Kellis Pond in Bridgehampton.

Want to get outside? Here are some upcoming activities that promise to satisfy your thirst for the outdoors. 

On Saturday, the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society invites hikers to explore the numerous trails of Amagansett’s hilly and shaded Stony Hill area, featuring glacial kettles and a mature beech forest. Those interested are to meet on Red Dirt Road (1/4 mile east of Accabonac Road) at 9 a.m. More information is available by calling 212-769-4311. 

Montauk is a happening place to be. Upcoming programs and events include musical performances, rummage sales, a book talk and a lecture, and more.

Amanda M. Fairbanks, author of the new book "The Lost Boys of Montauk," will be at the Montauk Lighthouse next Thursday at 7 p.m. to sign copies of her book about the four Montauk fishermen lost at sea during a storm in 1984. She will read excerpts and answer questions from Tom Clavin, the author of "Dark Noon," about the wreck of the Pelican party boat off Montauk in 1951.

The Town of East Hampton has scheduled a Stop Throwing Out Pollutants day — known as a STOP day — for Saturday. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can take hazardous waste to the East Hampton recycling center at 260 Springs-Fireplace Road for proper disposal.

Oyster farming on Long Island will be the focus on Thursday at 5 p.m. when South Fork Sea Farmers hosts a discussion of its challenges, benefits, and possibilities. The first of what will be a monthly presentation, the conversation will cover the future of aquaculture as a logical area of economic growth and environmental restoration on the East End.

The lifting of more Covid-19 restrictions last week has impacted mask-wearing rules at local libraries.

At the East Hampton Library, masks are no longer required in the building for vaccinated people. Signs will be put up to encourage unvaccinated people to wear masks. Seating and computers will return to full capacity.

Concerned Citizens of Montauk on Thursday reported that 9 of the 25 bodies of water it routinely tests have medium to high levels of harmful bacteria. 

A memorial service for Betty Mazur, a longtime East Hampton Town Democratic Committee official, will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton, at 94 Pantigo Road.

The Town of East Hampton has scheduled a "Stop Throwing Out Pollutants" event — known as STOP Day — for Saturday, June 26. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents will be able to bring hazardous waste to the East Hampton Recycling Center at 260 Springs Fireplace Road for proper disposal.

Stony Brook Medicine has begun conducting a survey of the health needs of the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community, the first such on Long Island. The survey is expected to be a crucial cog in shaping the future of the Island's first comprehensive L.G.B.T.Q.+ Health Center, named for the Southampton activist Edie Windsor, which will open this month.

The Wainscott Sewing Society's annual Strawberry Shortcake Festival returns on Sunday at the Wainscott Chapel from 2 to 4 p.m., or until Lisa and Bill Babinski's fresh farm stand berries run out.

Shortcakes can be devoured inside the chapel or out, or taken to go. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. Proceeds help the sewing society to maintain the 152-year-old chapel.

This article has been updated to correct the date of the event.

The Mimi Meehan Native Plant Garden behind Clinton Academy on Main Street is in full flower. It is a project of the Garden Club of East Hampton and may be visited during daylight hours. Visitors should be careful to close the gate behind them so that deer do not get into the garden.

Another site kept up by the club, at Home Sweet Home, holds an 18th-century collection of plants used for medicinal, culinary, and dyeing purposes. The roster of garden club gardens is much broader and can be seen at gceasthampton.org.

First up, Don Lemon, the CNN anchor, and Georgette Grier-Key, the executive director of the Eastville Community Historical Society, will discuss Mr. Lemon's new book, "This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism."

The Alliance for Community Media Foundation on Monday awarded LTV a 2021 Hometown Media Award in honor of all the station does for community media, community radio, and local cable programs on its government and education public access channels.

Graduation season is upon us, which means not only lots of pomp and circumstance but also a chance to formally congratulate high school seniors on their accomplishments in a special issue of The Star on June 17.

The South Fork Islanders boys lacrosse team, featuring a half-dozen East Hamptoners, has received the 10th seed among Division 1's top 11 teams, and is to play at seventh-seeded Connetquot on Tuesday, June 8, at 3 p.m.

For those with an appreciation of nature or a thirst for paddling, hiking, or biking, there are lots of upcoming activities that promise to be interesting.

Saturday is National Trails Day, and the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt invite hiking enthusiasts to a 3.5-mile hike and lunch from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants should take their own food and meet at the Friends' nature center at 1061 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. Dai Dayton will lead the hike, and can be contacted for questions at 631-745-0689.

LTV has announced a new annual program to celebrate young people's creative and capable use of smartphones. From now through Nov. 1, for its "Fone Film Festival," LTV will accept submissions of short movies created via smartphone by those 18 years or younger.

In December, a film festival marathon on LTV's channel 20 will feature the films, which will continue to be broadcast throughout 2022.

Democratic Party debates for East Hampton Town supervisor and town board happen Thursday night at 7, broadcast live on LTV's Channel 20, on its YouTube channel, and at ltveh.org.

In memory of Edie Windsor, the well-known advocate for same-sex marriage who died in 2017 at the age of 88, Southampton Town has launched the Edith Windsor Heart Project to build a heart-shaped pavilion at Town Hall to be used for performing civil marriage ceremonies. The heart will consist of 220 smaller, interlocking hearts, which will be engraved with personalized messages from supporters of the project.