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Vanessa Leggard

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In Sag Harbor

When Everything Is Changing, Sag Harbor Pharmacy Still Feels Like Home

In Sag Harbor 4 Mins Read

Real Talk. Real People. Real Community. If you live in Sag Harbor, you feel it every day. The storefronts change. New businesses arrive. Familiar places disappear. And while growth can be exciting, it can also feel unsettling when the town you love starts to look different. In the middle of all that change, Sag Harbor Pharmacy remains a place that still feels like home.

A Constant in a Town That Keeps Evolving

Sag Harbor is not frozen in time, and no one expects it to be. But there is comfort in knowing that some places still understand the heart of the village. Sag Harbor Pharmacy is one of those places. It serves the people who live here year-round, not just the summer crowds, and that consistency matters more than ever right now.

Built From the Ground Up, Not From a Boardroom

The story behind Sag Harbor Pharmacy is rooted in real work. Owner Tarique Chaudhary did not enter pharmacy through a corporate office. He learned it from the ground up, sweeping floors, stocking shelves, managing inventory, and working every role imaginable alongside his father, a pharmacist. That hands-on experience shaped how he runs Sag Harbor Pharmacy today.

A Thoughtful Decision to Invest in Sag Harbor

Buying Sag Harbor Pharmacy was not a snap decision. It was a careful, intentional choice discussed over time with his wife. Tarique had already spent decades working on the East End and understood the seasonal rhythm of life here. He saw Sag Harbor Pharmacy not as a short-term opportunity, but as a long-term commitment to the community.

Why Owning the Building Was About Stability

Anyone watching Main Street knows how fragile small businesses can be when leases change and rents rise. When the opportunity came to purchase the building that houses the Pharmacy, Tarique did not hesitate. Owning the building was about protecting the pharmacy’s future and ensuring it would not be forced out of the place it has called home for over a century.

Your Pharmacy for Life. Your Pharmacy Year-Round.

One thing sets Sag Harbor Pharmacy apart. It is not built around trends or tourism. It is built around the people who live here all year. Over-the-counter medications, vitamins, household essentials, shampoos, soaps, and everyday needs are stocked with intention. Pricing stays fair and competitive. Sag Harbor Pharmacy is your pharmacy for life, your pharmacy year-round.

Familiar Faces in an Impersonal World

Healthcare is personal, and Sag Harbor Pharmacy treats it that way. Customers are not numbers. They are neighbors. Pharmacists are approachable, questions are welcomed, and service is fast and accurate. In a world of mail-order medicine and long waits, this pharmacy offers something simple and powerful: human connection.

Adapting Without Losing the Soul

Change does not mean losing identity. Sag Harbor Pharmacy is expanding services thoughtfully, including vaccines, clinical care, and a new compounding lab in development for dermatology, hormone therapy, and veterinary medications. These updates allow the pharmacy to meet modern needs while staying deeply rooted in the community.

Modern Updates With a Hometown Feel

Behind the scenes, workflow improvements have already modernized the pharmacy area at Sag Harbor Pharmacy. Next comes a refresh of the front end, with new lighting, shelving, and design elements that brighten the space while preserving its old-school, hometown pharmacy vibe. The goal is not to erase history, but to honor it.

Why Sag Harbor Pharmacy Matters Right Now

As Sag Harbor continues to evolve, places like Sag Harbor Pharmacy remind us what community looks like when it is cared for intentionally. It is steady. It is familiar. It is here in every season. In a town that is changing, this local pharmacy still feels like home.

Your pharmacy for life. Your pharmacy year-round.

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In Beyond the East End Event

Walking Into the Future While Standing in History

In Beyond the East End Event 3 Mins Read

Harlem Fine Arts Show Celebrates Black Creativity, Community, and Legacy

Walking into this show felt like stepping into the future while standing firmly in history. From the moment I entered the space, the Harlem Fine Arts Show revealed itself as more than a traditional exhibition. The energy was alive, immersive, and deeply rooted in Black art and cultural storytelling.

Artist: M. Gasby Brown

The Harlem Fine Arts Show has always been about more than presentation. It is about presence. This year’s exhibition felt intentional and cohesive, blending African Diaspora art with innovation while continuing to elevate contemporary Black artists on a global stage.

When Art Moves Beyond the Frame

New technology played a powerful role in bringing the work to life at the Harlem Fine Arts Show, particularly through installations at O’Bannon Studios. Pieces evolved before your eyes, creating an immersive experience that expanded how Black art is seen and felt.

O’Bannon Studios

The 3D artwork by Artbunga LLC was a standout moment at the Harlem Fine Arts Show, stopping viewers in their tracks and challenging traditional gallery norms. The emergence of a young artist from Paloma Hostin reinforced why representation within the Black art community matters at every age.

artist: Paloma Hostin

Texture, Symbolism, and Fearless Color

The Harlem Fine Arts Show also showcased emotional depth through texture and material. The delicate use of lace fabric by M. Gasby Brown felt poetic and intentional, offering a softer yet powerful expression of Black creativity.

Zimbabwean contemporary artist Keith Zenda brought ancestral symbolism to the forefront at the Harlem Fine Arts Show, blending bold color with cultural heritage. His work bridged tradition and modernity, highlighting the global reach of African Diaspora art.

This was Black art in motion at the Harlem Fine Arts Show. Artists were not only creating visually stunning work but also pushing culture forward with purpose, soul, and intention.

Art That Gives Back

What made the Harlem Fine Arts Show especially meaningful was its commitment to community impact. The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center in Bridgehampton, New York, was a benefactor of the event, reinforcing the connection between art, responsibility, and social good.

Bridgehampton Childcare Center

By supporting a local nonprofit, the Harlem Fine Arts Show demonstrated how cultural institutions can engage with community needs while uplifting Black artists and strengthening the broader Hamptons art scene.

Legacy Meets Hometown

The moment that felt most personal came with the reminder that Dion Clarke, founder and CEO of the Harlem Fine Arts Show, is a Sag Harbor resident. This connection grounds the show in the East End while maintaining its international influence.

This July, Dion Clarke will bring an art show to Sag Harbor, extending the legacy of the Harlem Fine Arts Show into the Sag Harbor art scene and creating a powerful homecoming rooted in Black history and culture.

More Than an Art Show

The Harlem Fine Arts Show is not just an exhibition. It is a vibe, a movement, and a cultural force. It reminds us that Black art is not static or confined to the past but living, evolving, and shaping the present.

Year after year, the Harlem Fine Arts Show proves that when Black artists are centered and celebrated, the result is not only beautiful work but lasting cultural impact felt far beyond the gallery walls.

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In Community News

Here’s a Novel Idea, Suffolk County: Pay Them

In Community News 4 Mins Read

Real Talk. Real People. Real Issues. Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are the backbone of emergency response across the East End, including the Hamptons, and yet the system depends almost entirely on unpaid labor. Firefighters and EMS volunteers are the ones showing up in the middle of the night, during storms, and on the worst day of someone’s life. But while Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are being asked to do more than ever, the conditions that make volunteering possible are disappearing.

According to county officials, Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are facing rising call volumes at the same time their numbers are shrinking. County Executive Ed Romaine reports a 16 percent increase in house fires and a 37 percent rise in fire dispatch calls this year, while active volunteers have dropped to roughly 13,000. That imbalance is not sustainable, and Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are feeling the strain in longer shifts, tighter coverage, and growing burnout.

Now let’s acknowledge the obvious. Saying “pay them” is easier said than done. When the topic of compensating Suffolk County volunteer firefighters comes up, the immediate question is always the same. Where does the funding come from? Budgets are tight. Taxpayers push back. And the volunteer model has long been treated as untouchable. But avoiding the funding conversation has not stopped the problem. It has only delayed solutions.

One of the biggest challenges facing Suffolk County volunteer firefighters in the Hamptons is housing. In Montauk, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, and Southampton, many longtime volunteers are aging out of physically demanding roles. At the same time, younger residents who would be most likely to volunteer simply cannot afford to live here. Suffolk County volunteer firefighters cannot respond quickly if they live an hour away or not at all.

Complicating matters further, many homeowners in these hamlets are not full-time residents. They care about the community, but they are not here year-round to answer calls. That leaves Suffolk County volunteer firefighters increasingly drawn from a shrinking pool of year-round residents who are already stretched thin by high housing costs and long work hours.

This is where housing policy and public safety collide. Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are directly affected by traffic congestion, especially along County Road 39. As previously reported by Hamptons Mouthpiece, gridlock on CR 39 delays emergency vehicles and turns minutes into risks. Legislator Sal Formica has warned that even a one-minute delay can feel like ten to someone waiting for help. When Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are short-staffed, those delays become even more dangerous.

To compensate, departments rely more heavily on mutual aid agreements. While necessary, this practice stretches Suffolk County volunteer firefighters across districts, leaving other communities temporarily vulnerable. It is a stopgap, not a solution, and it exposes how fragile the current system has become.

Some county leaders are beginning to connect the dots. Suffolk County Clerk Vinnie Puleo has advocated for modest “pay per call” or “pay per shift” options to help departments staff trucks while preserving the volunteer model. Legislator Steve Flotteron has highlighted down payment assistance programs that could offer up to $50,000 to help Suffolk County volunteer firefighters buy homes in the communities they serve. These ideas recognize a basic truth. You cannot volunteer in a place you cannot afford to live.

This is where the Town of Southampton Housing Authority matters. TSHA’s work is not just about affordability. It is about stability. When housing allows essential workers to stay local, it strengthens emergency response, schools, and infrastructure. Suffolk County volunteer firefighters benefit when housing policy supports the people who keep communities safe.

Prevention is also part of the equation. Officials urge residents to maintain smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, heating systems, and safe fireplace practices. These steps reduce emergencies, but they do not eliminate them. When prevention fails, Suffolk County volunteer firefighters are still the ones who respond.

So where does the funding come from? That is the question leaders must stop dodging. Funding could come from a combination of county allocations, targeted grants, state partnerships, housing-linked incentives, and modest compensation programs tied to service. Paying Suffolk County volunteer firefighters does not mean abandoning the volunteer spirit. It means acknowledging economic reality.

Real talk. Community cannot survive on goodwill alone. If Suffolk County wants to protect its residents, its homes, and its future, it must invest in the people who show up when everything is on the line. Suffolk County volunteer firefighters deserve more than applause. They deserve a system that allows them to live here, serve here, and stay here.

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In Beyond the East End Event

Black Joy Lit Up Westbury

In Beyond the East End Event 5 Mins Read

Some nights feel like events. Others feel like moments, and The PowHer Dining Experience hosted by Black Women of Long Island (BWLI) was the kind of Westbury event that felt like something bigger than a schedule or a flyer.

Westbury was glowing as a room filled with beautiful Black women gathered inside Post 270 Westbury, a new restaurant quickly becoming part of the Long Island cultural conversation. The atmosphere was fun, elevated, and welcoming, reflecting exactly why BWLI events resonate so deeply with Black women across Long Island.

It felt like Black joy in real time at this Black women networking event on Long Island, and that matters.

Founder BWLI Judith Jacques & Vanessa Leggard

A full-circle BWLI moment

The first time I was introduced to Black Women of Long Island, it was at a Hamptons event, one of the summer gatherings BWLI is known for out east. Their presence in the Hamptons has long represented connection, culture, and intentional community-building for Black women.

Seeing BWLI bring that same Hamptons energy to Westbury felt like a full-circle moment. Different season, different zip code, same mission of empowerment, visibility, and sisterhood across Long Island.

photo credit: Photography by Kurt, LLC

It was a reminder that Black women community spaces on Long Island are not tied to geography. They move where they are needed.

A room built on presence, not performance

What stood out most at this BWLI PowHer Dining Experience was how effortless the room felt. Black women did not have to explain themselves, shrink themselves, or perform for anyone.

Entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, and corporate leaders filled the room, representing the diversity and strength of Black women leadership on Long Island. The energy reflected ease, confidence, and mutual respect.

photo credit: Photography by Kurt, LLC

At its core, Black Women of Long Island continues to prove that joy, rest, and connection are not extras. They are essential.

First impressions of Post 270 Westbury

Let’s talk about the venue itself. Post 270 Westbury is visually striking, with a beautiful bar, warm lighting, and a layout that works well for social gatherings and networking events.

The cocktails at Post 270 were well crafted and flavorful, helping set the tone early for conversation and connection. The bar area, in particular, worked perfectly for mingling during this Westbury networking event.

You could actually hear each other talk, which is rare and refreshing in many Long Island restaurants hosting large events.

Judith Jacques & Karine Jean-Pierre, photo credit: Photography by Kurt, LLC

A thoughtful note on the dining experience

The food experience at Post 270 Westbury felt well suited to a large-scale event, which is understandable given the size and pace of the evening. The cocktails and atmosphere truly carried the night.

I would be interested in returning to Post 270 restaurant in Westbury during a quieter service to experience the menu in a more intimate dining setting. New venues take time to find their rhythm, and this space shows genuine promise.

photo creditL Photography by Kurt, LLC

The conversation that shifted the room

The evening moved from celebration to reflection during a powerful conversation with Karine Jean-Pierre, centered around her book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, a timely read discussed at this BWLI event.

The Pow Her Dining Experience, photo Photography by Kurt, LLC

As the former White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre spoke candidly about stepping into positions of power that were never designed for Black women and navigating political spaces shaped by pressure and expectation.

Her words brought stillness to the room, reinforcing why Black women leadership conversations on Long Island matter now more than ever.

Vanessa L & Karine Jean-Pierre

Leadership, pressure, and real talk

Karine Jean-Pierre shared that Independent was not the book she originally planned to write, but one shaped by what she witnessed after leaving the White House. She spoke openly about Black women being under attack and communities feeling targeted.

She reminded the audience that as White House Press Secretary, she was never speaking for herself, but for the President of the United States. That reality mirrors what many Black women experience in leadership roles across Long Island and beyond.

Her honesty resonated deeply with the Black Women of Long Island community in the room.

Marjorie Mesidor, Judith Jacques, Olena Nicks, Karine Jean-Pierre, Photo: Photography by Kurt, LLC

Why nights like this matter

Events like The PowHer Dining Experience highlight why in-person community spaces remain essential for Black women on Long Island.

This was not about optics or social media moments. It was about listening, connecting, and exhaling together in a space created by BWLI with intention.

Black women do not always get to rest in public spaces, and this Westbury BWLI event allowed that pause.

My takeaway

Westbury showed up, and Black Women of Long Island showed out. Post 270 Westbury provided a stylish new backdrop for an evening rooted in conversation, leadership, and connection.

This night was not about perfection. It was about presence, purpose, and community.

270 Post Restaurant, BWLI Pow Her event 2026, Photo: Photography by Kurt, LLC

Would I return to Post restaurant Westbury? Yes.
Would I recommend it for cocktails and conversation? Absolutely.
Would I be curious to experience it during a more intimate dining service? Definitely.

Because sometimes the real story at a Long Island Black women event is not just what is on the plate, but who is in the room.

And that part was beautiful.

Hamptons Mouthpiece
Real talk. Real people. Real moments.

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In Community News

Reading Revival: Why Reading Is Cool Again

In Community News 3 Mins Read

Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton have always been reading towns. We are a community that loves stories, ideas, and conversations that stretch longer than expected. From library corners to beach chairs, reading has always been part of our culture. That is why the Reading Revival it’s a movement feels like a natural fit here.

Somewhere along the way, reading got labeled as homework instead of joy. Kids stopped reading for fun. Adults stopped reading because life got busy. Seniors kept reading because they know better, but even they will tell you it takes intention to stay engaged. That is exactly where Reading Revival comes in. It is not a one-off campaign. It is a movement to bring reading back into everyday life.

Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreation Center is leading Reading Revival on the East End, and their goal is refreshingly simple: make reading feel good again. Reading builds confidence. Reading creates access. Reading opens doors. When someone struggles with reading, it affects far more than school. When someone feels confident as a reader, it changes how they move through the world.

Reading Revival it’s a movement is designed for everyone. Kids, teens, adults, and seniors. The reluctant reader. The audiobook fan. The manga obsessed teen. The parent who stopped reading years ago. The grandparent who still reads the paper every morning because it keeps the mind sharp. This movement does not judge how you read. It just asks that you read.

The Center is encouraging our community to make reading part of daily life again. Not just in classrooms, but at home, at the library, in coffee shops, at the beach, and in waiting rooms. Reading in the wild. Reading before bed. Reading together. Reading Revival it’s a movement is about reconnecting reading to real life.

Here is the real talk. Literacy is not just academic. It affects confidence, independence, and opportunity. Reading is foundational. Communities that invest in literacy build stronger futures for children and help adults and seniors stay engaged and empowered. Reading Revival recognizes that reading is not optional for a healthy community. It is essential.

Reading Revival invites everyone to participate. Share what you are reading. Pass along a book. Read with a child. Visit your local library. Take ten minutes a day to read again, not because you have to, but because it matters, because it connects us, because reading is culture.

Hamptons Mouthpiece is proud to support Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreation Center as Reading Revival unfolds throughout 2026. Expect creativity, community stories, and reminders that books still have power. If you have been waiting for a reason to start reading again, this is it.

Join us – The Reading Revival: It’s a Movement.

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