Amagansett community notes

I trust you all enjoyed the most beautiful Columbus Day weekend weather in our beautiful hamlet. This truly is my favorite tine of year. My father, Buzz, would take a dive in the ocean every year on his birthday, October 11, rain or shine. This year, he sure had the shine on his side!

See what I mean about these October birthdays? Here are three more and then I will do better next year, I promise. Happy birthday to Gwen O’Donnell and Kammy Ball, and of course the one and only, and no longer with us, Jay Chait. A lot of the greats were born this month.

There was no library news last week and none this week because children’s librarian Kelly Bittner married her longtime love, a New York City firefighter.

I will be bringing you the scoop when they return from their honeymoon. In the meantime, you can check out the library’s website.

There is great stuff going on at the school. First, I need to tell you about a teacher-implemented program I learned about. The Amagansett Teachers Association (ATA) wanted to recognize the exceptional Amagansett students who win honors at the East Hampton High School awards ceremony in the spring. To raise money in order to offer them scholarships, the ATA members decided to implement “Jeans Friday.” The rule is that the teachers pay one dollar for every Friday that they wear blue jeans.

With about 40 weeks in the school year, each teacher makes a $40 contribution to the fund. Some staff members have also contributed to the fund as well. The ATA has raised two $500 scholarships every year and the fund-raising effort allows that to continue. The recipients must be graduates of Amagansett School and must have attended the school for at least three years. One scholarship is given to the student with the highest grade point average. Last year’s recipient was CJ Lousy. The other scholarship is given for citizenship, with community service hours being the main criteria. Last year, it went to Brittney Metzger. They have also used the fund to grant individual scholarships to students who have asked for support for summer study projects.

It is a win-win situation, as deserving students are rewarded for good work and teachers get to dress down for a day.

Another correction I must make is that the Spanish teacher is a “señora” not a “señor.” Thanks for all you do, Señora Levi.

The Amagansett Historical Association has announced that Jon Reed has joined its board of trustees.

“Every one of our trustees brings a particular expertise to the table,” commented board president Peter Garnham. “We are delighted that Jon has agreed to head up our project to conserve and digitize the Carleton Kelsey Archive, a historically valuable collection of about 5,000 early photographs and postcards.”

The other trustees of the association are Richard Baxter, Ralph Carpentier, Gary DeAmario (treasurer), Roberta Dinkes (secretary), Robert Hefner, Peter Garnham (president), Job Potter, Tom Thorsen and Greg Zwirko.

The Amagansett Historical Association is a non-profit educational organization that owns the property on Amagansett Main Street containing the 1725 Miss Amelia Cottage, the 1805 Phebe Mulford Cottage, and the 1850 Lester Barn, which—with the Richard S. Jackson Carriage House—houses the Roy K. Lester Carriage Collection.

Today begins the first Amagansett School morning news show run by Robyn Mott and Janine Balnis. My daughter, Lucy Pearl, will be giving today’s healthy tip. We will have to find out from our children what that was.

The school has a smiley fall face on with our new superintendent, Eleanor Tritt, in full swing. Coach Rodgers is back in action, the library has some beautiful new books and I even saw my own third-grade teacher Suki Blutstein subbing there for a day, so all is good.

The East Hampton Youth Fall Indoor Soccer League for all ages has begun at the rink. It’s another great program in our hamlet. For more information, please go to www.nscaaclinicseh@yahoo.com or call 631-965-5412.

This Saturday, October 18, is the date for the Serpent’s Bank Duathlon to benefit the Montauk Community Playhouse and the East Hampton Ocean Rescue Squad. For more information, call Body Tech at 267-8222 or go to active.com, keyword “Serpent’s Back.”

Eileen Hickey-Hume is one of the featured artists at the Principi Art Barn at the Vineyard, 551 Montauk Highway. Her work is a part of a group show that runs from October 11 through November 11. Show hours are by appointment only. You may contact Yvonne Velasquez at 631-466-4462 or Yvonne Velasquez at yvonnne.velasquez@prudentialelliman.com to make an appointment. I must say again the barn is one of the beautiful additions to our hamlet.

At the First Presbyterian Church of Amagansett on Sunday, October 19, the Reverend Steven E. Howarth will preside at the 11 a.m. worship service.

That afternoon, he will be joined by other congregations, such as mine and Lucy’s from St. Luke’s, as he leads the CROP walk around the village of Sag Harbor playing his bagpipes. Registration begins at 12:15 p.m. at the Old Whalers Church. “CROP” stands for “Communities Responding to Overcoming Hunger.” Pledges will be gathered before the walk and all funds are sent to Church World Service for distribution around the world. Twenty-five percent of the funds are used for 10 food pantries on the East End. Please join in this ecumenical walk for hunger. If you would like a pledge envelope, call Elizabeth Rossuck at 324-2042.

The Presbyterian Church deacons will meet on Tuesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. in the Yule Room and Bible studies continue on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. at the same location.

Lucy and I will be at Epcot Center for my birthday. The East Hampton Hurricanes have been doing amazingly well, thanks to the tutelage of the Ryans and the Rec center program. We have to get all our kids in the water and swimming properly. Stay tuned for more information and information about an upcoming board meeting for all to attend and express not only concerns about our budgets but about funding for our school swimming programs as well.

Have a great week. Enjoy the Indian summer and the pumpkins and the mums and get ready for the goblins!