April 19, 2023 Dear Quogue Residents, There is a lot of activity in Quogue, notwithstanding the somewhat chilly first month of spring. Schmidt’s Country Market has been up and running for three weeks, transforming the center of our Village.  The reviews are outstanding, and it is hard to imagine how we survived without a market.  Theresa has reopened the Quogue Shop on weekends, and Elizabeth will be reopening the newly expanded Homespun on April 29th.  Please support our merchants! The Scrub Oak/Jessup Project is nearing completion – over a month ahead of schedule.  The top layer of asphalt was put down over the past few days and the new lines and crosswalks are being painted as I write.  Those of you who are in Quogue will have noticed a new project to widen the parking area in front of the post office on Midland Street.  The old sidewalk in front of the post office is being replaced and moved south approximately six feet.  This will facilitate safer two-way traffic on Midland. One of the results of the reopening of the market is an increase in traffic and parking on Jessup Avenue.  Please exercise caution at all times when driving on Jessup, attempting to park or pull out of a parking space, or crossing Jessup on foot.  Remember to pull your cars all the way up to the curb when parking diagonally and do NOT make U-turns on Jessup.  This includes NOT turning into one of the parking spaces in front of the market when heading south.  In addition, Village Lane is a one-way street heading away from Jessup. It is not intended to be used to turn around. As part of the Village’s safety initiatives, new crosswalks will be painted on Lamb Avenue and Old Depot at the intersection of Edgewood by the Quogue School, and on Post Lane at the intersection of Quaquanantuck. A reminder that the Village has begun the annual processing of beach stickers.  The application forms are 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.  Please remember that applications may take up to five business days to process.   Pick-ups will be on Fridays only from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., commencing on April 28, and also on Saturday May 20, May 27 and June 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  You can also elect to have the stickers mailed to you. Another reminder regarding the spring leaf pick up: Please remember that leaves must be on the shoulder of the street by April 30th in order to be picked up.  Please do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.  Bags 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.  For safety reasons, leaves may not be piled on the shoulder of Montauk Highway. 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.  That will avoid having piles in front of your property waiting to be picked up and blowing back onto your lawn. With the arrival of spring, the landscapers are gearing up all over Quogue.  Please speak with your landscapers and remind them of a few basic rules.  The restrictions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers come back into effect on May 15th.  The restrictions can be found in our Village Code (https://ecode360.com/6195088?highlight=leaf%20blower,leaf%20blowers&searchId=41972593182194664#6195088).  Please also remind your landscapers of the Suffolk County Water Authority’s new policy ordering lawn watering on alternating odd/even days of the week depending on your house number, with no watering to be done between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.  You might also consider instructing your landscapers to cut back (or even eliminate) the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers, and to plant native species.  There are numerous resources available to learn more about restorative, bio-diverse, healthy and sustainable landscape practices, including ChangeHampton (www.changehampton.org) and The Perfect Earth Project (https://perfectearthproject.org/resources/lawn-basics). Quogue residents Lucinda Morrisey and Paula Prentis have developed quite an expertise in this area, as has Marisa Nelson at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Both the Quogue School and Quogue Library annual budgets will be up for vote, in person or by absentee ballot, on Tuesday, May 16th.  There will be a budget hearing on May 9th at 7:15 p.m. at the Quogue School.  More information can be obtained by consulting the school and library websites. And now for a few additional upcoming events: The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is celebrating Earth Day this Saturday, April 22nd from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with lots of fun activities, vendors, and the Mattitaco food truck. You can bring e-waste and electronics for recycling by EcoTech.  You can also bring old prescription medications for “takeback” by HUGS, Inc. and the Quogue Police. The event is being co-sponsored by the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society, Westhampton Beach Earth Day and the Refuge. On May 5th, the Refuge has organized their next Full Moon Night Hike, from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm.  For more information about these and other programs, please visit https://quoguewildliferefuge.org/ Also, this Saturday, April 22nd at 5:00 p.m., the Library is hosting the first of the new season’s Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions discussion program on the topic of Energy Geopolitics.  The Great Decisions program meets monthly on Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and is moderated by David Rowe and facilitated by Susan Perkins. Participants can join by zoom or attend in person. You can sign up at www.quoguelibrary.org/foreign-policy-association-fpa/ The Library Gallery’s exhibit is “Indelible: Prints by Andrea Cote and Lesley Obrock” is now open, and Andrea Cote will be conducting a printmaking workshop at the Library this Sunday, April 23rd from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  The next Author Talk is on Saturday, May 6th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Scott R. Ferrara presenting “Accused of Witchcraft in New York”.  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 Hampton Theatre Company’s 2022-2023 season concludes with The Portuguese Kid, written by John Patrick Shanley.  Performances began on May 25th and run through June 11th.  Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org. With so much going on in our wonderful Village, I may have overlooked an event or activity that should have been included.  Apologies! Robert Treuhold Mayor

March 22, 2023

Dear Quogue Residents,

Spring has arrived, the days are getting longer, and the daffodils and crocuses are blooming!

Dan Schmidt and his team are nearing their opening date.  The new retrofit is almost complete and the first deliveries have started to arrive. Dan tells me he is on track to open by the end of the month.

The Scrub Oak/Jessup Project is moving along and appears to be ahead of schedule thanks to favorable weather.  The stretch of Jessup south of Montauk Highway is on track to be substantially completed in the next week, at which point a “binder” layer of asphalt will be put down.  A different team will then commence the sidewalk work on Jessup, while the removal work of the old concrete will move north across Montauk and continue on Scrub Oak.  While the roads are fully reopened each afternoon around 3:00 pm, please exercise caution when driving through the work zone.

The Quogue School District has scheduled a “Special Proposition Vote” on March 29^th from 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Quogue School.  Voter approval is sought to authorize the use of funds from the school’s “Facility Preservation and Upgrade Capital Reserve”, established in 2017, for the purpose of performing a complete renovation of the existing, deteriorating, and outdated playground structures.

With the arrival of warmer weather, we can all start thinking ahead to lazy days at the beach.  The Village will begin the annual processing of beach stickers and locker applications the first week of April. 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.  Please remember that applications may take up to five business days to process.   Pick-ups will be on Fridays only from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., commencing on April 28, and also on Saturday May 20, May 27 and June 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  You can also elect to have the stickers mailed to you.

With the arrival of spring, the Village Highway Department will begin picking up leaves on April 1^st.   Leaves must be on the shoulder of the street by April 30^th in order to be picked up.  Please do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.  Bags 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 15^th through May 31^st.  For more information, go to www.southamptontownny.gov.  For safety reasons, leaves may not be piled on the shoulder of Montauk Highway. 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.  That will avoid having piles in front of your property waiting to be picked up and blowing back onto your lawn.

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.  Rental applications and the rules governing rentals are available on the Village website at www.villageofquogueny.gov.

A reminder to any of you who may have changed mailing addresses over the course of the past year.  If you have not already done so, please let the Village Office know your new address.  We will be mailing out the annual property tax bills in early June. Speaking of addresses, please remember to display your house numbers prominently.  It is the law, first of all, but more importantly it is for your own safety.  You do not want an ambulance, police car, or fire truck to be delayed looking for the correct house.

And now for a few upcoming events:

The Hampton Theatre Company’s 2022-2023 season continues with The Lifespan of a Fact, written by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, directed by George Loizides, and produced by Andrew Botsford.  Performances began on March 16^th and run through April 2^nd.  It’s a great show and I encourage you all to attend.  Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org.

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is organizing a lecture on March 25^th at 2:00 pm providing an introduction to the different species of seals found in New York waters.  You will have an opportunity to learn about the New York Marine Rescue Center and their efforts to help these animals in need. This is especially timely given the sighting of a very large grey seal yesterday on the beaches of Quogue. https://longisland.news12.com/amp/ny-marine-rescue-center-to-monitor-grey-seal-on-quogue-beach

On April 5^th, the Refuge has organized their next Full Moon Night Hike, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.   The following Saturday, April 8^th, the Refuge is organizing an egg hunt for toddlers aged 2-4.  There are two sessions, one at 9:00 am and the second at 10:00 am. You can register for these events on their website at www.quoguewildliferefuge.org.

The Quogue Volunteer Fire Department is also organizing an egg hunt the same day, Saturday, April 8^th, at the fire house beginning at 11:00 am sharp.

As always, the Quogue Library has daily programs for everyone of all ages. On March 23^rd, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Library is organizing a Garden Kick-off presented by Renato Stafford. On Wednesday, April 12^th at 6:00 pm, the Library is hosting a Truffles: Signs of Spring dinner, served by Chef Colette and featuring the most delectable of fungi, truffles.  The Library Gallery’s next exhibit is “Indelible: Prints by Andrea Cote and Lesley Obrock” opening Saturday, April 15^th, with a reception and demonstration on Sunday, April 16^th at 2:30 pm. 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

Robert Treuhold

Mayor, Village of Quogue

631-653-4498

Spring Leaf Pickup

February 22, 2023

Dear Quogue Residents,

Unfortunately, groundhog Sam Champion predicted six more weeks of winter when he visited the Quogue Library on February 2^nd.  As the saying goes, “the trouble with weather forecasting is that it’s right too often for us to ignore and wrong too often for us to rely on it.”  In any event, no winter lasts forever, and no spring skips its turn.

As we look ahead to spring, I wanted to share some great news about the concession at the Village Beach.  Beth Dallesio of Beth’s Café fame has agreed to take this on for the coming summer.  For those of you who are familiar with Beth’s offerings, you know that we are in for some tasty and quality treats in the warmer months.

As for the market, Dan Schmidt and his team are busy getting ready to reopen.  He is now targeting a mid-March launch.

On the beach renewal front, I learned last week that the Town of Southampton has now engaged surveyors and appraisers to move the easement process forward.  While the project appears to be moving somewhat glacially, Town officials believe that they remain on track to commence Phase Three, which includes the eastern section of the Quogue beachfront, in the winter of 2023/2024.  I have asked for further details as to when affected property owners will be contacted, and was told that this will occur in the coming months.  Stay tuned.

I am very pleased to announce that the Quogue Library has earned America’s 2022 “Five Star” Library Recognition awarded by the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. This year, 5,359 U.S. public libraries qualified to be rated; 258 received stars, 22 were in New York State, and our Library was one of only six in Suffolk County to be so recognized.  Hearty congratulations to the staff of the Library, the many contributing volunteers, and the leadership of the Library’s Board of Directors.

As announced last month, the Scrub Oak/Jessup Project is up and running.  The contractor Rosemar began preparing the site last week and will begin construction activities on Jessup next week to install additional drainage.  The initial focus will be on the stretch of Jessup south of Montauk Highway down to the police station, with the goal of substantially completing that area by the end of March.  They will then move north across Montauk and begin work on Scrub Oak.  We hope to minimize any disruption and ask for your patience as we implement this important improvement to the Village’s infrastructure.

You may have noticed the addition of new stop signs on Lamb Avenue at the intersection with Midland near the post office.  In the same vein of improving safety on this heavily trafficked street in Quogue, the Trustees voted this past Friday to prohibit parking on the south side of Midland between Jessup and Lamb, other than directly in front of the post office.  The new signs will be installed in the coming days.

While it seems hard to ponder the need to address water shortages given the recent spate of rainy weather, the Suffolk County Water Authority recently adopted a package of new rules that would constrain lawn watering this summer.  The SCWA Board last week adopted a new policy that orders lawn watering only on alternating days of the week, dictated by home address.  A home with an odd-numbered address is required to water only on odd-numbered dates, and a home with an even-numbered address only on even-numbered dates.  The new policy also dictates that no watering should be done during the middle of the day – between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.  Please speak with your landscapers and/or irrigation companies to ensure compliance.

And now for a few upcoming events:

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is celebrating the beginning of spring (we hope!) on March 7th, with a Full Moon Night Hike, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.   The next day, on March 8^th, the Refuge is organizing a zoom “virtual spring” on the dos and don’ts of helping wildlife.  You can register for both events on their website at www.quoguewildliferefuge.org.

As always, the Quogue Library has daily programs for everyone of all ages. The Gallery at the Library is presenting a “BUGS!” Artist Reception on Friday, March 3^rd, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  On March 15^th, the Library is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Irish Dinner from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.  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

 

The Hampton Theatre Company’s 2022-2023 season continues with The Lifespan of a Fact, written by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell.  Performances begin on March 16^th and run through April 2^nd.  Tickets can be purchased at www.hamptontheatre.org.

Looking forward to spring!

Robert Treuhold

Mayor, Village of Quogue

631-653-4498