July 12 Main Newsletter

Accused of Kidnapping and Robbery, Petty Strikes a Deal

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Today: Clouds early, followed by partial clearing later, high 77, winds east at 5 to 10 miles per hour. Tonight: Cloudy, low 67. Tomorrow: Clouds early, followed by partial clearing later, high 78, winds east at 5 to 10 m.p.h. Sunset tonight: 8:20. Sunrise tomorrow: 5:28. Three Mile Harbor tides today: High, 12:07 p.m., low, 5:49 p.m.

New details were revealed Wednesday about the fatal accident in Springs on June 15, as Luis Barrionuevo-Fuertes, the 18-year-old who was driving the car involved in the crash, appeared for arraignment in Riverhead on a long list of new criminal charges before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski.

By Bettina Neel

The discovery of a piping plover nest on the beach near the launch site forced an 11th-hour cancellation of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce's Fourth of July fireworks show. “This would be the first documented breeding record of a piping plover in Montauk,” said Brent Bomkamp, a co-compiler of the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count in Montauk.

By Bettina Neel

The Clamshell Foundation's Great Bonac Fireworks Show over Three Mile Harbor is scheduled for Saturday at 9 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday. Because of the increase in boat traffic expected, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the closure of Three Mile Harbor to shellfishing starting at sunrise on Saturday. 

By Christoper Walsh and Bettina Neel

Experts disagree on whether Nicholas Grecco’s house at 117 Bay View would become a new feature of Napeague Bay without its wall of geocubes, essentially huge sandbags, strung and piled atop one another, protecting the house from wave attack.

By Christoper Gangemi

To Cate Carbonaro, executive director of the East Hampton advocacy organization the Retreat, the split verdict in the federal criminal trial of Sean (Diddy) Combs presents a “stark reminder of how far we still have to go” to educate both the courts and the public about what the charge of sex trafficking really means.

By Bettina Neil

East Hampton Town has asked a New York State Supreme Court judge to hold the owner of Duryea’s, on Fort Pond Bay in Montauk, in contempt of the court’s May 2019 orders allowing a certificate of occupancy to remain in effect, and order the removal of a new parking lot and deck that were constructed without proper permits.

By Christopher Walsh

After a positive public hearing last Thursday before the East Hampton Town Board, it appears another major community preservation fund purchase is close. The deal is a complex arrangement between the town, East Hampton Village, and the Peconic Land Trust, with the majority of the $55 million purchase price — $35 million — coming from the land trust.

By Christopher Gangemi

Simmering discontent with the effort by East Hampton Village officials to publicize code amendments passed over the winter that require service workers to register with the village and curtail noise by tightening the hours during which such work can be done came to a boil at the village board’s July 2 meeting.

By Christopher Walsh

“The ultimate goal of this study is solid, evidence-backed recommendations for remediation of toxic blue-green algae and pathogenic bacteria in the pond, that will be cost effective and long lasting,” said Rebecca Holloway, Concerned Citizens of Montauk’s manager of environmental advocacy.

By Christopher Gangemi

On July 3, Alexandra Giambruno — known to her young patrons as “Mrs. G” — worked her last day as the head of children’s services at the East Hampton Library, a position she had held for 22 years.

By Bettina Neel

Weeks after the “No Kings” rally brought an estimated 1,200 people to East Hampton Town Hall, another demonstration to protest the Trump administration will happen next Thursday, with a nod to the late civil rights icon John Lewis.

By Christopher Walsh

Free movies have returned to Amagansett Square on Wednesday nights at sundown. Next week’s selection is “Surf’s Up.” Moviegoers have been advised to take their own seating and blankets.

By Christopher Walsh

The Amagansett Life-Saving and Coast Guard Station Museum’s ninth annual lobster bake fund-raiser happens on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the museum.

By Christopher Walsh

East Hampton’s 12-U Little League team fought its way into the District 36 final by besting the North Shore Americans on July 3.

By Jack Graves

The Sag Harbor Whalers celebrated July Fourth by routing the Shelter Island Bucks 16-6 at Mashashimuet Park, “shattering a Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League single-game record with 20 walks.” Plus, Kenny Wood’s son, James, is now an M.L.B. All-Star.

By Jack Graves

Maidstone Market, the Tuesday evening 7-on-7 men’s soccer league’s perennial power, didn’t look that powerful in its first game, but was back to dominant form in the next.

By Jack Graves

I’ve received an unusual number of emails questioning my Russian heritage.
By Jon M. Diat

This photo from The Star archive shows the F.H. Warner Bakery, built in 1893 and sometimes known as the Montauk Bakery, when it stood next to the Methodist Church, near Hook Mill.

By Andrea Meyer

The Star's indefatigable food writer explores the new gourmet food stores and finds an awful lot to love.

By Laura Donnelly

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