HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 Vol 5 No 4 November
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FISHERS
ISLAND
Vol. 5, No.4
November, 1991
A Fishers Is/and Civic Association Publication
New Seastretcher Arrives
on Fishers Island
The new Seastretcher was chris-
tened on Fishers Island October 12, and
the boat is expected to be placed into serv-
ice in early November. Catherine Jens-
sen, coordinator of the ambulance squad,
christened the boat in a ceremony which
was attended by about 200 persons. In
addition, Father Paul Gaumond blessed
the boat.
The 42-foot fiberglass boat was built
by Duffy and Duffy of Brooklin, Maine at
a cost of $285,000. The boat was launched
October I. Fire Chief Tom Doherty, fire-
men Ernie Middleton and Mike Conroy
and F.r. Ferry captain Mark Easter piloted
the boat down from Maine leaving
Brooklin on the afternoon of October 4
and arriving at Fishers Island the following
afternoon.
"It handled absolutely perfectly,"
said Chief Doherty. "It helped that we
had nice weather on the way down."
5 ince the arrival of the am bulance
boat, fire department personnel have
been busy training on the new Seas-
tretcher.
"Everyone is very, very pleased
with it, with thewayithandlesanditsroomi-
ness," Chief Doherty said.
In addition to the cost of the beat,
installation of the electronics and new
medical equipment is costing $15,000. The
fire department was able to raise sufficient
money for the construction of the new
boat, but is still soliciting donations for the
accessory equipment. Chief Doherty said.
The old Seastretcher, which has
been in service for the past 15 years, has
already been put up for sale with an asking
price of $37,500. The fire department has
already received some bids, but they were
See Seastrdch.er on Page 2
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The new Seaslrelcher was unveiled during a cerenwl1yon October 12 a/the Fishers Is/and Yacht Club which
included a blessing by Father Paul Gaunwnd afOur LadyofGrace Church.
(Photo credits: DickEdward'i)
2 Fishers Island Gaz.ett~
To the Editors -
Every so often when the Big Club course record comes up,
I am reminded of a chat I had with Pcte Bostwick back in the mid-
50's, m the Racquet Club in New York City, after our hard game of
racquets. Our talk came round to Fishers Island, and his 63 which,
he was told by the pro at that time (not Alvaraz) was the course
record. "All his pUlts fell" as he put it. It is nice to hear that he was
followed by Messrs. Harmon aod Alvarez who tied him. Regret
you can't "look it up" since these things didn't seem to get as much
notice on Fishers Islaod then.
Yours Sincerely,
Harry Yerkes
Dear Editor,
I was born on Fishers Island, but we moved away when I
was two. Shortly afterwards the Family Children Services took me
from my mother and father - Larry and Pat. Sioce then, I moved
from foster home to foster home, aod then going on my own a
short number of year's ago at the age of sixteeo.
I believe I may still have relatives in or around Fishers
Island. I was hoping you could print this letter so they might get in
touch.
I am currently locked io a Georgia Prison for non-violent
offenses and I've oever felt so alooe in my life. If there is anyone
on Fishers Island who knows my mom or dad, or just someone who
wishes to write as a friend and share a smile from time to time.
Please write.
Respectfully yours,
Lee Richards
C.C.c.1. B-Dorm
]877 County Farm Road
Marietta, Georgia 30060
Gentlemen:
My wife and I wish to express our appreciation to the civics
groups who so energetically and enthusiastically helped restore
Fishers Island to normal after Hurricane Bob. The response was
immediate and overwhelming and is evidence of the quality of the
wonderf u] group of people who live on Fishers Island.
Sincerely yours, Nathan E. Saint-Amand
The Fishers Island Gazelle is a notjor-profit publication
sponsored by the Fishers Island Civic Association.
The Gazelle is published four times a year in February,
May, August, and November.
Editors; Dan and Sally Gordon
Associate Editors; Rick Moody and Rob White
Reporters; Ann Anthony, Mary Roberts, Carol Ridgway,
Annie Burnham and David Burnham
Sports Editor; John Peishoff
Photographers; Dick Edwards, AI Gordon. Ann llanes.
Sarah Tullle, Bill Furse
Controller and Circulation; Bob Anthony
Advertising Director; Sarah Rose
The Fishers Island Gazelle; Box 573, Fishers Island, N.Y.
06390. Subscriptions are $12 ayear. Pleasemail your order witha
check made out to the Fishers Island Gazelle.
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The flag at the East Endguardhouse was flown at half mast this summer in menwry
of gatekeeper Vina/CUTtis who died inJuJy.
Seastretcher
ContinuedframPage I
too low, said Chief Doherty, who added that he hopes the 36-foot
Hatteras boat will be sold by the end of the year.
The fire department decided to replace the old Seastretchcr
last summer and contracted with the Duffy and Duffy firm to do the
work. Construction of the boat started in April. The new boat
which is built like a Maine style lobster boat is sturdier and more
capable of operating in rough seas than the old Seastretcher.
The new Seastretcher has quarters for two crew members
and two patients, and has a full bmhroom. There is considerably
more space in the new Seastretcher, Chief Doherty said.
The Seastretcher is the fourth ambulance boat built by
Duffy and Duffy with the other three having been purchased by
the government of Chile, according to Chief Doherty.
At the christening ceremony, an open house was held and
Island residents were allowed to inspect the new craft. Refresh-
ments were also served.
The Seastretchcr is used to transport persons needing
emergency medical attention from the Island to the mainland.
Chief Doherty said patients can get to Lawrence and Memorial
Hospital in New London in about 20 minutes on the Seastretcher.
The Seastretcher is used about 40 times a year for emergency
trips, he added.
The finishing touches being put onlhe Seastretcher at the DuffyandDuffy boatyard
inllrooklin,Maine.
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Fishers Island Gazelle 3
Hurricane Bob Delivers Haymaker to Island
By Ann Walsh Anthony
Hurricane Bob swept through Fishers Island on Monday,
August 19th with the subtlety ofa hard slap. Not since 1954 had the
Island received such a jolt from a storm, although the word heard
most in the assessmcnt of the aftermath of "Bob" was lucky. Darn-
agc and personal injuries were few.
Hundreds of trees fell bringing utility poles, wires and trans-
formers with them. Except for one trce which fell onacarand a boat
and another which knocked bricks out of a chimney and a third
which flattened a tool shed, very little structural damage was
reported.
At2:30 p.m. on the 19th, Tom Doherty was overheard utter-
ing, "Gloria never thought of being this bad." At the time Mr.
Doherty was supervising the clearing of the East End Road about
1/4 mile east of the Brickyard. A dozen or more trces had fallen,
taking four electric poles with them.
Thc damage to the wires and utility polcs would surely have
caused the cntire Island to be without electricity, but as a precau-
tionary measure, thc Fishers Island Electric Company turned the
powcr off to reduce the risks of fire or electrocution. Power to some
sections of the Island was restored by 8:00 that evening. The
Fishers Island Electric Company, with the a"iSlancc of men from
the Town of Southold, the Groton, Connecticut, Utility Company
and the State, managed to restore power to the rest of the Island by
Thursdayevening. Telephone service was interrupted for twenty
minutes La the entire Island and only forty customers reported loss
of service beyond that.
Without debate the area hit hardest by "Bob" was West Har-
bor, specifically the boats moored and docked there. If the word
"lucky" was heing used by homeowners, it was not heard around
West Harbor. At least seven boalS dragged their moorings ashore
and some brought docks and other boats with them. At least two
boats broke loose from their anchorages in Connecticut and landed
on Fishers Island beaches. Peter Rugg's "Pegasus," a hulls-eye was
the victim of a larger boat dragging it's mooring.
At about 2:00 p.m. on the 19th, Annie and David Burnham,
Brad Burnham and Charlie van Voorhis carne upon Meredith,
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Brad Rurn.hampi/ols boat of/the rocks in West Jlarhor during the storm.
(PlwlO credit: AM Anthony)
Hay /farbor dock being pounded during lIurrican.e Bob. (Photo: Sarah Tuttle)
..
After the storm.
(Photo: Ann Anthony)
Courtney and Charlton Rugg trying to pull "Pegasus" off a seawall
in front of AI Dawsons. The wind at this point was still howling and
the mission was nearly impossible. Brad Burnham jumped on the
boat and using only the rudder "sailed" her to a nearby piling and
tied her there to ride out the rest of the storm. Brad made the long
"Hero-Of-The-Day-List" when he then dove into the water and
swam ashore.
Peter Rugg told the Gazette that Pegasus suffereda hole in the
port top-side and a six foot long split among other things. He did
add that she will be sailable next summer.
Dave Deming, of New York, was cruising and had put in at
West Harbor. When the metcorologislS began predicting that
"Bob" would hit, Mr. Deming brought his Berrnuda-40 into Pirates
Cove to ride out the storm. Although the anonometer on his boat
was registering winds of more than 100 mph. Mr. Deming told the
Gazette that this may not be an accurate reading as his equipment
is not meant for winds that strong. Mr. Deming added that while he
was at no point during the storm worried about his safety or that of
his boat, he was glad he had decided not to Slay on his mooring in
West Harbor. "When we came out (of Pirate's Cove) there were
only three or four boalS left on their moorings. "The rest were on
the beach," he said.
See Bob on Page 8
4 Fishers Iswnd Gazette
State Asked To Study
Island School
By Dan Gordon
The Fishers Island School Board
has asked the New York Department of
Education to conduct an assessment of the
school's educational program. The action
taken at the board's meeting on October 15
is the latest turn in the board's on-again,
off-again attempt to determine whether
there is a better way of educating Island
tccnagers than the current high school.
The school board last spring di-
rected school Superintendent Ken Lanier
to mail a questionnaire to Island residents
asking them whether a feasibility study
should be conducted to look into alterna-
tives to maintaining the existing high
school. The school board stalled on this
proposal after one of its major proponents
Greg Thibodeau was defeated in a May
election and after the proposal produced
strong reaction among year round resi-
dents, both for and against the proposal.
TIle study would have reviewed a
number of options ranging from increas-
ing the magnet school population to clos-
ing the high school and sending those stu-
dents to the mainland to public school or to
private school.
A public hearing was held on Octo-
ber 8 which drew about 100 residents with
almost 20 persons commenting on the pro-
posal.
The action to call in the state Depart-
ment of Education was a disappointment
for board President Sarah Malinowski.
"Right now we have people leaving
the Island because of the school," Mrs.
Malinowski said. "In order to make a good
dccision on what to do, we have to know
what our alternatives arc:'
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Weslllarbor sunrise.
(Photo credit: Dick Edwards)
A strong supporter of conducting a
study of alternatives to the current high
school program, Mrs. Malinowski said she
does not know whether it will ever be con-
ducted.
"I think it has bccn put aside for right
now." she said,
Mrs. Malinowski said she did not
propose conducting a full study at the Oc-
tober 15 mccting because only she and
Catherine Hancock supported it, while
board members Mary Horn and George
Homing did not support it. With board
member Eileen Wall absent, it would have
left the vote at 2-2.
Mrs. Horn did not rule out conduct-
ing a full feasibility study in the future but
said she thinks investigating the existing
program at the school should be con-
ducted first.
The board at its October 15 meeting
decided to call in the state Education De-
"your complete
landscaping service"
Island
General
(formerly Doyens)
142 Thames St., Groton, CT 06340
(203) 446-8268
partment's Office of School Improvement
to only study the existing program at the
school.
Whether the state Education De-
partment can even conduct the assessment
was still in question in late October. The
Office of School Improvement is only or-
dered into school districts with academic
problems by the state Education Depart-
ment.
"Normally we do this for low per-
forming schools," said Wendell Harris, an
associate in school improvement.
This situation is different because
the school district initiated the request and
because the school docs not have aca-
demic problems, he added.
Mr. Harris said the office of school
improvement is evaluating the Fishers Is-
land request and should shortly determine
whether and how the study could be per-
See Study on Page 37
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FisherslslandGautte 5
I The Questionnaire: School Board Members Speak Out
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In an effon to provide readers with a
complete spectrum of opinion on whether
the school district should conduct a feasi-
bility study on alternative options to the
current high school. The Gazette posed the
following question to all school board
members:
Are you in favor of circulating a
questionnaire to explore options to the
high school on Fishers Island? Please
explain your answer.
Below arc the responses of the five
school board members.
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Catherine lIanco(:k:
In response to your question, "Arc
you in favor of circulating a questionnaire
to explore options to the high school on
Fishers Island," my answer is yes, I am in
favor of a questionnaire.
I attended a high school of 300 stu-
dents. I remember high school as being fun.
Yes, we attended classes, studied, and were
tnught the required regenl' courses but we
also had many electives. We had extra
curricular activities, nOL only in alhlctics
but also music, art, chorus. band, orchestra;
clubs such as Latin, French, Gennan, sew-
ing, writing, debating and more were there
for our choosing. We had Saturday after-
noon dances and a Senior Prom. We fielded
teams in basketball, football, hockey, soc-
cer, baseball, softball and volleyball as well
as lacrosse without having to use the same
students in every span and not having a
spread of 8 through 12th grade participants
on the same team. These arc the things the
students on Fishers Island arc missing,
which I feel arc an importnnt part of the
high school years.
Not all students goon to higher learn-
ing where they will probably have many
extra choices. They ill need these kinds of
activities for their future growth.
I have no problem with our academ-
ics. I feel our school has a good stnff and
excellent leadership. Our teachers are
keeping up with new trends and stnte
mandates. They arc Inking courses to update
their teaching abilities.
I wish to make clear that my opinion
is in no way that of the whole board. I am
speaking as an individual. The board wants
only what is best for the students and the
community. That is why we are asking for
the opinions of the community not on
"closing the high school" but on whether
we should explore "options."
I also wish to make it clear that I will,
as a board member, respect the wishes of
the community and do my best for the stu-
dents and the community regardless of my
own opinions.
Eileen Wall:
Yes, I am in favorofa questionnaire
to explore options to the high school on
Fishers Island. BUT, this questionnaire
would have to be fair and unbiased, with
every chance given to exploring what we
have, with room for improvement. And, I
do believe that this survey, when com-
pleted, will show us that the route to follow
is to fix whatever spokes arc broken or out
of alignment in our own school and to pur-
sue new goals from there. We have a
beautiful thing here - the teacher to student
ratio, no violence in the classrooms or hall-
ways, a large and attractivc building in
which to spend your learning years, a
friendly atmosphere and acaring staff. This
should all be traded for a small, crowded,
stuffy classroom somewhcre with a short-
age of textbooks and supplics beeause of
budgct cuts and whcre no-one knows your
name, much less your abilities or poten-
tials?
In truth, we lack the numbers to have
a debate team or a baseballtcam, but thesc
things can be remedicd. At least now we
have a viable magnct program with thc
option of adding more studcnts and which
program has added a ray of hope to our high
school. If we earnestly try to increa'ie our
magnet population, we could makc our
school the intercsting and challcnging place
it should be. We must keep our slnndards
high and bc quite selective in this process,
looking for only the best. There also is
something to be said about the idea pre-
sented to me that we arc selling ourselves
shon by having such a low tuition rate for
these studcnts. I do belicve that by incrca~-
ing our numbers via the magnet program
that we can succeed. If we believe in
ourselves and band together, then perhaps
more school spirit and camaraderie will
follow.
Our track record should speak vol-
umes-how many of our graduates go on to
college and actually complete their stud-
ies? Arc people forgctting the success
stories this school has produced? So, per-
haps our school has produced someavcrage
graduates, that have average jobs and aver-
age life-styles, but without the teacher to
studcnt ratio that we have, would some of
these average people have fallen through
the cracks (like they do on the mainland)
without that extra ounce of care, concern,
expertise and guidance that we can offer?
George Horning:
I think that every member of the
Fishers Island School Board of Education
is committed to exploring ways to enhance
the education of the district students. Ccr-
tninly, properly developed questionnaires
could be an integral part of such endeavors.
Although there has been much atten-
tion in recent months direeted toward the
"high school", the district operates one
school building from which it offcrs a full
continuum of programs and scrvices to all
students throughout the pre-K - 12 grades.
It is not the expressed intention of the
B.O.E. to limit the scope of assessments to
only one of the several components that
comprise the district sehool.
It would certainly be unwise, if not
impossible, to attempt to restrict assess-
ments to just one area, since many of the
programs and services currently provided
intcrweave throughout all gradcIevels. The
B.O.E. must be prepared to make comprc-
hensive assessments that examine all as-
pecl' of the school.
Because we live in a small commu-
nity and thc school is a vitnl part of the
community, the B.O.E. must also kcep this
in mind in any considerations it makes.
New York Stnte has always been in
the vanguard of innovative education. The
B.O.E. should avail itself of infonnation
and assislnnce provided by theN.Y.S. Dept.
of Education. We should study the Regents
Action Plan, the Excellence and Aecountn-
bility Program, theMiddle-Lcvel Challenge
Program, the Regcnts Long-
See School Board Of! Page 31
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6 Fishers /swnd Gazette
Navy Planning Major
Dumping Project Off
Fishers Island
By Lesl ie Goss
The U.S. Navy is proposing to
dredge an eight-mile stretch of the
Thames River and to deposit the residue
in the Long Island Sound just off the north-
west coast of Fishers Island.
Fishers Island Conservancy Presi-
dent John Thatcher is very concerned
about the dumping proposal, and on this
issue he has a powerful ally, namely the
federal Environmen11l1 Protection Agency
(EPA).
The Navy says that the Thames
River channel must be deepened above
the Gold Star Bridge to accommodate the
new Seawolf class submarine. The first
submarine in this class is expected to be
completed in 1995. The Navy had submit-
ted a draft environmental impact sl1ltement
to the EP A in order to obl1lin the agency's
approval to proceed with the dredging
project.
In its initialrepon, theNavysaid 2.75
million cubic yardsofmaterial,ofwhich I7
percent is polluted, would be dredged.
However, the EPA in mid-July noti-
fied the Navy that it would object to the
Navy's disposal site unless more dal1l is
collected demonstrating that the marine
environment would be protected. The
EP A questioned the accuracy of the
Navy's report and contended that much
more of the dredged material would be
polluted and that more than 9 million cubic
yards of clean fill would be required to cap
the spoils.
The EP A said new chern ical and
biological tests should be conducted on
the sediments being dredged. In addition,
the EP A is questioning whether the dis-
posal site off Fishers Island has the capac-
ity to receive the 2.75 million cubic yards of
dredged material, some of which is con-
taminated, and the additional amounts of
clean sediment necessary to cap the site.
The EPA also said alternative solu-
tions should be studied further such as
disposing of the sediment on land or berth-
ing the Seawolf at a Navy site closer to the
river mouth and thus eliminating the need
for the dredging project.
Mr. Thatcher said he is very wor-
ried about the Navy proposal.
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The Queen Elizabelh wasal1 impressive sight as it cruised oUl oflhe SOUl1d paSl Fishers IslaM i111he early fall.
"The Conservancy favors the
Navy's Seawolf program but not the plan
to dump millions of tons of dredge spoil,
mostly polluted, barely one mile off the
northwest coast of Fishers," Mr. Thatcher
said.
The dumping site "being consid-
ered has already been used back in the
1970's, and only now has the pollutive ef-
fect on marine life begun to dissipate," Mr.
Thatcher said. "To renew these pollution
factors so close to Fishers Island would be
taking a massive environmental risk that
the Conservancy would strongly oppose."
Patience Whitten, a spokesperson
for the EP A in Boston, Sl1lted that the Navy
"was initially caught off guard by the seri-
ousness of EPA's concerns" about the
proposed dredging which were laid out in
a six page letter.
At a recent meeting betwccn the
Navy and EPA, the Navy agreed to do a
Supplemental Environmental Impact SUlte-
ment which, according to Whitten, "is the
best way to address EPA's concerns" be-
cause it allows for an additional public re-
view and comment period before the
Navy submitsa final impactsUltement.
According to Lt. Commander
Noonan, a public affairs officer for the
Navy, negotiations are currently being
conducted with their contractor to conduct
additional physical and chemical sediment
testing to commence this December.
The results of this testing plus con-
sulUltion with EPA and the Connecticut
Deparunent of Environmenl1ll Protection
will determine whether bioaccumulation
testing will be conducted. Bioaccumula-
tion testing is used to determine how
aquatic life will react to sediment which is
the basis for determining how and where
the dredged material will be disposed of.
The Navy expects to submit the supple-
menl1ll impact sUltement in the spring of
1992. The Navy will also need approvals
from the Army Corps of Engineers and the
Connecticut Department of Environ-
mental Protection.
Benefits Plus
"Insurance Services"
Life - Health - Disability - Pension
John J. Peishoff
10 North Main St., Suite 313,
West Hartford Conn. 06107
202.236.0447
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Fishers/sland Gazette 7
Transfer Station
Almost Ready to Go
Construction of the Island's new
II3nsfer station is running almost on sched-
ule and should be operating by Jan ], ]992,
according to garbage district commissioner
Jim Hancock.
Rainy weather delayed the pouring
of concrcte by about a week, but construc-
tion should be completed in November, and
testing will be conducted in December, Mr.
Hancock added.
Although the garbage commission-
ers initially indicated that garbage district
taxes would not rise, Mr. Hancock said
taxes will go up, although he could not
predict by how much.
Once the transfer station, located in
the fort area, becomes operational, the
garbage district will no longer be respon-
sible for house pick-up. Homeowners will
then have two choices -- hire a private
collection company to remove their trash or
Dick Falvey supervises work at the transfer stalion site in/ale summer. (Photo credit: Dick EdwGrds)
bring it to the transfer station themselves.
Dick Grebe who holds the garbage
collection contract until the end of the year
has contacted homeowners by letter to
determine how many still want home co]-
lection. Until his inquiry is completed, Mr.
Grebe said he docs not know how much he
will charge, nor even whether he will sup-
ply year-round service.
Ferry District Studying
Improvements at Mainland
Terminal
The ferry district commissioners arc
having a study conducted on re-arranging
and expanding facilities on the New Lon-
don side. The study is being conducted by
Docko, Inc. of Connecticut. Ferry District
commissioner ChipduPont said he expected
the study to be completed in the next sev-
eral months but could not give an exact
date. He also said it is too early to deter-
mine what the study will propose and how
much the improvements might cost.
"It (the improvements) will cost
money," Mr. duPont said. "But] could not
venture a guess as to how much."
The ferry district currently operates
on less than two-thirds of an acre of land on
the New London side, said Mr. duPont.
"It is totally inadequate," he said.
"We have never had an adequate staging
area. It has gotten worse and worse. It's
even hard to get freight over at 7 in the
morning. Thereis no place to stage freight."
At certain busy times, the situation is
dangerous because cars waiting to board
the ferry are lined up back across the train
II3cks and onto Bank Street, said Mr. du-
Pont.
Ferry leaving the slip at New London.
(Photo credit: Melissa Fine)
The ferry district is looking at relo-
cating the ferry terminal building and gain-
ing more usable space by bulkheading along
the Thames Ri vcr.
The ferry district has been looking at
expanding the New London facility for
almost 10 years, said Mr. duPont. Initially,
the ferry district directed ilS efforts at work-
ing a swap with tile CityofNew London for
nearby land. However, this effort reached
a dead end when New London dropped
plans for an extensive riverfront develop-
ment.
The ferry commissioners arc still
conducting talks with New London offi-
cials, but Mr. duPont said he is not optimis-
tic about these talks and added that the
commissioners are planning to work inde-
pendently of New London.
Once a plan for improving the New
London terminal site is proposed by the
ferry commission, it will be presented to
Islanders at a public meeting, said Mr.
duPont.
8 FisherslsumdGazette
Neirher Weslllarbor nor Silver Eel Pond turned oui to be safe refuge for all boats.
Bob
ContinUi!dfrom Page 3
Bc<:ause of the speed at which "Bob" was travelling, there
was not as much prior warning as with othcr storms and Piratcs
Cove Marina, the only facility with a travel lift on the Island pulled
43 boats out of the water before II Monday morning, when the
intensity of the storm made it unsafe to continue working. Dick
Hale of Piratcs Cove cstimates 200 man hours went into Pirates
Cove's storm preparation and clean-up. The lack of warning may
account for some of the damage to boats.
For anyone in the path of an approaching hurricane, but
espc<:ially anyone on the Island, storm preparation is the key
ingredient to preventing injury and loss. As the storm hit on a
Monday morning and was only a distant possibility on the previ-
ous Friday, few of the off-Island work crews had achance to batten
down. As many Island contractors hire a large number of workers
from ~le mainland, this left the job of readying for "Bob" to those
men who were already on the Island. Tom Schillo estimates that his
on.lsland work force numbers 15. At 8:00 a.m. he sent them in
teams to different ports of the Island. One group took the east end,
The hurricane produced the most damage when it swung around from the Norlh.
lIere Bob bal/as MunMtawki!t Beach (Photo credil: Ann Mudge)
(Photos above: Ann Anthony and Bill Furse)
one the middle and one the west end. By the time the storm hit fully,
they were ready.
The Walsh Elc<:tric crew took the ferry over knowing there
was not a trip back that day. (Art Walsh took them back in his
whaler later that evening.) They spent the morning battening
windows and preparing for the storm. The afternoon was spent
literally cutting their way up and down the Island. As they would
go from site to site tosc<:ure itand check on how it was holding trc<:s
would fall in their path. In order to make progress, the men would
have tocutup the trees and roll them off the road. According tolohn
RinkesofWalsh Elc<:tric, "It was the quickest 14 hour day l'veever
worked."
They were not alone. Stu Borgert and Scott Lamb were on
their way up Island and found all roads impassable. Stu and Scott
joined Luis Horn, LR. Edwards, Russell Heath, representatives
from the Fire Department and their equipment, Dick Grebe and his
equipment, as well as anyone clse who was caught in the logjam and
began cutting trees and rolling them. It sc<:med that anyone who
was out that day had a chain saw along and was using it.
Mr. Rinkes described it this way,"AII contractors SlOpped
competing that day. We were one team working together. Inter-
company rivalries disappeared and wc were working for the same
goal -- clearing the roads and making a safe lane of travel. It was
a big team-work day."
The FI Ferry District determined early in the day that it would
run the scheduled trip at 5:45 a.m. and two boats at 8: I 5. The ferry's
were then brought up the Thames River where they rode out the rest
of the storm. Phil Knauff told the Gazette that when you arc
responsible for $2.5 million worth of equipment you have got to
take precautions.
Lynn Stepanek was at work in the wee hours calling those
reservation holders who were in the phone book for the rest of the
days trips to tell them that if they had to get off the Island that day,
they had to leave by 8: 15. Mrs. Stepanek called early enough togive
people time to prepare for "Bob" before they left.
Incidentally, the 5:45 a.m. trip that day was indistinquishable
from any other Monday commuter trip of businessmen. Apparently
these gentlemen were confident that their wives and children could
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Fishers Island Gaulle 9
handle things on the storm front.
At 6:00 a.m. on the 19th, an emergency mceting was called
JllhcFire HOllse. Present were representatives from the fire depart-
me nt, ambulance squad, the town, the electric company and the
telephone company and the doctor. At this mceting an emergency
plan was formed for the evacuation of anyone living on a boat.
Residcnts whose homes were threatened by flooding and anyone
who required oxygen or special medical allention. It was deter-
mined that the fire house and the school would be opened as shelter
for these people.
The isolation of Fishers Island called for some unique preeau-
tions to be taken by the Fire DeparUnent's Rescue Squad. As "Sea
Stretcher," the 36' Halleras used as the Island's ambulance to New
London could not make the trip in the height of the storm, an
arrangement was made in advance with the New London Coast
Guard to send their 82' Cutter in the event of a life and death
emergency. The Rescue Squad felt certain that they were equipped
to handle most emergencies on the Island. To add to tllCir confi-
dencc, the Doctor on duty that week from St. Luke's Roosevelt
Hospiud in New York City was Stephen G. Lynn, M.D., Director
of the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Lynn reponed that
the injuries incurred on the day of the storm were all minor and the
majority of his calls in the days after were for poison ivy and bee
Slings!
Fishers Islanders have always had a great sense of commu-
nity service in the faccofdisaslcrs. Within two hours after the sLonn
had passed, butcenainly while the wind was still howling, all of the
roads, with one exception, where a transformer had fallen into the
street in front of the Oswald's and Purnell's, had been cleared of
fallen trees and utility poles and were open. Although this respon-
sibility would fall on the shoulders of the volunteer firedepanment,
ChiefTom Doherty, noted that many of the men involved in cutting
the trccs were not members of the department.
"Fishers lsl,md has always been self-sufficient. It was great
to see the community effort on the part of everyone (Fire Depart-
ment, Utility Co., Town crew and residents) in preparing for and
cleaning up after 'Bob. '"
Beeause of our geographical location, Fishcrs Island will
always be susceptible to hurricane damage. The old salts claim that
either '38 or '54 was far worse than "Bob" (hurricanes were not
named until the late 50's) but they arc divided on which storm
caused more damage. Fishers Islanders will always rally round the
flag in the fall of a disaster. But until you have lived through a real
storm, there's really no way to conceive of the heights to which a
hurricane's winds rise or the amount of water and sand that pounds
a beach. We build buildings and string electric wires and sail boats
and they arc all at the mercy of a strong wind. Interestingly the
osprey nests, a tangled mess of twigs and seaweed and glass sitting
on tree limbs or utility poles, all survived the storm. April White
made an interesting observation when she noted, "I guess the
ospreys build better nests than we build docks."
Probably the worst structural damage occured at the two
clubs. Hay Harbor Club lost planking on a portion of its swimming
dock and the Er. Club had to close for five days while their crew
cleaned up the tons of sand and seaweed "Bob" had deposited in the
beach house. The golf course was closed until the 24th of August
due largely to flooding - one eyewitness reported waves breaking
on the 14th fairway - but also because the bridge on the 14th hole
was completcly demolished and had to be rebuilt.
Another boat on./he rocks in West lIarbor. (Photo: Ann Anthony)
1 0 Fjsh~rs Island Gaz~lle
Interview with Hiram Moody, Hay Harbor Club President
By Rick Moody
From the standpoint of the public
record, it is worth noting that interviewer
and SlIbject here are son andfather llow-
ever, we approached this material with the
interests of our audience at the forefront of
our thinking, and I hope the results will
bear this oUl. We spoke on the afternoon
of September 26th.
Q: How long is your term?
A: There is no set term. My two
predecessors went three years and two
years. The people before them went five
years. The term is simple, you can have
two three year terms on the board, and if
you're an officer you can have a third
three yearterm. That's it. Afterthatyou're
out.
Q: Would you see yourself staying
on for nine years?
A: No.
Q: Do you think the terms of your
predecessors were excessively short?
A: Yes, I think two years is too short
absolutely. Maybe even three years. On
the other hand five years is a long time. It's
a lot of work; it's a heckuva lot of work.
And years ago it used to be a much simpler
enterprise. It was a simple little seasonal
club and it had fewer members, and fewer
activities, less income, less profitability,
less complex issues. It was easier then to
go five years, but now it's hard. It's a hard
job.
Q: Can you elaborate on how the
club has changed over the years in spe-
cHic ways?
A: It's been a function of several
things. The club has gotten larger. The
activities that it offers have been broad-
ened and have been improved. There
arc more, better qualified people offering
better activities. We--thc recent presiM
dents--also inherited a club that had been
allowed to run down physically a little bit.
So we had a lot of catch up work to do.
And then recently there have been
other issues that 1 think arc part of living in
a more complex and more crowded world.
We certainly arc more aware now of how
the club is used and the effeets of that use
on the environment nand the effects of the
environment on the club. We've gotten
complex enough and large enough from
the standpoint of revenues and cash lIow
that we have to be a lot more earefulua lot
more careful, a lot more thorough--in the
decisions that we make than in what I
would describe as a simpler time. Gone
are the days when it's strictly a seasonal
club, when people would just show up for
two months, when it was pretty casual, and
when a tennis court had to be replaced, it
wasdoneinaminorkindofway. Thatkind
of management can be costly. It can be
inefficient. And so wc've gonc to a proc-
ess where we try to thoroughly evaluate
everything we do and the impact of these
decisions within the club, the community,
and the environment around us.
Q: What's the current state of Hay
Harbor proper?
A: The quality of the water in Hay
Harbor varies as to where you are in Hay
Harbor. In some places you can drink it,
and in other places it's not even of high
enough quality to use for swimming. We
have, with a very fine consulting firm,
spent probably a year-and-a-half now
evaluating the water, its quality, and what
we can do to improve it.
Q: What's the specific nature of the
pollution in the harbor?
A: As the conservancy has pointed
out. there arc two geneml causes. Part is
caused by human beings and the septic
systems that surround the harbor, and part
is caused by the birds, particularly the
cormorants, that inhabit the area around
the harbor.
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JJiram Moody
Q: What arc the future plans for a
batbbouse at the club?
A: We're not sure yet.
Q: Plans have been tabled, is that
correct?
A: That's correct. We wanted to
understand that water quality and the fac-
tors affecting it before we built the bath-
house. We didn't want to do anytbing by
building that bathhouse that would in any
way cause a deterioration in the water
quality in the harbor. So we first had to
determine if the Hay Harbor Club itself
was contributing to the problems in the
harbor. You have to understand that parts
of that building are over a hundred years
old. Sanitary systems a bundred years ago
were pretty simple. You ran a pipe out a
hole in the lIoor. That was it. We had to
make sure we didn't have any rogue pipes
that were still emitting efOuentof some sort.
We have detennined with a high level of
conviction that although we had one prob-
lemuand we corrected itnthat we at the
club are not contributing in any way.
Secondly, we had a new septic sys-
tem built in 1988 and we had to make sure
that the new system was large enough to
accommodate the new bathhouse. The
new bathhouse will have showers and
bathrooms. We determined, using Lom-
bardi and their expert analysis, that the
system we built in 1988, although the
people built it knew of the plans for the
bathhouse, that indeed our new system
was !l.Q1 sufficient. So it was wise indeed
that we did not go ahead with tbe bath-
house. We have since established a loca-
tion for a field that will serve the bath-
house, and we have a bid. Interestingly
enough, it's not a very significant amount
of money that will be required.
Q: Can you elaborate on how pro-
grams have changed at the club? How, for
example, has the swimming program
changed, when compared with the past?
A: With the caveat that unlike many
club members, 1 didn't grow up on the
island, and that therefore I don't remem-
ber the swimming program fifty years ago,
I am told that historically the swimming
program was the core program at the club.
And it's logical when you think about it. Of
all the athletic skills that it's important for
See Moody on Page 24
Pishers Island Gazette 11
Town Officials Grilled on
Taxes
By Dan Gordon
If Southold Town councilmcn ex-
pecled a relaxing day on Fishers Island for
the annuallOwn board meeting on Fishers
Island on August 7, they were in for a sur-
prise. Supervisor SCOll Harris and other
town board members were grilled by a
number of Island residents on whether
Fishers Island is gelling its money's worth
for Wxes paid lO Southold. Island residents
did not walk away with many answers.
After former civic association presi-
dent Speedy Mettler raised the question of
taxes, Islander Bill Ridgway got right
down to business.
"My understanding is that Fishers
Island pays in more, about 5300,000 more
in LJxes than we receive in services," said
Mr. Ridgway. "That's aboutSl,Ooo a per-
manent resident. I wonder if you could
justify that?"
"I don't know if that figure is accu-
rate, and I couldn't make a statement on
that until we give an analysis of that fig-
ure," said Supervisor Harris. "I know that
there's a lot of services that are taken care
of over here, highway, police, bay con-
stable and so on, right down the line, that
exist, that many people don't even realize
go on on a daily basis. We don't have a
breakdown of that at all. I don't know how
long that would wke lO try lO do a break
down on it."
Supervisor Harris said he would
work with the town accounWnt to provide
a cost breakdown for the Island.
Mr, Mettler then asked how much of
the taxes paid by Fishers Island is allocated
to the operation of the town landfill in
Cutchogue and whether the Island re-
ceives any benefit for this money. The
Cutchogue landfill is used by all of the
Town of South old with the exception of
Fishers Island which has its own landfill.
Town officials said that Fishers Is-
land comprises eight percent of the tax
base of South old. Councilman Tom Wick-
ham said about 5600,000 is allocated from
the town budget for the operation of the
landfill with the remainder of the landfill
costs corning from user fees,
"The people of Fishers Island are
indeed contributing some eight percent of
that 5600,000 or so," said Mr. Wickham.
"There is relatively little coming back to
Fishers Island in terms of direct benefits in
handling garbage. There are things that
could be done in the future and we look
forward to sitting down with people here,
and working out some reasonable solu-
tion,"
Later in the meeting, Islander John
Clavin returned to the question of Fishers
Island having to pay for the costs of gar-
bage disposal in Southold.
"In all due respect to you, Tom, you
mentioned thecostofthe landfill," said Mr.
Clavin. "What you didn't talk about was
the cost of the engineering study that went
into a composting system over there, the
legal fees which are being paid now lO
fight the DEC, all of which we're paying
eight percent of, O.K.? At the same time,
our garbage district which we are paying
for, has its engineering study, and it has it's
legal fees, and we're not getting any help
from the town on that."
Councilman Wickham said that it is
too easy for Southold to forget Fishers
Island."What would be helpful to us, I
think, would be if you and others who arc
concerned about this, through Judge
Edwards, could give us your concerns,"
said Mr. Wickham. "Let us know in a
timely way, even with some written ideas,
and perhaps have some key people
among you, who would take responsibility
for these things, and to help keep us fo-
cused on that. Frankly, it would help, and
we'll be responsive."
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12 Fishers Island Gazette
Profile on ... "The Mosquito Girls"
By Rick Moody
They find the sobriquet faintly
troubling. Tbough in a moment of levity,
the Island pest control engineers -- Marta
Iwaseezko, Wendy Holcomb, and
Kathryn Hudaeek -- once referred to
themselves (among themselves!) as the
Bug Babes, the reduction to mere girls and
to mere bug hunters is not entirely pleasing
to them. Questions cannot help but follow
this revelation! Who are these dedicated
and fearless protectors of Fishers [sland's
exposed gam and neck and pate? Who are
they when the hip waders are hung up to
dry? When the nets are stored away for the
weekend in the Mosquito Control Vehicle?
Over the weekend on August 17-19,
when Hurricane Bob cloistered Fishers
Island residents without respite, I asked
each of Lhem Lhese questions and more.
Theydon't work in the rain, and so it was a
regular vacation situation for Lhem.
Mana [wa,eczko, 18, of the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, learned about the
pest control position during a college in-
terview with John Thatcher of the Fishers
[sland Conservancy. She confesses to an
interest in science bolstered in part by her
summer job. "It is not an easy job," she told
me, "but the island is really beautiful."
What makes the job agreeable to Marta is
the chance to see "as the season pro-
gresses, the way the different life forms
progress." According to Marta, no one spot
n meaning noone ofLhe breeding environ-
ments in which the Mosquito women oblit-
erate Lhe insect generations-to~come -- is
more difficult than any other, though tidal
marshes sometimes sx higher breeding
activity than other locations. I pressed
Mana to name some names. Which were
the most mosquito-besieged landscapes?
What were the true island hot spots? The
best she could offer was "Chippie' s swamp."
As my conversations with Wendy and
Kathryn progressed over the next few days,
these words would become a refrain.
Marta and Wendy Holcomb were both
trained by Kathryn Hudacek, the only two-
year veteran on the team. They then had to
pa<s a licensing examination (in pest con-
trol and pesticide-handling) in Warrensburg,
New York. Each passed with I1ying colors.
Mana would recommend the job to some-
one "who likes to get dirty" and among the
three women, she and Wendy both express
an interest in the possibility of continuing
their research here on the [sland. She has
the statistics close at hand to prove her
professionalism: of the 130aetivebreeding
sites on the island, she told me, as of late
August only 50 were still productive.
Wendy Holcomb, at age 20 the cider
states person on the squad, is a student in
history and women's studies at Colby Col-
lege in Waterville, Maine, (where they
Fighting mosquitoes can be a sloppy job as K athrynHudacek, left, andMarla lwaseckzko, right, demonstrate while
knee deep in swamp water.
Wendy Ilolcomb inspecting swamp water on the
Island. (Photocredit: DickEdwards)
probably have black I1y control experts,
too). Her sister before her occupied the
insect-eliminating position and though
Wendy "never ever thought I'd end up
here," the exigencies of summer employ-
ment in a shrinking economy changed her
mind. To her, there's not much science to
the whole business: "It's a lot marc like
nature than science. Any old person could
dip a swamp." But there arc dangers asso-
ciated with the task. In their bulky hip
waders, Wendy made clear, "it's easy to
get stuck in the mud." The Conservancy
and the Fishers Island Development
Corp., sensitive to the gravity of this hip-
wader situation, recently purchased ropes
for the three engineers.
Wendy was less shy than Marta
about pointing fingers at particular larvae
infestations (the Mosquito Control squad
docs llill take on adult mosquitoes) --
"Chippy's swamp is huge, huge." The
Laughlin property, bordering Middle
Farms Pond, also figured in her survey, as
did the area just below the Middle Farms
driving range: "just awful."
Wendy, whose fierce sense of hu-
mor made clear some of the more unusual
aspects of her job, was also forthcoming
about what [felt to bean importantoccupa-
tional hazard, the exposure to chemicals:
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FisherslslandGautte 13
"The grape-nutty pesticide is fine, but the
pellety stuff makes us sneeze sometimes."
I later learned that the chemicals are aetu-
ally naturally occurring bacteria (whose lot
in the food chain is to poison mosquito
larvae), and therefore that Wendy's cool
demeanor about the whole issue was en-
tirely justified. SomeotherdeUlils: Wendy
also told me that the Mosquito Girls fre-
quently split up and do their jobs sepa-
rately, and that they also babysit at night to
augment their FIOCO income. (Though
John Thatcher cheeks up on them from
time to time, the Fishers Island Develop-
ment Corporation pays the bills, and the
Town of Southold and Suffolk County pay
their salaries.)
The Mosquito Control Residential
Facility is just across the street from the
Hay Harbor Golf Clubhouse and it is
leased from its owner, Mrs. Thomas Hus-
band. Male visitors are discouraged.
Prank telephone calls are occasionally
fielded. (I, myself, was misUlken for a
fraud.) Perhaps it is this slightly chaste,
neQ- Victorian, single-sex aspect of Mos~
quito Control that contributes to the low
nicknames and occasional pranks Lhey
face? I wondered why there were no
Mosquito Men, and Kathryn Hudacek, the
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two-year veteran of the force put it to me
bluntly. "Women are more responsible. It
could be a blown-off job, but wc Ulke it se-
riously."
Kathryn had "dcfinitely had
cnough" by thc end of summcr 1991. Not
only did the Mosquito Women frequently
discuss the pest species in the off-hours,
but Kathryn had cvcn begun to dream
about them. Her conversation was a litany
of mosquito-related post-traumatic stresses
-- from the purple and green bugs which
also thrive in Chippy's swamp ("It's
whacked with brceding, as we say") to
dipper cups that look likc guns; from occa-
sional exposures to a liquid form of lar-
vacidal bacteria to innumerable mosquito
bites. Forth is last problem, Kathryn has an
effective cure: Skin So Soft lotion from
Avon. It doesn't work for everyone, but
for her it is a sort of miraele cure. For
Kathryn Hudllcek, it was time to get back to
the Upper West Side of ManhatUln, where
she is studying French language and lit-
erature at Columbia University, to escape
the Island swamps and breeding grounds.
She's seen too much.
So tllCSC arc Lhc women who work
behind the scenes to reduce the evening
onslaught to a few rogue bugs. Those
r
lonely nights when you used to awake firm
in your conviction that there was a blood-
sucking pest in your room biding its time -
- waiting for your unconsciousness n be-
fore striking! Ever wonder why there has
been a more than 60% reduction of these
episodes? Let's give credit where it is due!
Oh, and about the Mosquito Control
vchiele. It's a former Southold police car
with no handles on the back doors, and the
logo was added to the side several years
ago. MarUi, Wendy and Kathryn didn't
use it too much this summer though. Ap-
parently it has a spider infesUltion.
Speeding Tickets Down
This Year
SUite police issued 19 speeding tick-
ets on Fishers Island this summer. Of these
tickets, 14 were issued tomotoristsfordriv.
ing at speeds between 40 and 50 miles per
hour. Five tickets were issued to motorists
for driving at speeds over 50 miles per
hour, according to the sUite police.
The number of tickets issued was
down from last year, said SUite Trooper
Tom Fuller.
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14 Fishers/slimdGazette
New Wing Opened at Museum
The new wing of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum was
unveiled on July 18 in a ceremony attended by about 120 people.
"What an emotional pleasure to see the reality of archeol-
ogical wing," said museum President Charlie Ferguson. "My
father started collecting archeological artifacts in the 20's and 30's.
He instilled a great interest in me."
Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Robert Funk,
archaeologist for the New York Education Deparunent. For the
past seven years, Dr. Funk has participated in the archaeological
digs conducted during the spring on Fishers Island.
"The newly insUllled exhibit in the archaeology wing is
therefore the concrete manifesUltion and culmination of seven
years of dedicated effort by many people," said Dr. Funk. "Work-
ing with my script and rclying heavily on the large variety of
artifacts eollccted by Henry L. Ferguson, Lueianne Lavin and
Marina Mozzi very successfully managed the design and implem-
enUltion of the exhibit.
"They arc to be congratulated on one of the most effective
and up-to-date exhibits on eoasUlI prehistory in the whole North-
cao;;tcrn Unitcd Statcs:'
Dr. Funk added, "we believe we have made a significant
contribution to the archaeology of eoasUlI New York and New
England. Indeed, there is currently a great deal of interest in the
prehistory of offshore Islands, including Block Island and Nan-
tucket."
The new wing at the museum, built at a cost of S60,OOO,
contains archaeological exhibits from the Paleo-Indian period of
9,000 B.C. up to the period in which John Winthrop bought the
Island from the Pequot Indians.
"The main purpose of the exhibits is to show the lifestyle of
Indians at different periods," said Mr. Ferguson. The new wing
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Chtlrlie FergusonandCatha/lesse inspect the exhibits at the unveiling of the new
musewn. wing. Mural painled by Mr. Ferguson Mngsalthe upperrighl.
(PholO credit: Dick.Edwards)
includes a mural painted and donated by Mr. Ferguson depicting a
small gathering of Indian families on the west shore of West
Harbor on a fall day about 800 A.D.
With the new wing, Mr. Ferguson said the museum hopes to
work with the Island school and other Island organizations to
develop interest in local archaeology. Mr. Ferguson thanked the
many Island residents who made donations for the new wing.
Dredging Proposed for Silver Eel Pond
The Fishers Island Ferry District is proposing to dredge the
entrance into Silver Eel Pond to remove sand which has been
deposited over the years.The channel would be deepened by
about four feet and between 2,000 and 3,000 yards of material
would be removed, according to ferry district manager Phil Knauff.
The dredging would Ulke place in the middle third of the entrance,
where deposits have accumulated due to the currents, he added.
The Race Rock ferry boat at low tide still passes about four
feet over the highest portion of the entrance, however, the situ-
ation has to be remedied, Me. Knauff said. The entrance to Silver
Eel Pond was last dredged in 1978, according to Mr. Knauff.
The ferry district is proposing to use the dredged sand as
capping material for the Island land Ii II when it is closed this next
year, Mr. Knauff said.The ferry district must receive approval
from the N.Y. Department of Environ me nUll Conservation and the
Army Corps of Engineers for the projeet. Mr. Knauff said he
hoped to commence dredging by the spring.
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:IIRAC-E"RO(j(: '-CARDEN CO
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Fishers Island Gautte 15
Ospreys Getting Super Service from the Electric Company
This oserey's nest near the eatenl tip of the Island was lifted above the electric
wires. The ospreys look very much at home.
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By Mary Roberts
On Fishers Island, the electric company has some very unique
customers. And the utility company has been going to great lengths
to keep these often flighty seasonal residents happy.
The ospreys have been so appreciative of the service that they
arc increasing their numbers on Fishers Island.
For years, ospreys have nested on the utility poles which
stretch up the Island, often with total disregard to the live wires
running across them.
Utility company employees scurry when they see the birds
begin building a nest.
"We try to get there early, as the ospreys start to make nests
on top of our poles," said Jim Hancock, electric company president.
"We take the nest off and usually build a platform well above the
electric wires. We then quickly put the nest back.
"Sometimes it is more complicated," Mr. Hancock added.
"Ncar the Firestones, we left the birds on the pole they had nested
on, and moved the electric wires to a new pole. It worked, they
stayed on the old pole.
"When the birds started a nest on a pole with a transformer on
it, we successfully moved the nest to the next pole. Another time
we extended the wires and crossarms away from the pole and left
the nest where it was."
The utility company has become so proficient in providing
for the ospreys that they are now geuing hired in the osprey pole
business. Ospreys used to regularly fish from a tree on Mrs. Walter
Rafferty's property in the middle of the Island. However, when a
stann blew the tree down, the ospreys stopped returning. Mrs.
Rafferty contacted the electric company about installing an osprey
pole on her property this past year. Dick Baker provided the
finishing touch by building a nest on top of the pole, and shortly
afterwards the ospreys returned.
"Many people have tried to put up man-made nesL' to entice
the birds," said Mr. Baker. "The Rafferty one is the only one that
has succeeded."
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At this jun.cliofl pole. the nesl was raised and the crossa"n,s carrying lhe electric
wires were stretched away from the nesl.
Birdwatcher Charles Ferguson has been observing the Raf-
ferty nest.
"We thought there was just one young, and then found
another liule head," Mr. Ferguson said. "In fact, the osprey are
doing sn well, they are off the endangered list," Mr. Ferguson said.
"This year there were I I nests, two more than Jast year. Six nests
had young and eight birds fledged."
Mr. Hancock estimated that there are now about 15 osprey
poles on the Island of which 12 or 13 are active.
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PROPERTY SALES AND RENTALS
Bagley Reid
Licenced Real Estate Broker
Barbara T. Reid
James G. Reid
Licenced Salespersons
Marilyn F. Pickett
Secretary
516-788-7882
.
516-788-7782
m(YsL:fc Isle
r<.ealL:(Y foe,
FISHERS ISLAND, NY 06390
16 Fisht'nlsJandGazette
Island Lobstermen Honor Ancient Tradition
lirrvny PeishofJpi/OlS lk Inlrepid back. into West lIarbor
By Allison Hanes
(Photos by Ann Hanes)
An air of excitement surrounded the bOal as it neared a group
of black-and-white buoys. The depth finder read 226 foct, it was
slack tide. Fishers astern and Race Rock to starboard, Jimmy
Peishoff slipped on his yellow slicker overalls and heavy boots. [
watched as he arranged various bushel-sized baskets next to a large
saltwater tank built into the starboard sideofthe boat. He deftly ma-
neuvered the sturdy boat, the Intrepid alongside the closest buoy.
The winch spun into action with a loud, grinding sound. A fast
moving and potentially dangerous mechanism (it cost Jimmy a
finger), the winch is thedevice that hoists the lobstertraps outofthe
water. Each trap weighs between 30 and 35 pounds empty.
The lobersterman's movements were lIuid and efficient as he
guided the rope onto the winch, removed masses ofkclp from each
trap before setting it on board, and began the process of sorting
through his catch. Jimmy Peishoffisa third generation lobsterman.
Both his father and grandfather were lobstermen on Fishers Island.
Forty years in the business had given him a quick eye. A law
enacted two years ago states that keepers must be three and a quarter
inches across the back. Females with eggs must be thrown back, as
well. Pcishoff threw his kocpers into the wooden tank, or cash
register as it is affectionately known. Those needing measuring
were tossed into one of the plastic bushel baskets beside the tank,
those that were clearly too small were returned with a splash.
(During forty years oflobstering, Peishoffhad also acquired perfect
aim; he never missed the tank, the basket, or the water!)
Once each trap was stripped clean of its catch, it was reloaded
with an odoriferous bait, usually bunker, which is sold in bulk from
markets on the mainland. The traps were then dropped over the
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Too sma//! Often lobsters have to be thrown back in if lhey do IlOt meet
minimum state standards"
side. Peishoff accelerated and made a full circle around each trap
before moving to his next group of buoys.
We spent about two-and-a-half hours on the water that day.
According to Peishoff, it was a reasonable catch. A really good one
is 300 pounds in a day or approximately 260 lobsters. The quantity
and quality of a catch is dependent on the time of year, the weather,
and the tides. The season for lobstering begins in the spring and runs
through mid-January, or as long as weather conditions permit.
There arc two "runs" every season, which each last two-and-a-half
to three weeks, one in the fall and one in the late spring or early June.
Jimmy Peishoff surveys a day's catch.
Fishers Island Gazette 17
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During this time, the lobsters are the most plentiful. A full time
lobstennan might empty his traps twice a day every day. Loberster-
men like Peishoff, who set their traps twice in some 250 feet of
wmer arc not only at the mercy of the weather, but also the tides.
During 1I00d tide, the buoys are underwater, and the traps, there-
fore, can only be hauled at slack tide. Conditions arc exaggerated
at the new and full moons.
Some lobstermen like, Danny and Tommy Doyen, set their
traps in shallower waters. The Doyens have been in the business for
about eight years. Their father was a lobsterman as well. Like most
Island lobstermen, they sell to a dealer in Niantic, Connecticut, year
'round, as well as to Islanders and summer residents. Danny has
500 to 600 traps setout. Although Tommy is only parllime, he has
25010280 traps set, which is a 101 when compared 10 many full time
loberslermen. Corbin Hedge, for example, who has been in the
business full time since 1977, has 150 to 250 traps in the water.
Corbin, like Jimmy Peishoff, is a third generation lobster-
man. His father, Ed Hedge, was something ofa legend on the island
because of his handicap, he had one arm. Corbin began working
for his father when he was twelve, delivering fish 10 the cast end of
the island, and eventually went into business with his father. In
1955, he began working for Gada and was only a parI time
lobstennan until his father died in 1977 and Corbin lOok over the
business. Since Hedge has been in the business, he has owned three
boats. Perhaps his favorite, and ceMinly his wife's favorite, was
the colorful yellow boat named the Starfish. He and Margie, his
wifeof39 years, traveled up to Nova Scotia in 1966, where Margie
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Danny and Tom Doyen are the new generation of lobstermen on Fishers Island.
Corbin Hedge on his dock in West J/arbor.
Midday Boats Added
The Fishers Island Ferry District is introducing midday serv-
ice to its winter schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays.
The ferry will leave New London atll:15 and then return from
Fishers Island m 12: 15 pm.on these days.
The ferry district also moved Ihe schedule of its Sunday
morning boat up one hour so that the ferry will leave New London
at 9 am, and relurn from Fishers Island at 10 am. On Sunday
evening, the boat will leave one half hour later, departing from New
London at 5:45 pm and returning at 6:30 pm.
had been born, to have the bom made. The had it painted yellow
because it is thought 10 be good luck. In fact, all of their buoys arc
painted yellow and Corbin is most often seen wearing a yellow t-
shin. Corbin and his wife arc devoted to the lobster business and
to the Island.
"The Island has a feeling, this propeny has a feeling. I could
be down here 24 hours a day!" said Mrs. Hedge. She especially
feels sad that neither of their two children will be continuing the
business. "This is gonna be all gone when somelhing happens to
Corbin. It's just heanbreaking."
Rich Erpcnbeck, a full time lobsterman on the island since
1968, feels much the same attachment to the lobster business, but
has no fears about its survival as an island industry. "As long as
there is a demand for lobsters, we're gonna keep catching thcm."
Erpcnbeck says the only changes in the business arc in its advanced
technology, which has made the work less physically demanding
and enables one to work for a greater pan of the year, and in the
various legislative restrictions. Lobstering, he noted, is a conser-
vation-minded industry.
When asked what he liked best aboutlobstering, Erpenbeck
replied, "I like being my own boss, being independent. I can
truthfully say I enjoy lobstering. It's hard work, but it's rewarding."
Whether the business will continue to be passed down from
generation to generation on the Island is uncertain. but the continu-
ation of lobstering is not. It is an ancient livelihood that honors
nature's timeless rhythms.
Admissions Officer To Talk
An admissions officer from Baypath College in Long Island
is scheduled 10 meet with Fishers Island high schooters on Novem-
ber 18 to discuss college life and how to apply 10 college. The
session is scheduled 10 be held at the Fishers Island School begin-
ning at 8:30 in the evening.
Stay Informed! Subscribe to the Gazette.
Just $12 For a Year's Subscription.
18 FisherslsUJndGa:t,dte
Walsh Service
Electrical
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(516) 788-7778
Charters
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Air Charter S<l:rvicfi:
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DW:~IOOI
Luis /lorn ofZ&S Contracting crushes bal/to right field. abm'e. while Ed Vercel/i
of Hay Harbor beats out a close play at firsl base during champiol/ship series.
(Photo credits; Dick Edwards and Sarah TUllle)
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Z&S "Three-peat" as Softball Champions
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Z & S Construction completed a dramatic playoff comeback
to defend its softball title and run its title string to three in a row with
a victory over Hay Harbor in the finals. Down a game in the semi
finals to Village Greenery, and on the verge of being eliminated,
they mllied to win the nexttwo games to reach the finals. "Qurtum
around was fueled by the taunting we were receiving from the
Blues that we were history" says Steve Walter. "I guess they
figured with us gone, the title would be a walk in the park for
them." "Too bad they forgot to reach the finals."
Z&S won the deciding game of the championship series
against Hay Harbor 8-7. Hay Harbor placed the tying run on third
in the top of the last inning when Jerry Albrecht tripled. However,
Hay Harbor's eleanup batter struck out on a succession of "moon-
balls" from pilcher Walter, and the game ended when Erik Ulls[en
grounded to third and was called out in a close play at first. The
final game had been a see-saw affair with Z&S finally scoring the
deciding run in the bottom of the sixth when Walter, who had
tripled, scored on a hit by Jeff Edwards.
The finals was a virtual replay of last year whenZ&S nipped
Hay Harbor in three games winning the deciding third game 18-17
by scoring two runs in the last inning.
Hay Harbor ended the regular season champion Blues
"walk in the park" by upsetting them in the semi finals 2 games to I
to reach the finals and set up the Z & S Hay Harbor showdown.
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FisherslslandGazelle 19
Cross Country Team Off to a 4-1
Start: Shawn Malone Excels
By Kelly Doherty
The Fishers Island Cross Country season opened its fall
season with a 4-1 record. The team opened the season with a
triangular meet on September 20 defeating the Rocky Hill School
22-37, but losing to the Williams School 26-33. Eighth-grader
Shawn Malone came in second with a time of 18: 13 over a 2.8 mile
course. Brian Caruso placed third with a time of 18:28.
Lisa Faulkner finished 16th overall and was the second girl
with a time of 21 minutes. Kelly Doherty and Sarah Vincent
finished third and fourth for the girls.
The cross country team then defeated Bacon Academy 19-29
in a home mect. Shawn Malone won the 2.4 mile race in a time of
15:14 with Brian Caruso following in second witha time of 15:41.
Mike Wall placed third with a time of 16:55.
Lisa Faulkner finished fifth overall and was the top girls
finisher in a time of 17:46. Sarah Vincent was the fourth girl
finisher with a time of 20:35. Jackie Leroy, Leslie Crawford and
Shannon Thibodeau all ran well in their first race of the year.
In the next competition, the Vikings narrowly defeated New
London High School 26-29. Shawn Malone and Brian Caruso
plnced second and third respectively. A strong finish by Mike
Doucette and Adam Heath proved to be the winning margin.
On October II, Fishers Island defeated St. Thomas More 25-
30 with Shawn Malone and Brian Caruso once more leading the
way for the Vikings.
Elizabeth Andrews receiving award from /lay llarbor manager Jack Polo
Elizabeth Andrews Wins Club Award
The Maxwell Porter Participation Award given foroutstand-
ing performance in tennis, golf and swimming at the Hay Harbor
Club was won this summer by Elizabeth Andrews. The selection
was made by a staff vOle.
In other presentations made at the August Award Day at the
club: named most outstanding swimmer was Meredith Esser. Lap
chart winner was Sophie Woolston.
In sailing, the Kinsolving Award was won by Meg Mc-
Namara and the Gordon S. Murphy A ward was won by Nick Mal-
inowski.
In tennis, named most improved was Sayles Braga, while the
sportsmanship award was given to Gerard Rogan and Becca Par-
sons.
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Shawn Malone, above,~ passes a Williams School runner, while Lisa Faulkner
runs in srruJU pack with other St. Thomas More runners.
OLDRIDGE
Gudrn Crnlrr &. Florist
L[DYARD . NORWICH. [AST LYM[ . COLUMBIA
206 BOSTON POST RD
EAST LYME. CONN. 06333
TEL: 739.8397
Rte, 117
P.O. BOX 29. LEDYARD CENTER
LEDYARD. CONN 06339
Telephone Area Code 203.464.8400
WEEKLY DELIVERIES TO NEW LONDON FERRY
Your every gardening need:
Evergreens. Fertilizers. Tools.
Insecticides. Mulches.
Fruit. and Shade Trees.
~~~~,
20 FisherslswndGaz.dte
Nautical Notes
with Peter Rugg
G en tl e
readers will no
doubt forgive
the proud fa-
ther who be-
gins a column
with the repon
that the winner
of the coveted
first Island boat award for the 1991
Bullseye Class National Championships
was Courtney Rugg. In the regatta, hosted
by the Fishers Island Yacht Club in Au-
gust, 17 year old Counney took seeond
overall besting a number of former na-
tional champions, but unable to beat 72
year old Spencer Gowrie. It says some-
thing for the spon of yacht racing that skip-
pers at opposite ends of the age range
took the top two spots.
Fishers Island Yacht Club success-
fully hosted the Parsons Trophy regatta
and defended last year's win of this annual
team race against Wadawanuck Yacht
Club in Stonington and Watch Hill Yacht
Club. The local team was also triumphant
ovcr the Shelter Island Yacht Club sailing
at home in IOD's in early September.
Hurricane Bob came through Au-
gust 19, and caused damage to much of the
fleet which limited participation in late sea-
son racing. Undeterred, Jim Thompson
kept the pressure on in the Bullseye flcct
to take home the season championship and
the H.L. Ferguson Trophy. In the IOD
fleet, John Brim's Flicker sustained a hole
below the waterline and several broken
planks when she was blown up on the
rocks on the Nonh end of the peninsula.
John promptly arranged with Tom Buck-
ner to sail Duchess for the balance of the
season. The IOD flcct agrccd that given
the unusual circumstances, Brim could
combine scores in both boats. This led to a
seeond place finish for the August series
just behindNorwe~ian Wood which sailed
the last season races with ten inches bro-
ken off the bow.
Off Island, Brad Burnham, Charlie
Van Voorhis, Dave Burnham, and Steve
Hicks represented the IOD class in the
Championship of Champions regatta held
each year by the United States Yacht Rac-
John Burnham, center, displays the David F.llarris trophy with crew members DavidBurnham, left, andBrad
Gibbs, right, at Fishers h:land Yaeht Club reception over Labor Day weekend. They won/he trophy for being the
first Island boat in the Round the /slandRace. (Photo credit: Al Gordon)
ing Union. The regatta held in IOD's at
Northeast Harbor, Maine, is a competition
among 20national champions.
BurnhamNan Voorhis qualified as
a result of their July 1991 victory in the
IOD class North American championships
but finished well down in the fleel. There
was an extraordinarily high level of com-
petition. "It was incredible to find 19 boats
all rounding the first mark within seven
boat lengths," commented Van Voorhis.
The regatta was won by Jamie McCreary
from Larchmont, New York, a former IOD
class World Champion.
The San Francisco Yacht Club
played host to the 1991 IOD class World
Championships. Representing Fishers Is-
land were John Burnham, Many and Brad
Gibbs, Laurie Rubinow and Beth Scholle
of the Norwe~ian Wood syndicate which
won the qualifying series in July. Com-
petitors sail in boats made available by
members of the host fleel. San Francisco
Bay saw 25 to 30 knot breezes which put a
premium on effective crew work, the
avoidance of breakdowns, and the ability
to jury rig when something goes wrong.
Peter Bromby from Bermuda won with an
incredible string of four firsts and two sec-
onds. Bromby is the current four time
winner of the IOD class in Bermuda Inter-
national Race Week, and will represent
Bermuda in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Penny Simmons also from Bermuda was
second in the 13 boat competition, fol-
lowed by nine time IOD World Champion
Bill Widnall from Marblehead. Mass. The
Fishers Island team finished tied for fourth
Burnham said that they lacked the consis-
tent speed edge showed by the winners.
"We were first around the first mark
in the practice race, but when the bridle
for the topping lift on the spinnaker pole
let go, we were rolled by the next two
boats," said Burnham. "After we jury
rigged that, the turning block for the star-
board spinnaker sheet exploded and hit
me in the back. We were seventh at the
third bark, but were able to climb back to
fifth at the finish." Lauric Rubinow said
tbat they improved witb eacb race, "we
beat Widnall in four of the last five races,
but there were just not enough races to
catcb him and take third place."
Finally, results of tbe annual Round
Island Race. In cia" A, Baron Kidd's Vi-
~ was fifth just ahead of Martin Van
Hengel. Class B was a thrill for Talcott
Stanley to win sailing his former boat, now
Tom Cashe!'s~, nine minutes elapsed
time ahead of Will Rubinow sailing thcJ-24
Fearful Svmmetrv. In the IOD's, John
Burnham won in Norwe~ian Wood and
also took the Best Island Boat Trophy.
The Grevhound syndicate, Jeff Salzman,
James O'Brien, and Lucinda Herrick was
second. Bill Glendon's Shannon was fifth
in class, while Peter Brinekerhoff and Bill
Musser were fifth and eighth respectively
in their class.
Fishers Island Gazette 21
Flanagan Wins
Tennis Title
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Playing some of lhe besllCnnis seen
on Fishers Island for years, Michael
Flanagan simply overpowered the field to
win the men's tennis championships at the
Fishers Island Club in August. The Stan-
ford University tennis team member lost
only one game in the tournament. Mr.
Flanagan crushed defending champion
Scott Ketner in the finals6-1, 6-0. Earlier in
the tournament, Mr. Flanagan defeated
Clay Yonce in the quarter finals and Lin-
coln Frank in the semi-finals by identical 6-
0,6-0 scores.
Mr. Ketner rcached the finals by
defeating Mr. Flanagan's older brother
Chris, 7-6,6-3 in a tightly contested quarter
finals, and then vanquishing 1989 club
champion Howard Keenan 7-6, 6-1 in an
exciting semi-final. Mr. Ketner won the
first set tic-breaker by a 10-8 score.
In the ladies championship at the
Fishers Island Club, Catherine Carpenter-
Schulle successfully defended her title by
defeating Tory Patterson in a tightly con-
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Mir:haeIFk1.nagan
tested final 6-3, 7-5. Mrs. Schulte reached
the finals by eliminating Patty Wa1l6-3, 6-4
in the semi-finals. Mrs. Patterson over-
powered Liz Orr in the quarter finals 6-0,
6-2 and then edged 1989 champion Ella
Foshay in the semi-final 7-6,6-1.
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Scott Ketner
In the men's singles "A" tournament,
John Foster defeated Chris Di Bonaven-
tura 6-3, 6-4. Beeause of the large number
of entries, the men's singles field was di-
vided into a championship round and an
"A" round.
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Walsh Open Draws Big Field
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Upson Repeats as Golf
Champion
By John Peishoff
Peter Upson successfully defended
his men's club championship title at the
Fishers Island Club in August witha 3 and 2
victory over Charlie Arnold in the finals.
The victory extends Mr. Upson's champi-
onship streak to three in a row.
"It wasn't spcctacular golf," said Mr.
Upson of the finals. "I was simply able to
par the course to death and hang on for the
win,"
Mr. Upson reached the finals by
defeating Dave Scott in the first round and
Dave Wilmerding in the semi-finals. Mr.
Arnold eliminated Bill Hall in the first
round and Peter Baccile in the semi-finals.
The women's club championship
also had a repeat ring to it as Liz Shannon
successfully defended her title. Ms. Shan-
non defeated Charlotte McKim in the fi-
nals. Ms. Shannon defeated Ellen Conant
and Jennifer McDonough in the earlier
rounds. Ms. McKim eliminated Moffy
Gray and Missy Crisp earlier in the tourna-
ment.
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In the first night of the women's
championship Susie Stickney defeated
Bobsie Macleod and the second flight title
went to Ashley Harrington who defeated
Gina Campbell in the finals.
Winnersofrhe summer Twi/ight League were Lou
Lamb and RichErpenbeck.
The 4 th annual Walsh Park Opcn
drew a field of 114 golfers when it was held
on July 27 at the Hay Harbor Golf Club.
The open has raised more than $20,000 to
benefit the Walsh Park housing program.
The golfers were divided into 19
teams of six players each. The tournament
was played under a captain's choice format
with each player in the group allowed to
use only five clubs. The tournament pro-
duced a three-way tie for first. A putting
contest on the first green to determ inedthe
winners with the team of Harry Yerkes,
Jim Ski, Linda Edwards, Sandy Nicola,
Pam and J.R. Edwards being victorious.
Finishing second was the team of
Chip Burr, Matt Burr, Porter Goss, Randy
Childies, Brad Burr and Melinda Mettler.
In third place was the tcam of Mr. and Mrs.
OJ. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. H. Gruner,
Charlie Arnold and Corny Mettler.
In special categories, J.R. Edwards
finished closest to the pin on hole #3 and
Bruce Oswald was closest on hole #6.
Longest drive for the men was Jack Garra-
han, while for the women the longest drive
was recorded by Mary Robens.
22 Fishers /slnnd Gazette
Fishing Gossip
with John McCall
There were more people fish-
ing this fall than I've ever seen up here.
Go out at I am and there are two cars at the
Keypost, three at Olinda, two at Bar-
leyfield and so on.
Most of this is guys fishing live eels
for bass -- here's how it works: wrap a rag
around your hand, grab the eel behind the
gills, say "Sorry, fella", and stick a hook
through his head. Cast out and retrieve
slowly. Repeat as necessary.
As a variation, dead eels can be
rigged with anywhere from one to three
hooks using a combination of wire, twine,
nnd sometimes even tiny chains. The re-
SulLS can make Hannibal Lecter look like a
Cub Seoul. Anyway, now you know.
Around the Island, and especially in
the Race, False Albacore and Bonita con-
tinue to race around. These fish aren't
hard to catch if you use light line with no
leader. Shortly aftcr Labor Day, Bonita
started bombing in and out of Silver Eel
Pond. For about three weeks, you could
count on a feeding frenzy every sunset
with big fish harassing little fish, and grown
men failing to catch them with Blue Fish
tackle. Bonita do not eat Atom Poppers. At
least not when they're rigged with wire
leaders.
I notice more people Oy fishing this
year. Fly fishing is not as silly as it looks,
but it is prelly silly. Fly fishermen tend to
use 5500 rigs to catch $1 bluefish, and on
those occasions when the fish would
rather eat nics than plugs, they (the fisher-
men) can be pompous beyond belief.
But nics arc the easiest way to catch
Bonitaand False Albacore, and sometimes,
Bass and Bluefish. And since nobody can
casta Oy line much further than 100 feet, Oy
fishing tends to make you walk to out of the
way places where you can get out of the
wind and find fish in close. Good exercise,
if nothing else.
For fishermen who don't want to
walk atall, there is always Race Point. Last
Saturday night, I counted seven people
clustered out on the tip of the reef at sun-
set, with easily a dozen more shouldering
their way around shore. Not a prelly sight,
but where clse can you get out of your car
put down your beer, take three steps and
start plugging?
The deadline for this Gazelle issue
comes a month too early for the best fall
fishing, so there might be more in the next
issue. To date only Harry Yerkes has re-
ported releasing any big bass. If there are
any other noteworthy catches you want
reported, you have to let me know. Last
month, Jay Scanlon caught a big Spanish
Mackerel off the jelly on a Swedish Pimple
and not long ago I saw a Cormorant trying
to swallow a good sized Oounder (the
Oounder was eventually released).
Big Club Wins Summer
Hoop Title
By Mike Wall
As the weather was heating up, so
was the action in the Fishers Island School
gym this summer. The Big Club tearn won
the summer basketball league champion-
ship over the three other teams in the
league.
The Big Club defeated Hay Harbor
69-60 in the championship garne.
During the regular season, Village
Greenery and the Showtime tearn tied for
first with Hay Harbor and the Big Club tied
for third. But in the playoffs, the Big Club
upended Showtime and Hay Harbor upset
Village Greenery.
The starting five for the Big Club
were Reggie Jones, Eddie Kilbey, Dan
Gillan, Mike Wall, and Chris Schneider.
The summer league was set up by
Geoff Lanier. The games were refereed
by Mr. Lanier, his father Ken Lanier, and
Dave Denison. The regular season was
cut short by problems with the gym Ooor,
and the teams went directly into the play-
offs.
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High School Basketball
Prepares for Season
Fishers Island will be looking for-
ward to another successful season in 1991-
92 as the Vikings will return four starters
from their 16-4 club last year. Missing from
the team will be two time MVP winner
Brian Faulkner who is allending college at
U.N.H. Leading the charge this year will
be senior Jay CUShing and 10th grader
MikeyWall.
On the nip side, the girls will be re-
turning three starters from a year ago.
High scoring Lisa Faulkner and accurate
shooter Sandi Doherty will be leading the
way. Tough defense is expected from
Kelly Doheny and Shannon Thibodeau.
The boys tearn opens its 14-game
season on Dec. 11 at home against Sl.
Thomas More while the girls tcarn plays its
opener away against Windham Tech.
Fishers Island Gaulle 23
Hay Harbor Golf
By Dan Colvin
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The
J un ior CI ub
Championship
was held in late
August. The
matches were
amazingly close
after 32 matches.
We found that
28 of the
matches went to the last or extm holes.
The girls championship was captured by
Katharine Stickney over Melinda Mettler
in extra holes. The boys champion is Silas
Marshal who defeated Oakley Duryea on
the last hole! Silas Marshal also won the
junior endeavor cup which signifies the
junior who works hardest on his or her
golf game. The Pip Sinclair Sportsmanship
Trophy went to Becca Parsons who
showcd leadership all season long.
July Parent Child Tournament -
Group I Anne and Twig Stickney - 1st
place: Group II Becca and Robert Parsons
- 1st place
July Putting Champs: Ages 3-6 Bill
Keenan, Ages 7 - 8 Sayles Braga,Ages 11 -
12 Liese Fritee,Ages 9 - 10 Mark Andrews
July 2 Haler Champs
Boys Division - Bill Keenan, Girls
Division - Glenn Keenan
July 4 Holers Champs
Boys Division - Mark Andrews,Girls
Division - Elizabeth Andrews
July 9 Holers Champs
Boys Division - Helles Henderson,
Girls Division - Katharine Stickney
August Parent-Child Tournament -
Group I Michael and Steve McGeeney:
Group II Oakley and Jay Duryea
Pulling Champs:Ages 3 - 6 Bill
Keenan, Ages 7 - 8 Ella Foshay ROlhfeld,
Ages 9 - 10 Mark Andrews, Ages 11 - 12
Cutler Cook
August 2 Holers Champs
Boys Division - Ben Cameron, Girls
Division - Brianne Lyon
August4 Holers Champs
Boys Division - Mark Andrews,
Girls Division - Elizabeth Andrews
August9 Holers Champs
Boys Division - Silas Marshal, Girls
Division - Lulu Henderson
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Creativity was not in short supply during the IIOG lourflanu?nt over Labor Day weekend.
(PholO credils: Bill Furse and Ann Anthony)
Record Turnout for HOG
The 1991 HOG Tournament to
benefit the Island Health Project drew a
re<:ord field fo 168 players, who were di-
vied in to 28 six somes.
The event raised about S18,OOO for
the health project.
"There is a tremendous amount of
organizing and effort that goes into an
event like this and my committee and their
helpers deserve the lion's share of the
credit," said Ged Parsons, chairman of the
H.O.G.
The winners in a close contest were
the team of Ken Edwards Sr., LR. Ed-
wards, Chris Edwards, Frank Burr, Frank
Burr, Jr. and Peter Burr.
Golf For Scholars Held
yer. Their net score of 65 caused many
participants to suspect sand-bagging, es-
pecially since Mr. Peishoffwas a last-min-
ute replacement. Almost$3,000wasraised
for scholarships which will be awarded to
graduating seniors next June. The
F.1.T.A. would like to thank the members
of the Club who donated the use of their
carts, as well as Tony Bussman for their
help in making the tournameOl a success.
The Fishers Island Teachers' Asso-
ciation Scholarship Golf Tournament was
held on Sunday, October 6 at Fishers Is-
land Club. Although it was a rainy morn-
ing, the tournament was completed, and
everyone had as good a time as can be had
while playing golr. The winning team
consisted of Bill Haase, John Peishoff,
Dick Strouse, Harry Helier and Len Saw-
24 Fishers Island Gazelle
Moody
ContinuedfromPage 10
young person to develop, I would think
just from the standpoint of safety and the
ability to participate in other activities,
swimming is a core skill, and probably the
first that people ought to learn. We re-
cently sent a questionnaire to the member-
ship of the club and asked them about our
programs. And the weakest program we
have by far currently is our swimming
program. So that is obviously an important
change over the years.
Our two strongest programs, in my
view and in the view of the board, and this
is certainly confirmed by the question-
naire, arc, in order, golf and tennis. Our
golf program is probably unequalled any-
where that I know of. There just aren't
clubs that turn over thcir courses to young
golfers the way we turn over the Hay
Harbor course. We have a superb young
professional, as everyone knows, and he
has a superb program. And it's a unique
program for any club in the U.S. Our
tennis program had five pros this summer,
and we're turning out some wonderful
young tennis players. We have one
player who's nationally ranked.
Those arc two very strong pro-
grams. Swimming is our weakest.
Q: What's in the works for improv-
ing the swimming program?
A: Well, we're evaluating that.
There arc several problems with the swim-
ming program. The first is really the facil-
ity. A lot of people who grew up on the
island think that because they learned to
swim in what is called "The Tank" that
everybody else can also learn to swim in
The Tank. That's frankly simplistic. The
world is different. Swimming pools have
proliferated, and swimming facilities have
proliferated and this hasn't gone unno-
ticed on the part of our younger members.
We have a problem with the quality of that
facility and with its efficaciousness. The
water's cold, and there ean be monsters
down there. There are indeed jellyfish.
We have, therefore, what I would
describe, and what Jack Polo, our man-
ager, describes as quality control issues.
We certainly cannot control the quality of
the water in The Tank. We think, and all
the tcsting bears this out, that it's really
very good, but this whole problem of pol-
lution is not an exact science. We can't
guarantee that the water at the swimming
dock or at The Tank is going to be suffi-
cient to carry out a swimming program. So
that's one quality control issue.
Because The Tank isn't popular
with our young, we've gone to a method of
operating where the kids go to use the
private pools of some of our members.
These people arc very nice to let us use
their pools, but there again you have a
quality control problem. You have swim-
ming coaches, who you've hired because
they know how to swim not because they
know how to drive. driving groups of our
young swimmers to these swimming pools.
And then lastly, though people arc proba-
bly very careful about the sorts of chemi-
cals they put in their pools and about the
water quality of their pools, we really have
no control over these factors ourselves.
So we are in a position as a board
and as a club in which a program which
should be a core program, the key pro-
gram of the club, takes place in a facility
that's unpopular, and we arc anempting to
make up for that failure through jury-
rigged system of outside facilities which in
the process weaken our control over the
program.
Q: What do you think the club
membership's reaction would be to having
a pool at Hay Harbor, and what's your
opinion of the possibility of adding a pool
toexisting facilities?
A: Well, going back to this question-
naire. We asked people what they liked
about the club, what was important about
the club. A large portion said "We like its
family atmosphere, we like its traditions,
we like its understated character." As I
said before, the club is well over eighty
years old. Many people grew up there, as
their parents did. The club is probably
quitesimilartothe way it was in those days.
These members guard that heritage jeal-
ously, and they should. I think when
people think of a pool, they think of a
lrdditional pool. They think of a country
club pool; they think of bikinis, and gin and
tonics, and a linle pat on the ass. That kind
of stuff. If we did indeed conclude that a
pool was the best way to answer the prob-
lems that we have, we would not be at all
interested in a country club kind of pool.
We would be interested in an instructional
pool. A pool with a portion dedicated to
teaching young people, and a portion
devoted to lanes, with enough depth so
that racing dives could be learned and
kick turns could be practiced. No bikinis,
at least not many bikinis, absolutely no gin
and tonics. None. Strictly a low key in-
structional facility of good quality, but not
elegant and not done in a way that would
seriously change the character of the club.
We have actually hired a very
prominent designer to tell us if that could
be done on club property, where it could
be done, and what it would look like.
There arc other options. And we've
thought about them. We've thought about
joint ventures with other institutions on the
island, for a pool offsite. We've thought of
buying a property on the island that has a
pool. We've thought of using Dock
Beach. All of these arc possibilities, but
like siting a pool on club property, they
have significant drawbacks. In my view,
much greater drawbacks.
Q: How do you see Hay Harbor's
role as distinct from other clubs on the
island?
A: I think Hay Harbor epitomizes
the qualities that have always attracted me
to Fishers Island. The sense of family,
frequently across more than one genera-
tion, the learning of skills that can be used
throughout life, the gaining, at an early
age, an understanding of competition, the
strength that it can bring to character-
buildingulthink these arc characteristics
that our club has that are very different
from other clubs on the island. And I guess
at the end of the day with the membership
that I, toouwhen I was a kid in Maine I
went to a club that was not as nice as Hay
Harbor, but it also was an understated
place, whcre people sat on the porch and
played a lot of tennis and did a lot of swim-
ming together. where there were tears at
the end of the seasonul think these arc
very important aspects of Hay Harbor.
Q: How fast is membership grow-
.
ing?
4
A: It's not. Three years ago, the
board adopted for the first time a member-
ship limit. Basically, whatwedidwastakea
year when our facilities were fulsomely
used, and we said that's probably about all
we can accommodate. How many people
do we have? And we totaled it up, and we
put a linle range around it, and the range
happened to be 425-435 or 440 members.
And we felt that our club, configured the
way it was--and we weren't about to
change itucouldn't accommodate com-
Fishers Island Gazette 2S
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Steve McGeerli!ydisplays his artwork, above left, while B ill Furse accompanied by his mother Pam shows his photographs during the arts and crafts show held at the Fishers
Islandgrunduring the summer. (Photo credit: Al Gordon)
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fortably any more families than that. Atthe
same time, the whole growth plan was
being put together on the island, and I
think it's very consistent with the growth
plan to limit the membership the same way
the big club has limited its membership.
Q: SO it has become more difficult to
get into the club?
A: From the standpoint of people
who are applying, it's not been terribly
difficult over the last several years. And
the rcason it's not been is because we've
had some resignations. Resignations pri-
marily reflect some modifications in re-
quirements for absentee membership.
The changes in those requirements re-
sulted in some resignations by absentee
members. That will come to an end, one of
these days, and when it does, I won't say it
will be more difficult. The process will be
the same, but the wait will be longer.
Q: Legacies can no longer be as-
sured of membership in the way they were
before. . .
A: All things being equal, they'll
continue to be given preferential treat-
ment but they can no longer be assured of
membership. I think it's important to say,
and we've talked about this at the board
levcl a lot in the last year, we don't want to
have a club membership that looks like it
was made up on the set of "Delivcrance."
We want to continue to have new blood,
not only coming onto the island, but into
the club membership. We haven't set a
ratio between legacies and non-legacies,
p
but we have adopted the policy of taking
on each year some people who are not
legacies of the club. Not necessarily new
to the island, however; I think the days of
being able to walk onto Fishers Island and
join one of the clubs are over. I mean, you
can't go to any nice community and expect
to join the country club the year you walk
in. It just doesn't happen, and it shouldn't
happen to us. But where we can identify
people who are simpatico with the mem-
bership, who have been coming to the
island, who have developed friendships
and relationships on the island, and who
are committed to the island, we want very
much to take people like that into the
membership though they may not be lega-
cies.
Q: What's the situation with dues?
Are they going up substantially versus in-
nation?
A: I don't think we have raised dues
fortwo to three years, and we've had inna-
tion of 4-5% in this country during the
same period. So we've certainly lagged
innation. I think it would be imprudent to
let that go on a long time.
Q: SO you antieipate increases in the
future?
A: At some point.
Q: When the club hired Tony Shep-
herd the idea seemed to be to go with
manager with more professional expcri.
ence. And yet with Jack Polo, the new
manager, you seem to have gone back to
the Hay Harbor tradition of hiring some-
one within the academic community. Does
that signal a position of any kind?
A: No, not at all. Asamatteroffact,
Jack had managed a club for three years
which was very similar in character to Hay
Harbor. And for a period of time before
that he owned a summer day camp for kids.
So he indeed has been extremely experi-
enced in managing facilities like ours. So
to that extent, he is a professional manager.
In addition to that, though, if you look at
what Hay Harbor is, to a large extent the
club is an instructional facility. Jack's
whole background, unlike some of the
other academics we've had, has been in
coaching, and recently as chairman of the
department of athletics at a large high
school on Long Island. So I would argue
that perhaps of all the managers that I can
remember, he has one of the better back-
grounds.
Q: How do you see your particular
mission as president of the club?
A: I don't have any hidden agenda.
What I have tried to do is to continue the
pattern set by my predecessors--to man-
age the club as professionally as possible.
And secondly, as it has beeome more eom-
plex and demanding, to delegate aggres-
sively to other board members specific
responsibilities for the club's functions. I
think that we have a wonderful board now.
And they're very hard working. If we
didn't have people like David Patterson
See Moody on Page 32
26 Fishers Island Ga:utt~
--- Fishers Island Library Essay Contest Winners
Emptiness
by Laura Kimberly (Age 14)
The crisp tingle in the air marks the
return of fall. I hear the door slam and
hear the car drive away but I see nothing.
A bleak and desolate feeling overcomes
me as I sit silent and alone. Cold rain
washes over me and tosses the leaves
about but I pay it no heed for I know this
feeling of solitude.
The feeling deepens as the snow
begins to Oy and only then am I truly alone
for every living creature has Oed from this
barren windswept spot. The snow piles
deeper and deeper around me, the trees
stand bare and black against the wintry
sky, and I become part of the frozen land-
scape.
The cold penetrates my very core,
almost paralyzing my thoughts and feel-
ings as spiders spin web after web, each
silver strand glittering with a thin sheen of
frost. I am almost lulled to sleep by the
sound of the relentless winds which never
cease to blow.
My only friend is the foghorn, a
beacon in the night to weary sailors tossed
about by an icy sea. Its sound is comforting
and reassures me that dawn will come and
that we have not been plunged into ever-
lasting darkness.
And then it happens. One day isa bit
wanner than the previous. My excitement
begins to rise with the temperature. A few
pale green spears cautiously poke them-
selves out of the warming earth among the
dirty crusts of snow and then all at once
nature seems to burst forth. The days
grow progressively hotter, filled with the
sweet scent of honeysuckle, until finally I
hear the long-awaited noise in the dis-
tance. The car turns into the driveway and
soon my shutters are thrown wide open
and I am being cleaned from top to bottom.
Summer and my inhabitants have re-
turned.
My First "urricane
by Julie SehlaOy (Age 9)
At first my hurricane story sounds
like everyone else's.
All day we prepared for the hurri-
cane. We went to the store and almost
everything was gone! While we were at
the store my grandpa and uncle were at
thc hardware store buying tape. When we
got home we lllped up the windows. Then
we brought all the bikes and chairs in from
oULside. We got lots of OashlighLs and
candles. I felt scared at first.
But now my story is different. In-
stead of being home scared all day by the
storm we deeided to go to the school gym-
nasium. I felt much safer at the school. I
liked it a lot better because more families
were there. We played a card game of
pig, 3 thirds-of a ghost and 20 Questions.
We roamed around the school. The class-
rooms were neat, the art work was great.
Looking out the doors at the storm was fun
but not too scary because we were safe.
Afterwards I was in shock that no
one got hun. It was very hard to get home
because our usual route was taken up by a
telephone pole. We had to go thc Hay
Harbor way. When we got home we
looked at the house (Q see if any damage
was done. When we saw nothing we were
relieved. When we were home for a half
an hour my sister Ellen and my grandpar-
ents went and looked at town. When they
got home they told us to go and look
around with my aunt Lolly and mom. We
gotin thecarandsaw the swimming dock at
Hay Harbor. The turn board was Oipped
up. We went to the grocery store and saw
the tree down over a car and boat. This is
what happened in our hurricane.
July
by Linda Daniel (Adult winner)
I lie on warm sand
I hear waves crashing
children laughing
seagullsealling
pcople moving quietly nearby talk-
ing softly
Air that seems heavy creates a spell
around me.
Now, another is real to me here:
the One who is above.
I'm alen, aware of a greater One.
I feel humble, grateful.
What I need to fill empty spaces
within
comes not from others (husband,
children, friends)
Before and after them, 1 am still
alone.
It is when I look up to
the One above me, ahead of me,
THE head of me
that I know a quieting, a true peace-
fulness.
Now, after these moments of
pausing in my mind,
shifting my thoughts out, up, I'm
new.
Everything around me comes to life
in a different way.
As the wind blows clouds and fog
and mistaway
my thoughts arc clear.
I am refreshed, recharged.
I thank God.
Thank you God Almighty for the
sky
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The Malinowskis catching up withlheir reading in t he children 's .~ection ollhe library. (PhOIO: Ann IJanes)
Fishers Island Gazette 27
St. Luke's-Roosevelt
is building a
stronger hospital
for a healthier
New York. _..
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Town Officials Up For
Election
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Two council seats and the supervi-
sor's post are the major positions to be
filled in the town elections to be held on
November 5.
First-term Supervisor Scott Harris, a
Republican, is being challenged by Frank
Kujawski, who is running on the Dcmo-
crutic and Conservative lines.
Mr. Kujawski is the former president
of the Southold Board of Trustees, which
oversees wellands issues in lhe lown.
In town council races, Democratic
incumbents Ellen Latson and Ruth Oliva
are being challenged by Republicans Al-
ice Hussie and Joe Lizewski. Mrs. Hussie
is a former president of the Riverhead-
Southold League of Women Voters and is
a former school teacher.
Dr. Lizewski maintains a dcnlnl
practice in Cutchogue.
The top two vote-getters of the four
candidates will win election to the board
for four-year terms. Fishers Island Coun-
cilman Ray Edwards is one of the two other
incumbents who is not up for re-election.
Garbage, as it was in the last election
two years ago, appears to be the major
issue in beth the supervisor and council
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races. The Town of Southold faces a
$850,000 fine from the state Department of
Environmental Conservalion because il is
refusing to close its landfill as ordered by
the DEe.
"The problem is not how to get
around handling our solid waste," Me.
Kujawksi told the Suffolk Times. "We arc
looking at solid waste as a resource. The
GOP looks at it as a nuisanace."
Mr. Kujawski said the town should
negotiate a settlement with the DEC and
should cooperate wi~h other East End
lawns in a composling venlure.
Mr. Harris said the Republican-con-
trolled Town Board's fight with the DEC
over landfill closure has "saved U1xpayers
54,000 a day."
Mr. Harris told the Suffolk Times
lhal his main mission is lo save lhe taxpay-
ers'money.
The supervisor's poSl carries a sal-
ary of 554,709 a year and is held for a two-
year term.
Republican council candidates Mrs.
Hussie and Dr. Lizewski also support the
town's fight against the DEC orderto close
the town landfill. Both Mrs. Oliva and Mrs.
Latson say the town should negotiate with
the DEC over the current lawsuit.
"Let's sit down and negotiate with
51. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
Is pleased to provide a physician
year-round on Fishers Island.
,ro,
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the Department of EnvironmentaI Conser-
vation now," Mrs. Latson told the Suffolk
Times adding that she fears Southold will
lose its court challenge. "Shelter Island's
fines were negotiated down, and I think
the DEC would negotiate with Southold."
In other elections, County Execu-
tive Patrick Halpin is being challenged in
his re-election bid by Republican Robert
Gaffney, a state Assemblyman, and Con-
servative William Kelly, mayor of Asha-
roken. The challengers arc blaming
Democrat Halpin for being responsible
for a huge increase in county taxes in the
late 80's during Mr. Halpin's first term in
office.
"Gus" taking a midday napat llay llaroor.
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28 Fishers Island Gazelle
n School Notes --
By Susan Stepanek
Fishers Island students were hard at
work this summer raising money for their
senior trips. The eighth graders sold daf-
fodils during August and September, and
arc now selling ice cream, twice a week, to
the high school during lunch. The tenth
grade will begin selling poinsettias on Oc-
tober 21. The Senior class spent their
summer selling candy at the movie theater.
The seniors will also be holding a car wash
on October 12, and a POI Luck Dinner on
October 18.
The 1991-1992 StudentCounci! was
elected on September 26. The officers arc
as follows: Secretary-Brian Caruso,
Treasurer-Fred Whitlock, Vice-Presi-
dent-James Cushing II, President-Susan
Stepanek. The officers have already
begun preparing for the annual Spook
House, which will be held on October 26.
Several new students joined the
school population this year along with two
new faculty members. The new students
are in 6th grade Nicholas Worst; in 7th
grade Kevin Caldwell, Lesley Crawford,
and Jaclyn Leroy; in 9th grade Tara Cook,
Donald Gray, and Susan Stoehr; in 12th
grade David Montessi. Our new faculty
members arc Ms. Hess, the new foreign
language teacher, and Mrs. Suedmeier,
the new elementary aid.
Last but nOlleast the Fishers Island
Yearbook staff is looking for pcople who
would like to either be a yearbook patron
or run a message board. If you arc inter-
ested please contact Susan Stepanek at
7319 and we'll be happy to help you.
-- Faculty Notes --
This column is prepared by the fac-
ulty of the Fishers Island School to inform
Islanders of some of the activities in which
teachers have been participating. In this
column, three teachers will be highlighted:
Mrs. Laura Edwards and Mrs. Sandra
Towle who attended a workshop spon-
sored by the Northeast Center for Chil-
dren at the Greenfield Center School in
Massachusetts, and Mr. John Weil who is
teaming up with NASA to present a series
of workshops at Pfizer on aerospace tech-
nology.
Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Towle, pri-
mary grade teachers, spent a week in-
volved in activities in elementary school
social studies and science areas. The ac-
tivities and curriculum were developed to
meet students' individual needs at their
developmental level rather than to be
grade level specific. Elementary students
are given the chance to observe real life
roles, work together as a group, try to
reason, think, and draw conclusions based
Concert Scheduled
The Chrisunas concert at the Fishers
Island school is scheduled for December
13. The concert will be held in the eve-
ning, but the exact time has not been
scheduled yet, according to school offi-
cials. Students from the pre-kindergarten
through the senior class will participate in
the concert.
on concrete objects and ideas. Both teach-
ers found the workshop to be of great
value and have many practical uses for the
Fishers Island School.
Mr. Weil's programs at Pfizer focus
on incorporating model rocketry into cur-
ricula for New London County math and
science teachers. Concepts such a, New-
ton's Laws and force propulsion are pre-
sented in this approach which was origi-
nally developed for seventh grade tech-
nology courses at Fishers Island School.
This is Mr. Well's second year with
Pfizer. Last year he presented several
workshops on hydroponic greenhouses
called "hydrotubes." Also, high school
students may elect to continue their study
of hydroponics through research and de-
sign of their own hydroponic systems.
Many area school districts arc inter-
ested in learning the many ways to inte-
grate science, math and teehnology from
the programs already in place at Fishers
Island School.
Islander on Dean's List
Linda Zanghetti has been named to
the Dean's List at Simmons College in
Boston for the spring 1991 semester.
Linda is a senior majoring in physical ther-
apy.
Students Take Over Rodent
Program
As a community service, the Fishers
Island School Junior Class has assumed
the administration of the Civic Associa-
tion'sRodentControlProgram from Mr. Al
Dawson, who recently resigned after 20
years as program manager.
Unfortunately, Fishers Island sup-
ports a large rodent population, and while
there may be a reluctance to admit it, even
the neatest of properties can be a home to
rats and mice. Control of these rodents
must be a continuing program to be effec-
tive, and proper maintenance of feeder
stations is an integral part of this program.
The students (Brian Caruso, Ian
Thoma" Eric White and Fred Whitlock)
along with their advisor Mr. Denison will
be distributing the poison bait free of
charge like Mr. Dawson used to do. They
will also be building and selling the feeder
stations as a fund-raiser for their class.
The fecders will be built out of 3(4
inch exterior plywood, painted with weath-
erproofing, and sold for $20.00 each. Each
SLation comes with directions for proper
placement and maintenance. Please call
the school (7444) or Mr. Denison (7514) to
order your feeder station or to request
poison bait.
Robert
&
Louisa Evans
Licensed Real
Estate
Sales - Rentals
(516) 788-7101
Fishers Island Gazelle 29
Nature Watch
By Ed Horning
t
I
On the morning of July 22 at 10
am, we three, Albert Gordon, Sr., Albert
Gordon, Jr., and I ventured to the bird
habiUlt eSUlblished along the waterway
whieh joins Ocean Pond and Beach Pond
to the Block Island Sound. Here, there is
little or no water except at the highest tides.
On tlle mud natalong the waterway were a
number of shorebirds and terns. Among
the shorebirds were six black-bellied
plovers without their black bellies. Here
they were resting, having arrived from
tundra regions on their way to winter
homes to the south of Fishers Island.
There were also semi-pal mated plovers ,
semi-palmated sandpipers, and two dow-
itchers all also on their way southward but
stopping here to rest and to feed. Two
common terns were sitting on the beach
and several least terns were on the mud
nat and some new overhead occasionally
hovering and then diving for fish. The
least tern is an endangered species and
more about it later.
As we were watching the mud nat a
small pale-colored plover new toa mud nat
that was quite close to us. It had a band
I
t
I
I
I
I
I
I
Albert Gordonfocuses inonsome nesting birds wuterthesupervision of Ed Horning. (Ph%: Al Gordon, Sr.)
across its breast. It was a piping plover, a
bird that has become very rare across the
United States and since 1980 has been
very rare on Fishers Island.
The piping plovers were quite nu-
merous on Fishers Island up through the
1970's. BUllhenaboutl980,thepopulation
all over the United SUltes and on Fishers
Island rather suddenly plummeted. Atthis
point a little history is relevam.
Each year, in early spring, the pip-
ing plovers arrived on Fishers Island, a
lone male bird first and later the females.
Pairs then mated and the female usually
laid four eggs. The nests were on the
upper parts of the beaches and often near
or in a least tern colony. In late May and in
June the young hatched and were soon
scurrying on the sands of the beaches.
Late in June and through July much
larger numbers of the plover would ap-
pear on cerUlin beaches such as South
Beach and the Beach Pond outlet and
sometimes on the runways of the airport.
Then after 1979, large numbers no
See 1/orninK on Page 32
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30 Fishers Island Gazette
Message from
Carol Ridgway
Presiden! a/the Fishers Island
CjyicAssocUzziarl
The Is-
land has sur-
vi ved another
summer and I
have survived
chairing my first
Civic Associa-
tion meeting, I
like to think they
both went well.
Speedy Met-
tler's last "Message From the President"
anicle in the Gazette elicited a great deal
of dialogue pro and con privately and
publicly at the above mentioned meeting.
This openness is very healthy and should
be fostered as residents must be willing to
verbalize their feelings in a constructive
way. Understanding cannot be achieved
through silence and blank stares.
The Growth Plan is frequently men-
tioned by the Civic Assn. I was astounded
when in receipt of the last President's files
at the vast amount of work that went into
the formulation of the plan. I'm not sure it's
a 100% perfect or realistic document but it
is a start. The Community should under-
take an equal amount of time reevaluating
and implementing more of the ideas and
suggestions contained in it. The first prem-
iseand probably the most important is con-
cerning maintenance of a healthy year
round population and frequently mentions
growth. It docsn't state it but it really mean
"controlled" growth because the plan and
most islanders do not want to deal with the
unpleasant aspects of growth as it occurs in
most areas. We do not like strangers wan-
dering our streets or docking in our waters
so individuals or businesses have to en-
courage the "right kind of people to live
here". Housing is always mentioned as the
prime deterrent for not attracting more
people to live here but in thcory the fami-
lies who move into Walsh Park open up
their units for other year round residents.
An important truth in attracting new resi-
dents is that more husbands arc interested
in living on the Island than their wives.
(Libbie Cook addressed this issue per-
fectly in her report to the Island Growth
Plan Committee.) I would be interested to
find out if this might be true of the Ferry
Crew and the off island men who work for
the contractors. Some of these problems
might be solved if these women could get
Professionals
serving
professionals.
off the Island to work, go to school, etc.
and the commuter boat issue is bound to
resurface.
It was heartening to see so many
Island residents at the Bd. of Ed. meeting
last night. The issue was whether or not
the Board should conduct a feasibility
study of options for F1HS. The Board's
plans have been so amorphous and the
impetus started by some community par-
ents who want to send their children off
island at the School District's expcnse that
fears arose that plans were afoot to close
the HS (which would never be able to
reopcn at the size it has been for quite a
few years). Community members spoke
for both sides and I have to agree with the
sentiment expressed that any study and
effort should be put into increasing the
magnet program and improving the aca-
demic and social education of the children
on the Island with, of course off island
experiences). I feci this would contribute
to a healthier and happier atmosphere
here for all.
Stay Informed!
Subscribe to the Gazette.
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FISHERS ISLAND, NEW YORK 0.3.0
Fishus Island Gautte 31
~
School Board
Continuedfrom Page 5
Range Plan for Technology in Elementary
and Secondary Education, the School
Improvement Reviews, and The Compact
for Learning, in an effort to extract infor-
mation and ideas appropriate for us.
. Finally, although I am most suppor-
tive of initiatives to examine a range of
educational options, I do not want this sup-
port to be mis-interpreted to suggest that
the school docs not provide a quality educa-
tion. Nor has the B.O.E. identified any
problems with programs and services, other
than the fact that we service a relatively
small number of students.
The N.Y.S. Registration Review
remarks "In essence, each student follows
an individual education plan." The current
school Superintendent has stated "Children
attending F.I. School have the opportunity
asagroup to take ad vantageofa system that
provIdes more individual attention to each
student than perhaps any other publ ie school
in the Country."
. We should take full advantage of this
unIque opportunity and further enhance the
quality education this community can
proudly provide.
~
I
A. I
JOHN
GADA
Gener.1 Cont'~c1ing Inc
Phone 7231
...
htolbhshf'd 1946
'10
.
,
Sarah Malinowski:
In 1973 we had an enrollment of 100
Island students, K-12. By 1979 our enroll-
mentwasdownto62. Wenowhave47and
10 of these arc from two families. Two
families moved from the island this year
because of our High School. Already sev-
ernl e1emeotary parents have stated they are
not planning to send their children to this
High School. We will continue to lose
families and students if we do not modify
our existing High School. Our school has to
be an incentive for young couples to move
to the Island and a reason for families to
stay.
We are at the critical point. We can
continue to be an aspect of the decline of
this community or we can decide to be a
major part of its future. Yes, I am in favor
of exploring the alternatives to our existing
high school program.
There are many options we could
investigate that could make our school the
dynamic place it should be. For example,
one alternative would be to have an aca-
demic focus to our magnet program. Such
as creating an educational center for high
school students in association with The
Long Island Sound Study. (A Federal,
State and local initiative to restore and
protect the Sound through public outreach
and education.) We could attract children
from Southern New England who want to
specialize in environmental issues from
scientific, management and/or political
angles. The Ferry District might give us
their building to be turned into a dormitory
and additional housing for teachers and
visiting expens. Maybe we could rent one
or two of the other buildings in that area for
laboratory and additional classroom space.
Maybe we could run an express ferry to
make this possible.
A study might find that we, the school,
could be the low impact, environmentally
sound mdustry that would revitalize this
Island.
I feci the adults in this community
have a responsibility to our children to
research every possible idea that would
help us achieve a great High School expe-
nence for our children. The board mem-
bers, the administration and the teachers
must be willing to work together. What
they say is true -- "If you arc not part of the
solution, you arc part of the problem!!"
Mary lIorn:
S,ince r~ceiving your letter regarding
a quesllonnmre on the options of the
See School Board on Page 37
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Groton/New London Airport
Groton, CT 06340
32 f'ishuslslandGazeUe
Horning
ConlinuedformPage29
longer occurred on the beaches of Fishers
Island. Indeed, the last young piping
plover was alone one on the beach of the
beach Pond outlet seen on June 29, 1980.
Through the 1980's, an occasional lone
piping plover was seen on Fishers Island,
but none nested. Lone birds were seen on
June 9, 1987, August23, 1988, and on May
21, 1989 . You can well imagine the delight
I felt upon seeing the piping plover land
on the nearby mud flat.
To get a closer look the three of us
walked westward about 50 yards to a place
int he stream where it was shallow enough
to wade across. We waded through an
abundant growth of an algae called sea
leuuee. We also noted that the sand on the
bouom supported thousands of a species
of snail called the mud snail. Each one was
blackish and about an inch long and some-
what barrel-shaped. We then walked
Ihrough a colony of very aromatic pink
nowers called salt marsh fleabane. They
have the odor of camphor. They had re-
cently come into flower.
We were now near the mud flat, but
far enough away so as not to disturb the
bird life. They continued to do their thing
mainly resting and feeding. We observed
about 10 lea't terns. Parents came in with
Ihree-ineh long silvery fish in their beaks.
Each parent would land near the young,
and place the fish in their open mouths.
As we were watching the terns, six
adult piping plovers appeared on the flat.
A little laler looking southward along the
outlet, I saw what made my heart beat
fasteru a liule nuffwith legs running on the
beach, then another lillle fluff, ad then a
third liule fluff. They were young piping
plovers probably no more than two weeks
old and perhaps not even that. Here was
evidence of the fIrst nesting of the piping
plovers on Fishers Island since 1980.
It was rather difficult to get the total
number of least terns as some were on the
sands and others on the flats while others
flew overhead. However, a few days
later, while on a nature walk, we say 30 to
40 least terns rise into the air in a frenzy.
Very soon, an osprey appeared carrying a
three-foot stick in its talons. The osprey
was chased from the colony. Probably
every adult least tern took part in the col-
ony's defense. There must have been 30
adults in the colony and perhaps 10 to 20
young. I was thrilled to see the adults and
the young of this colony for the least tern
also had not been nesting on the Island for
the past few years.
In the years prior to 198 I, the least
terns had nested in the Beach Pond outlet.
but then moved about 1985 to the ea,tern
part of the Island nem Mud Pond. There,
they experienced two productive yems
before being flooded out two successive
years by exceptionally high tides. They
no longer nested in the Mud Pond area.
During the past three years I have only
ocea,ionally seen the least tern on the Is-
land almost always over one of the ponds.
Now, late July 1991 both the lea't
tern and the piping plover have returned
to the Beach Pond outlet area and both
species arc nesting there. Two endan-
gered species both nesting in one small
area tells us that it is indeed a rare habitat,
one to be protected and preserved.
Connecticut Lobstermen Cited
Four off-Island lobstermen were
ciled for infractions of fishing regulations
in August, according to the state police.
Philip Obriskie of Ledyard, CT.,
and Roland Hebering of Norwich, CT.,
were cited for lobstering in restricted wa-
lers, said state Trooper Tom Fuller. Mr.
Obriskie plead guilty before Judge Ray
Edwards and paid a $ 100 fine, while Mr.
Hebering has yet to appear before Judge
Edwards, the trooper said.
Michael Niekrash of Madison, CT.,
was charged with filing a false address to
obtain a New York State fishing permit,
said Trooper Fuller. Mr. Niekrash had his
license revoked and was fined $200 by the
state Deparunent of Environmental Con-
servation, the trooper added.
Kevin Coyne, with an address listed
as Farrningdale, L.I., was issued a citation
for failure to properly mark his lobster
traps. He ha, yet to appear before Judge
Edwards, according to police.
Lobstermen must be New Yark resi-
dents to obtain a state license to fish for
lobsters off Fishers Island. Island lobster-
men have frequently complained thaI
Connecticut residents have been fishing
around the Island, circumventing regula-
tions by Claiming a New York residence.
Moody
ContinuedfromPage25
working on the pollution problem, ar
people like Speedy Melller jumping in and
helping to turn the swimming program
around, at least from the standpoint of staff-
ing and contentuifwe didn't have all those
people doing those things, no one would
take the job, in this day and age, of being
president. You couldn't do it.
There's an old saying about being
president of the club. If you don't have a
strong board and a strong manager, you
have to do everything as president. If you
do have a strong board and a strong man-
ager, and we do, then it's a job you can
handle.
So I think to the extent that I've had
an agenda, it's really been that: to increase
the professionalism with which the club is
run, to make sure the decisions we make as
a board arc well-thought out and well-re-
searched, that experts arc consulted when
they should be, and to involve the board
much more than they ever were involved
in the past. And lastly, although I hired
Tony Shepherd and was proud of him, I
had a lot to do with hiring Jack Polo and on
a scale of one to ten, on his first season, he
was an cleven.
Q: What about the job appeals to
you?
A: It goes back to what we were
talking about earlier. I'm realistic enough
to knowuparticularly having had teen-
agers there--some of the bad SlUff that
goes on on the island. But I'm also a con-
servative republican and I believe
strongly in family values and this genera-
tional thing we were talking about, in a
selling where people arc polite and sports-
manlike and good athletes, as well. I be-
lieve in those values. If I am capable of
bringing some management skills to the
club to make it run more effectively, then I
have done a lotto insure the continuity of
those values on the island.
Have Any Story Ideas,
Suggestions?
Contact the Gazette at
Box 573, Fishers Island!
Fishers IsliJnd Gazette 33
>
Wild Things on Fishers
By Ann Walsh Anthony
The ear is packed. The refrigerator
is cleaned out. The last available reserva-
tion for Labor Day weekend is on your
dash. The kids arc loaded, and the cat is
missing. What do you do?
The animal lover in you searches
the yard and surrounding acreage trying
to avoid a scene of teary eyed childrcn
and an empty kennel cab boarding the
ferry. The pragmatist in you knows the
ferry leaves with or without you and your
cat. Its a scenario that has been played out
in many driveways for years.
Many times this scene ends happily
with the lost feline being found by a neigh-
bor. But what about the pet who gets left
behind and is not reunited with its family.
Where docs it end up?
In geometrically increasing propor-
tions, strays arc running wild on Fishers
Island. Joggers and walkers arc reporting
and spotting more stray cats allover the Is-
land. One resident. who wishes to remain
anonymous, was hospitalized for lacera-
tions on the leg after an attack by a stray cat
this past spring.
Bob and Louisa Evans spolleda cata
year ago with its paw caught in its collar.
The bedraggled animal living under the
liquor store with one paw incapacitated
was unable to hunt. An unidentified work-
man wearing thick gloves caught the ani-
mal and tried to free its paw. The fright-
ened cat bit the Good Samaritan through
the work gloves. Efforts were immediately
aborted. Incidentally, the cat was spolled
this spring by Bob Evans collarless and
looking healthy.
Otis Horn is the gamekeeper on
I
I-
..
I
CATCH THE BOATING SPIRIT THIS SUMMERI
Two raccoons ona nocturnal ramble outsiea Fishers Is/and home. (P holocredit: Dick.Edwards)
Fishers Island and when asked about
strays, told the Gazelle"... when they come
into my territory (the sportsman club) I
destroy them. An animal left to its own
devices will revert to the wild and will kill
every bird, every small animal it encoun-
ters. Wild animals will breed and produce
morcwildanimals."
Mr. Horn went on to say that a stray
in the wild is subject to rabies.
Incidents of rabid bats and raccoons
attacking cats and dogs are increasing
throughout the Northeast. In early May, a
dog in Southold was destroyed after it had
been billen by a rabid bat.
Therc is no dog warden on Fishers
Island. There is no pound. In fact the
nearest pound with jurisdiction over Fish-
ers Island is in Southold.
Judith Terry, the town clerk, told the
Gazette that it would be covercd by the
town contract with the North Fork Animal
Welfare League although there is no
mention of Fishers Island in the contract.
When contacted, the NFA WL was
unaware that Fishers Island was within
their jurisdiction. Ms Terry's office said it
would be the town's responsibility to pick
up and capture a stray, especially one sus-
pected of carrying rabies, while the
NFA WL felt the stray would have to be
captured by our local constable or state
trooper, and then transported by the cap-
turing officer to the pound in Southold.
Our local constable and state troopers
were unable to be reached for comment.
What do you do if a raccoon comes
around (and more and more problems with
raccoons arc being reported)? Mr. Horn
recommends contacting the Conservation
Department before trying to control the
animal.
"Its a catch 22 situation," Mr. Horn
said. "You don't want the raccoons around
your home because of the threat of rabies.
But you don't want to handle the animal
either, because of the threat of rabies."
Tolophono 7S28
Now offering laser sailboats
OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 8:00-4:30
34 Fishers Island Gaulle
Around the Town
C:c. ..~. ~j~'-=~i~~~i:'iZ~
- ~ILL ~d:i::8+1 - _~~n",~?=",."" HIm 'I II
I ~ "~. -Jj:rn:j ji::+~ : ~~~ ~~1@" !EL-S'llj !
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----~---_._----~-------~----~------------------------~-------~
with Ann Walsh Anthony
1.~.I-f~V':11
!Il'
i '.~"
~, l
l .
On a
beautifully sunny
August 17. (given
Ihemildfallwe've
had il sounds un-
grateful to long
for beautifully
sunny days) Carol
Spadora and Paul
Giles were mar-
ried. Whal a fele! Those in the know tell
us that among a lot of other wedding day
excilement, the newly weds received a
police escorl from the church to their
Pequot House receplion.
Kim Ogden and Mark Hankins were
married in Pennsylvania on September 7.
The Hankins, who live in Washington,
D.C., honeymooned skiing in Chile.
Alison Burr and Chauncey Goss
were married on Fishers on OClober 5. It
seems that Ihe pre and post nuplial cele-
brations turned the wedding into a three.
day event.
William McCance and Suzanne Bi-
elle arc engaged and planning a January
wedding in Boston.
Ashley Ridgway and Karel Mal-
inovsky are engaged and planning a late
June wedding on Fishers.
...
In the "boy is my face red" depan-
ment, I'd like 10 note that the population
explosion we've been witnessing of lale
has made it nearly impossible 10 keep up
with the new arrivals. Having said Ihat,let
me tell you about Bill and Loise Martling's
baby. William Kent Marlling II was born
on February 8, 1991, and weighed a strap-
ping 10 lb 4 oz. 22.1/4" was Ihe official
length.
Brooks Henning Walker was born
on May 7, 199 L Brooks weighed 7 lb. on
his birthday. Brooks' parents are Alyson
and Alex Walker and his big brother is
David.
Mary and Ned Harvey had a boy on
September 15 making Ashlon a big
brother. Alexander Shippen Harvey was
born weighing 8 Ib 5 oz.
Amy and Wailer Manny had a third
on Seplember 18. Celia Wilmerding
Manny weighed 8 Ib I oz. Elder siblings
Nick and Ellie are sure to be pleased by
this new addition.
Arc you ready for this? Stu and Deb
Borgert had their second and third on
September 26 (There must be something
in the water). Baby Alixandra was born at
3: 12 pm and weighed 4 lb. 6 oz. and baby
Rebekah came at 3: 14 pm and weighed 2
lb. 13 oz. Big sister Samantha Borgen has
her work cut oul for her. SIU and Dcb lold
me Ihal everyone on Fishers has been
wonderfully supportive and the Borgerts
wish to express their appreciation to their
fellow Islanders and Mark Easter and Ihe
ferry district for their concern and sup-
port.
Sue and Kenn Connelly had a baby
boy on October 3. James M. Connelly
weighed 6 lb. 15 oz. and was 20" long.
Thai's all for now, but there's lots
more where this came from $0 be sure to
Slay luned.
Story Ideas, Suggestions...
Contact the Gazette...
Box 573, Fishers Island
CLASSIC SHINGLE SUMMER
COTTAGE
115 feet of water front on
nearly 2 acres overlooking
beautiful Chocamount Cove.
Architectural plans include
unique lighthouse tower
with lookout deck housing
Master bath. Private Master
Suite: B.R. with balcony,
sitting room, dressing room,
cathedral ceilings. Below,
octagonal D.R. with french
doors opening onto spacious
wrap-around deck. Kitchen &
pantry. Plus 4 B.R. & 2 full
baths. Spectacular views.
Dock site. All permits and
approvals.
Price available upon request.
ERG
ARCHITECT
Ii, i'Al\K\VAY. Kt\TON/\II. NY
111S.1(1 I) l-t-~J~-()')().l
Fishers Island Gazette 35
Phone Company
Modernizing
L
The Fishers Island Telephone
Company is changing its 65 year old equip-
ment, taking out its electro-mechanical
switches, and installing digital equipment.
"The present equipment is becom-
ing obsolete; the rest of the world is phas-
ing hout," said Bill Ridgway, who is assist-
ing the phone company on the project.
"We now operate WOO telephone
lines, which is close to capacity," said Mr.
Ridgway. "The new system will be wired
for 1527 lines, and this can be expanded.
With the new switches, we can also offer
new features, such as call forwarding."
"The new equipment made by
Siemens Stromberg-Carlson, will cost ap-
proximately $450,000," added Mr.
Ridgway. "After the change, we will qual-
ify for a higher share of income from long
distance telephone calls. This advantage
will just about offset the cost of our equip-
ment change. We want to take advantage
of this situation before the telephone toll
formula changes."
The equipment will be installed in a
downstairs office of the Utility Depart-
ment. This will open office space upstairs.
Southold Newspaper Wins
National Honors
The Suffolk Times of Southold, L.l.,
has been judged the best newspaper in its
circulation category in America. The
award was announced in late September at
the National Newspaper Association's
I 06th annual convention in Little Rock, Ar-
kansas.
The Suffolk Times covers the Town
of Southold including Fishers Island and
periodically supplies the Fishers Island
Gazette with stories from Long Island.
The award was won in the category
for weekly newspapers with circulation
from6,OOOt09,999.
"Needless to say. we arc very
proud to win the general excellence
award," said newspaper publisher Troy
Gustavson. "I know these contests arc a
highly subjective affair, but on one day, at
least, a bunch of our peers in the newspa-
per industry got together and agreed that
the Suffolk Times is the best in the land."
In making the award, the newspaper
judges described the Suffolk Times as "an
excellently designed and editorially pack-
aged newspaper. Solid news coverage,
well written, strong headlines, photogra-
,.
.
Clouds provide adramatic backdrop lothe flag at Hay
Jlarbor. (Photocredit:Annllanes)
phy, high quality graphics. Good pacing.
Creative feature writing. Layout specifi-
cally strong. Creates serious, meaty news-
paper in (tabloid) package,"
Fontaine's Pool Service, Inc,
Exclusively serving Fishers Islalld
FISHERS ISLAND MOBIL
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-Repairs
-Weekly maintenance
-Opening Winterizing
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Robert Fomaine
Owner
(401) 828-1052
Available/or you!
- Diesel Fuel
- Special Unleaded
- Super Unleaded
Regular Unleaded
- Propane
- Fuel Oil
- Slips
Electric & Water Hookups
- Clean Restrooms
- Hot Showers
- Ice Machine
Outboard Lubricant
Telephone: (516) 788-7311
We Also MOlliror Chilllllel16
36 Fishers/sland Gazette
Fishers Island Retrospective...
The Storm of 1717
By Carol Ridgway
Gazette reader Charlie Arnold sent in the page of the
Weather Channel calendar for March 8,1991 which used as it's
weather history item for the day the following: "]717 - On Fishers
Island in Long Island Sound, 1,200 sheep were buried under a
drift for 28 days; when finally uncovered, 100 were still alive. The
drifts were a result of the "Great Snow of 1717."
Mention of this (with slightly fewer miraculous survivors)
was recorded in the Ferguson History of Fishers Island in a letter
from John Winthrop to Dr. Cotton Mather. ".... The storm
continued so long and severe, that multitudes of all sons of crea-
tures perished in the snow drifts. We lost at the island and farms,
above eleven hundred shecp, besides some cattle and horses
interred in the snow.
And it was very strange that twenty eight days after the
storm, the tenants of Fishers Island, pulling out the ruins of one
hundred sheep out of one snow bank in a valley (where the snow
had drifted over them sixteen feet), found two of them alive in the
drift, which had lain on them all that time, and kept themselves alive
by eating the wool of the others, that lay dead by them.
As soon as they were taken out of the drift they shed their
own neeces and arc now alive and fat; and I saw them at the island
the last week, and they arc at your service:'
Ed Homing says he has also seen details of this storm in a
Connecticut history book.
Looking for a great Christmas present?
How about a subscription to the Gazette!!
A year's subscription only costs $12.
a gift that will last all year.
~'~;~'~~'i~
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Gift SllbsC/1ptiOll to:" ~ ..r::;if/
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It's
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From:
Just rill in the information and include a check
for $12 and mail to the Fishers Island Gazette.
Box 573, Fishers Island, N.Y / 06390
a
S un.rise after storm in. September. (Photo credit: DickEdwards)
........1
I Joseph Lo Townsend I
I INSURANCE I
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Representing Theuavelersj
Homeowners 0 Auto. Yacht
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Fishers/slant/Gazette 37
Study
C0I1/imudfromPage4
~
formed. Nonnally, the office of school improvement sends in a
team of about six people composed of administrators and teachers
from other districts. After about two days of on-site review, the
team produces a report within one or two months. The findings
would be produced in both an oral and written report, and follow-
up assistance would be provided, said Mr. Harris.
The office of school improvement might just call for a self-
study in which fonns would be sent to Fishers Island to be filled out
by school personnel. The office would then review this informa-
tion and file a report, Mr. Harris said.
At the public meeting on October 8, about 20 persons spoke,
with opinion divided between those who wanted to study all alter-
natives, both on and off Island, and those who wanted the study to
concentrate on improving the existing school. At the meeting,
Louisa Evans presented a petition with signatures from 18 of the 23
parents of school children recommending that a full study be
conducted.
"I believe our present high school does provide a fair, basic
education," said Mary Walter, who supported the petition. "Noth-
ing particularly extraordinary, nor particularly distressing aca-
demically. There are still some undeniable concerns I have, and
that's why I support the study.
"A number of young parents arc planning or already ques-
tioning sending their children to high school here. Why? I
believe it's the quest for more, more than Fishers Island currently
offers. More students, more social activities and more academic
offerings.
"Our children grow up with the same peer group the major-
ity of their school life. With few student.' in your age group, nor-
mal disagreements or personality elashes arc felt more personally
than if you had a opportunity to form other friendships."
Pat Malone, who moved to the Island so that her child could
attend the Fishers Island School, took a different position.
"The thought of some parents wanting to send our kids to
the mainland to go to public high school is so ridiculous to me if
those parents realize what is happening in those high schools,"
she said. "We do not have to worry about what our kids arc doing
before school, during, and after school. Our school is free of
drugs and alcohol.
"Why not take a walk into a public high school lavatory ,"
Mrs. Malone said. "You parents would have quite a
surprisen.There are 13 and 14 year aids already coming to school
with drugs and alcohol. This is reality. The peer pressure is
unbelievable."
"Now let's talk about the quality of education here versus
Connectiuct. My son went through k-6 in Connecticut. he was just
about a straight A student, but he never had to do any homework.
Then my son came here. He had such a hard time because
he had no idea of what it was like to do one and one half to two
hours of homework a night. It took a couple of frustrating weeks
for him to get himself to do it. But the peer pressure here was
different. It made him want to do good in school.
"Also hcre we know our teachers personally," Mrs. Malone
said. "In Connecticut they arc strangers.
"I honestly feel our kids here have a beller chance in
~
succeeding in life," she said. "Why don't we put all this energy
here into making this school beller."
Steve Malinowski, in his statement, said it is not an easy life
for students at the Fishers Island School.
"We've seen talented kids go through this system and have
felt that they had the potential for greater achievement than was
possible at our school," Mr. Malinowski said. "A lot of kids walk
with their heads down. They seem to plod through life rather than
enjoy it. Its fun and happiness and enthusiasm that's missing. You
can't blame this on anybody because what's really missing is kids,"
"I am here tonight to state my support for a study to gather
information documenting all possible alternatives, on and off Is-
land, to our existing high school. I am not here to support the
closing the high school. We would love to see an on-Island
solution. However it is important that we explore all options."
Mr. Malinowski also addressed the emotion that the feasibil-
ity study has produced.
"Somcone recently mentioned to me that we so often unsuc-
cessfully argue about how we should solve our numerous Island
problems when what we should really be discussing is how to
discuss these problems," he said. "It's true. When something like
this comes up, we draw the battle lines, get all charged up and
attack. We frequently get so wound up in the emotions of the
battle that we lose sight of the problem,"
School Board
C0l1tinuedfromPage3]
high school program, the school board has requested that the New
York State Education Department conduct a self study program on
Fishers Island.
The self study would review our curriculum and conduct
interviews with parents, faculty and staff. Once this study is com-
pleted and their recommendations made, the board could then
proceed with a questionnaire. It is myopinion that this study would
benefit tlle whole school. We first need to strengthen what we
already have.
EdilOr's Note:
The Gazette welcomes letters 10 the edilOr on this and
other topics of interest to the Fishers Island community. Letters
should not exceed 200 words, and can be mailed 10 Box 573.
Fishers Island.
A redta;l hawkrests on Fishers Island in lale Septemberduril1gfall migration.
(PholQcredit: DiclcEdwQnls)
38 Fishers Island (;azette
Mother Goose: A Tall
Fishers Island Tail
By Robert Morton
I was only nine years old when my
fmher impressed upon me the imparlance
of observing birds. He said: "The more
you know about birds, the more they be-
comc your friends," and, he added, "Son,
in life you can't have too many friends."
So for 61 years I have been a
"Birder," and for the past 40 years or so I
have practiced this craft from on Fishers
Island almost every summer.
Now when I say I am a "Birder," let
me qualify this. I could not carry Ed Hom-
ing's binoculars. The same applies to sev-
eral other "scratch birders" on Fishers Is-
land.
Using the golf handicap analogy I
would say I am an 8 at Fishers. Maybe a 3
or 4 on my home course, in California.
When I arrived at Fishers this Au-
gusL several of these "scratch birders" LaId
mc there was something very "special,"
and very "mysterious" to be found in and
around the pond and fairways of the 14th
hole.
AGOOSE'
Now we all know there is nothing
special about a goose, or even 50 geese on
the 14th hole. For years many golfers
have found them a nuisance.
Fishers Island
Apartment for Sale
1 ,500 Square-feet.
Completey Renovated.
Three-bedroom, Separate
Living Room and Dining
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Sun Porch. Large Stor-
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Apartments;
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"Mother Goose" aruJ three Canada Geese at the 14th 1/OIeon Fishers Island. This etching is by Charlie Ferguson.
But these arc Canadian geese,
"Honkers. "
Our "special" goose is no Honker.
"He" or "she" (I am convinced "she") is
almost twice as large. Her coloring is en-
tirely different. She has an orange beak,
orange legs, is speckled brown on the
The Liquor Store
~
Fine Wines &
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Domestic &
Imported
Located at
the Village Green
516-788-7271
Open Mon.-Sat....-f.
Year round t.\ 'l
back, and has a huge white rump and tail.
And she "talks" differently, too.
Very differently.
Also,! was wId, she couldn't "Oy."
But she was majesty personified. A
regal bearing, and even though she was
no Honker, she knew she was a goose.
She always joined the other geese,
whether on the fairways or in the water.
She never fraternized with other
birds that frequent the location, whether
gulls, or egrel" or pheasants. She would
only join other geese, whether in the wa-
ter or on land. She did everything other
geese did, except "Oy." She swam, she
waddled, she took her turn doing sentry
duty (though the only danger to geese I
have observed on Fishers Island during
the summer has been errant golf shots, of
which I have seen many on the 14th hole).
And she ate grass, as all geese do, but her
grass eating maneuver was different.
Honkers sort of peck away. She used her
head, neck, and bill more like a scythe. It
looked to be much more efficient.
And, to me, she seemed particularly
"protective" of her new found "cousins."
She was always "motherly," I thought.
That is why I named her "Mother Goose."
But each evening as the Honkers
left the pond to Oy to wherever they spend
Fishers lslnnd Gazelle 39
"
the night, Mother Goose returned alone to
hide in the grasses surrounding the pond.
No one, not even the "experts"
knew how she got here to Fishers Island,
or what kind of goose she was, though
there was much speculation which varied
from a Scandinavian type of goose, to a
German, and one even said English (I'll
say this, for sure, nothing like her was in
my Peterson's Bird Guide.)
After a week or so I came to my own
conclusions:
She was a "barnyard" goose.
Somebody brought her over here,
in a cage and released her as a "practical
joke."
I received some encouragement on
this theory, even from the experts. At first
this seemed comforting to me (I held a
"theory" that the experts were willing to
value as possibly valid; maybe this would
enhance my "Birder" status).
But, then I started to worry. If she
can't fly what will happen to her this win-
ter? Will she starve; or worse, die of lone-
liness when her Honker friends move on.
I started to consider a reseue plan.
In desperation the thought of Christmas
dinner for some descrving family crossed
my mind. Before I had formulated an ac-
ceptable solution, a miracle happened.
As walked by the 14th hole on Au-
gust 27, at 7:00 a.m. or so, I heard some
Honkers, obviously moving their way
towards landing in the pond. I always en-
joyed watching water fowl working to-
wards a "touch down."
Suddenly I realized in this group of
Honkers there was Mother Goose, flying
in the middle of the flock, bigger than a
747, and as they "touched down" her big
white rump and tail flopped up in the air. It
was not a perfecllanding, but it meant she
could "fly," and fly with the rest ofthem.
I felt triumphant!
The next morning I saw her with the
group of eight near the 14th green. I
decided I must See her "take off' (could
yesterday's landing experience have
been wishful thinking?).
I sort of "charged" the group. And
"off they went," Mother Goose and all her
new found cousins. Now I knew, for cer-
tain, my magnificent new friend could fly.
She was free!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, but, for
just this one time, please do not "pass the
ammunition."
I-
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Rendering oj new lobby to be built at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital inNew London
Second Phase of Hospital Building Project To Begin
Lawrence and Memorial Hospital is
scheduled to break ground on the $45.6
million second phase of its construction
and rehabilitation project this spring.
In this second phase, two six-story
towers will be built. The first tower, which
is scheduled for completion in 1994, will
house the emergency room and urgent
care units. In addition, three medical-sur-
gical units will be located in the building.
The second tower will include a new
lobby entr~ce, several operating suites,
intensive care and recovery units. This
tower is scheduled for completion in 1997.
The first phase of the construction
project was completed in the fall of 1990 at
a cost of $10 million. In the first phase, a
new ambulatory wing was constructed.
The hospital raised $9.5 million in a
fund drive, of which S530,OOO was donated
by Fishers Islanders. Lawrence and
Memorial Hospital, located in New Lon-
don, is the primary hospital for Fishers Is-
landers.
Stowe Phelps. Susan Pollard. and Charlie Arnold supplieda fun-filled evening of entertainmenl when they gave a
concert in late August af the Fishers /slandClub. The performed a variety of old \local fayorjJesall arranged by M r,
Arnold. (Photo credit: Dick. Edwards)
40 Fishers Island Gazetle
Islandersofbolh the human and canine variety were on the move this summer. Aaron Rice, above left drove to work eachdayal the airport with his dog Aussie ridingfaithfully
behind ina milk car/on. Meanwhile upatthe F J. COUl1/ryClub, Cam(in thedriyers seat)andBelle (on the accelerator) owned byDr. andMrs .Rolla Campbell arldtheir son's
dog Ripples, do a little sunbathing in a golf cart before their daily trip to the beach. Sophie Malinowski, lower lefl, tries out the monkey bars during the summer camp
held by JP.P. Peggy Petty converted her volkswagen into a mobil hair salon with a hair dryer in/he rear. (Photos by Dick EdwQrds, AM Mudge, Ann Anlhonyand
fZlJ/1RSG' /11 ZL 1 j[
ll'f.,L\,'f) :L)l" 1 '
Fishers Island Civic Assn.
Fishers Is"~ New Y ark 06390
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