Project Update — June 6, 2025, Issue No. 6
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD) completed pumping sand for the Bridgehampton and Sagaponack renourishment project around 3:30 PM, April 17, 2025.
Eagles Walk is a private 67‑unit condominium community for persons 55 years of age and older. Amenities include a community clubhouse and outdoor pool.
By clicking “Sign In” on the MyAccount bar at the top of the screen, users may create a login for the site or use their Facebook profile to access MyAccount. Once logged in, visitors can choose the modules, features and keywords that they’d like to see most often, including calendars, news items and emergency alerts. Site users can also save favorite pages within MyAccount, encouraging more-frequent visits and making important information even easier to find. Check out MyAccount and customize your own page!
The Alert Center allows visitors to stay up to date on potentially disruptive, non-life threatening events such as road closures, parking alerts, boil water advisories, and more. Active alerts will display at the top of the website. Visitors can also sign up to receive notifications on specific categories to always stay informed. Learn more about the Alert Center today!
Use Citizen Request Tracker to notify us about a general concern, comment, or compliment. Visitors can also log in to check on the progress of existing requests.
The Spring Flushing of the water mains in the Hampton Bays Water District will begin the evening of April 26th; we anticipate completion on May 16th, 2026. It is advisable during this time for all customers to check the clarity of their water before usage. If water is discolored, run it for several minutes. If it does not clear, please give the office a call, and we will be happy to assist. For additional information, please call 631-728-0179 weekdays between the hours of 7:30 am and 3:15 pm.
Picking up where we left off with Captain Hulbert and his troops . . .
RECAP: On the heels of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, in July 1775, Capt. John Hulbert, a leather goods tradesman and later a Town magistrate, became leader of NYS 3rd Regiment company of 72 local men who enlisted for a six-month tour.
The company was first called to East Hampton and then marched on to Montauk, fearing aggression upon hearing that British troops had anchored in Gardiner’s Bay. Two months later, Hulbert's company was summoned to New York City and proceeded to Albany, Fort George, and finally Ticonderoga, where they remained for a time under the command of Gen. Philip Schuyler. While there, they were ordered to take charge of about 170 prisoners who had been captured at Fort Chamblee in Canada on October 20, 1775, as part the campaign to liberate the Champlain Valley.
As the Americans retreated south to Fort Ticonderoga, Hulbert and his troops escorted the British prisoners to a fortress dubbed Fort Constitution on Constitution Island on the Hudson River.
On November 20, 1775, Hulbert reported to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia after depositing the prisoners in Trenton, New Jersey. He was paid $120 and after returning to Fort Constitution, stationing his troops as garrison, he was given a 10-day leave.
THE STORY CONTINUES: Hulbert and his troops’ next steps one month later were well documented in a travel expense record* dated January 8, 1776 -- 250 years ago.
From Fort Constitution, they marched to Lt. Miles Oakley’s tavern in White Plains, arriving the next day. Oakley provided a “carriage from White Plains to Rye” in Westchester County. Upon arriving in Rye, they were greeted by Captain Jagger and provided liquor and provisions, “pork and bread,” to be specific. Next was to see Capt. Carpenter about “ferrage” across Long Island Sound from Rye to Huntington, L.I., where they hired two wagons from a gentlemen named Williams and proceeded on to Smithtown. At Smithtown, they took on more liquor and provisions, and wagons to transport the troops to Benjamin Havens’s establishment in Moriches, known today as the Ketcham Inn historic site. There Havens (1712- 1797) was a gracious host to the weary, well-travelled troops at their last stop before they hired wagons to proceed to Southampton.
The Ketcham Inn Historic Site, formerly Benjamin Havens Inn, Center Moriches, on a cold winter’s evening.
The troops were discharged at Southampton, fulfilling their six-month commitment. All returned home, except for some who had become ill and were discharged earlier. Mission accomplished, or so they thought. The Declaration of Independence was still being negotiated, the Battle of Long Island was still seven months away, and the subsequent years-long British occupation of the East End could not have been predicted by the returning patriots.
Above document held in the East Hampton Library’s Long Island Collection.
MORE OF THE 250th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY TO COME…
Happy New Year!
Julie B. Greene
Town Historian
Southampton Town
116 Hampton Road
Southampton, New York 11968
No ”eye of newt and toe of frog, nor wool of bat and tongue of dog . . .”
But on May 4, 1651, Sarah Veale, wife of Thomas Veale (Vaile, Vayle), town blacksmith, was brought in front of the Magistrates at the Quarter Court of Southampton, charged with imprecations, or spoken curses. Such outspokenness by a female was considered against church doctrine of the day, which added up to witchcraft.
According to the laws of the Bible as rewritten by the Rev. Abraham Pierson, Southampton’s first minister, and consented to by the inhabitants of the colony (as recorded in the Town Records, Book One, page 3), witchcraft , a “fellowship by consent with a familiar spirit,” ranked quite high on the list of offenses, and was punishable by death, while conjuring, consulting, and cursing were punishable by banishment.
Sarah and Thomas Veale had gotten themselves mixed up in a bit of neighborly miscommunication with George Wood. Thomas sued George for trespass against his wife, and George countersued. The men were acquitted, but Sarah, apparently upset by the whole ordeal, used her sharp tongue against George Wood, and she became the focus of the controversy.
Sarah was sentenced by the magistrates for exorbitant words of imprecation, and was to stand trial with her tongue in a cleft stick* so long as the offense committed by her was read and declared.
Perhaps Sarah was not seen as a witch, or the Magistrates went “easy” on her, but not long afterward Thomas, Sarah, and family left Southampton to settle in Westchester County. And the Salem Witch Trials didn’t really get into full swing until 40 years later.
* A cleft stick is one with a split at one end used to carry written messages, hold a candle, or for some other purpose requiring a secure grip.
For more witchcraft trials on the East End, see Goody Garlick of East Hampton.
In 1774, the Continental Congress authorized the establishment of Committees of Safety throughout the 13 colonies to enforce the Articles of Association. Signing of articles by the colonists was an oath of sorts to boycott British goods, i.e., tea, and also provided guidelines to further the American cause. Many Southamptoners signed the Articles of Association.
In time a Committee of Safety emerged here, a kind of shadow government to communicate with and organize the citizenry, and they knew the Declaration of Independence was coming on July 4th, 1776.
The Town conducted its own censuses of inhabitants, playing a key role in gathering demographic information, likely for purposes related to organizing resources, raising militias, and fortification.
The brothers Gelston, David (1744-1828), John (1750-1834), and Hugh (1754-1828), made a particular effort to ensure that Southampton was counted in time for the Declaration. Thus the timing of the statement below.
I, John Gelston, do swear that the aforegoing list contains
a true and faithful account of the number of inhabitants within
the eastern district of Southampton, &c.
Sworn before me 4th July 1776, DAVID GELSTON
Their younger brother, Hugh, was working on enumerating the western portion of Town and finished on July 22, 1776.
Southampton, July 22, 1776. Then appeared before me Hugh Gelston, and declared that the within list of inhabitants of the town aforesaid, westward of a place called Water Mill,
is a true list. THOS. COOPER, Chairman
1775 Town Census total: East of Water Mill: 1,431 West of Water Mill: 1,328
Link to see entire census: https://www.southamptontownny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35333/1776-Census
And now go celebrate the Fourth like a Gelston!
David Gelston (1744-1828), political activist, later became a NYS Assemblyman from Suffolk County.
As you know, the Town is transitioning to a new timekeeping system next week. I know you’ve been notified that you’ll be receiving an email invitation to create your system password. We are working with Human resources to get email information updated in the new system. As soon as that is completed, the email will be pushed out to you.
Please be patient as we work with Human Resources to update this information and prepare for the cutover. The July 8th deadline was imposed on us by the software company itself as part of the deprecation of Novatime, so please be patient during the transition and stay in touch with your timekeepers as the kinks are worked out. Thank you!
As a reminder on Tuesday July 8th all employees will begin using the new timekeeping system, UKG Ready.
Employees who use a desktop to log in will receive an email from UKG with instructions to log in, please check both your town email as well as your personal email for the instructions, you should be receiving this email within the next couple of days.
Employees who use the time clock to punch in will continue just as you do now, enter your credentials, touch punch in and place finger on the scanner.
Employees who use the app to punch in will continue just as you do now, open the app sign in and punch in.
I know a number of employees have questions and concerns, we are asking that you please be patient as there are always hiccups when a new system is rolled out. We (myself, Eliza & Silvia) are doing our best to get the system up and ready for Tuesday and answer the numerous emails and phone calls as well as keeping up on our regular duties.
Please remember effective Tuesday for all CSEA employees the automatic shift start and no punch rounding begin. This means if you punch in before your scheduled start time you will not be given credit for that time. Your work hours will be calculated using your scheduled start time and not the early punch time. Your early punch in will only count if you have PRIOR permission from your Supervisor to start early, you are required to work 8 hours per day so if you punch in at 8:07am your punch out for the day should be 4:07pm (8 hours), there is no more punch-rounding.
We ask that you utilize the reference material and videos on Zendesk UKG Instructions - for Users – Town of Southampton Technical Support Portal
Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we all navigate this new system.
Below you will find a link to the IT Zendesk portal, which includes user manuals and an instructional video for regular employees; the manuals included are for desktop users and mobile app users. Please keep in mind that user access remains the same as Novatime (for example, Novatime desktop users will remain UKG desktop users), unless we get a request from the department head to modify as appropriate. For desktop users, you will see an icon on your desktop called “UKG Ready”. Unlike Novatime, which had an icon for regular users and another for timekeepers/supervisors, UKG only has the one.
UKG Instructions - for Users – Town of Southampton Technical Support Portal
As a reminder, all employees need to start utilizing UKG on Tuesday, July 8th (the last day for Novatime is Monday, July 7th). We will do our best to have the transition be as smooth as possible, but please be aware that there may be challenges and difficulties in the beginning, so we kindly ask that everyone be patient during the first few weeks.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Silvia Sullivan, Eliza Jo Morgan or Dawn Moyer.
Thanks,
Juan
Juan BecerraDirector of Human Resources(631) 702-1904
Southampton – Supervisor Maria Moore is announcing the twelfth year of the Town of Southampton's Landmarks Maintenance Program Award. The Award Program supports matching contributions from owners for projects that help the preservation and long-term sustainability of properties designated as a Town Landmark. The program is funded by developer contributions to a dedicated historical preservation benefit fund.
The deadline for applications is Friday, April 30, 2026.
“Through the Landmarks Maintenance Award Program, the Town supports continued protection and preservation of important structures where financial pressures exist for owners” said Supervisor Moore. “Historic homes and buildings are an important part of the character of the Town of Southampton.”
In past years, matching dollar awards have been made to designated Town Landmarks in Water Mill, East Quogue, Shinnecock Hills, Remsenburg, Westhampton and Hampton Bays that applied for a variety of exterior maintenance conditions." according to Vicki Kahn, a Member and Coordinator for the Landmarks & Historic Districts Board. She noted projects for application may include exterior rehabilitation; structural stabilization; window replacements, door and shutter restoration; and the resolution of water-penetration issues.
To be eligible for the award, an historic resource must already have been designated a Town landmark. Excepting not-or-profit owners, owner-applicants are also required to have Basic or Enhanced School Tax Relief (STAR) status. The work is expected to be completed in a year and, when completed, documented by a Landmarks & Historic Districts Board member.
“This is an incentive to owners of historic resources to seek landmark designation. In addition to the maintenance award, local Town Landmarks are also eligible for a NY State tax abatement program for qualifying improvements and also the possible sale of an historic preservation easement to the Town,” according to Ms. Kahn.
Owners interested in finding out if their property is one of the 980 identified historic resources in the Town that might qualify for Town Landmark status and subsequent benefits should check the link "Southampton Historic Resources Survey 2014" on the Landmarks & Historic District Board pages at https://www.southamptontownny.gov/Archive/63
Applications and program information for the Landmarks Maintenance Award can be found under “Applications & Forms” on https://www.southamptontownny.gov/730/Applications-Forms Completed applications can be emailed to landmarks@southamptontownny.gov . Questions can be
The public can access the open part of this agenda on the Town Clerk’s Portal at: https://www.southamptontownny.gov/2340/Live-Meeting-Stream. Click on the “Live” link at the top of the page once the meeting begins. The Executive Session discussions are closed to the public.
ROLL CALL
10:00 a.m. Peconic Estuary Program—Proposed 2026 Work Plan
10:30 a.m. Amendment to the Community Housing Fund Project Plan
11:00 a.m. Supervisor’s/Town Council Members’ Liaison Updates
11:30 a.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION—Acquisitions/Contracts/Confidential Legal Advice
The Town of Southampton Human Resources Department hosted a successful Spring Job Fair on March 23 at the Hampton Bays Senior Center
Residents and seasonal job seekers connected with town departments and local partners, including Suffolk County Civil Service, Suffolk County Department of Labor, Southampton Town Fire Chiefs Council, and EMS Advisory Committee.
We are still hiring! Please scan the QR code or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/jobs to explore current job opportunities!
Available 24/7 Online: www.southamptontownny.gov/beachpermitsBeach Permit Sales
In-person beach permit sales will be available at the following locations and times.Parks and Recreation Administrative Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM starting April 1.
Notify Me allows you to subscribe to an unlimited number of email lists. Sign up to receive email or text updates on topics of your choice so that you can stay informed. Check out Notify Me today!
The Town of Southampton is currently accepting applications for the position of Traffic Control Officer for our Police Department.
On Tuesday, 10/28/2025 Southampton Town Police Department swore in four new officers to full-time police positions at the Town Board Meeting. The new officers that were sworn in are PO Jake Jurgensen, PO Domenica Cinquemani, PO Joseph Dalen and PO David Delong. The Southampton Town Police Department is excited to welcome these new officers and wish them a long, healthy and rewarding career!
Pictured with the officers are Chief James Kiernan, Town Supervisor Maria Moore, Southampton Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer and Southampton Town Council Members Rick Martel, Cynthia McNamara, Bill Pell and Michael Iasilli.
Dr. Peter Michalos, Chairman of the Hamptons Health Society, recently presented the Southampton Town Police Department with a generous donation of eight Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and Individual Trauma Kits, totaling over $25,000 in value.
These new AEDs will be installed in patrol sector vehicles—our primary response units to medical emergencies throughout the community. The devices will replace older models currently in service, ensuring our officers are equipped with the most advanced and reliable tools available to save lives.
In addition to the AEDs, officers will now carry Individual Trauma Kits on their duty belts. These all-in-one kits are designed to address severe bleeding injuries and include essential lifesaving components such as combat gauze, chest seals, and tourniquets.
The Southampton Town Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Michalos and the Hamptons Health Society for their continued commitment to public safety. This donation directly enhances our ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies, ultimately helping to protect the health and well-being of our residents 24 hours a day.
New Lifepak 1000 Automated External Defibrillators and Individual Belt Trauma Kits
In response to the severe winter weather experienced this year, the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Southampton have declared an ice emergency for town waters; this declaration is for the purpose of advising residents that they should take steps to see that pilings and other marine structures do not become a hazard to navigation once the ice has thawed and the waters become navigable once again.
Residents who have permits for marine structures that have become damaged or set free due to the ice will be permitted to apply for an expedited permit to repair or replace them.
Requirements and details can be obtained by calling the Trustees' office at 631-287-5717 and speaking with our general permitting staff or by visiting the Trustees website at https://www.southamptontownny.gov/487/Town-Trustees.
This expedited emergency process will be in effect until the close of business on April 15, 2026.
In coordination with Suffolk County, the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonalty of the Town of Southampton announce that temporary beach driving closures have been lifted effective October 15, 2025, at 9:00 AM.
Effective immediately, on Friday, June 6, 2025, in the areas described in the memo, the harvest of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods (conchs, whelks, moonsnails) is prohibited.
The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau will be hosting a Video Game Tournament on Wednesday, April 8th at the Flanders Youth Center, 655 Flanders Road from 1:00pm – 5:00pm with registration starting at 12:30pm. Event is open to grades 5 – 12 and admission is $10.
The tournament will feature Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 on the Nintendo Switch. Extra game systems will be available for free play & practice. Prizes will be awarded first place in each bracket and all players will be entered into raffles for additional prizes. Prizes include a Razer HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Headset, Lego GameBoy, and Lego Retro Gaming Toys. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. For more information or to register, please call (631) 702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/YBpayment .
The Southampton Youth Bureau has announced its 2026 Spring Break activity schedule! The programs offer a mix of educational trips, games, and recreation during the school break.
Spring Break Schedule – Grades 5–10:
Tuesday, April 7 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm — Tuesday on the Go! Field Trip to Escape Games LI Participants in grades 5–10 will work together to solve puzzles and challenges in an exciting escape room adventure. Admission is $35, and participants should bring money for a dinner stop. Transportation included. Bus will leave Flanders Community Center, 655 Flanders Road at 4:00 PM and return at 8:00 PM.
Wednesday, April 8 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm — Video Game TournamentYouth in grades 5–10 can compete in a live video game tournament at the Flanders Youth Center. Admission is $10, and participants are encouraged to BYOC (bring your own controller). The tournament will feature Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 on Nintendo Switch. Additional games and systems will be available for free play and practice. Prizes courtesy of Friends of Southampton Town Youth (FOSTY).
Spring Break Schedule – Grades K–4:
Thursday, April 9 from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm — Trip to Vanderbilt PlanetariumStudents in grades K–4 will explore nature and outer space during a visit to the museum and a planetarium show. Admission is $10. Children should bring a bagged lunch; snacks will be provided. Transportation included.
Friday, April 10 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm — Sports and Playground Fun at Southampton Youth Services (SYS) in Southampton. Children in grades K–4 will enjoy an afternoon of sports, playground activities, and pizza. This program is free of charge. Transportation included.
Space is limited for all programs. Pre-registration is required by Friday, April 3. For more information or to register, please contact the Southampton Youth Bureau at (631) 702-2425 or visit https://www.southamptontownny.gov/YBpayment
