Arbor Day Proclamation

Earth Day Proclamation

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 25^th 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 24^th), the Concert on the Green (June 20^th), the Village Beach Party (July 18^th), and the Annual Duck Race (August 8^th). 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 25^th – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Weekend pick-up – Saturdays – May 17^th, May 24^th and May 31^st – 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 15^th to May 15^th

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 15^th

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 19^th, 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 23^rd, 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 26^th, 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 26^th, 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 3^rd, 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 10^th, 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 1^st 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 1^st, featuring the works of five local artists, Pamela Bell, Stephanie Blank, Lulie Morissey, Patti Robinson and Susan Saunders. Beginning May 2^nd and running through May 29^th, 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 3^rd, 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 24^th, 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 20^th, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Quogue School. There will be a presentation of the proposed budgets on Tuesday, May 13^th, 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 22^nd and run through June 8^th.  Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and Happy Passover!

Robert Treuhold
Mayor, Village of Quogue

March 26, 2025

Dear Quogue Residents,

Spring has arrived and warmer days are back. We are already starting to get our Village spruced up for the upcoming summer months!

The biggest event this past month was obviously the huge brush fire that erupted along Sunrise Highway in Westhampton.  The fire jumped across Route 31 into Gabreski Airport and came frighteningly close to our Village. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our Volunteer Fire Department, and all the first responders, who were on the front line throughout the day. Please extend your thanks to our volunteers and consider making a contribution to the Fire Department. Click HERE to contribute.

Even though we are anticipating spring rains, our area is still under drought conditions and a statewide ban on outdoor fires remains in effect through May 14^th.

In my February letter, I included a reminder to have your landscaper or arborist check the trees on your properties as there are so many dead or dying pine trees as a result of the southern pine beetle infestation. The recent events highlight the very real fire risks that we face in the Pine Barrens area.  Having dried-out dead trees exacerbates this risk.  We are proactively managing the trees on Village property and will notify residents if we identify problem areas on private property. Ultimately, the responsibility falls on each homeowner to manage his or her property.

On a more positive note, with the arrival of warmer weather, we are going to be able to move forward with some road improvements on Dune Road.  The state of the road just to the west of the Quogue bridge has been in bad repair ever since the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) installed a new water main last summer.  They will begin repairing the potholes this week and repaving will follow in the coming weeks. The Village will also begin installing additional drainage improvements to the east of the bridge in the coming weeks, which will be followed by repaving which will raise the road a few inches. Finally, we just learned that the SCWA is going to be doing additional water main work in the Village on the eastern end of Dune Road.  We do not have details of the timing but understand that the work will be performed in the coming weeks and in any event, before the summer months.

Traffic on the Ponquogue Bridge reopened fairly quickly to passenger vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, but remains restricted for vehicles weighing over five tons. The engineering studies are continuing, but we still have no news on when the repairs will be undertaken.

The Village will begin the annual processing of beach stickers and locker applications on April 1^st.  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 newly introduced online application and payment system. Please note that you must use the online payment system if you want to pay by credit card. You can sign up today HERE. Please remember that 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 April 25^th, and also on Saturday, May 17^th, May 24^th, and May 31^st from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  You can also elect to have the stickers mailed to you.

I am thrilled to announce that the beach concession will be run this summer by Zach Schmidt and his family.  Zach is Dan Schmidt’s younger brother, and we are looking forward to welcoming another member of the Schmidt family to the community!

The spring leaf pick up this year begins on April 15^th.  As I have pointed out in the past, 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 15^th 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 14^th through May 23^rd.  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 1^st.  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 26^th -27^th, you can register beginning March 31^st 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 online. More information is available at: www.southamptontownny.gov/722/Great-East-End-Cleanup—2025

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.  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.  As with the beach permit applications, we strongly encourage you 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 effective January 1^st, 2025, New York State now requires that all vessel operators must possess a Safe Boating Certificate. You can obtain more information at: www.boatus.org/newyork.

And now for a few upcoming events:

The Hampton Theatre Company’s 2024-2025 40^th season is continuing with Boeing Boeing, written by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross & Francis Evans, and directed by Catherine Clyne. The final shows are this week, from Thursday, March 27^th through Sunday, March 30^th. I encourage you all to attend.  Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org.

This evening at 6:30 pm, the Quogue Wildlife Refuge is organizing an educational event on “Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease – What You Need to Know”. Jerry Simons from Stonybrook Hospital will speak about the types of diseases that are carried by the different species of ticks found on Eastern Long Island. On April 11^th, the Refuge has organized their next Full Moon Night Hike, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.   You can register for these events on their website at www.quoguewildliferefuge.org.

The Art Gallery at the Quogue Library will be presenting “The Collage Show”, beginning on April 4^th and running through May 1^st, featuring the works of five local artists, Pamela Bell, Stephanie Blank, Lulie Morissey, Patti Robinson and Susan Saunders, using the collage technique in ways that express their own unique styles. All are welcome to an Artist Reception on Saturday, April 5^th, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

On April 6^th at 6:00 pm, Chris Paparo, a/k/a the “Fish Guy”, will be making a presentation at the Library on the fascinating wildlife that can be found on the land, in the air, and in the waters of Long Island.

The Library will again be hosting the Great Decisions discussion program on world affairs.  On eight select Saturdays beginning in April through November, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, moderator David Rowe and facilitator Susan Perkins, in partnership with the Library, invite you to attend in person or participate via zoom.  This year’s kick-off is scheduled for April 5^th on the subject of “Navigating U.S. – China Relations in Tense Times”.

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.

Enjoy the daffodils!

Robert Treuhold
Mayor, Village of Quogue

QUOGUE SPRING LEAF PICKUP PROGRAM

The Village Highway Department will begin picking up leaves beginning April 15^th.  Leaves must be on the shoulder of the street by May 15th in order to be picked up.  Do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment.

DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.  They 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 14th through May 23rd.  For more information, go to www.southamptontownny.gov.

Leaves cannot be piled on the shoulder of Montauk Highway. Property owners and landscapers who take leaves (only) from a Quogue property may arrange with the Quogue Highway Department to dump them at the highway yard.  That will avoid having piles in front of your property waiting to be picked up and blowing back onto your lawn.