Dear Quogue Residents,
The winter was looking pretty good with very little snow until the storm this past Friday and Saturday. Mother Nature more than made up for the earlier shortfall. Although the snow was characterized as “powdery” in media reports and did in fact blow all over the place in high winds on Saturday, by Sunday morning it was both deep and heavy to move. The Quogue Highway Department, composed of six hard-working men with the best dispositions you would ever want to find, worked on Friday night, all day on Saturday until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and then again during the day on Sunday. The clean-up continues this week. If you have the opportunity, please thank them for all their hard work. The Police and Fire Departments also responded to several calls during the height of the storm. As Mayor, I must say that knowing that these very dedicated and competent people are on duty during events like this storm gives me a great deal of comfort.
Although winds were howling from the northeast all day on Saturday, an inspection of the Village Beach on Sunday morning revealed that the dune and steps were fully intact. Whew!
At the December meeting of the Board of Trustees, it named the members of the construction committee that oversaw the renovation and expansion of the beautiful Quogue Library as its 2021 Persons of the Year. Congratulations to Lynda Confessore, Sally McGrath, Paul Mejean and Barbara Sartorius.
In Police Department news, we appointed a new full-time officer earlier this month, Jonathan Stanton, and promoted 12-year veteran Bobby Hammel to the rank of Sergeant. Detective Alex Gladding was named by the Department as 2021 Officer of the Year. These honors are well-deserved by all of these individuals.
The officers of the Quogue Fire Department turned over at the first of the year. Ben Hubbard completed a two-year term as Chief and was succeeded by Mike Nelson. Thanks to both of them for their service to residents of the Village.
We have a new addition to the Village Office staff. Deanna Miller joined us earlier in January. She will normally be the first face you will see as you come to the window. She is currently masked, unfortunately, but her friendly demeanor is still evident. Please welcome her.
If you are up for a winter walk after the snow clears, head to Dune Road and use the new sidewalk from the bridge to the Village Beach that was completed in November. Bundle up!
Winter is nearly half over. Hang in there. Summer will be here before you know it.
Peter Sartorius
Mayor