The Long Island Daily

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The Long Island Daily, formerly Long Island Morning Edition, with host Michael Mackey provides regional news stories and special features that speak to the body politic, the pulse of our planet, and the marketplace of life.

  1. 8h ago

    Suffolk County Water Authority issues Stage 1 Water Alert

    The L.I. Daily / 7-15-2026 [Hour 1]  Summarize this email  Mackey, Michael ​ Masciale, Diane;​ Hinck, Paula;​ Hafener, Delaney;​ Coccia, Brianna;​ Volpe, Gianna​ WEDNESDAY; JULY 15, 2026 6:49am - 6:51am As he presented a giant-sized check for $3.5 million to the Town of Huntington’s Highway Department last week, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) repeated a threat, first made last month, that he would withhold similar future funding for the Town of East Hampton over its prohibition on police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Other municipalities should take notice, Congressman LaLota said: "Choose the money instead of going broke, when [East Hampton] went woke." Congressional earmarks, the funding method LaLota is using, came back in 2021 after a decade-long pause over concerns about misuse. Peter Gill reports in NEWSDAY that as LaLota’s decision illustrates, earmarks give individual members of Congress a lot of leeway to choose where the money goes, and where it doesn't, in their districts. Supporters say the system is designed that way because local politicians have a sense of local needs, but critics — especially fiscal conservatives — have long argued it leads to funding decisions based on political factors rather than need or merit. Also known as Community Project Funding in the House and Congressionally Directed Spending in the Senate, earmarks bypass traditional funding mechanisms like formulas (which, for roads, are based on factors like miles of pavement and traffic volume), or competitive grants that consider need. Instead, members of Congress select the projects, subject to approval by each body’s appropriations committee, with few restrictions. Earmarks can be for a range of purposes — this year, Long Island's range from roads to water treatment and flooding infrastructure, new police vehicles and grants for nonprofits — and the spending is capped at 1% of the federal discretionary budget. Joshua Sewell, director for research at the Washington-based nonprofit Taxpayers for Common Sense, said lawmakers often favor some parts of their districts over others, but he couldn't recall an instance of a lawmaker explicitly making earmarks conditional on a local government law or policy as LaLota has done. Asked why he tied road funding to the unrelated issue of immigration enforcement, LaLota said it was because "we need to unwind this terrible [migrant] crisis that we're in the midst of." East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said she would not be intimidated by LaLota, who had previously submitted an earmark request for repaving 22 miles of the town's roads for next fiscal year. "While we can disagree on the issues revolving around ICE, we fully expect Representative LaLota to honor any and all past and current commitments," she said in a statement. *** The Suffolk County Water Authority issued a Stage 1 Water Alert yesterday for all customers in the towns of Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton and East Hampton. According to the SCWA, “despite rains last week, Suffolk County remains in a moderate drought. Portions of the county, particularly on the East End and Huntington, are experiencing severe drought conditions.” The Water Authority is requesting that residents of these areas adopt odd-even irrigation practices, irrigating their lawns on even days if they have an even street number, and odd days if they have an odd street number. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Town of Southold adopted a law last year requiring this of new irrigation systems. The SCWA is also asking residents to not water their lawns between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Stage 1 water alert comes as SCWA officials said the authority set a pumpage record in June, withdrawing 11.5 billion gallons of water systemwide — nearly exceeding its peak-pumpage per-minute record, reaching 540,000 gallons per minute. The SCWA said because of "high water infrastructure demand" from irrigation systems during overnight and early-morning hours, water storage tanks "begin the day at low levels and require more time to refill." Low tank levels reduce system pressure, which can create flow issues to homes as well as fire hydrants. "The combination of regional drought and record pumpage requires an immediate response," SCWA chairman Charlie Lefkowitz said in a statement. "We need all customers on the East End to adhere to water use restrictions so we can maintain pressure for fire protection." *** Shelter Island Friends of Music presents the Sinta Quartet this coming Sunday, July 19 beginning at 6 pm in the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church…performing music by Antonin Dvorak, Marc Mellits, and others. BOSTON MUSIC INTELLIGENCER calls Sinta Quartet “a tight-knit ensemble exploding with power and virtuosity and an un-concealable ambition to connect with its newly found listeners.” Admission is free. The concert is this coming Sunday, July 19 at 6 pm in Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, 32 N. Ferry Rd., Rte. 114. For further info visit SIFriendsofMusic.org. *** At their General Meeting in the Maxine S. Postal Auditorium in Riverhead yesterday, the Suffolk County Legislature voted unanimously to approve the $4.42 million acquisition of more than six acres along Route 25A in Wading River, ending the prospect of a long-planned shopping center on the property. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the five parcels, collectively known as the Venezia Square site, total approximately 6.34 acres on the south side of Route 25A, west of Wading River-Manor Road. The county plans to preserve the land as open space and transfer it to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation for passive recreational use. The resolution authorizes the county to purchase the property from Venezia Corporation for $4.42 million, or $16 per square foot, subject to a final survey. The purchase will be funded through the open-space component of the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program. Riverhead Town Council member Ken Rothwell said the proposed 37,000-square-foot, campus-style shopping center would have worsened congestion along a section of Route 25A that already experiences frequent traffic backups. The proposed development would have included three retail buildings, three restaurants, a bank and 171 parking spaces. It also would have required a new traffic signal at Route 25A and Dogwood Drive. Instead, the legislation approved yesterday prohibits development of the property and designates it for passive recreation. It also permits the county to negotiate an agreement with Riverhead Town for management of the site. Rothwell said he would eventually like to see a small park or gathering area with picnic tables and a pedestrian crossing connecting the property to the nearby county bicycle and pedestrian trail. “I can see a small park with picnic tables, a place to gather outside, and perhaps a crosswalk to access the great Rails to Trails project,” he said. *** Business and technology groups slammed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order placing a one-year pause on new hyperscale data centers yesterday, while environmental advocates urged further action. Steve Hughes and Matthew Chayes report in NEWSDAY that Hochul signed the executive order, the first of its kind in the nation, at an event Tuesday overlooking the East River in Williamsburg. She said the order is necessary because the state’s regulatory agencies need time to develop a framework to handle the data centers' potentially massive water and energy needs. Hochul’s announcement comes as communities around the state grapple with the potential environmental and financial impacts of large-scale data centers. It will apply to data centers over 50 megawatts that have not already received permits to begin construction. But business groups and construction unions warned the move could cost the state jobs as technology companies decide to construct data centers elsewhere. Stacey Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association, said the move sends the wrong signal. "The global race for artificial intelligence will not pause for New York, and the consequence will be that investment and innovation will locate elsewhere," she said. Mark McManus, general president of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, criticized the moratorium as a job-killer. "Rather than implementing guardrails to build the future of American ingenuity, Gov. Hochul is taking her ball and going home," he said in a statement. Several environmental groups expressed the need for further action. Vanessa Fajans-Turner, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY, called the moratorium a step in the right direction. "A moratorium and environmental impact statement gives the state time to understand this industry's full impact on our water, grid, and utility bills, but we must put lasting protections in place to ensure environmental protection," Fajans-Turner said. Food & Water Watch’s New York State Director Laura Shindell credited residents across the state who pushed back against proposals for data centers and pressuring Hochul to act. But Shindell noted smaller data centers that have drawn community opposition are excluded from the order. *** The Jamesport Fire Department’s annual Firemen’s Parade will step off on Washington Avenue this evening at 7 p.m., running down Route 25 to the carnival on South Jamesport Avenue. The Annual Jamesport...

  2. 2d ago

    Suffolk County health officials investigating salmonella outbreak on South Fork

    When Douglas Cooper hangs a large American flag from a crane outside his North Fork farm stand around Memorial Day and Veterans Day, he’ll often add a sign with a message saying “Thank you," he said. For Independence Day this year, as the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary, the 78-year-old farmer and Mattituck school board vice president opted for a message directed at the highest office in the nation. In red lettering, he wrote “86 47” on a board posted above the flag that hung over Breakwater Road. “That means, let’s throw the bum out,” he said of President Donald Trump, the 47th president. Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that the sign has since been taken down after a visit last Tuesday from members of the Secret Service who investigated the perceived threat against the president and stirred local debate over the limits of free speech and whether school officials should be held to different standards. The term "86" commonly means to remove something but has been construed in conservative circles as having a more violent undertone when referencing Trump. Cooper, in an interview Friday with Newsday at the farm stand where he's sold tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and more for decades, said he had no intention of promoting violence. The Secret Service visit, first reported Friday by The Suffolk Times, lasted about 30 minutes, said Cooper, a registered Republican who did not vote for Trump. He described the two agents as professional and courteous and said he understood they had a job to do. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong,” he said. “We have freedom of speech. I just wanted to make my views known.” Cooper said he took the flag down for good Thursday and only keeps it up for a couple of days around holidays. A spokesperson for the Secret Service said in an email Friday the agency investigates “anything that can be perceived as a threat toward our protectees” but did not comment specifically on Cooper. Cooper said he had no concerns about posting the sign given his role as the school board’s vice president. He said he notified the school superintendent about the Secret Service visit and explained what happened. The Mattituck school superintendent said it’s “up to the public” to decide whether he serves on the board. Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski, a Democrat who represents the north fork community, said federal agents questioning people over political speech is “an attack on the foundations of our democracy.” *** Suffolk County health officials have launched an investigation into a salmonella outbreak on the south fork after dozens of people were hospitalized with the infection. Janon Fisher and Joshua Needelman report in NEWSDAY that Stony Brook Southampton Hospital said it has admitted 58 patients with the foodborne illness since the beginning of July. "The majority of the patients were evaluated, treated, and discharged," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement. "As required, SBSH promptly notified the New York State Department of Health to support its public health investigation." The illness appears to be concentrated in the Shinnecock Indian Nation community. Tribal Chairwoman Lisa Goree told The Southampton Press that as many as 60 members of her tribe had fallen ill from the salmonella bacteria. "We had about 60 tribe members that we have confirmed came down with salmonella poisoning and several had to be hospitalized," Goree told The Press. "Most were seen and released, but a lot of people are still feeling the symptoms, and we are told it can take six to 10 days for the symptoms to end." "The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is involved in collecting information on a salmonella outbreak on the East End of Long Island," a department spokesperson said in a statement. Goree told The Southampton Press that most who became sick had been to a June 30 funeral meal for a Shinnecock member. There also were reports of salmonella illness at a music festival on the Southampton Shinnecock territory on June 27. According to the NYS Department of Health website, thousands of people become stricken with salmonella poisoning every year. The bacteria thrive in uncooked food like raw oysters, eggs and chicken, according to the online information. The symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and, sometimes, vomiting. *** This evening’s free concerts across the East End include The Realm performing on The Green in Montauk from 6 to 8 p.m. and the Seismatics performing at Greenport’s Dances in the Park in Mitchell Park starting at 7 p.m. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that also, this evening, the Annual World Famous Jamesport Fire Department Bazaar opens at 6 p.m. on the grounds of the George W. Young Community Center. The Bazaar runs through Saturday, July 18. This year, the Fire Department is teaming up with Newton Shows to bring new rides and new adventures. The Jamesport Firemen’s Parade will be this coming Wednesday at 7 p.m. George Young Community Center is at 446 South Jamesport Avenue in Jamesport, New York. *** The Town of Southampton has reached a settlement agreement with the Discovery Land Company that will dispense with three pending lawsuits and potentially millions of dollars in damages against the town over the The Hills development in East Quogue, while allowing the development’s golf course to be opened to memberships beyond just the 118 owners of residences in The Hills. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that according to the settlement proposal, which the Southampton Town Board is expected to authorize on Tuesday, Discovery will wave the financial judgement against the town, will donate a 32-acre parcel of land it owns off Montauk Highway in East Quogue to the town, and will pay the town $10 million for the purchase of a 50-foot-wide by 1,000-foot-long strip of land that bisects the The Hills property and was discovered last winter to still be owned by the town. In exchange, the town will abandon the northerly portion of Spinney Road that passes through the property and will grant Discovery a change of zone for The Hills’ golf course, allowing it to operate independently of the 118 residential units in the development and take on more than 175 additional private memberships. The company will give the town an easement in perpetuity over the portions of Spinney Road that will be abandoned, guaranteeing that town residents will be able to hike and bike across the Hills Property to the woodland trails to the north. The company will also create a small public parking area near the end of the paved portion of Spinney Road for those using the easement. And The Hills golf course will be required to host at least four charitable events per year — one benefitting a local fire department, one benefitting a local school district and two others for select charitable organizations — free of charge to the charities. The settlement agreement is still contingent on the various components winning approval on the town’s end. The zone change to allow the golf course to be independent of the residential development will have to be the subject of a public hearing, which Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, who lives in East Quogue, said the Town Board will schedule for August, and must be approved by the Town Board within 90 days for the settlement agreement to be validated. If there are future legal challenges to any approvals that are ultimately successful, the settlement will be voided. *** New York State has finalized six contracts to share costs and work on the next phase of the roughly 83-mile Fire Island to Montauk Point Coastal Storm Risk Management Project...FIMP...along Suffolk County’s Atlantic coast shoreline that aims to bolster a key part of Long Island against storms and protect homes and businesses, according to the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul. Matthew Chayes reports in NEWSDAY that the contracts are with Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Islip, Southampton and Suffolk County, and allow work to be done on their property, as well as what’s called a federal Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which are doing the work or contracting it out. Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper says funding for the agreements, in a project with $1.7 billion in state money, is via the New York State budget and "includes the entire 'non-federal' cost-share associated with the project along with the advance of local cost-share amounts." "Protecting Long Island’s South Shore means making significant, long-term investments before the next storm arrives. By securing these agreements and committing the resources needed to sustain the Fire Island to Montauk Point project we are making these communities stronger and safer, ensuring future generations inherit a more resilient shoreline," Hochul said in a statement sent by her office. The work must be greenlit by the corps and the state comptroller’s office. James Martin, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), says the project has 50% federal dollars. "With these agreements, coastal communities from Fire Island to Montauk will have renourishment for their beaches to be healthy and resilient for decades to come," Schumer said in a statement sent by his office. The timeline is at the discretion of the corps, and is based on dredge availability. The projects will be ongoing for the next 30 to 50 years, Martin said. *** East Quogue Summer Concerts on the Green continue tomorrow evening with the Beatles tribute band – Penny Lane! All you need is love…Tuesday evening’s show is free and starts at 7 p.m. on the East...

  3. 5d ago

    Congressman LaLota announces over $1 mil. for Southold police

    A tree thought to be nearly 200 years old was felled last month during the demolition of a house on a Newtown Lane property in East Hampton Village, prompting calls for greater regulation of tree-cutting on private property in the village in such instances. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that Sag Harbor Village currently regulates tree-cutting by requiring a permit from the Building Department, if the tree in question measures greater than 12 inches in diameter. Similar regulations exist in North Haven, but East Hampton Village does not currently have any such law. This all came into the spotlight with the recent house demolition, and subsequent tree-felling, at the Newtown Lane property. The demo permit for 197 Newtown Lane, which is not in the village historic district and is owned by 197 Newtown Lane LLC, was issued in April and authorized the demolition of the existing house, garage and three sheds on the property. The limited liability company has owned the property since last fall. Michael Muller is listed on the demo permit, obtained by The Express News Group through a public records request, as the managing partner for the limited liability company. He offered “no comment” on the tree-cutting, when reached. Elizabeth Linker of Hedges & Gardens, who frequently advises against lawns and in favor of native planting, travels home from work each day by going past the Newtown Lane property. She was thrilled, initially, to see that when the house was demolished, the tree in the front yard was left alone. But when she returned a few days later, the tree was chopped down. The tree in question is a maple, most likely a sugar maple due to the size of the leaves. Linker says the tree was likely around 198 years old, though getting a grasp on the precise age is difficult without counting the tree’s rings. Maple trees, which grow fast and are inexpensive, line streets across America, though the tree itself is considered fairly weak and vulnerable to storms. The Ladies Village Improvement Society, for one, typically aims to plant sycamores and other native trees instead of maples. LVIS recently committed to planting 250 trees in the village over the next 10 years in honor of the U.S. semiquincentennial. “They can’t speak for themselves,” said Linker, who has become invested in the Newtown Lane saga. “They're trees — and they are a life force. Without trees, we are dead. They are the lungs of the planet. Period.” East Hampton Village officials, with the guidance of Linker, are now planning to consider a law that would bring the regulations somewhat in line with those in Sag Harbor. “We have to have a permit in place to prevent people from cutting trees down in the village — and hopefully the town and hopefully all across America,” Linker said. *** The Town of Riverhead, working with the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management, is collecting information from residents and businesses that sustained damage during the severe storm that swept through the area last Saturday, July 4th. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the town is asking anyone in Riverhead who incurred damage to a home or business to complete an online damage assessment survey created by New York State. The survey is intended to help state and local officials document storm-related damage and support possible requests for federal assistance, according to a media release issued yesterday by the Riverhead Town Police Department. The form is for information-gathering purposes only, officials said. Completing it does not guarantee that relief funding will be available. The survey can be completed online here. The July 4 storm brought severe wind and weather to multiple areas of Suffolk County, including parts of Riverhead Town, causing downed trees, utility damage and widespread power outages. Officials said the information submitted through the online form will be sent directly to New York State. *** The celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is still very much alive in local historians’ minds. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council is organizing a “Great Debate between Cutchogue’s most notable Revolutionary War nemeses, loyalist Parker Wickham and Patriot Jared Landon,” tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library. “The town truly wasn’t big enough for the two of them,” according to the Historical Council. “The winner not only won their independence, but also the keys to the Old House.” The Old House on the Cutchogue Village Green, believed to date back to 1649, “has a very interesting Revolutionary War history,” Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Society Executive Director Mark MacNish told the Southold Town Board at the June 30 meeting. “Parker Wickham, who was a Loyalist, owned the Old House, and he famously lost it to Jared Landen in a very interesting Revolutionary War story…. The debate really brings to life that story. They’re both going to debate the merits of patriotism and loyalism.” Registration to attend the debate is required, through the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Library here. *** Kodiak Tarrant’s love for the Shinnecock Algonquian language began with a deck of cards and his grandmother. As a child, the now 18-year-old would meet his grandmother, Shinnecock linguist Tina Tarrant, for a 4:30 p.m. class, where the pair would use card games like UNO and Go Fish to learn basic concepts of the Native language. "I guess that’s what started that passion and also just keeping that part of our culture alive," Tarrant, of Southampton, said. Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that Tarrant's yearslong passion and dedication in learning the language was recognized last month when he made history by becoming the first student in New York to earn a Seal of Biliteracy in the Shinnecock Algonquian language. The Class of 2026 S.H.S. student advocated for a pathway to be created for the native language, school officials said. The recognition is awarded to high school graduates who have earned a Regents diploma and can demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English and one or more other world languages through coursework, presentations and assessments. "I felt that I was very capable, and I knew that it was something I could achieve," Tarrant said. "I wanted other people not to see that as such a foreign thing that’s out of reach." In Southampton High School there are currently two levels of Shinnecock Algonquian language courses, with a third more advanced level being introduced in the fall, school officials said. In creating the courses, officials sought assistance from other districts that offered Indigenous classes, and developed the curriculum alongside the Shinnecock Nation, according to Kristen Minter, Southampton’s World Language Department Chair. Minter said the district contacted the state education department's office of bilingual education and world languages to seek approval for the new pathway. After a Zoom call, where Tarrant stated his case for an Algonquian language pathway, state officials approved his request. Currently, the courses at the high school are being co-taught by Dave Riley and John Boyd of the Shinnecock Nation. "We want to make sure we’re doing it right and we want to make sure that we represent our people," Boyd said. He noted that one of the earliest bibles used in the United States was translated into the native language. It serves as a reference for the educators. *** The state’s youngest residents are increasingly ending up in emergency rooms after ingesting cannabis, according to a new study from the NYS Department of Health. The study notes that edible cannabis products that resemble candy or baked goods are especially attractive to children. It also found that older teens, ages 15 to 19, consistently ended up in the emergency room due to cannabis consumption at a higher rate than other age groups. “As a pediatrician for 36 years, this is one of the parts of the report that concerns me the most,” state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said this week at an event in Albany discussing the report. Steve Hughes reports in NEWSDAY that the study notes that while the number of children under 5 is not the largest number of cannabis poisoning cases, with 253 in 2023, it merits special attention because it is unlikely children that age are intentionally exposed to cannabis. Additionally, small children ingesting cannabis presents a safety concern due to their developing brains and smaller body size, the study said. “When you think about children under 4, developmentally, if it fits in a child’s hand, it's going to go into a child’s mouth. That is normal,” McDonald said, adding it had been more common to see accidents with things like over the counter or prescription medication, but those are now going down. It “speaks to changing the way we think about cannabis, which is, it’s a medicine, but like any other medicine, it needs to be stored safely, securely,” he said. The report also brings to light questions that need to be further researched, Erica Stupp, lead epidemiologist with the public health and education team at the state Office of Cannabis Management, said at the Wednesday event. She and other department officials stressed the importance of purchasing legal cannabis, which comes in child-safe packaging and is regulated, unlike cannabis products purchased illegally that often come in...

  4. 6d ago

    Riverhead shopping center was without power until late Tuesday afternoon; Hampton Library celebrates major renovations

    The owner of a Riverhead shopping center that lost power during Saturday’s storms said their electricity wasn’t restored until late Tuesday afternoon, costing some businesses thousands of dollars. Maureen Mullarkey reports in NEWSDAY that Joe Tosini, owner of River Center Shopping Center at Ostrander Avenue and Old Country Road in Riverhead, said full power was restored Tuesday around 5:40 p.m. after a "frustrating" experience of getting in contact with PSEG Long Island. "These tenants here lost their livelihood, and I'm the owner, so my responsibility is to make sure that I help them get their power back on," Tosini said. The Saturday night storm left thousands without power on Sunday and roads closed to traffic because of downed trees and utility lines. Tosini said the power went out after a tree fell onto power and electric cables. The storm caused bricks to fall from the building’s corner onto the pavement. A photo Tosini took afterward showed the tree blocking traffic in both directions on Ostrander Avenue, its branches taller than a PSEG worker standing in front of it. By Wednesday morning, PSEG had removed the tree from the road, but Riverhead police closed Ostrander Avenue between the property’s entrance and an entrance of a neighboring shopping center due to exposed and downed wires. PSEG Long Island released a statement yesterday saying it had "completed the work to repower the area on Monday. In order to reenergize the shopping center, the owners' electrician must be present to safely restore power. This coordination took place on Tuesday. Safety is a number one priority for PSEG Long Island and it recognizes that being without power for any length of time is a hardship for its customers." More than 11,600 customers across Long Island had no electricity just before noon Sunday. By Monday night, PSEG Long Island reported more than 3,000 customers without power. *** Today at 12 Noon WLIW-FM’s Brian Cosgrove welcomes to our studio Anthony Mason - CBS news' Senior Culture Correspondent to talk about his new independent you tube show "Alchemy" - in depth conversations about the creative process which debuted in May. So far Anthony has spoken with Paul Simon, Hozier, Nile Rodgers & Brittany Howard with more shows to come. Anthony Mason is also a long time resident of Southampton. That’s today at 12 noon when Mr. Mason visits WLIW FM’s Brian Cosgrove right here on 88. 3 FM, 96.9 FM in western Suffolk, and 88.7 FM in Montauk. Also, on our WLIW FM app and on line at WLIWFM.org. *** Southampton Arts Center’s outdoor grounds and arboretum have been transformed into a vibrant oasis. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that the grounds on the north side of Jobs Lane are now renamed the Paulson Family Gardens in honor of John Paulson, a hedge fund manager and Southampton Village resident who provided a $3.4 million gift to the center that paved the way for the renovations. The grounds go back to the final years of the 19th century, when they were initially designed in 1898 after being commissioned by Samuel Parrish, the future namesake of the Parrish Art Museum. Paulson explained at last Friday’s opening ceremony that two years ago, he and his wife, Alina de Almeida, were in the midst of another park renovation project and while they were walking through the village one day, she took note of the gardens at the center and suggested turning his attention there, telling him that the space needed “some local care and some refreshment.” When Paulson approached the center about the idea, Simone Levinson, the chairwoman of the center’s board of directors, was immediately receptive and began meeting with village officials to get the necessary approvals to do the work. The Southampton Arts Center worked with landscape architect Chris LaGuardia of the LaGuardia Design Group to redesign the 2.7-acre grounds. Among the changes introduced are a new fountain on the west side, new flower plantings and moving certain trees to new areas. Tish Rehill, the president of Gardeneering Inc., was brought in to work on specifics of the garden. She said she wanted to continue Parrish’s original mission of introducing new plants to the area and noted that “you can do color and texture with just leaves.” *** The Greenport Village Board is considering implementing resident parking permits in 2027 for the village parking lots that now require hourly payment near the center of the village. The move came after backlash from residents over the expansion this summer of the village’s paid parking program. The board discussed implementing the resident passes at a special meeting last evening. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that they received a smattering of mixed reaction from the public. Greenport Village Treasurer Adam Brautigam told attendees at the meeting that if the village issued 1,430 parking passes at a rate of $40 per pass it would generate $57,000 in revenue in 2027. He based those figures on the assumption that the village has 1,100 parcels of land, with two cars per parcel, and that 65 percent of residents would take advantage of the program. He added that the Village of Greenport is making the assumption that 25 percent of people currently parking in paid parking areas are village residents. The village had budgeted that it would receive $165,000 in paid parking revenue this year. In 2025, the village had implemented a pilot paid parking program in the downtown areas of First and Main Street in which people pay online through a company called ParkMobile. This year, the village expanded the program to include three parking lots on the north side of Adams Street, and began enforcing it in collaboration between a village parking violation officer and Southold Town Police. Parking costs $3.50 per hour and payment is required between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The resident parking permits could only be used in the three lots on Adams Street. Village board members said they can’t legally instate resident-only parking on state roads, including Front and Main Streets. The expansion and the enforcement have been the subject of much public debate in recent weeks, with many residents pushing for a resident pass. Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Stuessi said last night that Sag Harbor settled on its program after some pitfalls in its original rollout of paid parking. “We’re doing our best,” he said. “Whether it’s the right decision or not, we probably won’t know for five years or so.” *** This coming Saturday, the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton will celebrate two milestone achievements. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that the library is reopening after a $2 million interior renovation — fully funded by gifts, donations and pledges — that gave the space a much-needed refresh and also reworked several spaces, including the young adult room, which is now double the size it used to be, and an expansion of the literacy room. Hampton Library, which is centrally located on the north side of Main Street in Bridgehampton, is also celebrating another milestone: 150 years since its founding. Saturday afternoon’s celebration, open to the public, will run from 1 to 4 p.m. with a little something for library patrons and friends of all ages including live music, free food as well as giveaways and games. Plus, Southampton Town historian Julie Greene will give a library history talk, sharing details about the rich tradition of the Hampton Library, and how it has evolved over the years. There will be a special book launch as well, by author Eva A. Petersen, whose picture book is based on a cat with a special relationship to the library. In keeping with that theme, ARF will be on hand with adoptable kittens. Lisa Michne, the library’s executive director, spoke earlier this week about the renovation and the history of the library. Hampton Library underwent an extensive renovation and expansion back in 2009. It was a major, $6 million addition designed by the architect Lee Pomeroy that doubled the library’s size, providing well-lit spaces overlooking the back lawn for library patrons to read or study and more room to store its growing collection of books and other media. It’s been more than 15 years since that renovation, and while that may seem recent to some, Michne explained why the interior renovation and reworking of spaces was necessary. “Libraries have changed even since then,” she said. “People use libraries in different ways now; they work here, and libraries are really community centers in a different way. So it was time.” The entire inside got a refresh, with new paint and other touches. The project more than doubled the size of the young adult room and bumped out the literacy room, where the library hosts language classes and poetry workshops, and provides space for people who come in and want to work remotely. The children’s room and program room also both received a makeover. Michne explained that Hampton Library is also working on a sustainable libraries initiative, so with that in mind, the project involved the use of sustainable materials and practices. “Libraries are still so important,” she said. “They’re one of the most democratic institutions there is. It has changed in some ways, but it’s still about reading and literacy. There are a lot of challenges happening right now regarding books and literature, but I want to make sure everybody knows truly how important libraries are for communities, for individuals and for seniors.” *** You are invited to join Southold Historical Museum for “America’s Birthday Party,” a lively celebration of the nation’s founding era, during a...

  5. Jul 8

    Riverhead Town to step up parking enforcement downtown

    Delays in the construction of new sidewalks along nearly three miles of Noyac Road have pushed the roadwork into July and caused headaches for motorists on some days, but the work is nearing completion and will be a major improvement for residents of the region that is already being well used, Southampton Town officials say. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that the project was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of June, but the contractors have about a half-mile of sidewalks to go. The work requires that one lane of traffic be closed off, with the other lane used to allow cars to pass in alternating directions. The contractors have been wrapping up work each day before 3 p.m. to avoid impacting the heaviest trade parade traffic, but during the run-up to the July Fourth holiday last week the closures still meant long backups of cars on Noyac Road. “July Fourth weekend and they’re building a sidewalk — really?” one commuter, Debbie King, a Center Moriches resident, said in a message to a reporter last week with a photo of the resultant traffic jam through the windshield of her car, at about 2 p.m. on July 2. “Are they actually trying to torture us LOL?” Southampton Town Highway Superintendent Charlie McArdle knows that King and other commuters are not actually LOL-ing about the headaches of traffic delays from the project but said that the relatively minor inconveniences caused by the work will be over soon and could have been much worse. “The company that we picked to do this work is the best, the fastest and the most efficient company that is available for us to use — they are a huge company and we picked them on purpose because they have the resources to do it as fast as possible,” McArdle said of Rosemar Construction, the East Moriches contractor that won the $1.5 million contract from the town to build the sidewalk along Noyac Road. The sidewalk project has been in the planning for more than four years and is something that members of the Noyac community have asked for repeatedly for many years, Southampton Town Councilman Michael Iasilli said. *** A Southampton man has been arrested, charged with reckless operation of a vessel, failure to report an accident involving personal injury and other counts after New York State Police said he crashed his boat into a jetty in Sag Harbor on Monday night, seriously injuring two passengers. Police said the operator, identified as Peter Mangiameli, 57, also left the scene while those passengers were receiving medical attention. John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that the two passengers, whose identities were not released, were transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries that police said included a broken rib, leg fracture and vertebrae fracture. Their conditions were not reported yesterday. State police said Sag Harbor Village police received a report at 10:07 p.m. Monday that a boat had struck the jetty in Sag Harbor Bay. Investigators determined Mangiameli was operating a 2023 35-foot cruise boat from the bay into the harbor when the vessel struck the stone jetty causing what police described as "significant damage." There were eight passengers aboard the vessel, police said. Police said after the collision Mangiameli docked the boat but then left the scene. It was not immediately clear who notified police of the collision. Police said the investigation remained ongoing and asked anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who had additional information to contact them at 631-756-3300. *** The Southampton Hospital Foundation has announced that award-winning journalist and bestselling author Katie Couric will moderate a conversation with internationally renowned model, advocate and Every Mother Counts founder and President Christy Turlington Burns during the foundation’s sixth annual East Hampton Emergency Department Luncheon tomorrow morning. Couric will appear in place of Brooke Shields at the fundraising event, which will be held as scheduled at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton. Thursday’s luncheon will benefit the Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department, supporting continued access to high-quality emergency care for residents and visitors on the East End. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program starting promptly at 11 a.m. A limited number of tickets remain available. For more information or to purchase tickets, email alexa.schultheis@stonybrookmedicine.edu or call 631-726-8700, option 1, extension 3. *** East Hampton Town officials could seek court intervention over the installation — or construction, perhaps — of a large piece of art made of shipping containers at the former cow pasture turned high-end art gallery in Montauk known as “The Ranch,” most of which is agricultural reserve. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that a split East Hampton Town Board this week gave the town attorney’s office the green light to pursue legal action against the owner of the property at 8 Old Montauk Highway, which got its nickname from the years when the “Back at the Ranch” concert series was held there, from 1990 to 1999. East Hampton Town Councilman Tom Flight was the lone dissenting voice in the 4-1 vote at the work session yesterday, flagging the regulation of an art exhibit on private property as a possible overstep by town government and describing himself as a supporter of the arts. “We don’t have a lot of guidance as to when we are restricting art being displayed,” Flight said. “I appreciate that this is an exceptionally large piece, but to deny people the ability to exhibit art is not something I personally support.” At issue here is a large sculpture called “Meditating Figure,” which depicts a stick figure man made of shipping containers with his legs crossed. It is part of an exhibition of outdoor sculptures billed as “LA Monumental” on the website for The Ranch. The piece in Montauk is a huge art structure made of shipping containers. The owner of The Ranch is Max Levai, who purchased the land in 2020 and who has gotten much publicity over his remaking of one of two horse barns and an adjoining pasture into an art gallery. The rotating exhibitions are featured prominently at theranch.art and maxlevai.com. East Hampton Town officials must now figure out what steps will come next to force compliance. While litigation has been authorized, town officials are not necessarily bound to sue, as the resolution could wind up being a means of shepherding the owner of The Ranch toward compliance. *** The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded a contract to complete the design and reconstruction of three aging bridges that carry vehicular traffic over Long Island Rail Road tracks on the East End: Sagg Road Bridge in Sagaponack, Cranberry Hole Road Bridge in Amagansett and River Avenue Bridge in Eastport. “New York is making historic investments in Long Island’s infrastructure in ways big and small – from opening Grand Central Madison to delivering bridge upgrades that have been urgently needed for decades,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who announced the contract on June 30. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that each structure, built between 1895 and 1921, serves vehicular traffic over the LIRR’s Montauk Branch. Because of structural deficiencies, two of the bridges – River Avenue and Cranberry Hole Road Bridge – are currently closed. “Design completion is anticipated in January 2027, with demolition work beginning later this year, and the project is scheduled for completion by July 2028. The total project budget is $51 million,” per Governor Hochul’s announcement. *** Riverhead Town officials are preparing to step up parking enforcement downtown, using an electronic system to issue tickets and transmit the information directly to the justice court. The system will allow people who receive tickets to respond online and allow the court to process parking tickets without paper files. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the new system will eliminate the need to manually process information recorded on paper tickets, increasing efficiency and accuracy, officials said. It will also drastically reduce the time spent handling and managing paper files. Riverhead Town police issued just under 4,000 parking tickets in 2025, with the number peaking during the summer months to more than double the number issued at other times of year, according to data released by the Riverhead Police Department in January. The town is purchasing six handheld electronic devices and portable printers, along with required custom software, from FBS. The new system will allow officers to create a digital record of a parking violation, including photographs, GPS coordinates and time-marking information. The ticket will include a QR code, allowing motorists to pay the ticket or plead not guilty online. Motorists will not need to appear in court simply to answer the ticket. The startup cost will be $24,259, including a $2,500 one-time fee to integrate the software with the town’s GoGov online permitting software. Costs will be $3,000 per year in years two and three. If the town moves quickly, the system could be deployed in early to mid-August, according to Riverhead Town’s data management contractor Dennis Farrell’s statement at last Thursday’s work session. The rollout will begin with Main Street and parking lots south of East Main Street, on the eastern end of Heidi Behr Way, stretching from the Town Square area to Turkuaz Grill. *** Three New York City men allegedly used a glue trap and a belt to steal checks, money orders and gift cards from U.S. Postal...

  6. Jul 7

    Southampton Village issed state of emergency following Saturday thunderstorms

    Southampton Village has issued a state of emergency in response to Saturday night’s thunderstorm that will remain in effect through Friday, July 10, at 9 a.m. A brush amnesty will be extended to village residents until Friday to allow for residents to put storm debris out for pickup as part of cleanup efforts from the storm. Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine shared on Sunday afternoon that a local state of emergency was declared on Saturday night in response to the thunderstorm. The state of emergency will last 30 days in Suffolk County. PSEG Long Island said that it had restored power to over 23,600 customers who were affected by the semi quincentennial storm, which brought wind gusts as high as 84 mph, hail and heavy rain to Suffolk County. The update noted that eastern Suffolk County was the hardest hit. The Town of Southampton has issued a brush amnesty to residents until tomorrow - Wednesday, July 8 - to allow residents to dispose of storm debris to transfer stations as part of cleanup efforts from the storm, according to Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara. Meanwhile, Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Alive on 25 Summer Block Party event scheduled for Thursday, July 9 has been postponed, Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin announced yesterday. The decision to postpone the event came in consultation with event organizer Diane Tucci of Main Street Agency, the Town Board and Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost, due to the widespread impacts of the July 4 storm and continuing rain, according to a press release issued by Halpin’s office last night. The postponement will give residents, vendors, and town staff extra time to handle storm recovery and allow utility crews to restore power to all residents. *** A 6-year-old girl died Saturday morning of a presumed drowning after police said she fell into the waters of a fast-moving creek in Tuckahoe while trying to retrieve a lost shoe and was swept into the Great Peconic Bay. John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that Southampton Town police said officers, including from the marine patrol, as well as Southampton firefighters and volunteer ambulance crews responded to a 911 call received at 8:09 a.m. Saturday about a possible drowning off a beach on Sebonac Inlet Road. Officers initiated CPR on the girl, identified as Kiara Paolasin, of Brooklyn, after she was pulled from the water unresponsive by a kayaker, police said. Despite those efforts, police said Kiara was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police said an initial investigation indicates the girl was at the beach with family members to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. In an account based on witness information, police said, "The child went into the water to retrieve footwear that was floating away and slipped and got pulled into the current." According to police, a 16-year-old family member attempted to reach the girl, but was unable to do so due to the swift current. Police said family members were able to flag a kayaker in the area, who then paddled to the unresponsive girl and pulled her from the water. The investigation is ongoing with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 631-702-2239 or 631-728-3454. Information can also be forwarded using the police email tip-line at crimetips@southamptontownny.gov. *** As college application season approaches, the Amagansett Library is launching a new program to help local high school students navigate one of the most challenging parts of the admissions process: the personal essay. The library will offer free, individualized one-on-one college essay support from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17; Friday, August 21; and Saturday, September 19. Students may reserve a time slot through the library’s website or simply drop in during program hours, as appointments are not required. Designed to meet students wherever they are in the writing process, the sessions will provide personalized guidance on every stage of the college essay, from brainstorming topics and organizing ideas to drafting, revising, editing and final proofreading. The volunteer-led program is intended to help students develop essays that authentically reflect their experiences while strengthening their writing and storytelling skills. The organizers hope the free service will make the college application process less intimidating while giving students the confidence to tell their unique stories in their own voices. By offering individualized assistance at no cost, the library aims to provide an accessible resource for students and families during a pivotal stage in the college admissions journey. *** U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer recently announced a request for $273.5 million in funding for research of ticks and tickborne diseases in the 2027 federal budget. The initiative would add $90 million more than what was allocated in the 2026 fiscal year toward these efforts. Hope Hamilton reports on 27east.com that according to a press release from Senator Schumer’s office, new data shows that Suffolk County recorded 3,152 Lyme disease cases in 2024 — the most of any county in the state, while the region from Manhattan to Montauk saw more than 6,600 cases in a single year. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Luis Marcos of Stony Brook University Medicine says there are 12 different tickborne illnesses on Long Island…but only about three or four of them are accurately diagnosed each year, due to a lack of commercial lab tests for the rarer diseases. “If you don't test people, if you don't diagnose people, how are you going to know the real impact of these infections?” Marcos said. “The funding that we are trying to help Senator Schumer to get is for the research — once you get the research, then you will uncover what is unknown. That’s where things become more impactful for the community.” Going forward, Marcos said that the hope is to be able to administer a blood test for patients to rule out — or diagnose — any of the 12 tickborne diseases. “We need improved diagnostic tests, and need awareness in the clinicians,” Marcos said. “Hopefully one day when we know more about the real number of cases of Bourbon virus or Heartland virus, then we will be able to develop a vaccine, but a vaccine is not the last step. We will do more diagnosis, we will do more testing. With that, we may be able to develop a drug to treat these infections. It’s really a chain of steps toward the future.” Dr. George Dempsey of East Hampton Family Medicine urged residents to remember some important facts about lone star ticks. Unlike deer ticks, lone star ticks are not confined to long grasses. Though peak tick season is late June into July, in late August, lone star tick larvae, which people often mistake for chiggers, hatch. Lone star tick larvae can also carry illness. “We’re still learning about the lone star ticks, but their habitats could really be anywhere, even by the dunes or the beach. They prefer to be in areas that are moist rather than dry,” Dr. Dempsey said. Dempsey agreed that patients can become quite paranoid surrounding ticks — local patients or otherwise. For Dempsey, in terms of reassurance, it all comes back to prevention and education. “That’s the only way we can get around it,” Dempsey said, adding that it’s important to be aware of the lone star tick’s aggressive nature. “People assume that you have to walk into a tick, and then it will climb onto you. But the lone star ticks go after people, they don’t just wait,” Dempsey said. “I think, if people are more aware of that, they’ll keep their eyes and ears out.” In a statement given to The Express News Group this past Friday, Suffolk County Department of Health Services Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said: “The tick population is a significant concern in our area. The scientists in our Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory are committed to studying ticks and associated pathogens in an effort to protect the public’s health. Dedicated funding for programs aimed at combatting tick-borne illnesses provides a direct benefit to those in Suffolk County.” *** Gov. Kathy Hochul made a three-stop tour of Long Island yesterday — discussing law enforcement grants in Nassau, storm damage funding and a new Long Island Rail Road rail yard in Suffolk — weeks after a poll showed her slightly behind gubernatorial Republican rival Bruce Blakeman in his home turf in Nassau. “I cherish these communities,” Hochul told Newsday after one of the announcements. “Long Island is an extraordinary place. I come here to show my love for it all the time.” Candice Ferrette and Bahar Ostadanort in NEWSDAY that Hochul’s public schedule on Monday began around 8 a.m. in Freeport where the governor announced $100 million in grants for local police statewide and then a visit to Smithtown where she presented Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine, a Republican, a check to help with damages from a 2024 storm. While in Smithtown, she also signed a bill clearing the way for the possible purchase of private property to be transformed into a new rail yard for the Port Jefferson LIRR branch. In between stops, Hochul also visited Newsday’s editorial board. According to a Siena poll released last month, Blakeman leads Hochul, 44% to 39% in Nassau...

  7. Jul 3

    The Suffolk County Water Authority is urgently requesting that East End residents, particularly in East Hampton, immediately reduce water usage.

    No se trabajo! As the sign on Hill Steet in Southampton, USA declares - No work in the village this holiday weekend. With the 4th of July falling on Saturday this year, Independence Day for government workers and the financial community is being observed today – the 3rd of July - nationwide. Celebrations will still take place on Saturday. John Valenti in NEWSDAY provides some of what is open and closed across Long Island: Government offices Federal and state, as well as public schools and libraries, will be closed today. This includes the NYS DMV, Suffolk county courts and some county and local departments. Check https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/ for details. Mail and parcel service Post offices will be open and there will be normal mail delivery today. Tomorrow there will be no mail delivery and post offices will be closed. Courier services like FedEx and UPS will have no service on Saturday — though UPS will operate normally Friday, while FedEx will offer modified service for some of its delivery categories. Most banks and the financial markets, including the New York Stock Exchange, will be closed today. ATMs, online banking and mobile banking services were expected to remain available regardless of branch hours. Most supermarkets, big box stores except Costco and shopping malls will be open, although some will operate on modified hours. Transportation The Long Island Rail Road announced off-peak fares will be in effect systemwide the entire weekend. The LIRR will operate on a modified weekday schedule Friday, but will feature "early getaway" afternoon trains out of Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal. The LIRR said it would operate on normal Saturday and Sunday schedules. Hampton Jitney offers expansive schedule options throughout this weekend for its deluxe motor coach express service between the east end and NYC. The MTA has added enhanced afternoon and evening subway service to its major lines on Saturday to accommodate crowds for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show. *** The Suffolk County Water Authority is urgently requesting that East End residents, particularly in East Hampton, immediately reduce water usage. “Water demand is approaching record levels due to severe drought conditions and a forecasted heat wave,” SCWA stated in a release yesterday. As reported on 27east.com, SCWA noted that the utility currently has two public water supply wells offline in East Hampton and two additional wells operating on emergency protocol only. “The loss of these two offline wells removes 8% of the total water production capacity in the area, significantly hindering the ability to meet peak summer demand,” SCWA stated. “With high overnight and early morning water use driven by irrigation systems, water storage tanks are beginning the day at low levels and require more time to refill. Low tank levels reduce system pressure, which lowers water flow to homes and limits water availability for fire protection.” SCWA is collaborating with Suffolk County to ensure that water pressure is maintained through this holiday weekend. “As we face extreme heat and dry conditions, I urge all East End residents to conserve water whenever possible,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. “Simple steps taken today will help protect our water supply and ensure this vital resource remains available for our communities throughout the summer.” SCWA is asking residents to only water their lawns if absolutely necessary and to take practical steps to conserve water indoors. East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez added: “East Hampton is being asked to pull together right now. I am imploring residents, businesses, and visitors to skip lawn watering unless it is absolutely necessary, follow the odd-even schedule, and avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The town is doing its part by cutting back on outdoor water use at our facilities, and we are grateful to the Suffolk County Water Authority and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for working with us to protect public safety, and fire protection through the holiday weekend.” For details and indoor and outdoor water-saving methods, visit scwa.com/conservation. *** Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that tonight is First Friday on Love Lane in Mattituck — the street will be closed to vehicles, shops will remain open late and street vendors will take over Mattituck’s historic shopping district from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Then tomorrow, the 4th of July, the kickoff concert of the Mattituck Park District’s summer concert series — The Eagle River Band, an Eagles tribute band, will play from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Veteran’s Beach. Also, on the north fork tomorrow, the Old Town Arts & Crafts Guild holds its Fine Arts, Crafts & Antique Fair on the Cutchogue Village Green from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. *** As Long Island is about to celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial this weekend, Suffolk County officials yesterday ignited a vehicle using pyrotechnics to demonstrate how residents can injure themselves and others when setting off illegal fireworks. Ashna Balroop reports in NEWSDAY that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk police Chief of Department William Doherty and Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Commissioner Rudy Sunderman urged residents during a Thursday morning news conference at the county Fire Academy in Yaphank to leave fireworks displays to the professionals, citing the potential for life-changing injuries, such as mangled hands, and for wildfires. “We want people to stay safe,” Romaine said. “Don’t use illegal fireworks, and if someone you know is putting on their own show, do not go, because you could get injured.” Police said people who set off fireworks could face criminal sanctions, adding that county emergency personnel attend to injuries caused by illegal fireworks every year. Chief Doherty also announced enhanced patrols this holiday weekend, with designated police officers tasked with "no other job” than to look for intoxicated drivers. Additional boats from the county police's marine bureau will also be on waterways this weekend to look for boaters who are intoxicated. Highway police officers, who are field sobriety test experts, will ride on the boats. The Suffolk police are also partnering with the Coast Guard, which will also be patrolling waterways. Officials also urged residents to refrain from sparklers. Sunderman said that in 2025, there were reports of 1,300 injuries in the United States because of sparklers. Dr. Steven Sandoval, medical director of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center at Stony Brook University Hospital, said if a sparkler burns a child’s hand, parents should start with cooling the hand before EMTs arrive. “The best way to stay safe from fireworks is to not use them,” Sunderman said. “We urge everyone to do their best to ensure we have a safe Independence Day as we celebrate our 250th anniversary.” *** New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is urging residents to reduce their power usage and the Suffolk County Water Authority is asking residents of eastern Long Island, “particularly in East Hampton” where two supply wells are offline due to contamination from perfluorinated compounds, to reduce water usage, during the current high heat wave. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that the Hampton Bays Water District is also asking users to halt all use of outdoor water, while the Shelter Island Town Board has issued a Severe Drought Warning, prohibiting “use of sprinklers for irrigation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily”…a directive which currently applies across the east end. “We are dealing with a double-edged sword right now: unprecedented early-season demand and a temporarily restricted supply on the South Fork,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “With crucial wells restricted or offline, we cannot afford any wasted water. If residents don't scale back immediately, we risk severe pressure drops that put localized fire protection at risk.” “Our infrastructure is under intense pressure, and keeping the system balanced requires the community’s active help,” said SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Szabo. “We are working tirelessly to manage our local capacity, but we need East Hampton residents to go beyond the baseline. Please skip unnecessary watering and look for ways to cut back indoors so we can ensure reliable service for everyone.” *** Promo for WLIW's live coverage of fourth of July parade. *** Southampton Village Police are forewarning Southampton Village residents and visitors here that there will be several roads through Southampton Village closed to...

  8. Jul 2

    A blistering heat wave will strain Long Islanders' air conditioning systems this week.

    In the wake of the fifth modern U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club last week, many are asking the same questions they’ve asked following the previous four in 1986, ’95, 2004, and 2018. Was the event a good thing for Southampton? For the South Fork? For anyone? Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that when the inconveniences of the tournament’s logistics start to fall onto local residents and business people — primarily due to its impact on local roadways — {although traffic through Southampton during tournament week was generally a little lighter than the customary early summer congestion} - it always triggers questioning of whether the event is “worth it” for those who live and work on the South Fork as they await the next U.S. Open...which now is 2036 for both men and women. In an area practically synonymous with summer escape for 20 million metro area urbanites, where second-home owners and the massive service network their seasonal residency requires is already nearly overwhelming, do we really need a worldwide boost of notoriety? After all, "The Hamptons" are already America's most celebrated summer resort community. Social media posts flourished with local complaints blaming the Open for commutes that were perceived to be even more miserable than usual — and continued this week, when the removal of the temporary pedestrian bridge over County Road 39 closed that roadway starting at 8 p.m. on Monday and left westbound traffic still crawling in much of greater Southampton until after 10:30 p.m. As might be predicted, restaurant owners and those in the food and beverage industries proved this year again to be the biggest fans of the event in the business community and said they saw their revenues soar during the tournament compared to a regular June week and weekend. “Our day business was probably down 10 to 15 percent, which I attribute to people’s concerns about even coming to Southampton that week, but in the evenings, from Sunday the 14th right through until that Monday after the tournament ended, we were up 20 to 25 percent, and each night was better than the last,” said Don Sullivan, owner of the Southampton Publick House on Jobs Lane. “On that Monday after the tournament, we were mobbed — double what we normally do. So for us it was a very positive increase in business.” “The vibe in the village was really great all week,” Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger said. “I think, overall, the event was good for business in the village, in what is not always the busiest week during that period of June. I saw a lot of people in the village every day with their Shinnecock gear on.” *** An air quality health advisory is in effect today for the Long Island and NYC Metro regions, where air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups. The extreme heat warning remains in effect through 9 p.m. tomorrow, for “dangerously hot conditions” with heat index values up to 112º, according to the National Weather Service said. An extreme heat watch is in effect for Saturday, when heat index values could reach 103º. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside, the weather service said. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental health conditions are at an increased risk. Homes without air conditioning can be much hotter than outdoor temperatures. The Town of Riverhead will open the senior center at 60 Shade Tree Lane as a cooling center both today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Know the symptoms of heat illness. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is a health emergency. Visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness for more information. *** Beth Young in EAST END BEACON tells us about some festive local happenings tonight and tomorrow. There will be fireworks this evening at both the Greenport Fire Department Carnival at the Moore’s Lane Polo Grounds, and at the North Sea Fire Department Carnival. There’s more music in East End parks tonight! Simply Stapleton, a tribute to Chris Stapleton, kicks off the Good Ground Park summer concert series in Hampton Bays this evening at 7 p.m. and the Nancy Atlas Project will be in Southampton’s Agawam Park at 6:30 p.m. And tomorrow, the Butterfly Effect Project at 1146 Main Road in Aquebogue, will hold an Independence Day Celebration with a free barbecue, activities for kids and honoring of local veterans. That’s Friday, the third of July…tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details are at bepgirls.org. *** White-tailed deer have become overpopulated in many parts of Long Island, according to state wildlife managers, occupying suburban landscapes at such high densities that they have damaged some woodlands, played host to ticks, and caused hazards to themselves and to humans when they wander onto roads. "We've been struggling with deer management on Long Island," said Leslie Lupo, a wildlife biologist at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in Stony Brook. Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that last week the agency announced changes in its hunting regulations, to increase the number of female deer killed, which it hopes will reduce the population in the long term. When the new rules go into effect this hunting season, which runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 in Suffolk, hunters can get a "tag," or permit that allows them to kill a buck, as in the past. But under the new "Earn-a-2nd-Buck" program, if they want a second buck, a hunter will have to show they've killed a doe "before they can receive that second antler tag," Lupo said. Research shows that it’s the does, rather than the bucks, that have the most effect on population growth, according to Lupo, so the DEC’s strategy is focused on reducing the does' numbers. The new rules, which were proposed in March after consultation with hunters and residents, will allow hunting in more areas, outside of Long Island, and eliminate quotas in some areas. Suffolk does not have quotas. Hunting is not allowed in Nassau County. Last year, recreational hunters killed 3,765 deer in Suffolk County, of which 1,761 were adult males and 1,296 were adult does; 708 fawns of both sexes were killed. The five-year average from 2020 to 2024 was 3,171 total killed, 1,449 of which were adult male, 1,124 adult female and 299 fawns. There's been no clear trend in deer killed in Suffolk over the past decade or so. Since 2012, numbers have ranged from about 2,600 to 3,500 each year. The number jumped to more than 4,500 in 2020, then fell again. In some parts of Long Island, white-tailed deer are so abundant that they are now browsing the understory woodland plants faster than they can regrow — creating what foresters call "regeneration debt." Over time, as the mature trees die and new ones don’t grow to take their place, "you’re left with something that looks nothing like what was there," Brian Underwood, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told NEWSDAY. The state’s deer management plan, released in 2021, found 25% of Long Island had moderate to severe regeneration debt. *** A blistering heat wave will strain Long Islanders' air conditioning systems this week, as temperatures are expected to surge above 100 degrees in many areas across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Jonathan LaMantia reports in NEWSDAY that homeowners whose cooling systems fail could face long waits and costly repairs, as local HVAC companies scramble to meet demand and search for parts. Meanwhile, some distributors close altogether for Independence Day, said Carol Seitz-Cusack, CEO and president of Therm-A-Trol Heating and Air Conditioning Specialists in Blue Point. "You know that energy we feel when we're going to get a hurricane around here?" Seitz-Cusack said. "I'm feeling it. I'm feeling everybody's just kind of waiting to see what happens. We're all going to be very busy." Local companies told Newsday homeowners should take basic steps to maintain their systems by changing air filters and clearing debris around their outdoor units. Homeowners who need to replace their systems may need to spend $10,000 or more at a time when many Long Islanders already report struggling with the cost of living. Energy costs have been a key driver of inflation this year, as homeowners endured a brutal winter and faced rising gas prices this spring. Now, the heat wave will drive up Long Islanders' electricity bills as they cool their homes. Residential household cooling costs in the Northeast average $400 to $500 annually, according to estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Homeowners can help reduce their energy costs by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees and closing blinds and window coverings, according to PSEG Long Island. Longer-term fixes include sealing gaps in attics, basements or around windows and doors, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority said in a statement. Seitz-Cusack said she encourages customers to avoid taxing their systems by setting thermostats too low. "Don't run your system so hard that you break it," she said. *** The Montauk Fire Department has revived a parade float modeled on HMS Culloden, a slice of Montauk’s history, just in time for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that a piece of naval history from the American Revolution survives to this day in the form of the wreck of HMS Culloden, which sits just offshore from what is now known

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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Long Island Daily, formerly Long Island Morning Edition, with host Michael Mackey provides regional news stories and special features that speak to the body politic, the pulse of our planet, and the marketplace of life.

Information

  • Creator
    WLIW-FM
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 WLIW-FM
  • Show Website
    The Long Island Daily

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