Memorial Day weekend: Where to go, what to do on Shelter Island

By
Gazette Staff
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On Shelter Islander, we take our Memorial Day duties seriously and are so glad to return to cherished traditions this year. As in the past, we’ll honor the fallen with solemn ceremonies, a parade, and a community cookout.

We also recognize that Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in our resort community, where businesses, nonprofits, and service organizations rely on a short summer season to remain viable all year round.

To help you plan for the weekend (and for late spring), we’ve assembled suggestions for where to go and what to do during Memorial Day weekend on Shelter Island.

[To find out what’s open for dining (out or in) read this Gazette post.]

Honoring the fallen

Ceremonies to honor our military fallen begin Monday at 8 AM, when members of the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Mitchell Post #281, accompanied by veterans, dignitaries, and guests, will toss a wreath from the dock at Piccozzi’s Marina to honor those who died at sea in service to our country.

Then, at 10 AM, Islanders will assemble at the Center Firehouse for a traditional Memorial Day parade. All are welcome to line the route along the divided roadway where 114 passes through the Town Center. Around 10:30 AM, a memorial ceremony begins outside the Community Center at Wilson Circle, which is lined with stones bearing the names of Islanders who died in service.

Following the ceremony, the Shelter Island Lions Club hosts a traditional cookout on the Community Center lawn; Lions will be grilling your BBQ favorites. All are welcome to attend.

Low-key ethos

If you’ve spent any time on Shelter Island, you’ll know that we’ve got a pretty low-key ethos. We’re mostly about hanging out with friends and family or simply recharging with a good book aboard a shaded hammock.

We also enjoy beach time, treating ourselves well, and, of course, shopping. Below is a look at what’s already open for the season (with more to come once school lets out and summer begins).

First, a quick note about parking: SIPD enforces season parking rules from May 15 to September 15, so keep an eye on the time in commercial areas. Also, non-residents can purchase daily parking passes for permit-only lots or spaces at Town beaches. If you haven’t done so already, get your resident sticker via the Town Clerk’s Office (details here).

Beach time

Beaches are open but there are no lifeguards on duty until the end of June. The water is tolerable for a quick dip and will warm up quickly as summer progresses. Find all beach essentials — toys, chairs, sunscreen, towels, and more — at:

  • Shelter Island Heights Pharmacy, 19 Grand Avenue, open daily from 8:30 AM to 6 PM, and until 5 PM on Saturday and 12:30 PM on Sunday (closing at 3 PM Monday in observance of Memorial Day)
  • Shelter Island IGA, 75 North Ferry Road, open daily from 7 AM to 8 PM

Please note: No dogs are allowed on Crescent Beach and Wades Beach through Labor Day; elsewhere they must be on a leash or under the owner’s control at all times.

For beachwear looks and accessories, check out new offerings at:

For the latest beach reads, visit Finley’s Fiction, 8 Grand Avenue, open on weekends from 10 AM to 5 PM. Finely Shaw curates a collection of books for adults and children and carries puzzles, games, and toys. The shop is open on weekends from 10 AM to 3 PMFind details at finleysfiction.com/.

And don’t overlook the Shelter Island Public Library, which has online access to collections throughout the Suffolk County Library System, and offers wonderful programs for adults and children.

While on the beach, why not treat yourself (or a loved one) to a massage. Alexson Roy is back at Crescent Beach, offering massages out in the fresh air under a tent. Weekends from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Beauty and fitness

Shelter Island’s salons and spas are open and ready to provide relaxing treatments or refresh your look for summer.

And, all are welcome to take part in drop-in fitness sessions or make an appointment for private training:

Spring cleaning or opening your home?

Whether you’re doing spring cleaning or opening your home for the season, Shelter Island ACE Hardware has all the supplies you need to clean up, make repairs and restock household essentials. The hardware store at 4 Grand Avenue, is open daily from 7:30 AM to 5 PM (and 11 AM to 3 PM on Sunday). In recognition of the somber day, the hardware store will close at 1 PM on Memorial Day.

J.W. Piccozzi is the place to go if you need propane, home heating oil, or to arrange to service your home’s heating system. Office hours are 9 AM to 5 PM; propane, until 4:30 PM; and gasoline service until 5:30 PM. For bike shop hours, call for availability. The marina is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For details, call 631-749-0045.

Now’s the time to spruce up your landscape, plant annuals, and refresh perennials, too. Check-in with Shelter Island’s gardening experts:

For ready-to-plant vegetable seedlings, stop by the Sylvester Manor Farmstand, 21 Manwaring Road, open Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM (and Memorial Day until 3 PM).

Enjoy a hike

Groomed, blazed, and dog-friendly, Town-managed trails lead to some iconic Island spots — we’d offer detailed directions, but half the fun is in finding your way. Thanks to Shelter Island Group for Trail Preservation and the Town of Shelter Island for clearing them and posting signage. And, to the Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board for finding and preserving these special places (along with partners like the Town, Suffolk County, the Peconic Land Trust, the Village of Dering Harbor, and more).

Be prepared with protective clothing as it is a high season for ticks. Follow this link to find the open space map on the Town website.

Mashomack Preserve

Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk and the birding is spectacular at this 2,350-acre preserve owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. Once again, the visitor center, 79 North Ferry Road, is open on weekends from 10 AM to 5 PM.

This weekend, join the Celebration Picnic on the Manor House Lawn, Sunday from 4 to 6 PM. Bring your own picnic, along with a blanket or beach chairs, and get to know Mashomack’s staff, including new hires. The event includes lawn games, hand seining in Bass Creek, and other activities that’ll be fun for the whole family.

The Nature Conservancy has other events scheduled for the summer; find more at nature.org and download a trail map. While in the Preserve, please no jogging, no bicycles, and no dogs allowed.

Sylvester Manor

Trails are open at Sylvester Manor, too. You’re welcome to wander the 230-acre historic site, picnic on the lawn beside Gardiner’s Creek, and visit the nonprofit’s Farmstand.

One section of the trail is closed to protect the farm’s chickens from the spread of avian flu that’s present on the East End. Please do stay away from the chicken enclosures; you could inadvertently track the waste of wild birds on your shoes.

And, if while walking the trails you hear the bleating of sheep, you’re not mistaken. The Manor is babysitting a flock owned by an East End farmer — they’re off-limits until they get acclimated to their new surroundings.

You’re welcome to visit Sylvester Manor’s piglets; they’re located in a new wooded enclosure near the newly-expanded Farmstand at Windmill Field. If you haven’t done so already, you can still sign up for Sylvester Manor’s CSA. The Manor is offering bread, pork, and egg shares, too.

Fun on the water, and on land

For those who want to venture out onto the water, Kayak Shelter Island is open for the season, delivering rental kayaks and leading guided tours.

Tubby Charters offers family fishing at its best, and private cruises around Shelter Island. Find details at tubbycharters.com.

Biking, golf, and tennis are summer’s quintessential land sports, and Shelter Islanders have opportunities to enjoy them all.

Electric bikes are all the rage, and if you’ve ever wanted to try one out, you can do so right here on Shelter Island thanks to Electric Bikes A Go Go. The company offers scheduled guided tours here on Shelter Island (and in Montauk and Sagaponack). Or, you can set up a private outing. Find details at electricbikesagogo.com.

Piccozzi’s Bike Shop offers bikes for sale and for rent at 177 North Ferry Road, open daily from 8:30 AM to 4 PM. The Bike Shop’s friendly mechanics are able to tune up and repair most bikes. Questions? Call 631-749-0045.

The 9-hole course at Shelter Island Country Club, lovingly known as Goat Hill, is open to the public; if you’d like to support the 120-year-old club’s operations, consider a membership.

If tennis is your game, bring your own equipment to the public courts behind the Shelter Island School. Looking for a pro? Moussa Drame Tennis Academy (with headquarters at The Dering Harbor Inn) offers lessons, hitting sessions, and family clinics. Call Moussa at 631-749-0160 or find information on his website, moussadrametennis.com.

The Shelter Island Heights Property Owners Corporation manages the courts along the route to the North Ferry terminal in the Heights. Find signup details in this brochure.

Arts and culture

If you’re never attended one of the world-class performances offered for free on Shelter Island, you’re missing out. Both the Perlman Music Program and Shelter Island Friends of Music bring musicians of international renown to our little Island, and we’re SO grateful to them!

The Perlman Music Program is gearing up for its annual Chamber Music Workshop. Students have arrived, but performances won’t begin until next week. If you plan to be here, do yourself a favor and sign up for one of the amazing concerts, or enjoy a rare fly-on-the-wall opportunity to see how PMP’s renowned artist-faculty engage with students during masterclasses. Find details and reserve seats.

The second concert of the Shelter Island Friends of Music season takes place on Saturday, June 4 at 8 AM featuring the Balourdet Quartet at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. Find details in this Gazette post by JoAnn Kirkland.

The Shelter Island Historical Society, where the weekly Havens Farmers Market resumes on Saturdays from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. A new exhibit, “Once on this Island,” curated by Margaret Garrett, opens June 5, and numerous other festive gatherings are in the works.

Just a quick South Ferry trip away, the Sag Harbor Cinema is celebrating the first anniversary of its reconstruction after a devastating fire. The thoroughly modern triplex offers a balanced schedule of first-run films, classics, and rarities, with weekly matinees suited for children and families.

If you prefer to watch your films at home, enhance your family’s summer weekend with a Backyard Movie Night, including an inflatable screen and popcorn machine rental from Shelter Island Party Rental. Call Rob at 516-659-7509 to being the journey to your perfect party!

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