🌱 East Hampton Daily: Dean Johnson Exhibit + Pine Beetle Fires

Good morning, neighbors! It's me again, Diane Witek, your host of the East Hampton Daily.

First, today's weather:

On-and-off rain and drizzle. High: 49, low: 43.

Here are the top stories today in East Hampton:

1. The Suffolk County Community College's Lyceum Gallery has a new exhibit. "Dean Johnson: The Artist and His Apprentice" will be on exhibit on the Eastern Campus from March 14 through April 11. According to Patch, among others, Johnson will exhibit his 48 x 48 inch, portrait of Marylyn Monroe, a plexi-glass, resin, paint and digital work that lights up and changes color. (Press Release Desk)
2. Thanks to the advocacy of the ratepayers from East Hampton to Port Washington, "the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has 'canceled' production of an 'extremely toxic' wood preservative product," according to Newsday. PSEG used this product in the installation of tall wooden utility poles in their communities in 2014 as part of a plan to fortify the grid against storm impacts. (Subscription: Newsday)
3. Opposition to the proposal for a 50-lot commercial-industrial development in Wainscott, has its residents and environmental advocates appealing to residents of hamlets around the town to join them in the fight. The commercial-industrial lots proposed by the Wainscott Commercial Center could be used under town code for a broad variety of commercial uses, from equipment and vehicle storage to warehouses and auto repair shops. (Subscription: 27east.com)
4. Since 2017, nearly 20,000 trees have been cut down on town lands in Northwest Woods, mostly along the Swamp Road corridor, in an effort to stanch the spread of the southern pine beetles. “As these trees die, you get an accumulation of fuel in the woods, and we’re going to see wildfires along the lines of 35 to 40 years ago, like the Westhampton fires or the fires in Montauk back in the early 1990s,” East Hampton Town Trustee James Grimes, a member of the Montauk Fire Department, told other Trustees on Monday. “We need people to be aware of fire risks when they are out in the woods. Be responsible with bonfires, even beach fires. Removing dead trees is a good idea. And they should call 911 at the first sign of trouble. Don’t try to put out a fire with your garden hose first.” (Subscription: 27east.com)

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Today in East Hampton:

• Women's History Month Literary Heroines Collage. (All Day)
• Totally Tots — East Hampton Library. (9:30 a.m.)
• Chair Yoga with Kate Alesio — East Hampton Library. (11 a.m.)
• Rainbow Paper Quilled Shamrock — East Hampton Library. (4 p.m.)
• Chess Club — East Hampton Library. (4 p.m.)
• Purim Celebrations! (5:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Nextdoor Neighbor, Neck Path: "Hi all. Many of you have asked for an update regarding mine and my neighbors' efforts to stop the erection of a 70 foot tall cell tower at St. Peter's Chapel in Springs, after a prior 50 foot tower had been rejected by the planning board." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Springs: "Yard sale in East Hampton, Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Furniture, dishwasher, microwave, TV, knick knacks, freebies. 14 Birdie Lane." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Settlers Landing: "I need to raise my washer and dryer off the floor in my basement. Has anyone had a base cabinet built for their appliances and can share photos and local carpenter? Needs to be at least 20 inches high." (Nextdoor).
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Lincon Ave: "Good morning, 💫 sending good vibes🙌🏻" (Nextdoor)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.