Literature

December 16, 2016, is a date that will long live in the memories of Sag Harbor residents. Early that morning, a fire ignited in the rear of the Compass building on Main Street and soon, whipped by strong winds on the coldest day of the year, began its march south on Main Street. By the time it was extinguished later in the day, the conflagration had taken out several buildings, including a large portion of the Sag Harbor Cinema. Among those who witnessed the fire’s destructive path was Michael Heller, who was present that day not only as an active member of the East Hampton Fire Department but also as a professional photographer.

we ever get past this difficult time and find a way for our society to continue in an orderly fashion without the scourge of racism, there will be a body of literature that participated in bringing about profound changes throughout our society. At the center of that body of literature will be a no-holds-barred book by a gay Black man from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who works for an international media company and is engaged to a white man from the East End of Long Island.

The final offering in Bay Street Theater’s “Story Time” series — children’s books read aloud on Zoom by the authors themselves —  will feature Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, reading “Simeon’s Gift” on May 15.

The East Hampton Library’s Long Island Collection will present a live Zoom discussion with author Claire Bellerjeau about her book “Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth,” on Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m. The book tells the story of Robert Townsend, a key member of the Culper Spy Ring, and his extraordinary efforts to rescue Elizabeth, an enslaved woman who had run away from his family and was re-enslaved. Documents from the Long Island Collection played a key role in telling this story.

The winter blues are making way for a sunny spring, and Tony-nominated actor Paul Hecht, in conjunction with stage producer and director Amanda Kate Joshi, musician and photographer Ralph Gibson and Guild Hall Chief Curator Christina Mossaides Strassfield, has organized a seasonal celebration of poems focused on rejuvenation, rebirth and creativity for the benefit of Guild Hall. Recited in the spirit of hopefulness for a new season, “Reawakenings” will be voiced by some of America’s greatest actors while a survey of curated images from Guild Hall’s permanent collection scroll on screen. The program on Sunday, May 23, at 8 p.m., will take place virtually on Guild Hall’s YouTube channel.

Laura Mancuso has always had a deep and abiding love for the ocean, and it’s a passion she is now sharing with her two young daughters — Sarafina, 9, and Lucia, 7. In fact, the Hampton Bays mom reports that her girls regularly stop by the wishing well in front of the local ice cream store to express their desire for just one thing. “I wish I could be a mermaid,” they say. Now, they are — if only on paper.

The next offering in Bay Street Theater’s “Story Time,” a series of eight children’s books read aloud on Zoom by the authors themselves, will feature Scott Rothman reading “Attack of the Underwear Dragon” on Saturday, May 8.

The next offering in Bay Street Theater’s “Story Time,” a new series of eight children’s books read aloud on Zoom by the authors themselves, will feature Linsey Davis reading “Stay This Way Forever,” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 1.

It’s been close to 300 years since Jonathan Swift published his almost instantly famous satiric fantasy, “Gulliver’s Travels,” but the narrative — a despairing, often scatological indictment of the human condition — somehow came to be considered a children’s classic, far from its intentions or effect.

The fourth offering in Bay Street Theater’s “Story Time,” a new series of readings of children’s books on Zoom by the authors themselves, will feature Susan Verde reading “I Am Yoga,” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 24.

The fourth offering in Bay Street Theater’s “Story Time,” a new series of eight children’s books read aloud on Zoom by the authors themselves, will feature Hyewon Yum reading “Grandpa Across the Ocean,” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 17.

In 1949, two young children died in a Bridgehampton migrant camp while their parents were out working in the fields. The children, who were alone at the time, were killed when the 12-foot-by-20-foot chicken coop in which the family lived caught fire. The tragedy was hardly the first and it would definitely not be the last of many that befell the East End’s migrant farm population in the mid-20th century.

In August 1931, Guild Hall in East Hampton opened its doors for the first time. With its jewel-box proscenium theater and fine art galleries, the much-loved institution has been a cultural cornerstone of the Hamptons ever since. Now, Guild Hall is poised to celebrate its 90th season with a full summer lineup of events or fine arts and performing arts talent.

Bay Street Theater’s “Story Time,” a series of children’s books read aloud on Zoom by the authors themselves, continues with Dan Sadlowski reading “Finding Brooklyn — And The Next Great Superhero,” at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 10.

On Friday, April 9, at 7 p.m., East End libraries and Southampton History Museum will present a virtual visit with Mark Torres, author of “Long Island Migrant Camps: Dust for Blood.” The book tells the true account of the migrant labor camps in Suffolk County from their inception during World War II, through their heyday in 1960, and culminating with their steady decline towards the end of the 20th century.