Community Corner

Hampton Bays Beautification Committee Seeks New Members

2013 membership drive kicks off.

The 28-year-old Hampton Bays Beautification Association is looking to recruit new members to help in its ongoing effort to beautify the hamlet.

Susan von Freddi, president of the association, has put out a call for new members to help support the association both financially and through volunteer work.

Currently, the association boasts 900 members, but more are always welcome, said von Freddi.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The Hampton Bays Beautification Association lends beauty to the scenic landscapes and provides pride to the lives of its members and the community," said von Freddi, who recently started a Facebook page for the association.

In a letter sent by the association to Hampton Bays residents recently, von Freddi, in an effort to spark interest in the group, laid out both ongoing projects, as well as the association's accomplishments.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Some accomplishments include:

  • The creation of the beautiful lighted medians on Route 24 and the Shinnecock Canal Gateway medians.
  • The placement of the rock and anchor at the UA Theater Plaza.
  • The bricking along Main Street and the placement of brick planters.
  • The beautiful public art sculpture at the Parks and Recreation property on Newtown Road is enjoyed by all using the grounds and every boater passing by on the Shinnecock Canal.
  • The benches and trees at the northern end of the Shinnecock Canal are enjoyed daily by many residents.
  • The HBBA has placed almost 100 benches throughout town and at the inlet for all to enjoy.
  • The HBBA planted hundreds of trees along Main Street and in our parks.
  • The HBBA played a major role in the development of the new park and Pergola located on Main Street and the beautiful new Vince Cannuscio Trail behind the park dedicated last year.

Some ongoing projects are:

  • The yearly purchase and maintaining of the 172 flowering hanging baskets downtown.
  • Replanting and maintaining all of the medians including Good Ground Road medians and all the community Welcome Signs and garden areas.
  • The HBBA sponsors one of the community garden plots at the Hampton Bays Middle School and donates all the fresh produce it grows to the local food pantry.
  • The HBBA installed the sixty foot flagpole and gardens located on Rt. 24 and Montauk Highway and held contest to design a hamlet flag, which proudly hangs with our American flag and town flag.
  • Every fall, our holiday committee gathers and places colorful banners along Main Street and each holiday season HBBA places decorative lights, trees and wreaths for all the community to enjoy.
  • The HBBA sponsors the annual free “Concert Under the Stars” attended by thousands every August.
  • With the help of the Parks Department and other Departments in the Town of Southampton, the HBBA is able to accomplish the monumental task of keeping our Hamlet looking pristine.

To join the association, download and print the membership application attached this this article as a PDF. Membership dues start at $25 for an individual membershop and go up to $5,000 for sponsors.

The association will hold its first meeting of 2013 on March 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Library.

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone every day with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here