'Gator' Makes A Splash At Rogers Beach In Westhampton Beach - 27 East
logo logo logo logo

Government / News / Southampton Press / 1475900

'Gator' Makes A Splash At Rogers Beach In Westhampton Beach

icon 7 Photos
Part of the mural in Westhampton Beach Elementary School that Westhampton Beach High School juniors Cayla Kuey and Natalie Gosnell painted outside the Resource Room. KATE RIGA. KATE RIGA

Part of the mural in Westhampton Beach Elementary School that Westhampton Beach High School juniors Cayla Kuey and Natalie Gosnell painted outside the Resource Room. KATE RIGA. KATE RIGA

Woven outdoor furniture.

Woven outdoor furniture.

Lys Marigold, Dianne B. and Adele and David Sadiq

Lys Marigold, Dianne B. and Adele and David Sadiq

Westhampton Beach Senior Jackson Parli speaks about his experience taking leftover food from the cafeteria to local homeless shelters. KATE RIGA

Westhampton Beach Senior Jackson Parli speaks about his experience taking leftover food from the cafeteria to local homeless shelters. KATE RIGA

Shawntise Stephens, Ta'khia Johnson, Tanasha Clark and Ana Rosa Vallejo in last year's garden.

Shawntise Stephens, Ta'khia Johnson, Tanasha Clark and Ana Rosa Vallejo in last year's garden.

The mural in Westhampton Beach Elementary School that Westhampton Beach High School juniors Cayla Kuey and Natalie Gosnell painted. KATE RIGA

The mural in Westhampton Beach Elementary School that Westhampton Beach High School juniors Cayla Kuey and Natalie Gosnell painted. KATE RIGA

Westhampton Beach School Lunch Manager Naim Walcott praises Senior Jackson Parli for donating his time to delivering food to local shelters. KATE RIGA

Westhampton Beach School Lunch Manager Naim Walcott praises Senior Jackson Parli for donating his time to delivering food to local shelters. KATE RIGA

authorKate Riga on Jul 4, 2017
“The Gator” stands gleaming in the bright sunlight beneath a rippling American flag at the edge of the lapping waves of Rogers Beach. Westhampton Beach Village’s most recent purchase—a reptile-green,... more

You May Also Like:

Becoming a Fan

One of my friends owns the Green Bay Packers. Back in November, the topic of conversation at the mahjong table was Thanksgiving plans. Sally Belfi announced that she was going to the Packers game in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She added a green battery-operated heated vest to wear with her thermals, down coat, her warmest hat, socks and boots. I asked her: Why Green Bay? That’s when she told me that she and family members were owners of the Packers. I gasped in surprise. She laughed and said, “Not like Jimmy Jones, Rob Walton or Steve Tisch. Green Bay is publicly ... 4 Feb 2025 by Denise Gray Meehan

A Disgrace

I would like to know who came up with the idea to close school for Chinese New Year. Parents who work have been disrupted, and what is next? Siberian New Year? This is a total disgrace and I hope the public remembers come reelection time for the school board. This is America — what is going on? Barry Smith Water Mill It was not a school board decision: Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to declare Asian Lunar New Year a public school holiday statewide in September 2023. “By designating Lunar New Year as an official school holiday, we are taking ... by Staff Writer

Digital Detox

Sympathetically, I told my students last week that the use of cellphones wasn’t allowed in my classes. When I became a professor (of journalism) in 1978, cellphones were certainly not an issue. But, these days, youngsters are, I’d say, more attached to their cellphones than any other object (exceeded only perhaps, for those of driving age, by their cars). And there is obsessive use of them. I expressed sympathy as classes started for the 2025 semester, because cellphones have in recent years become a necessity in functioning in what has been dubbed the “digital society.” It’s not the students’ fault ... by Karl Grossman

Embodies Values

I have never written a Letter to the Editor before, but I felt called to respond to Frances Genovese’s negative statement about John Leonard [“Saddle Up,” Letters, January 30]. I want to point out that she opens her letter with: “I do not know John Leonard.” I am writing this because I do know John. And, as a resident of this community, I want to elect a Town Council member who embodies the values and spirit of the place we call home. I can say with confidence that John Leonard is that person. While John’s professional background as a successful ... 3 Feb 2025 by Staff Writer

Flood of Memories

A number of years ago, I attended a grandparents’ event at Our Lady of the Hamptons School in Southampton. I had my back to an empty seat at the table, but when a break came I shifted in my seat, only to realize that the empty seat was now occupied. I apologized and we began chatting. Quickly, our conversation zoomed in on Brooklyn, particularly the neighborhoods of Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights. We were both familiar with them, although I think he was more of a Brooklyn Heights man and I had spent a number of years in Park Slope ... by Staff Writer

That Kind of Person

The older I get, the more I think about young people, and hope that the leaders we elect in Southampton Town enter office mindful of their concerns. John Leonard is that kind of leader. When John put forth his name to be considered for election to the Southampton Town Board, I thought of a Southampton Press article that covered the Hampton Bays Alliance (John is a co-founder) and its endeavor to educate the public about revitalization plans in Hampton Bays [“Developer Pitches Vision for Downtown Hampton Bays,” August 22, 2024]. I was struck by the comments made by Stefani Joslin. ... by Staff Writer

Loyal and Dedicated

John Leonard is an admirable man with many qualities that would benefit the Town of Southampton. He is loyal, dedicated and hardworking to his goals, both for the town and as an attorney. I personally have seen John take these characteristics into his role with the East End Regional Intervention Court. As part of the EERIC, John advocates for defendants who are brought into the program with either illicit substance- or alcohol-related problems. He is the voice for those participating in the program to help get them on the path of sobriety and a better life. EERIC consists of four ... by Staff Writer

The Right Choice

How lucky are the residents of Southampton Township that John Leonard has thrown his hat in the ring to run for Town Board. I met John when he came before the Southampton Town Democratic Committee’s screening committee, of which I am a member, along with many wonderful candidates seeking to be the endorsed Democrat to run in the March 18 special election. This special election is necessitated because Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni was elected to the New York State Assembly last fall. We wish him well and know he will do an outstanding job representing us in Albany, just as ... by Staff Writer

A Workaround

For months, local papers have been peppered with the reversal in fortunes of the highly regarded shellfish hatchery at Conscience Point, with the organization’s eviction being prompted by a formality that the hatchery has received a minor sum of money from a sub-lease of launching facilities to another local shellfish enterprise. The entire budget of the hatchery is $44,000 per year, and those of us who are familiar with nonprofits find it difficult to believe that this problem does not have a workaround, which would allow the hatchery to continue growing and distributing millions of free clam and oyster seeds ... by Staff Writer

Too Many Questions

Please realize that the winner of the March election for a vacant Town Council position has an excellent chance of being in office for about a decade. The focus on John Leonard’s qualifications for this election highlights a much bigger issue that has only been touched on: His choice reveals the awful manner in which he was chosen by the Democratic Party. It seems the party treats voters as lemmings, and it seems to imagine itself as Tammany Hall East. Its successes may have bred arrogance and something worse. For example, the attacks of George Lynch, communication chair (of all ... by Staff Writer