Montauk Columns

Animals of the Month TRIXIE: Trixie is an 8-year-old beauty with a gentle heart and a whole lot of love to give. She came to …more

Be Water, my Friend “For an instant, silence, noisier than a waterfall.”   ~ Salman Rushdie If you are lucky enough to step away from winter …more

A  Parallel poem with epistrophe and rhyming couplets. It is a “trope” of obsession. I think this poem would make a beautiful love song, N’est-ce pas? …more

In the quiet early hours of January 2nd, Montauk lost one of its most enduring spirits. John Keeshan passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children. …more

Queen Elizabeth – A Cut Above Every great cruise begins long before you step onto the gangway. Ours started with a practical decision that made …more

On March 3, there will be a Full Worm Moon in Virgo, which will also be a Lunar Eclipse. This Lunar Eclipse is a rare …more

by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel Have the freezing below zero temperatures this winter got you down and content to stay indoors and be bored of winter? …more

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that wireless electricity distribution is a thing? And can we expect to see it implemented widely in our lifetime?    …more

by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel The Winter Olympics XXV, which took place in February in Italy, was all that it promised to be. The competitions that …more

There’s an old saying. “Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it.”  Well, one weekend in January, we got 18 inches …more

ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid Atmosphere (2025) is a captivating historical fiction novel set during NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. Although Reid incorporates …more

Undulating with the Seasons Staying in surf shape and maintaining fitness overall are not mutually exclusive.  We speak of undulating physical training, when we alternate …more

An exhibition of Springs artists at the Springs Community Library. Opening Reception: March 8, 2026 from 11am to 1pm |On View: March 8th thru April …more

“How to Choose and Use Your Telescope” (A Free, In-Person Lecture) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27th, 6:00-7:30pm CO-HOST & LOCATION: East Hampton Library, 159 Main St, East …more

Presented by The Montauk Sun 4 Days • 400 Shows • 100 Bands • 45 Venues Main Stage is on the Green A percentage of …more

“Great Circle” by Maggie Shipstead Spanning Prohibition-era Montana, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, New Zealand, wartime London, and modern-day Los Angeles, Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is an …more

by Larry Spiro The following poems describe our journey into winter.  Quid pro quo best describes living in the North East part of this great …more

Animals of the Month CUDDLES: Cuddles, known around ARF as our very own Phantom, is a year and a half old and ready to leave shelter …more

The cruise that began with a crazy Uber detour — and became a holiday to remember A Different Kind of Departure…A cruise usually begins with …more

“Comets and Interstellar Visitors: Exploring The Dynamic Sky” (A Free, Virtual Lecture) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, 7:00-8:00pm CO-HOST: Suffolk County Community College SPEAKER: Dr. Ariel Graykowski …more

by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel The Friends of the Montauk Library announced the winners of their First Annual Gingerbread Creation Contest. This year’s theme was The …more

Dear EarthTalk: Why are Arctic rivers and streams turning orange?               – Will Mortimer, Largo, FL Over the past decade, an increasing number of orange rivers and …more

Welcome January 2026, the year of the Fire Horse! Happy New Year! 2026, celebrated as the Year of the Fire Horse, promises to be a …more

“We Die Alone” by David Howarth A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance This is an unbelievable yet true story which recounts an exciting tale …more

Going Zip-Free for Winter Mastering the seasonal transition of wetsuits is a skill earned with plenty of practice.  The need for a 3.2, 4.3, 5.4, …more

Animals of the Month SALEM: Salem is a stunning 10-month-old cat with long, silky fur and captivating green eyes. He’s the perfect mix of independent …more

Dear EarthTalk: What are some natural ways to fight ocean acidification?      ~ Jim Kline, Boston, MA  Ocean acidification, the lowered pH levels of ocean water, …more

The Dock Restaurant’s Annual Closing Race is a favorite Montauk tradition started by George Watson in the 1970’s. He and his son, Chris, organize the …more

Sun, Sea… and a Stingray That Stole Thanksgiving Our Holland America cruise mixed snorkel-shy moments, high seas, and almost missing the ship. There’s a quiet …more

When I was growing up we didn’t have a lot of money, so there weren’t usually a lot of sweet treats in the house except …more

by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel There are so numerous fun events packed into this holiday season in Westchester County that it takes planning to schedule them …more

by Larry Spiro Bamboo and Oak were neighbors in the forest. One was a mighty tree of size and beauty.  The other is a big …more

On December 9, there will be a New Moon in the sign of Sagittarius. This is a perfect time to embrace new beginnings. This New Moon …more

Hamptons Observatory (HO) is delighted to announce that former Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. has accepted our invitation to be a member of Hamptons Observatory’s …more

Necessity of Self-Care Making the case to take care of yourself may sound superfluous at best, at worst deemed selfish and lazy.  Notable excuses also …more

Dear EarthTalk: How do 3D-printed houses stack up against conventional ones with regard to sustainability, both during construction and then in use? ~J. Homes, via …more

Sweet Cornbread Cornbread?  It’s usually kind of dry and flavorless…not what you want when craving something sweet. Well, once again, I was too lazy to …more

Animals of the Month Kai: Kai is a stunning ten-year-old white Persian who came to ARF after her family could no longer care for her. …more

Surf Safety Day The East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue and the Surfrider Foundation Eastern Long Island Chapter hosted Surf Safety Day at Marram Hotel in …more

by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel It wouldn’t be the same festivities if we didn’t include the Holiday Train Show as part of our family’s annual tradition. …more

The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) had another successful Stroll to the Sea, a walk from East Hampton Mulford Farm to Main Beach.  …more