January 24, 2023

Dear Quogue Residents,

Gazing out my office window, I am thrilled to see a buzz of activity across the street at the market.  Dan and Karen Schmidt and their team are working away preparing to reopen.  They are currently targeting opening by March 1^st but there are still a few moving pieces.  If you are in town, I encourage you to stop by and say hello.

Please also stop by the newly reopened Quogue Flower Shop & Gardens and meet Edwin and Hilma Balcarcel, who are excited to bring their floral expertise to the Quogue community.

The Trustees held our monthly meeting last Friday and awarded the contract to Rosemar Construction Inc. for the “Scrub Oak Road and Jessup Avenue Roadways Reconstruction Project”.  Work is slated to begin in mid-February. This will inevitably lead to some inconvenience for us all, especially for those residing in the work areas.  The contractor has undertaken to coordinate the work in a fashion that will minimize the timing of any road closures and ensure access by all residents.  We will be working with the contractor in the next couple of weeks to finalize the detailed project timetable.  Once finalized, details will be shared with the affected residents.

In order to pay for this ambitious project, the Trustees opted to issue $3,000,000 of Public Improvement Serial Bonds with a final maturity of 2038.  In connection with the offering, we met with Moody’s to obtain a rating for the Bonds.  I am very pleased to report that Moody’s issued a press release on Friday upgrading the Village of Quogue (and our Bonds) to Aaa, the highest possible rating.  Moody’s stated that the upgraded rating “reflects a strong economy with a wealthy property tax base.”  They also cited the Village’s “strong governance driven by conservative budgeting and sound financial management leading to strong reserves and liquidity.”  What a remarkable and merited recognition of the exceptional stewardship of our beautiful Village by our former Mayor Peter Sartorius, our long-serving Board of Trustees, and our talented Village employees. Go Quogue!

You may have noticed some large orange trucks in the Village in the past couple of weeks. PSEG has contracted with the Asplundh Tree Expert Company to undertake a major tree pruning program.  Some of the work is also in preparation for the Scrub Oak project as several utility poles will need to be relocated.  This is the best time of year to perform tree work, and I would encourage you to speak with your landscapers or hire a tree expert to inspect the trees on your properties.  As you may have read, the East End is unfortunately experiencing a serious infestation of pine beetles.  Many of our native pine trees are dying.  This can become quite dangerous in the event of strong winds, etc.  For information, here is a link to a presentation on “24 Ways to Kill a Tree – and How NOT to Kill a Tree.”  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/430/430-210/SPES-307.pdf

In the coming weeks, all patrolling officers in the Quogue Police Department will begin wearing body cameras.  This roll out has been in the works for some time.  The cameras will record all police activity and interactions with the public, which will add an additional level of safety and security for our officers and residents.

The Quogue Association recently sent around its winter newsletter with a wealth of local information and a reminder to renew membership for 2023.  The Quogue Association plays an important role in our Village.  The mission statement of the Association is “to foster the general welfare of the Village of Quogue and preserve its character as a desirable and attractive residential community, to support organizations that strengthen the quality of life in the Village and to acknowledge the accomplishments of individuals and groups whose actions have contributed to the welfare of the community.”  Fun events that have been organized by the Association include concerts on the Village Green, the Annual Duck Race, and the Annual Beach Party at the Village Beach.  I encourage you all to become members (or to renew) and to participate in the Association’s events.  Here is a link to their website www.quogueassociation.org

And now for a few winter events:

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is hosting a family friendly afternoon with Slow Food East End on January 28^th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  SFEE is the local chapter of an international organization involving millions of people in over 160 countries.  You will have an opportunity to meet their board members and learn more about their organization while enjoying warm soup and cider alongside a toasty fire.  You can register on their website at www.quoguewildliferefuge.org.  Please remember to consult the Refuge website as there is a regular stream of educational and family fun events.

On February 2^nd at 3:30 pm,  please mark your calendars to join the Quogue Library’s 4^th Annual Groundhog Day Celebration.  Join Tim, the Master of Ceremony, and Sam Champion, STAR Foundation groundhog, as he makes his 2023 prediction. Visit https://www.quoguelibrary.org to register.

On February 4^th at 1:00 pm, the Library is holding a “virtual” talk with author D.T. Max who will share an intimate portrait of Stephen Sondheim based on conversations and interviews over the final years of his life.  Again, visit  https://www.quoguelibrary.org to register; a link will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

 

Robert Treuhold

Mayor

631-653-4498

January 6, 2023

Dear Quogue Neighbors,

I wanted to share some exciting news that is hot off the press.  I just learned that the Quogue Market will be reopening next month under the new banner of the Schmidt’s Country Market.  As many of you may know, the Schmidt family have run a country market in Southampton for some 43 years.  They lost their lease last fall and were forced to close in October.  I reached out to Daniel Schmidt and introduced him to the DellaFera family who own the Quogue Market.  Happily for us all, they have now reached agreement and we will once again have a market in our Village.   Please welcome Daniel, his wife Karen, and their family to Quogue and be very supportive of their new venture.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Robert Treuhold

Mayor, Village of Quogue

631-653-4498

 

December 20, 2022

Dear Quogue Residents,

The holidays have arrived.  I sincerely hope that you and those with whom you are celebrating manage to avoid the various viruses currently in our midst.

While going about your last-minute shopping, please remember to support our local merchants who are open and ready to help you find that perfect gift, get ready to host or visit family and friends, or add something special to your own enjoyment of the holidays.  The Quogue Shop, Flowers by Rori, and Jen Going Interiors are open every day this week.  The Quogue Liquor Store and the Quogue Salon are also open and ready to help you get in the holiday spirit.

It is with sadness that I pass on the news that Rori has decided to retire and has sold her store as of year end.  We thank her for her beautiful contributions to the Village and wish her good health and happiness in the years to come. You might want to stop by and wish her well and take one last opportunity to browse her beautifully curated items and make a purchase (or three).  On a positive note, the new owners intend to keep the flower store open.

The Trustees voted this past Friday to install stop signs on Lamb Avenue at the intersection with Midland near the post office.  This intersection will now be a “four-way” stop, which many residents have assumed was already the case.

The Village is moving forward on the reconstruction of the stretch of Jessup Avenue north of the Police Station across Montauk and all of Scrub Oak to Route 104.  The bids are due today with the intention of awarding the contract in January and beginning construction in mid-February, weather permitting.   More details will be forthcoming in January.

While we are entering a relatively quiet period in Quogue, there are a few upcoming events to keep you entertained.

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is celebrating the first day of winter tomorrow, December 21^st, with a Sunset Solstice Hike, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.   On January 6^th, the Refuge will celebrate the first full moon of the New Year with a guided hike through the forest.  You can register for both events on their website at https://quoguewildliferefuge.org/

The Quogue School Chamber Choir will be caroling around the Village on Thursday morning, December 22^nd, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, beginning at the Library and then strolling up Jessup Avenue.

As always, the Quogue Library has daily programs for everyone of all ages, as can be seen from their well-packed calendar of exercise, tech and other types of classes, art and crafts circles, book clubs, games, movies, and more.  Please make a habit of frequently consulting their website at https://quogue.librarycalendar.com/events/month

I extend my very best wishes for festive and healthy holiday celebrations and for a Happy New Year!

November 22, 2022   Dear Quogue Residents, With the holiday season approaching, I thought it might be time for another mayor missive. While I do not have a lot of details to report on the long-awaited FIMP beach nourishment project, the Southampton town attorneys report that they are making progress in retaining surveyors and other consultants to begin the easement process.  They believe that property owners on Dune Road should expect to be contacted beginning in January. I am pleased to report that the Quogue School had a record turnout for their Hudsy 5K Run/Walk on November 5th.  Congratulations to the winners Nicholas Berglin and Heather Wright and to all the participants. As we enter into the quieter season, I would encourage you to consult the Quogue Historical Society’s website, which is packed with information regarding virtual tours of Quogue, online exhibitions, children’s activities, Zoom talks and Quogue history in general.  https://quoguehistory.org/ Our police department asks that you pay special attention to packages being delivered to your homes, especially with the upcoming holiday season.  Unfortunately, the Village is not immune from the occasional petty theft.  As always, if you see something suspicious please call 911. A reminder that the Village Highway Department is continuing to pick up leaves through December 15th.    Please do not pile leaves around fire hydrants or utility equipment.  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.  Further details can be found on the Village’s website: https://villageofquogueny.gov/2022/10/leaf-pickup/ In addition to the foregoing, property owners and landscapers who take leaves (only) from a Quogue property may make arrangements 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. And now for a few announcements of some of the many events and activities happening in Quogue in the coming days and weeks: This coming Friday, November 25th, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, the Quogue Library Art Committee is hosting an opening reception for the 2022 Smart Phone Portrait Contest.  The portraits will be exhibited in the Quogue Library Art Gallery through January 4, 2023. On Saturday, November 26th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, the Quogue Gallery is hosting a reception honoring local artists currently on display in the Quogue in Common exhibit running through December 18, 2022. https://quoguegallery.com/exhibition/299077/quogue-in-common-2022/ This coming Sunday, November 27th, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, the Fire Department is holding its long-awaited annual Pancake Breakfast, which is returning this year after a two-year Covid-created hiatus.  As with the Fire Department’s summer open house, this is a must attend event and will be great fun for all.  There will be a chance and silent auction with lots of great prizes contributed by local businesses and individuals.  Raffle tickets will be sold during the pancake breakfast with drawings commencing promptly at 12:00 noon.  The event is the main fundraiser for the Fire Department’s Benevolent Association so please participate. On Monday, November 28th, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Library is hosting a presentation by the Eco-Photo Explorers of the rich history of Montauk Highway: From Urban Streets to Atlantic Dunes.  As always, the Library continues to offer a rich variety of activities for adults and children so please remember to consult their website frequently. https://quogue.librarycalendar.com/events/month On Friday, December 9th at 5:30 pm, there will be a tree lighting ceremony on the Village Green.  The Quogue School’s choir will be there singing carols as we kick off the holiday season with a bonfire and hot chocolate.  There may even be a special guest visitor. The Quogue Historical Society’s annual Holiday House Tour is scheduled for Saturday, December 10th, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by a cocktail party from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  Tickets for both events can be purchased on the QHS website at https://quoguehistory.org/calendar/events-and-exhibitions/ Also on Saturday, December 10th, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, the Wildlife Refuge will have a Nature Garland Holiday Craft event for adults and children ages 7 and up. Details are available on their website at https://quoguewildliferefuge.org The Hampton Theatre Company’s next performance will be It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play with a short run from December 16th through the 18th. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.hamptontheatre.org/ Apologies if I have overlooked an event; please let me know! Happy Thanksgiving! Robert Treuhold Mayor, Village of Quogue 631-653-4498