When Riverhead’s political junkies tune in to watch their town board meeting being broadcast and re-broadcast this month on the town’s government cable channel, they might just wonder why Harriet Haas is asking “Did they get it right?," and why everyone on the town board seems to be laughing.

But, they won’t get to see the reason why.

Haas, 67, is a tiny lady who had been invited to sing "God Bless America" to open the town board’s meeting on Sept. 5. And, as it turned out, she sang it again and again and again.

The town just couldn’t seem to get it on tape.

She was first asked to come to the town board meeting on Memorial Day and sing. She did. It was not taped. Then she came on the Fourth of July. Same problem.

Finally, Supervisor Phil Cardinale asked her to open the meeting around Labor Day.

The first time she sang, there was no camera. The second time she sang, someone had set up the camera, and someone else turned it off.

But, third time was a charm. She even got to sing an encore of "America the Beautiful." That, too, took three tries to tape.

- MITCHELL FREEDMAN

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Last year, Diddy's famous white party took place in St. Tropez. So on Sunday, the question was, could he make the same world-famous alll white fete sexy in East Hampton at the end of summer.

Well, Diddy's party - designed with party promoter to the stars Jessica Rosenblum - did not disappoint.

Not all expected guests showed up. But a number of superstars did and they wore white: Lil' Kim, Mariah Carey in towering white patent-leather heels, Kim Porter (with the twins), Ashley Olsen mainly in white but with black heels, and Diddy's neighbor Donna Karan in a white surrounded by a bevy of young, handsome men. Busta Rhymes also attended as did Mama Combs, Diddy's mother.

Just after Diddy had sent one guest home for wearing cream, Katie Lee Joel arrived in a clothes that were off white. After the men at the gate told her her getup wouldn't do, Diddy's crew tried to hook her up with Sean John clothes, but she had already turned to go home and change. This writer believes he spotted her later in the evening in pure white at the party.

Guests also confirmed that lavish entertainment at the party included two women dancing with white fabric wings, a woman who used a sawlike grinder to shoot sparks off her metal corset, a trapeze artist, flame swallowers, and both Doug E. Fresh and DJ Cassidy at the DJ booth.

Like Gatsby, Diddy exhorted the crowd from a balcony overlooking the party.

At one point he mentioned that when he didn't have money to party there, he used to pass Tavern on the Green and dream of people dancing on his lawn. He then asked guests to move to the lawn and dance, where he joined them with Tommy Lee.

In fact, the party is said to have re-created the look of the outdoor areas at Tavern on the Green, with pin lights wrapped in the trees and large round white paper lanterns hanging from branches.

Cold Stone ice cream was served to order, as well as oysters and lobster and steak (thanks to caterer to the stars Janet O'Brien). And CIroc Vodka kept the two bars well stocked, said sources.

Large balloons floating over the yard, lit from within, were also used as projection screens to show TV ads for Unforgivable, Diddy's new fragrance for men

At the crowded afterparty at Dune in Southampton were Busta Rhymes (who ate McDonald's in his car in the parking lot served up by club staff); Diddy, who wore a hoodie; and Tommy Lee, who got cozy with a date in booth 25.

Al Reynolds, who had showed up at Diddy's house with Star Jones, was at the Dune at 3 a.m. And shortly thereafter, a $200 order of fries from McDonald's was served by staffers to exhausted revelers.

St. Tropez eat your heart out.

- JEFFREY SLONIM

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If you’re a teenager summering in the Hamptons and a black Honda Accord pulls up to your driveway on a Thursday, the fun times probably are over.

That’s because it could be Jonathan Arak, the itinerant tutor, making a house call. Usually Arak travels around Queens, Westchester and Manhattan, where he lives, preparing kids for the SAT as part of the Princeton Review tutoring team. But in the past few years, he’s spent at least one day a week working in the Hamptons.

This year, he visited up to six houses a day on Thursdays in July and August. You know the drill: If you have to ask the price, don’t bother. (Okay, we asked -- it’s up to $400 an hour, depending on your contract.) Arak, 42, is a graduate of Oberlin College who had a career in theater before becoming an English and math tutor. He proudly reports that his students learned to ignore summer distractions such as pools and tennis courts for a while, and they boosted scores on practice tests.

As for Arak, he used to try to squeeze in some fun in the sun during his East End swings. "I arranged my schedule with time to go the beach, but that year invariably when I tried to lay out on the beach, it rained."

- Dave Marcus

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If you don't already have the coveted tickets for the tables serving lunch overlooking the FTI Grand Prix jumping competition at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Sunday, forget about it. The seats are sold out.

There may be $20 nosebleed seats at the Bridgehampton event, though.

And if you don't already have an invite to the coveted Sean "Diddy" Combs' White Party in the Hamptons - also on Sunday - then you're out of luck there too.

Even if you have an invitation and you have nothing white in your wardrobe, then you're in need of a shopping spree. Because when Diddy says "white," he means white.

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If you're a fan of CNN's Nancy Grace, this was your big week in the Hamptons - and by the way, she was eating for three. But she wasn't the only spotted chowing down at restaurants on the East End.

Katie Couric ordered take out from Turtle Crossing on Sunday. She got some BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken, baked beans, cole slaw and corn bread. My, how does she keep the pixie figure?

Meanwhile, Grace stayed at the Southampton Inn over the weekend. No, we weren't stalking her, we just have loads of friends with eagle eyes.

Saturday night, Grace dined at the Plaza Café. She is expecting twins any day now so she ate rather light. She had Proscuito Wrapped Shrimp with Porcini Risotto and White Truffle and a side of our Sweet Corn Polenta. Her guest had Pan Roasted Wild King Salmon with Wild Rice, Corn, Cilantro and Curry Sauce.

On Friday at Della Femina, Piano Man Billy Joel and wife Katie Lee Joel, a talented chef in her own right, joined Giada De Laurentiis of the Food Network's Giada's Weekend Getaway. In this instance, Giada apparently got away to lovely, bucolic East Hampton.

- JEFFREY SLONIM

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Brett Kroeger of East Hampton won Sunday's Hampton Classic/WLIU 88.3 FM National Anthem Contest with her rendition of "Over the Rainbow.”

At a public morning-singing competition during opening day at the Bridgehampton horse event, Kroeger sang the song made famous by Judy Garland and beat six other finalists. She won the opportunity to sing "The Star Spangled Banner” during a midday featured event, a speed jumping competition called the $20,000 Nicolock Time Challenge. In addition, Kroeger, who has been a resident artist at Manhattan's Dicapo Opera Theatre for the past two years, won a gift certificate and collection of CDs. Each finalist won four one-week passes to the 32nd Hampton Classic Horse Show, which ends Sept. 2.

Singer Lee Oliver Tucker of Hampton Bays came in as a close second, and the judges requested that Tucker sing the anthem another day. The Classic receives extensive coverage on radio station WLIU, at WVVH-TV and at www.wvvh.tv.

-- Aileen Jacobson

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Scenes from opening day of the 32nd annual Hampton Classic horseshow:

Christie Brinkley and a tiny boy quietly zipping down the grassy lanes in a golf cart. Brinkley, a regular at the horse show, appeared to be the sole spectator with motorized transportation; everyone else walked under the hot sun. "That's not our cart," one showground employee observed.

Danny Hulse, a salesman for Dubarry of Ireland, in the boutique tent standing for long stretches of time in three inches of water. Hulse was advertising the $400 Wellington boot. "I've spent about 130 days a year standing in a bucket of water. It's my mother's dissapointment," quipped Hulse, an Englisman who wore a country gentleman's tweed hunting jacket and red tie.

Edward Infusino, propietor of Fox Run jewelery, gushing about how he introduced Susan Lucci to Joan London at his booth last year. Infusino designs equine-themed baubles. "You can go from a $700 diamond stirrup pendant to a palm tree bracelet. It's a $70,000 bracelet. With matching chandelier earrings."

Lou Dobbs and Michael Lohan at the shaded and catered VIP tent, which is not to be confused with the gyro/hot dog/hamburger stand ($7 beef gyro) a few hundred feet away.

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Fog blurred the view on the roads and in the sky above the Hamptons on Saturday, and a number of celebs managed to duck the limelight in VIP tents and at a $3,000-a-ticket concert and even far more private events.

At the Mercedes-Benz Bridgehampton Polo Challenge at JetOne Jets field, Hamptons magazine was the host and Rachel Hunter and Mischa Barton were the guests.

The two stars who looked terrific, hid from press in a relatively calm VIP tent.

Hunter, a Slimfast spokesperson, looked shapely thin, and said that she was staying with lawyer Mike Heller but said that, fog or no fog, she was driving back that night at high speed (but not driving herself).

Barton, who was also hiding in the VIP tent at Polo, said she was staying for the Tom Petty concert at Hamptons Social.

Barton, who attempted to elude photogs when possible, said she has been filming with Bruce Willis in New Jersey and that he is "so funny."

She was wearing a bright sundress from C by Chloe. And that night at the Petty show at Hamptons Social at the Ross School ($3,000 a ticket, although we met someone who claimed that a friend had nabbed 80 tickets for just $2,000 each; a mere $160,000), Barton was wearing a sequined gown by the same designer. She also wore a headband and looked like the hippie version of a flapper.

Paul McCartney was also there hanging out with a male buddy. Petty really rocked the house, which was more packed than usual.

Calvin Klein's entourage included his daughter, Marci, and Renee Zellweger who ended up hiding in the swarm of Petty fans up by the stage.

Howard Stern was also in the audience, as was Jon Bon Jovi and his wife.

And Christy Turlington and Ed Burns - at the concert - mentioned being wowed by Donna Karan's compound the night before. Turlington loved all the yoga equipment, and she said that Donna has a similar setup in Manhattan and on an Island called Parrot Cay, where Donna and Bruce Willis both have houses. Turlington and Burns said that they have stayed at Donna's house there.

Richard Gere was dressed down at the concert (he came with his wife), and they rushed the stage, avoiding press. There, she literally bumped into Christie Brinkley.

Later, at Pink Elephant, John Legend was spotted in a white coat hiding in a cabana in the outdoor area. And he said that he had stopped by Petty's show but couldn't stay for the concert because he had a Missoni fashion show at the secret W retreat on Millstone Road that night where he was the honored guest. John looked "tired." Long day.

Al Reynolds also stopped, with four male friends, just after 2 a.m., as did Karolina Kurkova. She said that she was looking for a girlfriend she had lost.

Star Jones Reynolds, who said she wasn't doing interviews - "I have talked enough" - had been with Reynolds earlier in the day at Polo where she was carrying a little white pooch.

And, by the way, at a $750-per-ticket diabetes fund-raiser at SUNY Southampton College that same night, Diana Ross (no interviews, no pics except for first minute of the first song) did three costume changes. Count 'em. She belted out "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and the theme song from "Mahogany" and as usual gave the crowd what they wanted -vintage Diana Ross. She's still got it. The event took place in a massive tent on the lawn in front of the campus. The crowd wasn't exciting, but Ross definitely was.

Meanwhile, fog stopped Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's original flight plan to the Hamptons. They did manage to attend a fund-raiser near the Polo fields at Jane Rosenthal's house. But they had to land their chopper in Westhampton (forty minutes away by car).

And, apparently, they fooled all the paparazzi out front by showing up in a taxi. Not one photog got that shot.

The very, very private, very, very expensive fundraiser was to pitch in for Hurricane victims.

Yup, this weekend while the big names ducked the press, they also managed to do good.

- JEFFREY SLONIM

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Last night, Charlie and Lauran Walk (he's head of Epic Records) hosted a dinner at Andrew Borrok's house in Watermill. Borrok is a real-estate tycoon who likes to cook. He did a six-course meal for a crowd that included Hamptons magazine publisher Jason Binn, Donny Deutsch, and Ken Sunshine, who is the publicist to Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake. He mentioned that Affleck has directed a picture that is Oscar-quality. The house is a big white Southern-style mansion--waterfront with a big pool and tennis court right on the water. Yum.

And Donna Karan and The Cinema Society screened "Crazy Sexy Cancer" for her Urban Zen Initiative at her house in East Hampton's Northwest Woods. She lives a few doors down from Diddy. But her house is far more spectacular.

There is a main house filled with chunky white furniture, candles, and big antique mirrors and such leaned up against the wall. And then there is the spa house - far larger. The walls were all open in the front. Inside, the furniture is ethnic and oversized. Think lots of white and wood and massive orchids - waist height with four stems in large wooden boxes - just a few here and there.

The actual spa room has a long stone sink next to a massage table. A sunken wooden bath is next to that. And then a large room with Pilates equipment up against the wall has pillow-cut stone floors.

Of course, it has a Zen feel, and it is heaven. And there is a chunky wooden path down to a beach, where there was a bonfire and seating with heavy, colorful blankets, where people were cooking Smores on long wooden sticks. And there were men playing drums. Karan had on a white jumpsuit from her Urban Zen collection.

Fred Schneider of the B-52s, Christy Turlington, Ed Burns, Dick Cavett, Christie Brinkley, and Katie Couric were just a few of the famous faces lapping up the luxurious surroundings.

Karan also has houses on Parrot Cay, where Bruce Willis lives, and she has a penthouse apartment in Manhattan on Central Park West, which has wraparound terraces. So, apparently, the design business has been VERY good to her.

She is so nice and fun and really tries to bring attention to good people and causes. When she was in England, hanging out with Barbra Streisand this summer, she met with Prince Charles and they talked about bringing her Urban Zen program to that country.

The Cinema Society party at Karan's house in the Northwest Wods was crazy sexy. And she screened "Crazy Sexy Cancer," a film about a woman who was diagnosed with a rare cancer and who took the task of fighting back with good humor and a terrific attitude.

The subject of the film was there in person at the screening, so this writer is assuming the approach worked.

- JEFFREY SLONIM

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Just heard this true story: The night after Billy Joel’s concert at Hampton Social, a waiter at Rowdy Hall was on his way to work and noticed a Jack Russell terrier running loose. He picked it up and called the Los Angeles number on the tag. A guy answered the phone, but guess who showed up to pick up the pooch, named Midge. .. one very thankful Renee Zellweger (who had danced up a storm at the concert).

But she wasn’t the only unexpected famous guest in recent weeks at restaurants on the starry East End.

Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos ate at MUSE Restaurant and Aquatic Lounge on Aug. 15. They went for the Tuna Palooza, Really Really Soft Taco, Not Ya Mamma’s Meatballs and the horseradish and gorgonzola crusted, New York strip.

Joy Behar and David Yurman chowed down at East Hampton Point on Monday night.

And at WEI FUN the same night, Jon Bon Jovi and George Stephanapoulous were out on a double date (presumably with their wives). They had tea smoked pork, Sechuan dumplings, sesame noodles for apps. And the main courses were Ants Climbing a Tree, Kung Pao chicken, five spice duck, miso glazed black cod . . . and Gruner Veltliner by the glass.

Wednesday night at WEI FUN, Peter Cook did date night with a young blonde. He faced the wall and they had melon margaritas and a lychee martini and ate spring rolls, miso glazed black cod and Kung Pao chicken.

Alec Baldwin dined out with daughter Ireland and a friend, also at WEI FUN on Thursday night. They had tofu, chicken with broccoli.

Billy Joel and his wife Katie Lee had lunch with friends at East Hampton Point on Thursday - crab claws and corn on the cob, caesar salad with shrimp, calamari, and lobster roll.

And Heather Mills and a party of five were spotted Friday night at WEI FUN. She ordered heirloom tomato salad and every side of veggie on the menu.

Seen at Della Femina last weekend, were Jon and Dorothea Bon Jovi with Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky; Matt Lauer and Annette Roque Lauer were seen (still together). And on Saturday last week, Donald Trump - the man who could afford to eat anywhere - took his wife Melania to Nick and Toni's.

- JEFFREY SLONIM

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