Business Briefs, March 20 - 27 East

Business Briefs, March 20

authorStaff Writer on Mar 17, 2025
Irace Appointed to Clemency Case East Hampton attorney Carl Irace appeared before the Honorable Gary Brown, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York, on March... more

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True Colors

One of my favorite things to read in these pages is the coverage given to recipients of affordable housing, sometimes in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. Imagine my surprise when I read in The New Republic that “The FBI is moving to criminalize groups like Habitat for Humanity for receiving grants from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration.” Under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, grants were made available to groups like Habitat for Humanity to incorporate energy-saving ideas in their housing programs. In retaliation, Donald Trump’s FBI directed the financial intermediary, Citibank, to freeze bank accounts for ... 18 Mar 2025 by Staff Writer

Twisted Promises

Many people voted for Donald Trump because he promised to get rid of all of those violent, law-breaking illegal immigrants so we could feel safe again. So, how is that going? Trump announced with much fanfare that he would ship hundreds of them, thousands, maybe, to the horrible conditions at Guantánamo Bay. That has been a colossal failure. Only a few hundred passed through (flown there on our very expensive military planes). There was no need for the gigantic, uninhabitable tent, or the thousands of American military sent there to guard them. This publicity stunt cost the American taxpayer, by ... by Staff Writer

Learning From Coach Vishno

Althea Gibson, the trailblazing African American female athlete, famously said, “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.” I’ve had several of those somebodies who helped me in my life. One of them was Bob Vishno, the iconic coach at Pierson High School from the 1950s to the 1980s. On March 7, Coach died of natural causes at his home in Sag Harbor at the age of 93. A local reporter asked me upon his passing how long I had known Coach Vishno. For a moment, I was stumped. I couldn’t remember when I didn’t know Coach Vishno. When ... by Fred W. Thiele, Jr.

An Environmental Warrior

Carol Annia Meyer Yannacone and Victor J. Yannacone Jr. were more than a married couple for many decades — they were a Suffolk County-based team in the environmental movement here and beyond. Sadly, Carol, at 90, died last month. “My wife of 66 years passed away,” Victor emailed the couple’s many friends. “She was an extraordinary woman who did much for many, and she will be sorely missed.” Indeed, she will be. One of their important crusades was a legal challenge in the mid-1960s to the spraying of the pesticide DDT by the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Commission. The commission ... by Karl Grossman

Ahora Sí

What have been the most significant changes in this little corner of the world over the past 30-plus years? Anyone paying attention would point to two things. From these two, everything else has flowed. But before we go there, before the narrow focus on this place, an acknowledgment: It is hard to think or write about anything other than what this administration is doing. And “doing” is too kind a word. More like undoing. In Elon Musk’s case, gleefully, waving a chainsaw. No matter where you stand on President Trump’s America, this is at the very least a very stressful, ... by Biddle Duke

Repeated Changes

The Village of Sag Harbor is operated by dedicated staff and volunteers to various boards and committees, without which our beautiful, historic village would descend into chaos. Everyone who lives, works or has business interests in the village should recognize and appreciate these people’s hard work. The site of the proposed mixed-use development on Bridge Street, in the heart of the village, is low-lying, floodprone land fill with a long history of industrial use nearby. The proposal has gone through many iterations. Many of us hoped that the draft environmental impact statement would fully address all the issues identified in ... 17 Mar 2025 by Staff Writer

Fight for Clean Air

There are areas of the country in which polluting chemical plants and refineries are concentrated to such a degree that they pose an extreme health risk to nearby residents. In one stretch along the Mississippi River in Louisiana, the air and water are so polluted that the harm done to the health of residents is such that the area is known as “Cancer Alley.” Residents of Cancer Alley die at an earlier age than the average American. They die needlessly and leave behind grieving family members and friends. Not surprisingly, these polluting plants and refineries are not located near any ... by Staff Writer

Long Story Short

It’s been a while; it’s been too long. 25 words or less. We need something to lift our spirits. Bring it back. End of story. Nancy Greenberg Sag Harbor by Staff Writer

Sag Harbor Village Board Will Hold ADU Workshop Saturday

The Sag Harbor Village Board has scheduled a public workshop to discuss accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at the Municipal Building. Mayor Tom Gardella said the workshop would give residents an opportunity to voice their opinions about how the village’s current ADU legislation could be improved. The board has received complaints about the law, as written, because it would require that a lot be at least 70 feet wide. Others have raised concern that under the current law, it would be possible to construct numerous accessory apartments in a neighborhood, effectively increasing the ... by Staff Writer

Gratitude

Our East End Hospice offices were saved from the March 8 brush fires because of the indefatigable efforts of countless people [“Hospice, Businesses Saved by Firefighters Amid Saturday Blaze,” 27east.com, March 12]. The tremendous scope of the emergency response was awe-inspiring. We are grateful to every individual who showed immense bravery and selflessness to contain and extinguish the fires. To the 106th Rescue Wing, our neighbors on Old Riverhead Road, and the New York National Guard, thank you for providing air support. To the New York State Troopers, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Westhampton Beach Police Department ... by Staff Writer