Town of East Hampton plans to make largest CPF purchase in town's history

Long Island Morning Edition

Recent Gen Z college graduates are unprepared for the workplace and in need of etiquette training, according to a survey of business professionals. Victor Ocasio reports on Newsday.com that according to the survey by Intelligent.com, which polled 966 business leaders involved in hiring decisions at their company, 46% of respondents said that recent college graduates should definitely take office etiquette training; 42% said they probably should. Intelligent.com is a Seattle-based online higher education publication that conducts college-related polls.

About 1 in 6 of respondents said they were hesitant to hire recent grads.

Only 25% of respondents said all their recent college graduate hires from this year "worked out well," while 62% said only some hires were successful. Worse yet, among frequently cited reasons for why hires didn’t work out, 50% pointed to lack of motivation or initiative, 46% blamed lack of professionalism, and 39% said poor communication skills.

The survey, conducted in August and released in September, paints a bleak picture of young workers' ability to adjust to the workplace. But those who work closely with Gen Z and recent grads say surveys like this may rely on bias and don’t reflect the reality they see.

"I’m shocked by these results," said Marianna Savoca, associate vice president of career readiness and experiential education at Stony Brook University’s Career Center. "Stereotypes are fun to talk about, but it’s really hard to classify a whole generation of people."

Savoca, who took issue with some of the survey’s findings, says it’s been her experience that today's college grads, by and large, receive or seek out more job preparedness services than previous generations.

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Early Sunday afternoon, Southampton Town police officers responded to a report of a lost dog at the Bridgehampton LIRR station on Maple Avenue.

But officers who responded yesterday to the call quickly realized this was not a typical lost or runaway pet scenario.

Police said a woman told them she had taken her 16-year-old son to the station to catch a train to Babylon, but after arriving at the station they discovered that the train was being replaced by a bus.

As mother and son discussed the situation, they failed to realize that Biscuit, their 8-year-old Yorkshire terrier, who was relaxing in his pet carrier, was being loaded on the bus.

The mother and son decided not to take the bus, but after it left the station, they realized Biscuit was nowhere to be found. They looked high and low and called 911.

The responding officer relayed the information to Southampton Town Police Dispatchers who began making calls in an effort to locate the bus — and Biscuit.

Dispatchers were able to contact Babylon Village code enforcement officers, who responded to the Babylon train station, where the dog was found safe and sound and shortly thereafter reunited with his family…presumably Mom drove her son all the way from Bridgehampton to Babylon after all.

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A fatal crash involving two motorcycles claimed the life of a 21-year-old East Hampton man yesterday on Route 58 in Riverhead.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that Riverhead Police said the crash occurred in the vicinity of the Target shopping plaza at approximately 8:20am Sunday.

A 2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R, operated by Christian Gutierrez, 21, of East Hampton struck a 2006 Yamaha R6 operated by Rodolfo Castillo, 54, of Southampton, police said in a press release this afternoon. No information was provided about how the crash occurred.

Gutierrez suffered numerous injuries and subsequently succumbed to those injuries on scene, police said. Police did not say whether Castillo was injured in the crash.

The Riverhead Police Department Detective Division and the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit responded to the scene to assist in the investigation, according to the press release. No criminality is suspected in the case at this time, police said, however the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have further information pertaining to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Riverhead Police Department at [phone].

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Bob DeNardo once salvaged a John Deere riding mower out of Shelter Island's recycling and trash yard. John Duo said he drove a 1969 Volvo out of the facility in the 1990s. Robert Waife recovered a steel, spiral staircase that he keeps in his barn. Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that the "pickers" of Shelter Island, as they are known, describe the town’s transfer station as a community hub — a daily gathering place where residents hunt for treasures. The tradition dates back decades on the island where affluent summer residents in mansions coexist with the smaller year-round population.

But the pickers are fuming after a policy change over the summer restricted access to discarded lumber and metal — known as the "C & D pile" for construction and demolition. Ken Lewis Jr., Shelter Island Town’s commissioner of public works, cited safety and liability concerns as the impetus for the change that took effect July 1. Lewis said the decision didn't stem from any specific incident, but rather was a change meant to keep people safe and align the department's policies with other transfer stations on Long Island.

Lewis has stood firm amid pushback from residents who have organized a petition with more than 500 signatures and crowded recent town board meetings. Most residents frequent the facility to dispose of household garbage and recyclables, making for a natural transition to check in on what’s new at the "Goodie Pile."

Lewis said the "Goodie Pile," an enclosed area where residents can drop off and pick up anything from household appliances to toys or books, remains open. He said he plans to expand it by adding space where some of the usable wood and metal from the trash pile can be safely stored for pickers.

"I know what it means to some of the people that they feel like something is being taken away from them," said Lewis, whose parents both served as council members on Shelter Island. "But I’m trying to look at it from a safety standpoint and from a liability standpoint."

The pickers disagree. They say they know how to search through the pile safely and that concerns about injuries are overblown.

"Everybody on the island for 60 to 70 years has gone back there and picked," said Robert Gorcoff, 68.

For now, though, a red sign placed in front of the trash pile warns it’s a restricted area for unloading only.

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Recent Gen Z college graduates are unprepared for the workplace and in need of etiquette training, according to a survey of business professionals. Victor Ocasio reports on Newsday.com that according to the survey by Intelligent.com, which polled 966 business leaders involved in hiring decisions at their company, 46% of respondents said that recent college graduates should definitely take office etiquette training; 42% said they probably should. Intelligent.com is a Seattle-based online higher education publication that conducts college-related polls.

About 1 in 6 of respondents said they were hesitant to hire recent grads.

But those who work closely with Gen Z and recent grads say surveys like this may rely on bias and don’t reflect the reality they see.

For companies like National Grid, which have partnered with Stony Brook University’s Career Center on its Diversity Professional Leadership Network program — a yearlong career preparation externship aimed at traditionally underrepresented students — mentoring and working with soon-to-be grads has been fulfilling.

"They bring a very specific type of energy to the room," said Samantha Eddy, lead analyst of compliance execution for National Grid. "They are intrigued, they ask the right provoking questions. They have a broader sense of the world."

While many students come into the mentorship program a bit shy and hesitant to speak up, Eddy said in short order they grew confident and self-assured.

"They might be timid at first, but by the end of the experience, they are coming in asking us questions and they’re not waiting for us to take the initiative," Eddy said. "They are very invested in their own future."

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The first of three League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork virtual debates this fall, for the New York State Assembly District #1 seat held for the past three decades by Fred W. Thiele, Jr., is scheduled this evening at 7 p.m., streaming live on Sea-TV Southampton, and its YouTube channel.

Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni, a Democrat from Sag Harbor, is running for the seat against Shelter Island Town Attorney Stephen Kiely a Republican from Mattituck.

Candidates will make timed opening and closing statements and answer questions.

Early voting takes place in New York State from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3 at select locations.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5; polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The deadline to register to vote in New York State is Oct. 26 — which is also the last day you can request an absentee ballot. Information on how to register can be found on the state’s website.

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The Town of East Hampton is planning to buy a 30-acre parcel at the historic 66 Wainscott Main Street property for $56 million, using its Community Preservation Fund, in what would be the largest CPF purchase in the town’s history. Beth Young in EAST END BEACON reports that the East Hampton Town Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed purchase at its Thursday, Oct. 17 meeting at 6 p.m.

The property, which abuts Wainscott Pond, is a former farm dating back to 1648 owned by the Osborn family. It was purchased for $66 million by neighbor Ronald Lauder, who wanted to see the property preserved.

“This remarkable 30-acre parcel has long been recognized as a key asset in preserving the community’s character and natural beauty,” according to the town’s announcement of the planned acquisition, which noted that Mr. Lauder is willing to sell the parcel to the town “for considerably below fair market value.”

“This property, featuring stunning views of Wainscott Pond, is included in the Town’s Community Preservation Fund project plan and is situated within several protected districts, including the Agricultural Overlay District and the Harbor Protection Overlay District,” according to the town. “The acquisition will help safeguard vital wetlands and maintain the area’s ecological integrity.”

“Acquiring 66 Wainscott Main Street is an essential step toward preserving one of our town’s most iconic landscapes,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “This property represents not just a view, but a commitment to maintain our community’s sense of place. Mr. Lauder’s vision and dedication to protecting our community’s natural and historical heritage set a remarkable example for us all. We are grateful for his generosity and leadership in this vital effort.”

The Osborn family’s presence on the South Fork began when Thomas Osborn settled in East Hampton in 1648. His son, John Osborn, is credited as a founder of Wainscott, and established a homestead in the area by 1668.

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Long Island Morning Edition is part of Your Election 2024, a special collection of programs, series, and resources from The WNET Group to illuminate election issues on-air, online, and on YouTube leading into the November 5th elections. Find more at wliw.org/yourelection2024.