Dear Quogue Residents,
The past month has certainly been chilly and windy! While we have had some spring showers, Suffolk County continues to warn of an elevated risk of fire. The statewide ban on outdoor fires remains in effect through May 14th. I repeat the recommendation to examine closely your property and clear out any dead or dying trees.
With the arrival of spring, the Village is becoming busier. The Quogue Shop and Quogue Flower Shop are now open, and Homespun will be reopening soon. As always, please support all our merchants!
As part of your Spring Cleaning exercise at this time of year, I would encourage you all to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Please also check your fire extinguishers to make sure they are still charged. If not already the case, please be sure to have fire extinguishers handy in your kitchens and by outdoor grills.
This coming Tuesday, April 22nd, is the 55th anniversary of Earth Day which has been celebrated every year since 1970. I will not repeat the history of the Earth Day movement (see my April 2024 resident letter), but I encourage you to visit their website to learn more. https://www.earthday.org/ In honor of Earth Day, I have issued a proclamation declaring Friday, April 25th as Arbor Day in the Village of Quogue. The first Arbor Day was observed in Nebraska in 1872 with the planting of more than a million trees in that state. It is now observed throughout the nation and the world. I urge all Quogue residents to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. HERE is a link to the proclamation.
Next week, the Village will begin installing the drainage improvements on Dune Road to the east of the bridge that I mentioned in last month’s letter. We anticipate that this work will be completed by mid-May at which point that stretch of Dune Road will be repaved, as will the stretch to the west of the bridge that was disturbed by the Suffolk County Water Authority’s work last year.
With summer approaching, I encourage you all to become members of the Quogue Association. For over 100 years, the Quogue Association has been dedicated to preserving and enhancing the unique character of our Village. Their support plays a key role in maintaining the charm and vitality of Quogue.
The Quogue Association has contributed to numerous projects over the years, including the Meditation Garden on the Village Green, the historic anchor restoration at the Quogue Library, and various beautification initiatives. They have also funded the rocking chairs at the Quogue Village Beach, improvements to the walkway at the Wetlands Preserve on Dune Road, and the Quogue Bridge oyster project.
This year, they will be making landscaping improvements in front of the Post Office, upgrading the Wi-Fi and installing a surf webcam at the Village Beach, and continuing improvements at the Wetlands Preserve and other locations. Beyond these projects, they organize certain beloved community events (with this year’s dates indicated in parentheses), including the Mayor’s State of the Village Address (May 24th), the Concert on the Green (June 20th), the Village Beach Party (July 18th), and the Annual Duck Race (August 8th). The Quogue Association also recognizes outstanding community contributions through awards and scholarships. They also distribute a regular newsletter.
I strongly encourage you to support this great organization that helps make our Village so special. For more information or to join, visit www.quogueassociation.org or contact them at quogueassociation@gmail.com.
Some repeat information – distilled…
BEACH STICKERS:
Applications – https://villageofquogueny.gov/
PLEASE USE THE ON-LINE SYSTEM: https://app.govoutreach.com/quoguevillageny/public/permits
Processing time – up to five business days
Weekday sticker pick-up Fridays ONLY – starting April 25th – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Weekend pick-up – Saturdays – May 17th, May 24th and May 31st – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Stickers can also be mailed to you – contact the Village office
LEAF PICK UP PROTOCOL REMINDER:
Pick up from April 15th to May 15th
Place leaves on street shoulders – NOT around hydrants and utilities or in the street
No plastic bags – No brush or cuttings
LEAF BLOWER AND SUSTAINABILITY REMINDERS
Restrictions on the use of gas-powered blowers back in effect on May 15th
Off-hour complaints? Contact Village Police
Complaints during business hours? You can also call the Building Department
Watering ONLY on odd/even days (your street #)
No watering 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Please cut down on the use of lawn chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers
Plant native plants!
And now for a few upcoming events:
There will be three Easter Egg Hunts this weekend, all on Saturday. First, at 10:00 am, the Quogue Volunteer Fire Department is organizing an Egg Hunt in front of the Fire House. Then, from 10:30 am to 12:15 pm, the Wildlife Refuge is organizing an Egg Hunt for toddlers. Please register HERE for the Refuge event as there are two sessions. And to keep the fun going, at 12:00 pm, the Quogue Shop is organizing an Egg Hunt on the Village Green and by the Village Pond.
Also, this Saturday, April 19th, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Quogue Library is hosting “Pinstripes and Tales: Curious Stories the Yankees Told Me”. Bill Schulman, lifelong Yankee fan and author of Pinstripes and Tales, will share anecdotes told to him by Yankee stars from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Next Wednesday, April 23rd, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, a Suffolk County Southern Pine Beetle Symposium will be held at the Suffolk County Community College Riverhead Campus. The Symposium will include information on the following topics related to the southern pine beetle: public safety, fire prevention and mitigation, forest management efforts, beetle biology homeowner education and more. For more information click HERE
Next Saturday, April 26th, a group of Quogue residents has organized a Food Drive in support of Heart of the Hamptons. They will be hosting a table in front of the post office from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm. Please bring non-perishable food for people or animals, and/or checks/money. Helping support food pantries is now more important than ever given federal spending cuts. For more on this, please read the linked article from this week’s Southampton Press: HERE
The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 26th, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with lots of fun activities and environmental exhibitions. The event is being co-sponsored by the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society and the Refuge. There will be a recycling collection area for old electronics.
On Saturday, May 3rd, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Library will welcome Mariah Whitmore, Master Gardener and owner of Whitmore’s Nursery, who will make a presentation on creating and encouraging gardens and landscapes which serve pollinators, birds and other Long Island wildlife.
On Saturday, May 10th, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, the Library has organized a Boater Safety course being given by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. As I reminded residents in last month’s letter, effective January 1st of this year, New York State now requires that all vessel operators must possess a Safe Boating Certificate.
The Art Gallery at the Quogue Library’s current exhibit “The Collage Show” is continuing through May 1st, featuring the works of five local artists, Pamela Bell, Stephanie Blank, Lulie Morissey, Patti Robinson and Susan Saunders. Beginning May 2nd and running through May 29th, the Gallery will be presenting “The Flower Art Show”, celebrating FLOWERS in art, photography and real life, and featuring works by Marissa Bridge, Margot Carr, Susie Gilbert, Saira Kathpalia, Shobhita Kathpalia, Robin Koffler, Adam Lowenbein, Donna Levy, Judy McDermott, Melanie Tolan, and Laurie Torpey. All are welcome to an Artist Reception on Saturday, May 3rd, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
The next of the new season’s Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions discussion program is scheduled for Saturday, May 24th, at 5:00 pm on the topic of “India: Between China, the West, and the Global South”. Participants can join by Zoom or attend in person.
As always, consult the Library’s well-packed calendar to sign up for their rich offering of movies and programs of all types. https://quogue.librarycalendar.com/events/month.
The vote on the Quogue School and Quogue Library annual budgets and to elect three members of the Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, May 20th, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Quogue School. There will be a presentation of the proposed budgets on Tuesday, May 13th, at 7:15 pm, also at the Quogue School.
The Hampton Theatre Company’s 2024-2025 season concludes with Edward Albee’s stage masterpiece Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Performances begin on May 22nd and run through June 8th. Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org.
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and Happy Passover!
Robert Treuhold
Mayor, Village of Quogue