Spring Awakening?

Spring has finally and officially arrived, although the weather is still a bit too brisk for my liking. The daffodils will soon be here as we get ready for the warmer months.

Even though we are anticipating spring rains, our area is still under drought conditions and the New York State Annual Burn Ban on outdoor fires remains in effect through May 14th. You will recall that it was just a year ago that we experienced a huge brush fire too close for comfort. As you prepare your properties for the summer season, please check for any dead or dying trees. Although we experienced a cold winter, the dreaded southern pine beetle is still active.

Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) has now completed the installation and hook up of a new water main on Dune Road to the east of the bridge. The Village will be continuing to install additional drainage improvements to the west of the bridge in the coming weeks. The plan is to repave the entire section of Dune Road east of the bridge, as well as the stretch west of the Surf Club that was not paved last year. The exact timing has yet to be finalized, with a clear objective of getting this done by the end of June if not sooner.

The Village will also be proceeding in the coming weeks with the installation of new rain gardens and storm water infrastructure on Leaward, Howell, and Quaquanantuck Lanes. These projects have been funded by a grant from the Southampton Community Preservation Fund. The goal is to treat and reduce the volume of stormwater entering the Quogue Canal, Quantuck Bay, and Penniman Creek. The new infrastructure should also help mitigate occasional flooding in these areas.

With the arrival of warmer weather, the Village will begin the annual processing of beach sticker and locker applications on April 1st.  Application forms will be available on the Village website at www.villageofquogueny.gov.  Please follow the instructions carefully and take care to submit all the information that is required. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of the online application and payment system that was introduced last year. Note that you must use the online system if you want to pay by credit card. You can sign up today HERE. Applications may take up to five business days to process. Permit pick-ups will be on Fridays only from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, commencing on May 1st, and also on Saturday, May 16th, May 23rd, and May 30th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  You may also elect to have the stickers mailed to you.

I am pleased to announce that the beach concession will be run again this summer by Zach Schmidt and his family.  Zach did a fabulous job last year! He is excited to return and is promising to introduce some new offerings this summer.

Another merchant is coming to Quogue at 164 Jessup Avenue. Market Lane Quogue will be opening in the next few weeks. Here is a link to their new website: marketlanequogue.com. I understand that the Hampton Coffee Quogue location is also on track to open in early May.

The spring leaf pick up this year begins on April 15th.  You would undoubtedly be surprised if I did not once again remind that delaying the spring cleanup until after temperatures have reached 50 degrees for ten consecutive days provides an extended refuge for a multitude of beneficial species of butterflies and other pollinators. Leaves must be on the shoulder of the street by May 15th in order to be picked up.  Please do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment.  The guidelines remain unchanged. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS, which will not be picked up, and you will have to remove them. No brush, such as twigs and branches, or lawn cuttings will be taken away, and mixing this debris with leaves will result in the leaves not being removed.  Brush with branches up to 3” in diameter may be taken to the Westhampton recycling facility free of charge from April 15th through May 31st. For more information, go to www.southamptontownny.gov.  Property owners and landscapers who take leaves from any Quogue property may arrange with the Quogue Highway Department to leave them at the highway yard beginning on April 1st.  This will avoid having piles in front of your property waiting to be picked up and blowing back onto your lawn.

On the subject of cleaning up, the Town of Southampton recently announced that it is again time for the annual Great East End Clean-Up, a volunteer-based program to remove litter and debris from roadsides, parks, trails, and beaches.  While the actual Clean-Up collection is not until the weekend of April 25th -26th, you can register beginning March 30th and pick up garbage bags and disposal passes from the Town recycling centers. All you need to do to participate is to select an area of public property and complete the registration form on line. More information is available at: Great East End Clean-Up 2026

For those of you who rent out your property, please remember that the entire dwelling (not a floor or a room) must be rented. The minimum rental period is 14 days, and a rental permit is required from the Village irrespective of the time of year.  A reminder that the US Open golf tournament is returning to Shinnecock Hills this coming June 18th-21st. In light thereof, the Village Trustees agreed to waive the minimum rental period requirement during the tournament. Please get your applications in early, as you will need to schedule a safety inspection with the Village’s Code Enforcement as a precondition for renting your property. Rental applications and the rules governing rentals are available on the Village website at www.villageofquogueny.gov.  Please note that the Village now requires applicants to use the online system. You can sign up HERE.

Finally, as boat owners begin preparing to launch their vessels for the new season, please remember that as of last year, New York State now requires that all vessel operators must possess a Safe Boating Certificate. You can obtain more information at: https://www.boatus.org/newyork As noted below, the Quogue Library is organizing a Boater Safety Course on Saturday, April 11th, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

And now for a few upcoming events:

There will be three Easter Egg Hunts this weekend, all on Saturday, April 4th. First, at 10:00 am, the Quogue Fire Department is organizing a Community Egg Hunt in front of the Fire House.  Then, from 10:30 am to 11:15 am and from 11:45 am to 12:30 pm, the Wildlife Refuge is organizing Egg Hunts for toddlers. Space is limited at the Refuge, so please sign up early at www.quoguewildliferefuge.org.

On Monday, April 13th, at 6:00 pm, the Refuge is organizing a virtual Zoom presentation on Dark Skies – A Beautiful Necessity. Quogue resident Joy Flynn, a member of the Southampton Town Dark Skies Advisory Committee, will share information on the actions that are recommended to preserve dark skies in our area. This free program takes place during International Dark Skies Week, April 13th to 20th, 2026.

Please also mark your calendars for the annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25th, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. A celebration of nature and our lovely planet is being offered at the Refuge, sponsored by the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society and the Wildlife Refuge. There will be a multitude of activities for the family, and treats will be on offer by Hampton Coffee and the ‘Land and Sea Smokehouse’ food truck. Bring e-waste and prescription medications for recycling.

The Art Gallery at the Quogue Library is currently showing the Quogue School Art Show, running through April 23rd.  The next show at the Gallery will be a Solo Photography Exhibition featuring works by George Motz Jr., with an opening reception on Saturday, April 25th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

On Saturday, April 11th, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, the Quogue Library is organizing a Boater Safety Course. Registration is required.

The Library will again be hosting the Great Decisions discussion program on world affairs.  On eight select Saturdays beginning in April through November, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, moderator David Rowe and facilitator Susan Perkins invite you to attend in person or participate via zoom.  This year’s kick-off is scheduled for April 4th on the subject of “The Future of Human Rights and International Law”. Registration is also required.

As always, please consult the Library’s well-packed calendar to sign up for their rich offering of movies and programs of all types: quogue.librarycalendar.com/events/month.

And here are a few save the dates to begin blocking out your summer calendar:

On Saturday, June 20th, at 8:30 am, the Village is organizing the inaugural Summer Solstice 5K Run, in support of the Quogue Fire Department. The race will start and end at the Fire House.  More details will follow next month.

The Quogue Association has announced the dates for the annual Concert on the Village Green on Saturday, June 27th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm; the annual Beach Party on Saturday, July 18th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm; and the annual Duck Race on Saturday, August 8th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Wishing everyone a Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

Robert Treuhold

Mayor, Village of Quogue