Reporter podcaster Susan Carey Dempsey interviews James Marshall and Bruce Leggett-Flynn about “A Soldier’s Tale,” the performance to be staged on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Shelter Island Conversations: A Soldier's Tale


A year ago this week, Kristina Foster, supervisor of the Southampton Head Start Center, received some unwelcome news. During construction to expand the center at 271 Flanders Avenue in Riverside, the building was found to be structurally unsound. With less than a month before the start of the school year, the 88 children attending the free preschool education program had nowhere to go. Also at risk were the free meals and other services Head Start provides to low-income families throughout Southampton Town.

Foster scrambled and, with help from other organizations, cobbled together classroom space for 30 pre-K children during the 2024-2025 school year. However, she was not able to accommodate younger children, and the future of the center was unclear.

But earlier this week, Foster received some good — and totally unexpected — news.

During a press conference and visit to the Southampton Head Start site, State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced that the state has pledge $2.25 million toward the building of a new Head Start facility in Riverside.

Foster joins the editors to talk about the challenges, the victories and the local Head Start’s new name.

Head Start’s New Start: From Uncertainty to a $2.25M Lifeline

Dan Stark and Hope Hamilton both returned to The Express News Group newsroom in 2025 for their second consecutive summer as full-time interns. Stark and Hamilton join the editors on the podcast to discuss their experiences and most memorable articles and to reflect on what they learned that they will carry with them into their future careers.


Express News Group Interns Reflect on Their Second Summer in the Newsroom

This week, the editors are joined by Eric Kohn, artistic director of the newly revived Southampton Playhouse, who talks about how the historic, non-profit theater is establishing itself as a cultural cornerstone on the East End. Kohn discusses the Playhouse’s commitment to both classic and contemporary cinema, including its upcoming series "The Scorsese Family Experience," curated in collaboration with Martin and Francesca Scorsese, which launches August 14. The goal? To bring generations together through timeless films while building a sustainable model for a community-driven movie house. 

Let’s Go to the Movies!

Susan Carey Dempsey talks with Luke Lowell-Liszanckie. A local with a love for physical activity, Luke has recently made it to the finals for the 17th season of American Ninja Warrior! Listen in as he tells us about his passions, training, and goals in this episode.

Shelter Island Conversations: Home Grown Ninja Warrior, Luke Lowell-Liszanckie

Late summer is the time for horses on the East End. This week, the editors are joined by reporter Cailin Riley and Shanette Barth Cohen, the executive director of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, who talk about 50 years of the prestigious event, including its history, evolution and the different competitions and activities that visitors to this year’s Classic will enjoy. The 50th Hampton Classic Horse Show runs August 24 to 31 at the showgrounds at 240 Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton.


50 Years at the Hampton Classic Horse Show

It’s been a hot, dry summer, and in late July the Suffolk County Water Authority issued a Stage 1 Water Alert urging its customers to immediately reduce water consumption. The editors are joined this week by senior reporter Michael Wright, who has a story in the paper naming the South Fork’s biggest “Water Hogs,” and Daniel Dubois, SCWA’s director of communications and external affairs, who explains how summer demand impacts water supply and shares steps that residents can take to help alleviate the situation.



Dry Times: Tracking Water Hogs and the Fight to Conserve

2024 NY-01 congressional candidate John Avlon, a former CNN anchor and current host of the podcast "How To Fix It," joins the editors on the podcast to discuss redistricting, gerrymandering and the state of democracy.


John Avlon Talks Redistricting

This week, the editors are joined by East Hampton reporter Jack Motz and Kurt Gottwald, a Hither Hills State Park lifeguard who, last year, converted his decades-old onsite trailer at the campground into a makeshift music studio.

His latest project is a six-track indie rock album called “Montauk New York.” On it, Gottwald weaves tales of local stories into larger musings about capitalism, consumerism and online culture. As his lifeguard job in Montauk winds down for the season and he prepares to travel overseas to spend the coming months in Prague, Gottwald shared his inspiration and unique philosophy on life, music making, nature and the changing face of the East End.

From Hither Hills to Prague: The Sounds of the Season

The Suffolk County Legislature recently voted to establish a mechanism for preserving working waterfronts from development. The law will allow the county to acquire conservation easements on properties housing businesses like commercial fisheries and marinas. Montauk is a likely candidate for some of these funds, and this week, the editors are joined by Inlet Seafood’s general manager Amanda Jones and Long Island Commercial Fishing Association Executive Director Bonnie Brady who talk about how the new law could help Montauk fishermen and businesses.

Similarly, they also touch on the Lake Montauk Inlet dredging project, which will move forward this fall due to a decision by East Hampton Town to allocate $1.1 million for the project from a South Fork Wind fund.

Dockside Defense: Protecting Montauk's Fishing Future

The editors of The Express News Group talk about what news on the East End.

Dry Times: Tracking Water Hogs and the Fight to Conserve

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