Dear Quogue Residents,
Memorial Day Weekend has arrived! We finally have had a hint of summer these past few days, although the weather is not promising for the weekend. The Village is filling up with our summer friends, and our merchants are now open and ready to serve. Please support them all!
This Saturday, May 23rd, marks the official opening of the Village Beach’s summer season. The hours are 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. The beach will only be open on weekends until June 27th, when it will be open seven days a week. The beach concession is now open and, as previously announced, will be run again this summer by Zachary Schmidt. As of May 15th, beach permits are now required – last year’s permits remain valid through May 31st. With the summer season’s arrival, I remind you that dogs are no longer allowed on the Village Beach.
Unfortunately, our beaches did suffer a fair amount of erosion during the patch of rough weather this spring, although I have received assurances that they are now in the process of recovering. This leads me to a brief update on the FIMP project. The easement process is moving forward, and the majority of offer letters have now been extended to the beachfront property owners. I have been told that the remaining offers are in the works and should be forthcoming soon. I will provide further details and can answer any questions that you may have at my State of the Village address this coming Saturday, May 23rd, at 10:00 am.
The Village has been moving forward on the drainage work on Dune Road which we anticipate completing in early June. We will then smooth out the road and restore the shoulders, although we have been advised to wait until the fall to apply the final “lift” of asphalt. The Village has also been installing a series of rain gardens and “bio-swales” along Quaquanantuck, Niamogue, Leaward, and Howell Lanes. That work is also substantially complete, and the disturbed areas will be planted and seeded in the coming weeks.
The annual “Click it or Ticket” high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort is currently running from May 18th through May 31st. In 2024, 9758 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing seatbelts. Among young adult (18-24) passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2024, over 59% were unbuckled – one of the highest percentages for all age groups. The obligation to wear a seat belt extends to all passengers, including those in the back seat. Seat belts save lives. Please consult the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website to learn more. https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/click-it-or-ticket
Time for my annual reminder please to always exercise caution when walking, running, or cycling in the Village. Wear bright clothing and stay to the side of the road. Cyclists must always wear helmets and use headlights and rear lights, especially when riding in the evening. Needless to say, you must remind your children of the importance of these safety measures. Also remember that e-bikes are especially dangerous! It is against New York State law for anyone under the age of 16 to ride an e-bike, and helmets are now mandatory for all riders of any age.
Much to my chagrin, I must add a reminder yet again to the dog owners and walkers in our Village that they are responsible for cleaning up after their pets and disposing of the waste in a proper receptacle. There is no excuse for leaving the poop bags on the side of the street or, even worse, tossing them onto home owners’ yards. The Village continues to receive complaints. It is beyond me to comprehend how anyone can be so rude and inconsiderate. Carry your pet’s waste home if you cannot find a trash bin on your walk.
Another unpleasant reminder that the second installment of the Town of Southampton property taxes is payable without penalty by May 31st. The Village’s property tax bills will be mailed on or about June 1st (and posted on the Village website on that day). They are payable without penalty by July 1st. Please note that New York State tax laws state that payment of taxes on a timely basis is the responsibility of the property owner even if the tax bill has not been received. Property owners will be liable for all penalties and interest on late payments. Payment of tax sent in the mail can only be accepted by the date postmarked on the envelope. The envelope must show a legible postmark; otherwise the payment will be treated as made upon receipt. A “metered” postmark is not acceptable. Please also note that most electronic checks generated by financial institutions do not show a postmark on the envelope. It is suggested that to avoid unpleasant surprises, taxpayers making payments by mail, especially near the deadline, should send the payment by certified mail return receipt requested, or have the envelope hand stamped at the local Post Office.
One last reminder from our Code Enforcement Officer that all swimming pools must have appropriate enclosures and be equipped with an approved pool alarm.
And now for some upcoming events:
This evening is the opening night for the Hampton Theatre Company’s 2025-2026 season finale with the iconic Hitchcock murder mystery The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan. Performances run from this evening, May 21st, through June 8th. Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org.
This Saturday, May 23rd, at 10:00 am, I will be giving the State of the Village address. The event will be held in front of the Quogue Firehouse. In the event of rain, we will relocate to the Village Community Hall.
Also, on Saturday, May 23rd, at 2:00 pm, the Quogue Wildlife Refuge is organizing a celebration for the annual World Turtle Day. Participants will learn all about Long Island’s turtles, and what you can do to help our local species. On Sunday, May 31st, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, the Refuge is organizing a Guided Hike to the Dwarf Pines. Hikers will learn about the ecologically rare dwarf pines ecosystem. Register for these events at www.quoguewildliferefuge.org.
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 am on Monday, May 25th, in front of the Firehouse. I encourage you to attend as we honor all of our service members for their sacrifices for our security and freedom.
A group of Quogue residents is organizing another Food Drive in support of the Heart of the Hamptons on the morning of Saturday, May 30th, in front of the Post Office. Please stop by and drop off food, supplies, and/or money!
The Library Gallery’s current exhibit: A Solo Photography Exhibition featuring works by George Motz, Jr., is on display through June 3rd. The Gallery’s next exhibit opens on June 5th with works by local painter and photographer Bill Tansey, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, June 6th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
On Friday, June 5th, at 6:00 pm, the Library is organizing a concert by the Lady Blue Sax Quartet under the outdoor tent.
The next session of this season’s Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions discussion program will be held at the Library on Saturday, June 13th, at 5:00 pm, on the topic of America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy. Participants can join by zoom or attend in person.
On Wednesday, June 17th, at 7:00 pm, the Library is hosting a program entitled Tides of Time: Memories and Voices of Quogue. Attendees will learn about the oral history program launched in 2023 in cooperation with the Quogue Historical Society, listen to existing audio recordings, and hear live readings of stories about life in Quogue from notable residents.
As always, please 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
On Friday, June 12th, the Quogue School is hosting their annual chicken dinner from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm to raise funds for the PTA.
On Saturday, June 13th, at 7:30 pm, Quogue Chamber Music’s first concert of the season will be held at the Quogue Community Hall with the Katarina String Quartet performing works by Haydn, Schubert, and Schumann. Tickets can be purchased online: www.quoguechambermusic.org.
Village elections will take place on Friday, June 19th, at the Quogue Firehouse from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. I am running for reelection, as are Trustees Sally Beatty and Tom Mullen.
As previously noted, on Saturday, June 20th, at 8:30 am, the Village is organizing the inaugural Summer Solstice 5K Run/Walk, in support of the Quogue Fire Department. The race will start and end at the Firehouse. Here is a Link to the race flyer with further details. The sign-up website is also now active: https://events.elitefeats.com/26quogue.
A few save the dates for events later this summer:
– The annual Concert on the Village Green will be held on Saturday, June 27th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm;
– The East End Hospice is holding its annual gala on Saturday, June 27th;
– The Westhampton Garden Club 2026 Gardens and Rooms Tour is scheduled for Friday, July 10th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The self-guided tour features spectacular gardens and rooms at six remarkable properties from Quogue to Eastport;
– the Wildlife Refuge is celebrating their 18th Annual Wild Night for Wildlife Summer Gala on Saturday, July 11th beginning at 7:00 pm;
– the annual Village Beach Party will be on Saturday, July 18th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm;
– the annual Duck Race at the Village Dock will be on Saturday, August 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm; and
– the Quogue Historical Society’s Annual Art Show is also scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 8th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, on the Village Green.
Wishing everyone a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Robert Treuhold
Mayor, Village of Quogue