HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 Vol 13 No 3 August
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FISHERS
ISLAND
Vol. 13 No.3
Established in 1987
August 1999
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Fishers Island Gazette Photo
. The Army National Guard, based in Ronkonkoma, flew two Black Hawk helicopters to Fishers Island July 24 to airlift abandoned cars
from Elizabeth Field. Since curious families, on hand to see the event, flocked around the empty helicopter, guardsmen invited children
to climb inside. (I.r) Christopher Lamb, Sam Evans, Katharine Evans and Sarah Lamb had just come from Chocomount Beach. Unidentified
boy in front. Story on page 3.
front Page Photo Conte~t p.36
2 Fi.fhers Island Gazelle. August 1999
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Commissioners, Fishers Island Ferry Districr
Fishers Island NY 06390
June 28, 1999
Re: Airport
Gentlemen:
Please erect signs at either side of runway
12-30 next to the path vehicles use to cross it
at the northwest end, warning drivers to look
both ways and yield for aircraft. If you need
a contribution toward the signs, let me know.
Recently (I believe it was Memorial Day,
May 31. when I was returning to the Island
in the early afternoon after attending a parade
here in Bernardsville [N.J.D, I arrived in our
Cherokee at the Fishers Island airport. I
planned to use runway 12 as the wind was
Fall 1999 Gazette
Photo Issue
Deadline: Sept. 15
The Fishers Island Gazette is an inde-
pendent Hot-for-profit publication initi-
ated with a grant from The Sanger Fund
and sustained with suhscription and ad-
vertising revenue. It is published quar-
terly in winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Editor
Betty Ann Rubino\\'
Contributors in this Issue
Krysia Berc(lay Bumllam
Edwin Homing
Leila lIadley Luce
Carol Ridgway
Photogral)ller Emeritus
Albert ll. Gordon
Controller
Su-Ann Scidl
Newsstand Sales
.lames Hall
Computer Support
William C. Ridgway III
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE $15 PER
YEAR. IT'S EASY, JUST MAIL A
CHECK TO THE GAZETTE!
Fishers Island Gazette, Box 573
Fishers Island NY 06390
from the southeast. I announced myself on
the designated radio frequency, flew upwind
parallel to runway 12 and turned into a left
pattern for the runway at 1,000 feet altitude.
I observed no traffic of any sort. This is all I
can realistically do from the air.
I turned left near the nun buoy the ferry
uses to start its arrival whistle blast and turned
left again at about 300 feet of altitude to line
up with the runway and land toward the
southeast. At that point, a motor vehicle
entered the runway from thewest and crossed
it from west to east at the northwest end,
between the end of the concrete and the
painted "12" identifying the runway. I was
lucky that our Cherokee is slow; the vehicle
cleared the runway before I landed.
I flagged the vehicle to a stop after land-
ing to remonstrate the driver and received the
courteous and wholly innocent response, "I
was only using the very end of the runway.
where everyone crosses."
I don't have any quarrel with the driver-
he was doing as he thought he should. How-
ever, an aircraft landing slightly faster than I
did would have been in serious and probably
fatal trouble, and the vehicle's occupants
might also have been injured.
When airplanes land to the southeast, as
they must when the wind is from that direc-
tion. they attempt to land on the number
"12" near the northwest end of the longer
runway. All airplanes play it safe by landing
as short as possible and having the maximum
runway distance left to stop in. The standard
landing descent angle of 30 means the
airplane's wheels will he no higher than 2-4
feet above the runway when crossing the
path used by vehicles. The collision potential
is obvious.
Airplanes can't blowa horn nor can they
maneuver easily when on final approach,
typically at low power and with little airspeed
in reserve. Airplanes taking ofT toward the
northwest, when the wind is the other way,
are not much more maneuverable. The onus
must be on those drivers who cross the run-
way to get to and from the west end of the
Island and the fishing spots there, to be sure
they are not inrerferingwith the landings and
takeoffs of aircraft.
No driver wants a collision, even one
with an airplane in which the airplane will
come out second best. However, there seems
to be a lack of public understanding that the
vehicle path across the runway at its north-
west end, which is in as good a place as any.
is nevertheless in conflict with the paths of
airplanes landing on runway 12. It is also
potentially in conflict with the paths of air-
planes taking off on runway 30. If you can
post warning signs on the vehicle path, the
signs may prevent a tragedy.
Very truly yours,
Jay Parsons
Bernardsville NJ
-/
~,~ MEETINGS
Aug. II: Town Fathers, I p.m.
at Fishers Island School.
Aug. 14: FICA Annual Meet-
ing, 4 p.m. at the school.
Oct.9: FICA meeting. Colum-
bus Day weekend, 4 p.m. at
the school. ~
Lamb Children's Trust
The Lamb Children's Trust is still accepting donations. The fund
was established in September 1998 for the benefit of the three
children of Scott and Joanne Lamb. Mr. Lamb died August 3 J. 1998
in a boating accident off Fishers Island. Send to the Lamb Children's
Trust, Box 584, Fishers Island NY 06390.
A Call. fax or e-mail the edi.
v tor for information about
advertising or editorial con-
tent: (860) 633-8200; (860)
633-2779. fax; Figbar9@aol.com.
The Gazette appreciates and relies upon edito-
rial contributions from the community. We re-
serve the right to edit copy and regret that we
cannot run every story and occasionally must
hold copy for future issues.
National Guard Auto Airlift
The Fishers Island Fire Department
(FIFD) hosed down the parched
earth abutting the airport runway
July 24 and waited two hours for Army
N arional Guard helicopters to appear through
the dense morning mist. Norhing arrived.
Returning at I p.m., FIFO volunteers
waited for at least another hour until first the
sound and then the sight of two Black Hawk
helicopters could be distin-
guished approaching Elizabeth
Field for the planned airlift of
abandoned Island vehicles.
The weekend mission was
part of Gov. George Pataki's
GuardHELP program. which
links National Guard military
training requirements to real com-
munity needs.
"We use miliraryequipmenr
and soldiers to help the commu-
nityat the same time we are train-
ing ourselves militarily," said
Narional Guard Lr. Co/. Paul
Sanning. "It allows local people
to gain access to our services at no
cost to them."
Fishers Island has long had
to deal with the problem of aban-
doned cars, which had built up to
si7..able numbers in recent years
and were always removed via ferry.
Sourhold Town Supervisor
Jean Cochran. whose son is a
member of the National Guard,
heard about the program and
made the request for assistance.
There was a strong rumor on the Island
that the cars were to be dropped somewhere
in Long Island Sound to create a feeHoc fish,
as had reponedly been done in Maine. Per-
haps because this was a training mission,
these cars were instead flown one at a time to
Orient Point. where the 396'1.. support battal-
ion of Harlem secured the vehicles for trans-
port to a recycling facility.
On-Island preparation for the airlift was
extensive. There was paperwork to be com-
pleted for each vehicle, and the highway
department mowed and raked over one acre
of ground north of the runway to make a
landing area for the helicopters. Southold
also sem a man to drain all fluids from the
cars, which were brought to the airfield,lined
up in a row and spray paimed with large
~
August 1999. I<.is"~rs Island Gaz.~lIe 3
a public relations unit as a military one. It
rook about 20-30 minutes for one helicopter
to make the round trip from Fishers Island to
Orient Point. That gave the men in the
second helicopter, available when the first
aircraft ran low on fuel, time to mingle with
the community.
A5 news of the airlift spread, cars with
parents, grandparents. children and family
pets slowly started arriving at the airport to
witness the evem. The guardsmen were ex-
tremely gracious and patient as they allowed
children to crawl through the heli-
copter and answered repetitious
questions about the cost of the
mission (about$3.000/hr.), the air-
craft (about $9million), their unit
(from MacArthur Airport in
Ronkonkoma), and their profes-
sions (police officers, pilots, etc.).
Each car in the airlift had its
own story, and Island firefighters
recounted some of these tales as
they waited in the heat. The his-
rory of car #1, a small Nissan. was
that it had been driven here for
years by Mary Denny Wray. who
sold it two years ago to Jim Wall
for $1 00. Mr. Wall relucranrlygave
up the vehicle when the transmis-
sion failed and the cost of repair in
relation to the value of the car was
prohibitive.
The exterior of car #1 belied
its current fate. A5 a matter of fact,
when National Guard representa-
tives came to review the autos on
June 15, their comment was that
the cars were not as derelict as
expected. They usually deal with burnt out
hulks at the bonom of ravines. guardsmen
said.
The GuardHELP project is a coopera-
tive effort between the Office of the Town of
Southold Supervisor. the State Department
of Environmental Conservation, the U.S.
Coast Guard and the Pine Barrens Law En-
forcement Council.
Fishers Island Gazette Photo
orange numbers, 1-15, for the number of cars
in (he airlift.
The National Guard unit, composed of
full time and part time members, began the
day at 6 a.m.. but poor flying conditions
delayed take off until the afternoon, and the
men were able to remove only four cars on
Saturday. There was no apparent airlift activ-
ity at the airport on Sunday.
The guardsmen appeared to be as much
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. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter lifts car #1 on its journey
to Orient Point to be recycled. . (Bottom) Island firefighters prepare to
hose down the area, which was dry and dusty due to heat and drought.
4 Fi.fhers Island Gazene . August 1999
Rare BeaL:ed WLale Bea<<:Led
A rare beakd whale was fOund dead July 19 about one mile east oflsabeli4 Beach. When a pas,ing
fisherman reported the sighting, Rob Nawo}chik, a Mystic Marinelift Aquarium biologist in charge
o/stranded animals, immediately called Island naturalist Edwin Horning and caught the next finy
to Fi,hers lsi4nd. Mr. Horning tells the mt of the story.
. A rare beaked whale, probably from deep waters off Northern Europe. was found dead on
Fishers Island's southern shore. . (bottom photo) Mystic Marinelife Aquarium biologist Rob
Nawojchik begins to dissect the 1000 lb. whale, which appeared to have been in ill health prior to
its death. Mr. Nawojchik estimated that the whale had been dead for about a week.
By EDWIN HORNING
I met the noon boat in order to follow Nawojchik's first comment was, "The report
the aquarium truck to the site, but lost was of a pilot whale, but this is a much, much
the truck in traffic. Rob had gotten rarer whale, in from the deep waters."
directions from the state trooper, but I only
had a general idea of the location. I drove to
Isabella Beach and saw nothing, then up the
Kelly drive. Still nothing. I was about to give
up when I drove to the Rentschler place and
walked with Ms. Rentschler to the look-out.
This time, looking east along the rocky
shore. I spotted something shiny lodged in
the water among the rocks. When I saw a tail,
I knew it was the whale.
I started walking on the beach, moving
in the direction of the whale, but the beach
was extremely difficult to walk on because it
has large 8- to 12-inch-diameter cobbles in-
terlaced among small boulders. I kept my
eyes down to watch my footing. only occa-
sionally looking up at the whale. so when I
finally reached it, I was surprised to see the
aquarium crew coming from the other direc-
tion. Chocomount Beach.
Arriving with two veterinary interns,
Carie Goetz and Jan Kassakian. Mr.
At this point, Rob became a teacher. He
said that there are six families of whales
belonging to two groups: baleen whales and
toothed whales. This specimen had two
large teeth.
Further inspection pointed to the
Ziphiidae family or the beaked
whale group. There are 19 spe-
cies and this whale most likely
belongs to the genus
Mesoplodon. These whales live
far out to sea and are seen only
when stranded on shore. An-
other beaked whale was found
in Rhode Island in 1991.
The whale was mostly
black with a patch of pink near
the front fin. Scattered in this
patch of color were circular
blackspots. Rob said he thoughr
rhe whale had been dead aboUl
a week and that it weighed about
.~...
1000 pounds. Oneof the most obvious things
about the whale was that there was a mass of
parasitic copepods attached to one of the
teeth. protruding from the mouth.
Rob waded into the water and began
taking detailed measurements. He started
with the distance between the snout and
center of the eye and worked his way along
the animal calling out measurements to his
interns, until he reached the end. The
whale's length totaled 401 centimeters or
abour 13 feet.
Next Rob rook a small sharp knife and
cut small sections of blubber from the side,
back and underside of the whale. These sec-
tions were thinner than expected, indicating
rhat the whale had been in poor health. Rob
also noted that this was a male, since females
of this species have no teeth.
Now the examination became quite
bloody. With a large knife, Rob began ro
remove the head, which proved to be a diffi-
cult task. At one point, Rob lost his balance
and fell into the water. After the head had
been removed, Carie sliced ofTfleshy parts, to
make it easier to carry the remains over the
boulders back to the truck.
Rob then opened the rib cavity exposing
the stomach and intestines. and the water
became bloodier yet. He might have ex-
peered to find partially digesred squid, which
is what the beaked whale eats, but the stom-
ach was empty.
The aquarium crew left at 3 p.m., and I
headed to the library to confirm the whale's
identification. From, WhalesandDolphinsand
Porpoises. I could see (hat we had found a
Sowerby's Beaked Whale. It has never been
seen alive in the Northeast. but although very
rare, it is more often seen in northern Europe.
It is a whale of the cool pelagic waters of the
North Atlantic from Newfoundland to
Southern Norway and the Bay of Biscay.
--
Edwin HornIng Photo
August 1999. Pishers 1sla1ld Gaune 5
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. On Aug. 19, 1991, Hurricane Bob's 100 mph winds sliced a small gap through the center of South Dumpling. A few months before the hurricane,
Edwin Horning and botanist Gordon Tucker had found a unique grove of medium-sized basswood trees at the site ofthe gap. Observations currently
yield only one large basswood. Cormorants started nesting there about three years ago and are said to be part of the cause of the widening gap and
the disappearance on South Dumpling of the snowy egret, glossy ibis and little blue heron.
Fi~"er~ I~. LoL~ler...en Gel
Boo~1 fro... Court De<<:i~ion
The State of Connecticut lost a case
in federal court June I, and it was
the best news Island lobster men
had heard in a long time.
At issue are lobstering rights in waters
surrounding Fishers Island first designated
by the N.Y. State Legislature in 1911 * as a
conservation area reserved for New York
resident lobstermen. Connecticut lobstermen,
however, have long wanted access to Island
waters, which are apparently still rich with
lobsters due to the sound conservation prac-
tices of generations of Island lobstermen.
In a challenge to the constitutionality
of these statutory boundaries, Connecticut's
Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal alleged in a
complaint filed in U.S. District Court in
Albany that the current statute is discrimi-
natoryand a violation of the Interstate Com-
merce Clause because it prevents non-resi-
dent lobstermen from pursuing their liveli-
hood in the Island's restricted waters.
The State of New York responded that
the statute is constitutional, but in any case,
Me. Blumenthal's complaint should nor be
considered by the U.S. District Court be-
cause only the U.S. Supreme Court has
jurisdiction to hear legal disputes between
two Slates. Judge Frederick J. Scullin Jr.
agreed with New York on the jurisdictional
point and dismissed Connecticut's com-
plaint.
Connecticut has since filed notice that
it may appeal Judge Scullin's ruling to the
2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Judge Scullin's well-reasoned opinion
*For more information and a map of (he bound-
aries in ques(jon. see Fishers Island Gazette Vol.
12No. l,pp. 1,4-5.
is a significant victory for the cause of the
Fishers Island lobstermen and the Fishers
Island Conservancy, which has been sup-
porting them throughout this struggle," said
Barty Bryan, of Counse\to the New York
City law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton, which
acts as pro bono counsel for the Fishers
Island Conservancy in the lobster litigation.
"Even though Judge Scullin's decision
did not get to the merits of Connecticut's
challenge. it sidelines the state and Me.
Blumenthal, unless he is successful in his
appeal to the circuit court or in persuading
the Supreme Coun to hear his case."
Addressing the merits of Connecticut' s
interstate commerce argument, Me. Bryan
said, "The shon answer is that lobsters do
not become articles of commerce until they
are captured, and until then, New York
State has a property interest in the lobsters
in its waters and can regulate lobster fishing
and exclude non-residents from any or all of
its waters, just the way all of the other New
England states have done."
& an added complication, Connecti-
cut lobsterwoman Vivian V olovar. after hav.-
ing failed in her attempt to join
Connecticut's suit, brought her own action
challenging the constitutionality of the
Fishers Island law on slightly different
grounds under the Privileges and Immunity
Clause. Her lawsuit is still pending in U.S.
District Court in Albany.
Ms. V olovar was arrested last year after
Island lobsterman Dan Doyen's traps were
found on her boat. She pleaded guilty and,
later, was arrested again for poaching in the
reserved Fishers Island waters.
Continued 011 page 15
Edwin Horning Photo
. Two days after the beaked whale discovery, Gail Rafferty reported sighting this dead sea turtle
as she walked her dog near Chocomount Beach. Edwin Horning first thought Ms. Rafferty might
have seen whale remains, but he confirmed that it was a leatherbacked turtle. Unlike any other
turtle, it has five ridges down its carapace from front to back. The carapace measured 4.5 feet, the
head was one foot long and the tail about eight inches. To report strandings, call Mystic Marinelife
Aquarium, 860-572-5955 ext. 107.
6 Fishers Island Gazette. August 1999
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Island Residenls A.sked 10
CuI Ba~k on Waler Usage
Record-breaking heat and an intense
drought have dried up shoreline wells
in Connecticur and caused Shelter Island to
declare a drought emergency. Fishers Island is
on the same shaky ground as the rest of the
northeast, but so far the Island water restric-
tion is voluntary.
Fishers Island Water Works has asked
Island residents to stop using water to wash
cars and warcryards. "Rccentdrought condi-
tions have depicted the supply ofwarer on the
Island, and further substantial use could en-
danger not only personal water use but also
fire fighting potential," the water company
directive stated.
This request is part of a Suffolk County
Water Authority "Water Restriction" notice
issued for all of Suffolk County. including
Fishers Island.
"Please do not take this request lightly,"
the Fishers Island notice said. "Cominued
dry weather coupled with the tremendous
usage we are currently experiencing will force
a mandatory restriction, which only creates
an uncomfortable position for all Island resi-
dents. Please help liS by cutting back your
usage now."
The water company usually pumps only
well water to Island customers, but as of July,
the water being pumped consisted of a mix of
reservoir water, which is aerated at thc filtra-
tion plant, and well water.
The U.S. government has called the 1999 drought the 2nd worst of the century
and has said the ground is drier than it has been since the Great Depression.
Rainfall As of July 20, Fishers Island had received 0.05 inch of rain
in June, 0.77 inch in July, and 16.7 inches for the year.
. Plywood covers windows of Roger Barmache's duplex after June fire.
Fire Damages Half ofT ~o-Family Home
A J une4 fire severely damaged one-half
of a two-family home located across
the street from Fishers Island School.
Twenty-eight firefighters with all four
units arrived and had the morning blaze
under control within 45 minutes. Roger
Barmache, who owns the house and lives in
dle undamaged side, rents the other side to
Joe Doucerre.
According to Fishers Island Fire Chief
Wayne Doucette, half the house was un-
touched because, "the military was so safety
conscious, they built a brick wall from the
basement all the way up to the attic. It was
like having two separate buildings under one
roof."
The fire, which appeared to have started
in Mr. Doucette's living room TV area and
appeared to be electrical, wem up the stairs,
which acted like a chimney. "The heat was so
intense, it melted a TV on the upstairs dresser,"
Chief Doucette said.
August 1999. Fishers IslalJd Gazelle 7
-
Connecticut has stepped up its cau-
tionary advisories about eating
striped bass and bluefish from Long
Island Sound, but New York has made no
such change in its advisories.
In "The New York State Department of
Health, HealthAdvisories, Chemicals in Sport
Fish and Game 1998-99," state officials rec-
ommcnd that people eat no morc than one
meal (8 oz. cooked) per week of striped bass
and bluefish. Pregnant women, and children
under the age of 15 have extra cautions about
fish caught in the western end of Long Island
Sound only.
Of particular interest to Fishers Island,
the State of New York has issued no advisory
about lobster meat, but does advise against
eating lobster tomalley, which is the hepato-
pancreas and collects contaminants.
These advisories, which have been in ef-
fect for about 10 years, were initiated because
the fish are contaminated with PCBs (poly-
chlorinated biphenyls}, long-lasting synthetic
chemical compounds once used extensively as
insulation material in electrical transformers.
Connecticut's Dept. of Public Health,
which had previously advised eating only two
meals per month of these fish, has now cut
back to one meal every other month for
striped bass, bluefish and tomalley. The state
also recommends that pregnant women,
women who might become pregnant within
six months and small children eat none of
these fish from Long Island Sound.
Connecticut officials, who still main-
tain that locally caught fish are a valuable
source of protein, said that this change in the
consumption advisory is not due to the dis-
covery of higher levels of PCBs.
"In fact, PCB levels are slowly beginning
to decrease. It's just that the science is better,
and it makes us want to be more cautious,"
said Gary Ginsberg, a toxicologist for the
State of Connecticut.
Once PCBs get into thewaterv.rays, they
tend to move up the food chain, becoming
more concentrated in each organism they
pass through. Oily fish, such as striped bass
and bluefish, which are near the top of their
food chain, tend to be more heavily contami-
nated with PCBs, said Me. Ginsberg.
Smaller fish do not pose the risk oflarger
fish, said Dan Lewis, New York Dept. of
Environmental Conservation marine re-
sources specialist, because a fish becomes
more contaminated the longer it lives.
8 Fishers Island Gazelle. AuguSI1999
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www.robertsav.com
860-442-5314
800-606-4434
WHERE
SPIRIT,
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136.'40 bank slreet new london 'I 06320
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August 1999. Fishers Is/mId Gaune 9
T riplels!
I-
I
t
~
Gail Cypherd apologizes that she is
behind schedule today_ The ha-
bies were christened over Memo-
rial Day weekend, and she and her husband
Greg had houseguests.
Triplets and houseguests. And, oh, by
the way. she also takes care of two dogs, a cat,
and the garden (which looks like perfcC[ion
to a non-gardener).
"At the beginning. I had time. The
Allie Raridon Photo
GAIL AND GREG CVPHERD
house was spotless. Now I watch the tum-
bleweeds. "
Me. and Mrs. Cypherd became the par-
ents of triplets Dec. 13, 1998, with the arrival
at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital of Emma
Taylor, Noah Roberr and Molly Shea_
While the incidence of triplets is appar-
endy on the increase, the Cypherds are the
first yearround residents known [0 have had
triplets.
If ever there were a mother with the
temperament for triplets, it must
be Ms. Cypherd. Calm and confi-
dent, she cares for her babies non~
stop, but with a measured matet-
nal rhythm that attends to their
needs, each in his or her own turn.
"The first one up sets the
tone for the day," Ms. Cypherd
said. "It's very rare that they want
to eat at the same time, but they
definitely have learned patience."
Ms_ Cypherd, who did not
take fertility drugs, was six weeks
into her pregnancy when she had
her first ultrasound. "It was like
[seeing] three little peas in a pod.
From the day I knew, everyone
knew. The eggs were fertilized
outside the womb. Therewasa38
percent chance of success on the
first try and a 5 percent chance of
having triplets. There are 2,000
sets of triplets born every year in
the United States."
Even though everyone
knew" about the triplets, the
Cypherds still had second
thoughts about agreeing to an ar-
ticle in the Gazette.
"We consented because we especially
wanted to set the record straight about Molly.
People think that because she is so tiny and on
oxygen that something is wrong. She is fine.
It's just that she was tucked in there, and she
was the last one to come out. The lungs are the
last organs to develop, and she is on a very
small amount of oxygen just to make sure that
Cypherd Family Photo
. What?! Another photo session?! (I-r) Noah, Emma and
Molly Cypherd, six months.
. Outfits to grow into. Clothes that fit usually aren't put
away. They travel from babies to laundry and back to babies.
Fishers Island Gazene Photo
. (l-r) Noah, Emma and Molly Cypherd, five months.
Fishers Island G81ene Photo
her blood is oxygenated. The doctors say that
she will grow normally_ Mollycould end up to
be the biggest one," Ms. Cypherd said.
The babies were born one minute apart.
Emma (3 Ibs. 13 oz.) was born first, then
Noah (4Ibs_ I oz_), and then Molly (2Ibs. 15
oz.), who was on a respirator at birth. Her
sister and brother were breathing on their own
the first day and came home in three weeks.
Molly was home in 12 weeks, weighing 5 Ibs.
140z_
"While Molly was in the hospital, it was
like having twins at home. I went to the hospi-
tal every afternoon to nurse her. It was very
hard to leave Noah and Emma, but five people
helped, and my mom came up for three weeks
when Molly came home. If I needed anything,
one call, and friends and neighbors were here in
a heartbeat. Everyone was wonderful."
Mr. Cypherd is foreman for R.1ce Rock
Garden Co. and leaves for work each morning
at 6:30 a.m., just about the time his children
are waking up. That's why he is especially glad
to help out when he is home, giving two out
of three baths each night. He also visited his
wife five nights a week when she was confined
to bed rest at L&M hospital for the last 10
weeks of her pregnancy.
The Cypherds, who met on Fishers Is-
Comillul'd 011 page 21
10 Fishers /.~/alld Gaz.ette. A.ugust 1999
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Cornell Cooperali'Ve Extension
There is a new presence on Fishers
Island. The Cornell Cooperative
Extension of Suffolk County has
taken on Fishers Island as one of its natural
a lawsuit for damages as the result of the oil
spill and intended to give the entire $1 00,000
award to Fishers Island, with some restric-
tions-srillahappyendingfor Fishers. which
suffered no apparent major damage from the
spill. Funds for the DEC's bay scallop resto-
ration project in Hay Harbor came from this
damage award.
"We are looking at ways that Fishers
Island might be able to spend the remaining
$76,521 of the damage award," Mr. Smith
said. "One possibility is improving the water
quality in Pirate's Cove with a runoff mitiga-
tion project there. It might work if the federal
resource projects.
Christopher Smith, director of the co-
operative extension's Marine Program, said
his team has plans for Fishers Island.
"We have already created a spawner
sanctuary for scallops in Hay Harbor and
have launched an educational program about
nonsource point pollution," Mr. Smithsaid.
[See box on p. 19] "We are also making red
dye available through the Fishers Island
Civic Association (FICA) for testing septic
systems around Hay Harbor, and we plan to
start a program about attracting wildlife to
backyards. ..
FICA President Nancy Hunt couldn't
be happier. "They are a tremendous resource
for us. They have experts on invasive and
endangered species and can monitor coliform
counts- animal, bird or human. Also, the
last time we had red dye tests, the Fishers
Island Conservancy provided and paid for
them. This is free."
Free? Cornell, where have you been all
of our lives? And why are you here now?
Actually, Mr. Smith has been an aquacul-
ture resource for Steve Malinowski and Carey
Matthiessen for some time, but this new ven-
ture was helped along by the state Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Lisa Holst, the DEC's Habi-
tat Restoration Manager, Long
Island Sound Srudy, suggested
an "alternative parmership" with
Cornell Co-op. Ext. after disap-
pointing results from the DEC's
bay scallop restoration project in
Hay Harbor. While rhe pilar
projeC[ did not yield the desired
results on Fishers, it did reveal a
methodology that may be used
elsewhere, Ms. Holst said.
The DEe scallop resrora-
rion project was linked to a Dec.
21, 1992 oil spill at the mouth of
the Thames River. Fishers Island
coastal waters were the only areas
affected by the spill.
At an Aug. 2, 1995 Town
Fathers' meeting, Ray Cowan,
regional head of the DEC, an-
nounced that the DEC had won
AUgllst 1999 . Fi.~lzer,.. Is/mId Gazette 11
government, which must give the O.K.,
doesn't require a full-blown and very expen-
sive engineering study."
Mr. Smith said that since 1915, the U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture has overseen a nation-
wide program that provides cooperative ex-
tension services for every county in every
state in the country. These programs are
administered through colleges and universi-
ties and are funded through federal, state and
local taxes and competitive grants.
There are 24 full time people working in
the Marine Program, which is the newest
division added in 1991. It has several units of
its own: marine pollution mitigation, aquac-
ulture, and wetlands restoration and preser-
Crmtjnu"J 011 page /8
Hay HarLor SLellfisLing
Ban May Be Lifted Ly ~ooo
Hay Harbor's longrimeshellfishingban
may be lifted by Jan. I. 2000.
The state Department of Environmen-
tal Conservation (DEC) has determined that
the overall water quality in Hay Harbor now
passes federal guidelines for the harvesting of
shellfish. Hay Harbor has been closed to
shellfishing since 1990, and the improve-
ment in water quality should result in an
upgrade in the classification of Hay Harbor
for shellfishing.
For the past two summers, the DEe has
observed and analyzed nutrient and coliform
bacteria levels in the harbor and has found
that the nutrient structure closely resembles
waters just ofT the western tip of Fishers
Island within the Race.
The coliform bacteria level in the water
is a more complicated issue, however, since it
is affected by point source and Ilonsource
point pollution.
Dan Lewis, DEe marine resources spe-
cialist, who oversees shell fishing water qual-
ity for Fishers Island, said a temporary
shell fishing ban of up to seven days would be
Co1ltimll'd 011 page 19
=:
^,?;-.
"" -
:';-~!~;S~?~$;~
. Hay Harbor at low tide. Will we be digging for clams here next year?
AI Gordon Photo
12 Fishers Island Gaz.ette . AugusI1999
ON BARLEYFIELD POND. Brick and stucco construction of
the F. Scott Fitzgerald era. Almost 7,000 sq ft of unsurpassed
elegance. T wclve tnain rooms completely renovated. Grand
Entrance Hall. Powder Room. Large Living Room with
Fireplace and French doors ro a beautiful, canopied slate ter~
race. Formal Dining Room with Fireplace. Large Kitchen.
Master Bedroom Suite with Fireplace and Bath. Butler's
Bedroom and Bath. Three Family Bedrooms, one with
Fireplace, each with Bath. Three smaller Bedrooms and Hall
Bath, Sitting Room. Basement. Three car garage. Spectacular
southerly views of Barleyfield Cove and Block Island Sound.
Long lawn to Barleyfield Pond. 5.7 acres on the eastern end
of the Island. Pool with Pool House. Tennis Court.
Asking Price: $2,750,000
OVERLOOKING SILVER EEL POND. Originally Part of
Fort Wright. Updated and renovated by James Righter. High
ceilings. Family Room open to Walk~in~Kitchen with great
views of Fishers Island Sound and the Connecticut coast.
Living Room, Powder Room and Bedroom complete the First
Floor. Two sets of stairs lead to Four Bedrooms and Two
Baths. Level lawns look out over the pond and Sound.
Asking Price: $395,000
.'-
.
11 - III
CHARMING STARTER. Approximately .25 acre parcel con-
venient to shopping. Verdant lawn and mature trees. Private
setting. T wo~Story Colonial. Living Room. Large renovated
Eat-In-Kitchen. Dining Room. Sun-filled Florida Room. Three
Bedrooms. Asking Price: $195,000
August 1999. Fishers Islmld Gazene 13
WATERVIEW. Undeveloped lot - approximately 3.1 acres.
On the northern slope of Chocomount. High site with beauti~
ful views of the Fishers Island Sound and the Connecticut
coastline. Asking Price: $400,000
CHOCOMOUNT BEACH. Over two acres with a path to the
beach! Mostly cleared parcel. 65' elevation with views of Block
Island Sound. Utilities and water are readily accessible.
Asking Price: $350,000
TWO VIEWS. Approximately 2 acres on the upper portion of
Clay Point. Beautiful high building site with views of
Chocomount Cove to the Northeast and views over the
Driving Range and out to Block Island Sound to the South.
Asking Price: $325,000
HIDDEN BEACHFRONT. Approximately four acres with
200+/- feet of watet frontage on Fishers Island Sound including
a small, private beach. Nicely wooded lot within five minutes
to Chocomount Beach. Asking Price: $250,000
OVER THE PUNCH BOWL. Two separate
building lots located on the East End. Fabulous
3.34 acres with views of Fishers Island Golf
Course 4th Green. Building site approximately 40'
above sea level. Asking Price: $400,000. Also
l.l +1- Acres approximately 50' above sea level.
Asking Price: $125,000
Ginnel Real Estate
Box 258, Fishers Island, NY 06390
(516) 788-7805
Thomas H.C. Patterson,
Broker Associate
Peggy Clavin,
Sales Associate
14 Fidlers Ida"d Gazelle. A.IIgust 1999
Sally
Pratt
Multi-Million Dollar Producer
&
Chairman's Circle Member
Sally is among the top .08% of real estate sales agents
nationwide. She specializes in the sales and marketing
of exceptional properties from Port Royal to Pelican Bay,
including golfing communities, waterfront, beachfront
and estate homes.
'N ARVIDA
,/ Realty Services
550 Filth Avenue South, Naples, Florida 34102
800-741-7131 or 941-262-7131, Exl. 127
941-261-5085, home office
QOHERTV
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Accounting & Auditing
Tax Return Preparation
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Tax & Financial Planning
Accounting Systems Set-up
1-860-443-2033
187 Williams Street
New London, Conn.
Weekly Island Service · Island Appointments Available
New York & Connecticut licenses Held
WILLS, TRUSTS & ESTATES
Probate in Suffolk County and Nassau County
REAL ESTATE
Planning & Zoning
51020 Main Road, Southold NY 11971
~
Former town attorney and surrogate's court attorney
Patricia C. Moore
ATTORNEY AT LAW
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD, SUFFOLK COUNTY
516-765-4330 . Fax: 516-765-4643
IDGsl
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DIVERSIFIED
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Tell'phllnr 800-886-5120 . Fax 800-886-7017
Flora T. Schmid
Flora T. Schmid of the Village of Golf.
Fla.. and New York Citydied May 27. shortly
before her 87'h birrhday.
Born of English ancesrry July 4, 1912 in
Chattanooga, Tenn., Mrs. Schmid grew up
in Savannah, Ga. At the ageof20, she left the
South widl her sister Arlene and headed for
New York City where she acted in several
plays and enjoyed
a life in the the-
ater. After several
years, she went
into business and,
at 24, met her fu-
ture husband Carl
J. Schmid. They
married three
years later and re-
mained married
for 44 years. Mr.
Schmid died in
1985.
"My mother
was always a beau-
dful woman and
my father took
great pride in her.
She had an astute
business sense,
and he took her
everywhere with
him and de-
pended on her for her tireless involvement
with customers all over the world." said daugh-
ter Elaine Browne. The family company.
Julius Schmid Inc., manufactured a number
of different products but was best known for
its work in the field of birth control.
"When the company was finally sold,
employees captured my parents' special rela-
tionship in a loving portrait of the two of
them with the caption. 'Those who travel
together, stay together....
The pharmaceutical industry presented
theSchmidswith the industry's highest award
for outstanding accomplishments.
In addition to her close involvement
with the family business, Mrs. Schmid worked
for many charities. She was interested in
issues of population control and devored
many hours to a home for unwed mothers,
Grosvenor House, in New York City.
Fishers Island held a cherished spot in
Mrs. Schmid's heart. She and her husband
began summering here in 1951. They were
brought to Fishers Island by their close friends
Helen Buckner and Margo and Carl Maw
and rented the Ridgway stable for many years
until they bought a home on Isabella Beach.
Mr. Schmid put in one of the first
weed less lawns on the Island and was often
seen after 6 p.m. patrolling his property to
prevent rabbits from leaving brown spots on
the lawn.
Mrs. Schmid, a devoted wife and mother,
renovated their Island home. providing a
happy environ-
ment for herchil-
dren and grand-
children. After
25 years, the
Schmid's sold
their house to
Christobel and
Paul Vartanian.
"My parents
planted 1 00 blue
spruce trees on
that property,
and they remain
very much a part
of Fishers Is-
land," Mrs.
Browne said.
"The roots that
my family pur
down here many
years ago still run
deep through the
generations. ..
Mrs. Schmid is survived by rwo daugh-
ters. Kaye and Elaine; a sister, Arlene; and
three grandchildren, Christov, Carlene and
Laurel.
Donations in Mrs. Schmid's memory
may be made to Planned Parenthood. 26
Bleeker Sr, New York NY 10012, or to The
Sanger Fund, Fishers Island NY 06390.
FLORA T. SCHMID
Photo courtesy 01 Carlene Damon
~
Send obituaries to:
Fishers Island Gazette
Obituaries
PO Box 573
Fishers Island NY 06390
AUglHt /999 . Fishers Isla"d Gautte /5
Lobstermen Get Boost
Coutiuuedfrom page 5
Ms. Volovar's case turns on whether
lobsters are migratory, crossing state lines as
shrimp do, or whether they are sedentary.
"There is a pile of scientific literature
over the years that we have reviewed, and it
is our conclusion that lobsters do not mi-
grate, for the purposes of the Privileges and
Immunities Clause," Mr. Bryan said. "Ini-
tially. lobster larvae float with the currents,
but then they hunker down in an area,
moving short distances in- and off-shore."
In the meantime, the Fishers Island
Lobstermen's Association and the Fishers
Island Conservancy are exploring ways to
create a new lobster conservation zone in
Island warers. Their proposed 500-por limit
for each lobsterman would continue the
prudent, self-regulatory practices of Island
lobstermen and protect the Island lobster
stock should Connecticut or Ms. V olavar
win their lawsuits. The conservation zone
would also rein in Montauk lobstermen
who now blanket Island waters with thou-
sands of pots per vessel.
The defendants in Connecticut's case
were John P. Cahill. New York Srate Com-
missioner of Environmental Conservation
and Donald W. Brewer, Director of the
Division of Law Enforcement at the De-
partment of Environmental Protection.
Rev. Kate Energizes
Island Community
Judging from the number of cars lining
the street on Sunday mornings. Rev.
Katherine "Kate" Latimer and her husband,
Arthur. have clearly found a way to tap into
the energy of Union Chapel's congregation.
There has been a unanimous outpour-
ing of support for the Latimers this year. A
graduate of Yale Divinity School, Rev. Kate
is committed to interim work with churches
that are between called pastors. The Latimers
complete their interim year at Union Chapel
Oct. 31, and it is hoped that a new pastor will
maintain and expand upon the current en-
ergy among worshippers.
Co-Presidents to Head Board
Charlotte McKim and Leslie T ombari
are new co.presidents of the Fishers Island
Library Board. Cordelia Biddle has resigned.
16 Fishers Island Gazette. AugusII999
ITlJlSLfC IsLe ReaLL;Y fnc.
.J=isbeRS Islaod, o,'J/. 06390 sI6.78S- 7882
New
Listing
'.
_'~~""
~ '~~.~:~~--.t'"C ,.
t ~_
J\J~_~J*i~'" 1t.
- -..;..
Private l.S-acre property within easy walking distance of Village Green and South Beach.
Large living room with high ceilings. wood burning fireplace. good light and cross ventila-
tion opens onto omside terrace area. Separate dining room and nice-sized kitchen adjacent
to large somh-facing deck/eating area. Double bedroom and bath complete the first floor.
Second floor consists of giant master bedroom with bath. two additional double bedrooms with bath, and convenient laundry room. House
is fully winterized with new furnace. hot water heater and full basement. Grounds include many interesting plant specimens and garden
areas. Offered partially furnished at $595,000 with buyer responsible for sales commission. Taxes approx. $5,400.
1
Great spot for a young family! Well-maintained 4-5 bedroom, 3 bath house with views over Silver Eel Pond. Originally owned and
remodeled by Jim Righrer. Interesring spaces, good lighr, and ro be sold mostly furnished. Good area for children. Offered at $395,000.
Taxes approx. $3,000.
BAGLEY REID. Broker
SUE HORN. Salesperson
August 1999. Fishers Island Gazette 17
rTld'st:fc IsLe r<eaLt:d' fnc.
.J=fsner<s Island, n,zy. 06390 sI6-788- 7882
'h'~1
. " "_ ..~"';';I
.... ..... ''''''''''''.'
"\':',.,"
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,:,..1 " :.'
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Two charming winterized cottages with a beautifully maintained three bedroom house,
and two separate commercial spaces, all potential income producers. This yearround
home has 2 1/2 baths with nice living room with fireplace, cozy den, full dining room, and up-to-date kitchen. Rental income could
well carry the mortgage. Asking ptice $340,000. Taxes approx. $4,900.
This cozy 2-story house on 1/10 acre is fully winterized and has 3
bedrooms and 2 full baths. Recently remodeled, with a nicely landscaped
yard, this house on Montauk Avenue offers comfou and style. Asking
$225,000. Taxes $2,080.
Single fami.ly dwelling in West End. Living room with attached atrium,
dining room and exuemely nice kitchen with eat-in area. There are three
bedrooms and one and one-half baths. The basement is unfinished. and
there is a delached garage. The house has a new roof, guners and siding and
is (0 be sold partially furnished. Asking price $180.000. Taxes approx,
$1,500.
For a complete list of houses and undeveloped property on the market,
please call for our listing sheets.
18 Fishers Island Gazette . AlIgu,~t /999
Keeping Island Walers Clean
If the shellfishing ban in Hay Hatbot
is lifted next year, it won't be long
before children are once again search-
ing for clams at low tide in Hay Harbor,
digging their toes into the sand until they
reach their prize. There is a caution, however.
Natural resource specialists from the
Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Pro-
gram of Suffolk County have launched an
initiative to educate Island residents about
modifying activities that can affect the harbor's
water quality. [See box on p. 19] The current
lesson is about nonpoint source pollution,
which is defined as pollution that enters in-
land or coastal waters via stormwater runoff.
It might seem easy to understand how a
harbor can become polluted when the point
of origin or the "source" of the pollution is
pinpointed, and there is usually a specific fix
for such a problem A resolution is far more
difficult when a potpourri of pollutants col-
lects in stormwater runoff.
Rainwater flowing ovet roads, parking
lots and lawns, picks up oil, grease, heavy
metals (copper, zinc, lead), yard and animal
wastes, lawn chemicals (pesticides, fertilizer,
herbicides) and street debris and delivers
them into Island waters, said Katy DeChiaro
of the Cornell Co-op. Ext.
This pollution increases algae blooms,
which make the water cloudy and block
sunlight from reaching submerged vegeta-
tion that provides a habitat for marine organ-
isms. When excess algae in the water decays,
it utilizes oxygen in the process and robs
aquatic organisms of the dissolved oxygen
needed to sustain life, Ms. DeChiaro said.
"Human activity within the watersheds
greatly influences stormwater runoff," she
said. "Let's not forget that ospreys, falcons
and eagles are still recovering from the use of
DDT, an infamous example of nonpoint
soutce pollution in the 1950s and 1960s.
"Since water quality in Hay Harbor has
improved and may be upgraded, residents
should do what they can to preserve and
maintain the excellent water quality around
FishetS Island."
Call Ms. DeChiato at 516-727-3910
for information on how to stem nonpoint
source pollution.
~
Cornell Co-op. Ext.
Co1JtjtJU~d from pag~ 1 I
vation. Mr. Smith and his team works out of
a 15,000 square ft. marine lab in South old.
"We tend2 million bay scallops a year in
200,000 lantern nets at our commercial shell-
fish hatchery," Mr. Smith said, "and we try to
find ways to help areas such as Fishers Island
without spending extra money."
After distributing 200,000 bay scallops
throughout Suffolk County waters, it took
aquaculture specialist Gregg Rivara and Mr.
Smith just two hours to place 10,000 spawner
scallops in 10 lantern nets on the western
shore of Hay Harbor. They are marked by a
white lobster pot buoy.
"Our organization has been in Suffolk
county for 80 years and is also comprised of
the agriculture division, 4-H youth educa-
tion, and family and consumer sciences. We
have a big youth education component as
well as adult education and may be able to
arrange presentations at the Fishers Island
School.
"We hope to have a long and productive
program on Fishers Island," Mr. Smith said.
~~,~
Celebrating 20 years of Fishers Island Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited would like to thank all of our sponsors, past and present for their 20
years of support. Without you we would not be so successful.
Jerry Cloutier
Sinclair Pharmacal Co.
Mallove's
Pirates Cove Marina
The Pequot Inn
Allison Kibbe
Alix Rokita
Topper's
Rob Halligan
Hillyer's Tackle Shop
Jean & Peggy Mulak
Harold's
Kristin Wall
Z&S Contracting
Tom O'Brien
Zoe & Co.
Thames River Greenery
Ken Edwards Jr.
The Beach Plum
Tom Doyen
Benoits
Race Rock Garden
F.1. Fire Department
Sunrise Deck
Ken's Tackle Shop
The News Cafe
Island Hardware
Dede Esenlohr
Culinary Capers
Hilltop Marine
Hay Harbor Club
Kristin Clark
,
J&B Tackle
F.I. Plumbing
Studio 33
Solomon's
F.1. Utility Co.
Village Greenery
F.1. Shopping Center
Captain's Pizza
New London Subway
Timothy's
Marcus
BD Remodeling
Tidal Wave
Larry Horn
Dominick Netti
Blockbuster Video
Action Air
Shipman's Fire Equipment
Gada Fuel & Service
F.1. Fertilizer
Tom Armstrong
Sullivan Printing Co, Inc.
The Briar Patch
F.1. American Legion
Sandy Gaston
Hair of the Dog
Pickett Fence
The Gold and Silver Shop
F.I. Bowling Center
Val's Floor Sanding
Tony Bussman
,tuguSI 1999. Fishers Island Gaz.ette 19
Suggestions to Stem Nonpolnt Source Pollution
-Practice sound gardening techniques, such as selecting native plant species that
require less water and fewer chemical applications than non-native plants.
-Use fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides sparingly and according to manufacturers'
instructions.
-Compost leaves and grass clippings.
'Be a responsible pet owner. Scoop up after your pet and dispose of properly.
-Do not feed wild waterfowl.
-Use porous paving materials on driveways and walkways or use dry wells or other
means to infiltrate runoff.
-Have septic systems cleaned regularly.
-Never dispose of motor oil, toxic household chemicals or other pollutants down
storm drains, which empty into local waters.
-Support projects to upgrade storm drain systems and to preserve wetlands, which
act as natural filters for stormwater.
-If you own waterfront property, do not landscape to the water's edge. Retain or
create natural vegetated buffers along the shoreline.
<5--.3
"We will provide information, but if you have a specific problem, we will also
come to the Island to discuss it. This is how we can help:' said Christopher Smith,
Cornell Co-op. Ext. Marine Program director. "A typical inland problem and solution
might be to redirect house gutter waterflow from the driveway to a vegetated area."
Call Cornell Co-op. Ext. 5 16-72 7 -391 0 with questions
Cornell Cooperative Extension is charged with helping to solve
natural resource problems in communities using research-based knowledge.
HH Shelljishing Ban
Conri"u~d from pag~ J 1
imposed if the Island receives more than three
inches of rain in a 36-hour period. Such a
meteorological event would affect nonpoinr
source pollution in Hay Harbor.
"Because of the way that shellfish cat,
they concentrate pathogens from the water.
For that reason, we have different and more
stringent guidelines for shell fishing water qual-
ity than, for example, the Suffolk County
Health Dept. has for swimming," Mr. Lewis
said. He recently replaced the DEe's
Maureen Davidson, who headed Fishers Is-
land shellfishing water quality evaluation
during the 1990s.
"I am proposing that the ban on shell-
fishing be complerely lifted in Hay Harbor,"
Mr. Lewis said. "There is always a chance that
someone will overturn this request, but that is
unlikely. Our department has not yet com-
pleted rhe regulatory package that will effect
the changes we have planned for next year,
but we should know by this fall if the han will
be lifted."
The most common shellfish organisms
in Hay Harbor are the hard clam and prob-
ably rhe soft shell clam, both of which live in
the sand, Mr. Lewis said.
At Carefree we make it easy to organize or Simply
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20 Fishers Is/and Gazette. August 1999
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Fishers Island Gazette Digital Photo
HEATHER FERGUSON
Heather Ferguson is the new owner of The Beach Plum, where she
has worked summers for the past 10 years. When sisters Allison Sargent
and Rachel Schmader decided to dose or sell the popular Island gifr
shop, Ms. Ferguson stepped in, "because I didn't want to see it end."
Ms. Ferguson plans to maintain the summery feel co her inventory
and said that sales have been brisk. She does not plan to give up her day
job, however, which is Assistant DirectorofCapital Givingat St. Mark's
School in Southboro, Mass. Ms. Ferguson works in the store Fridays
and Saturdays, and her staff works in the store the rest of the week.
~_...~!
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9'::.
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Everything beautiful for house and garden.
Giftwrap and shipping available.
The Village Green. Fishers Island, NY06390
(S16J 788.7731
R..
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August 1999. Fishers Isla"d Gazette 21
Green Thoughts
~
by LEILA HADLEY LUeE
I loved pinks in my childhood, and my
heart still lifts when I see their fringed
petals and smell the delicious c1ove-
vanilla spiciness of their scent.
Pinks (Dianthus plumarius), feathered
pinks, antique border pinks, grass pinks,
cottage pinks, garden pinks, snow pinks, call
them what you will, are ancient flowers that
belong to the Caryophyllaceae (kar-i-oh-fi-
lay'see-ee) family and to the same genus as
Sweet Williams and carnations.
The Greek botanist Theophrastus, who
first classified plants according to their form
and structure. called them "Dianthus," from
the Greek dios ("divine") and anthos
("flower"), an allusion to their heavenly fra-
grance and color.
In het book, 100 Flowers and How They
Got Their Names, Diana Wells tells us that
pink was not a specific color until after the
eighteenth century. and that this term almost
certainly came from the name of the flowers,
and not the other way around. In the eigh-
teenth century, flowers might be described as
pale red, light red, tose, blush, flesh-col-
ored-neverpink. Peggy Cornett Newcomb,
director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for
Historic Plants emphasizes this fact in her
article "Pinks. Gilliflowers, and Carnations.
the Exalted Flowers," in Twin Leaf. the
Center's 1998 annual journal and catalogue.
Pinks may have derived their name from
pinksten or pfingsten, the German name for
flowers that blossomed during the season of
the Christian feast day of Pentecost or
Whitsuntide. Diana Wells believes that pinks
came by their name ftom the Middle English
poinken, which originally meant to "pierce
holes in" leather or cloth, and then acquired
the meaning of decorating the edges-as we
do with pinking shears-like the jagged edges
of dianthus petals.
Pinks, which are generally white, pink or
varying shades of rose, can easily be recog~
nized hy their five flat notched-edged petals,
sometimes with a darker eye zone, flaring out
of a deep sack-like calyx. As perennials, grow-
ing from about 10 inches to 12 inches tall in
blossom, they clump and mat in evergreen
silvery blue-green mounds. They have slender
stems which bear narrow leaves that are oppo-
site each other at little swollen bulbous joints.
For edgings and groundcovers, these mat-
forming flowers are wonderfully appealing.
Pinks do well on Fishers Island. They
thrive in well-drained. well-aerated neutral
or slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Fertilize
them with a commercial organic liquid fertil-
izer with low nitrogen such as a 5-10-5 mix.
If you deadhead pinks regularly, rhey will
bloom from June though late summer. Dian-
thus plumarius and its fragrant and long. lived
hybrids form natural cushions that should be
sheared immediately after blooming. Using a
sharp pair of hedge shears, remove the old
flower stems and at least one-third of the
foliage. Don't prune in winter; to keep your
turrets of pinks looking neat, cut them back
in early spring.
For a selection of 7 scented and un~
scented pinks-Bridal Veil, Essex Witch,
Fair Folly, Gloriosa, Inchmery, Lady Granville
and Mrs. Sinkins @$5.50 per planr, conraCl
the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic
Plants, Monticello, PO Box 316,
Charlottesville, VA 22902. Customer ser-
vice (804) 984-9821, Fax (804) 977-6140.
For those gatdeners who truly delight as
I do in the decorative and charming qualities
of perennial pinks, sweet Williams and car-
nations, I can recommend unconditionally a
quanetly journal, The GlllifWwer Times, pub-
lished by the American Dianthus Society
(ADS), PO Box 22232, Sanra Fe, NM 87502-
2232. Conract Rand B. Lee, 505-438-7038.
Dues $15 year/U.S., $18 Canada/Mexico;
$20 elsewhere. A truly giving, brilliant, car.
ing man, encyclopedically knowledgeable
about every aspect of dianthus culture, Rand
B. Lee, founder and president of the Ameri-
can Dianthus Society, is the son of Manfred
B. Lee. who wrote fascinating mystery novels
under the pseudonym of ElleryQueen. Mem.
belShip in ADS will supply you with equally
fascinating dianthus-gardening reading. ac-
cess to plants and seeds, marvelous back
issues and information to assure you superb
dianthus displays.
Illustration courtesy of LHL
. Car-yophylleus from Clusius' Roriorum
plan(arum hlstorlo, 1601
Triplets!-Noah, Emma and Molly Cypherd
C01Jtjnu~dfrom pag~ 9
land in 1990 and mattied in 1995, have had
numerous weekend houseguests since the trip-
lets were born. "Mondays are a nightmare,
because the babies have been held all the time."
It's not long, however, before Molly,
Emma and Noah are back on schedule. They
wake up between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.. have
breakfast and are out the door by 8:30.9 3.m.
for a two~hour walk in their triple stroller.
Then it's back for lunch and an afternoon nap.
They are all in bed at the same time, 6:30-7
p.m. and sleep through the night.
"We used to have two sleeping in the
same crib but knew it was time to get separate
cribs when 1 heard a scream and went in to find
Emma sleeping soundly, but with her fist in
Noah's eye."
Multiple cribs, toys. diapers, clothes.
There is a lot to buy, but friends have been
generous. Liz and Harris Parsons had twins
Dec. 4 [1998] and have given many c10rhes ro
the Cypherds, as have friends and neighbors.
"Sometimes I'll look at an outfit. suddenly
realizing I had given it as a baby gift to a friend.
and say, 'I knew I liked this!,.'
Motherhood is probablytheone job where
no experience is required to be at the top of
your field. Gail Cypherd is so happy wirh their
triplets. it is difficult to understand some com-
ments made to her on the ferry. such as,
"Triplets-you poor thing."
But there is also (he funny reaction.
"Someone once pointed to Noah and said,
'How old is this one?' I gave his age and said
that the babies were triplets. The next ques-
tion, pointing to Emma, was, 'and how old is
this one?'
"They're rriplets,' 1 kept saying, 'They're
triplets!'"
, " r
0/1I/IIU flyJlirlY1
22 Pisllers Island Gazette. Augllst 1999
ISLAND HARDWARE
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Walsh Contracting Ltd., general managers
E~:iden<<:e of V :i~:ing~ on F .1. ~
I
f
I
Fishers Island has its share of rumors,
hut there is one from the 1950s that
is having some life breathed into it:
"Two schoolboys were out and about
on the Island one day when they came across
an ancient oak tree that had blown over
during a gale. In the roots, they found two
swords. one straight and the other curved.
Because the wooden handles were com-
pletely rotted away. they rook both swords
to the school workshop to fabricate new
handles.
"The other arrifaC[ they found was a
1 .... '"
\.
,- "r~'~ -}~ ~ ;~~-
7 #/-" iii
~Ie...~;.. .., Ai.lEfl'" " 3'~_
.
.2
..
"
g
.
g ~
:::J ~
~ - .""-~. iT "'., of. ~ilf.IMJ KIW;III1-' ...... "'e
1.1.. ~
: :~;r... - '''rF~- ""burl! ~e;~ .......~.., H
~ ,. _. _ ~~. Hi" r~t Il:t~ "'''' Ar "'. .r'...~... ,U
(1 .. - .. T1<fY.. $JI'U.) MA( N~" Tit .>>.H,'Li"..
. This depiction of a Viking ship appean on p.
II of Mr. Ferguson's 1986 book, Victoria and
Albert's History of Fishers Island.
conglomeration of meshed chain mail. This
last item is apparently in the possession of
one of the large mansion owners. The two
boys have borh moved off rhe Island and
their whereabouts is unknown."
The above rumor was recounted by
Charles B. Ferguson, president ofH.L. Fer-
guson Museum, who for some time, has
been in constant communication withJorgen
D. Siemonsen of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Me. Siemonsen got wind of the rumor
and is trying to track it down. His investiga-
tion is for the Danish Committee for Re-
search on NorseActivities in NorrhAmerica,
A.D. 1000-1500.
In one of his lengthy conversations
with Me. Ferguson, Me. Siemonsen asked if
there was a strong tidal current near the
Island. When the answer was affirmative,
Mr. Siemonsen said that since the Race is
the strongest current between the Bay of
Fundy in Maine and Hellgate near New
York City, it could fit a description in an
ancient Norse saga.
The rumor of swords and chain mail
buried under an oak tree is intriguing be-
cause that configuration is said to be an
indication of a Viking presence. Currently,
the only proven evidence of Viking activity
in the United States is a Norse coin found in
Maine, Mr. Ferguson said.
"Me. Siemonsen has a strong belief that
Fishers Island could well have been a Norse
landing site. You Fishers Island mansion
owners, please check your walls for a pos-
sible Norse chain mail decoration!" Me.
Ferguson said.
Communicate with Me. Ferguson c/o
the museum. Strict confidentiality is guar-
anteed.
...
<<<<..~
!:ij;.~
~
Fishers Island Gazette Digital Photo
. Pierce Rafferty (I) and Charlie Ferguson compare lobster claws at H.L. Ferguson museum's
opening reception July 2. Mr. Rafferty purchased his claw on the Internet because written on the
shell is, "18 1/2 Ibs. Fishen Island July 10, 1963." Mr. Rafferty's claw is currently in a closet at the
H.L. Ferguson Museum, and Mr. Ferguson's claw hangs on the wall of his Island home.
August 1999. Fisller.f Is/a"d Gazette 23
Expansion Plans
Re~ised for
Museu... Board
Due to a "magnificent" gift from an
anonymous donor, the Henry L. Fer-
guson Museum is planning to expand its
existing structure.
The current plans under review, how-
ever, arc different from ones published in the
museum newsletter and the civic association's
1998-99 annual report. The museum board
asked the Boston architectural firm of Alhert,
Righter and Tittman to alter its design to
make the museum more interactive for visi-
tors, with a special emphasis on children, in
addition to adding exhibition space.
The final plans are expected to incorpo-
rate sound conservation practices and meet
exacting standards of preservation, exhibi-
tion and storage of the museum's holdings.
. . .
Children's Programming
The Fishers Island Library and Henry L. Fergu-
son Museum have joined forces this summer to bring
children more fun and excitement in science, nature
and historical sea life activities.
Typical ofthis new energy was a Wildlife Detec-
tive program planned for Aug. 7. Children were to
receive detective kits to discover some of Fishers
Island's greatest treasures along museum trails.
Volunteers are greatly appreciated to assist
with activities. For more library program information,
call Cynthia Riley. library project director. at 788-
7178 or 788-7362. For more information about the
museum's children's activities, call Alicia Hesse-
Cleary at 788-7 r 51.
Contest of the Claws
I
l
Pierce Rafferty was searching the
Internet for anything ro do with Fishers
Island this spring, when he came upon a
lobster claw, which he eventually pur-
chased for $18 atan on-line auction. "Less
than the price of a lobster dinner," said
Me. Rafferty, with an obvious nod to the
credibility of his purchase.
Charlie Ferguson, with a different
kind of skepticism, challenged Me.
Rafferty to a Contest of the Claws to see
which claw was bigger. Me. Ferguson said
his claw, which alone was said to have
weighed 13 Ibs" was caughr off Block
Island and given ro his father some 60
years ago.
Which claw won? You be the judge.
The official Contest of the Claws phoro is
at left.
24 Fishers Islal.d Gazelle. August 1999
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,\ugusI1999. Fishers lslalld Gazelle 25
A Motl.er's Day
al Su......er Ca...p
~
by KRYSlA BEREDAY BURNHAM
Some people think that lndepen.
dence Day marks the stan of sum-
mer on Fishers Island. In fact, for a
growing corps of baby boomers with young
children, the day after the fanfare is when the
fun really begins.
That day is the long-awaited start of the
Island People's Project (lPP) summet day
camp. Legions of young parents practically
break out the champagne at about this time
to celebrate a significant improvement in
their summer sanity. What could be better
for their children than a half-day program of
games, sports, and arts and crafts? What
better opportunity for the wee generation to
socialize with their own kind? The tots will
be all over this, right?
Wrong.
At least, not if you're my tots, who, bless
them, must be the most willful, contrary, ill-
mannered babes on the Island. No, the uni-
versr, as my son might say.
It is Mon. July 5, and with streamers still
on the bikes from the July 4'h parade, and the
American flag still in its holder by the front
door, we leave the house and drive to Fishers
Island School to register for IPP day camp.
Over the din of our new baby's cries-
alas, at seven weeks old, he is still too green to
enter IPP-J have this "conversation" with
my children:
"I don't wanna go!" starts in my son, age
6, at a lofty decibelleve\.
"Neither do 1," chimes in his sister, age4.
"Why are you always forcing us to do
things," whines the elder, "when you know
perfectly well alii want to do is play my CD.
ROM at Grandma's?"
To this impeninence, I try to bring them
around with myoid lecture aboUl, "The
Imponance of Stretching Our Limits (this
morning J must heed myown advice, because
they are surely beginning to S(retch mine)."
"Will we get a sundae at Topper's if we
go?" asks my daughter.
T aday I'll answer yes to anything. So,
somewhat softened by this palliative as we
arrive at school, my daughter agrees to go
insidc. My son still screeches epithets at me
from the car as we walk away in an attempt to
lure him out of the blue Colt. Fearing aban-
donment, he bursts out of the car, trailing
noisily behind.
The first person we see is a beefy, grin-
ning young man with a dark buzz cut stand- plan with my group leaders, and one right
ing at the school doors to welcome his flock. after the kids leave, when we review how the
After we say hello and fill out a few forms, we day went."
learn that this is Clint Arizmendi, the pro- Although the counselors themselves are
gram director. generally younger than they've been in the
"Hey, buddy, love your Pokemonshirt," past, the results of this attention to "counselor
he says to my son, whose cynical smirk melts management" are palpable. The counselors
into a smile, in spite of himself. arc cheerful and polite, and appear genuinely
There arc a few clingy moments in the committed to their jobs and confident of
meantime, but Clintseamlesslyleads us to the their contribution to the IPP program.
waiting counselors. He introduces my son to At noon on that first day, I swing up to
Mike, whose short, shaggy hair has been dyed the bowling alley in (he blue Colt. With a
a brilliant shade of ochre. In awe, I stand by as measure of trepidation, I join the steady stream
.k h ,.. .. (~I 'k ,,-..., f h ' . d II h .
MI e,.te pICture 0 ca m, ta cs my,son ~ 0 parents wove arflve to co ect t clr
h1:",d. Th~ywalk dow~the s~reet ~o join their--..~~ldren~Scanning the scene, I see my two
outdo~ grou~neit~er ~nc s~Eing tq~k~s.~lt.li~firew()rks out of the building's
back. \ \ L l-.:. :3;::::d~le do~"'j\s the~ both tty to jump onto
Quicklyand without fuss, Cli1iiseizes the my' torso, l'1taggerJllu~der the weight of their
d. -L_ f ~ -- b"~ ~ ..,
moment an p'asses tne care 0 my rour.year-..........o VIOUS ~y.... ~
old to a tall bl~~teen namedCh"'arlotte. ~ My' daugllter....holds ue., a sock puppet,
"Cool hair clips," Ch;;lOtte...i~~,~ega"ntl~P?~ted with f;athers for hair and
effecrively hypnotizing my daughter, whos~a pipccleaner :rnilc~r son h'ands me a sheet
morning ritual of dressing is more e1aborat~ of,co~d..rap~~(~erving-m~ 'ray of
and demanding that that of all the Spice gi~l~ suc~lent..l~s' d'oeu~es. Onoll;the nagc, a
I ~,- - ~_\
put together. ~ wondrous arrangement of balsa wood pieces
Widl nothing left to do, I thank.Clint, indifferentshape~isgluedtoforma-awh}.s..
who is already besieged by another,tn~ious exactly? ~
mother with her several appendagesl , nMom~lY!jsqu.eals the artist pointing to
"See you at noon," he call~cheerfully H.1soeut~e!iThis ihheemperor, and these are
over his shoulder. N' ;h: hret!s;a~JJ~itis the castle, and this is the
The reporter in me kicks ,in -as 1 wonde ~1:J:l.i.~t.,h;~e;ou~fbecause they stole some-
h h lPP · t ".m. . · '~."d.. h " . k d ..
ow t e summer program can run t liS Ullllg. n t e emperor IS na e .
~, .. ~ .~... ,.... II'
smoothly with such a relatlvelx~small staff. }- ow could I have missed that?
Upon further investigation~jle~~ ;hat C. 111rt . '~Mcf~J~ I love IPP! Can I come back
. lid' ~ ,,,~,,.... 1.1, ' ,I U ~. ,.. h h.
IS a recent co ege gra uate Wltutsuustantla a ~morrow. e cups.
experience in teaching Ind cou~seiing Yb\~?riiiTt1.~d~ughter gives Charlotte a
children, particularlythtsewitl1sp~iaJ.{1~Ji1lJl.coniplilito~s peck on the cheek that tells me
This makes him sl~p;.tmely <lll-~I!ficit~t',~y t1]Sy_have sh\red some secret during the past
mind, to calm the jitt~ry nerves Jf?arc:nt~ and--;-hree hour~
children. I' ff. ~~\ I unleash"n~,)': human pups to run ofT
As a rookie counselor for IPP last su~", some of that IPP",'xcitement on the jungle
mer, Clint obs.e~ed enough tocome up~i~H~ gym. As I watch rhem climb and slide, I cast
....
some innovative ideas for managing this an eye toward the snoozing baby in the car.
year's program. Since the IPP summer team is so good at this
"1 hold meetings twice daily," he said, stuff, I wonder if they would consider tod-
"one in the morning when I go over the day's dler day camp for the year 200m
. Pre.K science
field trip to Brick-
yard VVoods, (back
I-r) Nicholas Gor-
don, Christopher
Lamb, Dominick
Gordon; (front J.r)
Krystal Murray,
VVhitney Edwards,
Katharine Evans,
Jennifer Edwards,
Sarah Lamb,
Danielle Murray.
26 Fishers !slmldGazette.August 1999
~~Y:': J
( OJ
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UWRENCE & MEMORIAL
WELCOMES DR. JOHN IIAND!
Lawrence &
Memorial is pleased
to welcome Dr. John
Hand and his wife, Mary
Anne, to the Fishers
Island community. For
many years, the Hospital
has been a valued off-
Island partner in caring
for the Island's emergency
medical needs. The
presence of a full-time
physician will improve
the quality of on-Island
care and the coordination
of care between Islanders
and hospital services.
Office hours at the Island
Health Project are Mon.-
Sat., 9 a.m. to noon and
Wednesday, _
-------
6-7 p.m. -"
Island Health Project Office: 516-788-7244
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital. (860) 442-0711
365 Montauk Avenue New London, cr 06320
1
For a FREE copy of tilt' IIt'W L&M Mt'diml Staff Directory, call (860) 442-0711, ext. 2028
Allglld 1999. Fishers 1s1a1ld Gazette 27
A Nigl.t at The
Pequot Inn
Mention "The Pequot," and what
comes to mind? Drinks, pool, mu-
sic, food...a rite of passage for evcry Island
generation, or perhaps a place where hus-
bands and wives first met. But a satisfactory
night's lodging?
When Carolyn and Brian McDonough
of New York City happened (() mcntion at
the Island's July 4th celebration rhar they
were spending the weekend on Fishers Island
and were staying at The Pequot, they very
nearly had their 15 minutes of fame. A num-
berof people within earshot spun around and
said, "You're staying at The Pequot?! You're
kidding! What's it like?"
Without hesitation, the McDonoughs
said they were quite satisfied. "!t's rustic,
clean and exceeded our expectations. The
room is very well put together, and there is a
beautiful quilt on the bed. We didn't test the
services of the concierge, however," the
McDonoughs said.
Thecouplewas visiting Steve and Kry-sia
Burnham, who live in Istanbul, and who
recently had their third child. Having been
to Fishers before, but not wanting to in-
trude on their friends, the McDonoughs
decided to give The Pequot a try.
"The shower was terrific," Ms.
McDonough said. "Definitely four stars-.or
rather, four Islands-for the water pressure
and rhe food."
Mr. McDonough thought The Pequot
had a familiar back house, upstairs rooming
house feel-and he knows something about
lodgings. He was recently project manager
for the renovation of the old Peninsula Hotel
at 55th St. and 5th Ave. in New York City.
"One of the last great hotels to be renovated,"
he said.
There are seven rooms at The Pequot,
each with a shower. The cost is around $85/
night and check-in is at the bar. As to
occupancy, manager Paul Giles said, "We
can be full one weekend and empty the next.
There's no way to predict."
It seems that the only complaint was the
bug zapper. "We had been warned about the
loud music, so we changed from room one to
room five, but the sound of the bug zapper
was terrible. I think the music would have
been better," Ms. McDonough said, moder-
ating her criticism when she grinned, "But
we had maid service! I was so surprised. I
didn't expect that."
Ms. McDonough is a wellness consult-
ant and a certified hypnotherapist. She has a
web site, www.desktopmeditations.com.de-
signed to be used as an "oasis of reliefin a high
tech world."
Perhaps the same can now be said of the
upstairs rooms at The Pequot Inn.
Fishers Island Gazette Photo
. Patrons of The Pequot Inn are more famil-
iar with the side entrance than the front, but
recent overnight guests said they used the
front porch rocking chairs for a different kind
of "Rockin' at The Pequot."
Annual Peter D.
Sanger Memorial Sea
Stretcher Marathon
Under 12
Robert Bailey 6:25
Meris Tombar; 6:53
Over 12
Peter Talbot 5:55
Sarah Bean 8:55
3-mile
Chris Johnson 19: 16
Jessica Bentz 24:47
5-mile
Scott Reid 35:50
Catherine Goodrich 34:50
8-mile
Gerrit Goss 52:08
Alexandra Rutherfurd 71 :37
~onp'29
A Mystery No-vel is Born...
Cordelia Biddle and Steve Zettler have received advance rave reviews fOr their new book, The
Crossword Murder, by Nero Blanc. The longtime writers, who have been both summer and
yearround Island residents wrote a letter to Gazette readers giving a glimpse into how this novel
was created.
As you know, Steve (or Nero) and I do
the lion's share of our writing on Fishers. We
revel in the quiet, the slow drift of the seasons,
the manner in which the Island can be part of
the greater world and then, so
suddenly, be removed.
During the winters we
spent here, we developed a
dense and inward routine:
feed the birds, walk into the
village for the newspaper, re-
turn home reading (or not,
depending on weather and
ferry), write, watch the snow
fall, worry whether the crows
are hogging the smaller birds'
food, continue to work and.
then, before dusk begins to
settle. rakea long walk around
North Hill.
It was there that the idea for The Cross-
word Murder alighted in our brains. We are
crossword addicts and were searching for
something to write together, having grown
bored with conversations such as: "I don't
care abour the problems you're having with
your subplot; I want to talk about my diffi-
culties with mine." (When we're working on
separate projects, we tend not
to hear each other.)
The novel was fun to
write: Steve is terrific with plot:
I play with words and emo-
tion. We have daily story con-
ferences, then go off and roil
on our different tasks (having
two protagonists helps as I al-
ways begin from the woman's
point of view and Steve from
the guy's.)
When one of us finishes a
chapter, the other edits and re-
writes. That way we get to sur-
prise and amuse one another. And it's interest-
ing to see how our two very different styles
have become one voice. The next Nero Blanc
Crossword Mystery (I'm Blanc) is entitled
Two... Down and will be published Aug. 2000.
The Berkley Publishing Group
A member of Penguin Putnam Inc.
28 Fishers Is/alld Gazette. August 1999
FISHER,}~ND CI~ASS0elft: ION
lr!i'~x 4~ , '1h~rs Island NY 06390
-"'ief.8o,.F.ax . 516-788-7029
Nancy Hunt. President
Stephanie Hall and John Spofford, Vice Presidents
Board Members
Sally Cashel, Stephanie Hall, Lee Hanley, Nancy Hunt
Speedy Mettler, Carol Ridgway, John Spofford
Albert Stickney, Mike Imbriglio, Sarah Malinowski
Louisa Evans, Exofficio
The Fishers Island Civic Association exists to promote the
economic, civic and social welfare of the people of
Fishers Island. Quarterly meetings provide forums for
discussions of Island issues and reports from Island
organizcltions.
Annual dues: Individual $10; Family $15
Subscribing $25; Supporting $50
Sustaining $100
GADA'S
FUEL AND SERVICE
STATION
TEXACO" Montauk Avenue
Fishers Island NY 06390
GAS 581.6-788-7343
parKplugs
"Your Full Line Service Station"
l"Se~ing Fishers.lsland for OVer 35tyellrs"
\.~pUtl.} I U__IL.
Official New York Inspection Station
I nSpCAeR~;i~~nce Insooi L
GENERAL rREPAIRS
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
Tyre Sp.r.\Ii('~
Authorized TEXACO~ Dealer
Motor Oil and Related Products
nip~el
Authorized AMERADA HESS" Dealer
AutomaticjWatchdog Fuel Oil Service
Joe Perry, Manager, 788.7755 (Emergency Only)
~
.-,;.'
<
e'(S Island lit.
. ~ I~.
~ F.I. Electric ~
F.I. Telephone
F.!. Water Works
FIDCO can and
will revoke your
right to drive past
the gate house.
SLOW DOWN-30~!
A community service announcement from FIDCO (Fishers Island Development Corp.)
August 1999 . Fishers Island Dautte 29
F.t. Utility Co.
Fishers Island is online. The Fishers Is-
land Telephone Co. inaugurated its
FISHNET service shortly aftet July 4" and
by July 23, 45 custometS had signed on.
Previously, the only way Island comput-
ers could connect to the Internet was with an
Internet service and an additional per minute
long distance telephone charge. Now, for
$39.95 a month, customers get 200 hours
online per month and no extra long distance
charges. Businesses pay a higher rate.
The Telephone Co. has set up an Island
homepage on the Internet providing access
to topics such as education/academic, health,
medicine, news. business and investment,
entertainment and spans, just for kids, travel,
weather and parental control.
The home page also leads to information
about Fishers Island, Island services and tech-
nical support. There is a limited description
about the Island and the telephone company
and its services. Surfers will also find the ferry
schedule and Island weather.
"The homepage is designed to make the
world available to Fishers Island, not Fishers
Island available to the world," said a tele-
phone company spokesperson.
FISHNET has the advantage of speed.
Rapid Internet access is worth a premium,
said a number of customers. This speed is a
result of the Island's Internet service provider
(151)) set. up. which is as follows:
Quest, an ISP in Atlanta, Ga., sends a
signal to Hartford viaA T&T telephone lines.
The signal then travels from Hanford, on
Somhern New England Telephone Co. lines,
to a dish atop the Groton police rower. From
there the signal is microwaved to the spot ofT
Munnatawket Beach where power arrives by
underground cable. The last leg of the jour-
ney is on fiber optic cable recently strung
from a small brick building at the beach to
the telephone company's central switching
office on the first Aoor of the F.I. Utility Co.
building.
The cost? $50,000 to purchase the dish,
$3.600/yr. to rent space on the police tower
and $3,000/month for use of the telephone
lines.
The cost of equipment and installation is
high for an Island this size. and the telephone
company must recover its investment. It there-
fore estimated usage very conservatively and
set rates accordingly. If usage is higher than
forecast, the company can and will cut the
rates, said William C. Ridgway III.
The Fishers Island Utility Co.. Ine. is
ready for Y2K, bm is the rest of the
world?
"Ask about Y2K on FishetS Island, and
everything has been checked om and is ready
ro go Jan. 1, 2000," said Tom Doheny,
president of the Fishers Island Utility Co.,
Ine. "But it will only work if the power
companyin Groton isO.K. They say they are
fine, but things will only work if Northeast
Utilities is O.K. They say they are fine if the
New England Power Authority has its act
together and so on and so on."
The telephone company has already
complied with notification by its switch ven-
dor and billing company to update software.
Concerned about Millstone re: Y2K?
A spokeswoman for Northeast Utilities
said the company checked Millstone's more
than 2,500 software applications, plus 3,800
embedded chips in 25,000 devices, and has
found that no transformers, fuses, switches,
circuit breakers or other electrical delivery
equipment was at risk for Y2K problems.
. . .
Men from the Fishers Island Utility
Co. worked around the clock for
nearly two weeks this spring to repair a seri-
ous East End power failure just in time for
Memorial Day weekend.
An underground cable kept shorting out
for several days beginning May 7, foiling the
utility company's every effort to maintain
power to about 20 homes past the Fishers
Island Club.
Workers laid a temporary power line
and took just 12 days to replace a mile of
defective 20-year-old underground cable
that ran from the former Hyland house to
the Scott house.
Area residents brought sandwiches and
soda to the
men who
worked from
sun-up to at
least 9 p.m.
and often
later. The
project was
supervised by
Fishers Is-
land Electric
Co. Superin-
tendent Tom
Lewis and
head line-
man Mark
Doty.
F .1. Ferry Dislrid
To Begin Sil-ver
Eel Conslrudion
The Fishers Island Ferry District (FIFD)
expects to begin construction at Silver
Eel Pond "right after" Labot Day.
The exit road will be temporarily closed
while FIFO replaces the bulkhead and dock,
and traffic will be re-routed to exit past the
public tennis courts. Freight operations will
move permanently to Building 209, and later
this year, the ferry district manager's office
will move similarly to the ferry annex (which
was previously the Coast Guard station and
before that the Ft. Wright firehouse).
After construction, the sidewalk, on
which cars currently park, will be cleared for
pedestrians. and there will be about seven
spots fot parallel parking. Accotding to FIFD
Chairman Chip duPont. 30-minute parking
on the new dock will be srricrlyenforced, and
cars left on-Island over the winter must be
parked at the airport or they will be towed
there. A parking lot between and behind the
ferry annex and Building 209 will be created
for the rest of the cars.
AI Gordon Photo
. Gerrit Goss, Sea Stretcher Marathon win-
ner, 8-mile time, 52:08. Alexandra Rutherfurd
won the ladies division in 71 :37.
AI Gordon Photo
. Winners of the 1999 Peter D. Sanger Memorial Sea Stretcher Marathon, and
Kandi Sanger and Dave Denison. See p. 27 for names of winners.
30 f'i.~"ers Island Gaz.ette . Allgllst 1999
ftACTING. LID
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Fishers Islan 6~188-7778
Phone 516_788-7776
Fax 51
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Y ouog Boaters
Safety <:ourse
Children between the ages of 10 and 18
are required to obtain a New York State
Operator's Certificate if they wish to operate
a boat in New York waters without being
accompanied by an adult. To obtain this
certificate, youngsters must complete the
New Yark Y cung Boaters Safety Certificate
Course. ''it is strongly recommended that all
young boaters takt: this course since it provides
an excellent background in boating safety. "
The Fishers Island Civic Association is
offering this course in conjunction with the
Fishers Island Harbor Committee and the
Town of Southold.
Dates: Fri. Aug. 13, Sat. Aug. 14
Location: Fishers Island firehouse
Time:
Fri. 7 p.m.-IO p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m.-noon
Instructors: Elbe Burr
Luis Horn
Mike Conroy
Cost: $20. Please make checks
payable to the Fishers [s-
land Civic Association
Register at the firehouse the evening of
the course.
Laura Horning Graduates
Laura Horning graduated with high
honors June 8 from Doherty Memo-
rial High School. Worcester, Mass. A
member of the National Honor Soci.
ety. Laura was one of 21 students out
of a class of 2S8 to receive high hon-
ors. Laura is the daughter of Gail and
George Horning and the granddaugh-
ter of Kay and Edwin Horning.
August 1999 . Fishers lsla"d Gazelle 31
Announ~eIDenls
Engagements
Polly Collins and Dr. Matthew M. Heeney.
A Sept. 11 wedding is planned on Fish-
ers Island.
Michelle Beaudoin and Matthew
Edwards. A September 24 wedding is
planned in Groton, Conn.
Nina Ellsworth and Christopher Sanger.
A July 15, 2000 wedding is planned in
Grafton, Vt.
Kelly Ann Cope and Brinton Phelps
Payne. A Spring 2000 is planned in Ft.
Worth, Tex.
Weddings
Lindsey Goldberg and Fred Jones, Feb.
20, St. Thomas, V.I.
Nancy Hall and Jeff Bunting, April 24,
Tuckerstown, Bermuda.
Robin Belliveau and Ian Macleod, May 1,
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
Melissa Vicencio and Will Peishoff, May
15, Charlestown, Mass.
Alison Ramsey and Andrew Rutherlurd,
May 5, San Francisco, Cal.
Sue Thomas and Morris Macleod, June
5, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
Elaine Munson and David Zanghetti, June
19, So. Dartmouth, Mass.
Lea Andreasen and Charles Parsons,
June 19, Fishers Island.
Stacey Smith and Stett Trippe, June 19,
Hamilton Parish, Bermuda.
Jennifer Spofford and Penn Sanger, June
26, Fishers Island.
Michelle Libby and Rob Hallagan, June
26, Fishers Island.
Jean Kindred and Charles Wilmerding,
June 26, Millbrook, N.Y.
Births
Graham Danahy Shannon, Sept. 3, 1998
to Elizabeth (McDonough) and Philip
Shannon,Avon,Conn.
Eliza Tremaine Trevor, Nov. 14, 1998 to
Eugenie Chester McPherson and John
B. Trevor IV, Providence, R.I.
Josie Annabel Strife, Jan. 15 to Rachel
and Peter Strife, Waccabuc, N.Y.
Carter Jones Drowne, Feb. 9 to Lisa and
Rhodes Drowne, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Buford Scott ReidJr., Mar.11 to Kate and
Scott Reid, Lawrence & Memorial Hos-
pita[, New London, Conn.
Merryn Ross, Mar. 12 to Carolyn
(Stepanek) and Edward Ross,
Somerville, Mass.
Ryan Gengras Albanesi, Mar. 28 to Jen-
nifer(McDonough) and David Albanesi,
Hartford, Conn.
James Halsey Spruance, Apr. 27 to
Samantha (McLean) and Halsey
Spruance, Wilmington, Del.
Philip Riegel Weymouth, May 6, to Eliza-
beth Kirk and P.B. Weymouth III, New
York City.
McKenzie Walker Yerkes, May 7 to Darcey
and Nick Yerkes, Boston, Mass.
Jonathan Duncan Stuckert, May 8 to Lee
and Jon Stuckert, Fishers Island.
Samuel Bereday Burnham, May 9 to
Krysia (Bereday) and Stephen
Burnham, Istanbul, Turkey.
Elinor duPont Sachs, May 18 to LeDee
(Kidd) and Bill Sachs, Dallas, Tex.
Adam John Lusker Jr., May 23 to Lisa
(Faulkner) and Adam Lusker,
Frontenac, Kan.
William Evan Swenson, June 1 to Lori
(Edwards) and Todd Swenson,
Weatogue, Conn.
Anne Hunter Packard, June 4 to Louise
(Burnham) and George Packard, Bos-
ton, Mass.
Colby Nelson Gates, Fisher Hall Gates
and Clio Morgan Gates, June 13 to Jill
and John Gates, Cambridge, Mass.
Charles Whitmore Yerkes, July 3 to
Kimber and Harry Yerkes, New York
City.
John Phillips Knight, July 7 to Edle Miller
and Justin Knight, Boston, Mass.
Brent Christopher Geist, July 30 to
Susan (Pankiewicz) Geist and Chris
Geist, Wallingford, Conn.
CATCH THE BOATING SPIRIT THIS SUMMER!
. mUL 1oJE/',fHERC,gAR' LIFE: JACKE:1"S
~ ", ,
516-788-7528
OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 8:00 - 4:30
SATURDAY 8:00 -4:30
"IN SEASON"
32 Fishers Is/and Gazette. AlIgust/999
John Weil Photo
Fishers Island School class of 1999 (I-r) Jonathan Connell, Derek Scroxton and William Gill at
western tip of Fishers Island. Race Rock Lighthouse, rear right.
Three Graduate frOIO F.t. S<<:l.ool
Derek Scroxton graduated from Fish-
ers Island School in June and. by
doing so, has upheld a family tradition. He
represems the third generation of his family
on Fishers Island and follows in the footsteps
of both his parems and his uncle, who also
graduated from the school.
Derek remembers emering school here
at the age of four. He now plans [0 aHend
State University of New York in Delhi, where
he will study to be a veterinary technician.
Derek is the son of Island residents Ed and
Cheryl Scroxton.
William Gill, a magnet student from
Mystic. entered Fishers Island School in ninth
grade. He enjoyed the small classes and "lots
of individual attention." Will plans to attend
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in
Troy. He will study information technology.
specifically, the use of computers in industry.
Jonathan Connell entered Fishers Is-
land School this year. A magnet studem from
New London, he thought the small classes
were a plus and found it interesting to come
to school every day by fetry. Jonathan plans
to attend Norwich University. in Norwich.
Vt. where he will study history. He hopes to
pursue a career in the military.
Ed Rokita Photo
. Fishers Island School magnet students and friends are well into the Hawaiian spirit as they arrive
at Silver Eel Pond June 5 to pick up Fishers Island students and friends forthe school's annual boat
dance for grades 7-12. For four hours, the group. plus chaperones, ate, danced and cruised. Thanks
to the Ferry District and Mike Conroy for their help.
Third Quarter Honor Roll
1998-1999
High Honor Roll (93-100)
Ethan Bean, Sarah Bean
Randy Brothers, Sage Farrar
William Gill, Derek Schlender
Darren Seel
Honor Roll (87.92)
Ryan Brothers, Belinda Colgan
Brendon Conroy, Matthew Crupi
Sarah Evans, Dragan Gill, Cory Hollis
Martin Karpel, Graham Kuzia
Adam McDermott, Roseann Randall,
Clare Rowland, Jane Sawyer, Michael Scace
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From KATHY KOEHNEN
F. I. School Superintendent:
The media has portrayed students across
New York State as struggling. with
more than 50 percent "failing" the new Grade
4 English Language Arts Assessment. Not so
at Fishers Island School. Seventy percent of
our students received a score of"3." and 30
percent received a "2." Not one child re-
ceived a "1," the level at which remediation is
required.
Studenrsin Grades 3, 5, 7, 9and 11 rook
the California Achievement Test April 27.
Scores for our district show that students in
grades 3 and 5 are a year or more above their
grade placement in reading. language and
math. Students in gtades 7, 9 and 11 topped
out the test at 12.9 grade equivalent in read-
ing and math.
Fishers Island School
CalUornla Achievement Test Results
Administered to Grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11
April 27, 1999
By Grade Equivalent
Reading
5.7
6.2
12.9
12.9
12.9
Grade 3
Grade 5
Grade 7
Grade 9
Grade 11
By National Percentile
Readina
72 0;0
54%
83%
85%
820",
Grade 3
Grade 5
Grade 7
Grade 9
Grade 11
EI.T.A. Awards
The Fishers Island T cachets' Associa-
tion (FIT A) this year awarded scholar-
ships to the school's graduating seniors.
William Gill received a $500 Scholar-
ship award and Derek Scroxton and
Jonathan Connell each received School &
Community Service awards of$1200 and
$300 respectively.
The T cachets' Association also awarded
a Project Explore scholarship this spring en-
abling a group of students to go on a
whirewarer rafting expedition. Science
teacher Carol Giles, five other chaperones
and 20 students rode a IG-mile run of class 4/
5 rapids [see note] on the Dead River in
Maine. They also camped overnight and
hiked along The Appalachian Trail.
"We were excited to be able to provide
$1144 to help create such a memorable evem
for our students," said language teacher
Kathleen Barrett. "This year FIT A was able
to provide a total of $3144 in educational
and recreational programs for our students.
Lanauaae
5.6
7.8
12.9
12.9
12.9
Math
5.7
7.2
Total
Batterv
5.6
6.7
Lanauaae
650;0
59%
Total
Batterv
75%
60%
Math
83%
700;0
95%
87%
81 %
We are very proud of that!"
Ed note: Rapids are classified from one [0 seven
in degree of difficulty. Niagara Falls is a seven.
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AuguSII999 . Fislters Island Gazene 33
Fourth Quarter Honor Roll
1998-1999
High Honor Roll (93-100)
Sa..ah Bean, Randy B..othel'"'S
Sage Fa..ra.., William Gill
Clare Rowland, De..ek Schlender
Darren See I
Honor Roll (87-92)
Ethan Bean, Ryan Brothel'"'S
Belinda Colgan, Brendan Conroy
Matthew Crupi, Katie Doty, Sarah Evans
Dragan Gill, Cory Hollis, Martin Karpel
Graham Kuzia, Joseph Lamperelli
Matthew Neilson, Roseann Randall
Stuart Rowland, Michael Scace
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34 Fishers Is/mId Gazette. August /999
Bebind ,be Sc::ene~
By ADAM McDERMOTT
I r was a long, long road to thewarmspring
evening of May 28, the night a handful
of Fishers Island School students took to the
stage in our much anticipated performance
of the Broadway musical. Godspell. After the
makeup had been caked on, costumes ad-
justed and last minute lines recited, there was
nothing left before us but a director full of
apprehension, and the audience.
The lights dimmed, the curtains opened
and in the blink of an eye it was over. The
mission impossible had been achieved: An al-
most Aawless performance.
After the show, I sat down on one of the
prop couches and reminisced about how re-
hearsals weren't always so filled with peace,
love and hatmony, as the play would have one
believe. The thespian community at school was
nor roo enthusiastic with the overwhelming
amount of Bible~banging antics throughout
the play.
I can still heat yelling bet\'leen the director
and actors over how each scene should be
played. Endless hours of repetitious rehearsing
and singing sent the cast home with weary
thoughts of the challenging performance ahead.
It wasn't until the last week of rehearsals that
we were able ro transcend the challenges of
. (I-r) Adam McDermott as Steven (Jesus) and Matt Neilson as David (Judas) may have a future
in show business after the Fishers Island School's successful May 28 production of Godspell.
Pictured in the background are Katie Bloethe and Cory Hollis.
each act and finally run through thewhole play minds of cast members is, "What are we going
in one afternoon. to do next year?"
As evidenced by (he performance, the
technical aspect of this play surpassed all other
school productions, incorporating wireless
microphones, strobe lights and pinpoint-accu-
rate spotlights. The only question left in the
Adam McDennott, a Fishers /swnd School se-
nior, is an aspiring writer and attended a writers
institute this summer for high school students at
Pace University.
-.-..I~.-'.
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W:~e Jequot ~1t1t
+ We Work to Save the Trees and Environment +
Donald J. Falvey, Pres.
P.O. Box 699, 237 RI. 80
Killingworth CT 06419
Mon. thru Fri.. 4:30 p.m. to close
Sat. & Sun.. 12:30 p.m. to close
Office 860-663-1695
Fax 860-663-2719
516-788-7246
EDWARDS LOBSTERS
"The Best Tails in Town"
. G.B. ERn.
APPRAISAL COMPANY
PO Box 167
Fishers Island NY 06390
516-7BB-7645
Beeper 888-602-0770
A real estate appraisal company
serving Fishers Island
NY STATE CERTIFIED
CHRIS & TRUDI EDWARDS
Delivery Available
Gregory B. Erb .860-536-0721
Located at Mystic Shipyard
I ((:J1A~~JIJFJIJE]])ln
NEEDLEPOINT: Find Five Minutes
Peace with hand-painted needlepoint
designs of landmarks, ornaments,
custom belts, etc. Visit The Beach
Plum to find samples and kits for
sale. Jane Ahrens, 7aB-7a65/July;
203-966-4026/other times.
Fishers Island Clothing Co. shirts
are in stock in four exciting colors:
Snapdragon, Pelican, Little Boy Blue
& Garden Green. Men's and
Women'sstylesare 100%cotton pin-
point oxfords with Island embroidery
on the pocket. Call 516-788-7116.
DRIVER WANTED TO SELL Good
Humor Ice Cream on Fishers Island
from our vending truck. Keep truck
with you at all times. Earn $725-
$1125 per week. Apply now. Call
Mon.-Sat. 9 8.m.-3 p.m. only. 203-
366-2641.
E I. III
Xp etlve......
For the July 30-Aug. I week-
end, F.I could not receive in~
coming phone calls, except
from the AT&T carrier. Rea~
son: AT&T switching problem.
W. -pICKETT FEJvd
<\. A GIFT SHOP C'./:
ON THE VILLAGE GREEN
~I~~~~~~~~I
fishers island, ny . 516-788-7299
not JUjt WinJowj clclC
A Window
CLEANING SERVICE
860-739-4191
4 years on Fishers Island
references available
Niantic, Connecticut
Bonded & Insured
1I11ave1
.....KAN Agency~
~ESS ~
-
flReO<flse"II",V..
Travelers Checks
Airline Tickets
Cruises
Hotels
Tours
EiW
11 Bank St.
New London
1-800-545-9154
August 1999 . Fi.fhen Islalld Gazette 35
~ KaIamian's
fIJl 'e RUIl Shop.o<
--I
"'l'.~
(I"eIitr & ~
SOl'tito ~
Si"to 111~S ,
Wools. Broadloom. Patterns. Berbers. Sisals
FINE HANDKNOTTED ORIENTAL RUGS
Cleaning .Repairs . Binding. Serging
860-442-061 S
963 Bank St.. New London
SPORTS MASSAGE
NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY
Mena Morgan, L.M.T.
Houscealls by appointment
516-788-7387
Lie. #0004680
.Oaily pick-up and delivery at the Fishers Island ferry.
. HAND FINISHED LINENS.
. SHEETS, TABLECLOTHS, ETC.
. ALTERATIONS
. SUEDES & LEATHERS
. FUR & WARDROBE STORAGE
. WEDDING GOWNS CLEANED
AND PRESERVED
. SHOE REPAIR
. DRAPERIES, DECO.FOLDED
Specializing in Fine Garment Care
DRY CLEANERS
442-5316
QiC 'I~'
2 Montauk Ave., New London
(Corner of Bank and Montauk)
Call to arrange charge account and personal laundry bag.
Allow Us To
'ltrrange"
Your Insurance Program
ATLANTIC Insurance, Inc.
Waterford CT' 860-447-]]54
36 Fishers Islalld Gazette . Augu.~t 1999
front Page Photo Conte~t
>iERMAN RESTAURANT GIA!lOW~ S t<~I~~
"l TOMS S(AHOR~ lAVi:RH !>HUll ~ATtI.
,TIC PIZZA Ct<RISTQf>I.IlRS JOl<1SU\'\I
m:LE JOSH SULLYS CAFE HOPltitlSUJflES I
1CfRS MARINA S~IWI::AS DOC~ 9ElllUl'tE$
NORMARK DOVLES srr"PNS
I>.RGARIIAS 41DEGAEE HAU'SARl
Vol. 13 No.1
Vol. 13 No.2
Vol. 13 No.3
.
Vol. 13 No.4
The Fishers Island Gazette is holding a Front Page Photo Contest for the upcoming,
all-photo "Summer Scrapbook" issue to be published this fall.
The winning photo will appear on the cover of the Fall issue, and the runner-up photo will
appear on the back cover. Other outstanding photographs will be featured throughout the
issue. The photographer's name will be printed with each photograph that is published.
Send as many entries as you wish, but please print your name on the back of each picture.
On a separate piece of paper, please list your name, address, telephone number and a com-
plete description of your photograph including the date, place and identity of the
subject(s) with the correct spelling. By submitting a photograph to the Gazette, the pho-
tographer and the subject(s) are deemed to have consented to its publication.
If you would like your photographs returned, please enclose a stamped self-addressed
envelope with your entry. All photographs should be sent to Fishers Island Gazette, Box
573, Fishers Island NY 06390 and must be received by September 15, 1999.
(jood Luck!!
l1;'lHERSG' AZt-J 1 E
WAND 11
Box 573
Fishers Island NY 06390
FIRST CLASS
NONE C
fi,...~. ~
r*~"
'\.1.1-0,
'" ;"...
I~~
Ms Betty Neville
Soulhold Town Clerk
PO Box 1179
Soulhold, NY 11971
'~
YJ;/,hcnf g;'f>k/.f. /,-9
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
US POSTAGE
PAID
HARTFORD CT
PERMIT NO 945
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