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April 8, 2020

Ways to Avoid Ticks While you are out in our parks and nature preserves, remember that ticks aren’t adhering to CDC and Department of Health guidelines for “social distancing.” It has been a very mild winter and the ticks are out there looking for their first blood meal of the season. Our “help line” nurse and physicians have already seen an increase in tick bites this year. We don’t want any co-infections with COVID-19 and Lyme disease! Get the facts. Protect yourself and your family.

Keep off the grass! Stay on the asphalt or pavement. Walk in the center of the path, avoid tall grass, or avoid the woods all together.

Tick checks twice a day. Do a thorough check at night, and then again the following morning. Check the kids and your pets, too. And check for ticks all year long, Ticks are often alive and well after the first frost.

Tuck and cover. Tuck your pants into your socks and spray your skin and clothing with repellent. (Preferably ones with DEET, permethrin or picaridin.) Most ticks get access to you on your shoes and socks, so don’t forget to spray them, too. Spray shoes outdoors with permethrin on the first of the month during tick season (April through August).

No pets in the bed. Ever! You love your cats and your dogs. So do ticks. So don’t sleep with your pets, don’t even invite them up on the couch. They’ll forgive you (especially if you give them treats).

Dry your clothes, before you wash them! When you come in from the outdoors, put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes. Don’t wash them first! Ticks survive, and even thrive, in a water bath.

Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center Visit EastEndTickResource.org or call our helpline at (631) 726-TICK Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is an equal opportunity employer.

The Independent

Letters

Publisher & GM James J. Mackin Executive Editor & Associate Publisher Jessica Mackin-Cipro Executive Editor Rick Murphy

The Independent accepts exclusive letters of 500 words or less, submitted digitally by Friday at 4 PM. The Independent reserves the right to not publish letters deemed slanderous, libelous, or otherwise questionable. Letters can be sent to news@indyeastend.com.

Protection For Workers Dear Mr. Mackin, Yesterday, when I went to pick up food from a popular restaurant in Southampton, I was shocked when I passed by the restaurant’s kitchen and saw all the cooks and workers weren’t wearing masks, gloves, or any kind of protection and were all operating in very crowded conditions. The same can be said of the person at the register. I don’t want to cause any trouble, and I don’t even know if it is unlawful during this time of the coronavirus to run a restaurant without protecting the workers and customers, (I think it should be), therefore I am writing

Tully’s View

to you for guidance and perhaps for you to inform the town (for the safety of all) that personnel who cook and deal with the preparation of food should wear masks, gloves, and cover their hair. At this point, I prefer not to name the restaurant hoping that with your influence we can force the local government to implement a law for all restaurants to have their employees and people in charge of food preparation wear responsible gear. Yours truly,   Isabel Barnard Biderman

Show Respect Dear Rick, A recent report of a “citidiot” who is now called a “coContinued On Page 42.

Managing & Sports Editor Desirée Keegan Features Editor Bridget LeRoy Senior Writer T.E. McMorrow Copy Editor Lisa Cowley Writers/ Columnists / Contributors Denis Hamill Nicole Teitler Zachary Weiss Dominic Annacone Joe Cipro Karen Fredericks Isa Goldberg Vincent Pica Bob Bubka Gianna Volpe Heather Buchanan Vanessa Gordon Joan Baum Jenna Mackin Vay David Georgia Warner Brittany Ineson Ernest Hutton Head Of Sales Daniel Schock Advertising Media Sales Director Joanna Froschl Sales Manager BT Sneed Account Managers Tim Smith Sheldon Kawer Annemarie Davin John Wyche Art Director Jessica Mackin-Cipro Advertising Production Manager John Laudando

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Director of Business Development/ Branding Amy Kalaczynski Director of Marketing & Real Estate Coordinator Ty Wenzel Graphic Designer Lianne Alcon Contributing Photographers Nanette Shaw Kaitlin Froschl Richard Lewin Gordon M. Grant Rob Rich Jenna Mackin Lisa Tamburini Irene Tully Ty Wenzel Justin Meinken Tom Kochie Jan Mackin Bookkeeper Sondra Lenz Office Administrator & Classified Manager Tammy Dill-Flores Delivery Managers Charlie Burge Eric Supinsky Louis Evangelista Published weekly by: East Hampton Media Holdings LLC Subscriptions by 1st Class Mail: $91 yearly The Independent Newspaper 74 Montauk Highway Suite #19 East Hampton, NY 11937 P 631 324 2500 F 631 324 2544 www.indyeastend.com Follow : @indyeastend Email : news@indyeastend.com ©2020 Entire Contents Copyrighted Financial responsibility for errors in all advertising printed in The Independent is strictly limited to actual amount paid for the ad.

April 8, 2020

The Independent

News & Opinion Feds To Deliver 200,000 Surgical Masks Personal protective equipment desperately needed in Suffolk By Rick Murphy and Desirée Keegan rmurphy@indyeastend.com

Assistant Dean for Clinical Integration Joshua Miller, MD, MPH, instructs medical staff on procedures for screening drive-up patients at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing facility. Independent/Stony Brook University

An urgent plea from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone April 5 was fulfilled quickly. The county is struggling to contain COVID-19, and has just about run out of personal protective equipment, such N95 masks, gowns, face shields, and body bags. It didn’t take Congressman Lee Zeldin, a member of the bipartisan White House Coronavirus Task Force, long to help answer the call. Within minutes, President Donald Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner informed Zeldin he was securing equipment needed to cover the next 30 days. Zeldin sent details of all materials directly to Kushner and communicated Suffolk County’s situation directly to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Within hours, offers were locked in and deliveries were beginning to roll. “When it comes to fighting the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus, we are one team and this is one fight,” Zeldin said in a press release. “It’s the administration’s goal to help Suffolk County secure all of the personal protective equipment needed in Suffolk County for at

least the next month, and I look forward to continuing to work with them, other levels of government, and additional parties to meet this goal.” 200,000 surgical masks will be delivered on Wednesday, April 8.

Extending PAUSE While Governor Andrew Cuomo noted “a possible flattening of the curve,” COVID-19 cases rose by 8658 statewide since Sunday. As of press time, nearly 13,500 of New York’s more than 130,500 cases were reported in Suffolk County. As a result of this week being labeled the potential apex, the governor has extended the statewide shutdown of schools and nonessential businesses two more weeks, until April 29. Cuomo said many are still ignoring social-distancing guidelines, and announced April 6 with his closure extension that fines for violations are being raised from $500 to $1000. Deaths have also remained effectively flat the last two days, despite the novel coronavirus death toll increasing 599 from the reported 4159 on Sunday to 4758 on Monday.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned Sunday, during an appearance on Fox News: “This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans’ lives. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment and our 9/11 moment, only it’s not going to be localized, it’s going to be happening all over the country.” In an NBC Meet the Press interview, Adams urged Americans to cover their faces when out in public, but said it should not be a substitute for social distancing. Medical professionals also warned eyes should be shielded as well, as the virus can enter one’s system through the ocular mucous membrane. The tone has changed since a Febuary 29 Tweet from the Surgeon General stated "Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus."

Long Island A Hot Spot While Cuomo expects the novel coronavirus to reach its apex in New York within a matter of days, Cuomo said he still considers Long Island “a hot spot” for COV-

ID-19, a sentiment shared by Bellone. Hospitals on Long Island that the governor flagged as novel coronavirus hot spots were North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, Stony Brook University Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn. As of Monday, April 6, there were over 13,500 cases of the novel coronavirus in Suffolk County. During a press conference on Sunday, April 5, Cuomo was asked if he would urge New Yorkers to stay at their primary residence and not travel to second homes on the East End, similar to what New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has urged for the Jersey Shore. “I have not,” Cuomo said. “I’ll take a look at the New Jersey order. But I haven’t heard any local officials raise concerns about that here.” Supervisors from the towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Riverhead, Southold, and Shelter Island sent a letter to Governor Cuomo on March 27 asking for a travel ban. Continued On Page 41.

News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

Sights & Scenes Across The East End Photos by Gordon M. Grant & Richard Lewin Clockwise from the top: Sag Harbor Village took the step Sunday, April 5, of taping off benches along Main Street in order to decrease the abuse of social distancing requirements. Greg Verity, of First Light Fisheries, restocks his self-serve clam truck at Commercial Dock in East Hampton on April 5. A residential job site closed due to the recent restrictions on construction during the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Three Mile Harbor Drive in East Hampton, on April 4. Empty shelves at a local grocery store. Korben Dallas, right, owner of Mystique Nail Spa and Salon, which is closing permanently due to conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, sells his stock of face masks and sanitizer to customers outside his shop on The Circle in East Hampton on April 4.

The Independent

Peas can go in the ground early; an abundance of summer vegetables from Sweet Woodland Farm. Independent/Rachel Stephens

Feeding Ourselves: Victory Gardens Return Empty shelves have shoppers asking ‘Can I grow this at home?’ By Bridget LeRoy bridget@indyeastend.com This is the first in an ongoing series on gardening, raising chickens, canning and preserving, pollinating, composting, and more. Whether biblical or biological, life begins in a garden. It starts with a seed. An increasing number of folks on the East End these days are realizing that the local farmer is a superhero without the cape. People are starting to look at their own properties — whether they have a sunlit square of green or an acre or more — and thinking about how it might be prudent to start or expand an edible garden. It’s reminiscent of the victory gardens of the two World Wars, when families were encouraged, in the name of patriotism and self-sufficiency, to grow their own food to supplement the war rations and help their neighbors. Even the Roosevelts, Franklin and Eleanor, planted on the White House lawn. “I remember victory gardens, because my parents told me about them,” Assemblyman Fred Thiele said. Bringing them back is “a great idea on so many different levels. First, we are all concerned about the increase in food insecurity, which will sweep across the country in the coming months. Any source of food is welcome. Second, a community effort to do this will bring a unity that we can all benefit from. We are all in this together, and need to resist the more divisive elements that are out there. Finally, there is no better mental health exercise than toiling in a garden.” Thiele and his wife, NancyLynn,

residents of Sag Harbor, have a small vegetable and herb garden the assemblyman said they’ve already talked about expanding this summer. Obviously, the biggest challenge is keeping the deer away.

Germinating Ideas Ideas, like seeds, take root and germinate. Sometimes, the two intermingle. Just ask Rachel Bristel Stephens of Hampton Bays about the Ecological Culture Initiative’s Good Ground Heritage Garden and seed library. Stephens is the agro-ecology director of the initiative. The seed library is usually monitored, but right now, is being run on the honor system. There are non-GMO, organically-raised, and sometimes heirloom varieties available to the public on the grounds of St. Joseph Villa on Lynn Avenue in Hampton Bays. There is also a seed sowing chart on the premises to help people know when they can plant the seeds inside for optimal transplanting outside. When asked about the hoarding mentality that’s been rampant since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, she said simply, “Don’t be a jerk. Take a few seeds, leave enough for others.” For the newbies, according to Stephens, “There’s never been a better time to start a garden.” Stephens was raised in Springs, and after reading Barbara Kingsolver’s best-selling back-to-basics true tale “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,” she opened Sweet Woodland Farm in

Hampton Bays, where she grows vegetables and medicinal herbs, and raises chickens, ducks, and sheep — for the eggs and wool, not for slaughter — and more, along with homeschooling her teenagers, Ben and Rayna, while her husband, Mike, a woodworker, is employed outside of the home. “Families are home together because the schools are closed,” Stephens said. “It’s springtime. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, what a good time to get outside with your kids and get your hands in the soil.” Stephens suggests paste tomatoes, like Roma, as the easiest and most abundant to grow, although cherry tomatoes are also easy and can be grown in pots if there is no green space. They also come in a variety of colors — yellow, red, orange, even green. Squash, including zucchini, peppers, greens like lettuce and spinach, and some herbs like basil, dill — a butterfly attractor — oregano, and thyme can round out a simple garden. The fastest-growing early spring seeds are radishes and peas, which can go directly in the ground once the danger of frost is past, usually by Mother’s Day, although some chance it by midApril. “Don’t plant anything you won’t eat,” Stephens said. “I mean, if you don’t like rutabagas, don’t plant rutabagas.”

It Starts With Soil For the newbies, seeds can be started in a warm, sunny spot in the house, in dissolvable peat pots — organic is best, of course — with organic potting soil. Stephens herself makes newspaper pots. There are tutorials on YouTube. Soil quality is important. Once again, organic is best, she said. One of the easiest ways to rid the soil of weeds and ready it for planting is to pick up several copies of your local newspapers and spread them thickly over your planned garden spot. Weigh them down with rocks or bricks. By the time Mother’s Day rolls around, the soil should be in much better shape.

“I hate it when people call it ‘dirt,’” Stephens. said “Dirt is what is on the bottom of your shoes when you come indoors. Soil is the essence of life.” There’s peat moss, potting mix, worm castings, and Stephens’s favorite: coconut coir. “Composting and worm farming are a fun spring project,” Stephens said. “And compost is like gold for plants.” Even if you do everything right, “you have to expect mistakes,” Stephens said. “Some of the seeds might not germinate, or some people overdo it — they plant 100 tomato seeds, and end up with 100 tomato plants, which is way too much. But if that happens, give them to a friend. Give them to a neighbor.” She added sometimes there are infestations, or some plants may not make it. “There are good years and not-sogood years,” she said, but the rewards of a vegetable garden are full of promise and hope for the future.

Some Resources To get questions answered by locals, there’s the Facebook group “Long Island Homesteading Forum,” which, in the past six weeks, has seen a tremendous uptick. The forum is populated with everyone from off-the-grid survivalists to master gardeners willing to give advice to the newcomers. For seeds, checking out any local hardware or gardening shops is the best way to start, if possible, to support local business. Try for organic, and definitely non-GMO. There are also seed catalogs — two recommended by Stephens are High Mowing and the Baker Creek catalog. Some easy Kindle readings include Kingsolver’s book “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” and Spring Warren’s “The Quarter-Acre Farm: How I Kept the Patio, Lost the Lawn, and Fed My Family for a Year.” Locally, check out the Ecological Culture Initiative’s website at www.eciny.org. Stephens’s site is www.sweetwoodlandfarm.com.

News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

There’s No Place Like Home More than ever, our home is proving to be our sanctuary. From our home to yours, we wish you good health, comfort and safety.

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The Independent

There’s Still Help For Those Who Need It The Retreat and L.I. Against Domestic Violence remain open By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Self-isolation can heighten existing or bring on new struggles for families. In this time of crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and with April being national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, The Retreat, L.I. Against Domestic Violence, and others remain open for anyone in need of assistance. “Survivors of domestic violence may be experiencing increased isolation and danger caused by confinement during the pandemic,” said The Retreat executive director Loretta Davis. “Survivors often have specific needs around safety, health, and confidentiality. We also realize that people who are already more vulnerable to economic and health insecurity are facing additional challenges during this unprecedented time. The Retreat is ready to help.” The agency has taken extra steps to ensure clients are supported and access is maintained. The 24-hour hotline is still operational, with access in multiple languages, and counselors are available for phone sessions. “Advocates are working remotely with clients and the courts,” Davis said. “These times are particularly stressful to survivors because their safety is at risk as they may be isolated with increased control of the abuser. Orders of protection are still being granted by courts and enforced. Our emergency shelter also remains operational, with safety protocols in place.” Many administrative functions

are being done by employees working from home. With life stressful for many right now, The Retreat emphasizes having many different emotions is normal, and there’s always someone to talk to through the organization’s social support services. The main office can be reached at 631-329-4398. Leave a message and someone will return the call shortly. The Retreat can also be reached via email at info@theretreatinc.org. The deaf victim’s protection crisis line is 1-321-800-3323. “While we can’t change what’s going on in the world, we can make a difference,” Davis said. “For those who have suffered from abuse, the issues do not pause or take a break even during the declared national emergency for COVID-19. In fact, those issues may become more difficult to manage.” Round Swamp Farm donated food to The Retreat, and Pepperoni’s has also fed clients and staff. The Retreat board member Vivienne Keegan has put her sewing skills to use by making face masks for the shelter residents, staff, and community members in need. “She made magic from a pile of fabric and elastic bands,” The Retreat said in a statement. “A skill that not all of us have.”

Domestic Violence Hotline L.I. Against Domestic Violence’s hotline also continues to be a free, confidential resource for survivors of do-

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mestic violence or sexual assault and their loved ones. “We are working to ensure that survivors of abuse know that social distancing and isolation does not mean you are alone,” the organization said in a statement. “All of our nonresidential programs are operating remotely and our shelter is open. We continue to provide lifesaving services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.” L.I. Against Domestic Violence’s 24-hour call center can be reached at 631-666-8833. Residents can still get orders of protection here too, and access to the Safe Harbor Shelter, the first of its kind in Suffolk County, founded in 1983. It provides a safe haven exclusively for victims and their children who are fleeing their homes to escape domestic violence and have limited or no other safe options. Safety planning and any other questions or concerns can also be addressed via the hotline. “This crisis calls for staying at home as its best defense, and we know that this increases the risk for the women, men, and children that we serve,” L.I. Against Domestic Violence said. “Increased time with the person who inflicts emotional or physical abuse combined with increased isolation is a formula for disaster.” Domestic violence cases spiked 10 percent in Nassau County since the beginning of the year according to the county’s police department. It has received 2825 reports of domestic violence between January 1 and March 23, up from 2552 during the same period in 2019. County officials said March 24 that it’s due, in part, to personal and financial stresses caused by COVID-19. Sgt. Kelly Lynch, commander of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Unit, said she has not seen a marked increase in reports. The organization said it’s still been receiving many calls from individuals concerned about loved ones. “We have encouraged them to reach out to their friends and family members, to stay in touch, and let them know they are still there,” a statement read. “During this crisis, while our days are filled with ensuring clients can access safety options, figuring out new technology, and keeping up with the advice of experts in stopping the spread of the virus, we also pause to count our blessings and to think of you and your loved ones.” L.I. Against Domestic Violence executive director Colleen Merlo shared some stress relief techniques, saying she’s found herself awake in the early hours of the morning because of

the weight of the novel coronavirus and the resulting unpredictable future. “In order for us to get through this current situation, stronger, we need to do that together, so that might be sharing a joke or a recipe online, or calling a friend,” Merlo said. “Limit time watching or reading about COVID-19, schedule worry time, meditate every day, exercise daily, set a schedule, eat healthy foods, and practice gratitude. The stress everyone is feeling is normal, and we will get through this together.”

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcohol abuse sparked by the pandemic is also a factor in the increased domestic violence cases, according to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. Many groups have alerted local Alcoholics Anonymous offices or hotlines of not meeting in regular spaces. Some groups have shared they are utilizing digital platforms like Zoom or Google Hangouts, or conducting conference calls. “As the global situation related to COVID-19 continues to develop, we are fully committed to continue to serve as a resource center of shared experience to help navigate this unprecedented public health emergency,” the organization said in a letter. “By attending digital meetings, groups can focus on A.A.’s primary purpose: to carry its message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers.” A.A. groups are also creating contact lists, keeping in touch by phone, email, or social media. Many local A.A. central/intergroup offices and areas have added information to their websites about how to change a meeting format from in-person to a digital platform.

Other Resources: •

New York’s free mental health counseling hotline: 1-844-863-9314 • United Way’s 211 Long Island: Dial 211 from any 631 or 516 area code phone number or go to www.211longisland.org • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) If you would like to support Retreat families during this challenging time, donate online at www.allagainstabuse. org or text RETREAT to 91999. Hamptons hand-poured driftwood, lilac, and sea breeze candles are also available for $35. Four women are running the New York City Marathon in November, under Team Retreat, and all proceeds from the candles are going to the charity.

News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

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The Independent

Obituary

Ruth Appelhof, 81 Ruth Stevens Appelhof, 81, was more than the director of Guild Hall in East Hampton, a position she held for 17 years. She came to epitomize exactly how a sometimes difficult, always diverse position can be held: with glamour, class, and intelligence. An art history scholar, Appelhof threw herself at the job upon arriving, rejuvenating East Hampton Village’s crown jewel. Her time at Guild Hall was filled with theatrical events and notable art exhibitions. The Robert A.M. Stern expansion and restoration of the building and theater under her guidance may prove to be her definitive career achievement. But perhaps not. Tirelessly, even in failing health, Appelhof worked on “Lee and Me: An Intimate Portrait of Lee Krasner,” a project she pined to do for some time. She attacked it with gusto even in the throes of cancer, and the book — yes, she finished it — is scheduled to be published on May 19. Guild Hall had over 50,000 visitors

in a single year. Her tenure as director ended at the end of 2016, and earlier the same year she was honored with Guild Hall’s Lifetime Achievement Award in a surprise presentation by Sarah Jessica Parker, who stated that, “Ruth Appelhof has done so much for the East End that she should be named permanent cultural ambassador for life.” “Ruth was not only a dynamic, generous, and balanced leader of Guild Hall, but also someone who maintained a sense of humor throughout her challenges, with an easy laugh and a bright smile,” artist April Gornik said of Applehof. “She was a pure appreciator of art.” Appelhof held a B.F.A, master’s and doctorate from Syracuse University and was an educator and arts leader whose focus was on contemporary art in America. She worked as a professor at the Auburn University, Syracuse University, and the University of Birmingham. As a fellow at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1980, Appelhof organized an exhibition of contempo-

Ruth Appelhof and Lee Krasner in front of “Night Watch (1960),” Pace Gallery, New York, NY, 1979. Independent/Courtesy Ruth Appelhof

rary landscape paintings, followed by four years as the curator of exhibitions at Syracuse. She lived in Springs and died from leukemia, according to her husband,

Gary Adamek. She is survived by two children from a previous marriage, Gregory and Lee Ann. A private service will be scheduled.

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News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

Ambitious State Budget Defies Coronavirus

tant,” Cuomo said. Left unsaid, but almost surely to take a major hit, is school funding. “I’ve told every school superintendent I speak to, you have to plan for a rainy day,” Cuomo said. Thiele said the governor typically reviews school spending every quarter. There have been mid-year aid cuts before, most notably in 2010 during the financial meltdown, he said. Cuomo has the authority to withhold or reduce payments to schools and local governments during the year if necessary. While the governor is proposing $826 million in new education spending this year, some lawmakers have been pushing for $2 billion they claim is owed to New York schools following a 2006 state court decision. The problem is the discrepancy in per-pupil spending between school districts, some of which is supported by more robust local property tax bases, as is the case with Riverhead. New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta and other officials say the state’s foundation aid funding formula grossly underestimates what Riverhead should receive. Educators and administrators say a lack of state funding has led to increased class sizes and the loss of afterschool programs.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, Albany lawmakers agree on $177 billion package By Rick Murphy rmurphy@indyeastend.com New York taxpayers will learn the hard way if the state budget, passed in the middle of the night on April 3, turns into a nightmare. The marathon negotiations took place while the state was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, and lasted until nearly 4 AM. “I haven’t been that happy to leave Albany since I was a freshman coming home for Thanksgiving break,” state Assemblyman Fred Thiele said. With many people out of work, and expenditures to fight the virus enormous, revenues are being deleted at a record clip, both public and private. “A lot of this will depend on the [federal] financial aid package,” Thiele said. Governor Andrew Cuomo defended his desire to move beyond the finan-

cial pratfalls of dealing with the virus. “It would have been very easy to say, ‘Oh, this is an extraordinary year. Let’s just do the bare minimum and go home,’” he said. “We did the opposite.” Many of the measures he championed over the past several years have been included: more tax breaks for the middle class, passing stronger hate crime laws, and addressing minimum wage discrepancies. The budget also funds a paid sick leave package that is one of the most generous in the nation. It comes at a time when the state is bleeding money because of the pandemic. “I understand we’re all consumed with the coronavirus situation, but we have to move forward at the same time, and that’s why passing the budget and these pieces of legislation were impor-

“The truth is that our district is in dire need of funding to help us address the growing needs of students,” said Riverhead Superintendent of Schools Dr. Aurelia Henriquez. She estimates the shortfall is $31 million. Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming pointed out the Suffolk County Department of Health relies on state funding. “It’s hard to say what money will be passed through,” she said. Compounding the problem is the county’s reliance on sales tax as its primary source of revenue. “That’s going to be really short. We’re trying to help out . . . people are in a bad way.” Fleming said she is thankful the enhanced busing program she championed will be funded. “From what I heard, funding will be at least at the 2019 level,” she said. But Cuomo countered that more than 80 percent of the proposed $826 million increase in spending will go to “high-needs” districts. He found money to fund a number of environmentally-friendly projects every year in office. For example, the creation of a $3 billion Restore Mother Nature Bond Act that will address, among other areas of concern, climate change. Continued On Page 42.

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The Independent

Health Care Spotlight: Dr. James Giugliano Navigating a new era By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com “The changes have affected everyone, and doctors are no exception,” Dr. James Giugliano said of his life the last several weeks. As a board-certified family practitioner, who has been practicing in Southampton for over 30 years, his typical day once included face-to-face, hands-on, patient meetings from 8 AM to 6 PM, with minimal time spent answering phone calls and regularly working through lunch. “Most days could start with hospital rounds, broken up by the occasional house call,” he said. But that has swiftly changed. When COVID-19 first hit, Dr. Giugliano would see his regular patients out of two separate offices. It was business as usual, until the numbers began to rise. A few patients at a time dwindled to one, locking the doors in order to ensure

precautions were adhered to. Things quickly progressed from there. Soon, patients with symptoms — cough, fever, etc. — “would be triaged by phone and made to wait in their car in the parking lot” for evaluation, so as not to risk the safety of others. Early in the pandemic, before using a hazmat suit, he covered his arms and torso with trash can liners to avoid exposure, information discovered on a COVID-19 USA Physician Facebook account. It’s a group where over 143,000 international doctors share their experiences. Patients would then be instructed to come through a separate entrance at different times of day, causing the medical team to disinfect the entire area between each new visit as a means to minimize the spread. Protocol changed rapidly and when the number of sick patients hit crisis lev-

Southampton Village Says ‘Thank You’ Residents clap every Friday for first responders, health care workers By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Southampton Village community members are saying thank you in a big way.

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els. Dr. Giugliano was instructed to treat sick patients over the phone. “The risk of contagiousness is perhaps the highest among the seemingly healthy asymptomatic and paucisymptomatic patients,” he said. “This makes it impossible to screen out contagious patients from entering your office and spreading it to the uninfected.” Now all patients, even those deemed healthy, will be treated remotely as long as possible. Fortunately, last year Dr. Giugliano learned about telemedicine, the practice of caring for patients remotely. At the time, a proper telemedicine visit required a privacy-approved site licensed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Six months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he was in the process of securing a site and, in a serendipitous twist of events, in early March it officially became available. But today’s new reality has allowed for a new lax in telemedicine regulation, as approved sites no longer require the HIPAA license. “Just as people are avoiding risk of exposure by remaining home and are still productive in their jobs, so, too, are doctors conducting office hours every day with telemedicine,” he said. With information changing on a daily basis, health care providers are

When COVID-19 first hit, Dr. Giugliano would see his regular patients out of two separate offices.

care workers, first responders, and others working in essential occupations will be recognized every Friday at 7 PM. “Let’s give our health care workers, our first responders, and those serving essential functions a loud round of applause for everything they are doing to serve our community,” Warren said. “While social distancing, go outside or open your windows and clap.” On a flyer about the thank you, it reads residents should go out on porches, decks, and front stoops to clap and shout, bang pots and pans, and make enough noise “that every single one knows how much their

commitment and sacrifice means to Southampton.” “Make it loud and clear that we are truly grateful and appreciate what they do each and every day,” Warren said. “And let’s do it loud enough so that our hospitals can hear us no matter how close or how far away.” This clapping and cheering is encouraged across all towns through the state’s #ClapBecauseWeCare campaign. The growing movement to cheer on those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight also include grocery workers and others working to keep people safe at home.

on the frontlines of the facts, attending teleconferences and staying up to date with colleagues. Dr. Giugliano relies on the local organization Independent Physicians of Nassau and Suffolk, which is in cooperation with other New York programs. Due to the overcrowding and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, the group aids patients discharged from hospitals in other areas, since, many times, those discharged haven’t fully recovered, but rather are sent home to clear beds for new admissions. “The worse infections in the community are in hospitals and doctors’ offices,” he said, as many recovering reContinued On Page 40.

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The Independent

Southampton Village Mayor Helps Fight COVID-19 GoFundMe raises over $175,000 for hospital in three days By Rick Murphy & Desirée Keegan rmurphy@indyeastend.com

Dr. Peter Michalos, chair of the Hamptons Health Society, procured 12 stateof-the-art, life-saving ventilators with the help of Sheryl Gordon, Lally Weymouth, and Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren. He’d called Warren about his idea for a fundraiser. The mayor was already looking to pitch in and help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “He has a nonprofit organization and he wanted to help out health care professionals,” Warren said. “Obviously, there is nothing the village could do, but I decided to help personally.” The idea was a bold one: contribute toward ventilators that are desper-

ately needed at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. But even Warren was surprised at the fruit of their labor. In 72 hours, well over $300,000 was raised, more than the cost of five ventilators. Warren collected over $175,000 alone through GoFundMe. “Everyone across the community” chipped in, Warren said, noting businessmen and women, civic groups, clergy members, teachers, and many anonymous donors. “I was impressed. Teachers who pay such high rents to live here stepped up.” Dr. Michalos said the Greek Orthodox Christian Church of the Hamptons, Corcoran Real Estate, the vice

Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren with donations. Independent/Nick Menghini

president of community and government relations at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, its chief respiratory therapist, and others also donated. He said the community members’ generosity aligns with his way of thinking. “My mantra has always been ‘Support your local hospital. The life you save may be your own,’” Dr. Michalos said.

The doctor added the Hamptons Health Society already delivered 1000 N95 masks to hospital doctors and nurses, the emergency department, and respiratory therapists, in addition to town, village, and state police. “We can buy N95 masks, procure personal protective equipment, gowns, and more by using social media to get the word out,” Warren said.

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The Independent

Stony Brook Medicine Conducts Clinical Trials Also addressing other growing needs By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

A number of clinical trials have been, or soon will be launched by Stony Brook Medicine. They were designed to identify effective therapies for the most critically ill patients. Remdesivir — developed to treat two other RNA viruses, Ebola and Marburg — has been tested and appears to be effective in treating COVID-19 in China and in Washington state. Under the leadership of Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook Medicine has administered Remdesivir to two patients with severe COVID-19. Her team is now attempting to become part of the clinical trial run by the drug’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences. Remdesivir, a nucleotide analogue, which can be used in therapeutic drugs and include a range of antiviral products used to prevent viral replication in infected cells, blocks viral reverse transcriptases, or enzymes used to generate complementary DNA from an RNA template. Nachman said Stony Brook University has been in a positive position from the start despite the panic buying exacerbating the situation. “The hospital is very up-to-date and ready and able and willing to do exactly what it needs,” she said. “There’s no suggestion that we can’t handle this or we don’t have enough. We have enough and we have what it takes to take care of our patients in the

hospital, in the community, and all of our outreach areas. Our staff is showing up and doing more and above than what they’re asked to do. The hospital is incredibly well-positioned, and from the top down and the bottom up staff and faculty are working together.” While the novel coronavirus can be deadly to some, Nachman called for calm, adding based on data there is currently no change or mutation in the virus. “Don’t panic. I think the current feeling out there on the street, in the neighborhood, at the supermarkets, is everybody running around and panicking,” Nachman said. “More than 80 percent of the patients who will get this infection will come out totally well. They will not require emergency room care, nor hospitalization, nor intensive care unit care. Yes, we expect that pretty much everyone will get it, but the vast majority of people who will get it will be well.” Elliott Bennet-Guerrero, medical director for perioperative quality and patient safety for Stony Brook Medicine, said based on similar studies in China that showed promise, Stony Brook Medicine anticipates launching a clinical trial of donated, postconvalescent plasma from COVID-19 patients very soon, based on the level of antibody titers to SARS-CoV2 in the donor plasma. Serum or plasma therapy for infectious diseases dates to the 1890s, when serum made from im-

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Dr. Bettina Fries and her neighbor, Agjah Libohova, holding new face shields that will soon be put into the PPE pipeline at Stony Brook Medicine and many metro area hospitals. Independent/Stony Brook Medicine

munized animals provided the first effective treatment for Clostridium tetani and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Stony Brook University professor Lily Mujica-Parodi has been part of a national effort to employ a wearable technology device — Oura — to collect sufficient physiological data, and use deep learning algorithms to predict the onset of SARS-CoV2 infection. This type of device would be most productive and predictive in hospitals like Stony Brook, where there is a large number of healthcare workers in highrisk-for-infection roles. When it comes to developing a vaccine, Nachman said that’s a $64,000 question. “Developing a vaccine is not easy,” she said. “The first thing you need to do in order to develop a vaccine is to be able to say this is the part of the virus that you made an antibody to, and it protected you, so, without those kind of surrogate markers, it’s going to be hard to develop a vaccine. Right now, they’re being based on hypotheses of which part of the virus it is that’s causing the illness that you need an immune response to protect you.”

Face Shield Production Dr. Bettina Fries, a professor of medicine, molecular genetics, and microbiology, and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, has a neighbor, Agjah Libohova, who is a research and development specialist at a local manufacturing company. She approached him with the idea that the company he works for could make a prototype of the face shield she uses. Agjah borrowed the face shield and developed a prototype that fits guidelines for use in a medical facility. He then worked with the CEO of the company, Clear-Vu Lighting, to develop the product. They are now working on a way to massproduce the face shields for caregivers. Manufacturing is beginning with an order of 20,000 new face shields that will be deployed to Stony Brook University Hospital. The prototype has been further developed for an easy

fit and mass production, which is expected to start by early this month. Clear-Vu Lighting is gearing up with an expectation to produce 40,000 face shields per day and approximately 1.2 million per month. Production of face shields to Stony Brook will include supplies for Stony Brook University Hospital and all affiliated hospitals on Long Island, including Stony Brook Southampton and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island

Ventilator Preparation Due to the projections of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stony Brook University Hospital is proactively preparing should a ventilator shortage and surge occur. In a Stony Brook Medicine research laboratory, medical professionals are working on ventilating multiple patients with one ventilator, as a last resort if or when ventilators are in short supply. Putting two patients on one ventilator requires matching patients with similar characteristics — sex, height, age, and lung sizes — to avoid one patient being over ventilated and the other being under ventilated, and in order to safely care for suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients. At Stony Brook Medicine, researchers and doctors are examining the forces that cause unequal distribution of lung volumes and airway pressures, while using complex test models of diseased lungs.

Growing Staff Need Having now met all graduation requirements, the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University is allowing senior medical students to graduate in early April so they might begin their professional career as a physician at Stony Brook University Hospital. They will be able to work under the supervision of residents, fellows, and attending physicians to address the growing number and complexity of patients being admitted to the hospital. Graduates could then proceed to begin their residencies July 1.

April 8, 2020

News & Opinion

Libraries Print Protective Gear Amagansett, Westhampton, Riverhead libraries loan 3D printers By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com Amagansett Free Library has purchased a 3D printer, made possible by a grant from the Muchnic Foundation, and is working with Suffolk Cooperative Library System to enlist its fleet of 3D printers to make protective gear for health care workers fighting COVID-19. In conjunction with the maker movement and STEAM education, many

Pieces made for personal protective equipment using 3D printers, like the one recently installed at the Amagansett Free Library. Independent/Amagansett Free Library

public libraries now own 3D printers for the public to learn about, use, and enjoy, allowing the community to make a three-dimensional solid object from a digital file. Printers are traditionally used in libraries for hands-on learning in order to fabricate fun trinkets or make replacement parts for a variety of objects, but the possibilities are endless. Stony Brook University Hospital

and other medical facilities are currently in dire need of the face shields necessary for doctors and medical staff on the front lines to protect themselves, and have called upon the Suffolk’s public libraries for help. The Suffolk Cooperative Library System set up a 3D printing farm to help further expedite this. Some of the printers are from the Suffolk County library system, but the vast majority have come

from member libraries all over Suffolk County who are donating their 3D printers and supplies, temporarily, toward the effort. Suffolk libraries are working as quickly as they can while maintaining safety measures and social distancing, to get this endeavor underway. “Each day people on the front lines are working tirelessly and putting themContinued On Page 46.

and found that many were out of work as local businesses shut down. None of those who answered had ever sought help from a food pantry prior. “Many families throughout the East End, particularly in the Spanish-speaking population, have been devastated economically during this health crisis,” said Leah Oppenheimer, the museum’s director of community outreach. “We’re incredibly grateful to work with Tom O’Brien, Eileen Zito, and the Bridgehampton Food Pantry to address some of their immediate needs, namely ensuring everyone has enough to eat.” CMEE’s mission is “to spark imagination and foster learning for children of

all backgrounds and abilities and to build strong connections within the East End community by providing playful experiences.” It’s one of the most visited museums on the East End. “How can the Children’s Museum further its mission and promote learning through play if families can’t even eat? This is truly an unprecedented time for the East End and it requires all of us to think outside the box,” said Steve Long, the museum’s president. “I really appreciate Tom, Eileen, and other community champions for helping CMEE serve local families when they need our help the most.” For more information visit www. cmee.org.

Are Leaf Blowers Transmitting COVID-19? Environmental group says the devices may be spreading the novel coronavirus By Rick Murphy rmurphy@indyastend.com Leaf blowers could inadvertently be blowing the novel coronavirus in the path of would-be victims, and a group of environmentalists wants them banned,

at least until the threat passes. Kimberly Allan, a Southampton Village trustee, was one of those who sucContinued On Page 46.

CMEE Partners With Bridgehampton Pantry Pair extending outreach program to provide groceries By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com The Children’s Museum of the East End is partnering with the Bridgehampton Food Pantry to provide groceries for local families who are experiencing food inse-

curity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum conducted an online survey of over 50 families who regularly participate in its outreach programming

The Independent

Police Amagansett School Board President Charged With DWI She was involved in one of three crashes in East Hampton this week By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com Two one-vehicle crashes over the weekend resulted in the drivers involved being placed under arrest by East Hampton Town police on drunken driving charges. The first arrest was that of Amagansett School Board president Kristen Peterson. The 52-year-old Amagansett resident was driving a 2008 Mercedes Benz on Abrahams Landing Road a little after midnight Friday, April 3, when she allegedly lost control of the car and crashed near Scrimshaw Lane. An officer responding to a 911 call reporting the incident said he found Peterson intoxicated behind the wheel. She failed sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. At police headquarters, she allegedly refused to take a breath test. Peterson was arraigned by East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky Saturday morning via a

Skype teleconference. Peterson was represented by Carl Irace for the arraignment. Irace first conferenced with Peterson after she was placed in a private room at police headquarters. Police are not allowed to be present during a lawyer’s conversation with a defendant. Because Peterson allegedly refused the breath test, Tekulsky suspended her driving privileges during the arraignment, pending a hearing at the Department of Motor Vehicles on April 17. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that hearing likely will not happen. Irace said Monday, under those circumstances, the suspension of a defendant’s license would no longer be in effect after 15 days. Peterson could continue driving after that until a DMV hearing was held.

East End Police, State Cracking Down Violators of COVID-19 protocols, restrictions eyed by special task force

FR EE

IN SP W EC HO TI LE ON H –C O AL USE LT OD AY

By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com

Amagansett School. Independent/File

Peterson’s criminal charge was as a first-time offender at the misdemeanor level. The second incident that led to DWI charges involved two crashes, police said. They occurred a little after noon on Sunday, April 5. Jonathan Ivan Pena-Tacuri, 24, of Amagansett, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet pickup when he veered off Alewive Brook Road in Northwest Woods, striking a tree. According to the police, Pena-Tacuri left the scene of the accident, despite the car having a badly-damaged front end. He left the front bumper behind, and drove to Damark’s Deli in Springs. In the parking lot, police said he T-boned a Chevy pickup that was parked there. Police were called, and Pena-Tacuri was eventually placed under arrest. Besides a misdemeanor DWI charge, he was hit with felony unlicensed driving.

It is the third time East Hampton Town police have arrested Pena-Tacuri on misdemeanor DWI charges since 2017, though he has never been convicted of the criminal charge. After his 2017 arrest, he plea bargained down to a simple violation of driving with ability impaired. Three months after entering that plea, on July 4, 2018, Pena-Tacuri was arrested again on a misdemeanor DWI charge after an incident on the Napeague stretch. The legal outcome of that arrest is not clear. After Sunday’s arrest, Pena-Tacuri allegedly refused to take a breath test. A DMV hearing was scheduled during his Monday morning teleconferenced arraignment. Unlike Peterson, however, Pena-Tacuri’s driving privileges will remain suspended no matter the outcome, unless he manages to undo his triple suspensions and revocations of his driving privileges currently in place.

Police departments on the East End are assisting the state in enforcing Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive orders imposing “sweeping measures to protect public health and safety, including restrictions on businesses and gatherings, which are designed to reduce public density and slow the rate of transmission.” East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo sent out a press release last week to that effect, stating his department, along with the town’s public safety division, have been actively no-

tifying to local businesses, as well as handling complaints from the public to those not following social-distancing protocols. At the same time, state Assemblyman Fred Thiele announced the governor created a New York State PAUSE Enforcement Assistance Task Force to assist local authorities with enforcement of recent executive orders. The task force is manning a complaint hotline — 1-833-789-0470 — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Bail Reform Amended, Again Bail can now be set for more crimes, discovery process altered By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com

The bail reform of 2019, which was passed as part of the 2020 state budget, was modified again in the new state budget that was voted into law by both houses of the New York Legislature last week. Multiple crimes were added to the list of those for which bail can be set. The new law also gives judges more discretion to set bail in cases where a defendant, already charged with a crime involving injury or destroying property, is arrested again on a similar charge. “The 2019 reforms amended discovery laws,” Assemblyman Fred Thiele said in a press release issued last week touting the amendments to last year’s criminal procedure reform measures. Discovery is the process in which the prosecution lays out evidence it intends to use against a defendant. The 2019 version of the law required prosecutors to complete discovery within 15 days of a defendant’s arraignment. This was a major change from the way discovery was applied before last year’s budget was passed. Defense attorneys frequently complained that discovery under the old law was an almost open-ended process. Thiele felt the 2019 reforms went too far. “This new law recognizes that discovery exchange between prosecution and defense is an ongoing process,” Thiele said about the law passed last week.

Peter Beard and his daughter, Zara Beard. Independent/Lisa Tamburini

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Carl Irace, an East End attorney, was a strong proponent of reforms passed last year. He does not believe amendments passed last week endanger the core of last year’s criminal procedure law reforms. Independent/T. E. McMorrow

The prosecutor now has up to 35 days after arraignment to produce his or her evidence if the defendant is not in custody, or 20 days to produce if the defendant is in jail. Also, the entire discovery process for code and traffic violations will be loosened up under the newly-amended law. Carl Irace, an attorney who alternates with Brian DeSesa representing defendants arraigned in East Hampton on weekends and off-hours, was a strong proponent of the 2019 bail and discovery reforms. The 2020 amendments, he believes, “are reforms we need now.”

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Police are continuing to search for noted photographer Peter Beard, who went missing from his Montauk home late afternoon March 31. East Hampton Town police captain Chris Anderson said on April 6 that the search, which originally included several departments, state troopers, the New York State Park Police, K-9, and a helicopter unit, has been scaled back. Marine patrol is still monitoring the shoreline, Anderson said. The search began at Beard’s home on Old Montauk Highway near Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk. The Montauk Fire Department initially deployed rescue vehicles and manpower to assist East Hampton Town police in their search. According to Nejma Beard, the artist’s wife, her husband was last seen wearing a dark blue fleece, black jogging pants, and blue running shoes. Beard, 82, has blue eyes and silver hair, stands 5’10” tall, and weighs 176 pounds. Anyone who believes to have seen Beard, who police said may need medical attention, should contact East Hampton Town police at 631-537-7575. All calls will be kept confidential. TEM He agrees with the type of crimes added to the list where bail could be set — one of those being vehicular manlaughter. When Lisa Rooney, a Montauk woman who allegedly recklessly and drunkenly struck and killed a bicyclist last October in Montauk, was first arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court, Justice Lisa Rana set nominal bail, saying she felt her hands were tied by the reform laws, which did not

include cases in which a vehicular accident results in death. “Any offense where someone dies can be bail-eligible,” Irace said. The statewide funding for the reforms, which have created the need for additional manpower for district attorneys and police departments alike across the state, will, for the next year, come from the forfeiture funds seized in just one county: New York County, better known as Manhattan.

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The Independent

Editorial

JUST ASKING

By Karen Fredericks

Do you listen to the news much lately? Ellie Dukofsky I don’t listen to it. I can’t. I find it too stressful. But unfortunately, my husband listens to it all day long, which I find difficult to listen to and hard to shut out. I think all we can do is follow the guidelines that are being set out for us. That’s why I’m out here taking a nice long walk.

David Fioriello At the beginning, I listened to it to hear the number of cases. But now there’s no point. It’s gotten so depressing I hardly turn on the news at all. I think we’ll definitely find a solution but it’s hard to know how long it will take. Hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later.

The Sun Will Rise Again It is rare when Easter and Passover coincide as neatly as they do this year, with the Jewish holiday week beginning Wednesday, April 8, and the Christian holidays of Good Friday and Easter falling on April 10 and 12, respectively. That they dovetail so neatly together in this, of all years, is truly a blessing. It serves to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters, no matter what our faith might be. This year, of all years, death moves among us. COVID-19 is not interested in how much money you have, or what race you are, or if you have been good or bad. It claims its victims indiscriminately: you, and you, and you. Suddenly, we are afraid of each other, and for good reason. Does she have it? Is he a carrier? We have no way of knowing, so we force ourselves apart, and lock ourselves in our homes, if we are fortunate enough to have one. Passover and Easter remind us that pain and suffering are not unique to our time. If you start to cry, do not feel ashamed. Even in your solitude, you are not alone. Easter and Passover promise us deliverance. No matter how dark it is, the sun will rise again, and the tears of pain we shed today shall be tears of joy tomorrow.

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Felice DeChabris I’ve been on a bit of a seesaw. At first, I followed it to know how bad it would get but then, it got so big. So, I decided I’d do everything I can that they say to do but I also want to live my life and enjoy it. On one hand, so many daily things have been taken off the table. I try to make the most of it. There’s more time for creative pursuits. And I gave my boyfriend a haircut because he was starting to look like a hippie! Marian Robinson I’m working from home and I’m so busy with my work and adjusting to our whole company working remotely that I just don’t have time to listen very often. But I live with someone who listens to it frequently. I just hope it’s not too stressful for her.

Have you noticed an unprecedented use of the word unprecedented?

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Is it just me? © Karen Fredericks

Karen was chosen Best Cartoonist by the New York Press Association in 2017 and again in 2019. She’s the recipient of multiple awards for her illustration of the international bestseller How To Build Your Own Country, including the prestigious Silver Birch Award. Her work is part of the permanent artist’s book collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

April 8, 2020

Arts & Entertainment Let’s Get Lit Join a virtual book club By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

Reading is a solitary activity but oftentimes comes with a social urge afterward — wanting to discuss it. Whether it be the plot twist, understanding the author, or diving deeper into the story itself, words on a page frequently turn into conversation starters. That’s where book clubs come in, with a few perks: someone else recommends the book, you have an entire month (most times) to read it, and there’s a group of individuals eager to talk about it. The World Economic Forum started its very own book club in 2018. On the last day of each month the private Facebook group, which simply takes the click of a button to join, welcomes the chosen author of the month to submit a video response to members’ questions. Past reads have included “The Future We Choose,” “The Education of an Idealist,” and “Incidental Inventions.” It’s a great group geared for those who are interested in real-life topics across myriad subjects. Find it on Facebook @ worldeconomicforumbookclub and Instagram @wefbookclub.

Athletes love reading too. Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Andrew Luck, began the Andrew Luck Book Club to build a new kind of team. Each month, Luck recommends two books, one for younger readers (“Rookies”) and another for seasoned page turners (“Veterans”). He communicates timelines and reminders to fans through social media, where readers are encouraged to share their thoughts. And each month concludes with a podcast interview with the selected author, when available. April picks are “The Little Prince” and “The Overstory.” Visit www.andrewluckbookclub.com. Hello, sunshine. America’s girlnext-door, Reese Witherspoon has a very popular Instagram following (1.5 million followers and counting) for her monthly literary picks. Across her social channels, Witherspoon encourages meaningful, joyful conversations. Right now, the actor, mother, and bookworm is partnering with the Binc Foundation to raise funds for independent booksellers. Read along this April with “Un-

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tamed.” See more online at www.hellosunshine.com. Follow @reesesbookclub to listen as the authors themselves share inspiring words. Plus, there’s a ton of giveaways. There’s a place where BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic), LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex), disabled, and working-class communities unite with their stories, the Dialogue Book Lounge. The newly launched series will go live on IGTV at 8 PM GMT every Thursday in conversation with an author. Visit on Instagram @DialogueBooks to see the upcoming reading list. Belletrist was founded by famed actress and literati, Emma Roberts, along with her friend, Karah Preiss. Since social distancing, their Instagram (@belletrist) has been posting Virtual Book Tours (talks) with different authors. It’s a great way to dive deeper into certain novels, which are listed primarily on their social media. Book Babes (www.bookbabeseventhub.splashthat.com) is hosting vir-

tual Zoom meetings to discuss their recommended book selections. Book discussions, regular hangouts, or simply making a list of what you should read next. Sign up for emails either on their website or at @bookbabes_. A group of design consultants out in San Francisco hopped on the opportunity to create the Quarantine Book Club — kudos to finding a silver lining. The group allows, for a fee of $5, isolated guests to join authors on a Zoom chat for open discussion daily, sometimes twice a day. It seems they plan each a week in advance, so if you’re a quick page turner, this one’s for you. Head to www.quarantinebookclub.com to see the updated lineup. Looking for something a little more niche? Goodreads, an online source for all reading material, has numerous groups to join (approximately 47,700 pages). All you have to do is type in a word search and they’ll pop up. Narrow it down by group size and latest activity for the one just right for you. Explore them all at www. goodreads.com.

The Independent

Virtual Gallery Tours

Live From Guild Hall Guild Hall in East Hampton will be posting new content every day taking a look back at some of the great moments in its history of arts and education programming. Go to www.guildhall.org.

Now Showing

Art space owners share creative content

HamptonsFilm will have Now Showing links available every Monday online. “Saint Frances” will be on April 6 and “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band,” on April 13. Go to www. hamptonsfilmfest.org for the link.

By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

South Fork Birds On Wednesday, April 8, from 4 to 4:30 PM, join SoFo’s executive director Frank Quevedo in a Zoom program on Birds of the South Fork: Spring Migration. Visit www.sofo. org for upcoming programs and how to get the links.

Remote Lectures Local galleries are getting creative with their content, as more are taking things virtual. Whether you want to tour an exhibition or search for a piece to purchase, here’s a list of websites to explore. Bridgehampton’s RJD Gallery is encouraging the public to explore its virtual gallery. Enjoy a conversation between artist Dean Mitchell and gallery curator Mago available on Vimeo. View his works and more at www.rjdgallery.com. Halsey McKay Gallery in East Hampton is currently virtually displaying Glen Baldridge’s three new paintings in its online Viewing Room, set to be updated periodically. The Viewing Room gives viewers a glimpse into aritst's studios and the process as new works develop. Visit www.halseymckay.com. Guild Hall in East Hampton has a

Glen Baldridge in his Brooklyn studio. View more at the Halsey McKay Viewing Room. Independent/Courtesy Halsey McKay Gallery

designated @Home section on its website (www.guildhall.org) for all things creative — ranging from performances to recipes. Right now, you can even explore its Permanent Collection indepth, right from your couch. All artists are tabbed by name, making it easy to either find your favorites or search them all. Southampton Arts Center aims to make the world a little brighter with a nine-minute YouTube video on its website, a virtual exhibition of a community art share. Watch it in full at www. southamptonartscenter.org. Parrish Art Museum in Water

Mill’s website offers plenty of creative inspiration, with artist stories, art studios, and a museum podcast. The oftentimes sold out PechaKucha is accessible, along with nearly 400 videos of programming on Vimeo. Find all the links at www.parrishart.org. Artsy.net, a leading site for art displays, is a terrific place to just type in your favorite gallery’s name and see what works are online. Think of it as the Goodreads for the art world. If you want to share your gallery’s virtual info, be sure to email me at the address above, as The Independent will be updating this list regularly.

Southampton History Museum presents remote lectures every Thursday for the month of April via Zoom. Join the museum staff on local history topics at 11 AM. On April 9 will be Captains Row by curator and registrar Zachary Taylor. Visit www.southamptonhistory.org.

Friday Nights Live On Friday nights, the Parrish Art Museum presents new, livestreamed, partially pre-recorded programs of talks and tours. Head to www.parrishart.org.

Sip And Sing Every Friday at 5 PM, Bay Street Theater will host a virtual singalong, broadcasting via Zoom right to the comfort of your own home. To receive the Zoom link, go to www.baystreet.org and sign up for the newsletter.

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April 8, 2020

Arts & Entertainment

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Journaling

By Zachary Weiss

The Southampton History Museum is asking residents to journal their experiences living through a pandemic. “Write about what you ate, what you did while under quarantine, troubles you are facing, and any other musings. Make them personal and informative so that in years to come historians can read what real people were experiencing during this time,” an email read. Submissions can be sent to lmizzi@ southamptonhistory.org. A selection of entries will be posted every Saturday on the museum’s blog.

Gonna Fly Now

Like Rocky Balboa training for the big fight, the monochromatic sweat-suit — or perhaps, the more acceptable version of the onesie — is taking over in this world of “work from home” ensembles. It’s not all collegiate colors and cotton though. Here, we’ve selected a few matching sets that put Rocky to shame and add a twist to your everyday loungewear.

Channel your inner Rocky with these sporty sets

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MetroFocus WPPB 88.3 FM — the newly acquired NPR station by WNET, New York — will simulcast WLIW Channel 21’s airing of WNET’s “MetroFocus,” the magazine show focusing on the New York region every weeknight at 11 PM. Ed German’s show, “Friday Night Soul,” will run from 8 to 11 PM, followed immediately by the MetroFocus simulcast. Expect the show to expand, featuring guests and experts from the East End of Long Island.

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Two Jews Making Food “Two Jews Making Food,” hosted by Rebecca Edana and Amy Kirwin, have returned to their live streaming on Facebook every Wednesday at 3 PM. They will continue every week while the shelter in place is active, and hope to alternate kitchens. Visit www.facebook.com/twojewsmakingfood. Episodes will also be loaded to the YouTube channel.

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Every Friday, HamptonsFilm will have a new film you can find on online streaming platforms, and at the same time share a YouTube video of one of its conversations related to the film. Visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

The Independent

RICK’S SPACE By Rick Murphy

Cool Hand Rick Another brick in the wall rmurphy@indyeastend.com

Let’s face it, I am imprisoned. Granted, I have it pretty good here, though I’ve never stayed at another prison so I have nothing to compare it to. I became pretty familiar with the old Sag Harbor jail, though. Back in the day things were pretty wild, half the town used to stay out until 4 AM drinking and carrying on. It wasn’t unusual to get thrown in the drunk tank, which was right outside the back door of the Sandbar (now Page’s) near Murf’s. The stand-alone brick building is still there, I think. They used it for decades rather than transport prisoners all the way to Southampton like they do now. But it was my idea to make it functional, that is to make it a center square seat for the

night’s activities. A friend told me, in the old days, one of the town drunks worked it so a brick could be removed. One night I snuck in and found the weak one. You could drink literally in jail and even run up a tab, since it was difficult to exchange cash. I can remember being up all night and bringing my friend in the clink bacon, egg and cheese sandwich from Eddie Ryder’s luncheonette across the street the next morning. He had no sooner wolfed it down when a cop came by with a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, also courtesy of Eddie’s; Seems the police were required to provide a meal every eight hours. “Bail” usually meant if you claimed to be sober and promised not to do it again you could go home. And so, you did — until

the next Saturday night. That was the summer I met Paul Newman. It wasn’t in the Sandbar but across the street, at Jim Black’s (The Buoy). Newman liked to play pool on the tiny table there, which didn’t even quite fit — there was a tiny pool cue the size of a yard stick for when the wall got in the way. We played for money or beer, but not a lot. There were some good pool players in town. Newman was good, too. Word is he taught himself to play for his role in “The Hustler” and made his own shots in the movie. Not to be outdone Jackie Gleason, who played Minnesota Fats, did likewise. They say the two of them had a few games “just for fun” that ran into five figures and the wee hours. Newman hung around Sag Harbor the whole summer with his wife, Joanne Woodward. They lived in the modest house across the street from Cleveland’s, which became Federico’s. He was a cool guy, and had those blue eyes. He was short, though. Most male Hollywood stars I’ve met are like that — five-foot five or six. They have rugged good looks on camera but are diminutive off. If they ever got in a fight with a Nazi in real life, they would get slaughtered. A couple times the guys went by the house late at night and beeped the horn, trying to get him to come out

drinking. He’d come to the door. “Naw, not tonight guys,” he’d say, and wave. One night he couldn’t shake someone’s dog at closing time so he took the critter home. The dog spent the night on the bed and walked home the next morning. The dog became a celebrity when people found out what had happened. Anyhow, now that I’m in jail I’ve been boning up on the best prison movies. Most people think “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” are the best, but I like all the Alcatraz movies, and even Stallone’s “Escape” movies. But “Papillon” and “Cool Hand Luke” are my two favorites. Newman is the coolest prisoner ever, even though his “failure to communicate” gets him in a lot of trouble. (I don’t think he ate 50 eggs, either.) He did say he liked the company in solitary confinement. In “Papillon,” there is a moment when Steve McQueen walks by solitary confinement and an inmate who had been trapped in the cell for a year sticks his head out into light. He was hideous looking after a year of confinement, his teeth rotting and face peeling. “Hey, how do I look?” he asked McQueen, who is visibly taken back by the sight. “Fine,” he mumbles. Then he steps into his solitary cell. That’s the way I feel now.

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April 8, 2020

Arts & Entertainment

KISS & TELL By Heather Buchanan

So, What Are You Wearing? Emotional armor and masks kissandtellhb@gmail.com The answer to this used to be a flirty description of lacy lingerie. It would be nice to reminisce about the days of La Perla when, in reality, you haven’t been out of a sports bra in weeks. Work from home attire is a whole new category of sweats and daytime pajamas, only perhaps topped with a proper buttondown shirt for a Zoom conference (only viewable from the waist up.) People are in a health and financial crisis and suddenly things like pants with a waist band seem superfluous. And skinny jeans were annoying even on “wow I feel so thin” days. Our outer appearance has taken a firm second place to our inner appearance. The

challenge is no longer finding a pair of Spanx to hide the muffin top but some sort of mental girdle to contain the rapidly growing anxiety. So, what are you wearing? I asked this of a nurse friend (get the sexy nurse Halloween costume out of your mind.) Are you wearing a proper surgical gown or are you wearing a garbage bag? Are you wearing the N95 face mask and not a bandana? Are you wearing a plastic face guard, maybe one which is being made by a 3D printer in the local John Jermain library? Are you wearing disposable gloves and finding plenty more when you shed your current pair? Are you wearing a tight mask

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for so many hours over so many days that it has left bruise marks? To friends and family, we ask, so, what are you wearing? Are you wearing a painted-on smile because you don’t want your children to know you are terrified? Are you putting on a good face to not reveal the extent of your worry for older or compromised relatives? Are you wearing a scowl, looking at others as the enemy? Are you revealing your worry lines as the Botox wears off ? Are you wearing a genuine smile because you just noticed the daffodils defiantly blooming in all their glory while Mother Nature seems to be at war? To ourselves we ask, so, what are you wearing? Are we wearing our hearts on our sleeves and being vulnerable and emotionally honest and reaching out for help as needed? Are we wearing “I’m fine” armor, which is supposed to protect our soft spots but which, in reality, only serves as a prison for our rich inner lives which remain trapped? Are we wearing our honest selves, which at times truly are ok and at others decimated? Are we wearing our own black and blue marks from kicking ourselves with our overly limber limbs from three to five hours a day of online yoga because we didn’t prepare better for something like this? Will there be a day when we will

only be talking about PPE (personal protective equipment) as something to do with safe sex? When we are just flirting and not flirting with disaster? Where what you are wearing doesn’t create a life or death situation? This has never been such an important question, and I want to express my personal thanks and awe and admiration for those on the front line. You are heroes.

Our outer appearance has taken a ﬁrm second place to our inner appearance.

The Independent

READING OUR REGION By Joan Baum

The Great Gatsby’s 95th Anniversary April 10 marks the 95th anniversary of the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” arguably one of America’s greatest novels. Just two weeks earlier, it was the 100th anniversary of Fitzgerald’s first novel, “This Side of Paradise,” a literary and commercial success. The author was 24 when it came out, and it made him famous. The irony is that “This Side of Paradise” is little read today, while “The Great Gatsby,”0 Fitzgerald’s third novel (after the somewhat successful “The Beautiful and the Damned” in 1922) continues to hold a high place in the popular and scholarly world, though when it first was published in 1925, it failed to sell well. At the time of Fitzgerald’s death in 1940, at the age of 44, he was toiling away in Hollywood, unsung and unread, as unsold copies of Gatsby piled up in Scribner’s warehouse. The author was depressed. He needed money, if not a boost to his ego. As he wrote to his editor, Maxwell Perkins, he knew he had done something different with Gatsby, something better, original: “to die so completely and unjustly after having given so much. Even now there is little published in American fiction that doesn’t slightly bear my stamp.” The failure of Gatsby to catch on did not, of course, stop Fitzgerald’s writing career. He made some money writing short stories which were and still are admired. He thought “Tender is

The Night” (1934), based largely on his East Hampton friends Sara and Gerald Murphy, his best novel, but he never again reached the heights and sales of “This Side of Paradise.” A watchful critic looking back might conclude that by 1925, The Roaring Twenties were quieting down and signs of The Great Depression were already discernible. The Lost Generation was replacing the flappers of The Jazz Age. So, what happened to turn things around, and how “great” is “The Great Gatsby?” Some influential critics started paying new attention to the novel after the book had been distributed to service men abroad as part of Armed Services Editions, an innovative way to keep the troops diverted. New editions with new edits and introductory remarks also contributed to the revival. Soon, Gatsby was on its way to become a literary and cultural icon, a narrative about the ambiguity of The American Dream. By 1951, Gatsby was an indelible part of the American literary scene when in J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” Holden Caufield says that he went “crazy” over the book. “Old Gatsby. Old sport. That killed me.” Short, relatively easy to read, as teachers point out, Gatsby wound up on high school and college curricula, and started to spawn incarnations. These included movies, dance and musical revues, theatrical and radio adaptations, even a Nintendo video game, “Find Gatsby.” The novel was also the

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subject of a spoofy inaugural book club Stephen Colbert started some years back (of course, the blowhard Colbert character didn’t read it). And today? Criticism continues from readers who point to flawed structure and paucity of sympathetic characters, especially women (they’re all opportunistic), but even those who fault aspects of the book (one read it five times, another 50) say they love it because of its ironies and gorgeous writing. “The Great Gatsby” is Nick Carraway’s tale. What he observes and muses on, sometimes unaware of his contradictions or ambivalence, invites reading out loud. Can there be in 20th Century American fiction a more quoted passage than the heartbreakingly beautiful, rhythmically right final lines of the book? “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter. Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. And one fine morning — So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

(Fitzgerald, his own obsessive editor, as the facsimile edition of “The Great Gatsby” shows, changed “orgastic” to “orgiastic.”) So many other passages cry out for recitation — moments when dazzling imagery merges with the musical sweep of rolling sentence parts. Voice rules. As Nick realizes, Gatsby’s on the mark when he says that the essence of Daisy is that “Her voice is full of money.” Later, Nick expands on that insight in his own voice, full of sharp critique and moving nostalgia. “For Daisy was young and her artificial world was redolent of orchids and pleasant, cheerful snobbery and orchestras which set the rhythm of the year, summing up the sadness and suggestiveness of life in new tunes.” It’s unlikely that any movie can do the book justice because “The Great Gatsby” is a story that’s told rather than seen, a recollection two years after events, by a Mid-Westerner of other Mid-Westerners who came east to the North Shore of Long Island one fine summer’s day in 1922 and lost their innocence.

Arts & Entertainment

April 8, 2020

HAMPTON DAZE By Jessica Mackin-Cipro

My Virtual Life Zooming through the afternoon jessica@indyeastend.com @hamptondaze As we follow stay-at-home orders, many aspects of our social life have become digital. From Instagram Lives to Zoom meetings, it’s the power of the internet keeping us connected with the outside world. There’s nothing I look forward to more each week than Friday night Zoom wine nights with my girlfriends. We get together, drink wine from our own couches, and recap our week. I also hopped on over to the Morrison Hotel Gallery website this week to view the online photographic exhibition “SIR: A Retrospective of Rock Royalty,” which launched April 2. The month-long exhibit is presented in celebration of of Sir Elton John’s threeyear swan song Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. Despite a portion of John’s farewell tour being postponed, this digital exhibition offers viewers the opportunity to dive into the music, glitz, and radiant superstardom of the artist. You can view it by visiting www.morrisonhotelgallery.com.

I had been invited to a wellness series called “Rise Into Wellness,” a series of mini-retreats co-hosted by Tia Greene of Savour TV and nutritionist Charlotte LaGuardia of Thrive East at SEVEN bed and breakfast on Shelter Island. The plan was to guide guests with positive and thought-provoking sessions. And while the in-person series has been postponed until fall, I joined the ladies on Zoom on Sunday for an abbreviated session. LaGuardia discussed nutrition and the ability to shop produce during this time, using local purveyors (for me, it’s Balsam Farms and Daily Harvest delivery providing my greens). She also described the importance of B vitamins right now, as well as magnesium before bed, and making sure to get enough healthy fats such as from avocados, nuts, and seeds. Hydration is also key, and so is making sure you keep your body moving for at least 30 minutes a day. The next part of the afternoon was

My salt scrub hand treatment.

a mini-session from Dirty Beauty Skincare founder Samantha Dickey, creating DIY skincare products with items you can find in your own kitchen. We learned how to make an oilbased face cleanser. The ingredients were simple: safflower oil (you can use olive oil in a pinch), ground oats, and water. First, rub the oil into your face, massaging the facial muscles, then mix the oats (you can also use rye or barley) and water and add to your face to exfoliate. When you’re finished, just use a wet spa cloth to dab away the mixture.

Next was how to make a sugar or salt scrub hand treatment. In this particular mixture, Dickey used salt, cocoa power (substitutions options she mentioned were matcha, chamomile tea, or peppermint tea), safflower oil, and water. Mix together and massage into your hands as they exfoliate and soften. Our homework was to create one of these and take a photo. So, like a good student, I created one using ingredients I had on hand: sea salt, coconut oil, and a quarter of a Plain-T tea bag. It created the perfect hand scrub. Voila! Just like going to the spa!

Spring At LongHouse Reserve Photo by Richard Lewin Because of social distancing, and, in consideration of public safety and health, LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton has closed to the public until the current pandemic has passed. As always, however, nature has kept to its own annual schedule. The spring explosion of new plant growth has begun.

The Independent

Dining L&W Market Well-Stocked With Delicious Things Meanwhile, Almond closes for time being By Hannah Selinger If anything is true about the current state of dining life, it is that it is unpredictable. During the past few weeks of upheaval out here on the East End, Almond Bridgehampton, the restaurant stalwart owned and operated by Eric Lemonides and Jason Weiner, has provided takeout and limited delivery — available in Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, and Wainscott — Monday through Saturday from 5 to 9 PM. The menu was comprehensive, and displayed, as the duo always does, a respectful showcase of local protein and produce. And don’t forget cocktails. And discounted wine — at a staggering 50 percent off ! But on Saturday, March 28, both Weiner and Lemonides posted on Instagram that Almond would be closing their outfit temporarily. “This will be our last night doing takeout and delivery,” the post said. “Can’t wait to see everyone when we reopen later this spring.” The post did not mention the reason for the restaurant’s close, although it could have been cost, or staffing, or a mix of the two. Keeping a restaurant

fully functional for delivery and takeout only, when restaurants run on slim margins as it is — margins that depend on alcohol revenue and other negligibles — is probably impossible, and it’s likely that we will see more closures as time goes on. The other question hangs heavy in the air. What will “reopen” mean? We don’t know when the stayat-home order will end, or when life will return to normal. When Almond reopens — and it will! — will it be for takeout, or can we hope against hope that spring will bring dining back to the East End? Some better news comes in the form of L&W Market, the duo’s younger venture, which also happens to be next door to Almond. L&W opened three summers ago, and sells everything from coffee to pastries to prepared foods. When it first opened, it had broad hours and was open daily. Over time, those hours were pared down, to account for dwindling crowds and cost-effectiveness. But these days, markets are ever in-demand. Lemonides is savvy to the needs and wants

Independent/ Lindsay Morris

of East End consumers. He has added delicious things that he promotes on Instagram (hello, soft pretzel with an egg in it, which I may have seen on his Instagram, or on someone else’s, but I don’t even care, because I need it in my life). He has also added coveted items, like toilet paper, which he is providing as a service to the community — and no, you can’t buy the whole lot. #dontbeajerk With that in mind, L&W has now returned to a seven-day schedule, open from 8 AM to 6 PM. There is an app, which, in the days of social distancing, is useful in order-placing and crowdthinning. You can order brownies, ham and Gruyere croissants, Bento box chicken salads, Korean fried chicken sandwiches, CBD cherry sodas, ovenready macaroni and cheese, adobo paste, Tate’s cookies, and, yes, toilet paper from the safety of your car, house, or socially distant park bench outside.

The store also has food by the pound: sesame scallion noodles, chicken fried rice, chickpea salad, roasted Brussels sprouts, tuna-stuffed peppers, roasted broccoli, citrus-cured olives, artichoke, eggplant, roasted russet potatoes, chickpea kale salad, snap pea salad, and more. Most of these foods are perfect, say, for keeping in your house if you’re intending on sticking around and snacking for a while. Looking to curate an easily snackable fridge? L&W more than has you covered. Cooking is not — and I say this, emphatically, as a home cook — for everyone. To that end, the non-cooks of this world will continue to find cool and creative avenues to avoid cooking, and that’s cool, too. The good news is that the L&Ws of the East End are here to make sure that you are well stocked for any and all circumstances. Even your powder room will be happy you stopped by.

Dining

April 8, 2020

Meals For First Responders

Independent/ Courtesy Highway Restaurant

Highway Restaurant & Bar donates services By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com

Highway Restaurant & Bar in East Hampton in partnership with The Independent is donating meals to those on the front lines of the local COVID-19 battle — EMT stations, East Hampton Village Police Department, and Southampton Hospital’s health care workers — and asking the public to join in. The restaurant has launched an initiative to “provide highquality meals to the brave first responders that are working tirelessly to keep the Hamptons community’s loved ones safe,” a press release stated. Those interested in helping out can purchase as many meals as they’d like at $35 each. The restaurant will is-

sue meal vouchers for these specialists to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal anytime, with no expiration date. Highway’s team is providing the first 50 meals to start and will continue

adding meals every week. Patrons of the restaurant will be encouraged to add first responder meals to their takeout orders. Meals can be contributed by call-

ing 631-527-5372, by visiting www. highwayrestaurant.com, and via direct message on Instagram. Takeout and delivery is offered Thursday to Monday from 5 to 8 PM.

WE ARE OPEN FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY! WEDNESDAY — SUNDAY

12PM - 8PM

30% Off All Bottles! Ask About Our

Daily Specials! Pre-Orders

Greatly Appreciated!

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HOW TO ORDER Phone

631-725-1131 Online

www.lobsterbarnyc.com Uber Eats | Grubhub | Seamless Pre-order

sg@LOBSTERBARNYC.COM

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Mention this ad when you order and qualify for special recognition & awards

1742 Sag Harbor Turnpike, Sag Harbor

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@edslobsterbar

Still serving the best Italian food and garlic rolls since 1973

Open for Curbside Take Out 4pm to 8pm

Limited but Delicious Menu with All Your Favorites Closed Mondays

Check with us on line www.IlCaps.com Well Wishes to All 30 MADISON STREET, SAG HARBOR, NY • 631-725-2747

B10

The Independent

Guest-Worthy Recipe: Chef Nano Crespo Volcan dulce de leche cake

To All our Maidstone Family & Friends

To All our Maidstone Family & Friends,

Please know that during this difficult time we are here for you. We have been taking the necessary steps to put your safety and Please know that during this difficult time we are here for you. We the safety of our staff first and foremost.

By Zachary Weiss

have been taking the necessary steps to put your safety and

We are now able to offer pick-up and delivery service daily 12-7:00pm while adhering to NYS and CDC guidelines to ensure limited the safety of culinary our staff foremost. to no contact and providing nutritious and delicious optionsfi atrst your and convenience.

We are now able to offer pick-up and delivery service We will get through this together and come back better than ever! daily 12-7:00pm while adhering to NYS and CDC Ourguidelines menu is available on our website @ www.themaidstone.com To All our Maidstone Family & Friends, to ensure limited to no contact Call to place your order and provide contactless payment via credit or debit card @ 631-324-5006 and providing nutritious and delicious culinary options Please know that during this difficult time we are here for you. We have been taking the necessary steps to put your safety and at your convenience. the safety of our staff first and foremost. We will get through this together and come back better than ever! We are now able to offer pick-up and delivery service daily 12-7:00pm while on adhering Our menu is available ourto NYS and CDC guidelines to ensure limited to no contact and providing nutritious and delicious culinary options at your convenience. website @ www.themaidstone.com We will get through thisCall together comeyour back better than ever!provide contactless payment toand place order and via credit or debit card @ 631-324-5006 Our menu is available FREE on our website @ www.themaidstone.com DELIVERY

Independent/ Courtesy Quinto la Huella at EAST

Call to place your order and provide contactless payment via credit or debit card @ 631-324-5006

Who: Chef Nano Crespo, Quinto la Huella at EAST, Miami

Instagram: @CrespoNano/@QuintoLaHuella

Chef Crespo’s Guest-Worthy Recipe: Volcan Dulce de Leche

Why? “We all need some sweetness in our lives right now, and this delicious, easy to make Volcan Dulce de Leche cake is the perfect pick-me-up. The recipe is portioned to make individual desserts, which is perfect if you’re entertaining, or home alone and still want to enjoy a decadent dessert. While it feels indulgent and rich, it’s rather simple to make and the ingredients are all things you probably already have in the pantry.”

Ingredients: 1 egg 2 yolks 14 oz Dulce de leche 2 Tbsp flour

Directions: Beat the egg with the yolks to double its volume. Add the dulce de leche and mix until integrated. Finally, add the flour twice, beating until the preparation is homogeneous. Evenly butter and flour (this is key to then easily unmold) six molds for custards or muffins of about half-cup capacity and fill them with the mixture

almost to the edge. Heat the oven to moderate-strong temperature (around 400 degrees). Place the molds on a tray and cook for eight to 10 minutes. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the oven. To find out if they are in their right place (cooked on the outside but liquid on the inside), take a mold out of the oven and, touching the surface, test that it is soft but easily detaches from the edges. Unmold on the same plate on which it is going to be served and serve with banana ice cream.

Organic Krush Amagansett eatery Organic Krush has re-opened. Co-founders Michelle Walrath and Fran Paniccia are excited to show-off the updates that they have put into this location including updated artwork, shelving, and more. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Organic Krush will be offering no-contact pickup and delivery options, with free delivery through DoorDash. Enjoy items like breakfast wraps, delicious fresh pressed juices, and grain bowls. Organic Krush has also created customizable “survival kits” that are curated to help provide immune boosting foods and beverages. The restaurant will be open from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 4 PM on the weekends. (Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

Dining

April 8, 2020

Green Hill Kitchen Sends Meals To Area Hospitals Greenport eatery also launches Green Hill Provisions

B11

RECIPE OF THE WEEK Chef Joe Cipro

Snack-Time Guacamole

By Jessica Mackin-Cipro jessica@indyeastend.com

Ingredients (serves 4) 4 ripe avocados 2 jalapeños (deseeded & diced) 1/2 red onion (finely diced) 1/3 c fresh cilantro (washed & chopped) 1/4 tsp ground cumin 1 lime (juiced) 1 large bag of your favorite tortilla chips Salt to taste 1 tomato (diced), optional

Chef Matty Boudreau. Independent/Isobel Media

Green Hill Kitchen & Que in Greenport is doing its part to give back to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant is working with local farms, fishermen, New York Prime Beef, and Peter’s Fruit Company to donate meals to healthcare workers at local hospitals. To start this initiative, the restaurant dropped meals to Stony Brook Hospital on Friday, April 3. On Monday, April 6, they will deliver to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. On Saturday, April 11, it will be Eastern Long Island Hospital, and Tuesday, April 28, Peconic Bay Medical Center. The team plans to continue the services for as long as the community needs. “Here at Green Hill we are proud to support local healthcare workers that are selflessly working incredibly long hours and facing daunting challenges in front of them on a daily basis. The least

we can do is make sure that they have a healthy, tasty weekly cooked meal with loads of love from all of us,” said a statement from Chef Matty Boudreau and Green Hill Kitchen & Que team. The restaurant has also announced it will now offer a provisions line, Green Hill Provisions, which allows shoppers to place orders on its website to be delivered across the East End. There is a $125 minimum order and delivery is available 24 to 48 hours after the order is placed. Products include non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, dairy items, dry goods, frozen items, household essentials, produce, meat, seafood, and more. A Quarantine Que Kit is also available. Visit www.greenhillnycatering.com for a full list of products. Create a username and password to enter the site and shop. All proceeds from Green Hill Provisions will go to staff that was laid off to help support their families.

Directions Remove the seed from each avocado and scoop into a large mixing bowl. Add the lime juice, cumin, and salt. Using a fork, mash the avocado, leaving some larger pieces for texture. Mix in the salt and lime and adjust seasoning to you liking. Fold in the rest of your chopped and diced ingredients and start snacking.

OPEN FOR TAKE OUT LIMITED MENU

• PIZZA • SALADS • WOODFIRED CHICKEN

11:30 ‘TIL 8PM 103 MAIN ST, SAG HARBOR, NY 11963

631.725.3167

B12

The Independent

Coffee And Doughnuts NoFoDoCo and Sail Away Coffee are bringing the sweets to your door By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

Sheltering from the chaos ensuing outside of my front door, coffee and food have become my new favorite antisocial activities. While everyone else is stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer, I’m making my way for the 30 oz coffee grinds and packets of chocolate. We all have our pandemic priorities. It turns out, I’m not the only one. The last week of March, North Fork Doughnut Company (NoFoDoCo) and Sail Away Coffee delivered roughly 4000 doughnuts to 535 locations across Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City. “Doing collaborations with other like-minded small businesses has always been a favorite past-time of the NoFoDoCo, and Sail Away happens to be one of our favorites to work with,” said doughnut shop co-owner, Jimmy Lyons. Now, as small businesses are taking a hit during the worldwide coronavirus crisis, working together is a means for survival. While the two companies have been collaborating since NoFoDoCo opened its doors two years ago in Mattituck, co-owners Lyons, Kelly Briguccia, and head of social media, Rachel Herbst, collectively devised a new delivery system, bringing product directly to their customers’ doors. Nitro-brewed coffee and freshly made doughnuts, a symbiotically sweet pairing, can be home delivered every Friday, between 8 AM to 5 PM. For the North Fork-based shop, it’s a new way of doing business. Even

during COVID-19, the shop is continuously selling out from its brick-andmortar location thanks to window and curbside pickups. But Sail Away has been making the wide-range drop-offs for a while. Using the coffee company’s existing customer base now allows NoFoDoCo to reach a new audience. “We don’t think our doughnuts should be a treat that only a few can enjoy. We love the current exclusivity of our offerings, but we want the world to know about what we are doing out here. We want to represent Long Island and let the city folk know that we aren’t messing around,” Lyons said. “Not to mention, there are plenty of people out west that could probably use some doughnuts and coffee delivered to their door during these times and we wanted to push ourselves to make that happen for everyone.” Each morning, NoFoDoCo bakes a fresh batch of doughnuts and Sail Away takes it from there, handling all internal distribution and routing. All customers need to do is order through Sail Away’s online shop at www.sailawaycoffee.com and choose from one of three options: six pack of Nitro and half-dozen doughnuts, six pack Nitro and one dozen doughnuts, or a 12pack Nitro and one dozen doughnuts. The Nitro Cold Brew comes in an assortment of Unsweet, Sweet, Sea Salt and Caramel, and Horchata. Doughnut choices includes glaze, black raspberry jelly, Boston, black forest, va-

Prime Meats • Groceries Produce • Take-Out Fried Chicken • BBQ Ribs Sandwiches • Salads Party Platters and 6ft. Heroes Beer, Ice, Soda Wholesale 725-9087 Retail 725-9004

Open 7 Days a Week

nilla sprinkles, and blueberry crumb, with flavors rotating on a weekly basis. All priced between $55 to $89. Then, Friday morning an email will alert you that the order is out for delivery, which includes a tracking link. (If you run out of things to watch on Netflix, hitting the refresh button on your tracker will turn into a new form of entertainment.) The deliveries began as a way to abide by CDC social distancing regulations, with the extra perk of ensuring job security to employees, which means rents get paid, and life resumes as normal as possible. At the moment, the delicious combination remains “limited availability,” but both companies are seeing exponential growth in orders, already seeing a potential need to set a cap on order capacity. Lyons noted that what started off an idea for the short term, depending on demand, could contin-

ue long after the pandemic ends. “We are nothing without our community. We all need each other more than ever. This experience, while scary and trying, has been wildly eye opening. It has been humbling to see our community and our small businesses band together to lift each other up. The support and the efforts have been astonishing. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes it takes situations like this to make us realize how much we all need each other and how important it is to appreciate what you have. Our community has helped us realize this truth and we hope we have given the same back,” Lyons said. Special flavors are planned for Easter weekend, which will be announced online. Visit www.nofodoco. com, follow them on social media @NoFoDoCo and place all of your orders before they sell out at www.sailawaycoffee.com.

18 Park Place East Hampton 324-5400 Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner Take Out Orders

Real Realty

Real Realty Geoff Gifkins: Nest Seekersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hamptons Regional Leader p. 28 Geoff Gifkins. Independent/Courtesy Nest Seekers International

April 8, 2020

26 C-2

The Independent

Deeds

Min Date =3/7/2020 Max Date = 3/13/2020

Source: Suffolk Research Service, Inc., Hampton Bays, NY 11946

Featured For Sale 47 Maidstone Drive Amagansett $2,750,000 Web ID: H12243

Dawn Neway

Lic. R.E. Salesperson

631-329-9400 203-809-4688 dawn.neway@ elliman.com

Diana Neway

Lic. R.E. Salesperson

631-267-7395 516-523-6258 diana.neway@ elliman.com

Amy Nash

Lic. R.E. Salesperson

631-267-7388 516-702-3861 amy.nash@elliman.com

Area

Buy

Sell

AMAGANSETT

Osprey Organization

DiSunno, Lombardi &

1,960,000

96 Bluff Rd

BRIDGEHAMPTON

Durels, S & E

Busby, P

2,600,000

18 Halsey St

CUTCHOGUE

Skrezec, J & Rompel, J

Nolan, J & S

650,000

21905 Route 25

EAST HAMPTON

Brod,K & Hornberger, B

Benson, R

515,000

15 Fanning Ave

37 Devonshire LLC

Krupinski, B by Exr

405,000*

37 Squaw Rd & 075-01-034

Anderson, K & Gregg, T

Newton, D & S

102,251

256 Three Mile Harbor Hog

Scheerer, H

Delasnerie, S & Bernini

1,550,000

15 Maritime Way

Rustin, W

Schwarz, R

340,000*

6 Lilla Ln

Hotchkiss, E

Zaleski, R & Moore, S

765,000

12 Greenway

Architas, P

Steinhandler Trusts

685,000

202 Treescape Dr, Unit 64

Lehmitz, S & J

Morrisey, J & DeJong, L

999,999

105 Swamp Rd

Lebkamp Holdings LLC

Connolly, P by Admr

550,000

32 Cosdrew Ln

Old Trail AssetMgmnt

Nassauer, A

2,025,000

123 Dayton Ln

Seeherman, D

Bausili, A & I & Kaye, A

3,000,018

38 Egypt Ln

Wilensky, M & Silverman

7 Judson LLC

4,325,000

175 Montauk Hwy

1460 The Strand LLC

Karousos, T & J

1,150,000

1460 The Strand

Helaili, A & C

Ulich, E Trust

620,000

270 Dogwood Ln

EASTPORT

Meigel, M

Bouchard, M

508,000

19 N Bay Ave

EAST QUOGUE

NJCC-NYS CRF REO

Chludzinski by Ref

500,000

11 West End Ave

FISHERS ISLAND

Brodie, J & H

McDonough, EM Trust

1,335,000

Off East End Rd

Ogden, Jr, JH & R

F13, LLC

370,000*

Castle Rd

Ogden Jr, JH & R

Reid, M & J

1,945,000

119 Castle Rd

GREENPORT

Greenport W. Holdings

Palermo-Bogardus, K

650,000

190 Pheasant Pl

HAMPTON BAYS

Reality Management 2

Penny, W & J by Ref

421,000

85 Bellows Terr

Gonzalez, J & Flores, M

55 Hampton Corp

665,000

55 School St

MATTITUCK

11535 Main Road LLC

Kestler, F & C

600,000

11535 Route 25

MONTAUK

10 Gibson St LLC

Borrico, A

1,099,000

10 S Gibson Pl

Caggiano Jr, G & S

Valle, E

575,000

55 S Euclid Ave, Unit 1A

Ackerson, J

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Farrell, J

1,295,000

15 Hudson Rd

QUOGUE

Adams, J & S

Schaefer, M by Exr

1,025,000

8 Willow Ln

RIVERHEAD

Sfinarolakis-Kokolis

Appio, J

510,000

120 Northern Pkwy

EAST MARION

Price

Location

Real Realty

April 8, 2020

C-3 27

Deeds Featured For Sale 32 Bay Inlet Road East Hampton $2,998,000 Web ID: H107999

William Wolff Lic. Assoc. R.E. Broker 631-329-9400 917-549-0617 william.wolff@ elliman.com

Area

Buy

Sell

Corwin House Riverhd

Tohill, A

500,000

12 1st St

Ladybugs Riverhead

Hagler, S Trust

750,000

37 -41 E Main St

SAGAPONACK

Nellalice LLC

Prins Steensma Guzzard

12,600,000

210 Gibson Ln

SAG HARBOR

81 Harbor Drive LLC

Kalsch, A Trust

1,810,000

81 Harbor Dr

Sherry, J & C & Witschi, L

Dunbar, R & B

730,298

2367 Noyack Rd

Schwartz, J &Hughes, R

JJ2015 LLC

1,200,000

7 Rawson Rd

Rogers, S & H

Day, B

805,000

20 Laurel Trail

KSCS & 5610 East Fowler

Smith, M & K

3,312,500

34 Jermain Ave

Federal Nat Mortgage

Burnett, G by Ref

836,679

19 Carver St

Green, S & L

Roth Family Trust

720,000

12 Great Circle Dr

Peconic Land Trust

Smyth, E & M

1,250,000*

1 Nedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ln &lots4,5,6,8&9

Lenahan, M & B

Anderson, R & A

750,000

2 Bay View Rd W

Andreika, L

DBI Realty & Leo & Gemini

4,245,000

1 Southampton Hills Ct

Gardner, A

Santacruz, S

742,500

200 Warfield Way

Kato General LLC

FV- I Inc in Trust

828,300

98 Bridies Path

Carrillo, S & M

Squires, J

836,500

122 Wilderness Trail

Sirinian, S & A

Crystal Clear110 Inc

725,000

614 North Magee St

Hanisch, B Trust

Fairfield Southampton

928,700

Southampton Pointe #24L

280 SH LLC

Mele, R

1,050,000

280 Montauk Hwy

Cross River Properts

Tarr, H

2,250,000

50 Middle Pond Rd

Swerdloff, B

Brady, S Trust

2,400,000

44 Little Plains Rd

Weinbaum, F & S

McNally, N

2,100,000

50 Cobblefield Ln

MacKinnon, S & B

Chaos on the Canal

890,000

1705 Arshamomaque Ave

Beirne, J & R

Birdwell, T Trust

550,000

130 Grove Dr

McSloy, K & R

Oak Street Constructn

641,556

111 Sunset Blvd

Heitz, E & Reitman, N

Hughes & Carroll Hughes

460,000

14 Benjamin St

WATER MILL

Arnister, B & E

Drew, T

300,000

848 Head Of Pond Rd

WESTHAMPTON BEACH

Askenazi, L & Todman, M

100 Griffing Avenue Co

3,261,108

100 Griffing Ave

Valentino, C

Rote, J & N

1,855,000

15 Beach Ln

16 Fanning Holding

Suvannavejh, C

1,525,000

16 Fanning Dr

SHELTER ISLAND

SOUTHAMPTON

SOUTHOLD

WADING RIVER

*Vacant Land

Price

Location

28 C-4

The Independent

Geoff Gifkins, Nest Seekers’ Hamptons Regional Leader New Zealander runs one of the most successful Hamptons real estate brokerages By Ty Wenzel ty@indyeastend.com What started as a six-month work commitment for Geoff Gifkins’s family turned into decades of love for the East End. Gifkins keeps Nest Seekers International nimble and prepared for anything and is rocking his Hamptons real estate brokerage’s business — even during a global pandemic. After trying to speak with him for some time, we finally caught up with him to get his unique insights on the current market.

Geoff, you’re originally from New Zealand? We actually only planned to stay for six months for work commitments and then return to New Zealand. Life evolved and six months turned into 25 years. Friends introduced us to the Hamptons and we relocated out here shortly after. Coming from New Zealand, it was the best fit for us. I love New Zealand and try to go back there every year.

play out for 2020? This year we have seen an increase in rentals of over 40 percent, with an unusual level of activity over the last six weeks, with people looking to extend their summer rentals already in place and those looking to rent for a few months. The face of real estate as we know has changed and it is unlikely we will see business as usual for a while. Real estate transactions will continue; however, the way in which these deals are brought together has changed dramatically, with social distancing and the latest guidelines set to transact business safely and responsibly. This global pandemic has affected everyone, and even though New York state has included real estate as an essential business, all agents and brokers need to do their part and act responsibly and in accordance with the guidelines set by our government.

You had your own brokerage. When did you sell it to Nest Seekers and why?

Are there any homes you’re particularly proud of selling for your clients?

I started as an agent working under a local lawyer in Southampton, eventually getting my broker’s license and forming my own brokerage in Water Mill. At the time, I was not looking to sell, but took the initial meeting to simply learn about this rapidly growing firm, Nest Seekers International. Within seven days, my sign was down and theirs was up. It was a great move on many levels. It gave our listings exposure in many markets, and the technology they have in place really supports and helps the agents grow their business and brand. The company has no debt and responded to growth and changes in the market very quickly, always adapting, improving, and getting better.

Nest Seekers International has been in this market now for eight years and we have had phenomenal growth during that period. Also, over that time, we have increased in depth and reach in the market. Last year we sold two of the highest priced listings in the market place, 950 Meadow Lane and 263 Surfside drive, sold by James Giugliano.

Things have been ramping up on the East End since the coronavirus pandemic, especially with rentals. How do you think the market will

What advice would you give today’s sellers so that their home sells quickly and efficiently? You can no longer rely on the traditional model to get your home sold, especially in this current environment. Price the home to meet the market, interview many agents, not just one, to get a good understanding of the market and where your house be positioned and how it compares to the competition. Prepare the house for sale, declutter, make any

repairs necessary, and make sure it is clean in every room of the house. The Hamptons is primarily a second home market, so ensure your listing is seen globally and on all major sites. Target your buyers in NYC, NJ, LA, and Florida, as your buyer will generally not be local. Focus on results and actions, not promises.

What about buyers? Last year I would have told you we are definitely in a buyers’ market. However, with the latest events this may evolve differently as more buyers look to settle here during this time. Buyers need to study the market and compare homes with the criteria they are seeking. Your agent will guide you with best showing practice legally allowed currently, but it is important to see the property at least virtually in its entirety and its surroundings in person. Listings generally highlight the best of properties and many photos have been so enhanced the reality is very different. It is also important to see the neighboring areas, and the proximity to villages, beaches, and transportation. Lastly, remember the best deal may not be the best house to build your new life in.

Are there any up-andcoming neighborhoods we should know about? Shinnecock Hills, North Sea, and Noyac are rapidly emerging with many new construction projects coming to market. They also have many great properties under $1 million, attracting firsthome buyers and investors.

to market your exclusives and to attract sellers? We distribute to over 110 real estate sites globally, with most of our leads being generated from the Nest Seekers site, which has over one million unique views monthly. Whether we like it or not, Zillow still has a major influence and it is one of the biggest platforms in our industry. Some brokers are concerned about the competition, but competition in our industry makes us better, and everyone has to evolve and take service and customer experience to the next level. Zillow, Opendoor, Knock, Offerpad, Redfin, and many more are the most impactful platforms — that is the reality. We welcome the competition. Change is a good thing.

What do you do for fun? Generally, gym workouts, indoor cycling, and yoga. During the lockdown, Noë and I have dusted off the road bikes, and we have started walking the many trails in our community. Our dogs are normally really excited to go for walks but lately not so much, I think their limit is once a day.

Any parting thoughts? Just stay safe. Stay home. Stay healthy. Check on family, friends, and community more often. Catch up on unfinished projects. Learn something new. Life will never be the way it was, so might as well get more creative and resourceful.

What channels are you using

To reach Gifkins or inquire about his properties, call 516-429-6927, or visit www.nestseekers.com/agent/geoffgifkins.

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News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

Bringing Outdoors In

are calling in pine forests here on the East End. And it only gets better as the season progresses.” The initial launch of the program begins with Quevedo’s guided meetings during the next two Wednesdays, on Zoom, the video conferencing service, from 4 to 4:30 PM. On April 8, the focus will be Birds of the South Fork: Spring Migration, and on April 15, Vernal Ponds and Their Ecosystems. On Earth Day, April 22, SOFO environmental educators will present nature programs, and new initiatives will be announced every week online. The video gallery and resources pages are also constantly expanding online. Viewers can watch nature videos offering different perspectives, along with community uploads. Links to other like-minded nonprofit organizations will be available in the resources section as well, with access to topics like botany, invasive species, Long Island ecosystems, sky and space, weather conditions, and more. “With the diversity of habitats within the preserve, it allows naturelovers to explore many different ecosystems including grasslands, woodlands, coastal plain ponds, and vernal ponds,” Quevedo said. “Exploring each ecosystem brings specific wildlife that lives in each habitat, creating a new

South Fork Natural History Museum debuts virtual programming By Nicole Teitler nicole@indyeastend.com

The South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center debuted its digital programming with a special meetand-greet animal tour held on Zoom on April 1. It is one of several initiatives Executive Director Frank Quevedo is implementing in the coming weeks. SOFO is designed, as an organization, to bring people together through education in a natural environment. The Bridgehampton property houses a Native Butterfly Garden, Native Wildflower Garden, Educational Pond, Purple Martin nesting ground site, 40acre Vineyard Field Preserve, and a

six-mile trail system part of the Long Pond Greenbelt. In a time of social distancing, hands-on experiences are on hold. Now, virtual programming allows SOFO to carry out its mission as viewers explore the natural world from the comfort of their home. “The South Fork’s natural world is bursting with life and lots of nature activity,” Quevedo said. “Ospreys are returning to their nests, spring peepers are calling in wetlands, trees are budding, plants are blooming, and migratory birds are returning. We just had tree swallows return and pine warblers

“The South Fork’s natural world is bursting with life and lots of nature activity,” Quevedo said. and changing experience throughout the walk. The SOFO board of trustees, our advisory council, our staff, and supporters have a positive outlook for the future and continue to work hard in anticipation for things to get back to normal.” To sign up for upcoming Zoom meetings, email info@sofo.org and a link will be sent. One to two questions are encouraged to be sent in the email so that Quevedo can answer them during his talks. The community is also encouraged to send in nature videos and recommended nonprofits for additional content. Visit www.sofo.org for programming or to donate.

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The Independent

East Hampton Updating Communication System COVID-19 slows the process, but better service ahead By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com East Hampton Town’s emergency communication system is still getting its upgrade despite the COVID-19 pandemic crippling the nation. Part of the plan calls for a 185-foottall tower to be built on the west side of the access road into the Montauk recycling center, north of the two towers already there. “That new tower is going to take way too long to get bids for and be built,” said Eddie Schnell, the town police department’s lead communications technician, who is heading up the modernization effort. “Everything is getting pushed back because of the coronavirus. So, what we are doing is we are adding the new equipment to the old tower, and once the new tower is ready, we are just going to move the equipment over.”

The old tower he is referring to is the 150-foot-tall one first passed when driving into the recycling center, on which the antennas were added March 3. There also is a 180-foot-tall tower constructed by the United States Coast Guard station at the site. For now, all there is left to do at the Montauk recycling center is the actual wiring of the antennas. That leaves it with the same status as antennas on three other towers — near the airport in Wainscott, on the Amagansett Fire Department’s property, and in Noyac — that are part of the emergency communications modernization program. There are already operational antennas in place on the communications tower behind the courthouse off Pantigo Road in East Hampton. In Springs, litigation has tied up

Antennas have been temporarily placed on this 150-foot tall tower, which will eventually boost East Hampton’s emergency communications. A new tower will go up in the sandy area on the righthand side of this one, which will bring the antennas to an optimal height. Independent/T. E. McMorrow

the project between two possible sites, one on the Springs Fire Department’s monopole, the other at the Girl Scout’s Camp Blue Jay site on Flaggy Hole Road. Schnell said the town is prepared to proceed with either site.

With no end to the COVID-19 crisis in sight, Schnell said the project may no longer be completed by the summer. Once it is completed, there will be a period of fine-tuning, to get the antennas to work in perfect harmony, Schnell said.

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Camps & Recreation East Hampton Sports Camp @ Sportime 631-267-CAMP (2267) www.sportimeny.com/summercamps/ehsc 320 Abrahams Path, East Hampton East Hampton Sports Camp @ SPORTIME offers children between the ages of 3 and 13 an exciting program of sports and games including tennis, baseball, swimming, basketball, soccer, dodgeball, capture-the-flag, and more. Experienced art and music teachers also provide campers with a variety of creative activities, special events, and themed days.

The Country School Summer Camp 631-537-2255 www.countryschooleasthampton.org 7 Industrial Road, Wainscott The Country School Summer Camp is for kids ages 3-and-a-half through 7. There is a full range of activities to choose from, including art, science, music, gymnastics, jewelry-making, team sports, swim-

ming, and more. Call for dates and rates.

iGrow Summer Learning Lab www.projectmost.org iGrow Summer Learning Lab by Project Most takes place during the summer season, from June 29 to August 28, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM. This program is for children ages 5 to 13. Visit www.projectmost.org for more info.

YMCA EH RECenter 631-329-6884 www.ymcali.org 2 Gingerbread Lane, East Hampton At the YMCA Summer Day Camp, children learn leadership skills and develop selfconfidence in a safe, accepting, and stimulating environment. Flexible programs are designed to accommodate all families across Long Island and catered to meet your child’s interests and abilities. If your child can dream it, they can do it at the YMCA Summer Day Camp. Weekly sessions begin June 29 and run through Sep-

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tember 4. YMCA membership is required, and space is limited. Visit the YMCA’s website for more information.

Summer Camp @ ROSS 631-907-5555 www.ross.org/programs/summer 18 Goodfriend Drive, East Hampton Summer Camp @ Ross offers a variety of programs across the arts and athletics. There’s also an innovation lab, media, performing arts, music, and movement for campers between the ages of 6 and 15. Early childhood programming for children 6 and younger includes music and movement, creative exploration, and sports exploration. The camp’s majors and minors programming give campers the opportunity to explore their two favorite areas. Weekly sessions begin June 29 and run through August 21.

Summer Reading Club At East Hampton Library 631-324-0222 www.easthamptonlibrary.org

159 Main Street, East Hampton Registration for East Hampton Library’s summer reading clubs, which have the theme “Imagine Your Story,” begin May 23. This summer, there will be three groups: read-to-me readers (ages twoand-a-half to kindergarten); independent readers (entering first through fifth grade); and young teens (entering sixth through eighth grade.) Prizes will be awarded. The program ends on August 29.

SoFo Camp 631-537-9735 www.sofo.org 377 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton will have one-week marine and coastal maritime explorations. Children will be fully engaged in studies where they learn about marine and coastal ecosystems that are found only on the East End of Long Island. Visit the website for more information.

The Independent

Montauk Food Pantry Ups Distribution Higher frequency will provide food every other Tuesday By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com The Montauk Food Pantry has morphed from a once-a-month, off-season charity, to a year-round operation due to the explosion in the number of those in need on the East End as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pantry will now distribute food every other Tuesday until further notice. Normally, the pantry operates from fall through April, when jobs are scarce, and the pantry’s drive-thru distribution was scheduled to end this month. The line of cars snaking up South Etna Avenue and around the corner to the driveway of the St. Therese of Lisieux Parish Center on South Essex Street opposite the church remained from the time distribution began on March 31 at 5:30 PM, to the time it ended at 7:30. Cars pulled up to the front of the driveway, which leads to the basement level of the parish center, and drivers were greeted by Terry Berger and Cristina Coste, both of whom were wearing masks.

“I found mine in the basement,” said Berger, who is a member of the East Hampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals. Coste asked residents if they were picking up supplies for one family, or two, and if they needed diapers. She then placed stickers on the windshield of the car, indicating the needs. The drivers pulled down to the basement entrance, where a team would hand off the supplies. Pantry Director Alice Houseknecht said over 200 families were served that first night. In the street, along with Berger and Coste, Houseknecht said, was former East Hampton Town detective Bob Reich, who directed traffic, to keep the line of those in need organized. At the basement entrance four people were assigned to hand off bags of supplies, which contained a wide variety of nonperishable food items like soups,

‘Busiest’ 7-Eleven In U.S. Closes Montauk store bustling April 2 shutters doors the next day By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com

Cristina Coste and Terry Berger of Montauk greeted those in need at the driveway of the parish house of St. Therese of Lisieux on March 31. Independent/T. E. McMorrow

canned vegetables, pasta, and tuna fish, as well as some frozen meat. Inside was a team of nine, who assembled the care packages, then ran them to the door. “We also included some Easter candy,” Houseknecht said. While Montauk’s pantry operates every other Tuesday, East Hampton’s schedule runs on the opposite Tuesdays, so those in need can get supplies every week. The pantry was founded 30 years ago by Fran Ecker and Inez Fox to help feed children attending Montauk Public School. Houseknecht has been involved with the organization for the past 17 years, and has been the director the past three. “I was a teacher at the Montauk school,” Houseknecht said. “I became

more and more involved.” The food is mostly purchased from the Montauk IGA. “The Montauk IGA is our lifeline,” Houseknecht said, adding that the workers there are indispensable to the pantry’s operation. To help the food operation, donations in the form of checks or IGA gift cards can be sent to the Montauk Food Pantry, P.O. Box 997, Montauk, NY, 11954. Many have called interested in volunteering. Houseknecht said she’s had to turn them away in order to honor socialdistancing protocols. Tuesday, April 14, is the next day the pantry will be distributing food, between the hours of 5:30 and 7:30 PM.

The 7-Eleven in downtown Montauk, one of the busiest stores in a chain that has over 67,000 locations worldwide, was closed Friday, April 3, until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are in constant communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are sharing updated guidelines from the World Health Organization with stores,” a notice on the front door reads. “We apologize. Based on local jurisdiction,

our store will be closed until further notice.” The day before, the parking lot was filled with cars. It seemed business was still booming. On Friday, yellow caution tape blocked the entrance to the lot, which was empty. The lights in the store had been left on, but there was no one inside walking the aisles of what was named in 2014 the busiest 7-Eleven in the nation by the Dallas-based company 7-Eleven Inc.

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News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

U.S. Census: Missing Addresses, Missing People

ber of occupants as of April 1. I do not know what would have happened had I not been sitting in at that meeting on West 43rd Street. Would 505 West 37th Street, and all its residents, remain uncounted? Consider the alternative: What if someone had picked up the original single questionnaire in the mailroom, filled it out, and returned it? 505 West 37th Street would have been counted as a single-family residence. David McMillen, of Cutchogue, was a demographer and statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau from 1979 to 1990. He then went to work as a staff member for the congressional committees charged with overseeing the Census, first in the Senate from 1991 to 1995, before joining the staff of the House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform from 1995 to 2006. He told me what I experienced was no freak accident. Missing addresses is a regular occurrence. The master address list, he said, “has always been nearly perfect if you talk to the Census Bureau, but is incredibly problematic to anybody at the local level.” The Census Address List Improvement Act, signed into law in 1994, was written to ensure local governments have a say in updating the Census Bureau’s list. However, the Census Bureau,

An entire housing complex almost went uncounted in 2010 By T. E. McMorrow t.e@indyeastend.com It was August 2010. The decennial U.S. Census counting was coming to a close in Manhattan. We were wrapping up one of the final operations — Vacant Delete Check. I was sitting in on a crew meeting at an outdoor café on West 43rd Street. As a supervisor in one of the most densely-populated districts in the country, I would bike from meeting to meeting to hear firsthand what workers were experiencing in the field. I was answering their questions and offering advice. The idea behind Vacant Delete Check was to confirm that an address previously marked by a census taker as nonexistent was just that. If it was proven, the address was permanently deleted from the bureau’s master address list. A census taker at the West 43rd Street meeting was uncertain how to proceed with a questionnaire for a West 37th Street address, lacking an apartment number. Should she delete it, since it did not correspond with an actual apartment? Looking at the address, it was designated a single living space, but there were actually two buildings — one 43 stories tall, the other 34, with 845 apartments between them. The complex, owned by TF Cornerstone, was designed by Gary Handel Architects, and was one of the first in what has been an explosion of high-rise luxury residential buildings in the Hudson Yards neighborhood. In April 2009, it was still under construction. An enumerator working in the Census Bureau’s address canvassing operation found it and recorded its location on a handheld computer, using a stylus pen to place a dot on a map. Address canvassing creates the master list of residential addresses that must be accounted for, occupied or not, during the Census the following year. At that time the Harris Corporation was providing the U.S. military with state-of-the-art GPS for American soldiers in war zones, but that was not the case with the handheld devices, also provided by Harris, issued to workers during the canvassing operation. The quality of the maps produced

by census takers have widely varied. After the map spot was created for 505 West 37th Street in 2009, no one took the next step, which would have been to determine what the actual layout was of the apartments inside. In March 2010, a single census form was mailed to the address without an apartment number. That form had not been returned, so the address was assigned to a census taker during the Nonresponse Follow-Up operation. The enumerator sent to the building in May 2010 decided to delete the address, since it lacked an apartment number. In doing so, the census-taker was following orders. A section of the 2010 Enumerator Manual read: “Although your job as a Nonresponse Follow-Up enumerator does not include looking for housing units that are missing from the address list, it is possible to discover an additional housing unit while interviewing at a Nonresponse Follow-Up address.” What followed were instructions on how to add units, but the emphasis on the negative, “does not include looking for housing units that are missing,” with the word “not” highlighted, was an invitation to keep on walking. Deleting one address was a heck of a lot easier than creating 845 new ones. I brought the building to the attention of my supervisor, Jon Baker, who was part of the permanent Census Bureau. Baker was dedicated, bright, and creative. He was always looking for solutions. He asked me to try to get an accurate population count for the building. There was no time to go unit, so I went and spoke to the concierge, who directed me to the on-site rental office. That agent told me to call TF Cornerstone. I called, and the company said it would not be able to help. I visited the building a couple more times without success. Baker encouraged me to give it another shot. In the rental office that day was a new face, an immigrant, happy to participate in this civic exercise in his adopted country. He took the time to give me a listing of every unit in both buildings, without names, but with the num-

505 West 37th Street in Manhattan was an invisible building to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010. Independent/T. E. McMorrow

with its penchant for secrecy, speaking in its own language of acronyms, does not mesh well with local government. “If you are not on the address list,” McMillen said, “you don’t get counted.” “The Census, Then and Now,” is an ongoing series in The Independent. The next piece will explore possible solutions to the current crisis the Census Bureau finds itself in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. T. E. McMorrow has worked on three decennial censuses and was a field operations supervisor covering Manhattan in 2010. If you are a part of the 2020 operation and wish to comment on the current operation itself, excluding any personal information gathered, contact the author.

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The Independent

Sand In My Shoes By Denis Hamill

The Biggest Story Ever Six feet away or six feet under denishamill@gmail.com

Ryan sat in his lounge chair by the window and watched the ghosts crowd the empty street. Birds chirped. Squirrels foraged. The mailman dropped a single piece of mail on the stoop like a ticking bomb and fled. There was no traffic, except for an occasional fire truck, or ambulance, or cop car on its way to take out the coronavirus dead in the spring of 2020. Ryan’s son Rory was home from college and even though he was a serious political science major, he refused to watch the news channels. “We need to laugh, Dad,” he said. “If there is real news we need to know, I’ll get alerts on my phone. I refuse to watch candidates campaign on the bodies of the dead. Instead, I am going to watch ‘Two and a Half Men,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘Family Guy,’ ‘Impractical Jokers.’ Mindless laughs in a time of crazy death that we can’t do much about. Until we vote in November.” People were separating six feet away or six feet under and the worst was yet to come. Every time Ryan saw a diagram of “the curve” he thought of Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the mountain. Wearing a mask and gloves. As a journalist, Ryan had covered the biggest stories of his time. The great blackout of 1977, Son of Sam, gas

shortages, horrific plane crashes, the AIDS epidemic, the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Councilman Harvey Milk in San Francisco, The Troubles and hunger strikes in Northern Ireland, the Crown Heights riots, the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King police video beating, the 1993 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the horrific Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. He covered the Boston Marathon bombings, the mayhem of Superstorm Sandy, the evil mass murder of school children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, and the health scares like the swine flu, zika virus, West Nile, bird flu, and Ebola. He covered the crack epidemic of the late 1980s, the assassination of police officer Eddie Byrne, the police killing of Amadou Diallo, the police killing of Patrick Dorismond, the Abner Louima police sodomy, the police killing of Eric Garner, the riots in Ferguson after the police killing of Michael Brown. Ryan thought he had seen it all. He’d covered big trials for the Preppie Killer in Central Park, the Howard Beach race trial, the Bensonhurst race trial, the 77th Precinct police corruption trials, the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shootings by Colin Ferguson, the 2006 Mafia Cops trial, the Sean Bell police

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killing trial, and the Etan Patz kidnap murder trial. He’d covered the elections and administrations of six New York City mayors, five New York governors, countless congressional and U.S. Senate races up to the election of our first black president, Barack Obama.

He Had Seen Everything By the time Ryan left the hemorrhaging daily newspaper business to pass on what he’d learned as a street reporter/ columnist for daily newspapers in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston to journalism students, he didn’t think there was much he’d missed along the way. Ryan covered the 10-day funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and ended a 40-year daily newspaper career covering Pope Francis’s historic visit to New York and Philadelphia as a way of saying “Amen” to a career that was a ringside seat to history. Ryan thought he’d seen everything. Then came the story that would define the new century: The coronavirus pandemic. A story that touched everyone, everywhere. And a story that Ryan was happy he did not have to cover. If ever there was story for younger reporters to cut their second teeth on this was it. This was the story that would define their generation, their century, and the future of journalism. The details they reported would be the first draft of this terrible chapter of human history. You needed young brave reporters with boundless energy willing to don masks and gloves and hazmat suits to get into the hospitals to report on the heroes who were literally risking their lives to save the lives of strangers the way firefighters rushed into the doomed World Trade Center on 9/11. We needed young, loud, tough voices to shout truth to power, especially politicians who tried to spin votes out of the freshly-dug graves of COVID-19 victims. At his new job as a staff writer for a network TV police drama, Ryan had lost a sweet, happy, talented co-worker who was just 45. Then, a firefighter friend called to say that his nephew, an iron man, was bent into a fetal ball for five nights with his own body in feverish flames. Ryan worried daily about his 85-year-old brother with diabetes who needed to go to the hospital three times a week for dialysis. He worried about his recently-widowed sister who would turn 80 on May 1. And his cancer-surviving daughter who could not get her regular cancer scan because of the novel coronavirus. And his cancer survivor brother who, in his 70s, lived alone.

Or his adult son who worked for a city agency with daily contact with the public but which had no personal protective equipment and who, contrary to the blatant lies of cheap pols, cannot get a COVID-19 test even though his own supervisor — with whom he’d had direct contact — had tested positive.

Robin Hood Warehouse Ryan’s days were filled with angst. So, he welcomed a laugh when an old bookmaker called to check on his health and to tell him that he and his crew of “street guys” had established a Robin Hood warehouse of soup, cereal, diapers, wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer, and when the local parish priest told them of families in true need, beefy guys with pinkie rings and $1200 handmade shoes showed up to give free provisions. “We’ve been in touch with oldtime street guys all over the country who are express-mailing us thermometers, masks, gloves, and tuna fish, which right now is as valuable on the street as it is in jail. Local nurses are coming to us for thermometers and masks. Who the hell is running things in this country? Thank God for Governor Andrew Cuomo, and I’m a registered Republican.” Suddenly, old wise guys are playing the Three Wise Men, bearing gifts instead of collecting bets. Then, a restaurant owner who has served Manhattan’s bustling theater crowd for the past four decades told Ryan, “This is like a thousand 9/11s.” The words fell from his lips like a tower of despair. His life, his livelihood, would never be the same. Ryan received another call from an old reporter pal he’d come up with in the journalism guild. He was still doing great work for a popular daily publication. “But I’m doing it by phone,” he said. “I’m in the high-risk age group. I’m just not gonna die for a story.” And so, Ryan was actually relieved that he was no longer chasing daily newspaper stories. Instead, he sat quarantined in his isolated room trying to put 14 days between him and his last dirty straphanger pole, turnstile, door, sneeze, cough, and rant on his last ride on the LIRR, subway, and city bus that he took to his daily job in Manhattan. When Ryan left the daily newspaper business in 2015, Ryan thought he’d seen it all in a 40-year career chasing the biggest stories of his time. But now he gazed out his window at a terrifying story that resembled an ominous ghost town. And it was filling up with new restless ghosts by the minute in the biggest story of Ryan’s lifetime.

News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

The Library Comes To You Community fixtures making house calls using virtual technology By Karen Fredericks karen@karenfredericks.com Visiting the library remains the most common cultural activity Americans engage in, according to Gallup, Inc., an American analytics and advisory company based in Washington, D.C. Their closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic has great impact, and in this unprecedented time they’re finding ways to remain a meaningful resource to the communities they serve. Creative solutions are popping up all over the East End, with many libraries utilizing social media and virtual technology. And there’s programs for everyone, from preschoolers to seniors. Keep in mind that no library card is needed for most offerings, especially those on social media, so when exploring what’s available don’t limit yourself to your local library. And as for library cards, several libraries are allowing you to sign up online. If tech-challenged or you haven’t previously used virtual meetup software, there’s concise how-to YouTube videos on using Zoom and Google Hangouts. Typing in “Young Adult East Hampton Library” in the search bar will lead you to the Teen Tech Titans of the East Hampton Library. You can find these useful tutorials, with more to come. Tech Titans are also running a Teen Tech Assistance Program on Saturday mornings from 10 AM to noon, where questions can be asked and answered. Here are some library offerings across the South Fork:

Westhampton Free Library Westhampton Free Library director Danielle Waskiewicz said the library has many digital resources. “We are doing our best to provide our community with information in content to the best of our ability so that our community doesn’t feel isolated,” she said. “Our website is updated often and is the best source for our digital resources. Our Facebook pages have staff content and important information.” Waskiewicz said there’s a virtual story time, guitar lessons, and more. Daily enewsletters are also sent out with internet finds and important local information. Many library resources are also available online, videos can be streamed with Hoopla and Kanopy, and eBooks and

audiobooks are still available. For more information, visit westhamptonlibrary.net.

Hampton Bays Public Library Besides eBooks and audiobooks, Hampton Bays Public Library is offering free downloads of movies. Library director Susan LaVista says she expects cooking and exercise classes, craft programs, musical performances, and more to be available soon. “All departments will continue adding new things as we get used to operating solely online,” she said. “We are working with our regular program providers and have challenged them to get creative and find ways to provide programs to our patrons remotely.” The reference department added links to COVID-19 information and resources, and expanded online chat hours. The teen department also has online resources and a tab titled Virtual Exploration that links to many others. Daily programs and news are being posted to Facebook and Instagram. The children’s department has included resources for families and caregivers, posted on a blog with online story times, coloring and drawing activities, and more. “We, along with all Suffolk libraries, are learning new ways to do our work remotely, and to find new ways to provide services and programs to our patrons of all ages,” LaVista said. “It’s a challenge that I know we will meet with determination, perseverance, and creativity.” Visit hamptonbayslibrary.org to learn more.

Rogers Memorial Library Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton will remain closed through April 19, and until that time the library will be providing updates through emails, its website, Facebook, and Instagram. Books, movies, music, TV shows, and more can be downloaded or streamed, and the library is hosting a talking history series and short story book club. There’s also Books & Booze, and virtual HIIT workouts on Zoom. A library card is needed for most services, but can be applied for online. “We’re ramping up our presence on

Independent/Liz Burns

social media so we can reach as many community members as possible and offer them the greatest number of activities they can participate in from home, including information on help for small business information on loans and small business grants,” library director Liz Burns said. “The library staff are working hard at creating ways to stay connected to our community and deliver services remotely, so please stay tuned and check back often.” Patrons can also sign up for email blasts, sent out twice a week. Visit www.myrml.org for more information.

Hampton Library Hampton Library in Bridgehampton will be using Zoom for story times, bedtime stories, music, teen book clubs, crafts, cooking, Dungeons & Dragons, contests, trivia, Tai chi, and crystal singing bowl meditation. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback, especially from our teens, who are looking for a bit of normalcy during what are very uncertain times,” library director Kelly Harris said. “Our goal is to continue to be the ‘third place’ — referring to places where people spend time between home and work — for our community. Even if that third place is virtual.” The Board of Trustees held a virtual special meeting March 25 to discuss the rebirth and renewal of the library, shown through a redesign. A series of public charrettes and online surveys will soon be available to help the library trustees make better use of the space for the community. “The Hampton Library is embarking on a redesign of our public space to better meet the needs of our users,” Harris said. “In recent years it has become evident we need to address an adequate space for our tweens and teens. Our meeting room spaces are both too small, or not intimate enough, for the library’s language and discussion classes. We need to find both collaborative and quiet space for patrons, and workspace for one-on-one tech help we provide on a daily basis. We are very fortunate to have an engaged community of users and the input will be invaluable

in setting the course of the library in the future.” To learn more, visit myhamptonlibrary.org.

John Jermain Memorial Library Sag Harbor’s John Jermain Memorial Library has a blog, It’s Germane, that can be followed for at-home ideas to learn and pass the time, as well as available resources. Categories include librarians’ top picks for children, parents, and educators, creating your own legal documents, looking for health insurance, and poetry in empty spaces. “We have continued to make every effort to serve our patrons,” library director Catherine Creedon said. “Sag Harbor is such a close-knit community, and we know that now, more than ever, John Jermain needs to be present and responsive to the needs of our neighbors. We’re collaborating with the school to support curriculum and providing access to live tutoring every school day through the Brainfuse database, as well as live tutoring in regents math once a week.” A FAQ page with community information was also added, and a COVID-19 Sag Harbor archive, both updated daily. Other online items include book clubs, art classes, trivia, chat with a librarian, and baby beats music. If you sign up for the email list, you will receive an email each Sunday evening with details for the week ahead. Visit www.johnjermain.org for more information.

East Hampton Library For kids, East Hampton Library is offering live picture book readings and weekly craft postings like make-fromhome activities. For young adults, there’s an Instagram-based social distancing challenge, online college admissions workshops, and a teen photo contest for outdoor shots and selfies — no groups, of course. “There will also be an online workshop for teens — Long Distance RelaContinued On Page 42.

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North Fork THE

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Assist Maureen’s Haven Family Service League’s 24-hour crisis care center still open By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Since 2002, Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach and its volunteers have been an example of how community members unite and work together to help those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, executive director Dan O’Shea wants residents to know now is no different. “In these unprecedented times, Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach is doing everything it can to make sure that the homeless in our community are not forgotten,” O’Shea said. “The staff is working tirelessly and is continuing to provide critical services for our guests, and we fully anticipate an increased demand for help in the coming weeks. Our growing concern is that the homeless will be overlooked, and we are asking the community for help.” The executive director said his Riverhead shelter is in immediate need of a number of critical items. This includes personal care things like protective gloves, alcohol swabs, hand sanitizer, disinfectants, and paper products; cleaning products like antibacterial wipes or sprays, bleach, and hand soap; and

non-perishable food. Due to the novel coronavirus and how it spreads, the organization is not accepting used clothing or other used or open household items at this time. O’Shea said he also anticipates needing tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, and other camping-related items, though these donations will also need to be new. “Our plan is to continue to provide critical services where we can,” O’Shea said. “We hope to be able to provide meals and other essential services, and we are calling for support. We are currently putting measures in place to further step up services and we are actively planning on ways to ensure the homeless in our community will continue to get the help they need.” Looking to April, additional plans are being put in place to coordinate meals. Maureen’s Haven is connecting with similar organizations and additional volunteers that can assist with critical services. The homeless shelter is also in need of volunteers to take overnight shifts, even if just for an evening. “I would like to thank all of the volunteers and supporters who have been

Independent/Maureen’s Haven

so unbelievably supportive of us during these trying times,” O’Shea said. “They heard our call to action and have been instrumental in helping us keep the homeless fed, warm, and safe.” The executive director personally thanked team members Jennifer, Christian, Corey, and Ricky for their tireless dedication. “They have been working nonstop for the past few days and have given so much of themselves to ensure our guests stay safe,” O’Shea said. “They give a voice to the homeless and are truly special people. I am grateful to have them on my team.” To volunteer, help with overnights, donate, or set up a drop-off, call 631-7276831 or email O’Shea at dan@maureenshaven.org.

Family Service League With change and uncertainty related to COVID-19, many adults and children are

feeling pressure, which often manifests itself in forms of extreme anxiety, depression, feelings of isolation, and more. Family Service League’s DASH Crisis Care Center and hotline are open 24-hours a day and remain an alternative to going to the emergency room of a hospital. With 20 locations, including two in Riverhead, and one in Greenport, Mattituck, Laurel, Westhampton Beach, and East Hampton, the nonprofit offers mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and crisis care for children and adults. The hotline can be reached by calling 631-9523333. The website www.fsl-li.org can be visited for additional services. “Facing mental health or substance abuse issues can be overwhelming, especially combined with the additional stress and challenges our communities are facing due to the COVID-19 virus,” Family Service League president and CEO Karen Boorshtein said. “Family SerContinued On Page 42.

NoFo Garden To Honor Essential Workers Mattituck Girl Scout Troop 865 seeks help from community By Bridget LeRoy bridget@indyeastend.com Mattituck Girl Scout Troop 865 is going for bronze, and the girls are doing it with butterflies. The idea is to create a garden at Vet-

erans Park, “and we want to grow it into an honorary garden to honor COVID-19 essential workers, our community heroes, for their efforts in the pandemic of 2020,”

Girl Scout Troop 865's garden will honor COVID-19 workers. Independent/Courtesy Girl Scout Troop 865

said Troop Leader Bethany Siar. The Mattituck Park District board of commissioners has already given the go-

ahead. “We look forward to seeing the comContinued On Page 38.

April 8, 2020

Sports NCAA Sets Revised Financial Distribution Insurance policy on canceled championships used to support athletes By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline. Independent/NCAA

In response to the cancellation of all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, the Board of Governors voted unanimously to distribute $225 million in June to Division I members to specifically focus on supporting college athletes. Division I revenue distribution for 2020 was previously budgeted at approximately $600 million, with the first distribution scheduled for April. The NCAA receives most of its revenue from the Division I men’s basketball championship television and marketing rights, as well as championship ticket sales. The revenue is used to provide distributions to member conferences and schools along with funding championships, national programs, and other initiatives to support student-athletes. Of the $225 million distribution, $50 million will come from NCAA reserves. The NCAA also has a $270-million event cancellation insurance policy, and the proceeds, when received, will be used to pay off a line of credit that will cover the remaining distribution within 12 months. “Our priority is to ensure that we are

able to support student-athletes and continue to provide opportunity as broadly as possible,” said Division I board chair Eli Capilouto, president at University of Kentucky.

Scholarship Details Members also adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more members on scholarship to account for incoming recruits and student-athletes who had been in their last year of eligibility who decide to stay. In a nod to the financial uncertainty faced by higher education, the vote provides schools with the flexibility to give students the opportunity to return for 2020-21 without requiring athletics aid be provided at the same level awarded for 2019-20. This flexibility applies only to student-athletes who would have exhausted eligibility in 2019-20. Schools will also have the ability to use the NCAA’s Student Assistance Fund to pay for scholarships for students who take advantage of the additional eligibility flexibility. Division I rules limit student-ath-

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letes to four seasons of competition in a five-year period. The council’s decision allows schools to self-apply waivers to restore one of those to student-athletes who had competed while eligible in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 spring season. Winter sports were not included in the decision. Council members declined to extend eligibility for student-athletes in sports where all or much of their regular seasons was completed. The council also increased the roster limit in baseball for student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the only spring sport with such a limit.

Recruiting Dead Period The committee voted to extend the suspension of in-person recruiting activity through May 31. Institutional staff members are still allowed to communicate with prospective student-athletes by phone or email. The committee voted to lift its restriction on issuing institutional athletics financial aid agreements beginning April 16. The members also recommended

providing the enforcement staff additional authority to address COVID-19-related challenges with the NCAA Transfer Portal and permission-to-contact violations.

What Now? NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline said student-athletes have been most concerned about their mental health and sense of well-being. “Something was taken away from them very suddenly, and when that happens, that is when you become most vulnerable for mental health symptoms and disorders,” said Hainline, who spoke with members of a student-athlete liaison group, made up of members of various student-athlete advisory committees. “We are working to provide guidelines for them, such as the importance of setting up a regular schedule of discipline and doing the things that are necessary for self-care, fitness, and wellness.” The advisory panel has turned its attention to what’s to come, like training during social distancing and fall sports. Continued On Page 40.

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Spring Sports On Hold

Suffolk County spring sports will remain suspended until April 29. The move comes following New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that schools will remain closed until that time as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic. “Once again, no practice of any kind is permitted during this time,” said Section XI, the governing body of Suffolk County athletics, in a statement. “If we do go back

to school we are committed to having an abbreviated spring season for our studentathletes.” While schools stay closed, New York State Public High School Athletic Association Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas urged students to follow all protocols to stay safe. “Student athletes: you are leaders in your school and community,” Dr. Zayas

said. “Please stay home and encourage others to do the same; set a good example. Just like any team, if we all work together we can achieve great things.” With multiple social media challenges popping up to aid in distraction from the crisis caused by COVID-19, Section XI chose to do the same. To engage passionate Section XI student-athletes, coaches, parents, and fans, Section XI asked: “What’s the best Section XI team of all-time? Any sport, any year.” Go to Twitter.com/SectXISuffolk to join the conversation. The National Federation of State High School Associations has a hashtag “#MyReasonWhy” that has also grown in popularity during this time, accompanying posts detailing how sports has impacted and changed the lives of many.

Girl Scouts

Siar said the troop will be creating a wish list at Trimble’s in Cutchogue, but is happy to get help from any other nursery that may be willing to pitch in, along with anyone who may want to donate statuary, benches, bird baths, and more. “We will be planting only native plants, such as seaside goldenrod, fallblooming asters for the seashore birds, and then butterfly bushes and more to come after I hear from Trimble’s,” Siar said. “This will continue post-pandemic, since I work at the Mattituck Park District

and our troop meets there. We will come there individually — and the community is welcome to as well — to plant, but I told the troop if they run into anyone else there, it isn’t playtime, they have to social distance and plant apart from each other.” Donations can be purchased anywhere, but Trimble’s will be keeping a list of what the troop needs. “The girls had planned on the butterfly garden for their Bronze Award in February,” Siar said, adding the troop also put in for approval with Girl Scouts of Suffolk

Call comes after Cuomo extends school suspension until April 29 By Desirée Keegan desiree@indyeastend.com

Continued From Page 35. munity come together individually with plants to create a beautiful garden in this troublesome time,” said Siar, who coleads the girls with Trisha Zlatniski. The troop — most likely along with some members of Boy Scout Pack 39 — will plant flowers and herbs that attract butterflies, which don’t get as much attention as bees, but also serve as pollinators for many medicinal plants and flora.

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“Know what is contagious? Teamwork,” the National Federation of State High School Associations said. “Let’s spread positivity and the unwavering conviction that nothing can break our spirit — just like in high school sports. We’ve got this, people. Let’s do it. Together.” Seven states have announced schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, including Arizona, Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Vermont, and Virginia. It is unclear whether New York will follow suit,. “Section XI student-athletes, you are leaders in every category,” Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs said. “This should be no exception. Find a place to work out hard in a safe manner, following the rules set to keep everyone safe. We are very proud of all of you.” County. “Then, over the past month, we have been emailing and still earning patches — that I mail to them — for things like virtual museum tours and park cleanups.” “We were making signs for the community heroes to bring over to the testing center when we started coming up with the idea to grow it into a community heroes garden,” Siar said, “where everyone could participate and it would be a nice dedication.” Those who want to donate or help can contact Siar at nofogs865@yahoo. com or by calling 631-848-8858.

Sports

April 8, 2020

INDY FIT By Nicole Teitler

Keeping Calm With Ina Visich This wellness warrior means business nicole@indyeastend.com @NikkiOnTheDaily Instagram is Tinder for business relationships. Scroll through some photos, feel a mutual connection, start a conversation, and begin chatting. That’s how I came across Ina Visich of Wading River’s Solntse Hot Yoga and SO Matcha Bar. Her images inspire, from her physical form to her down-to-earth relatability. After months — it could even be years — of forming a friendship through Instagram likes and comments, we finally met — via Zoom. I grabbed my workout mat, readied my camera in the backyard, and began a 50-minute no-weight barre session. According to my Fitbit, I had quite the workout. And, though virtual, I could feel the sincerity and passion in her practice. Visich is all for empowering minds as well as bodies.

How are you helping clients reach their health goals? I believe that being consistent is the key to achieving any kind of goals, not just health goals. I’ve also been adding pop-up guided meditations at night for my customers to tune into with their earphones before bed to help with the worrisome insomnia that I’m sure many are experiencing. I believe the studio now has a very well-rounded schedule which, if practiced consistently, can have a really positive impact on the physical and emotional health of my customers.

What is the difference you hope to make in people’s lives? I’m hoping this practice can make the same impact in people’s lives it made in mine. Even though I only started with yoga, I’ve been slowly introducing more strength training into my class schedule, such as low-impact weight-bearing exercises. It’s excellent for people with injuries, autoimmune diseases, etc. Without having a high impact on joints and spine, customers still get toning and cardio.

How has business for you changed since social distancing? The closure of the physical location seemed like the end of the world for me. I’ve been serving my community nonstop for three-and-a-half years. But it forced me to take a step back and realize that in this digital world I can still continue to serve, make a difference, and make an impact, even if not at the physical location. About a week before closure, we started live streaming classes and noticed that people that were not members started reaching out with interest in just being online members. So, the online base started growing. The positive response from the community has been overwhelmingly amazing. I’m able to keep connecting with my community, keep them going, keep them positive, and hopefully make a difference. I hardly had made any changes to our usual schedule, minus 5 AM classes.

When do you livestream? We stream three classes daily. The schedule can be viewed on the website or the scheduling app Wellness Living Achieve. We stream through Zoom and Facebook, the private group Solntse Hot Yoga Online Classes. The Zoom access codes are emailed daily to clients and we communicate several times a day through social media. Workouts are free for our existing members and their families. For people that aren’t members, we have rolled out a few online only options that can be purchased on the website.

What are you doing that’s new? Due to the physical closure, I started recording classes and building an online platform. I’ve been working on it for a while, but really had no time to focus due to my getting an MBA at Long Is-

land University Brooklyn. Now that my school is all online and my studio is all in live format, I have the time to focus on rolling out a professional online yoga platform, which I’m planning to take on a national level, if not international. I have big plans. Once the platform is launched, it will be accessible on www.inaflows.com.

How are you staying afloat right now? All of the members and non-members have been incredibly supportive of the business, knowing how difficult this time is to sustain employees and try to reopen without major changes once the closure has been lifted by the state authorities. We also have been receiving some donations from members who are determined to help, do everything they can to keep the studio open. There’s nothing in the world that I appreciate more than pure, heartfelt, selfless service, and that’s exactly what I’m seeing happening in my community. It’s truly inspiring.

What are you doing to stay mentally sound? Connecting with my customers while

live streaming, meditation, connecting with friends, reaching out to those whom I lost touch with due to life being so busy before the quarantine. Having a new business project — building the platform — is taking all of the free time I have from my live streaming and MBA. I’m an entrepreneur through and through. I always have a new business project in mind, and I’m very happy now that I have the time to develop this one. I think it’s important to have a project that can occupy and develop your intellect.

What is the first thing you’re excited to do when life goes back to “normal?” I cannot wait to throw a reopening party for the studio. This one will be the biggest one yet. I’m planning to have a DJ, free classes throughout the day, maybe some dancing, cheese tasting, etc. There’s so much anticipation to reopen the doors. I’ve never been this excited. Solntse Hot Yoga’s schedule can be viewed at www.solntseyoga.com. Follow Visich on Instagram at @inavisich.

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NCAA

in mid-March. It has upended the lives of student-athletes, Murthy said, navigating the new normal and the lack of social connections made through sports. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re developing an even greater appreciation for how much we rely on each other, and how much we rely on having people in our lives who we can see, we can go visit, we can catch a movie with, we can take a walk with,â&#x20AC;? Murthy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are things that perhaps some of us took for granted. And I think this experience is making it clear that we truly do need each other.â&#x20AC;? The NCAA thanked student-athletes for their social responsibility and knowing their sacrifice is for a greater good. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As collegiate athletes, we have all persevered through challenges, injury, and heartbreak, and we have come out even stronger on the other side,â&#x20AC;? the NCAA said in an open letter to studentathletes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now is the time to tap into the grit we have all developed through our athletics experience and to realize our identity is greater than our sport. Sports are what we do, but they are not who we are.â&#x20AC;? Due to the evolving COVID-19 public health situation, the NCAA national office will extend the suspension of normal building operations in Indianapolis through May 1. All other operations will

Continued From Page 36. For example, it recommends against any exercise involving sharing a ball. As far as fall sports go, it is impossible to predict. Hainline held conference calls with dozens of groups in the past weeks to discuss the COVID-19 trajectory, exercise and practice recommendations, and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the horizon. There have been calls with representatives from the NBA, International Olympic Committee, International Tennis Federation, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As chair of the International Tennis Federation Sports Science and Medicine Commission, Hainline was part of a task force that assessed whether upcoming tennis tournaments in Europe and Asia, including Olympic qualifying events, could be played, and if so, where. He was instrumental in presenting the information he collected during that time to the Board of Governors with board member Dr. Vivek Murthy, who was the 19th U.S. Surgeon General, serving in that position from 2014-17. They worked with a group of physicians from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, receiving detailed information back in January, before deciding to cancel the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball championship and spring sports

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continue as the NCAA national office staff works remotely. NCAA employees will continue to be accessible through regular communication channels. The length of the suspension will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. For the full story and more agreement details visit www.indyeastend.com.

Spotlight

Continued From Page 16. motely still need virtual care. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is safe to say all lives have been, or will be, touched by the COVID-19 pan-

demic,â&#x20AC;? Giugliano said, adding a member of his own family was diagnosed, and has since recovered. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is not a drill . . . I would like to extend my personal admiration to thank all the health care workers; that include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistants, medical assistants, laboratory personnel, hospital housekeeping personnel, secretaries, etc. for all their knowledge and care in this crisis.â&#x20AC;? Dr. Giugliano emphasizes to keep a small social bubble as â&#x20AC;&#x153;young people can be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;super spreadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? without ever appearing sick at all.

EYE ON EDUCATION By Dr. Dominic Annacone

Ending Student Failure The achievement evaluation system needs reform Receiving failing grades, being retained at a grade level, or denied high school diplomas are sure ways to traumatize students and destroy their self-confidence. Conventional grading, report cards, and similar measures represent a form of educational malpractice and need to be replaced by procedures that promote achievement, not prevent it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always felt grading systems were highly subjective and arbitrary. Students come home with conventional report cards containing grades that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possibly provide a comprehensive analysis of what the student did or didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t learn. More importantly, these assessment practices do little to improve student grades or help them or their parents. Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be ludicrous if physicians conducted examinations of their patients and then told them they earned a D or an F, with no specific diagnostic report? School districts need to develop curricula in terms of specific learning objectives that describe what a student should know and be able to do in all subject areas at all grade levels. This is a daunting task, but the first important step was taken in 2009 with the identification of Common Core Standards. These general goals were adopted by 48 states and by New York in 2010, and are available in math, English/language arts, science, and social studies in this state. They provide a framework for school districts to enumerate specific objectives leading to curriculum information available to teachers, students, parents, and the general public. The purpose of testing would be to determine whether students have met the criteria for saying theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve

mastered those objectives. To achieve a diagnostic approach to student evaluation, the first step is to go back to the concept of behavioral objectives introduced in 1960s and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;70s. Spelling out what students are supposed to know will inform them, parents, and the general public of those expectations, making schools more transparent and open to scrutiny. An example of these objectives goes something like this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;After instruction in grammatical standards, including correct spelling, punctuation, and usage; theme development; and paragraph construction, the student will be able to compose an essay of at least 500 words on a subject of his or her choosing.â&#x20AC;? The studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essay can be analyzed and the teacher can determine what aspects of that objective have been met and where further instruction is needed. This determination replaces a grade for the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. Negative grading is eliminated and the focus is on constructive feedback. Testing becomes solely diagnostic and grades superfluous if the items are listed in behavioral terms (i.e. â&#x20AC;&#x153;the student will know this or that and have the skills to do these things.â&#x20AC;?) Testing and other forms of evaluation are only for determining whether students have mastered those learning objectives and for providing direction for future teaching and learning. Grades become meaningless and labeling studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; failures is eliminated. (The question remains, how do we evaluate teacher performance in the absence of high-stakes testing and with the elimination of grading? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll attempt to address this question in a future article.)

News & Opinion

April 8, 2020

Surgical Masks Continued From Page 6.

“A new trend is in place that puts our residents at further risk — people seeking refuge from the metropolitan areas,” Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said via press release on March 25. “It is simple math: the more people that come, the greater the spread and the greater the confirmed cases.”

State Of Emergency & Closures East Hampton Village Mayor Richard Lawler declared a State of Emergency on Friday, April 3, which expands on an earlier March 13 ruling. The new order gives the mayor the authority to close all village buildings to the public with the exception of the police department headquarters on Cedar Street. In addition, Village Police Chief

Mike Tracey and/or the mayor may take “whatever actions are deemed necessary to protect public health and safety.” Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller, concerned some residents were using public parks in defiance of a state mandate on social gatherings, shut down all public basketball courts and said a device would be installed to keep balls from going through the hoop. The skate park, the hockey rink at Stotzky Park, and all dog parks are also closed. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell ordered all town active recreation facilities closed until further notice. “This includes all courts, ball fields, and the hockey rink,” he said. “Participants of any games or competitions will be dispersed. The parks will remain open for passive use only providing that social distancing and gathering prohibitions are honored.” Additional reporting by Jessica MackinCipro

Teenager Helps Out Pantry

To survive, we have to band together. An East Hampton teenager took that message to heart after hearing locals were going without food and supplies. So, last week he decided to do something about it. “My father was telling me about the empty shelves in our local grocery stores, and he heard about the serious need the East Hampton Food Pantry had,” Jerry Simons Jr. said. After donating $70, he said he was convinced to start a GoFundMe campaign. “I raised $700 in less than 12 hours, and I raised it then to $5000, and I achieved that in about 24 hours,” Simons Jr. said. “I recently raised it to $7000 in the hopes of getting even more support.”

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Jerry Simons Jr., stunned by the fact people are going hungry, is raising money for the East Hampton Food Pantry. Independent/Jerry Simons Sr.

The junior at East Hampton High School is now working with Vicky Littman at the food pantry to further his cause. Once the GoFundMe campaign ends, in about 10 days, the food pantry will get a lump sum, Simons said. “Thanks in advance for your donations,” Simons Jr. added. “Any donation will help make an impact.” RM

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He told me “Unfortunately, that does not apply to lux bookings.” It didn’t say that anywhere on the website. Then I asked him if I can at least receive a credit to use at any of their properties in the future, and he said the policy is it must be used at the same property. Again, the website didn’t say that, but as soon as I sent that email, I checked the website again and they added those words “at same property.” I was shocked and frankly disgusted that they literally went on the website and changed the wording as I was talking to them. Anyway, I’ve been going back and forth with them for a little while now and they don’t want to budge. They’re basically saying that we can come next week, even though we have a confirmed COVID-19 case with us, or take their made-up ultimatum. Obviously, we are not going to go because we don’t want to put anyone else in danger of contracting this disease, but I thought I would send you this message so you can know that there are companies out there STILL renting houses in the Hamptons to people who are confirmed with coronavirus. It’s sick, and I think they need to be called out about it. They should also be held responsible for not keeping to their policies. Thank you. Yossi Gurevitch

Continued From Page 4. vidiot,” who tested positive for the Wuhan, China virus was tested by a fancy doctor while the rest of the “peons” struggle. Instead of hunkering down in place like the rest of us, she had her husband film her every detail. Only then did she rush out to the Hamptons like the other reckless elitist “wanna bes?” Or did she wait the required time? Only she knows what she did or if it fits the narrative. There is a section on the penal law 120.05 reckless second-degree, which is defined as engaging in conduct that creates a grave risk of physical injury. Why isn’t this being enforced? Now we have people out here testing positive. It came, no doubt, with the influx a few weeks ago when they acted like it was last July, mingling in restaurants, crowding the stores, and pillaging supplies for their own greed. It didn’t come here by carrier pigeon. Responsible people will do what they have to do to protect family and others. We stay away and show respect for the welfare of others by staying home. Certainly not behaving like those animals because “we” do count. I hear from people whose anger is rising. So, to those self-anointed that have caused this: Back off! Arthur J French

Waive Penalties? Dear Editor, Hi. We had a trip planned for my immediate family for next week. We booked it when this pandemic was not nearly as bad as it is now. Turns out one of the people in the group tested positive for COVID-19, and everyone else had been exposed to him, so it’s probably safe to say some more of us have it. I reached out to the rental company to tell them I would need to cancel. At that time, the policy on the website stated: For reservations booked before March 20 with arrivals on or before April 30, 2020. We want to provide peace of mind and offer additional flexibility for upcoming arrivals while also balancing the impact on our global host community. If your circumstances require you to postpone your travel, we will waive cancellation penalties and apply your past payment toward future travel when you rebook with an arrival on or before Jan 1, 2022. One of the reps got back to me saying he spoke to the property owners and they were willing to book me on the same dates next year. I told him that that was unacceptable because we do not need that house next year and I pointed out what it says on the website.

Postponed Dear Editor, Each year, the Great East End Clean-up has attracted hundreds of volunteers to clean up our roadsides, parks, trails, and beaches. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the clean-up on April 25 and 26 will be postponed to ensure residents stay home to flatten the curve. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines — washing your hands, and, most importantly, stay home. A new date will be announced once it is safe for public gatherings. If you have any further questions, please contact May Zegarelli at MZegarelli@southamptontownny.gov or 631-287-5745. Rick Martel

Dedication Dear Friends, Though we are standing safely apart, we continue to work seamlessly together. In anticipation of our patients’ needs, we are building solutions and staying ahead of a rapidly-evolving public health crisis. At this moment, we are in the process of transforming our hospital from 94 beds to 188 and increasing our ICU capacity three-fold. This is an astonishing undertaking that is being nimbly executed through col-

laboration, innovation, and stealth-like determination. We are on target to build in a matter of days, what it would normally take months, if not years, to achieve. The Cardiac Care Unit and North 2 South End have been converted into ICUs and PACU will be ready to accept ICU patients by April 6. Early next week, we will have completed the transformation of the Cardiac Rehab Center into a tele-unit for non-COVID/PUI patients. These conversions are happening only as a result of the collective hard work and tireless dedication of an amazing staff. Our clinical staff is brave, skilled, and compassionate. We cannot thank them enough for their dedication. We are incredibly fortunate to be serving such a caring and engaged community that is leaving no stone unturned in their steadfast commitment to help reinforce our supplies and equipment, including ventilators, personal protective equiptment, and funding. We are grateful for the outpouring of support, including many, many thoughtful donations. Last week, to help bring some cheer to our patients, we asked our staff and the community to have their children send us drawings. Their art has been curated into a virtual art exhibition we are sharing on the in-hospital network as well as on our social media. To give you a smile, here are some of the over 100 submissions, view: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=B46nFDG0jxo&t=10s By all accounts, we have a long road in front of us. We thank you all for your continued support. Please be safe and be well. Fredric I. Weinbaum, MD, Chief Medical Officer Robert S. Chaloner, Chief Administrative Officer Stony Brook Southampton Hospital

State Budget

Continued From Page 13. The act will be a key source of funding for projects focused on reducing flood risk, investing in resilient infrastructure, restoring freshwater and tidal wetlands, preserving open space, conserving forest areas, and reducing pollution from agricultural and stormwater runoff. The budget also calls for a permanent ban on hydrofracking. Cuomo has vowed to lower prescription drug costs for all New Yorkers and the budget addresses some of the inequities in the drug business, for example capping insulin co-payments at $100 per month. The budget provides funds for student loan relief — the nation’s only state-sponsored need-based loan forgiveness program — and enacting regulation prescribing standards of conduct for student loan servicing compa-

nies. It also renews the Buy American Act that requires state agencies to use high-quality American-made steel.

Maureen’s Haven

Continued From Page 35. vice League’s DASH Crisis Care Center is a beacon of hope for Suffolk County residents who are struggling to cope.” In addition to requests for assistance, the nonprofit has received calls from community members asking what they can do to support the effort to provide vital resources to neighbors in need. Despite the challenges of keeping services active during the national emergency, the organization remains ready and able to serve. For information on ways to make a difference, call 631-470-6770 or email restorehope@fsli-li.org. Family Service League’s network of homeless shelters provide housing, food, and essentials for over 600 Long Island children and adults each night. Senior outreach workers are also caring for vulnerable seniors unable to access services or suffering from social isolation. “Another pressing issue for many people is their concern for the care and advocacy facing seniors residing in longterm care facilities,” FSL’s director of development and communications Tricia O’Hare said. “Especially in light of the no-visitation orders that are in place.” Family Service League has expanded delivery of critical counseling remotely via telehealth — secure digital technology, telephone, and video conferencing methods. In the coming weeks and months, this will enhance the outreach of care and health education to thousands of clients. “The health and safety of our clients, staff, and community members has always been of utmost importance,” Boorshtein said. “Family Service League will continue to work in partnership with community leaders and our donors to fund these critical programs. We are dedicated to maintaining our mission of service and the availability of these safety net programs for our Long Island neighbors during this challenging time.”

Virtual Library

Continued From Page 41. tionships in a Time of Social Distancing — run in collaboration with The Retreat to help teens struggling with dating during this time,” young adult librarian Lisa Michne said. Teens can register for these programs on the library’s upcoming events calendar on the website or by emailing the young adult department at ya@easthamptonlibrary.org. Other online resources can be found by clicking “Coronavirus Information” on the library’s main page. Visit easthamptonlibrary.org to learn more.

April 8, 2020

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Leaf Blowing

Martha’s Vineyard showed they faced an increased risk for tularemia — a contagious, potentially life-threatening bacterial infection, he said, and that this risk was especially high in workers using leaf blowers. But Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman thinks the discussion of a ban is premature. “I would have to see scientific studies,” he said. Dr. Bonnie Sager, a co-founder of Huntington CALM — Clean Alternative Landscaping Methods — said her group is “working with a [Governor Andrew] Cuomo liaison to ban the gas blowers.” “It’s noise pollution,” she said, “but they are not good for any kind of respiratory ailment.” CALM co-chair Dr. Lucy Weinstein, and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Environmental Health Committee said up to 30 percent of gasoline is discharged unburned. The exhaust from gasoline leaf blowers combines with sunlight to produce ground-level ozone that can cause immediate respiratory symptoms and may exacerbate long-term lung disease.

Continued From Page 21. cessfully lobbied the village to enact a ban during the summer months. But now the situation has turned deadly. “This is transmissible,” she said, still acknowledging there wasn’t a groundswell of support. Allan said people in their own backyards could be infected by someone blowing the virus from hundreds of feet away. The culprit is two-stroke gas-powered engines that can generate tremendous power. “If anyone coughs in the flow it becomes airborne,” she said. Quiet Communities Inc., a nationwide grassroots organization, is dedicated to “transitioning landscape maintenance to low-noise, zero emissions.” Jamie Banks, the executive director, said there could well be a danger posed by leaf blowers in areas where the coronavirus is active. “To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies about leaf blowing and COVID-19,” Banks said. “However, there are studies linking blowing to infection.” A study of landscape workers in

Other pollutants caused by gasoline leaf blowers adversely affect health, particularly for the young and elderly. These include known carcinogens like benzene,1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. Particulate matter — including mold, fungal spores, insect eggs, fertilizer, heavy metals, and rodent feces — also spread rapidly. Fine particulates, which are inhaled deep into lungs, damage lung tissue and increase the risk of cancer and premature death. Several landscaping companies disputed some of these points made during ban talks in East Hampton Village last summer, before it was enacted.

Printing Gear

Continued From Page 21. selves at risk,” said Amagansett Free Library director Lauren Nichols. “We are inspired by their efforts and grateful for their courage and sacrifice.” In just three days the print farm went from five printers to 58. Riverhead Central School District and Westhamp-

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